NOV
2015

CPW
DIALOG
Preference-Driven Church?
 
 

Baptism @ Ignite Arden (church plant)!    
What Drives Your Church?

     Purpose? The glory of God? Community transformation? Discipleship?
     Before mentioning a worthy "driver" for your church, I must mention an expression that recently intrigued and troubled me: The Preference-Driven Church. It's actually the name of a chapter in Thom Rainer's Autopsy of a Deceased Church. Rainer explains that the preference-driven characteristic among members is a key marker of very sick and dying churches. "There were not many indications in the autopsied churches that most members had a self-sacrificial attitude. Instead the attitude was self-serving, self-giving, and self-entitled. It was about me, myself, and I" (p. 50).
     This serves as fair warning to us individually and collectively not to start or shape our churches to suit our preferences. The aim must be so much bigger and broader than this. The stories of closing churches tell the tale of congregations who have become very comfortable and comforted by their rituals and routines, but the members became the drivers and lost sight of both the Head of the church and its mission. The cruise ship church mentality must be resisted and rejected at every stage.
     So, adopting the mindset of crew members on a rescue ship, let's fix our eyes on our Savior and stay unreservedly committed to reaching the lost whatever the cost.  
 
Trusting Jesus to lead us,
  
David Yetter  
Executive Minister   
Prayer Requests; CPW Day of Prayer and Fasting, Tuesday, November 10
Praise God for the many harvest events (Trunk or Treats, etc.) churches organized and hosted to reach out to families in their communities. Pray for much spiritual fruit and few cavities! :0)
$10 Starbucks gift card to the first one to name three of the five people pictured here. 


Kinsey Capaldo, 12-year old daughter of Executive Minister Jim (and Kari) Capaldo of Converge Heartland, was hospitalized on Saturday, Oct.17, with pneumonia-like symptoms.  Although her health quickly deteriorated, God has thus far chosen to sustain her throughout the journey of breathing tubes, ventilators, three cardiac arrests, multiple emergency surgeries, ECMO, and an emergency air lift to Masonic Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. To God's glory, thousands have joined in praying and supporting Kinsey.  If you have not already, you are warmly invited join in this urgent fight.
 
 

 
Former Converge President Jerry Sheveland is currently in an Intensive Care Unit after experiencing complications following hip surgery. Also pray for his wife, Dee. You can follow Jerry's progress here.
 



Ask God to lead our churches and district to realize:  
  • BetterGospelSharing, resulting in waves of people saved, baptized, and well-discipled
  • BetterChurchHealth, resulting in leaders and congregations fulfilling their God-given mission with power and joy
  • BetterPastorFitness with pastors courageously leading, helped by God and a peer network
  • BetterChurchStarting with church supporting life and community transforming church plants

  • BetterWorldImpact resulting in the world seeing the good deeds--here, near, and far away--and glorifying the Father in heaven
Pismo Hotel
Upcoming Retreats and Trainings in PacWest
  • Conferencia biblica para varones (CPW Men's Bible Conference), November 14
  • CPW Pastors' and Wives' Retreat, January 10-12, 2016, in Pismo Beach (see picture above); Pastor John Merritt, presenter
  • Women's Conference, January 22-24, 2016, in Monterey with Kelly Minter
  • Ignite Church Planting Conference, March 1-3, 2016, in Chandler, AZ
  • Men's Retreat, March 4-6, 2016, at Mt. Hermon; Jeff Kemp, speaker
A 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. 

 

 
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Converge PacWest
209-830-6222
info@convergepacwest.com
www.convergepacwest.com
Converge PacWest's mission is to glorify God by starting and strengthening churches that transform lives and communities here, near, and far away.

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