JUNE
2016

CPW
DIALOG

From "Racist"
to "Gracist?"

CPW | Prayer | Ministry Openings | CWW

Pastors Martin Medina and Miguel Lopez (middle) are honored at Nuevo Pacto, Delano.

"Well, I'm not a racist..."

"When you bring up the topic of racial diversity in most churches, many people think to themselves, 'Well, I'm not a racist. So, I'm good!' But God's goal is not simply to have us stop looking down on other races. God wants unity, not just ceasing of hostilities. He wants the very makeup of his church to preach the gospel: that despite our racial variant, we are united under one ancestor, Adam; we had one problem, sin; and one hope, salvation in Christ. He wants us to demonstrate to the world that this unity in Christ is weightier than anything that might divide us. When the Holy Spirit confronted Peter's racism, he didn't just command him to quit looking down on other races. He commanded Peter to embrace Cornelius, to go in and eat with him. Peter did not go from 'racist' to 'non-racist'; he went from 'racist' to 'gracist.'" (from J.D. Greear's Gaining by Losing, p. 164)
As Converge is assessed in the area of diversity, we want to understand the ultimate aim: to glorify God, to live the gospel, to experience and celebrate the unmerited love of Christ for all kinds of people, and together to flaunt the sacrificial love of Christ before a love-starved world! We are...

Reconciling all people to God and one another through the cross of Jesus Christ,

David Yetter

Executive Minister

CPW Day of Prayer is Tuesday, June 14

Prayer Requests and Updates

Pray for effective Summer ministries of missions, outreach and evangelism, leadership development, church planting, and discipleship among sister churches.

Ask God to continue to open doors leading to the fulfillment of our BetterTogether Goals:

BetterGospelSharing, resulting in waves of people saved, baptized, and well-discipled
BetterChurchHealth, resulting in leaders and congregations fulfilling their God-given mission with joy and power
BetterPastorFitness, with pastors courageously leading, helped by God and a peer network
BetterChurchStarting, with established churches supporting life and community transforming church plants
BetterWorldImpact, resulting in the world seeing our good deeds--here, near, and far away--and glorifying the Father in heaven

Praise God for ordaining Aaron Roy and Dave Clark (in the center of the prayer circle) to gospel ministry! An ordination council affirmed God's calling and their sufficient preparation for pastoral leadership, Sunday, May 22nd, at Living Hope Neighborhood Church in Richmond.

We give thanks for the new ministry location for Genesis Church in Antioch. A blessed dedication of their Center was held on Sunday, May 22, with Pastors and Church Planters Damon and Shantelle Owens (right) leading the congregation and coordinating the service.

Pray for the upcoming district Diversity Assessment, June 15-16. Converge recognizes the value of diversity and desires to improve in how we live and give the gospel. To see more about the assessment click here.

Give thanks and pray for Zo� Baker's (pictured to the left with her husband, Pastor Mike Baker of Crosspoint Community Church in Santa Rosa) successful surgery and continuing recovery.

UPCOMING RETREATS AND TRAININGS

Converge Biennial, June 29-July 1, in Denver with Francis Chan, John Jenkins, Scott Ridout, and Ivan Veldhuizen as speakers

Hume Lake Pastor's Retreat, September 19-22

Hume Pastors Retreat Overview

Converge Pre-Con + Exponential West, October 2-6, in Los Angeles
Church Board Retreat, October 28-29, at NewCov, Fresno, with Gary McIntosh, trainer
Converge Transform Network Gathering, January 23-26, 2017, in Garden Grove, CA
Women's Conference, February 3-5, 2017, in Monterey with Margaret Feinberg, speaker
Men's Retreat, March 10-12, 2017, at Mount Hermon

Interested in Supporting Converge PacWest?

It's an exciting time partner with CPW. Churches are being started and strengthened, leaders are being raised up, missionaries are being sent out, communities are seeing and hearing the gospel, and lives are being transformed! If you want to play a financial role in our mission, go HERE, and choose how and to whom you want to give!

We appreciate your partnership in seeing the glory of God and the gospel of Jesus proclaimed and lives transformed here, near, and far away!

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.

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

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.