After intense times of ministry, Jesus often slipped away. On one occasion, after feeding 5,000, He sent the disciples on ahead to the other side of the lake. They figured they would get away from the crowds and have some down time. No one expected Peter to be walking on the water hours later! No one expected an entire region to experience revival within a few days, but those things happen when you’re on retreat with Jesus!
CHANGE OF PACE
There is a time for everything, even to pause and reflect. That seemed to be what the Lord had for us in October after the high levels of activity in August and September. For the first time in months, we didn’t initiate any major gatherings, but while we were tending to behind-the-scenes work, a truly interesting phenomena occurred. Three different groups who hope to engage the larger Body in united thrusts, contacted us for input and assistance.
One of those projects took me and 3 other men to Texas. We went because there is a stirring interest among some of Redding’s business and pastoral leaders to bring a City Festival to our area. Our trip allowed us to experience firsthand a Luis Palau City Festival, hosted by the Church in Houston. While there, the Holy Spirit confirmed that He was in this for our area. Subsequently, local pastors were convened on October 26th to introduce the possibility of working together toward a City Festival for this region. The fellowship among the 45 present was good and the Spirit moved to birth faith for this huge vision. Next fall’s Festival would feature a teammate of Luis Palau, Mike Silva, whose group has asked Redding Transformation to work more closely with them over the next year. Pray about these developments!
Our WeR1 Worship Band has been invited to lead the worship for “A Culture of Life” celebration and prayer walk to be held Dec. 3 at the Redding City Hall, as well as a united men’s retreat Nov. 18th in Mountain Meadows. God continues to give us favor in Red Bluff, Anderson, Mount Shasta, and Shasta Lake. The fact that He keeps linking and sustaining so many of us around the region is a good clue that He is up to something grand for this whole area.
KEY POINT
God calls us into His plans, not vice-versa, and it’s refreshing to know He has a good plan! He is showing us ways to partner with others in this Kingdom work. God has given us time and relationships, favor and grace to move amongst the Body which is coming together more and more each day. The past few years of labor have produced fruitful relationships and lasting friendships. Sometimes in ministry, an “agenda” can overshadow or even displace the relational side of things. But a major part of transformation has to do with relationships being mended. If we pray all over the city yet “have not love... we are nothing.” This important, yet overlooked element of “loving people” is crucial for community transformation.
Financially, we are walking on water. Our shortfalls have cut into salaries, but we continue forward. Our focus is on uniting believers in a vision and common action to transform the region, not our bottom line. Our desire is to see an increase in the tide of prayer, faith and lives aflame with worship. This requires many man-hours of communication, follow-up and administration, which requires cash flow. Our eyes are on Jesus and we are not sinking, but we want to let you know the reality that we are walking through. You can donate on-line by clicking on the Donations tab on the home page of our website, www.reddingtransformation.com.
DREAM WITH ME
The pre-Festival atmosphere is GOOD! This city is saturated in prayer and a harvesting event could really be a powerful experience of awakening and returning to the Lord. It’s the post-festival panorama that excites me, though. Imagine, the follow-up being done by the local fellowships AS WELL AS the marketplace ministers, the neighborhood shepherds and campus Christians! As this transformation network rises up over the next year, the likelihood of anyone “slipping through the cracks” is minimal and discipleship can happen on multiple levels in a more natural environment to the new believers. This is a huge opportunity for many to see the potential of an intentional transformation network linked in a vision that transcends church buildings, denominations and “turf.” God will get glory through this whole process as we come together as one, that the world may believe (John 17)!
UPCOMING
Nov. 3, 6:33 pm: By the time you receive this, the Night of Worship at Old City Hall will be upon us. This is a place in our city where the presence of God has not been officially welcomed, and since it is 100 years old, it is about time to do that!
Dec. 1, 2, 3 worship wammo: 1st - Old City Hall. 2nd - on the streets in the Lighted Christmas Parade (Lord willing). 3rd - on the steps of New City Hall to celebrate the culture of life in Shasta County.
Please pray as we take to the street. (On Halloween night we opened up the garage door and let the worship spill into the open street as trick-or-treaters walked by.) Pray for the pastors as they consider the City Festival partnership and everyone who will connect with community transformation and the region-wide harvest.
Staying the course,
Jon Thompson
Redding Transformation Team Leader
