Bishop Tommy McGhee
I want to encourage the members of the Cornerstone Conference to join me in pursuing God’s best for our lives and ministries in 2012. I would like to share Four Ministry Focus Points that have been stirred in my heart and that I hope will direct us this year. These focus points are summed up in four words.
- INTERCESSION The year 2012 will need to be a year of special focus on prayer. In the near future Dr. Dan Woods and I will call for a conference wide time of prayer and fasting. This emphasis will take place during the first half of the year. We are also looking to schedule a special Prayer Event during the year to bring further attention to the vital part of who we are and where we believe God will lead us in the future. Please make prayer a strong commitment for 2012.
- INTERDEPENDENCE For several years we have shared the concept that we grow stronger as we become more committed to each other. We will continue to encourage our ministers and churches to participate in the Regional and District meetings so that we may form a stronger bond. Another way to respond to this call for interdependence is to ask stronger churches within our districts and regions to reach out and assist new or struggling churches. We will be blessed as we truly care for one another.
- INTERVENTION A growing number of our churches are experiencing times of crisis. Some of these crises are related to conflict within the church. I would like for us to develop special Crisis/Intervention teams made up of ministers and lay persons who could assist in helping churches and ministers work through these potentially disruptive and destructive times of need. We also need to hold each other to higher standards of accountability in the areas of our commitments to the Biblical principle of tithing and the mutually adopted structure for our denomination and conference.
- INTENTIONALLY One of the great needs of the Cornerstone Conference is for more individuals to experience “the call” of God into the pastoral ministry. The average age of our pastors continues to increase. We desperately need an influx of younger ministers who will not only serve our existing churches but will become youth pastors and church planters as well. I am asking that our ministers place a greater emphasis on the need for our people to earnestly seek God for His will to be done in their futures. When individuals experience “the call” on their lives for ministry, we will need to get them connected to our Biblical Ministries Institute or to our Discipleship Ministries leaders so that we can assist them in following their call. These Ministry Focus Points need to become a part of our church culture and way of life. Brethren, now is the time to respond and pray fervently concerning our future.
Please take all of these items to heart and cry out to the Lord. The harvest is white and the time is short. We must do the work of Him who sent us while we have opportunity. Jesus says in John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name He may give it to you.” Begin asking the Lord today for His outpouring upon our Conference and all of our lives. I pray that He will bless you and your families this year.
Tommy McGhee