Foursquare’s founder, Aimee Semple McPherson, made a huge focus about Jesus. She once said: “We are all making a crown for Jesus out of these daily lives of ours, either a crown of golden, divine love, studded with gems of sacrifice and adoration, or a thorny crown, filled with the cruel briars of unbelief, or selfishness, and sin.”
It’s been incredibly important to me to have re-poured the fundamental foundation of our movement by focusing on the four ministry attributes of Jesus Christ through the themes of these past four years: Jesus our Savior, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Healer and Soon-Coming King. There is no greater emphasis than this. Even the Holy Spirit came to bear witness of Jesus. It all points back to Him, our redeemer and reconciler.
Our third focus, beginning in 2019, will be around Jesus, our Healer. The theme will be “Restored by Jesus.” We live in a broken world. There has never been a more appropriate time to connect people with this message. Pastor and author Matt Chandler said, “Without a heart transformation by the grace of Christ, we just continue to manage external and internal darkness.” What a true statement.
When Jesus encountered the paralyzed man in Mark 2, we see the Master at work. The Gospel writer noted that “four men” (v. 3) brought him to Jesus. No mention of family or friends. So, it was powerful when Jesus began the encounter that He called him “Son” (v. 5). Never had He done that before, or since, that we have recorded. Jesus addressed a relational brokenness in his life, then proceeded to announce the man’s sins were forgiven, and finally commanded him to arise and walk. He then instructed him to go home. In one brief encounter, Jesus healed him emotionally, spiritually and physically. Restoration was His target. All of it. That’s our message. That’s our mission, to represent the only One who can bring about wholeness at every level, Jesus.
We are contending for an incredible encounter together during Foursquare Connection 2019 in Nashville, Tenn., May 27-30. To say the Gaylord Opryland Resort + Convention Center is a beautiful venue is an understatement. The format of our event will invite a fresh visitation of the restorative power of Jesus Christ; and our invited guest speakers and worship leaders will inspire, challenge and encourage us. Someone wrote me recently and said it’s not a coincidence that in the city where music is the hub, that God is uniting, healing and connecting the body of Christ everywhere through worship. We expect Him to meet us there in a profound way. And we will not leave the same.
I’m contending with you for a new transfer of power to bring healing in body, soul and spirit. It’s coming to those who will pursue Him in a fresh dimension and with a confidence in who He is.
Our 21 Days of Prayer + Fasting that begins Jan. 1, 2019, will focus on this restorative work of Jesus, Healer in our body, soul and spirit. We are formatting this in a way that local U.S. churches and congregations can participate, as well as our global Foursquare church—our movement now exists in over 145 nations and is approaching 90,000 churches and meeting places. Every year, we are seeing exponential partnership growth in our prayer efforts and in our Connections; 70 countries were represented in Seattle.
Prayer is critical to ushering in this present dispensation of God’s presence and power. I was just with a pastor and met some people who have been praying 20+ years for revival in their city and church. Miracles are abounding everywhere. I met several people who were healed of cancer and serious physical disorders. Many others reported marriage and family restorations. There is a change in the environment.
Our movement’s focus in 2019 will be around Jesus, our Healer. The theme will be “Restored by Jesus.” We live in a broken world. There has never been a more appropriate time to connect people with this message.
It reminded me of the statement Jesus made to the woman who had spent all of her money on doctors after a 12-year battle with a blood disorder. Jesus made a bold statement: “Power has gone out from Me” (Luke 8:46, NIV). And He emphatically told her that her faith had activated that transfer of power. Wow. I’m contending with you for a new transfer of power to bring healing in body, soul and spirit. It’s coming to those who will pursue Him in a fresh dimension and with a confidence in who He is. Don’t miss Nashville. It will be a kairos moment in the history of Foursquare.
This is special season of transition, as well, as we begin a process in January with our cabinet (100+ leaders), who will pray and contend for candidates to assume the Office of President for the next five years, beginning Sept. 1, 2020. If you remember, we voted to select a year early, so that I could have one year to impart as much as I know about this role, its responsibilities and its opportunities.
So much anticipation is being built for this process of selection. We will be sharing soon a prayer focus concerning that as well as a thorough overview of the selection process. In the meantime, pray for the preparation of their hearts for this new assignment. I can’t wait for God to identify this person and for the partnership to begin. There will be two cabinet meetings, one in January 2019 and one in March 2019. The candidates for selection will be announced after the March cabinet meetings.
Prayer is the key to unlocking the supernatural. We are building a culture of spiritual expectation.
As you know, we invite you to join us every Monday morning for a short devotion and a prayer partnership. I started this email years ago when I wrote one weekly under Pastor Jack to our movement in the U.S. Our partnership has grown to include the global church, and today many leaders contribute to it. Many pastors reproduce it and encourage the flock they lead to join our global movement in prayer and devotion.
I’m convinced that these prayer foci center us together on ushering in God’s divine plans and strategies for these days, both to bring about the miraculous and to bring defeat to the schemes and plans of the evil one. Thanks for your partnership. Prayer is the key to unlocking the supernatural. We are building a culture of spiritual expectation. That’s the breeding ground for revival.
Debbie and I have considered this season the most amazing opportunity in ministry we have ever experienced. We have met people everywhere thankful to be a part of a larger family, hungry for more of God, willing to be led and taught, passionate to reach the broken and the lost, eager to celebrate and worship Jesus, and submitted to a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
After being grounded for almost three months this spring due to some significant health concerns, Debbie and I are so appreciative of your prayers and support, as well as the team of doctors still partnering with us. The Lord has been so good to guide us through this season with great medical counsel and His healing power. We love our movement and look forward to partnering with you for a grace-filled, unlimited future.
