A MONTH OF REFUELING....

July was a memorable month. I took a much needed break with the family and transitioned out of my pastoral role in a local congregation. Jake Barrett, a 17 year old from Redding who the Lord is calling to ignite a youth movement under our covering, traveled with me to Argentina to see how they are applying transformation principles to a prison, a city, government offices and church fellowships there. The team there led over 550 people to the Lord on the streets in a matter of days! God touched our lives in a wonderful way. It is SOOOO GOOD to get out and see what God is doing in the world. I highly recommend it to all of you! Maybe we can all go next summer!? The trip was well worth it - I gained a second wind, new momentum, and bold confidence to go deeper and wider with Redding ransformation.

Here are some unique quotes I heard while in Argentina:
• “....not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord...” (The Holy Spirit whispered this as we opened the trip.)
• “I cannot deny what I saw and sensed in this room today, I will have to revisit my core beliefs about God.” (Secretary to the Chief of Gov. who was an agnostic before we prayed in his office. Now he’s not so sure he’s an agnostic!)
• “We stayed up late just having a great time in the Spirit down in the lobby of the hotel! One young man traveling from Australia, who had a lay over in Argentina, came in around 1:30 am and was led to the Lord after we prayed for him!” (Josh Kogh, a 17 year old from Hawaii, who ministered the power of God to his friends for 5 solid hours that night!)
• “Only two things matter: #1. The presence of God, and #2. You.” (Pastor Eduardo Lorenzo, whose church effectively pastors everyone in their city, block-by-block, taking the Presence with them!)
• “You Protestants are militant and truly passionate in your faith and prayers, unlike us Catholics. You have a fire.” (One of the emerging Catholic political leaders in the Lujan network we met and prayed with on July 7th.)
• “The enemy of faith is MEMORY, not unbelief. Because memory tells you what has happened (past tense) instead of what could happen (future things). What kills faith is lack of deeds.” (Dave Thompson, Harvest Evangelism.)
• “The focal point is not what I do for my city, but Whose presence I bring into what I do.” (Pepe Abeleira, Youth Pastor at Adrogue church, sharing about different ways the church was engaging the needs of the community.)

Fresh Laborers
Among those coming on board this month is Karen Mannakee, who came to Redding out of obedience to God. She is administratively gifted and has a great heart to see the Body united. He also has drawn in a soundman, other worship band help, more youth to ignite the movement with Jake, and key contacts in areas around Redding who wish to implement a similar strategy for their regions!

I’ve been privileged to meet with 10 pastors in these past 10 days and spoke at one church – every single meeting has ended on a high note! God is opening relational doors to us as a sign that He is “oiling the hinges” for those relational doors to swing wide open all over this city! We have made a great contact with the staff at the Old City Hall in downtown Redding, a strategic and historic place that is of legislative importance. God seems to be directing our focus toward the downtown of Redding this year, including an upcoming outreach in a downtown auto dealership. Pray for His plans there to come forth.

A botched appointment turns into a Divine connection with a city leader!
I sat waiting for an appointment that turned out to be a “no show” and the Lord prompted me to call Ray Siner, the mayor of Shasta Lake City. After some small talk, he shared his concern about a move to do away with the invocation prayer at city council meetings. I prayed on the phone with him about this, and our intercessors lifted that request over the next 30 hours. The council met Tuesday night and the measure was defeated and prayer at those meetings will continue! Ray and I met together the next morning and he told me, “I must be about my Father’s business. I have a heavy burden for my people, my town. I just want to see God’s people sync up, link up, and come together for one purpose to cooperate in expanding the Kingdom here in Shasta Lake.” Five days later we met again with 2 area pastors. They all commented how they wished to see more unity, more prayer, more action on the part of the Church in the city. A partnership with us in a united, practical, transformation effort is appealing to them so we will stay connected.

Youth Fusion
In the last 2 months, God has brought many young people around me. They are saying things like, “We want to unite as youth of Redding who are passionate about God moving here. To ignite a movement that’s outward focused, bringing the presence of God to our streets in creative ways, helping youth get in touch with God’s heart for them, for reconciliation, unity, and for our city. We don’t want to limit God.” This joining of the younger generation to this transformation work is vitally important for our city! Pray that God will give us grace to develop this to the degree that He intends, for His glory and the mobilization of His people!

Pray also for:
• Us as we partner with a local fellowship to reach their neighborhood on August 5th
• Our worship team as we begin to practice August 7th for this next season.
• The Inundate week (Sept 24-Oct 1) plans and team to come together.
• August 25th outreach “THE CONNECTION” a collaborative effort in downtown Redding of businesses bringing the Kingdom to their neighbors.
• Generou$ donations to abound as we step forward in faith.
• My family as we visit and minister in area fellowships each weekend

Adelante (Forward)!

Jon Thompson
Redding Transformation Team Leader