JUNE
2015


CPW
DIALOG
Better
Church
Starting
 

 
More CPW Churches Planting New Congregations!

Our CPW "BetterChurchStarting" goal is to start new congregations at a rate of 10% per year by 2020. Why do we work together toward this aggressive goal?

 

Fresno LEAD Team

God cares about lost people!  

"...the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10

"...there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10 

 

There's a great harvest opportunity!

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:2

 

Healthy things reproduce!

To fulfill the great commission, we must focus on reproducing disciples, leaders, and congregation according to the pattern throughout the book of Acts.

 

There are many ways your church can participate in planting a new congregation. We would be happy to meet with you to explore the possibilities!

 

Here are a few examples of how our CPW churches have planted new congregations.

 

 (Click the image above to view the video.  Each video is 3-4 minutes long and can be shared with your leadership team or congregation as discussion starters.)

 

Trusting Jesus to lead us to BetterChurchStarting, 

  

Paul Root 

Church Planting Director  

Praises and Prayer Requests for CPW Day of Prayer, Tuesday, June 9th


Pray for those affected by the recent Texas floods and those that are helping with the relief effort. 

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Pastor Pat Gordon, his wife Michelle, their family and their church (Crosspoint Community, Santa Rosa) continue to welcome and appreciate the prayers from so many on their behalf.  Pat is thankful to have experienced a temporary healing not long after being released from the hospital back in December 2014.  However, within the past three months, his blood test results show the leukemia has returned, and there are no longer any viable medical options to achieve a cure.  Although Pat is dependent on and receiving bi-weekly platelet and blood transfusions to stay alive, doctors are suggesting he has less than six months to live.  Thankfully, Psalm 139:16 tells us, "Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."  And the first part of Psalm 31:15 says, "My times are in Your hand..."  God has the final say!
 
Good news is that, even though Pat is experiencing less energy, he's still able to preach twice a month, shepherd, and provide leadership in several areas.  Pat's desire is to sprint across the finish line advancing the gospel, and to fulfill God's purposes as long as he is able.  His (nor Michelle's) faith in our heavenly Father has weakened.  Nevertheless, please pray for a complete and permanent healing.  If the Lord chooses/allows otherwise, pray for the grace and peace for the Gordon family to not lose heart.
  
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Church Planting Assessment Center, June 9-12 at Golden Hills Community Church.  Pray for our Host Leaders, Pam Parsons, Wilmina Taghap, and our Assessors: Bernard Emerson, Shawn Carpenter, John Markum, and Ernie Cabrera.  Pray for the candidates and God's wisdom in providing solid feedback and recommendations to the candidates.
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Join Pastor John and Pam Fernandez (of Grace Church of Napa Valley) in praising God for the answer to a 30-year prayer request and an unexpected miracle!  Pam's brother Rick had been estranged from his family for 30 years, during which the family was praying for his salvation.  In April, John and Pam received a call from a hospital to find that Rick had been in an accident resulting in a complete fracture of his C2 vertebra (a Christopher Reeves-type injury).  After several days of treatment and heavy sedation, the doctor gave them news...Rick's broken vertebra had been moved back into place!  The doctor's response: "It's miraculous. There is NO reason why this man should not be gone or paralyzed."  Just a few days later, an awake and alert Rick, with only a neck brace and an IV, had a tearful and loving reunion with his family -- family who had the joy of leading him to receive Christ as his Savior!  Please continue to pray for Rick's full recovery and wisdom for John and Pam as they seek to help him in his new life.  If you're praying for a family member's salvation, be encouraged!  From John: "After over 30 years, Pam and I at times were tempted to give up on Rick. Yet God had not! Don't give up praying and sharing Christ. God knows how to change course of a life in an instant!"
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CWW's new Church Planting Executive Director
Join us in praising God for the recent addition of Lee Stephenson to the CWW staff as the new Church Planting Executive Director
.  Pray for Lee and his family as they transition from Arizona to Florida.  Pray for Lee as he jumps into his new role and begins to assess the needs and connect with people in different parts of the U.S.  (Click image to right for more on Lee and his role at CWW.) 


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Ask God to lead us to realize in 2015... 
BetterGospelSharing, resulting in waves of people saved, baptized, and well-discipled (6% of weekend attendance baptized)
BetterChurchHealth, resulting in leaders and congregations fulfilling their God-given mission with power and joy (70% of churches growing)
BetterPastorFitness with pastors courageously leading, helped by God and a peer network (75% of pastors in 
LEAD
Teams, 50% being coached)

BetterChurchStarting with church supporting life and community transforming church plants (6% church start rate in PacWest)

BetterWorldImpact resulting in the world seeing the good deeds--here, near, and far away--and glorifying the Father in heaven (100% of churches making gospel difference here, near, and far away).

Upcoming Retreats and Trainings in PacWest
  • Converge Church Planting Assessment Center, June 9-12, at Golden Hills in Brentwood
  • Hume Lake Pastor's Retreat, Sept. 14-17, at Hume Lake Conference Center
  • Exponential Church Planting Conference, Oct. 5-8, in Irvine
  • Church Board Retreat, Oct. 23-24, Turlock
  • CPW Pastors' and Wives' Retreat in Pismo Beach, January 10-12, 2016
A new resource for CPW pastors...

We are pleased to announce that Converge PacWest (CPW) has joined with QuietWaters Ministries to bring you the CareLine. 

 

 

 The CareLine is a professional and confidential consulting resource for Converge PacWest pastors and their families, provided free of charge. Twelve (12) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, the CareLine answering service puts you in contact with one of QuietWaters' licensed, doctor or master level counselors with personal experience in ministry to talk about a personal or congregational issue. The counselors provide assessment, consultation and referral when you have personal, congregational, or ministry concerns and problems. You simply call the toll-free number 888-814-5550.

 

Examples of when to use the CareLine:

  • "A counseling situation I needed advice for"
  • "Depression, marital problems"
  • "Info about potential for violence in a bi-polar person"
  • "Concern with an adult daughter"
  • "A family member depressed and talking about life not worth living"
  • "Congregant possibly suicidal"

The CareLine is provided to help you lead with strength . . . "A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers." Proverbs 24:5-6 (NIV)

 

Contact the CPW office to find out more about the program. 

 

 

Converge PacWest's mission is to glorify God by starting and strengthening churches that transform lives and communities here, near, and far away.