Marc's Messages

Brainstorm with 'modern kings'

Rob and I drove to Zijderveld, a small polder village south of Utrecht, where Lucas Vos facilitated a brainstorm meeting with Harold Eberle and a number of young businessmen and professionals. The theme was taken from Eberle's latest book 'Modern Kings' in which he challenges Christians to minister in the marketplace. There was a good quality of people and a good discussion, especially related to reformation of both the church and the marketplace.

Some nice quotes:

"John Bevere is a sheepdog, who's keeping the sheep in their sheep pens using a demonic teaching on covering and tithing." (not really flattering for John Bevere, but I like straight talk)

"Pyramids are for dead people!" (about hierarchical structures that kill people's own responsibility and initiative)

Lucas introduced the vital space model, a fluid organisation structure for church and ministry in the marketplace that creates space for revelation and God's process. As long as the church creates this kind of vital space, God will raise up the five-fold ministry and there will be healthy growth.

A key question is: how can we effectively disciple people in a fluid (network) context and help them to become effective multiplyers? In a network stewardship and relationships are more important than leadership and programs.

In the break I had a talk with Eberle about DAWN and igniting church planting movements among business people. Many business people are apostolic and have a love-hate relationship with the established church. They want to put their time and money where it really matters in terms of the Kingdom of God. A great opportunity for change.

Organic multiplication

Dave Patty of Josiah Challenge wrote an excellent article on organic multiplication. Some of his key thougths:

1. Organic multipliers work from the bottom up rather than the top down. They recognize that a branch that extends without proper support will break off. They know that growth without roots will wilt at the first dry spell.

2. Organic multipliers recognize that geese fly in flocks, but eagles have to be hunted down one at a time. The most valuable leaders will probably not respond to a general call, they must be sought out and individually challenged.

3. Organic multipliers are more tribal story tellers than technocrats. They collect and repeat live examples of the principles they teach and make heroes of the guy who is actually doing it. They raise the gene pool by highlighting the healthy and making memorials to godly growth.

4. Organic multipliers are careful not to inoculate people to truth by teaching it in a way that does not require application. They recognize the tendency of people to simply re-label old boxes and reorganize a ministry rather than renew it. Because of that they measure effectiveness of their teaching by transformation in the local setting, and don't move faster through material than the student can process and apply.

5. Organic multipliers build delivery systems that reflect their core convictions. Community must be taught within community, discipleship must by taught by discipling the student, a love for Christ taught by people who are in love with Christ. Recognizing that the method and context often teaches more powerfully than the content, organic multipliers work to create the reality that they want to teach.

6. Organic multipliers recognize that methods, structures and programs are extremely important but must be kept in their place. Methods maximize the energy of growth, structures serve as trellises to support and sustain growth, programs create a context and environment for growth. All, however, must be infused with life and are empty without it.

Inspiring and fascinating islands

While looking in some flights and ferries to Orkney (plan to be there in June with the DAWN team), I came across the NorthLink Ferries website with some captivating pictures.

The cross of Christ

Nothing is sacred for American commercialism. The latest alternative for Easter rabbits and eggs is a mass-produced chocolate cross that's being sold in 5,000 stores nationwide.

As an antidote it's good to read Jeff Fountain's weekly word about 'the simplest of symbols', with a great anecdote about Lithuania's Hill of Crosses.

The Gospel of John

Watched the first part of The Gospel of John, a three-hour movie about the life of Jesus that literally follows the complete gospel text. It captures the prophetic-poetic language John used, and is beautifully shot, while the actor who plays Jesus brings an appealing blend of warmth and virility to the role. I have to say this one impacted me even more than The Passion of the Christ, which I also liked. The inspired Word of God in itself is alive and powerful, quite different from a Hollywood paraphrase.

Good Friday

Happy Good Friday and Purim! We celebrated communion with our kids over dinner. Asked about the meaning of Good Friday and Easter, David said it had to do with Jesus dying and rising again. Peter suggested it was about an Easter bunny and finding chocolate eggs. Little heathen.

Financial integrity (2)

Since the release of last Tuesday's edition of Joel News on financial integrity, I've been overwhelmed with e-mails and phone calls. Several other media are working on stories related to some of the cases we published.

An organiser of national healing campaigns with an internationally well-known evangelist decided to open up his case. In an open letter on the Joel News Blog he acknowledged the manipulation that went on behind the scenes, and how he naively cooperated with this evangelist. This morning he told me: "I felt such a relief when I hit the 'post' button, a weight fell from my shoulders. I took a shower and asked the Lord to cleanse me. Indeed the truth will make me free."

I think we will see more stuff come to the surface in the coming months. Some Christians think this is a bad thing. I don't agree, it's a very necessary thing, provided it is done in a right way (Matt. 18 and solid journalistic principles) and a right spirit. A healthy body discerns and separates nutrition (which strengthens the body) from waste material. And we all know shit happens.

Meeting with the rabbi

Had a meeting in the house of prayer with rabbi Heintz of the Jewish community in Utrecht. It was good to reconnect. We talked about the roots of antisemitism in Utrecht and how the church in the city could change the tide and become a blessing to the Jewish community. The most concrete way to bless would be to help with the restoration the Jewish synagogue. In behalf of the city pastors team I invited rabbi Heintz to share on our upcoming leaders day in June.

Financial integrity

In the Dutch edition of Joel News I raised a hot topic: financial integrity among charismatic leaders. Over the past years I came across various cases of manipulation and fraud. Some of these made it into the media, but most continued under the surface. In all cases the lack of integrity of some leaders, and the naivity of their 'followers' keeps on amazing me. To protect my sources and to stay away from legal issues, I anonimized the cases, but no doubt it will stir things up.

Writing an article like this is often a wrestle match. I know I have to speak out, but want to do it with integrity. Apart from carefully researching the cases I always submit sensitive articles to several trusted friends and leaders I'm accountable to. It functions as a healthy safety net.

The euthanasia debate

The talk of the day in America: should Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman, be kept alive artificially, also when there's medically no chance of recovery? For conservative pro-life Christians this is not an issue: of course she should be kept alive; removing her feeding tube is plain murder.

Although by principle I'm pro-life, I have difficulty taking a black and white position in this debate. There are situations that so-called passive euthanasia (ending artificial feeding) is an option that's morally defendable. Yes, I'm a Dutchman, and very aware that my country kicked-off the euthanasia debate. Yes, I might be a bit too liberal on this point for most conservative Christians. Maybe it's because I was already confronted with the issue at a young age. The first and highly debated case of euthanasia in the Netherlands, the Stinissen case, actually started in my school class.

I was six years old and in primary school when my teacher, Ineke Stinissen, was to have a baby. The delivery didn't go well and doctors decided on a surgery. Unfortunately the anaestesist made a mistake, throwing her in a deep coma from which she never woke up. This was 1974. The first shock was of course that my teacher didn't return to school. Of course as kids we regularly prayed for her recovery. But she didn't wake up and was artifically kept alive for years. In the eighties her husband Gerard kicked off the euthanasia debate. In 1990 her treatment was stopped and she died.

Although this case is a bit different from the Schiavo case, it brings up the same kind of moral dilemma. Modern medical science can keep people alive (or in a passive state of life) for years. Is this always right? I don't have an easy black-and-white answer, not even an intelligent answer. So I just ask the question.

The beginning of reformation

 

Connect Netherlands

Met up with Maaike, Rebecca and Matthijs to talk about a Connect Netherlands weekend in September. We want to gather emerging (younger) leaders with a vision for reformation, and focus on four key areas: prayer, justice, missions and community.

Church as it happens

Yesterday I had an extensive talk with Mark de Boer, who is part of the (new) national leadership team of Agape, and who blogs here. Topics: church as Jesus intended it, leadership development, an informal network of emerging leaders. Today I skyped with Mark Bowness of Engage Network, an initiative designed to promote, resource and equip a church that is built upon relationships, a church that is sent out into all the World. Church as it happens.

BTW, when researching some ministries in East Europe, I came across the Josiah Venture website with some key articles on forming core teams, movements and multiplication. At the moment I'm reading the first document, titled 'A strategy for global youth ministry', which touches on several issues we're also facing in Connect Europe.

God and money

I'm currently taking Joel News International through a transition from a completely free e-zine to an e-zine published on the basis on an (obligatory) annual donation. The responses I get are quite interesting. Some people are cheering us on, and consider it a privilege to support our ministry once a year. Others are offended by the fact that we dare to ask for support at all.

The deeper question is of course: is asking for an annual donation or inviting people to support your ministry compatible with ministering freely and trusting God for your daily provision? I've given it a lot of prayer and thought, and also bounced this off with other missionaries.

The basic principles I try to apply are:

1. To fundamentally rely on God and stay free from a false dependency on money.
2. To be led by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He tells me to wait and don't share my needs with others, and other times He gives me the boldness to invite people to become partners in our calling. In both cases He provides.
3. To live generously and provide for others.

Jesus speaks about breaking the stronghold of money in our lives, but also about the fact that workers are worth their wages. About giving freely, but also about not throwing pearls for swines. About dethroning Mammon, but also about learning from non-believers how to deal with money, so it will serve our eternal calling.

A transition like this means we'll loose many subscribers, but the good thing is that we will end up making an e-zine for people who really value it and understand the effort we put into it. And if there is no reasonable basis to continue this ministry, it's time to stop. There is a season for everything.

Welcome to Jesus

Over the last week Karolien has been praying for Peter (3) to have a deeper encounter with Jesus. This morning, while driving him to kindergarten, Peter suddenly spoke up: "Lord Jesus, would you come and live in my heart?" Karolien turned around: "Hey, what are you saying?" Peter: "I'm asking the Lord Jesus to come and live in my heart."

A good starter for sure. I'm just wondering... was it the Holy Spirit, Karolien's prayers, or that cheesy EvangeCube that Peter asked me to go through again yesterday?

Band of brothers

Petr suggested to also meet up with Charis Enns, who is originally from Canada but lives in Tabor (south of Prague) and blogs here. So we went for a cappucino and cafe americana in downtown Prague. She is a remarkable lady, prayed for the Czech Republic over the past year, and envisions to start a house church movement. The Body as a band of brothers.

Checking out accomodations

Hung out with Joy and Kelsie today. Joy is from Milan and part of our Connect Europe team. Kelsie lives with her family near Prague and together with husband John pastors Prague Christian Fellowship. Part of their vision is to realise an international house of prayer.

Kelsie showed us a number of accomodations for our upcoming Connect Europe gathering at the end of August. From church halls to socialist-realist concrete buildings that for some strange reason they call 'hotels'. We also drove around a piece of land that was given to them by a Czech-Australian lady on the first Connect meeting in Herrnhut, to realise a house of prayer.

In the afternoon Joy and I took some time to fine-tune the Connect vision, and in the evening during dinner at the Mullen's house in Uvaly we met several emerging leaders. One of them, Petr Cinkala, wrote an interesting paper on 'Understanding the Czech', and another one on 'Church Revitalization after the Velvet Revolution'.

A conversion from religion

Flew from Dortmund to Prague with Easyjet, where my friend Sasa met me at the airport, and delivered me at Pension Jana. If you're looking for a quiet pension with nice owners between the airport and the city, check it out.

I met Sasa four years ago at our first European house church gathering in the Netherlands. A year later he facilitated a similar gathering in Prague. Because the church meets when it eats, he rented a complete restaurant, where we had food and beer all day while prophesying and sharing about house church developments. Great concept.

This time Sasa shared his life story and how God led him into a second conversion, breaking away from organised religion and turning to a more basic concept of following Christ.

In the middle of the nineties he took on the assignment to translate the Bible into modern-day Czech, and already finished the New Testament, the Pentateuch, the historical books, Proverbs and Song of Songs ("yes, this is erotic literature, and I had to blush a lot while making the translation"). Last Xmas he organised a New Testament reading marathon on a public square in Prague, which was well received.

The Czech Republic is the most atheistic country in Europe. A high percentage of the population denies the existence of God and/or a spiritual world. Years of forced Catholic and communist oppression have made the Czech very sceptic of any form of organised religion. At the same time the country has a rich reformation inheritance (Jan Hus, Comenius and the Moravians), and Prague is a centre of withcraft in Europe, a spiritual gateway city. The Czech are open for friendship, real life, poetry and truth, provided it's not packed in religion.

I believe it's quite significant that a 'velvet (bloodless) revolution' broke the stronghold of communism, and the nation's main dissident (a playwright) became the president. It's God's kind of turn-around justice, but it also shows something of the inner persistance of the Czechs.

Later we visited a friend of Sasa, Marek, who together with his wife is starting a 24-7 prayer room in the western part of the city. It was good to share, and amazing to see that God has been taking different emerging leaders through a major paradigm shift, leading to a deeper dependency on Christ and his way of ministry.

Houses of prayer in Europe

I'm in Stadthagen, Germany, on a European gathering of houses of prayer. It's encouraging to see that God is forming a net of prayer houses, training centres, monasteries and boiler rooms over Europe. There are representatives from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Greece. A few of the prayer houses are mapped here and here. But there are many more.

The reason I'm here is three-fold: to receive direction from God related to this vision, to connect with a number of friends, and to help the houses of prayer see several strategic developments in Europe.

The first issue, receiving confirmation and direction, was an interesting experience. I'm used to give and receive prophetic words, but it's still exceptional to be 'showered' with prophecies from all directions. People coming up to you and telling you in a low-key way what they see in the Spirit. The leader of the conference right away prophesied over me the exact Scripture God instructed me to read the day before. Another one prophesied for half an hour about my calling related to the emerging generation and church reformation. Two others unknowingly gave a more or less literal confirmation of our strategy for the '10 days'. And there was much more that I'm still chewing on.

Secondly, it was good to meet friends like Vitek of the house of prayer in Senozaty, Martin and Maren of the house of prayer in Herrnhut, and many others.

Finally I had the opportunity to share about four developments in Europe that I believe are quite relevant for houses of prayer: the revival of wellness and neopaganism, the spiritual awakening among young people, a growing synergy and teamwork of prophets (prayer people) and apostles (those who break through into new territory and establish churches), and the (re)emergence of church as Jesus intended it versus organised religion.

Investment schemes

Netwerk (Dutch television) ran an item yesterday about Rob Allart, one of the leading charismatic pastors in the Netherlands, who together with his son set up a business that supports a South African investment scheme.

He invited rich Christians in his church network to invest substantial amounts (actually millions) in this 'business opportunity'. The Dutch National Bank that in behalf of the government keeps an eye on these kind of practices now fined the Allarts with 5.5 million euro for illegal banking activities. This will likely lead to the bankruptcy of the company and the investors won't see their money back. This week Visie will come with a more elaborate article on the issue.

For some people this may be shocking, but reality is that these practices are quite common among visible charismatic leaders. Over the past years I've heard stories from well-known pastors and ministry leaders that were involved in ponzi schemes, suitcases with black dollars, and other stuff. And in all cases they weren't the masterminds - they were just being naive, bound to money and lacked clear discernment. Charismatic leaders who preach a welfare gospel, step outside their area of competence, keep key responsibilities within the family, and are not being questioned by their followers or corrected by their peers, inevitably bring this kind of deception with them.

It also raises an important question: can a pastor who's leading other Christians in these kind of practices keep his position in the pastorate? I'm afraid most charismatic pastors would say: "of course, why not?"

Slowly recovering

I'm slowly recovering from the nasty flu that hit me last week. Couldn't go out to make nice winter pictures of the Five Exceptional Days of Snow in the Netherlands, but enjoyed it looking outside now and then from the ninth floor of our apartment.

Rob took off for Germany today without me. We planned to hang out on a European gathering of houses of prayer in Stadthagen. I hope to join him tomorrow or Thursday, if my health allows. I feel well today, but still quite weak. Peter (picture) also caught some sort of flu.

In bed with flu

Sometimes you can't afford to catch a flu. This is one of those moments. Fighting several important deadlines I'm unable to do anything.

But I guess this is nothing compared to my dad. Yesterday my mum told me he was diagnosed with Parkinson disease.

Joel News 500th edition

Today we published the 500th edition of Joel News, and I nearly overlooked it! Until Aldwin Geluk of the Dutch Daily called me. "Hope I don't interrrupt. We noticed that you published your 500th edition today and of course that's an important news fact, so if you don't mind a few questions..." Goodness, I've worked in communications for years, and didn't even bother to send out a press release or throw a party. More than 8 years, 500 editions, 4,000 reports... and still I can't keep up with God. :-)

Chocolate Wednesday

I changed the colour of my blog to dark chocolate, to attract some more female readers. ;-) The picture is from the post-modern communion we had at the DAWN consultation last month.

Will change come to the Vatican?

Also funny is this report from satirical newspaper The Onion:

With Pope John Paul II's health in decline, there is speculation as to who will succeed him as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga announced Monday that he is more than ready to accept the challenges of the papacy.

Maradiaga said he would not change the things that people love most about the pope. "The robes, the hat, the staff - all that benevolent-father stuff is going to stay," Maradiaga said. "Hey, I'm not crazy. Also, the day-to-day operations of local churches will continue apace. So don't worry, Catholics. I've got your back."

Rumors have spread that, should he be installed as pope, Maradiaga will effect a number of immediate changes, moving the Vatican from Rome to Barcelona, modernizing the doctrine of apostolic succession, and streamlining the stations of the cross from 14 to 10.

Full-time paid worship leader stress

This month's Questions & Answers in satirical newspaper Lark News:

Q: My church recently hired a full-time, paid worship leader. I'm wondering, what does he do all week? I'm afraid to ask my pastor. (Anonymous, Las Vegas, Nev.)
   
A: A better question is, what DOESN'T your worship leader do during the week? He's got a demanding job! He probably spends 15-20 hours a week selecting the songs for the next Sunday services. This grueling process is comparable to the intense research a lawyer or accountant does on behalf of clients. A worship leader must constantly scan the horizon for the best new worship songs which represent what is currently on God's heart, usually by listening to the latest HillSong CD, or calling a fellow worship leader in another state and saying, "Hey, what are you guys singing lately?"

He'll then play the songs over and over again to make sure they are right. I find that for every five hours I spend selecting songs, I have to spend at least one hour playing golf to wind down.

Another 5 hours goes into selecting the key in which each song will be played - a highly specialized skill which involves knowing how to sing and play the guitar or piano. Add 2 more hours to establish the order of songs, and at least 2 hours to checking, re-checking, and re-re-checking the sound equipment on stage to make sure everything is plugged in correctly, and hasn't inadvertently become unplugged.

A good worship leader then allows 10 hours to practice with the worship band and/or choir. Practice itself should only take an hour or two, but the worship leader should spend 8 hours becoming mentally prepared.

Remember: worship leaders are under tremendous stress to "pull off" a good worship service each week. Five days is barely enough to work up to that next half-hour test. Given his merciless schedule, it's a surprise your worship leader isn't "tuckered out" come Sunday morning! Go ahead and give that guy a hug!

What's happening on 05-05-05?

Agreed, it's a special date, 05-05-05. A timely match of Ascension Day and Liberation Day. The start of our upcoming '10 Days for Holland', a day to go up to the high places and proclaim the Word of the Lord. Deliverance from oppression, freedom in the Holy Spirit, a foundational realignment of things according to God's plans, the coming of the King of Kings.

I met up with the Transformations team today and we agreed to kick-off the 10 days with prophetic prayer on the high places, then pray in different key places in the Netherlands, culminating in the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost, with 30,000 Christians at the grounds of Opwekking festival.

The world turns EPIC

Ewout sent me this interesting movie about the (future) development of participative journalism, leading to the Evolving Personalized Information Construct. It's a clear trend already, offering great opportunities, but also scary because it will be harder to discern between fiction and truth, and your privacy may be heavily compromised.

More sex, please

If you're unsure what to preach next Sunday, consider something from Song of Solomon. Christianity Today reports that churchgoers want more sermons on sexual issues than pastors think they do. The eight top sexual issues are: pornography addiction, sexually active never-married adults, adultery, sexually active teenagers, sexual dissatisfaction, unwed pregnancy, sexually active previously married adults, and sexual abuse. Other relevant topics are abortion for unwed mothers and homosexuality.

According to the research, most pastors preach about sex once a year. But thinking back to the ten years we were part of organised church, I don't remember one sermon on this subject. Maybe I missed it, but likely the topic was too sensitive and pushed into the 'family domain'.

Recent research in the Netherlands shows that 75% of Christian youth have sex before marriage, and 50% of the adults. Of course this doesn't happen in your church, and certainly your own teenagers aren't involved in this. Sleep on. So yes, it's a topic to open up. Even more important than preaching is creating an open atmosphere where these issues can be discussed in an inspiring, non-judgemental way.

Earlier postings on this subject:
Less frequent but better sex
Sex, for God's sake