Page 7 - Good News April 2018 paper
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any issues can keep a grain of wheat falls into the earth
church from growing and and dies, it remains by itself
Mhinder a pastor's effec- alone; but if it dies, it bears much
tiveness. They include circum- fruit" (John 12.24).
stances beyond his control
(demographics or a location that Nineteenth-century Danish theo-
hinders growth), an unco-ope- logian Søren Kierkegaard cap-
rative Board (they say "no" to his tures the essence of Jesus' words
vision), or even family issues (a when he wrote these words: "God
chronically ill child who requires creates everything out of nothing
an inordinate amount of energy). and everything God is to use He
first reduces to nothing."
These experiences can bring
painful brokenness to a pastor's Also, Richard Foster, one of
heart. And, we seldom see any today's most influential voices on Dr. Charles Stone
immediate benefit from our spiritual formation, describes one
brokenness. But could God use it of the greatest benefits from it. Yet, I'm experiencing the fruit of
in our lives? I believe so. brokenness. He calls it the "cruci- brokenness: inner peace, joy, and
fixion of the will" and says it a purpose that supersedes
Brokenness has touched my life brings "freedom from the ever- "ministry success." How has God
in the two places where it hurts lasting burden of always getting used brokenness in your life and
the most: my family (a child our own way." Always getting our ministry?
chronically ill for 25 years and a own way is the antithesis of the CharlesStone.com
child who rebelled for many "other-centered life" Jesus www.sermoncentral.com
years) and my ministry (many modelled for us.
dreams not fulfilled). Dr. Charles Stone is Lead Pastor
As I enter the sixth decade of my at West Park Church in London,
Yet, I've taken comfort when life and reflect over the broken- Ontario, Canada, and the founder
Jesus explained that brokenness ness I've faced as a pastor, I'm of StoneWell Ministries, a pastor-
must precede fruit-bearing. beginning to see its great value. It coaching and church-consulting
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a still hurts and I'd prefer not to face Ministry.
en years ago, very few, if was (and continues to be) one of that they needed to meet weekly
any, "So People" called on its leaders. for worship, prayer, and studying
TJesus as Lord. That was the Word and they were faithful to
largely because very few of them At first, the community of So do so.
had ever heard the Name of Jesus believers did not know a lot about
or the Gospel message. The So the Bible, but they knew enough In these early stages, the Chris-
People, located in Laos, are hard to obey. They also knew the power tians working with the So prac-
to reach, not just spiritually, but of prayer and they saw God work tised the "Model, Assist, Watch,
geographically as well. in miraculous ways. Many people Leave" method (MAWL). Even-
came to them for prayer for their tually, the leaders of the church
Times have changed. A key cata- various ailments. God answered were established by the laying on
lyst in the formation of a So and the So saw many healings. of hands and a formal commis-
Church was the story of Tongsin, sioning by the national church.
a village madman who experien- The Christians who first began
ced a dramatic conversion and working among the So continued Today among the 180 000 So in
became active in sharing his faith to disciple the new church's South-East Asia, there are seven
with others. Through a combi- leaders wherever they could - in churches serving more than 260
nation of miracles, intentional the jungle, in boats, guesthouses believers!
discipleship and testing through or in town. They were discipled in
persecution, the first So Church the basics of following Christ. Source: OMF via Joel News Inter-
was established in 2013. Tongsin These new believers understood national, 1074, 21/3/2018.
