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In view of the unprecedented impact of the Coronavirus around the world, we have decided to reschedule The Rooftop GLOBAL ENCOUNTER. This Global Event will now take place exactly one year later on Sunday 10.10.21. Depending upon developments over the coming months there will still be Rooftop Encounters taking place in many countries in 2020 […]
Last night we commissioned Esaú Canales as The Rooftop Latin America Pioneer at an event in Santa Monica, California. We are excited to have him on our team and look forward to seeing how God will continue to use him across the Latin America region. Rev. Dennis Pethers, our International Pioneer, was present, along […]
Dennis Pethers has just concluded his tour of Asia with a visit to Singapore. Here he is on various rooftops and also in Chinatown earlier today. Dennis said: “God has opened many doors for The Rooftop GLOBAL ENCOUNTER across Asia.” To be part of this where you are, visit therooftop.org/global-encounter
From Dennis Pethers: Dear Friends, Thank you so much for your prayers over the past couple of weeks, I am pleased to be able to update you with lots of really good news. A really good place to start is with news that I received from John Whaley regarding his wife, Susan, John wrote: We […]
As Dennis Pethers continues his tour of Asia, he visited Japan and was able to visit several cities, including Tokyo and Osaka.
God opened doors for The Rooftop GLOBAL ENCOUNTER in Osaka, Tokyo and Hiroshima.
At the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima
Dennis says: “The excitement in so many meetings where I have shared the vision has been so inspiring – God is on the move.”
The next stop for Dennis is Singapore.
To be part of this where you are, visit therooftop.org/global-encounter
Our International Pioneer, Dennis Pethers, has just been visiting Seoul, South Korea.
He went to Lotte World Tower where John Whaley, The Rooftop Pioneer in the US, led a Rooftop Encounter in 2018.
We now have a coordinator for The Rooftop in Seoul and made great progress for an Encounter in Seoul as part of the GLOBAL ENCOUNTER on 10.10.2020.
The next stop for Dennis is Tokyo, Japan.
To be part of this where you are, visit therooftop.org/global-encounter
Our International Pioneer, Dennis Pethers, has just been to Panama City for The Rooftop Latin America Summit. This was to meet with potential Latin American Pioneers, to see how we can develop the ministry in this region. More progress to be reported soon.
Having dinner with leaders from across Latin America who joined us in Panama
Leaders at the Latin America Summit
Leaders at the Latin America Summit
The Panama Canal
4th September 2019
Welcome to my latest, and what will be my last PPP.
Don’t’ worry, I am not leaving the ministry!
The reason that this will be the final Newsletter sent as Pethers Prayer Points is that the growth of The Rooftop ministry means that there are so many stories to tell that I want you to hear and so much that needs prayer! This is especially true now that we are now coming close to, what could be a remarkable MOMENT THAT LEADS TO A MOVEMENT – The Rooftop GLOBAL ENCOUNTER taking place on 10th October 2020 in up to 100 countries around the world.
The potential for this unique event is so great that we have decided that all communications that we send from now until the GLOBAL ENCOUNTER will feature this event. As such, from next time, I will be sending GLOBAL ENCOUNTER NEWS which will include regular updates on what is happening with The Rooftop around the world as we approach this unique event.
I will also include a ‘Personal Section’ where I will continue to share some more personal/family news and prayer needs.
Since I last wrote things have been pretty non-stop!
Over the past couple of weeks I have been meeting with a number of pastors in my home ‘city’ of Chelmsford as I am keen that the GLOBAL ENCOUNTER in 2020 will be launched from where I live. It is a wonderful part of God’s sovereignty that Chelmsford is ‘The Birthplace of Radio’ and from the city that began global mass communication I will launching a global event that will envision and equip Christians to join Jesus in His Mission.
It dawned on me during a meeting with a pastor in Chelmsford that the GLOBAL ENCOUNTER is something quite remarkable. I guess that I have been communicating this vision for such a long time that I have forgotten how big this could be. After I had shared the vision of the GLOBAL ENCOUNTER, the pastor looked at me across the table and said “This is a big deal…This is a really big deal”. He continued: “There is nothing else like this happening in the world, this is unique, God could do something amazing through this”. I pray that He is right and that all the glory goes to God!
I have spent the last few days in Los Angeles meeting with a number of Hispanic pastors and leaders in preparation for The Rooftop Latin America Summit that will be taking place in early November 19. As is so often the case, I was amazed to see the ways that God had gone before me and led me to the people that He wants to be a part of what He is doing through The Rooftop. We now have a really good group of people working together in preparation for the Summit.
On Sunday, I preached at three Hispanic churches in different parts of LA. It was such a thrill to see many people responding to the challenge to Join Jesus in His Mission.
Coming Up:
Over the next couple days I will be completing the first module of the Joining Jesus Discipleship Processthat will be used across Africa. This module consists of 12 sessions that focus on the Mission of Jesus and how, as leaders, we can join Him in that mission and equip the church to do the same.
I would really appreciate your prayers in relation to ‘Joining Jesus Africa’ please pray:
On Thursday I will be leading Session 1 Of the Joining Jesus online coaching for pastors across Arizona, please pray that God uses this session to help the 17 pastors that will be online to really grasp the true mission of Jesus.
On Saturday I will be at The Rooftop international Council Meeting in North Carolina. With the focus now turning very much towards The Rooftop GLOBAL ENCOUNTER, we have many exciting and challenging things to consider and seek God for. Please pray that we will hear the Lord’s voice and pray also for Stephen Gaukroger, the chairman of the council, that God will use him to lead the group effectively.
On Sunday morning I will be preaching at Big Bone Baptist Church in Union Kentucky and then at 6pm leading a Rooftop Encounter for churches across Northern Kentucky at the Garden of Hope in Covington KY overlooking Cincinatti. Please pray that God speaks through me in the morning and that the ENCOUNTER in the evening is transformational for many Christians as they seek a fresh vision of God’s heart for the lost.
On a personal note, I would appreciate prayers for Lynn, she is in the process of changing jobs and would appreciate your prayers as she says goodbye to her current employers (something she never finds easy) and begins to get ready for her new role.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
In Jesus,
Dennis
Welcome to my latest Pethers Prayer Points.
As you read this PPP you will see that your prayers and support are needed greatly!
We are reaching more people in more countries and have the opportunity to expand a disciple-making movement that spreads across the globe.
It is difficult to explain, in just a few words, all of the things that are happening as The Rooftop continues to make an impact across the world. The growth and potential of this ministry is such that we are now focusing on a ‘God-sized vision’ that will, we believe, result in us making 1,000,000 new disciples in 100 countries over the next 5 years.
As you read this you may be thinking ‘Hallelujah’ or ‘Has Dennis gone crazy?’ (or something in between!) So, let me provide some context for this vision.
We are focusing on this God-sized vision because He is opening doors and providing us with opportunities that make this outcome ‘Huge but achievable’ because He is doing it.
Central to this vision are the Rooftop Pioneers that are working so hard to share the vision of The Rooftop both in the countries where they live and also in neighbouring countries. In September we will be commencing the ‘Joining Jesus Disciple-making Process’ in 14 countries across Africa. This process will be used by our Pioneers to equip pastors and regional leaders to make disciples who make disciples. It is very likely that this disciple-making process will be taking place in more than 20 countries by the end of 2019.
As I have communicated with the Pioneers in Africa about this, I have been receiving so much exciting feedback, here is just a little:
Nestor Ndizeye
National Pioneer, The Rooftop Burundi
Personally, I will begin to gather Churches and leaders of churches in order to show them our work in The Rooftop Ministries publicly, our vision, mission and our statement of faith. All of that will be analyzed in a seminar of 2 days, and I will choose a coordinator and the coordinator will choose a group of 12 as you mentioned in the name. All of that will be done in all 18 provinces of Burundi.
Josoa Emmanuel
National Pioneer, The Rooftop Madagascar
First, what we are going to do is to translate all The Rooftop documents in Malagasy (deadline – end of august) in the beginning of September, all the committee should have all docs in Malagasy and read it till the end of September. I will go to Tamatave (370 km from the capital) to train pastors in that area (about 56 pastors, from different denominations)
Phillip Mudzidzi (Rev.)
National Pioneer, The Rooftop Zimbabwe
I found the time at the Summit, impressing the more on my heart to reach out to church leaders, pastors and believers through the Mobile Discipleship School. I am planning and have already shared the vision with some of the leaders here and they are finding it in touch with the needs of the church in order to grow disciples who in turn will make disciples both from the people in church and those without. I have looked ahead and planned that we can start with people in Gweru, Bulawayo and Harare. We will be having groups of 12 people following the pattern Jesus used for a more personal touch with the disciples. I hope to have the first groups from these areas start on the 1st of September 2019 and meeting them every month for two days each time for six months. So we hope to complete the first groups of disciples End of February then we graduate them with certificates.
In addition to these responses, I have also been talking with Elijah Valcarcel, our Pioneer in Sierra Leone who is heading soon to the regions in the south of the country to make disciples among the ‘Never-Reached’ people who live there. I have also been talking with Theos Ntambwe, our Pioneer in D.R. Congo about the process being used to equip leaders-in-training at the Bible School he leads. The opportunities in Bible schools across Africa are numerous and I am excited at the possibility of Disciple-making being at the heart of equipping leaders of churches.
The disciple-making movement is also spreading across South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Liberia, Nigeria and Ghana as well as into neighbouring countries.
As well as the expansion that is already taking place and now accelerating across Africa, we are soon to have The Rooftop Latin America Summit. It appears that we will have 12 potential National Pioneers coming together from South and Central America and the United States (home of around 60,000,000 Hispanic people). At this summit we will appoint pioneers who will be equipped to communicate the vision of The Rooftop and begin disciple-making movements in the countries where they live.
There is so much more to say about plans in relation to the GLOBAL ROOFTOP ENCOUNTER on the 10th October 2020 as well as expansion of The Rooftop in the US and UK and many new doors opening in Europe and Asia. I will provide a little more detail on these, next time!
We believe that ‘God is able’ and that through The Rooftop ministry 1,000,000 disciples could be made in 5 years.
That’s why we need your prayers and support!
Our key need is funding!
As the Pioneers expand the disciple-making movement across their countries and beyond, funds are required that will enable them to travel to cities and regions, to arrange gatherings of pastors and leaders, to translate and print materials.
Our costs are always kept to a minimum and we spend very little on administrative costs. You may find the following two facts interesting:
As you will have seen from the brief comments from some of our Pioneers in Africa, they are ready to go NOW and need funds that will make this possible.
PLEASE WOULD YOU:
Pray specifically that God will touch the hearts of people that He wants to use to provide funds for this ministry so that we can make disciples across the world.
Prayerfully consider becoming a financial partner:
To Donate to The Rooftop please visit our website www.therooftop.org and hit the DONATE button.
If you are already a regular financial partner, please would you consider making a special gift in addition to your, much appreciated regular support.
If you are not a financial partner, please would you consider becoming one! You may want to make a special gift or, if possible, become a regular donor.
Our Pioneers are reaching people who are beyond the walls, equipping Christians to reach people beyond the walls and ensuring that those who are reached are equipped to reach others. Please will you partner with us so that we can make 1,000,000 disciples over the next 5 years.
If you have any questions, or would like to talk with me in more detail, about becoming a financial partner please feel free to email me personally at dennispethers@therooftop.org
Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
In Jesus,
Dennis
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.