Our Name- "The Well Christian Ministry"

Well....
That's right- that's our name! We now have a "name" for our new church- "The Well Christian Ministry". It is a name based on the story of Jesus and his encounter with the woman at the well. Remember all the story in John 4- how Jesus met her where she was and spoke to her about eternal life? He went to a public place- "the Well"- and He spoke to her words that changed her life. That is what we seek to do as we move into Morristown and seek out new people- people who may not be attached to a traditional church, people who may be of a different ethnic or denominational background, or people without any church background- and lead them to Christ to give them the "living water that leads to eternal life". That is what it means to be a "Church without walls"!
Our specific vision, and how it relates to the story of Jesus and the woman at The Well:
[John 4:4] We envision a “Church without walls”- a church based on influencing people for Christ by going to people where they are, and drawing them into a relationship with Christ through service, involvement and relationships with other believers
[John 4:7] We envision a church where the “dividing wall” that separates people of different races will be broken down by forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance.
[John 4:14] We envision a church where the “dividing wall” that separates God and man will be broken down, and people experience the fullness of freedom and the abundant life that Christ intended them to have.
[John 4:16-19] We envision a church where the “dividing wall” that separates members of families from one another will be broken down by forgiveness, faith and “the blessing”.
[John 4:15] We envision a church where the “dividing wall” between believers and unbelievers will be broken down, and people will experience a sense of belonging in an atmosphere of total acceptance, love and support.
[John 4:20-24] We envision a church where the “dividing wall” of denominationalism will be broken down by mutual prayer, cooperation and support with people of other Christian faiths.
[John 4:39] We envision a church where the “dividing wall” that separates people from fulfilling their dreams will be broken down by faith, and by the discovery and use of their spiritual gifts.
[John 4:25-29] We envision a church where the “dividing wall” that keeps broken and hurting people from experiencing the fullness of life that God intended for them will be broken down as they find a home among people who welcome them with open arms.
Pray for us as we move into this next phase in church planting!

2 Witnessing Stories (from my Bus driving adventures)

I wanted to relate to you two stories of ministry that occurred recently at my work at Aristocrat Limo and Bus Company:

1st- This past Spring, I sent out the following e-mail in my June 4th "Prayer Notes": "Pray for a man named Greg- the husband of my tour guide in Philadelphia this week, Candi. As we were talking, she mentioned that her husband had non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and that he was receiving a Stem Cell transplant next week. As many of you know, Sue's brother, George, received a stem cell transplant over 25 years ago, when it was a relatively new procedure. So, I had lots to share with her about our experience. When I mentioned about putting his name on my "Prayer Notes" e-mail, she broke down, and cried. You could see that she was deeply moved that many perfect strangers would bring his name up to the Lord in prayer. So, pray for him, that his treatment would go well, and that this entire process would draw both of them closer to the Lord." Well, I saw Candi again recently while taking a tour group to Philadelphia. I recognized the name, and when I saw her, I said, "I remember you from a previous tour- how are you?" Well, she remembered me, and remembered our talk, and in about 3 minutes, she related how she remembered that we had prayed for her husband, and that OUR PRAYERS WORKED. She said that he had the transplant, and that he is doing much better. She had taken the summer off to be with him, and help him with his rehabilitation. Now she is back to the work she loves- leading tour groups through Philadelphia. She related how much it meant to her that we would pray for her and her husband. She hoped that she would see me again to tell me how he did. Wow, my friends, sometimes we need to remember how deeply our prayers affect people, and how much they accomplish for the Kingdom! Keep up the good work of praying for these people.

2nd- I thank God for my conversation with another driver at Aristocrat named Joe. Joe was the man who trained me when I began work with Aristocrat. He is a retired policeman from Irvington, NJ (now living in Long Valley). We ended up doing a lot of local jobs together. We would sometimes get coffee together, and just talk. Again, I did the "asking questions" thing- just entered into his story, and kept on asking questions including the "faith question" (he is of a Catholic background). Last week, we had a cross country meet at Freedom Park in Randolph. And, while the runners were running, we just began talking. Soon, we began talking about our moms and dads. Both of his parents have died- dad in the late 1980's and mom in the late 1990's. Once again, I asked about how his faith impacted him at these moments. We began talking about life after death. I told him about my study entitled, "Life After Death". I started to relate to him some of the specifics about what the Bible teaches about the afterlife. Joe was really tracking with me, and said he never knew all of this. I talked about personal faith, about the faith of my mom & dad and my grampa (a Lutheran Minister who had a deep impact on me as a child), about how it was transmitted down to me, and how we were transmitting it down to our kids, etc. Then, Joe began to "unload" about some of the stuff he experienced as a cop- the first death he witnessed (as he was the first responder to a 19 year old kid who "OD'ed" on drugs), about the first time he ever had to draw his gun (fortunately, he didn't have to shoot), about some harrowing and "close call" times he had in his 25 years as a cop. Wow- I don't know that he ever had someone to "unload" all of this to- it just seemed to come out of him. He just was looking for someone to listen to. We both spoke about how much comfort and peace our faith gives us, especially at times of grieving and loss, etc., etc. Needless to say, this was a witnessing opportunity that the Lord had orchestrated...and, then, before you knew it- the kids came back from their cross country meet. Once again, my friends, I learned the importance of witnessing through listening and praying. Just listen to people- listen to their story- and bring in the "faith question" when you get the chance! And, pray for these people. Believe me- the Lord is working on them and in them, if you are ready to hear it and respond to it! Again, I thank God for the many opportunities I get to witness even in my everyday work driving a bus for Aristocrat! Little did I know when I took this job how much this would be a forum for ministry and a learning experience for me in relating ministry to everyday life.

Transition into a "House Church"

For the Christmas and New Year Holidays, we will be moving into a "house church" worship format after the final Bible Study and Prayer meeting. We will have Sunday School for the children and youth at 6:00PM, and Adult Bible study on issues regarding our proposed Statement of Faith. This will be followed by worship at 7:00PM (with messages on the Christmas holidays). Then, on December 31st (New Years Eve) we will move into a Sunday morning Sunday School/Adult Bible Study and Worship service. Here is a schedule for the next few weeks:
Sunday, December 3rd- 7:00PM- Final prayer meeting and Bible study- [Epilogue-"Master Plan"] (Address-Tom & Suzann Zoltner- 4 King Hill Ct. Denville)
Sunday, December 10th- 6:00PM- Sunday School for the Children and youth; Adult Bible study on our proposed Statement of Faith (Including such topics as The Bible, The Trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Salvation, the Church, the etc. The first topic of study will be the section on "Means of Grace", specifically Baptism and Holy Communion)
7:00PM- Worship (Zoltners- 4 King Hill Ct., Denville)- message on the Christmas theme
Sunday, December 17th- 6:00PM- Sunday School/Adult Bible Study
7:00PM- Worship (Mescalls- 6 Gunther Rd., Mendham)-message on the Christmas theme
Saturday, December 23rd (note change in day)- 5:00PM- family dinner
7:00PM- Worship (Location- Our Home- 1A Point Pleasant Rd)- message on the Christmas theme
Sunday, December 31st- begin morning Sunday School/Adult Bible Study & Worship
9:30AM- Sunday School/Adult Bible Study
10:30AM- Worship (Location- Our home- 1A Point Pleasant Rd.)
Sunday, January 7th- 9:30AM- Sunday School/Adult Bible Study
10:30AM- Worship (Location- Mescalls- 6 Gunther Rd., Mendham)
Please pray for us as we make this transition into our "House Church" format.

Innovative Church Conference- Granger, Indiana

Well, I did promise you a report on the "Innovative Church Conference"in Granger, Indiana- in summary, it was GREAT! Not only was it excellent in its presentation and content, but David and I found that we were ministered to by the conference! It was a place of healing and strengthening and vision for us. I think that the one thing about the Granger Church that David and I were most impressed with was the ATMOSPHERE at the church. Everyone you met- from the parking attendant to the usher to the welcome attendant to the one who served you coffee in their "Starbucks" style coffee shop- seemed to be someone who genuinely cared.

The primary principle of evangelism that they used was STORY- that is, that there are three stories- MY story, YOUR story, and GOD'S story- and, the place where they intersect is a very powerful place! It is obvious that they trained these people in how to talk with new people, and how to "engage" them in telling their story- just by asking simple questions (where are you from, what do you do, who is in your family, etc.), and allowing them to go as far or as deep as they wanted to go. You could literally enter into conversation with many different people in many different settings, and find yourself "intersecting" with these 3 stories in multiple settings with anyone there!

The other thing that was so refreshing and "ministering" to us was the openness and vulnerability of the leaders of the conference. I must admit that I went to the conference feeling somewhat inadequate, losing confidence, even questioning certain tenets of my faith at times. I just listened for a while- but, before I knew it, I felt I could just "be myself", and be open with others about these things because it was NOT ABOUT ME- it is about GOD in me! Other leaders felt these things- they were all "in process", and "on a journey"- and, maybe they had gone to places similar to where I was headed, and they could pull up alongside of me and help me to make the NEXT STEP that I needed to make to follow the Lord's leading. But, it was not about a prescribed plan, or a 10 step process to become successful in ministry. It was about REAL people, with REAL problems (as well as gifts), serving a REAL God!

A third thing that we got out of the conference was EXCELLENCE and CREATIVITY in the use of the arts to communicate the message of Christ! The productions, the dramas, the videos, the music was of professional quality. The transitions between the message and the use of various art forms was seamless. It was not "gimmicky"- believe me! It was EXCELLENT in its use of pictures and music to enhance the presentation of the message, not distract from it. I found that these things brought out memories and emotions that truly engaged me with the theme of the message, and caused me to connect in very real ways not just with the speaker, but with the Holy Spirit. They did not compromise the message, or even compromise the presentation of the message, but rather they "leveraged" the culture to truly engage people with the message.

The fourth thing that I got out of this event was time to get to know David Griffith. Spending 3 days together, having hours of discussion together, riding in the car together through traffic jams and commuter delays, getting stuck in the airport together for 5 hours, processing this conference together helped us to hear each other's hearts, and I can truly say that we are of one heart and mind in reaching people in our area for Christ! This man is the real deal (Dave, if you are reading this, tell your wife I said you are the real deal...), and I believe that the Lord put us together for a purpose- both at the right time, both going through similar experiences, both with the same passion for reaching "postmoderns" with the gospel. Quite frankly, we needed each other, just to affirm that we are not crazy! Outside of the box, maybe- off the charts, maybe...but, both of us feel that God is doing something new and different- and we are also "In Process" to discern what that is, and then to have the courage to DO IT!

So, once again, we thank God for you, and for those of you who gave so that we could attend, and for those of you who prayed that God would speak to us through this conference.

Fasting and Praying on Wednesdays

Sue and I want to thank God for some of our "Prayer Partners" who have dedicated every Wednesday as a day of fasting to joining with us in focusing our prayers on our future plans regarding church planting. If you would like to join us in this effort, we will fast from breakfast Wednesday to breakfast Thursday (24 hours) and use the extra time that we would have spent eating lunch and dinner on Wednesday for prayer!

Movie- "The End of the Spear"

Sue and I watched an incredible movie Sunday evening, after the bible study and prayer meeting- "The End of the Spear". It was about Jim Elliot, Nate Saint and 3 other missionaries who went to the Wadani Indians in Ecuador, a violent tribe defined by revenge killing. These 5 men were killed by them in their first face to face encounter. But, some of the men in the tribe were touched by the Holy Spirit and converted. And, the wives and children of the missionaries who were killed went to the Wadani, and won them for Christ- and, many in that tribe are believers today and their entire way of life has been completely transformed. When I see a movie like this, and I see the price paid for by others to win people to Christ, I recognize that the price we sometimes pay to present the gospel is but a feather compared to the sacrifice made by these incredible men and women. Trust me- RENT OR BUY THIS MOVIE, AND WATCH IT AS SOON AS YOU GET A CHANCE. It will move you to tears, and change your perspective on "paying the price" to get the message of Christ to lost people!

Our Dream of A CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS

Ephesians 2:14- “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall…”

We dream of a “Church Without Walls”-

- a church based on influencing people for Christ by going to people where they are, and drawing them into a relationship with Christ through service, involvement and relationships with other believers

-a church where the “dividing wall” that separates God and man will be broken down, and people experience the fullness of freedom and the abundant life that Christ intended them to have.

-a church where the “dividing wall” between believers and unbelievers will be broken down, and people will experience a sense of belonging in an atmosphere of total acceptance, love and support.

-a church where the “dividing wall” that separates members of families from one another will be broken down by forgiveness, faith and “the blessing”.

-a church where the “dividing wall” that separates people of different races will be broken down by forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance.

-a church where the “dividing wall” of denominationalism will be broken down by mutual prayer, cooperation and support with people of other Christian faiths.

-a church where the “dividing wall” that separates people from fulfilling their dreams will be broken down by faith, and by the discovery and use of their spiritual gifts.

-a church where the “dividing wall” that keeps broken and hurting people from experiencing the fullness of life that God intended for them will be broken down as they find a home among people who welcome them with open arms.

Bible Study-Master Plan of Evangelism

As we enter the next phase of our exploration for a possible church plant in the Morristown area, Sue and I will begin a weekly Bible study and Prayer Meeting (for the next 10-12 weeks), Sunday evenings (7:00-9:00PM) Beginning September 10th at our home (for the first month) on the book, "Master Plan of Evangelism" by Robert Coleman. This book would be a blueprint for any church plant, based on the principle of the Discipleship model that Jesus used (as presented in the gospels). If you are interested in this study, please write back and let me know so I can make sure that we have enough books ordered.

Also, David Griffith and I will be going to "Innovative Church Conference" at the "Granger Church" in Granger, Ind. (Notre Dame country) September 21-22! We want to thank the Lord for those who generously donated enough so that we could go. The conference offers seminars such as "First Impressions: creating 'Wow' Experiences in Your Church", "Who are You Talking to: Selecting Your Target Audience", "Purpose Driven Church Basic", "Creative Teaching" and "Multi-site/Theater Church Ministry". Some great topics, and a great conference. David went last year and loved it. Thank the Lord for this opportunity! We'll have a lot to report in a future Blog.

Another visit to Vroom St. Church, Jersey City

This week, Sue & I want to thank God for another worship experience at the Vroom Street Evangelical Free Church, Vroom St., Jersey City, NJ. As I mentioned in a precious blog, this is one of the most ethnically diverse churches in the heart of Jersey City. My friend, Pastor Bill Sweeting, has been the pastor there now for a year, and already there are significant signs of new life and vibrancy at this church. They have a new worship team ("Grace Notes") that plays a variety of hymns and choruses. They are truly committed to reaching out in their community for Jesus Christ. I gave the morning message, about Abraham, and what it is to walk by faith- Hebrews 11:8-10- "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." I believe that it was an encouragement to all of us and a reminder that we need to live our lives totally surrendered to Him! After worship, we went with our "Jersey City family" (Soni, Patrick, M.G. and India) to lunch along with the Sweeting family. Bill was healed, as we had prayed (he had a fever for three days last week), and was well on his way to full strength, and he enjoyed a full meal with us. Pray for this vital ministry, and that it will continue to be a beacon of light for the Jersey City area!

Worship at two places of healing and hope- Camp Hope & Market St. Mission- August 6th
Sue & I want to thank God for our experiences in worship at two places of healing today, Camp Hope and Market Street Mission. Camp Hope is a drug and alcohol rehab program for women in Oxford, NJ (sponsored by Times Square Church and the Teen Challenge ministry). Market St. Mission is a drug and alcohol rehab program for men in Morristown, NJ.
The morning service at Camp Hope was a blessing in many ways. Worship was simple and heartfelt. The morning message was entitled, "The Simple Life". The pastor spoke on how to simplify our lives by leading lives of total surrender to the Lord, no matter what He wants us to do, no matter where He wants us to go! Such a simple message, but so powerful! Sue and I went forward, and again surrendered our lives to the Lord, to do with our lives and our family whatever He desired, no matter what it may be! What a freeing prayer- I believe that it is the only way to pray and to live. I hope and pray that you will also pray and live this way! (by the way, as you are praying for this ministry, pray for Sue's cousin's daughter, Kristen, who began this program a couple of months ago, but left after a few short weeks- pray that she will come back and give herself completely to the Lord, and to be delivered from her drug addiction)
Then, Sunday evening, we went to the evening worship at Market St. Mission. It was an incredible service- again, simple, but powerful and heartfelt. The pastor (Nelson Seda, a Spanish Pastor from Flemington, NJ) spoke on the story of David vs. Goliath, and what it takes to tackle the "giants" that we face in life- whether it be alcohol and drug addiction, or family problems, or problems at our place of work. We need to face them with the courage and faith of David! Then, we shared communion with the men and women who were gathered with us. What a blessing it was, and how much "at home" we felt as we were welcomed with open arms by these families of God in these ministries of healing.
Pray for these vital ministries, and for the hundreds of men and women who have been set free from their addictions to drugs and alcohol through Camp Hope and Market Street Mission!

Some thought regarding a location for our church plant

We thank the Lord for all those who joined us in our recent Prayer Meeting at our Lake home. It was truly a blessed time! We were joined by about 45 people who spent time together, enjoying good food, fellowship and fun on the water- and then had a rich worship and prayer time. The topic of this week's session was WHERE. Sue and I have been praying and seeking the Lord about this question for the past 7 months now...we believe that the Lord is confirming in our hearts that we seek to plant a church in Morristown. We have researched, prayed, talked with various people, visited various communities. These are the factors that have led us to focus more on Morristown:
-It is outside of the 12 mile radius that was given to us from the May 11th meeting at Hillside
-Because of my involvement in the "Concerts of Prayer" movement in NYC, our hearts are being drawn back toward New York City. Therefore, our hearts are being drawn east rather than west.
-Morristown is the county seat, and a place of major influence and opportunity for our entire county
-There are over 100,000 people within a 5 mile radius of the town center ("The Green")
-There is more ethnic diversity in this town than many other towns in Morris County
-Morristown also has a long influential history, dating back to the time of the revolutionary period of our nation. George Washington's headquarters were in Morristown during the major turning point of the Revolutionary War (Winters of 1777 and 1779-1780).
-Although there are many churches in the town of Morristown (about 30), there is a significant need for a vibrant evangelical church in the town of Morristown at this time. Other mission churches have met the challenge in that area as well-but, only a few.
-Morristown is a small city, rather than a large town, and thus is more likely to accept a ministry that is more "progressive" (a "church without walls?").
-Morristown has a number of vital ministries that impact the entire county, including Market St. Mission, First Choice Women's center, a branch of Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Prison Ministries, etc. These ministries provide opportunities for service for people from our church to be involved in.
-We are engaged in discussions with the General Manager of "Clearview Cinemas" about meeting in the Clearview Cinema in Headquarters plaza for worship (please pray about this!). This setting is well-know to people throughout the town and throughout the county.
-We have met a pastor and his wife, David and June Griffith (they were at our last prayer gathering), who have expressed interest in our church planting efforts. David had resigned from his parish ministry in New Brunswick over a month ago, before he even knew that we were in prayer about our church plant. He felt a strong leading from the Lord to be involved in some way in church planting in the town in which he grew up, Morristown. I liken David to the "man in Macedonia" in Acts 16:6-10, who called upon Paul to "come on over and help us". He also has a network of people who have indicated interest in our church planting efforts.
Pray that the Lord would confirm HIS plans for us. We are always willing to be moved and corrected, but the strong leading that we feel seems to be genuinely from the Lord to move into Morristown.

Brooklyn Tabernacle

Sue & I want to thank God for our experience in worship at the well-known inner city church, Brooklyn Tabernacle. This vital church is not only known for its choir (The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir), but especially for its commitment to prayer as the foundation for this entire ministry. The pastor's (Jim Cymbala's) book, "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" outlines this strategy and emphasis. Sue and I felt that we were ministered to in a very real way. During the service, we heard from two missionaries. One woman and her husband were ministering to both Israelis and Palestinians in northern Israel. Many of the believers there- both Jewish and Arab- had to meet in secret, since their lives were in danger because of their conversion to Christianity. Then, another pastor spoke about his work among the poor in Peru- literally reaching millions of people through medical missions. Boy, did we feel like wimps whenever we talk about how we have "suffered" for the gospel in the US. We haven't felt 1/10th of the pressure that these people felt every day. But, the Lord is with them, and blessing their ministry in these critical days. Then, during the prayer time, the church dedicated the work of over 120 volunteers who were preparing to work this week at a summer day camp for abused and neglected inner city kids! Pray that their efforts will be a success. There were two altar calls during the morning worship service- one even before the message was preached! The place was "electric" with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, so that dozens of people (including Sue and me) went forward just as an act of submission to the Lord, and an appeal to Him for His will and purpose for our lives to be lived out in us. The message that was shared was on the Holy Spirit, and although it was a basic message from passages of scripture that we were familiar with, yet there was an anointing on the message that made it very real and very personal for us. When Pastor Cymbala called people forward for a second time that day- this time, "for those who feel called to a new and very different type of ministry", we jumped out of our seats and went forward, and dedicated ourselves again to be used whenever and wherever the Lord wanted us. The atmosphere of prayer, and the sweetness of the presence of the Holy Spirit made this vital church one of the most exciting inner-city churches we have visited.
Some of you had expressed that you wanted to attend the prayer meeting at Brooklyn Tabernacle- please send an e-mail back to me if you would like to join us. We will probably go on a Tuesday evening (the prayer meeting begins at 7:00PM) in September or October. Come and join us, if you can, and prepare to be blessed.

Times Square Church- 7-09-06

Website-www.timessquarechurch.org
On Sunday, July 9th, we attended Times Square Church in NYC. What a powerful worship experience! From start to finish, it was impressive. The church is on 51st & 6th Ave in NYC. It is a converted theater, and an annex building right next to the theater, for children's ministries, small groups, offices, etc. The first area that you enter is a large lobby area- a place in which you can get further information, other assistance before the worship service. As you enter into the worship (theater) area, you are impressed with the quality of the decoration and the artwork. It seats about 2,000 people, and it was packed. The first people you meet are the Ushers and Greeters. They wear clearly marked yellow jackets, and they are active throughout the service, greeting people, seating people, AND, keeping the congregation quiet (I discovered as I was one of the talkative ones who was "shushed"!) so that people could come forward for prayer before the service. They carried large signs- "PLEASE KEEP QUIET SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PRAY", and carried them up and down the aisles. People were praying in their seats, they came forward for prayer, they stood, they knelt, they raised their hands, they walked around. When the pastors came out on the stage, they walked the stage and prayed over different parts of the stage area where people would take part in the worship service. I also noticed a prayer gathering underneath the sanctuary, praying for God's anointing on the pastor and worship leaders. You got a feeling of expectation as you realized that this church was "covered" in prayer. Then, the curtain was shut, and the choir and worship team took their places, and when the curtain arose, worship began with great enthusiasm. The entire worship experience was seamless, meaningful, enthusiastic, at times meditative. It had some Messianic Jewish flavor, some Black Gospel flavor, some Latino flavor, some European flavor. The choir, worship leaders and pastoral staff were ethnically diverse (as was the congregation), and the worship matched this diversity. There was a mix of newer choruses, older choruses, hymns sung and performed beautifully, with lots of power. The worship portion lasted almost an hour, but I don't think anyone was looking at their watches. Sue and I found ourselves caught up at times with various emotions- joy, excitement, awe, quietness, tears. We were "prepared" in worship to enter into the "inner sanctuary" with the Lord. The Pastor's message was inspiring and powerful. We heard stories about the church being involved in Ireland and England, as well as Borundi and other parts of Africa. This was genuinely a "world church". The message was on the book of Revelation, and the statement of Jesus in Revelation 1:19- "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later." or as another translation states it, "...what must take place..." There are things that the Lord has promised that He will do, things that must take place. There is a kingdom that is coming, and it must come. All that we need to do is to believe it, and get on board with what the Lord is doing for His kingdom- or, we may miss it entirely! After the service, there was an altar call, and dozens of people went forward for prayer. The Lord is blessing the Times Square area- even the entire city- through this church!

Calvary Chapel of Morris Hills

website- www.ccmorrishills.org
On Sunday, June 18th, we attended worship at Calvary Chapel of Morris Hills in Dover. This new congregation is less than two years old, so we got to see how a church operates in its early phases of ministry. I was pleasantly surprised at how much was accomplished at so early a stage. The Pastor, "Pastor Jim", spoke on the opening verses of Paul's letter to the Galatians. It was a clear teaching, with many applications to our lives at this point. Especially, I was impacted by his reminder of Paul's CALL to be an Apostle, and the fact that God's calling is RECOGNIZED, not VALIDATED (or invalidated) by man. Then, we as believers recognize what God has already done, and we move ahead based on God's calling despite the obstacles, problems, or criticism that we may receive in the fulfillment of God's call. That's a good reminder for all of us. God HAS a calling for all of us, and we need to find out what it is, and do it!
Calvary Chapel is a church planting movement based on the vision of Chuck Smith in the mid-1960's, and the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California. At that time,"Contemporary Christian Music" was unheard of, and there was little to no outreach to the "hippies" and young people who were searching for answers in the mid-1960's. Chuck Smith formed one of the largest churches in America at that time, reaching out to the "hippies"- and thus, the "Jesus Movement" was begun (of which I am a product). The movement still seeks to reach many of our young people who are "counter-culture" in our day, who have been turned off by traditional churches. Pray that God continues to bless this wonderful new church in our area.

Vroom St. Evangelical Free Church, Jersey City, NJ

On June 11th, we attended worship at the "Vroom Street Evangelical Free Church" in Jersey City, NJ. The pastor, Bill Sweeting has been a friend through the "Concerts of Prayer" organization. His wife, Katie, is the assistant director of Concerts of Prayer- New York. This was truly a picture of what a "multi-ethnic" church should be. In attendance were white, black, Hispanic, Philippino, Asian Indian, etc., etc. You could see how the church has made "adjustments" to accommodate the other groups. The blending of all of these people into one congregation has been both a challenge and a blessing. It is a truly balanced ministry, and it was inspiration to experience the richness of many traditions into "one church". Pastor Bill spoke plainly and powerfully about how God speaks to us today- especially through His word, but also through Godly friends and family, through circumstances, even through suffering. Katie and Bill have a definite vision for multi-ethnic ministry, and for work in the inner cities. Pray for them, and for this ministry as the congregation is in a "rebuilding" phase, and is a church in transition from a dying congregation into a live, vital ministry that is beginning to grow again. As an interesting side, Eric's (Sarah's fiancé's) grandfather, Pastor Neil Brohm, was the pastor of the Vroom St. Church in the mid to late 1970's. I believe that he would be proud of what that church has become, and how it has adjusted to minister to the community in this neighborhood of Jersey City. Another side- this church is also 3 blocks away from Sue's and my sister-in-law, Soni! Soni & her mom attended with us and loved it.

Hope Springs Christian Fellowship

May 8, 2006- Hopesprings Christian Fellowship- Bangor, Pennsylvania

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to "Hopesprings Christian Fellowship" in Bangor, Pa. They have a great vision for reaching their community, using a "coffee house" on the street side of the building, and a large worship area in a converted warehouse in the back of the building. We toured their building after the worship service. They have a lot of work yet to go on the building, but it is a great facility, and will be used by the Lord to reach many people for the Lord in this Pennsylvania town. Of course, right now, they have their priorities right. They are concentrating first on building their people- building them in the word, equipping them for service, bonding them together for mission. They had a breakfast/brunch before worship, then a wonderful worship service, and a session from the "Alpha" course (on, of all topics- EVANGELISM!) Then they broke up into small groups around tables outside the worship area and had discussion groups on the morning "Alpha" lesson. It was a great way of making the teaching personal, and having people reflect on what they heard and how they will apply it in their lives. They are well on their way to building a vibrant, alive congregation.

Church Visit-Sparta Evangelical Free Church

April 9, 2006- Palm Sunday- website- www.spartaefc.org

This was the first Sunday after my operation on my vocal cords, so I had a day to "worship in silence". Worship was held at the Helen Morgan School in Sparta. This church has grown to pretty large church- the worship service that we attended was full (I guess about 200 in attendance- it was the 2nd worship service that morning, so I imagine that attendance at the worship services number close to 300). The ethnic make-up closely reflected the Sparta area- probably about 99% white. The worship service was more of a traditional European style, with some choruses and some hymns. The message was clearly focused on the meaning of the cross.
If you drive along Route 15, north of Sparta, you will see their beautiful facility which is being built in a strategic location- 110 acres right on Rt. 15! Their building is expected to be completed sometime in June. I believe that they have a bright future, and we pray that they may reach many for Christ in the Sparta area.

Christ Church, Montclair

Christ Church, Montclair, NJ (moving to Rockaway, NJ)
Website- www.christchurchnj.org
April 2, 2006- What an impressive church! This church of about 5,000 members is truly a picture of a "multicultural" church. I have heard David Ireland's presentation about being a multicultural ministry, and I was deeply impacted by his vision. This vision is reflected in their staff and leadership- white, black, hispanic, Asian, etc. are pretty equally represented in their leadership. And, it is represented in the ethnic makeup of the congregation as well. What a blessing, and what a picture of what it truly means to be a "church without walls"- a church in which the walls of division that have separated people of different races have been broken down by Christ. Ephesians 2:14- "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...."
Before you even entered the church, you were greeted by about 1/2 dozen people, people who were ready to show you where to sit, where to get information, etc. The church has a beautiful facility- classic design, but with a modern feel. You could see a commitment to excellence in everything they did, and the way everything was situated and presented. The sanctuary seats about 900 people, and it was full. The front stage area was filled with people on the worship team, and the words to the worship choruses was projected on a screen placed discreetly on both sides of the worship/stage area. Worship was exciting, heartfelt, beautifully done. People sang with enthusiasm,while flags were waving overhead- symbols of the dove (symbol of the Holy Spirit), and the cross. You felt like you were "covered" by the Holy Spirit as you were worshipping. At the portion about giving, people read statements of affirmation about giving, and then gave their offerings while worshipping. The morning message was not given by David Ireland (he was on assignment elsewhere), but by Barbara Franklin. The message was memorable- on God's favor. What a blessing to know when we have God's favor- that no matter what others say or do, no matter what difficuties we may face, if we know that we have God's favor (His blessing), we have confidence that will not be shaken!
Please pray for this church. They have come under some serious opposition over the past 2 years as they have sought to complete their move to the Agilent site in Rockaway (zoning and planning board issues). Sue and I welcome them, and I hope you do too. Pray that they will continue to be blessed, and to have God's favor as they move closer to us in Morris County!

Church Visits- March 26, 2006- Liquid Church, Millington, NJ

Website- www.liquidchurch.com
Don't let the traditional appearance of the Millington Baptist Church fool you. This church is far from traditional! "Liquid Church" (which meets every Sunday evening at 5:00PM & 7:30PM) has a reputation for effectively reaching young adults with the message of Jesus Christ. It was filled with 20's & 30's young adults who call this church their home. They run 2 services, and the attendance at each one runs around 250+. The church was packed. I was probably the oldest one there that evening. As I looked around during the worship service, I noticed that these young adults were really WORSHIPPING- lifting up their voices, standing, sitting, kneeling, whatever seemed appropriate for the mood of the service at the moment. Worship was very contemporary- "cutting edge"- but, also with a mix of traditional hymns mixed in (played in a contemporary style).
The pastor of Liquid, Pastor Tim Lukas, was an excellent teacher. He was dressed informally, sat on a bench (sometimes- although, he got up at times when his energy increased) in his jeans and sportshirt, and he spoke very clearly on keeping balance in our Christian lives- balance between spending time with the Lord, spending time with Christians and spending time with unbelievers. I especially appreciated Pastor Tim's transparency. He did not speak as one who "had it all together", but rather as one who was along with all of us on the journey, struggling and trusting the Lord to obey and follow His commands. I have been to "Liquid" 3 times, and each time, I heard Tim say, "This is the area that I struggle with...and let me tell you what that looks like." This does not make him LESS worthy of being a leader, but rather MORE worthy of being a leader. I found myself saying, "yeah- I struggle with that too"- but, he did not leave us without an answer. The answer was always- JESUS! Flee to Him...trust Him...pray to Him- that's the way to "get it done" in the Christian life. I believe that young adults- actually, even old guys like me- appreciate that kind of transparency and genuineness. The pastor is ministering WITH the congregation, not ministering TO the congregation.
After the worship service, they had an informal meeting downstairs with a gift-bag full of gifts and information on the worship service, and a chance to meet with "Pastor Tim" and a few of the others on staff. Again, it was easy to talk with these people, easy to feel like a part of things right away.
This ministry is also very strong in outreach, in serving within the world as a witness to the world about the love of Jesus Christ. For instance, they have a section on the website, "Church without walls" (of course, this topic is of special interest to me- this is the "theme" for our vision for church planting), and it shows some of the projects that they have been involved with- trips to New Orleans, Boardwalk ministry, etc. I was especially interested in their giving away bottled water in New Jersey's annual "Gay Pride Celebration", and meeting with and talking people about the love of Jesus Christ. The sign at their booth said, "FREE WATER! Refreshing, No Strings Attached...Just like God's Love". Wow- that's bold stuff- the kind of ministry that is making a difference. Pastor Tim told a story about talking with a lesbian woman about being "Baptist"- she said, "Are you here to tell us that if we don't change, we are going to hell?" Pastor Tim's response was, "Not at all- actually, God is changing US- many of us as Christians have been pretty judgmental- but, Jesus is changing OUR hearts. So, we are here today just to serve and try humbly to reconcile..." The response was immediate and heartfelt- "Thank you! Finally a group of religious people who are treating us like REAL Christians are supposed to..."
My friends, THAT kind of mission thinking is what will make a difference in our broken, sinful and alienated world!

Reflections of a bus driver

I recently got the job at Aristocrat Bus & Limo company, so that I can do some "tentmaking" ministry- that is, to secure a secular job so that I will not be a financial burden to the mission. The attached picture is of the bus I drove on my first bus run last week. During the spring season, I will be taking a few "training runs" to acclimate me to the job, to familiarize me with the routine, and to get used to driving again. I took one run last week to bring a baseball team from Parsippany High School to Brick High School to play a double header. It was about a 2 hour drive, then I had 6 hours on the bus to type, make phone calls, rest, read, etc. then, 2 hours return trip. It is interesting- I was writing a Bible study on Acts 27 during this time, and it is about Paul on a ship on the ocean during a storm, and how he was the one who took over as "captain" of the ship. And, one of his lines was, "And the Lord has given me those who sail with me." In other words, the Lord used him to protect all the people on the ship. I pray that prayer every time I get on the bus- "Lord, you have given me the responsibility for all those who are aboard this bus. Protect us all for the sake of your name, and for all the families that they represent." I believe that I can get used to the job.
But, there has been another interesting lesson from this job. Who am I? For almost 26 years, if you asked me, I would have answered, "Pastor Pete". But, when I am on this job, who am I? Am I the "bus driver"? Actually, I have had to learn to become "a person", a Christian person, and not just defined by my role as pastor. That is a healthy perspective, I believe. It is easy as a pastor to get an insulated, isolated view of life as you spend time mostly with other Christians, in church settings, in the role of "a pastor". Now, I'm relearning how to become a man of God without the role- living, serving, working within the world, rubbing shoulders with bus drivers and group leaders and kids on a regular basis, learning how to be a witness again by serving and representing Christ in everyday settings.
For all of us, it is a good lesson- who are you? Have you defined yourself by your role- by your job? Are you a "corporate executive"- a "builder"- a "teacher"? Who are you? Remember always- first and foremost, you are a PERSON, made in the image of God, remade by the new birth in Christ Jesus.

Reflections after an operation on my vocal cords

I had an operation on my vocal cords today. They actually found two polyps, so I was worse off than originally thought. I have a bit of a sore throat, but not too bad- only hurts (slightly) when I swallow. Hey, though- I can still eat whatever I want. But not too much "scratchy stuff" (chips, tacos, chex mix, etc.). It really went fine. I am glad to have the operation over with, and now to be on the mend. I should recover at least 80% of my vocal capacity after the recovery period (somewhere between 2-3 months). Hopefully, I will be able to sing again one day!
It has been interesting to go into a period of silence for about a week to ten days (according to the doctor- although my voice therapist says more like 12 -14 days.) I have had time to reflect on the power of words. It is interesting to sit in with a group of people, and to hear them talking, but not to be able to respond to them (except what I can write on my "white-board"). My wife and daughters say that it is a bit lonely to have me in the room, but not to be able to converse with me. We all talk about everything. I am grateful for our communication in our family over the years, that we can share what is in our hearts, to share words of encouragement and blessing, to challenge each other with our thoughts on various subjects, to make plans together. We need not only to be with each other, but also to share with each other- and, the primary way that this is done is through words. Without words, we can communicate SOME things, but not ALL things. We cannot share our HEARTS, our THOUGHTS, our PLANS, our EXPERIENCES. How much we are dependent upon our words to communicate OURSELVES.
As I have thought about all of this, I have thought about our relationship with The Lord, and the power of The Word. What if God had chosen to only be revealed to us in nature, in His creation- but, had never chosen to speak to us in words? Can you imagine what a lonely place this universe would be? What if He was present with us, but we never knew His thoughts, His plans, His blessing, His heart? What if Jesus came to the earth, and the only thing He did was miracles of healing, and calming the storm and even raising the dead- but, He never taught anything, or communicated the thoughts and intentions of His heart through words? What if we did not have the written word- the Bible- to communicate from generation to generation what the purposes of the Lord were? How would we interpret these events? Can you imagine anything more lonely than than to try to have a relationship with the Lord without words? Today, as you pray for me (and, I appreciate your prayers and your notes), also praise the Lord for the word, and for God's communication with us through words. Believe me- when you don't have them as readily available to you as you would like, you realize their value!

Church Visits- Montclair Community Church, Montclair, NJ

Montclair Community Church, Montclair, NJ
Website- www.montclaircommunitychurch.com

We visited this church with our whole family- what a wonderful experience- Sue and me, Rachel & Paul, Sarah, Eric & Little Jon, Grandma, the Brohm family and the DiQuattro family all together worshipping in the same place. This is the home church of Rachel's in-laws (Mark & Loretta DiQuattro) and Sarah's future in-laws (Niel & Sharyn Brohm) Niel is an elder in that church, and Mark is an elder in training. Parking was a bit difficult, but we found a place on the street up the block. The worship setting was very comfortable and informal- stage type setting, movie theater type chairs (I liked the "create your own space" feel of theater type seating). The worship was well done- well thought out, professional quality, well-rehearsed, heartfelt. The Senior Pastor is "Pastor Ed" Banghardt. He is a gentle spirit, easy to be around, easy to talk to, a deep thinker and a good expositor of the scriptures. His message that day was on the one of the miracles of Jesus, the healing of the demon possessed man (Matthew 8). He spoke of Jesus who had just calmed the storm (the storm without) now calmed another type of storm (the storm within). It was a relevant message- I took lots of notes- on spiritual warfare and healing.
After the worship service, they had coffee and bagels downstairs. Many people stayed for this fellowship time. It was obvious that they liked to gather together with each other. But, we did not find it to be an "exclusive club". It was easy to talk with people- many people there were very open to us, and welcoming toward us.
This church has recently completed a building project, right in the heart of Montclair. I believe that they have a lot of momentum in their ministry, a great leadership team, and a lot of resources at their disposal. They make maximum use of their resources, and seem to run things pretty smoothly. They also have a GREAT website. You can even download "Pastor Ed's" messages online. Check it out at www.monclaircommunitychurch.com.

Church Visits-Hope Presbyterian Church, Randolph

Hope Presbyterian Church, Randolph, NJ
http://www.realhope.org

I got to know the pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church from "day one". He came into this area about 7 years ago, and had some great ideas for church planting. Our visit there was very interesting. They have pretty much a "roll-out church" concept. All the equipment- signage, sound systems, SS material, toys for the nursery, coffee pots, etc., etc are in a trailor (see the picture above). They just "Rolled into" Randoph Middle School, set up for church in their 800 seat auditorium, and in the hallways, and began their worship and Sunday School hour. The key to this success of this ministry was SIGNAGE- they had signs everywhere- the truck and trailor was parked out by the street (hard to miss it!), signs were in the parking lot, out on the sidewalk, in the hallways, by the bathrooms, etc. People greeted you right there in the parking lot, so you felt welcomed right away. The pastor was there, greeters were there, ushers were there- you were greeted by at least 1/2 dozen people before you even entered the building. As you entered, things seemed to be easy to find. There was a coffee and literature table right there in the front hallway, nursery care right by the front hallway. The worship area was in the auditorium. It was a bit dark- they could have used a spotlight or two on the pastor or worship leaders. The powerpoint for worship was beautifully displayed, and worship was excellent- a blend of contemporary choruses and hymns. The pastor's message was easy to listen to and well presented. He spoke on the faith of Abraham, going to place which were unclear (a good word for a church planter to hear! It ministered to my soul). Then, they had communion, a very close, intimate "family meal" kind of atmosphere.

We attended the Bible study hour after the worship service, and it was a great "question and answer" session, with good notes. After the service, we stayed around for coffee, and had some great discussions. People from the congregation seemed comfortable "crossing the great divide", coming over to greet us. I believe that this reflects the character and manner of the pastor. He is a social, affable kind of guy.

After the "party", everything was neatly packed into its designated case, and all the equipment packed into the trailer, and this "roll out church" rolled out of the Middle School, back to its storage unit. The Church offices are located on Sussex Turnpike in Randolph, signalling to this community that this church is here to stay. This is where the pastors, staff and congregation holds their meetings during the week.

Church Visits- Holy Grounds Cafe, Allendale, NJ

February 26, 2006- Holy Grounds Cafe, Allendale, NJ
http://www.touchtheworld.org/holygrounds
This may be hard to explain, but it is worth it. Holy Grounds Cafe is a part of "Touch the World" ministries (led by my friend, Jeff Boucher). Touch the World's primary ministry is sending youth and young adults on mission trips in the USA and around the world. But, they also have a "Cafe" in Allendale, NJ (near my home town of Wyckoff!). This is like a Christian version of "Starbucks" or "Panera Bread", right in the middle of town. It is a quality place! They have coffees and lattes and espressos and pastries- a place where people can meet and talk and sip coffee. Then, on weekends, they had various Christian musical groups come in for concerts and entertainment. My brother and sister in law and I (all in our 40's & 50's) have visited there a number of times, as well my daughters and my nephews (all in their 20's), and they loved it. It is a place especially where young adults can come and meet other in a positive and uplifting environment (an alternative to the "bar scene"). They have been operating for about 5 or 6 years now.
In 2005, they decided to "launch" a new Church from this ministry- Powerhouse Christian Church. They meet now for two services on a Sunday morning (9:00 & 10:30). It was a bit crowded (with about 75 people in attendance), but all in all, it was a pleasant worship experience. The worship was very contemporary- perhaps loud for some (although I loved it), but very spirited, reverent, and well presented. They had a quality "High-tech" presentation. They also served coffee at the counter (free that morning). People could come and go at their leisure, sip coffee in between "transitions" in the service, or meet with one another in another part of the building. The message that day was given by one of the lay leaders in that congregation, a truck driver. He was a straight shooting, plain-talking man who knew his Bible, and knew how to tell a great story. His message was memorable- about being always ready to share the message of Christ when occasions and events call for it, sharing the message even when you don't feel like it (based on the story of Philip in Acts 8).
The worship was uplifting, the setting informal, the message relevant and helpful. I thought the seamless transition from the ministry of Holy Grounds Cafe to Powerhouse Christian Church was a great idea for reaching younger people in the "Post-modern" generation.

Church Visits- Summit LBC, Mt. Olive

February 19, 2006- Summit Lutheran Brethren Church, Mt. Olive, NJ
http://www.climbthesummit.com
Of course, our first visit was to our closest sister church, Summit Lutheran Brethren Church. This church, which was started by Hillside during the year of their 50th anniversary (2000), is led by my good friend, Peter Bradford. There were about 45 people in attendance at a worship service held in the Vasa Park Recreation Center building. Finding it may have been a bit difficult for some people- we didn't see signs by the road or toward the building. Sunday School was spread out in 4 corners of the rec room- Small children in one corner, grade school children in another corner, teens in another corner, and adults in another. The adult class was on "The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse"- WOW- what a class! A great (and difficult) topic- some lively discussion. After the class, there was some informal time. People seemed to intermingle not only amongst themselves, but with their visitors that day. The worship service was simple and intimate- a mix of praise choruses and traditional hymns. Pastor Bradford and Elder Curt Frustol invited our family to come up so that the church might pray for us and our new venture- a beautiful and meaningful time for us and for our family. Pastor Pete's message was impassioned and relevant, as usual. After the worship service, there was plenty of coffee and cake- almost everybody stayed and fellowshipped together for this time. They seem to be a close-knit bunch!
All in all, the worship at this church was a pleasant and enriching experience. Although we are "on assignment" to visit a lot of churches this winter and spring, we are grateful to call Summit LBC our "Home Base". Be sure to visit this wonderful church sometime in the near future!