What's New?

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19)

When Isaiah prophesied those words, he predicted endless changes for the people of God in their spiritual journey. Providential wisdom says the only thing in this world that will not change – is change. God seems to delight in the unexpected. His Spirit breathes new life; sheds new light to our spiritual understanding and inspires us to sing “a new song.” To know God is to experience a new birth, a fresh beginning as “old things pass away and all things become new.” While His truth remains the same, and God promises He will never change, still He seems to love working in new ways.

How easy for us to become familiar with the sacred, assuming we know God’s intentions. Like Moses, we try to predict how the miracles happen and when water flows from the rock. But in ministries all across the USA and Canada, new movements signal God’s Spirit continues to do “a new thing.”

At the upcoming M-7 Conference in February 2007, special attention will be given to various workshop tracks to discuss some of these new movements taking place across our continent. You and your church leaders will want to be a part of these interesting workshops and discussions.

The Prayer Movement happening now across North America and around the world is unprecedented in its scale. Thousands are gathering in united intercession in prayer rooms, chapels, cathedrals and stadiums from diverse denominational backgrounds. Prayer meetings are turning into 24-hour vigils. These 24-hour prayer vigils are expanding into seven days of focused prayer. In cities around the world, different denominations are linking their prayer efforts to form 365 days of unbroken prayer. Cities are being transformed. Lives are being changed. God is doing “a new thing.” Are you aware of this growing prayer movement?

New venues for worship are springing up in the most unlikely places. Public high schools, places of business, city parks and community centers are being commandeered to serve as new worship venues. Existing congregations are creatively extending their ministries and influence by providing additional worship venues at various times to reach new people for Christ. Many Nazarene congregations are considering how to implement this new strategy for reaching new people with the good news. New worship venues and satellite ministries are another new thing God seems to be blessing. Where might your church extend the Kingdom in a new place to reach new people?

Emergent Churches are developing in response to a whole new generation of believers. A pastor recently emailed me to describe his visit to a nearby emergent church. He said, “Part of my reason for wanting to visit was to help me think about the worship needs, tastes and desires of the next generation. It is easy to become ‘stuck’ in a particular style of music or worship as the world changes, resulting in churches that eventually stop connecting with their own children as they grow up. It is important for us to be aware of changes in culture and musical tastes among children and youth, and to integrate elements into worship, or design separate worship experiences that speak to them. The gospel is unchanging, but the forms of worship and particularly musical styles do change over time. What’s interesting about the emerging churches is that they are rediscovering ancient worship practices, yet tying them to modern forms of musical expression, sometimes called, ‘ancient- modern worship.’” Emerging churches seem to be another expression of God’s Spirit. Who might your church reach in an emergent service?

New churches express new life all across the USA and Canada. People with no church background are coming to faith in Christ through new ministries from the Church of the Nazarene. Specific language groups – and nearly invisible sub-cultures in many communities – are being impacted by new ministries intentionally designed to connect with them. We are reaching record numbers of new people each year through hundreds of new home cell groups and new churches. What could your church begin to do to reach new people?

God loves doing “a new thing.” Connect with other faith-filled believers to collaborate in one of these new ventures of faith. Without this kind of risk-taking faith, nothing new will ever happen. What new discovery waits for you and your church? God says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

Jim Dorsey
Editor, GROW