Rooftop Madagascar Launch

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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.

The 2019 Dallas Rooftop City Encounter – by John Whaley

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On Monday, May 6, the first Dallas Rooftop City Encounter took place at the Baylor Medical Center in downtown Dallas. Sponsored 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 already 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.

The 2019 Chicago Rooftop Encounter – by John Whaley

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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!

Washington D.C. Rooftop Encounter – by John Whaley

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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.

Joining Jesus – 20th May 2019

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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.

Joining Jesus Pastors coaching.

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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

Pethers’ Prayer Points 13th May 2019

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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

Joining Jesus – 13th May 2019

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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

Joining Jesus – 8th May 2019

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2. A Great Church!?
“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
These opening verses of Revelation 2 seem, in many ways, to be the opening of a letter to a church that many of us may want to join. The people who make up the church at Ephesus are not afraid of hard work, they are not, it seems, like many churches where most of the people are happy to leave most of the work to a few of the people!
As well as being hard working, the people are not the kind who give up easily, they are known for their perseverance, for carrying on and being faithful even when it is tough. This perseverance has not been easy, they have had to deal with ‘wicked people’ and some who falsely claimed to be apostles. Through these, and many other challenges and hardships, the church at Ephesus has not given up – it has persevered – what a church!
As I think about the church at Ephesus that received this letter, I find myself reflecting upon numerous churches that I have worked with all around the world. So many of these churches are similar, in so many ways, to this church. They consist of hardworking people who, often against many challenges, never give up but ‘keep things going’.
I am not sure how this compares to the church that you are part of or how it may compare to the church that you wish you were part of.
There is though a deep question that needs to be asked about this church and the question is something like:
“In spite of all the hard work and commitment to the church, is this church joining Jesus in His Mission?”
Clearly, they were doing many things ‘right’ but is it possible that they were missing out on the most fundamental purpose of their existence as a church?
It certainly seems that this was the case because in spite of all of these admirable qualities, the message of this letter is not to affirm the church but to challenge them to the very core.
We will look at this challenge next time but I encourage you, this week, to reflect upon the church that you are part of and consider ways in which the things that you are doing may be a help or a hindrance to joining Jesus in His Mission.

Pethers’ Prayer Points – 30th April 2019

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  1. 30th April 2019

    Welcome to my latest Pethers Prayer Points.

    I am now back in the UK and is good to have a short period of time where I will not be travelling. This provides me with a great opportunity to spend a little more time with Lynn and the family, as well as focus on preparation for some significant developments that will be taking place in the coming weeks. I would really appreciate your prayers about 3 really important things:
    1. The Rooftop Africa Summit
    From 10th – 14th June we will be holding the first ever ‘Continental Summit’ for the Rooftop Pioneers that are spread across Africa. Our Pioneers will be coming together in Nairobi Kenya from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, D.C. Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Malawi and Madagascar.

    As well as the Pioneers, we will be joined by Rev Stephen Gaukroger, the Chairman of The Rooftop International Council, Alan Pattle, The International Operations Manager and Marion Spencer The International Director of Ministry.

    I can’t tell you how excited I am about the possibilities of gathering this group of gifted, passionate leaders together in one place and seeking the Lord as to how we can envision and equip churches across the whole of Africa to join Jesus in His Mission and make disciples of people who are beyond the walls of the church.

    Please would you pray regarding following:

    1. Thank God for the provision of the funds that were needed to enable the Pioneers to travel from all over Africa to Nairobi Kenya and to cover the costs of accommodation and meeting venue. Praise God!!
    2. On Wednesday this week, Alan Pattle and I have an online meeting with Boniface Ojode, the National Pioneer in Kenya to continue to make arrangements for the Summit. Please pray that we will make good progress.
    3. For Stephen Gaukroger, and I as we prepare for the teaching and instruction that we will deliver at the Summit. This teaching and instruction is so vital as The Rooftop Movement continues to gather pace across Africa.
    4. Stephen will lead a series of bible teaching on the core aspects of what it means to be ‘Joining Jesus in His Mission’.
    5. I will be leading a variety of equipping sessions that will enable the Pioneers to develop The Rooftop movement across the nations where they live and into adjacent nations.
    6. For the Pioneers as they prepare to make the journey to Nairobi. Please pray that God will be at work in each of them and preparing them for what He intends to accomplish ai the Summit.
    7. For God to meet with us!

I will keep you updated with prayer needs for the Summit over the coming weeks.

2. Joining Jesus Leaders Course.
I will be leading the first online coaching session for leaders from across Northern Kentucky on Monday 6th May. Please pray for me this week regarding the following:

    1. Practical arrangements of setting up the online platform/distribution of materials etc.
    2. That God will be preparing the hearts of the 12 pastors who will participate that they will be ready for what He wants to happen when we connect for the first-time next week.
    3. For discussions I will be having this week with leaders in two other states about beginning the process in June and in September.

I will share news of the first online session in my next PPP

3. Funds
If you have been receiving my PPP for a long time you will be aware that funding is both a constant challenge and a reason to be continually grateful to God for the ways that He enables this movement to continue to grow.

With more and more doors opening across the world we have now formulated a budget for what it is likely to cost for us to be in 100 countries by 2023 and in so doing make 1,000,000 disciples.

Please would you pray regarding the following:

      1. That God will continue to provide in ways that constantly remind us that The Rooftop is His ministry.
      2. We have now produced a short information leaflet and Power Point presentation that clearly displays the vision and financial needs of the ministry. Please pray that God will lead us to people who have a passion for the lost to be discipled and the resources to enable us to continue to do what He has called us to.
      3. Please ask the Lord if He is calling you to become a financial partner with the ministry. If you would like to receive a copy of the information leaflet/power point presentation please email me at dennispethers@therooftop.org

Thanks so much for your prayers and support.

In Jesus,

Dennis