1) We discuss/teach or teach/discuss the New Waves of”
a) Passionate Love (for & from Jesus)
b) Never-Ending Humility (lowering yourself as Jesus did)
c) Total Sacrifice (for our Bridegroom, Jesus)
2) We enable every member to “do the work of the ministry” by having & starting true church in homes, thus making true disciples through providing & experiencing family type “train up a child in the way he should go..”
3) We stress that leaders should not dominate meetings, but rather facilitate the participation & advancement of every member & like a good parent rejoice when the children even excel beyond their parents.
4) We communicate that every new group is an independent church who must obey the Holy Spirit, as He leads.
5) We teach that any believer, who is willing to be baptized into Christ through water baptism, can baptize other believers without ordination.
6) We encourage efforts to support ministry & family needs through business, while not opposing, or discouraging support through gifts & sharing.
7) We labor to produce & provide quality training material at low & no cost for our New Wave members.
From the top to the bottom, we labor to follow the Holy Spirit in expanding the Kingdom of Heaven & encourage one-another to do as God leads, so long as it does not contradict the correct interpretation of scripture.
Hi, Greg: I did receive a note from you recently letting me know that your emails have been returned. Yes, I do have a new email address as I retired last November and no longer have a WA state email extension.
It occurs to me that you don’t recall our meeting. It was in Vancouver, WA at a House2House Conference. My daughter, Lori, accompanied me. Interestingly enough, we prayed for each other and i do recall telling you something of a future wife,
which came to pass obviously. And you saw over my daughter a place that was tropical and included long-legged birds. She soon after got a job with the Federal Govt and is in Gitmo, Guantanamo, Cuba, as a counselor in the military schools. Everyone told her there was a hiring freeze and she would not likely find employment with the govt. Not so with the Lord!
You impressed me at the Vancouver meeting. It was a very interesting group, not without its own problems and own form of leadership which contradicted some of the principles taught. As only God can do, my daughter and I were seated randomly at tables where we just happened to be by the speakers for the day. I won’t go into all of that, but we came away feeling that “Simple Church” or whatever some of its other titles are addressed some of the needs in gatherings but created others. Of course that labels us as “religious” in most of these circles and so be it. There are still some of us that believe there is an orthodoxy that is Biblical, i.e, if “anything goes, then soon everything goes.” The Word of God is a living instrument that cannot be compromised and still be His Word.
Which leads to some of my questions. Prior to the H2H conference, I ordered all of Frank Viola’s books (yes, I do try to research before making an opinion). They’re good even though his prejudice against pastors because of obvious wounding comes through. I have read The Shack and think I understand it. What I don’t understand is the inclusion of such teachers as Brian McLaren amongst your “brethren.” He is more a new age guru than a Christian teacher. Again, the compromised Word and lack of clarity in what he really stands for.
So, briefly and frankly, what does it mean to “make disciples”? Is the cross and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ taught as the only way to the Father? Let me tell you what impressed me about you: your sincerity and utter lack of guile. Very refreshing. I, too, am sincere in wanting to know where Christ is truly lifted up and glorified. Many of us do not want to be a part of the lukewarm church but have not felt settled into any of the many and confusing “movements” on the earth at this time.
Would appreciate your response.
In His love,
Loretta
I just discovered this post, because I was wondering why I get so many requests for teaching from people in Kenya & India who see our web-site. I don’t think I was notified of your post or the others. I will contact my “webmaster”/web builder to see why I’m not notified of posts, especially since they are usually addressed to me.
I’m really happy and think your letter was very kind to me. So now I will read and reply to details. I knew I met you at a conference, but that year I went to 9 conferences, so you are right, I didn’t remember where or even the vision I shared with you about your daughter. But I’m very happy with my wife & we and our guest from DRCongo are all sitting tired, in our Rwanda house, me at the computer, her by a charcoal cooker, to keep warm in the house and Haggai just went to bed. I’m blessed that my vision came to pass. I’d like more fellowship that draws or stimulates that in me.
As far as Brian McLaren, I don’t know who he is or why you brought him up. He certainly is not a favorite teacher or author of mine.
When Jesus said to “make disciples” it was a time when disciples followed their teacher & learned by living and working together. But we are to make disciples of Jesus, so we should produce those who want are devoted to becoming like their teacher & want to follow Him moment by moment.
I do believe that the cross and the blood are the way to the Father, but I believe that, because God is merciful, some are allowed to repent immediately before their spirit departs, even unconscious, is possible. But even those who are not to the age of accountability must be taught the work of the cross & Jesus’ sacrifice in heaven and receive salvation through faith in the work of Christ to continue to grow in heaven.
I think simple church is a movement, but the goal is to make disciples. It just works better than what came before it. I like the newer CO2 idea (church of 2) because it boils down to listening to the Holy Spirit and obeying. Of course the simple and CO2 movements have the advantage of world-wide agreement on the authority of scripture.
It would be a lot faster to email me at my new news-letter WeepsWithLove@gmail.com or NewWave.Greg@gmail.com.
I hope I get your email address and phone to call you, with my Skype from Africa & let my wife hear the one who prophesied something about our marriage.