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Boniface Ojode, The Rooftop Pioneer Kenya reports:
Praise God servants today I had a privilege to train children ministry workers on how to teach children effectively the word of God.It was amazing seeing children workers recommitting themselves to join Jesus in His mission and reaching out to every child for Christ. The session will be conducted monthly. Glory to God.
Welcome to my latest Pethers Prayer Points.
I am sorry that you have not heard from me for a while! This PPP is a little longer than usual as it covers a few weeks of activity – it is definitely worth the extra couple of minutes that it will take to read it, so please READ ON.
As you may remember, my last communication provided an outline of The Rooftop Africa Summit. Thank you so much for your prayers regarding this, it was an amazing time and enormously significant for the ongoing development of The Rooftop. Below is a brief summary of some of what happened:
• The Summit was attended by National Pioneers from 14 countries across Africa and the passion and enthusiasm of each of them was a joy.
• I was able to outline the vison of The Rooftop to the Pioneers and it was very exciting to see them really grasp it and to engage in numerous conversations with them about how they will be introducing/developing the movement in their country as they seek to equip churches to Join Jesus in His Mission.
• As well as presenting the vision there was a clear focus on the biblical foundation of The Rooftop as well as a strong emphasis on the character of a National Pioneer. This teaching was delivered by Rev Stephen Gaukroger of the Clarion Trust who is the International Chairman of The Rooftop. His input was excellent and so important! No pioneer left the Summit without a clear understanding of The Rooftop and the kind of Christ Follower that they need to be as they pioneer the movement in their country.
• Strong relationships were built among the pioneers and, very importantly, regional leaders have now been recognized for Southern, East and West Africa.
• The Pioneers left the Summit with a passion to develop the movement in the countries where they are as well as to introduce it into bordering countries. It is likely that The Rooftop will be in 20 countries across Africa by the end of 2019.
• We concluded the summit by providing certificates to all the National Pioneers and agreeing together that we would be seeking to make 250,000 disciples across Africa over the next 5 years.
As well as the more ‘formal’ teaching and equipping it was also very exciting to go out into the community with the Pioneers and share the gospel with people that lived nearby. During one afternoon, we were able to lead 5 people to become followers of Jesus.
On a more personal note, one morning as I was walking to the church building where the equipping was taking place, a young ‘Motorbike Taxi Rider’, seeing that I was clearly not a ‘local’ asked if I was a preacher, when he discovered that I was he asked for a bible. The following day, I gave him a bible and then 4 other ‘taxi riders’ asked for bibles. I said I would get one for each of them as long as they let me tell them the story of Jesus when I gave it to them. The following morning, 2 of the riders met with me and I gave them each a bible and told them about Jesus. They both became followers of Jesus! I then gave them the other two bibles and asked them to give these to their friends who did not make it for our meeting. I instructed them to tell their friends about the Jesus of the Bible who they were now following! It is all about making disciples who make disciples.
Following The Rooftop Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, I travelled South East to Madagascar, an Island off of the coast of Mainland Africa and, following an equipping day with The Rooftop Madagascar Board, was able to speak as part of the Launch Celebration of The Rooftop Madagscar. The enthusiasm and excitement for the ministry there was so inspiring.
My last stop was in Uitenhage, South Africa. Chris, Dikana, the National Pioneer for The Rooftop South Africa had arranged a ‘Revival Weekend’ that involved 6 churches from across the city, joining together to seek God’s heart for the lost and to explore how best to ‘Join Jesus in His Mission’. The atmosphere at the meetings was ‘electric’ and the response was truly humbling as so many who gathered cried out to God asking Him to fill them with His passion for the lost. It was also a great encouragement to witness a deep and growing unity among the ‘six’ churches who increasingly spoke of themselves as ‘one church with one mission – THE MISSION OF JESUS’.
That was Africa!
I am now back in the UK and will be focusing on some key things during July, these include:
• Preparation for The Rooftop Latin America Summit taking place 4-8th November 2019 in Panama.
• Meetings with leaders from a number of cities across the area where I live to explore how The Rooftop may be used as part of an ‘Awakening’.
• Completing the ‘Joining Jesus’ Discipleship materials that will be used by our National Pioneers across Africa (and beyond) beginning in September 2019.
Please would you pray regarding the following:
• For all of the Pioneers across Africa that they will effectively develop The Rooftop in the countries where they live (and beyond) and that they will equip Christians to make many disciples who make disciples.
• For funding! Each of the Pioneers in Africa requires some funds that will enable them to travel and host meetings/produce materials to equip leaders and Christians across their countries. The costs of making many disciples is very small-per-disciple but funds are needed URGENTLY. Please pray for God’s provision.
• For me as I complete the ‘Joining Jesus’ materials that are an integral part of the disciple-making movement across Africa and beyond. (These will also be translated into Spanish and used across Latin America in the future).
• For the meetings that I will be having with leaders from across my local area, that God will open the doors that He wants me to go through.
• On Sunday 14th July I will preaching at Gold Hill Baptist Church on the theme of ‘Joining Jesus in His Mission’. Please pray that God will speak clearly and that many will respond to the challenge to ‘Join Jesus in His Mission’.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
In Jesus,
Dennis
Thanks be to God for the successful ROOFTOP PRESENTATION, June 18, 2019 in Antananarivo Madagascar, led by Rev Dennis Pethers, International Pioneer and Rev Chris Dikana, National Pioneer in South Africa. They introduced JOSOA Salama Emmanuel, National Pioneer in Madagascar.
THE ROOFTOP MADAGASCAR was launched officially in the city of Antiananarivo. 71 churches and Evangelical movements’ leaders, from 15 organisations attended this event. Many are interested in the Vision of the Rooftop.
Please pray for the executive committee to be used and sent into the harvest field and for Malagasy people to be equipped to make disciples who make disciples.
The Rooftop Madagascar Executive Committee with Rev Dennis Pethers, International Pioneer.
The Attendees chat over refreshments
Rev Dennis Pethers is interviewed by the local radio station.
On Monday, May 6, the first Dallas Rooftop City Encounter took place at the Baylor Medical Center in downtown Dallas. Sponso
red by the Dallas Baptist Association, over 60 pastors and leaders met to seek God for a fresh vision of His heart for their city. Following the time of prayer, they shared with each other how God had spoken into each of their lives. God’s presence was evident as they sought God’s face in prayer and encouraged one another in joining Jesus where He is alr
eady at work in their communities. Following the Encounter, I had the opportunity to meet with several leaders about our new coaching opportunity for pastors led by Dennis Pethers. It was an amazing day and plans are being discussed for future Dallas Encounters.
On Sunday, May 19, the 3rd Chicago Rooftop Encounter took place on the 99th floor of the Willis Tower. This year
’s Rooftop Encounter was led by one of our Rooftop US Board Members, Cheryl Dorsey. Over 60 Christians came to seek God for a fresh perspective of their city including several pastors and the Chief Chaplain of the Chicago Police Department. God is at work in Chicago and the Rooftop Encounter is one of several ways prayer is covering the city as God’s people seek to Join Jesus in His Mission!
On Monday, April 29, the 2019 Rooftop City Encounter in Washington, D.C. took place. This year was our second Rooftop City Encounter in our nation’s Capital and God provided one of the best venues in the city for the Encounter – The Rooftop Terrace at Charlie Palmer Steak. This year’s Encounter was also special because it was in conjunction with the National Bible Reading Marathon at the U.S. Capitol. Therefore, as we prayed over the city, the Word of God was being read aloud from the Capitol steps. As they prayed, God clearly impressed on several the need for spiritual awakening in the church and across our nation; for God’s people to be a holy people, living as salt and light in our culture. It was a compelling moment as God reminded us once again of our calling to go and engage those around us with the Gospel.
4. Repent
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:1-7
It is possible that over the time that you have been a Christian, the love for Jesus and His Mission that you had at the beginning has waned. Perhaps it is true of you, just like the church at Ephesus that: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
If this is the case the you do not need to despair, but you do need to do something rather than just ‘accepting this situation’.
The church at Ephesus was told to:
Consider how far you have fallen!
The best way to ‘consider’ is to take time to reflect on how things were. If you keep (or kept) a journal, then look back at the time when you know that you had a deep love for Jesus and read the things that you have written down. If not, I suggest you grab hold of a pen and a notebook and spend some time writing down some of the things that you remember about the time(s) when your love for Jesus was real and then, once you have written down what you can remember, read through what you have written.
As you read and reflect upon the words you have written you will, I believe, be prompted by the Holy Spirit to ask God to do something in your life that will cause you, once again, to have a deep love for Jesus.
This leads on to the second thing that the church at Ephesus, and you, have been told you must do:
Repent and do the things you did at first.
It is important that your time with God doesn’t end with you just wishing you could go back to how things were. The truth is that you need a fresh and present tense encounter with God. This will follow repentance!
The word repentance, in the context of this letter, means something like ‘turn around and get back on track’. Your life may have been going in an increasingly ‘non-Jesus-centred’ direction for months, years or even decades. You may have become increasingly focused on things that have little or nothing to do with being a follower of Jesus. All of these things have somehow pushed out, or covered over, the love that you felt for Jesus – so!
Stop going in the direction that you are heading in, turn around and then begin to do the things that you did in that time (those times) when your love for Jesus was real.
This week, I strongly encourage you to make some time to CONSIDER ‘how far you have fallen’ and then to REPENT!
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Dennis Pethers, The Rooftop International Pioneer recently completed the first online session of ‘Joining Jesus’ with pastors from across Northern Kentucky in the United States.
‘Joining Jesus’ is an online coaching process for pastors who want to be equipped to make disciples who make disciples.
Dennis comments:
As I travel across the world, I meet so many pastors who are honest with me and admit that they have never been equipped to make disciples of people who are beyond the walls of the church. This is a real problem because, in a time when fewer and fewer people are coming to church, it is essential that Christians are equipped to be ‘disciple-makers’. To equip others, it is necessary for the pastors to be equipped! This is at the heart of the Joining Jesus coaching process.
The Joining Jesus coaching process is beginning to be used by pastors across the US and the continent of Africa.
For more information about how to join a group please email joiningjesus@therooftop.org
13th May 2019
Welcome to my latest Pethers Prayer Points.
The past couple of weeks for me personally have been spent in the UK speaking at churches, meeting with leaders, delivering the first ‘Joining Jesus’ online coaching session for pastors and continuing to make preparations for The Rooftop Africa Summit in June. I also had the opportunity to be part of an event, hosted by City Vision, at the House of Lords. As well as enjoying the opportunity to walk along ‘The corridors of power’, the meeting was a great opportunity to connect with leaders from across the UK and to explore ways of helping cities to Join Jesus in His Mission.
While I have been ‘on the ground’ in the UK, the impact of The Rooftop around the world has been continuing through the ministry of our National Pioneers and over the past couple of weeks there have been Rooftop Encounters taking place in the United States:
On 29th April a Rooftop Encounter took place in Washington D.C.
On 6th May a Rooftop Encounter took place in Dallas Texas.
To see more details and photographs from both of these Encounters please visit FaceBook and type ‘The Rooftop’ in search. This will take you to The Rooftop FaceBook page. Please scroll down and you will find this information.
As well as the Encounters in the Unites States, The Rooftop has continued to expand across Africa. We have now introduced The Rooftop into new regions in Tanzania and Kenya as well as into the countries of Namibia and Madagascar.
God is continuing to open doors and I am keen to make the most of some non-travelling time to put things in place that will be a real help to The Rooftop movement as it continues to expand across the world.
Please would you pray regarding the following:
• For the ‘Joining Jesus’ online coaching. That those who participated in the first online session will put into practice the things that they have been given to do this month and they will learn-as-they-do these things.
• That pastors from states across the US who are considering Joining Jesus will ‘sign up’.
• For all who attended The Rooftop Encounters in Washington DC and Dallas. That the things they experienced on The Rooftop will not be left there but will impact the ways that they engage with the lost and expand the Kingdom beyond the walls of the church.
• For those that are connecting with The Rooftop in new regions and countries across Africa, that they will truly grasp the vision and enable churches across their region to ‘Join Jesus in His Mission’.
• For me as I deliver another Joining Jesus online coaching session today.
• On Thursday AM, I am meeting with a potential donor for the ministry. Please pray that God goes before me.
• On Thursday Evening, we have a UK board meeting for The Rooftop. Please pray that God will guide us as we consider and make important decisions regarding the development of the ministry.
• On Sunday I will be preaching at Maidstone Baptist church morning and evening. Please pray that God will speak powerfully and that lives will be changed.
• Please remember to pray for our need for funds as we continue to develop a fundraising strategy that will enable us to continue to develop the ministry across the world.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
In Jesus,
Dennis
3. Have you lost your first love?
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
At the heart of this letter which includes many positive comments about the good things that the church in Ephesus is doing there is an enormously critical and challenging comment. It is just a few words but these words are enormous in their implications:
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen!
The accusation against this hard working and seemingly committed group of people was that they were doing many of the right things but that they had forgotten why they were doing them.
Does that ring any bells with you?
Just a few days ago, I was sitting in a coffee bar with Phil, a good friend that I have known for years. Among other things, we were talking about the disappointment that we both often experience at the lack of passion that there seems to be among so many people in the church. During our conversation, he said to me:
“How does it happen? Even as I reflect on my own life, I can remember a time when I was so passionate to be reaching people and God’s presence was so real! Over a period of time, this passion for people and awareness of God’s presence with me seemed, somehow, to be replaced by just conforming to church life and going through the motions! How does this happen?
I am pleased to say that Phil has now rediscovered, in an even deeper way, the passion for reaching people and a real awareness of God’s presence with him not just when he is in a church building but wherever he is.
But Phil is not the only person that I have had a similar discussion with. The truth is that I have met hundreds of people, all over the world, who have shared a similar story with me. The deep love for Jesus and His Mission wanes and is replaced by becoming busy with ‘church stuff’ and, over time, we can easily forget why we are doing the things that we are doing. We do them because that is what we do!
As I think about so many people that have shared this kind of story with me, I have concluded that every one of them never set out to lose their first love. That was not their aim or desire, it ‘just happened’ because somehow, being part of a church, which was busy doing what it does, seemed to change their focus from Jesus and His Mission, to the church and its activities.
It is interesting that this letter is not to an individual but to a church, the whole community!
If each of us is to rediscover our first love, there is a deep and profound need for the church to rediscover the ‘love that it had at first’.
This week take some time to reflect upon what this would mean for you and for the part of His church that you belong to. You may find these words from the prophet Jeremiah helpful as you engage in reflection:
The word of the LORD came to me: “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:
“This is what the LORD says:
“‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the wilderness,
through a land not sown. Jeremiah 2:1-2