So it would seem that God put on my heart a vision to plant churches in Yerevan Armenia, and in Ararat, Armenia. This strategic nation of 3 million is eager to express it's faith and be sent to the world with this powerful message of freedom in Christ.
The time to pray through the how's and why's is now.
Maybe also in Dominican Republic!
Psalm 2:8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.
I am asking God for 3 nations; Armenia, DR, and the USA! Gotta admit, I feel a bit foolish asking for such big things. I am such a small thinker.
But He said ...!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
gutsy pastors
This morning I met with John Wega and a group of about 10 leaders. John and I pitched to them the idea about doing a large summer crusade to reach our friends with the gospel. John Wega will lead it, so that it not become a Freedom Valley show and is truly a blessing to all churches.
At this point, it is being planned for June 16-19 at the Wyndham hotel, perhaps the most prominent piece of ground in the county. We are planning to ask our friends to send teams to help us distribute literature and do outreaches all over the county, starting as early as Monday of that week- the 13'th. We plan to get literature to every house in the county, as well as using every other kind of communication tool we can think of.
Right now, the group of Pastors is praying about the name for it. The name everyone likes best is Tougher Than Hell festival/rally, a name we would borrow from Guts Church in Tulsa if they allow us to. We also considered Signs and Wonders festival, a line from the book of Acts.
About 13 churches have expressed strong interest in it already. I am asking God for 35 or more. I am also asking God for 1000 salvations over that week!
This week, Sue Knefley from Harvest Chapel, and Charity Landis will meet to start talking about logistic issues and will present to us a planning model next Thursday at 10 am when we will meet at The Wyndham again to continue discussing and planning. Hopefully more logistic minds from other churches will join them too.
Please pray for effectiveness and clarity in all of our work! Eternal souls in Heaven must be the result!
At this point, it is being planned for June 16-19 at the Wyndham hotel, perhaps the most prominent piece of ground in the county. We are planning to ask our friends to send teams to help us distribute literature and do outreaches all over the county, starting as early as Monday of that week- the 13'th. We plan to get literature to every house in the county, as well as using every other kind of communication tool we can think of.
Right now, the group of Pastors is praying about the name for it. The name everyone likes best is Tougher Than Hell festival/rally, a name we would borrow from Guts Church in Tulsa if they allow us to. We also considered Signs and Wonders festival, a line from the book of Acts.
About 13 churches have expressed strong interest in it already. I am asking God for 35 or more. I am also asking God for 1000 salvations over that week!
This week, Sue Knefley from Harvest Chapel, and Charity Landis will meet to start talking about logistic issues and will present to us a planning model next Thursday at 10 am when we will meet at The Wyndham again to continue discussing and planning. Hopefully more logistic minds from other churches will join them too.
Please pray for effectiveness and clarity in all of our work! Eternal souls in Heaven must be the result!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Local pastor stirs up controversy again—this time with new book
Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos of Gettysburg releases new book 83 Lost Sheep, a autobiographical book claiming that opening new churches across the country is the answer to America’s problems.
Gettysburg, PA (Jan. 5, 2011)— In the past decade, Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos has managed to stir up controversy in Adams County and beyond.
In 2007, he was the focus of ABC’s Nightline study of “speaking in tongues,” a Pentecostal method of prayer. Two years later, he was asked to open a Pennsylvania House session in prayer, only to be rejected by lawmaking officials for wanting to use the name of Jesus—a decision that sent local Christians into a frenzy.
Addressing yet another issue, Stoltzfoos is releasing his new book 83 Lost Sheep, in which he discusses America’s sharp decline in church attendance. “I feel like we lost,” he writes in his newly released book 83 Lost Sheep. “My fellow pastors and I should be weeping in shame.”
His 160-page book goes on to outline his desire to open 1,000 churches in his lifetime, by training and mentoring teams of people who would set out to start new churches from scratch, much like he and his wife started Freedom Valley Worship Center in Gettysburg 18 years ago.
“Church is important because it connects entire communities to Jesus, who is the healer of families and heartaches and addictions,” Stoltzfoos said. “And continually opening new churches invites more people to get involved, and more communities to get connected to the heart of Jesus.”
But not everyone agrees that “church planting,” as he calls it, is the way to healthy communities. In his book, Stoltzfoos recounts his experiences with aggressive opponents of his theory—many of them pastors and church attenders.
“If we got serious about reaching our world, it would require as many as half of all churches to get involved in planting churches. If we did this, within the next 100 years, we could seriously change the momentum and begin to reach American culture,” Stoltzfoos explains. “It’s been done before. It can be done again.”
The title 83 Lost Sheep is a reference to the 83% of Americans who do not attend church, and to the Biblical teaching in Luke 10, in which Jesus sends out his disciples to gather the “lost sheep.”
“Somehow we have all been fooled into believing that it’s time to maintain, not time to grow,” Stoltzfoos writes. “Instead of planting new churches, we should just mow our grass and clean the windows and take out the trash. This could not be further from the truth. If we are going to prevail, we must plant churches.”
Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos of Gettysburg releases new book 83 Lost Sheep, a autobiographical book claiming that opening new churches across the country is the answer to America’s problems.
Gettysburg, PA (Jan. 5, 2011)— In the past decade, Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos has managed to stir up controversy in Adams County and beyond.
In 2007, he was the focus of ABC’s Nightline study of “speaking in tongues,” a Pentecostal method of prayer. Two years later, he was asked to open a Pennsylvania House session in prayer, only to be rejected by lawmaking officials for wanting to use the name of Jesus—a decision that sent local Christians into a frenzy.
Addressing yet another issue, Stoltzfoos is releasing his new book 83 Lost Sheep, in which he discusses America’s sharp decline in church attendance. “I feel like we lost,” he writes in his newly released book 83 Lost Sheep. “My fellow pastors and I should be weeping in shame.”
His 160-page book goes on to outline his desire to open 1,000 churches in his lifetime, by training and mentoring teams of people who would set out to start new churches from scratch, much like he and his wife started Freedom Valley Worship Center in Gettysburg 18 years ago.
“Church is important because it connects entire communities to Jesus, who is the healer of families and heartaches and addictions,” Stoltzfoos said. “And continually opening new churches invites more people to get involved, and more communities to get connected to the heart of Jesus.”
But not everyone agrees that “church planting,” as he calls it, is the way to healthy communities. In his book, Stoltzfoos recounts his experiences with aggressive opponents of his theory—many of them pastors and church attenders.
“If we got serious about reaching our world, it would require as many as half of all churches to get involved in planting churches. If we did this, within the next 100 years, we could seriously change the momentum and begin to reach American culture,” Stoltzfoos explains. “It’s been done before. It can be done again.”
The title 83 Lost Sheep is a reference to the 83% of Americans who do not attend church, and to the Biblical teaching in Luke 10, in which Jesus sends out his disciples to gather the “lost sheep.”
“Somehow we have all been fooled into believing that it’s time to maintain, not time to grow,” Stoltzfoos writes. “Instead of planting new churches, we should just mow our grass and clean the windows and take out the trash. This could not be further from the truth. If we are going to prevail, we must plant churches.”
Monday, December 13, 2010
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Elevate Ministry School exciting announcement!
Hey learners!
I am pleased to announce a new piece to our effort to train men and women for ministry. Starting this month, we are offering all of our Elevate Ministry School courses on-line as well as live. That is, a student could take these ministry classes from home at their computer. and earn college credits at a huge discount! What we are most excited about, is that these students can be trained in the local church, while using their gifts right there where God planted them- serving and practicing their gifts while they learn!
Acts 1 states that Jesus began to "do and teach". Our hope is that these classes can help students learn while doing the work of the ministry in their own local church, "doing and being taught". If Jesus linked those two together, perhaps we can do it to!
Here's how it works: Internet students will have access to lectures within 4 hours of delivery. They will then have6 days to listen to the lecture and classroom discussion, and produce notes that must be submitted as proof of having participated. This will delivery a learning experience very close to being there in person!
The financial benefit: these classes are vastly less expensive than attending any Bible school, or secular college. Each class represents a huge discount (scholarship) while offering a high quality education with credits accruing by Valley Forge Christian College! It is as if each student receives a more than 75% scholarship! This make sit possible for students to save large amounts of money, hold down a regular job, and get a huge jump on their education. One parent told us that by taking all that we have to offer here before moving to VFCC or another college, a family could save more than $6000! As a father with three young adults in college, I can deeply appreciate the value this represents!
What's more, each student can take all the classes needed for credentialing with the Penn-Del District as a certified minister. Additional credits are also offered. Classes offered as of this Fall are: OT Survey, Biblical Interpretation, Public Speaking, Gospels, Theology I, Acts, Biblical Foundations of Missions, Worldviews, Intro to Social Sciences, Music Theory. 10 exciting courses classes!
For more info, go to www.freedomvalley.org
Sunday, July 11, 2010
The DR challenge
Mike Fleming has been reaching out to the witches and warlocks of Padre Las Casa. And he, his family, and the church have been under attack for it as you can imagine.
Normal people would run away from a battle like this. But that is not what God called us to do, is it? We are called to run TO the battle, not away from it. And that is what about 20 of us are doing this week. We are heading into the issues that enslave children, ruin families, and hold people in poverty in Padre Las Casa.
This week, many will find freedom. Then later this Fall, hundreds more will stream into the Kingdom of God in our huge Fall crusade there.
This is worth risking everything for. After all, that is exactly what Jesus did, and the example He gave us to follow.
Normal people would run away from a battle like this. But that is not what God called us to do, is it? We are called to run TO the battle, not away from it. And that is what about 20 of us are doing this week. We are heading into the issues that enslave children, ruin families, and hold people in poverty in Padre Las Casa.
This week, many will find freedom. Then later this Fall, hundreds more will stream into the Kingdom of God in our huge Fall crusade there.
This is worth risking everything for. After all, that is exactly what Jesus did, and the example He gave us to follow.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
nice blog from http://churchmultiplication.us/
“83% of my state are going to hell and it breaks my heart,” Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos shares in response to why church planting is such a vital component of Freedom Valley Church in Gettysburg, PA. Since planting Freedom Valley in 1992, they have grown as a church of six sites. Beyond simply having multiple sites they have also parented and partnered with a total of 26 church plants since 1992. Their goal is to plant 100 churches by 2020.
Their journey hasn’t been without challenges. 38 of his congregation chose to move to Tulsa for their most recent plant. “It’s breathtakingly painful,” Gerry says. Beyond the life long friends that have been made that choose to go to a different site or plant the most recent plant hit directly at home for Gerry. His then executive pastor, now church planter Jason Fitch asked about the policy of there being no limit on who he could recruit from the congregation. Gerry’s response was that was the policy, to which Jason said he was glad because he was going to ask Gerry’s daughter and son-in-law to go as worship leaders.Freedom Valley Tulsa was blessed with not only the new worship leaders but Gerry’s son also decided to join the team. Gerry reflects, “It’s also unbelievably rewarding. I just keep repeating the mantra, ‘this is about winning souls for the Kingdom.”
Recently Pastor Gerry was able to baptize a single father. When he had a chance to ask him his story the father shared that three months ago thought he was going to be an atheist and thought pastors like [Gerry] were “worse than Hitler” and the real deceivers of our culture. A few months ago a family from Freedom Valley Church invited my 10 year-old dauther to come to church. She came home that Sunday and told her dad she gave her heart to Jesus. He wanted to be supportive of his daughter and chose not to belittle what she had shared with him. Over the next few weeks he said she changed so much in front of his eyes. The anger and resentment over her parents recent divorce seemed to disappear.She became a person of love and forgiveness, changing her personality completely. It was then that he asked himself, “Why would I not want that in my life?”
Freedom Valley Church is set to launch two more sites in 2010. Pastor Gerry’s advice to other pastors, “You have to keep yourself on kingdom multiplication and not allow yourself to feel you are the only thing out there.”
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Medical Detectives show taping today
Miracle Detective is a brand new book by Randall Sullivan. It is also becoming a TV show for Ophra's new network which begins early next year.
Because of the piece that Nightline did on me with the medical study which seems to medically show that tongues does not come from the message center of the brain, Miracle Detectives contacted me to see if they can do an episode on the relationship between speaking in tongues, and miracles.
Today more than a dozen of us gathered in the sanctuary to pray together, in tongues and in English while they taped us and interviewed some of us afterward. It was an interesting experience.
None of the 7 crew members claimed to be believers in Christ, but both of the two that I ask, said they felt His presence in the room as we prayed. God really moved into our little prayer time, making Himself felt as we called on him in English and in our prayer language.
Then they interviewed Ed Funk and Daniel Barnard about how their lives changed after they were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Earlier they had also interviewed Sandy Cullison about her medically verifiable healing from tumors, and other health issues. Cindy Janczyk told about her experience with The Holy Spirit, as did Matt Topper, Jason Shue, and Tyler Belfiore, who just started speaking in tongues last week!
Of course we don't know how editors will spin it, and what the final product will look like. I know that I am a goofy enough guy that they could use these things a lot of different ways. But however God chooses to use me, I am confident that He will orchestrate our feeble efforts for His higher good!
That you-all, who prayed with me.
Because of the piece that Nightline did on me with the medical study which seems to medically show that tongues does not come from the message center of the brain, Miracle Detectives contacted me to see if they can do an episode on the relationship between speaking in tongues, and miracles.
Today more than a dozen of us gathered in the sanctuary to pray together, in tongues and in English while they taped us and interviewed some of us afterward. It was an interesting experience.
None of the 7 crew members claimed to be believers in Christ, but both of the two that I ask, said they felt His presence in the room as we prayed. God really moved into our little prayer time, making Himself felt as we called on him in English and in our prayer language.
Then they interviewed Ed Funk and Daniel Barnard about how their lives changed after they were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Earlier they had also interviewed Sandy Cullison about her medically verifiable healing from tumors, and other health issues. Cindy Janczyk told about her experience with The Holy Spirit, as did Matt Topper, Jason Shue, and Tyler Belfiore, who just started speaking in tongues last week!
Of course we don't know how editors will spin it, and what the final product will look like. I know that I am a goofy enough guy that they could use these things a lot of different ways. But however God chooses to use me, I am confident that He will orchestrate our feeble efforts for His higher good!
That you-all, who prayed with me.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Things that make me cry on Father's Day
Lot's of Dad's feel so much pain on Father's Day because of choices their kids made. I, too, cry a lot each year these days, but not because of bad choices my kids made. Quite the opposite.
And please forgive me if this sounds braggadocious. God has been extraordinarily good to me with my kids, and this proves it. And in case you worry, please know that I am well aware that I do not deserve all these kinds words that my kids lavish on me (in this case Candace), but I feel I would be somehow just wrong if I didn't honor HIM by sharing it. She (they) makes me cry in the best sort of ways.
3 John 1:4 has become a favorite verse recently: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth".
So here goes the nice things Candace wrote me this evening:
And please forgive me if this sounds braggadocious. God has been extraordinarily good to me with my kids, and this proves it. And in case you worry, please know that I am well aware that I do not deserve all these kinds words that my kids lavish on me (in this case Candace), but I feel I would be somehow just wrong if I didn't honor HIM by sharing it. She (they) makes me cry in the best sort of ways.
3 John 1:4 has become a favorite verse recently: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth".
So here goes the nice things Candace wrote me this evening:
Hi Dad,
I've gotten so many compliments on what a great job I did during Harvest Cry. People complimenting my leadership left and right, my way with kids, my organization, my work ethic, even the decorations, which I barely even touched! When I protest about the decorations and try to give Izetta credit, they just shake their heads and chalk it up to "delegation". haha, I am so very blessed.
And so, I want to thank you. I have grown up under the best leader I know, and I seem to have amazing insights that come very easily to me, but shock the socks off of people! You and mom taught me those things that come second nature. I didn't realize until this past year how differently I think than most people...even most Christians. You taught me basic leadership skills from as early as I can remember. Things that seem so simple! And I remember learning things right along with you and mom all along the way. You included us in your learning processes a lot, and in your relationship with God, I just can't seem to get over the blessings that have come from that!! You prayed favor over us constantly, in which I am now living and leading!
After Johannes' message in the 9:15 service, I realized that I rely on the Holy Spirit for answers constantly with kids, and He always comes through for me! Just last night, I had two girls who wanted to get baptized AGAIN, and their parents didn't know what to tell them. Neither did I, but they were looking to me for answers, so I took a deep breath, confidently marched over to the girls, and started talking. I had no idea what I was going to tell them, I was feeling a little panic-y, but after I bumbled through it for a minute, suddenly, I was giving them a GREAT answer! I didn't know what I was saying until I said it, and it was at that moment, not before, that I realized I told them exactly what they all needed to hear. That was the Holy Spirit! He comes through for me like that CONSTANTLY, and I have you to thank for teaching me to rely on him.
You are such an inspiring man of God, and I just keep reaping the rewards from your life of service to him. I am soooooo blessed to be your daughter AND employee. Thank you for giving me to opportunity to serve your church alongside you. I'm tearing up as I write this, because I don't know how I can ever thank you enough for trusting me with such a big job, at such a young age. You saw and prophesied the leadership in me before I could even dream it. You've always believed in us, given us big jobs, and taught us to be leaders. I will never stop receiving the blessings for that as long as I live. My children will know those blessings as well!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Dad.
I love you.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Growth of the Kingdom in Adam's County
Below is a report from The American Religious Data Archive that details some surprising stuff. For example, since 1990, Adam's county grew 16% in population and 22% in total church adherence. The AG in Adam's County, grew 330%!
Here's the report: http://www.thearda.com/
But while I am glad there are huge gains in 'market share' (percentages of people connecting to church), the report also details what I want to focus on next- more of the 41,000 who are still disconnected, feeling unloved, unwanted, or out of order with God.
Adam's County is part of the Cold Northeast. That is, we are part of the least evangelized portion of America. 54 million people live here in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
An estimated 45 million of them will spend eternity in Hell.
THAT is the number that calls out to my soul morning, noon, and night. These are friends, colleagues, family members, and total strangers, but all of them matter deeply to God -and to every person who loves Him!
"With the right lever, I could move the world" is something like Aristotle or somebody said.
I believe strategy is that lever. I also believe that one day, God will give that lever to someone He can trust with His precious people, and that this person will be hugely instrumental in bringing them in.
If you are a parent, you may be raising that person. If you care enough about your neighbor to invite them to church, you may be inviting that person.
Or you may be that person. I pray that you are. God give us strategy to make a difference for the 45 million.
Source: http://www.pray4gcr.com/downloads/GCRTF_Progress_Report.pdf
Here's the report: http://www.thearda.com/
But while I am glad there are huge gains in 'market share' (percentages of people connecting to church), the report also details what I want to focus on next- more of the 41,000 who are still disconnected, feeling unloved, unwanted, or out of order with God.
Adam's County is part of the Cold Northeast. That is, we are part of the least evangelized portion of America. 54 million people live here in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
An estimated 45 million of them will spend eternity in Hell.
THAT is the number that calls out to my soul morning, noon, and night. These are friends, colleagues, family members, and total strangers, but all of them matter deeply to God -and to every person who loves Him!
"With the right lever, I could move the world" is something like Aristotle or somebody said.
I believe strategy is that lever. I also believe that one day, God will give that lever to someone He can trust with His precious people, and that this person will be hugely instrumental in bringing them in.
If you are a parent, you may be raising that person. If you care enough about your neighbor to invite them to church, you may be inviting that person.
Or you may be that person. I pray that you are. God give us strategy to make a difference for the 45 million.
Source: http://www.pray4gcr.com/downloads/GCRTF_Progress_Report.pdf
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