And so it begins …

The Lord is wasting no time in getting right to it. God has been waking me up in the early morning hours for many days recently to discuss reviewing the churches locally. I had thought that He would wait until the new year to begin the process of communicating this information. But it seems that today is the day to embark on this journey with you.

In the early chapters of the book of Revelation, we can read the seven letters to the churches penned by John. Those words were from Jesus, even using first person language as “Here I am, I stand at the door and knock …”. As a prophet of God, who has been hearing His voice in prayer for over 20 years, I am tasked with bringing a similar message from the Lord to the churches. (Please believe me, I can come up with 1,000 different things to do with my time rather than provoke the churches against me. I’m well aware of how the prophets were persecuted in Biblical times.)

These assessments of the churches will include reviewing their strengths and weaknesses to help them grow. The primary critique though must be in solving doctrinal issues. I’m inviting all of you to join in on helping the churches in their needs AND in asking God how you can step out of your comfort zone to be used by Him. Many churches are dying and need to be revived. Some of the smaller churches that I visited have just a handful of older people hanging on and doing their best to help. I can understand why this is important to God.

So, while we will look at doctrinal problem areas in each of the churches, we will also look at their men/women’s, children/youth, and music/worship ministries. We will also assess their facilities and outreach strengths and weaknesses. Several local churches are in need of roof repairs as a result of hurricane damages this year. They are struggling to have the money to make those repairs. Drawing attention to it is an opportunity for some readers to help in discreet ways.

Several churches are looking for worship leaders and youth ministers. All of us are a little too invested in our smart phones and not enough invested in building up the body of Christ. Maybe that is something that can change for us in the new year. Please talk with God about it.

The first church that we will be looking at in the local community is Crossroads Community, Church of God, on Knox McRae Road. I have visited the church on several occasions, watched online sermons, reviewed their website and Facebook pages, and discussed with God what He wants brought forward for review. None of this is about criticizing anyone. It is for the purpose of making things better. To do that we must look at ways to build up and ways to tear down. If you’re going to be actively involved in improving the churches, then you must seek God and listen to His voice in prayer.