It’s Easter Sunday, and I am away with my family. We go away each Easter, all of the kids and grandkids, and have an extended family weekend, focused on enjoying each other and listening to what the Lord may want to share with each of us about the year ahead. It has been a rich tradition, and one that has blessed each one of us and helped forge incredibly strong family ties. I may not be much of a traditionalist, but I highly recommend building some time into your annual schedule that is designed to build up your family.
Three weeks ago, Felicity had a group of female friends over to our place for the weekend. I think there were 12 of them. Thankfully we have a big place, so I could still find a corner for this lone guy to get something done! But actually, the “getting something done” is exactly what this group of Godly women was doing. They were listening to the Lord together to help clarify what they should be doing as women to encourage the active role of women in ministry within the body of Christ. I want to reflect a little on that gathering. Hence my title for this week’s e-letter.
Mary saw him first that Easter morning. The “Mary’s” nearly always see Him first. Because they are looking for Him while the rest of us are still asleep! “You will search for me, and you will find me when you search for me with all of your heart” the Old Testament prophet tells us. Now there is the crux of the matter. Not when we search with all of our mind, but rather with all of our heart. As the Song of Solomon so beautifully puts it, “I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves.” (Song of Solomon 3:2)
Righting the wrongs of centuries does not happen overnight. But each of us can do our part. As Nehemiah put it when he realized that Israel’s sins were his sins (see Nehemiah 9:1), “we confess our sins and the iniquities of our Fathers.” There seems to be an inbuilt tendency within the Christian community to cooperate with Satan’s enmity for women. We need, like Nehemiah, to see our complicity in this, and repent. But we don’t stop there. We then make decisions on how we can right the wrongs that we have been a part of. We need to take every opportunity to stand up for women’s right to be a fully functioning part of the body of Christ, able to move out into whatever sphere of influence that the Holy Spirit opens up. Look for the opportunity to commend a Heidi Baker planting thousands of churches in Mozambique or to notice and encourage the hesitant sharing of a single Mom within your home church, who is only just gaining the confidence to share what she senses God putting on her heart.
It is time for us men in particular to use the platforms that the Lord has given us. This may mean stepping aside to make room for the ladies. Nobody knew how much the Lord had given to Felicity to say while I kept using the platform for myself! God may be raising up Deborahs, but he still asks the Baraks to lead armies at their side!
I will come back to this theme in coming weeks, because our whole exploration of infrastructure over the past few months is weakened if we leave out any component of what we see the Lord doing around the world. As the Psalmist so clearly put it more than 3000 years ago, “The Lord gives the command ; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host” (Ps. 68:11).
Here are some tools to help in this part of the rebuilding:
- There are many great books looking at the Biblical basis of what I have touched on above. One of the simplest and best was written by Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM) and David Hamilton called “Why Not Women.” Get it, and read it, and pass it on for others to read.
- Very recently, Jon Zens, one of the Biblical scholars who has emerged within the House Church movements here in the States, has published “What’s With Paul & Women? Unlocking the Cultural Background to 1 Timothy 2”, which you can order from www.jonzens.com.
- Katie Driver, one of a growing number of women who are not just writing, put who are putting action behind their writings by taking a lead within their regions, writes a challenging and down to earth blog which you can see and subscribe to at this link.
- Fight back in practical ways, such as involving in the fight against human trafficking, which largely focuses on the sex trade. Here is one link that can provide a good starting place if God puts this part of the battle on your heart.
In the space that I have left in this newsletter, let’s look at a few other things quickly: If you live in England, you will want to know about the Newforms Gathering that Peter and Marsha Farmer arrange that is taking place in Nottingham in two week’s time over April 16-18. Can I recommend, as time is short, that you contact Peter and Marsha at [email protected]. Felicity and I are delighted that we are going to be able to be a part of this great weekend. Do let any friends that you know across the UK know about this time.
Finally, let me mention a couple of House2House events that are happening here in the States. At this link you will find information about the one day (June 11th) conference that Felicity and I will be leading in Orlando, based at Northland Church, and which immediately precedes the CMA Greenhouse-First Story, that will be happening at Northland over the remainder of the weekend. Information on the CMA conference is at this link. If you or others live in Central Florida, why not put these into your calendar now. Speaking of calendars, many of you regularly come to the House 2 House National Conference that always takes place over the Labor Day weekend. This year is going to be no different. We will be meeting at the DFW airport Grand Hyatt again, and are really blessed to have Wayne Jacobson coming to share at the time. You can register here. We would love you to consider coming with your whole home church. What a great weekend this will be!
May the Lord bless you and as the Lord reminds you, please pray for Felicity and I as we head out shortly on three weeks of meetings in four different countries. If you want to be added to our prayer letter list, you can subscribe to that by connecting at this link.
Tony and Felicity and the H2H team.
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Recent Stories:
Each week H2H publishes a story/article about simple church and/or living out our life in the Kingdom. Recent stories include:
- Simplifying Discipleship By Roger Thoman, with comments from Ken Eastburn
- Movement or Spiritual Family? Erik and Jen Fish
- THE god oF HISToRy (Part 2 of 2) by Rad Zdero
- THE god oF HISToRy (Part 1 of 2) by Rad Zdero
The Rabbit and The Elephant We match Amazon’s Price!By Tony & Felicity Dale and George Barna
Today’s Western culture is indifferent to church and Christians. Yet the early church existed in far harsher conditions—and it thrived. Much like a new litter of rabbits, the infant faith quickly grew and spread. And the result was a world transformed.
In The Rabbit and the Elephant, Tony and Felicity Dale (Simply Church) and George Barna (Revolution) say that the same thing is happening today. As Christians, we are the church – whether we meet in office buildings, college dorm rooms, coffee shops, factories, or homes – and the Holy Spirit uses us to expand that church to the far reaches of the globe. By practicing “simple church,” we’ll find that a small gathering of friends loving Jesus together and reaching out to the community around them can help us to be the church, the way God intended.
The rabbit and the elephant. Something small and something big. Find out what lessons they hold for you, for the body of Christ, and for the future of church as we know it.
From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God
By Frank Viola
Deep within God’s Word lies a wondrous story like no other. A drama that originated before time began. An epic saga that resonates with the heartbeat of God. A story that reveals nothing less than the meaning of life and God’s great mission in the earth. From Eternity to Here presents three remarkable stories spanning Genesis to Revelation. Each story traces a divine theme that is woven throughout Scripture. Seen together, they offer an extraordinary glimpse into God’s highest passion and grand mission. What you discover will forever change your view of life, the church, and our magnificent God.
Organic Leadership
by Neil Cole
What are the weeds that hinder the natural growth of godly leadership? Are programs, people, and money truly the signs of a successful church? Where can you find an unlimited source of leaders? How do you mentor others so that they multiply? In Organic Leadership, Neil Cole asks these questions and more, boldly challenging many of the ideas about leadership and church life that we all take for granted.
House2House is a donation supported ministry.
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