Unbelievable, four years ago!

Life is all about family.  Not just life, but God Himself.  God didn’t invent relationship.  It is His registered trademark.  Before eternity began, relationship existed in the Trinity.  The Trinity is a family…is a relationship…is a community.  To call church a building is to call people two by fours.  Church is a family: If you really want your church to be R Rated and grow like God wants it to, use the “F” (Family) word on every level, every program.  It is God’s program and it works.

Jeanette is visiting Christmas, John and baby St. Nick, who is turning three this weekend in Denver.  Thanks for your friendship, prayers and missionary ministry partnering over the many, many years and miles.  1 Samuel 30:24 promises: “As is his part goes down to the battle, so shall be their share that stays by the goods.  They shall share alike in the rewards.”

Grandpa JG and Nick

John Lindell, James River Assembly, hosted the “R” Seminar and highly recommends building a “RELATIONAL” ministry. Jonathan will teach you new ways to “CONNECT” and make people feel even more welcome at your church.

Click below to see
John Lindell’s endorsement which occurs only
13 seconds into video.

Miracle Ministry at UVA

University of Virginia, Charlottesville: A 40 Year full circle.

In early Sept., few short weeks ago, I was life-time privileged to preach at the UVA Chi Alphas retreat. Photo of Infinity times one (me & Pete Bullette) — Pete & Amy Bullette, founded the Chi Alpha College campus ministry in Charlottesville.  In May this year, Pete told me he heard me preach 15 years ago in Carbondale, Il.

My sermon & title: “Infinity times One Equals Infinity” so tagged him, he started using the phrase. His wife Amy made him a Birthday present plaque of those words: it went up on their living room wall. The plaque is still there 15 years later.

7 years ago God had Pete & Amy move to Charlottesville, VA to pioneer a Chi Alpha campus ministry there. Unknown to them, that’s the school I dropped out of as a barefoot hippie 30+ years ago.  God miraculously re-connected us at the May ’08 Potomac District Council.

Pete filled me in on all this: that Chi Alpha now runs 200+ each Monday evening and is increasingly reaching UVA’s campus for Jesus!

They invited me to speak at their annual Fall retreat 2008: over 200 kids attended the “The R-Rated Retreat.” (Twice their largest Fall retreat ever! Praise God!)

When: SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008, 9:30 AM – Noon (Registration 8:30 AM)
Presenter: Evangelist Jonathan Gainsbrugh Author and Nationally known church-health strategist
Location: Laguna Christian Center, 3109 Dwight Rd., Elk Grove, CA 95758 – 916-394-LIFE

For complete details get the flyer right now!
See below and click the link you need.
Then call TODAY to reserve your place.

Click this link for the web version to view now.
Click this link for the High-Quality print version.

“Praise the Lord!” The broken left arm from Feb 21 is healing up bit by bit by the Lord’s marvelous touch and your prayers. Thank you to each one that has given and prayed for the arm and for our finances during this beyond difficult time.

We are still praying for monthly National Lamb-Care Initiative partners. This is an extreme need….for to sustain health medical at this point is beyond just a nice option. Please pray with us and see whom the Lord would speak to. Y-O-U can have a part each month, regardless of whatever size great or very small, that part might be. I give Praise to the Lord for how He and His people have helped us up to this point, and praise Him for His faithfulness in days ahead as well.

Praise our awesome God! “Great is His faithfulness, His mercies are new every morning!”

Easter “E” Ideas

Important: Schedule the “Spell It with an “R” Seminar at your church in weeks *& months immediately following Easter. Then the crowds see the church prioritizes Relationships. Feel free to use a new name like “Relationship Revolution” – whatever combination they feel will help the church best connect with their community.

Now Here You Go! The Big “E” Idea List for Easter!

• Find & use the “R” word in newer translations (example: 2 Cor 5:19-21 – use the included attachment as a great example).
• Apply the “Pastor of the Pew” idea – just for Easter or for ALL March/April.
• Give your Easter Message & plans a total “stem-to-stern” M.R.I. – A “Magnetic Relationship Image”. Look for an enriching a greater “R’ Emphasis in your weekly and post-Easter emphases, media, print items, ads, etc.
• Put the “R” intentionally into your Easter Salvation Sinner’s Prayer & Literature.
• Explain to your congregation: “People are not looking for a friendly church, they are looking for a Friend”. Can you unpack this briefly & help them to “get it”?
• Warm up tired phrases. Change “Newcomer” to “New Friends — or — “Newcomer/Vistor Reception” to “New Friends Center”.
• Use Testimonies of “Fruit That RRRRemained” – testimonies of those who gave hearts & lives to Christ last year.
• Remember your/ (& our Product) is “Changed Lives” and Life-change, not services, programs, or mere Christian information. Our product is Christ.
• Talk transparently & vulnerably. You as pastor and leader are the “C.R.O.” – Chief Relationship Officer. Share how and what God is doing in you and in your own personal RRRRRelationship with Jesus.
• Collect “What I like best about our church” one and 2-liners from the congregation about what they like best regarding your church. Pastor Mark
• Compile gifts to give to your new friends such as “Funniest Stories of Pastor Craig” – models from Shadow Mtn Communi Church, and Pastor David Jeremiah. They create a new one every year. Get a sample my good friend Pastor Craig Andrus. He includes one of these in every “New Friends” packet at Christian Heights AG, Sonora, CA. E-mail or call for more details.

How glorious, absolutely worthy & great our God is!

Think of the 1,000’s (countless) times He has shown His faithful heart & hand to you & me!

He is so totally worthy of our trust, our praise, our best – our all! What amazing love He has lavished (an ocean on our thimble), that we should be called the sons & daughters of the Living God. (I John 3:1).

“Lord, Am I grateful enough? – A brief but potent Thanks-Living Prayer?

Thanksgiving (the official day) has just passed us. But even now – let’s each one ask God’s help to make Thanks-Living day.

* Lord, give me a daily, unending attitude of gratitude!
* Lord: “How thank-ful is my tank-ful?
* How great-ful is my gratefulness, dear Lord?
* Lord, is my TLQ (my Thanks-Living Quotient) all You want it to be.

“Give thanks in (not for) but IN all things.” (I Th.5:18) can easily connect with Eph 5:1, ” Be ye filled (& continually re-filled) with God’s Holy Spirit of grace, power & agape love.

I’d like to recommend several books. Do you have any great “reads” that you would strongly recommend to others? Do you have any book reviews you yourself have written? Leave a comment below to share them with all of us!

• The Multi-Site Church Revolution: Being One Church in Many Locations (Leadership Network Innovation Series, The) by Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird
• Morph: The Texture of Leadership for Tomorrow’s Church by Ron Martoia
• Sacred Marriage by Gary L. Thomas

Time is flying and eternity is nigh’in,
People are dying, prisoners are sighing
But Jesus is setting souls free by His blood

Lord, I pray that for my friends receiving this e-letter, that You mightily encourage them and bless the work of their hands, hearts and lives in Your Kingdom and for Your glory.