Comments on: MentorNet #67 – The Fourth Generation

By: Chuck Stewart

Chuck Stewart — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:55:47 +0000

I lived in AZ for 22 years. (Phoenix) Where are you at in AZ?
Nice talking to you on the phone!

By: Ed

Ed — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:54:54 +0000

Hi Chuck,

I live in Arizona. Just moved down from Vancouver, WA last September! Galen is in Portland. I’m sending you our contact info in an email right now.

Blessings,

By: Chuck Stewart

Chuck Stewart — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:57:04 +0000

Chuck,
Where are you working in the US? I live in Vancouver, WA (Portland, OR) area and am interested in starting here. Do you have any advice? Are there any othere house churches in this area that you know of, or might you direct me to link up with any? Thanks for any help.
Chuck Stewart

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:29:24 +0000

Hi Jonathan,

I shall add you to our newsletter.

Blessings,

P.S. My folks are visiting from Singapore right now. My dad is with RBC.

By: Jonathan Cortes

Jonathan Cortes — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:06:17 +0000

I am very interested in receiving your email updates.

By: bill

bill — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:24:56 +0000

from Bill
I agree with everything you say except point #4 start with men
Start with whoever God gives you thats is faithful obeient and hard working.
Was just in a South Asia traing where the star multiplier was a trained woman lawyer who has twelve genrations of disciples and most of those are men
In a week will be in China where majorty of trainees will be house church women who I anticipoatet will have many genrations. March this year in North China had some outstranding trainees most of whom were women and several were at the multi generration church level
Currentt trip many of the Russian men are the “gruff” kind you describe former criminals and addicts who have been transformed, but I would never gneralize from this Russia experience to denigrate the awsome things I see in the rest of the world

By: Don Ebel

Don Ebel — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:34:59 +0000

Very intriguing and motivating. I am in the - I guess you’d call it – the first ring outside the inner city. Not many men at all who are potential Timothies; mostly those men disenfranchised by what society says real men should be. I agree with what Chuck says: “It’s much easier to work with children and women and avoid the men and then wonder why our churches repel men!” I’ve also observed that since the majority are unwilling to subject themselves to the rigors of becoming “faithful folk,” the responsibility falls on the women! The men are like Adam: okay with standing around while the attack is on and let the woman take the fall. “Just don’t bother my affluence or personal comfort.”
Thankfully, I have one devoted Timothy whose wife is totally behind him in growing as a leader. Praise the Lord!

By: G.C.

G.C. — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:15:13 +0000

In order to find enough qualified men, one must lower his standards, then keep pushing them down, until those standards prove only biblical. Too many clerics set non-biblical qualifications that most willing workers cannot meet:

Affable personality, smiles easily, articulates well.
Comfortable home, well appointed, trimmed lawn.
Conversant with denominational theology and committed to it.
Heavy tither, faithful committee mule, regular ‘attender’.
Absolutely no history of sins of the flesh.

One only requires two or three willing workers who will faithfully follow clear, simple instructions and, eventually, help someone else do the same. These and those will typically look more like this:

Baptised less than a year ago.
Still has some health-compromising habits.
Uses sub-standard grammar and vocabulary.
Has bad friends and likes to hang out with his neighbours.
Loves Jesus with his whole heart but cannot pronounce Capadocia.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:36:30 +0000

I’m working on a church plant now in the US. Finding faithful men who are teachable is definitely hard to do at times. It’s much easier to work with children and women and avoid the men and then wonder why our churches repel men!