JULY
2016

CPW
DIALOG

Critical Days
for Our Nation and Converge

CPW | Prayer | Ministry Openings | CWW

Central Community Church of Fresno commissions their Swaziland Missions Team.

Days of Challenge and Opportunity for Our Nation

Tension and trouble are not new to our nation. But the happenings of the last week in Baton Rouge, St. Paul, and Dallas--as well as a history that goes back hundreds of years--highlight the hurtful and painful national heritage that is difficult to know how to address or remedy.

The pain, grief, fear and frustration on every side are real and cannot be ignored. The natural response is not healthy or helpful as it blames and inflames. The godly response is difficult to determine--though it certainly includes humility, prayer, listening, loving and the stepping up of godly leaders to bring people of influence together to seek solutions. Or, that's how I'm praying.

For church leaders, I believe we can personally lead the way in listening, learning and loving those "unlike us" and those "like us," but who think so unlike Jesus. That's clearly a needed step. We need to be influenced by what we hear and be influencers, who are operating out of a

gospel grid. Join me in beginning to deepen my Bible study in this regard, in broadening my reading (and TV watching) patterns, and by having discussions with a greater circle of folks to gain a better understanding of those who see things differently than I do. Read this article for starters: It Is OK To Be Both (it may not be an entirely new perspective, but it suggests a terrific broadening of cliched categories!).

Finally, though I'm saddened and unnerved by the state of affairs in our communities and nation and heartbroken for each grieving family, I'm encouraged and even a little proud as I hear and see examples of God's people praying together, behaving courageously, and leading heroically by the Spirit of Jesus, our Reconciler. Keep looking and listening for these stories, and try to become one in your context.

Dependent on God, thankful for His church, and seeing opportunities for the proclamation of the gospel (in word and deed) during these times,

David Yetter

Executive Minister

Days of Opportunity and Anticipation for Converge

These are exciting days in our District and in the greater Converge movement. God is at work starting and strengthening churches worldwide. He has given us a unified 10-year vision to "open the front door" by starting new churches, launching multisite campuses and affiliating independent congregations into our movement. We will also "close the back door" by improving the assessment, coaching and training our pastors and missionaries. We will "tear down the walls" through addressing spiritual, cultural and racial barriers to unity and godly diversity. And we'll "build the house" by developing greater coordination, collaboration and resources needed to support our mission.

As one part of this effort, we are unveiling a new logo designed to remind us why we come together-why we "converge." We converge around the cross to take what Christ has done for us and make it known to others. We do this by starting churches, strengthening leaders and sending missionaries.

As you can see, we are in the process of updating all of our communication materials, including our emails, to strengthen and streamline our connection with you. Our hope is as we consistently incorporate these updates, more and more people will come to know who we are as a movement and what we're about. We exist to help people meet, know and follow Jesus.

If you are currently using our logo, please contact us to receive an updated version. Or learn about our 10-year vision and how you can participate.

Thank you for joining us on the journey that God has for us-something we can accomplish only if we work together in God's strength and for God's glory.

Better together,

David Yetter

Executive Minister

CPW Day of Prayer is Tuesday, July 12

Prayer Requests and Updates

Pray for open doors for the gospel and effective Summer ministries of missions, outreach, evangelism, leadership development, church planting, and discipleship among CPW 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 the many reports of successful Vacation Bible Schools where non-churched community children are attending, coming to Christ, and even introducing love, light and life into their families! We also praise God for the church kids who are challenged in their faith, given opportunity to reach out and bring their friends, and for the hundreds of adult and youth volunteers who sacrifice and serve the Lord and His church!

We pray for upcoming mission trips (see Swaziland Team, banner pic, preparing to leave next week) and thank God for those successfully completed (Dave and Josie Clark of Living Hope in Richmond just returned from Rwanda).

Give thanks for the healing and a level of recuperation after surgeries for Zo� Baker, wife of Pastor Mike of Crosspoint Community Church in Santa Rosa, Janyce Casey, wife of Pastor Mike of Berean Bible Fellowship in Atascadero, and Pastor Dave Parsons, husband of Pam, of Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood. Continue to pray for full and complete recovery.

Genesis Church of Antioch baptized 29 believers last month... Praising God for BetterGospelSharing there!

We give thanks for the challenging and inspiring Converge Biennial Meetings in Denver! Listen to the main sessions here.

We pray for this day in our nation, that the church would stand up and stand out as the reconcilers we are called to be, reconciling all people to God and one another through the cross of Jesus Christ!

Are you in need of any architectural work done on the church or property? Check out this site to see if your project may fit into their pro-bono (yes, FREE) scope!

UPCOMING RETREATS AND TRAININGS

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?


Lee and Evelina Miller in Daly City

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.