Glenn Burris Jr.
Glenn Burris Jr.

As you get older, your perspectives change. The time I’ve spent on this earth is now longer than the time I have remaining, but that’s assuming I don’t live past 128.

The longer you live and lead, stories in the Scriptures take on a different context as you read them, much like the unique seasons in the life of Moses. You see seasons of privilege, seasons of isolation and barrenness, and finally a season that he was called and anointed for. This season was one for which he had been prepared his whole life, though he seemed unaware.

Despite his shortcomings, I’ve really grown to admire this leader God chose to help rescue Israel. He participated in helping establish their new identity as a nation, brought them the Law of God, set up systems of atonement that would help usher in the ultimate atonement, and established great festivals of celebration. Finally, Israel would experience God’s promised inheritance, after all the years of seemingly being forgotten by the Lord, as Moses led them to the edge of their destiny.

Moses was afforded the unique privilege of meeting God face to face. The Lord trusted him to bring God’s people home. Moses was described as the most “humble” man on the face of the earth (see Num. 12:3). Jesus referenced him, too. And Moses has been credited with writing the first five books of the Old Testament.

So, I’m intrigued by the reference in Deuteronomy 34:5, possibly written by Moses himself, when it describes him at his death as simply the “servant of the Lord.” Of all the things that could have been a part of his eulogy, that one statement may actually say it all. He lived his life on assignment for God. May that be said of all of us, whether we have influenced one or thousands. Whether we got any credit or none for our efforts. We were satisfied to lead (like the song lyrics read) for an audience of One. And we did so, simply because we considered ourselves a “servant of the Lord.” Well done, Moses.

Having a little space between our Foursquare Connection 2019 gathering in Nashville, Tenn., I lead into this next season with great expectations. We were encouraged by the participation of our Foursquare family. This event was marked by incredible worship, gifted speakers, rewarding fellowship and an election that set the course for the next season of Foursquare. I’ve already had several chances to be with Randy Remington, our president-elect, and every encounter encourages me about the future.

Randy was able to attend our June board meetings, and our Foursquare Connection 2020 planning meetings, which were held onsite at the Gaylord Rockies Resort + Convention Center in Denver. We are on our way! His shepherd’s heart and inspirational leadership will take us to new places of influence and expansion.

After much counsel and Holy Spirit guided direction, we are launching some significant advances around diversity. … Nothing has been more prayed over and contended for than this.

At the time I write this, our team is beginning to map out the transition time and beyond. I celebrate that there is no “lame duck” season, as we are able to dream together for long-term implications because of the continuity of leadership. Key issues in our movement include:

  • Foursquare Connection 2020: Themed “Compelled by Jesus,” this will be the last of the four themes around the pillars of our movement and the church: Jesus as Savior, Baptizer, Healer and Coming King. We anticipate an amazing time in Denver at the Gaylord Rockies Resort. We expect a record crowd as our new president will be able to share his vision for the future. We will lead into the week with a Global Summit focused on finishing the Great Commission together. It’s already beginning to take shape. We will have numerous opportunities to partner together with the global church to engage in a broken and lost world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
  • 21 Days of Prayer + Fasting: This will occur January 1-21, 2020. We now have global participation and have begun to embrace this critically important beginning of a new year in prayer and with the spiritual discipline of fasting. We have a stellar lineup of contributors for our themes. It will usher in a focused time of spiritual activity, intended on helping us bring a unified force of a heavenly dimension to dismantle hell’s plans and advance heaven’s plans. Please plan to join us; watch FoursquarePrayer.org for information on how to sign up.
  • The 80 percent return of the tithe to the field: 2020 marks a huge step is us fulfilling our Reimagine Stake of investing this resource in the field for church multiplication, leadership development, global advancement and community transformation. Stories continue to surface of fruitfulness, reinforcing the direction we all decided on, of trusting the frontline force to blaze new trails, reignite a passion for church planting, see discipleship take the highest priority, mobilize our congregations to go everywhere with the gospel and contend for our local communities to be transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Foursquare Diversity: After much counsel and Holy Spirit guided direction, we are launching some significant advances around diversity. The National Church Office and Foursquare Missions International have partnered with our leaders of diversity and our districts, and are launching this fall a major new thrust that affirms the heart of God and positions Foursquare in an anointed role to celebrate and advance the diversity among us. Nothing has been more prayed over and contended for than this. You’ll be getting a lot more updates soon. Please check out our new Foursquare Diversity webpage to see ways we are celebrating our Foursquare family.
  • Life Pacific University (LPU): Angie Richey has been selected as our 11th president of LPU. Being a part of the selection process was a privilege. Watching the Lord clearly identify our next leader of our flagship institution was electrifying. Angie brings a local church and ministry focus. She is engaged with students at a high level, and her Foursquare commitment to mission and partnership is high. She engages at a time of great momentum. I want to express our deepest admiration for the past LPU presidents with whom I have worked personally during my service in Los Angeles as general supervisor and president: Jim J. Adams, Robert Flores, Dan Stewart and Dick Scott. You will be hearing more from Angie and the team regarding this new season.

“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace” (Num. 6:24-26, NLT).

served as the president of The Foursquare Church from 2009-2020.
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