A four-person panel also concluded board members of his former congregation, Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, had been “unable to provide effective oversight” of him.
It concluded: “The credibility of the allegations would have been sufficient for Willow Creek Community Church to initiate disciplinary action if Bill Hybels had continued as pastor of the church.”
Willow Creek initially denied claims published in the US media – including alleged sexual impropriety by Bill Hybels with a former assistant.
An Independent Advisory Group (IAG) spent six months scrutinising the allegations, as well as the response of Willow Creek Church and the Willow Creek Association.
Members included Jo Anne Lyon, former general superintendent of The Wesleyan Church and Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
The other two participants were Margaret Diddams, provost of Wheaton College and Gary Walter, ex-president of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Chicago.
The IAG said its conclusions were reached after conducting “multiple interviews” and a “broad review of documents and information”.
We ask for your prayers for our Elders as they process the report and determine next steps. Thank you for your faithful engagement…
I truly thought that North Phoenix Baptist Church called because they needed me. I thought they needed my talent, my charisma, my preaching, and my experience. They needed me to lead them and grow them. There was an ugliness that rooted deep within my soul that I was blind to. I had no idea how much it was I who needed the church and how much God would use them to grow and sanctify me. I want to offer five confessions, five spiritual pitfalls to avoid, that I desperately wish someone would have given me as a new Senior Pastor.
Americans are now evenly split between the pro-life and pro-choice labels, after a 9-percentage-point jump in those calling themselves pro-life. The latest Marist poll finds 47 percent of Americans identify as pro-life and 47 percent identify as pro-choice. Just one month ago, however, Americans were more likely to identify as pro-choice than pro-life by 17 percentage points—55 to 38 percent.
Charles Spurgeon is one of my favorite writers, even though his writings often challenge me deep in my heart. These words (first directed to preachers, though applicable to all Christian leaders) are especially gripping: “It is a shocking state of things when good people say, ‘Our minister undoes in the parlor what he has done in the pulpit; he preaches very well, but…
Trustees from one shop in Hertfordshire made an impassioned plea to save outlets like theirs, amid a “sad” spate of closures.
Susan Taylor (picture with her husband, Keith) told Premier that the Letchworth Christian Bookshop is like a community “hub”. “We’ve had someone come in recently who’s only just moved to Letchworth”, she said.
“She comes in most days because she says it’s been a lifeline to her, to get to chat to people and know people.”
Premier has previously reported how stores in places including Inverness and Ipswich have said dwindling footfall is forcing them to close.
It is thought the growing popularity of online shopping and e-books are partly to blame – as well as commercial rental costs.
Describing how they struggle to compete with internet-based retailers on price, Susan Taylor added: “You have the overhead of the shop to take into account.
“So, you’ve got to sell them to make a profit. Although we’re a non-profit making organisation, we’ve still got to cover wages, resourcing the shop and the rent.”
Click here to listen to Premier’s Craig Wakling speaking with Susan Taylor at the Letchworth Christian Bookshop:
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Fred and Cindy Warmbier made the claim on Friday as they rebuked Donald Trump.
The US President told a press conference he had taken the authoritarian leader “at his word” when he said he was not aware of alleged mistreatment against Otto Warmbier.
Mr Trump spoke after a meeting he held with Mr Kim in Vietnam this week. The two leaders failed to reach an agreement about denuclearisation in North Korea.
The Warmbiers said “Kim and his evil regime are responsible for the death of our son Otto” and for “unimaginable cruelty and inhumanity”.
“No excuses or lavish praise can change that”, they added.
They claimed they had kept silent during the summit in Hanoi, but “now we must speak out”.
Otto Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years in prison and hard labour after he was accused of trying to steal a propaganda poster in a hotel for his church, during a visit with a China-based holiday tour company.
Glyn Barrett said he was “honoured, humbled [and] in awe of God” following an announcement by the Pentecostal movement of his new role.
In a post on social media, he said: “In April 1994, I was a second year in Bible College in Australia. God told me three things.
“First, go back to England (we did that in 1996). Second, plant a church (We did that in 2007) Third, you’ll have the opportunity lead Assemblies of God in Great Britain (He did that in 2019).”
“Excited to take on the role as National leader of Assemblies of God in Great Britain.”
We are thrilled to announce Pastor @GlynBarrett as the new National Leader of AoG. We are incredibly excited about his appointment and look forward to seeing vision realised and our nation impacted. Don’t miss our national conference in May to hear Glyn’s vision! pic.twitter.com/34zIesMrBA
Born in England but raised in Australia from the age of two, Glyn is currently co-serving with his wife Sophia as a senior minister of !Audacious Church in Manchester.
Since the couple – who have two teenage children – opened the church eight years ago, it has grown to encompass 3,500 members.
Founded in 1924, Assemblies of God in Great Britain forms part of the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination – the Assemblies of God (AoG)
Revealing Glyn Barrett’s appointment, the Church said: “We are thrilled to announce Pastor Glyn…
Glyn Barrett said he was “honoured, humbled [and] in awe of God” following an announcement by the Pentecostal movement of his new role.
In a post on social media, he said: “In April 1994, I was a second year in Bible College in Australia. God told me three things.
“First, go back to England (we did that in 1996). Second, plant a church (We did that in 2007) Third, you’ll have the opportunity lead Assemblies of God in Great Britain (He did that in 2019).”
“Excited to take on the role as National leader of Assemblies of God in Great Britain.”
We are thrilled to announce Pastor @GlynBarrett as the new National Leader of AoG. We are incredibly excited about his appointment and look forward to seeing vision realised and our nation impacted. Don’t miss our national conference in May to hear Glyn’s vision! pic.twitter.com/34zIesMrBA
Born in England but raised in Australia from the age of two, Glyn is currently co-serving with his wife Sophia as a senior minister of !Audacious Church in Manchester.
Since the couple – who have two teenage children – opened the church eight years ago, it has grown to encompass 3,500 members.
Founded in 1924, Assemblies of God in Great Britain forms part of the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination – the Assemblies of God (AoG)
Revealing Glyn Barrett’s appointment, the Church said: “We are thrilled to announce Pastor Glyn…
Maintaining Spiritual Fervency in Marriage (Part 4) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Topic: Maintaining Spiritual Fervency in Marriage (Part 4)
Dear Reader,
You are welcome to the last segment of this teaching for the month. I believe the word read has not only been a blessing to you but your family as well. It is my prayer that your spiritual life will be engraced to be more effective and you will gain more command by this, in Jesus’ name!
How Do I Attain Spiritual Fervency?
1. Recognize the Need for It: You attract only what you desire. When you see spirituality as a need, you will desire it and then do all it takes to reach for it. Until you recognize that spiritual fervency is a must for profitable living, God is not committed to making it real for you. Rather than desire materials things, fame and wealth, desire to know more of God, to be in tune with Him, spirit, soul, and body. Also, a desire to hear more from God and be guided by Him daily. True success comes from this. The Bible says: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8). When God becomes your ultimate priority in life, victories come cheaply for you.
2. Desire it: Whatever you desire is what you deserve. To desire means to strongly feel the need for spirituality, to want to be spiritual as a matter of importance. The Bible says: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart (Psalm 37:4). Your desire for spiritual fervency should come from the heart. Interestingly, when the desire comes from the heart, it is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). For this desire to be met, your life must give God pleasure.
3. Be Determined: To be fervent in spirit, you must be determined to do so. This is a personal decision that cannot be made for you. When you are determined to be spiritual, God will make it a reality, because He sees your heart and knows the sincere desires of man. He provides you with the enablement you need to achieve this and keep growing in it. From scriptures, we understand that everyone with sincere and genuine determination got their desires. For instance, Daniel and the three Hebrew boys determined in their heart not to defile themselves with the king’s rich meal, and God engraced them for this (Daniel 1:8). Have you made a resolution to be more prayerful, seek God’s Word and desire to please Him at all times? His grace is always sufficient for all who ask with a heart. Like Daniel, if you can purpose to seek God more, in spite of all competing issues contesting for your time, He will make you be ten (10) times above your peers, and make your home more desirable.
4. Invest Your Time: Do not just desire and determine to be spiritual alone, you must make out time to ensure your desires become a reality. Spiritual fervency does not just happen; you have to make it happen. For this to be possible, you have to invest quality time. You have to find out what it takes and give it your all.
Someone has rightly said that many people spend time but only a few invest it. Be among the few that will invest time in building spiritual depth. But how do you invest your time, you may ask? Seek a quiet time with God. Secure some minutes or hours to be alone searching Scriptures and praying. The truth is Those who spend time with God always gain more wisdom and grace for their daily activities. Spiritual fervency is not a gift; so, you need not to waste your time praying for the gift to be spiritually fervent. Invest in spiritual materials – anointed books, audio/visual messages, etc. Spend your time with activities that would open up your understanding, enlighten, encourage, challenge and keep you spiritually active and alert. Dissociate yourself from the company of time wasters and begin to invest quality time in your spiritual life.
5. Engage in Spiritual Exercise: This spiritual exercise will also include fasting. Fasting makes you spiritually more alert. It mortifies the flesh and makes you more receptive to spiritual signals. Fasting should, however, be coupled with prayers and search of scriptures for it to be beneficial to you.
6. Receive Help from the Holy Spirit: Spiritual fervency is unachievable without help from above. The Bibles states: …for by strength shall no man prevail (1 Samuel 2:9). In your quest for spirituality, you must desire, crave and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit.
The grace required to be spiritually fervent is only available when you surrender your life to Christ. This is by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
Topic: Learn To Manage Your Emotions [TREM Devotional 2 March 2019]
“And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” Genesis 4:8. KJV)
There is always something that will make you unhappy. But if this is not expressed in the proper way, it will always result in a problem. Instead of talking to God honestly about his feeling, Cain went to talk with Abel.
You see, God had asked him in Genesis 4:6: “Cain, why art thou wroth and why is thy countenance fallen?” Cain should have been honest with God and expressed why he was sad. But he didn’t. You must learn to say it the way you feel, honestly, before God. God understands the way you feel. We have a High Priest who will make it sound good even when it sounds nasty in His ears. Tell Him how angry you are! Tell Him how bad you feel. Say it to Him, but not to man.
Beloved, God understands it. He understands when you are going through things. He understands the emotions you are dealing with right now as you read. He understands it when you are sad. He understands it when you are in pain, in agony and in distress. He understands because He has been through it. There is nothing you are going through which He hasn’t been through. So He is able to help you navigate through that very challenge and you won’t run into sin. This is why you need to go to Him.
Cain talked to Abel and expressed his feelings. He was unhappy and jealous, and strife was stirred up unnecessarily. In that emotional state, there would be an outburst. And the result was the death of his brother, which he may never have intended. He didn’t have it in mind that ‘today, I am going to kill my brother.’ Abel was his brother. He never woke up that morning to say: ‘today, Abel must die.’ It happened because he failed to manage his emotion.
Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Hebrews 4:14-16
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Numbers 23-25; Evening- Mark 7:14-37
Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.
Topic: Dimensions of the Manifestation of God [Seeds of Destiny 2 March 2019 Devotional]
The Scripture makes it clear that the path of the just is as a shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day (Proverb 4:18). This means, God does not want His children to be stagnant in life and destiny; rather, His intention for our lives is for us to go from one level of glory to another.
SCRIPTURES: But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:4.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There is a connection between the glory of God and the gold of God.
The Scripture makes it clear that the path of the just is as a shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day (Proverb 4:18). This means, God does not want His children to be stagnant in life and destiny; rather, His intention for our lives is for us to go from one level of glory to another. God’s perfect Will for His children is to experience greater glory in all areas of life. (Haggai 2:6-9).
Now, in what area of your life should you expect the manifestations of the greater glory of God?
Let me give you seven of them:
i. Greater manifestations of the FULLNESS of God (John 2:11; Psalm 103:7). God shall release greater manifestation of His fullness and power in your life this season, in Jesus’ Name.
ii. Greater manifestations of the MIGHT of God (2Chronicles 5:13-14)
You shall see greater manifestations of the Almightiness of God in every area of your life.
iii. Greater manifestations of the LIGHT of God (Isaiah. 60:1). You shall see the revelations of God out of Scriptures and in the realm of the spirit this season, in Jesus’ Name.
iv. Greater manifestations of the GOODNESS of God (Exodus 33:18-19). God shall show you a dimension of His goodness you have never seen before.
v. Greater manifestations of the HONOUR of God (1 Chronicles 16:27; Psalm 8:5). Everywhere there is glory, there is honour! God’s honour shall be evident in greater dimension in your life in this season in Jesus’ Name.
vi. Greater manifestations of the WEALTH of God to/through your life (Haggai 2:6-9). Beloved, there is a connection between the glory of God and the gold of God.
vii. Greater manifestations of the PEACE of God (Haggai 2:9). It is your season of greater manifestations of the peacefulness and restfulness of God.
Beloved, my counsel is, make demands on God for the manifestation of greater glory in all the areas outlined above.
Remember this: There is a connection between the glory of God and the gold of God.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Go through today’s message once again.
Make demands on God for the manifestation of greater dimensions of His glory in your life.
PRAYER: O Lord, I thank You for Your Word to me today. I ask that You manifest Your glory in my life in greater dimensions, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: GREATER GLORY: 2018 CROSS OVER SERVICE MESSAGE.
DAILY READING: Leviticus 25:47 to 27:13, Mark 10:32 to 52, Psalm 45:1 to 17, Proverbs 10:22.
AMAZING FACT: Both the world’s tallest and largest land animals come from Africa. They are the giraffe and the African elephant, respectively.
QUOTE: Nothing compels the attention of the multitude like proofs. Culled from MAKING FULL PROOF OF MINISTRY by Dr Paul Enenche.
TODAY IN HISTORY: 02/03/2006 – Excelsior Needle company began making sewing machine needles; also, the images from American spacecraft, Galileo indicated that the Jupiter moon, Europa, has liquid ocean and a source of interior heat.
DON’T FORGET TO ATTEND: The Destiny Recovery Service tomorrow by 9 am at the Glory Dome, Airport Road, Abuja. Invite someone to church.
Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 2 March 2019 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Keep Yourself Pure
TOPIC: Keep Yourself Pure (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 2 March 2019)
Bible In One Year: Numbers 23-25; Mark 7:14-37
FIRE SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:14-16
MEMORY VERSE: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” – Romans 12:1
The MESSAGE:
God is holy and pure. He wants His children and followers to be holy and pure. As a Christian, you must run away from any form of impurity in the body, soul and spirit. As Christians, our thoughts, actions and motives must be pure.
Sexual immorality is one of the things that bring impurity. God wants us to worship Him not only in our spirits but with our bodies as well. Sexual sin brings dishonour to man’s body which is the temple of God. As a Christian, you must avoid watching pornographic pictures or films. God wants you to run away from anything that can bring defilement to you as His child.
Virginity is being considered old-fashioned by majority of our youths today. Whereas virginity is a virtue which God expects all young, unmarried people to cherish. Pre-marital sex is cheap but the aftermath is a life-long regret. Yes, sex is good but ONLY for legally married people. Keep yourself pure, do not defile the temple of God which is your body.
Dear parents, God has given you those children and wards to train, groom and nurture. It means you will be held responsible for how they turn out in life, physically and spiritually.
Remember that the media and the world will offer them corruption, immorality and ungodliness. On your part, you must teach and show them God’s preferences of holiness and purity. You owe God that duty. You will not fail, in Jesus’ name.
I encourage you to be the role model for Your children and wards. Let your life reveal the best of Jesus character to them. Through your exemplary lifestyle (in thought, speech and action), you can make them the best that God created them to be.
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: HONOUR GOD WITH YOUR BODY WHICH IS AN ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE UNTO HIM.
PROPHETIC WORD: No weapon fashioned against you and your family shall prosper.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
Spirit of sexual perversion, release me by fire, in the name of Jesus.
Witchcraft poison in my blood, I flush you out by the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus.
I will not destroy my future on the laps of Delilah, in the name of Jesus. EVENING
Power of God for personal spiritual discipline, possess my life, in the name of Jesus.
Holy Ghost fire, destroy all the works of flesh in my life, in the name of Jesus.
Power of self-control, possess my life, in the name of Jesus.
Seed of immorality planted in my foundation, be uprooted by fire, in the name of Jesus.
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
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