Michigan Churches Filled With Faith and "Bent on Conquest" after Powerful Jubilee
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. Revelation 6:1-2
From January 4th – 6th the Detroit Church of Christ hosted its 2008 Jubilee! The theme for the Jubilee was “Bent on Conquest” based on Revelation 6:2. In reference to the rider on the white horse, Matthew Henry’s commentary says the following: “The Lord Jesus appears riding on a white horse. White horses are generally refused in war, because they make the rider a mark for the enemy; but our Lord Redeemer was sure of the victory and a glorious triumph, and he rides on the white horse of a pure but despised gospel, with great swiftness through the world.” At the Jubilee, we were inspired to be like our Lord and impact Michigan with the expectation of victory!Our Jubilee was kicked off on Friday night with the leader’s portion. Brian Perkins delivered a lesson titled “Bent on Conquest”.
With any army, plans should not be overly complicated, but easy to follow; so it was with us. Brian’s three points were ‘discipleship’, ‘participation’, and ‘non-Christians’. These are some of the highlights from the lesson:
1. Discipleship: If we are going to be conquerors, we need to be a master of the basics. Here Brian shared John 8:31-32 (hold to his teachings), John 13:34-35 (love one another), John 15:7-8 (abide in Christ), Luke 14:25-ff (love God more than anyone else), Luke 14:33 (sacrifice). For 2008, we are getting back the basics of being a disciple.
2. Participation: In this point, we were challenged to make diligent and intentional effort to grow in our personal maturity. We were also challenged to make sure we inspire the members in our house churches to fully participate in the work of God. Some of the house church leaders were encouraged by their great efforts in various areas of the church but the convicting question that came next was: ‘Are you inspiring your people to participate like you?’ We were also challenged
to make sure that the needs of the people in our group are being met. To have everyone in our groups fully participating in the life Christ calls us to have means we first need to be disciples ourselves. All the points that Brian shared built on each other (discipleship-participation-non-Christians) but the starting point is our personal example for our group.
3. Non-Christians: In the last point, Brian shared how we need to build more relationships with non-Christians. We need to love the lost (3 John verse 8). We need to diligently pray for and be in Bible studies with the people we are trying to impact for Christ! We also need to imitate Paul and give up our rights. In 1 Corinthians 9:15 Paul says “…I have not used any of these rights.” If we are going to be the conquerors that God has called us to we are going to have to give up our
rights. Yes, America, we should chose to give up our rights to help people get ‘right’ with God! An additional view into the heart of Paul is shown in 1 Corinthians 9:22. Here Paul says ‘I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.’ Paul did ALL he could so he could save some. No wonder he was a man that conquered discouragement better than most.
It was truly an inspiring time for the house church leaders. And the food that was coordinated by Barbara Magner was extra special. At this year’s Jubilee, the leaders were also provided the First Principles study series to help us study the Bible with our friends. At the end of the night, we met in small groups to discuss how we can put the lesson into practice in our respective Bible talks. We were also encouraged to see Joel Nagel and Phil and Pat Morr join us for the Jubilee. Joel Nagel is the leader of our sister church in Lansing. Phil and Pat lead our sister church in Grand Rapids and they are in their 70’s! Their sacrifice has made them heroes in the faith to many.
Brian and Shann Perkins (left) and Tim and Wendy Sherrill (right) delivered the lessons for the Jubilee.
Saturday’s focus was from Isaiah 32:8. It reads, “But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.” The men and women had separate lessons. The first sets of lessons were delivered by Tim and Wendy Sherrill and were respectively titled “Be the Noble Man” and “Be the Noble Woman”. These lessons focused on the type of mindset and character we need if we are going to be conquerors. Brian and Shann followed these respective lessons with lessons about having noble plans. For some of us, this was perhaps the most exciting part of the Jubilee as were able to learn about the long-term plans that the leadership of the Detroit church has to ‘conquer’ the state of Michigan. The entire document can be found on the Detroit web site, but here are some of the highlights:
- By 2018 to have a Bible talk on all student campuses in Michigan that have a population of 15,000 or more
- By 2025 to have a Church or Bible talk in reasonable driving range of everyone in Michigan.
To break these two overarching goals into yearly goals, here are some of the areas we would like to share:
2008:
- Detroit to be a healthy growing church with a membership of 340!
- Assist Lansing to have a full-time women’s leader
2009:
- Plant the Kalamazoo church
- Appoint elders for the first time in Detroit!
2011:
- Plant Saginaw / Bay City church
2013:
- Plant the church in Mount Pleasant / CMU
2014:
- Plant a church in the Upper Peninsular of Michigan! (Marquette / Northern Michigan University)
2017:
- Plant a church in Houghton / Michigan Tech
2018:
- Plant the church in Traverse City
2020:
- Plant the church in St. Joseph / Benton Harbor
2022:
- Plant the church in Jackson
2023:
- Plant the church in Petoskey / Mackinac / Cheboygan
2025:
- Plant the church in Escanaba
- Start a ministry in Alpena
- Detroit church to have a membership of 1,980
For God to accomplish the plans we have we must focus on the three key points that Brian delivered to the leaders on Friday. We must be disciples! Everyone has been called to be a totally committed disciple and call those around them to the same standard!
We know that based on our past accomplishments, these goals are impossible! Yet, we believe that God’s will for the state of Michigan is for the Gospel to reach its farthest corners. By setting down these goals, we are expressing to God our faith in Him and energizing our prayers like never before! (Joshua 22:34) However, if the scriptures define us as lukewarm or worldly and
materialistic these goals will be a witness not to how good God is but they will be a witness to our lack of commitment. What will God be able to do in your life in 2008?
By abiding in Christ and by being totally committed disciples we believe we will see Michigan impacted for Christ! We believe we will be overcomers! Like the white horse going out to battle, our enemy has taken special notice of our plans and he has his own plans. To help us close out the Jubilee with the understanding that we are conquerors, Brian delivered a lesson about
perseverance and heaven titled “Overcomers.” At the Jubilee God helped prove that we are over comers when it was announced that we exceeded our 2007 Special Missions Contribution and raised over $100,000!
Phil and Pat Morr continue to inspire us as they lead the Grand Rapids church!
Let’s all remember that this is our church. Let each of us set our hearts to grow in our faith and obedience to God in 2008, so that his plans for us to be “more than conquerors” may come to reality.
What part would God have you play, using the gifts he has given you, to see his plans fulfilled in the coming years?
Let us step forward and live out the part God has for us.