Top Ten subscribed by Rev. David Gilpin

March 4, 2008 at 8:57 pm (Top Ten)

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Rev. David GilpinSenior Minister of Hope Church, Sheffield Behind everything you see is something you don’t see.

This book is designed to outline nuggets of wisdom that often remain invisible behind thriving churches and ministries. Mixed with a touch of humour. Top 10 of Everything looks into the Private Word and the Practical World, the Handy Hints World and the Wide World of Knowledge. It gives advice on many subjects that may prove invaluable to established and up-and-coming leaders. Read it all at once or read it one Top Ten at a time. This book can also provide new preachers with an opportunity to ‘borrow’ some of the Tom 10 outlines to create lively and dynamic sermons. 

Top ten TYPES OF CHRISTIANS THAT REALLY NEED YOUR HELP 

HELP!

 Sometimes we think that abnormal is normal and normal is exceptional. It’s time to get more confident with what you believe the normal Christian experience should be all about. What kind of Christian are you looking to develop and what kind of church do you think gives the best opportunity for Christians to grow into champions of the faith? Here are a few people that we’ve met (and been) and some solutions to help them on their journey to maturity.  

  1. STRIVING STANLEY

     Stanley is never happy and always frowning. He always wrestles with condemnation and never thinks he prays enough. Solution - affirma­tion and encouragement that he’s doing greatl 

   2.  MYSTIC MEAGAN

            Meagan is always looking for heavenly signs. She always has a couple of visions each day and loves “end times” teaching. Solution - get her into the children’s ministry where rubber always meets the road. 

   3. DEMONIC DANIEL

Daniel sees demons behind everything. He even thinks that if he could just get that one more demon out of Stanley, he would be really free. Solution - tell him to be less nosey and only ask him about the good things God is doing. 

   4.  COUNSELLOR COLIN     

Colin loves to use all of the counselling course material on any willing participant. He often has a perceptive and slightly aloof air about him. Solution - get him in the evangelism team and back to reality.    

   5.  WHATEVER WENDY

Wendy is so laid back she’s almost asleep. Nothing fazes her and she wonders what all the fuss is about. Solution - extra hours at work and a crisis to stir the soul. 

   6.  HYPOCRITICAL HARRY

Harry loves to look really great on Sundays and he’s always dressed srnartly. His video collection at home gives a completely different pic­ture. Solution - an altar call. 

   7.  IMPETUOUS IAN

       Ian always says “yes” to everyone. He runs at 100 mph and then crashes. He comes and goes like a yo-yo. Solution - a good talking to and the passing of time. 

   8.  SPIRIT-LED SARAH

Sarah only comes to church when the spirit leads. She’s a part of the city-wide church and meets in a mid-week intercessory group. Solution - avoid her - it’s all a mask for rebellion and independence. 

   9.  SIMPLE SIMON

            Simon believes everything and is quickly cornered by Counsellor Cohn and Demonic Daniel. He even borrowed some videos from Hypocritical Harry. Solution - a good cell group with good role models. 

   10.  CYNICAL CYNTHIA

Cynthia has been burnt in the past and not moved on. She loves cross­ing her arms and thinks everything is one big act. Solution - keep preaching faith. Don’t look at her when you’re speaking publicly. It will only discourage you.  

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Christian Testimony presented by Rev. E. Anderson

March 4, 2008 at 8:51 pm (Christian Testimony)

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Evangelist Roy Todd

GOD AT WORK IN NIGHTMARE 

Following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan is the last place on earth many preachers would go. But evangelist Boy Todd is one of the few brave people to go and witness God moving.  

ARMED POLICE SURROUNDED AOGevangelist Roy Todd as he witnessed healing in the city of Lahore. 

With tensions still running high, Roy was banned from laying on hands because police were fearful of his safety in this troubled Muslim country. 

But after his visit to Pakistan, Roy believes God is at work in the nightmare situation. 

One of those healed was a chief policeman’s wife with facial paralysis who spoke with a slur, Roy said. After prayer, she said the pain had gone, and both the woman and her husband became Christians. 

Evangelist Roy saw hundreds of Muslims convert to Christianity, but the Irishman said he had never experienced such high levels of policing and security at his campaigns. 

‘Large gatherings like these were not legal, so two days before the trip we were wondering whether it would even go ahead. But God gave us massive favour in Lahore after we met the Punjabi govern­ment.

Roy said. ‘When you go to Pakistan there is a big fear of suicide bombers and people coming to attack the meetings. To come into the meeting people first had to go through a metal detector, it was a surreal experience. 

Police were so concerned about Roy’s safety, armed guard protection stayed with him throughout his mission. 

‘They wouldn’t allow me to go and lay hands on the people, so I had to pray co-corporately over people from the stage, which was strange for me,’ he explained. 

Roy said ‘eyebrows were raised’ as people began to get healed. 

‘The police chief’s wife testified of how she had been healed, then gave her life to Jesus, as did her husband. It really amazed people and there were eyebrows raised. 

Another woman began to manifest evil spirits, but she was delivered and gave her life to Jesus. It was hard to gauge ex­actly what was happening from the pulpit, but I knew God was moving.’ 

Roy believes God is at work despite the nightmare situation in Pakistan. 

‘We saw hundreds respond to the Gospel over the four nights. It is a danger­ous place, but I never felt under threat. God is rising up a real army in Pakistan. A generation is rising and people are hungry for God. When someone becomes a Christian there it means a lot. They might be persecuted, and their family might turn against them. Having heard the stories and listened to their worship, I was very humbled. 

‘Perhaps we could pick up some of their ways here in the West.’ 

AoG Bible teacher John Iqbal runs a Bible School in Lahore. He said missionaries shouldn’t back down from preaching in Pakistan, despite the crisis. He told Joy, ‘Things have changed in Pakistan since 9/11, particularly in the Islamic world. Pakistan is the second biggest Muslim country in the world, and if we work sensibly, there are great ways of spreading the Gospel to Muslims. 

‘Teaching elements of the Islamic faith were exposed at 9/11, which got people asking lots of questions. People associated the terrorist attacks with the Muslim faith, so they lost a lot of ground throughout the world. ‘The new generation is being forced to rethink, and not accept what they are taught. Christ is being taught and churches are growing.’

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