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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 […]
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 […]
Rev. Lucas Ndjamba, The Rooftop Pioneer in Namibia, recently ran a workshop to discuss ‘The Need for Evangelism & Discipleship’ with a group of seven leaders of a local church. They were full of excitement and they promised another meeting with more people involved.
The leaders from a local church
Please pray for the team in Namibia as they work and walk with these leaders.
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
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
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
Welcome to my latest Pethers Prayer Points.
I have just returned home following a 5 week visit to the United States and Mexico. Throughout this trip the power and provision of God has been immense. A few things have been the most exciting.
A theme that I was able to speak on a number of times during the trip was ‘Spiritual Awakening’. I had some talks prepared for this but, a few days into the trip I found myself awake at 4am with a strong sense that there was something different that God wanted me to be saying. As a result, I spent some time preparing a message on ‘Power’.
The message was based on Ephesians 1:19,20. The Apostle Paul prayed that Christians would know:
‘his (God’s) incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead….’
Linked with Acts 1:8:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
To be honest, it was a very simple message and I had the opportunity to preach it on a number of occasions in cities across the US. God certainly moved in power as, each time, almost the whole congregation responded by getting on their knees and crying out to God to fill them with the Holy Spirit and use them to share the gospel ‘in power’ so that their communities, beyond the walls of the church’ would be changed! Praise God!
As well as seeing God move in power there were also many occasions where God provided in remarkable ways through the generosity of people who have grasped the vision of The Rooftop and are partnering with us financially. This makes it possible for us to continue to grow the movement across the world. I am so grateful to each person who has responded in this way.
A further significant development during this trip was the assembling of a group of businessmen, pastors and an administrator who are keen to help with the expansion of The Rooftop into the Latin American world both across Central/South America and the United States. This new group will help by helping us to network more effectively in countries where we are already connected, introduce us into new countries, and seek ways to raise funds to enable these developments to take place. A key focus of this will be ‘The Rooftop Summit Espanol’. In November this year we will gather potential pioneers from across Latin America and the US to Panama to present the vision of The Rooftop and, we pray, to commission Pioneers across the continent to help churches to join Jesus in His Mission to make disciples beyond the walls of the church.
Last, but by no means least, is a potentially significant development with ‘Joining Jesus’.
You are probably aware that the ‘Mission Statement’ of The Rooftop is ‘Joining Jesus in His Mission’. The phrase ‘Joining Jesus’ has become an increasingly powerful aspect of The Rooftop and it is now the title for a range of things that I will be engaged in that will, I believe, help to accelerate the movement of The Rooftop across the world. This range is made up of:
A weekly email that is sent to people across the world. This short email is a brief reminder to continually be ‘Joining Jesus in His Mission’ every day of the week.
A Weekly video – I have been filming these at various locations around the world and will soon begin to release them on Facebook and other social media on a weekly basis.
A Podcast – I will be releasing podcasts that will incorporate conversations with people I meet around the world who are ‘Joining Jesus in His Mission’ around the world.
A leaders’ equipping process – It looks likely that I will be leading this process in up to 5 states in the US over the coming year as well as equipping our African Pioneers to lead it in countries across Africa.
I have now closed my personal website and will now use The Rooftop website which will incorporate all of the above.
Please pray for the following this week:
• For all those that responded during my recent visit to the US/Mexico – please be praying that the response they made will not be forgotten and that they will see God working through them powerfully as they seek to make Jesus known in the places where they live.
• For me, during this week and the week ahead as I work on a number of writing and practical tasks in relation to the development of the Joining Jesus initiatives.
• The development of The Rooftop into Latin America and the Spanish speaking people in the US. That God will continue to open doors and provide the resources that are required.
• For Lynn and I as we have the chance to spend some time together over the Easter break.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
I hope that you have a great Easter as you celebrate the remarkable truth that ‘He is Risen!’
In Jesus,
Dennis
Welcome to my latest Pethers Prayer Points.
There have been some real highlights over the past couple of weeks as I have had the opportunity to speak on the theme of spiritual awakening.
In Jemison Alabama I led a weekend which included a men’s breakfast as well as gatherings on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The presence of God was so apparent in each of the meetings and the response in each was deeply significant as the vast majority of those present came forward, knelt in the presence of God and cried out to Him, asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that spiritual awakening would flow through them to the world beyond the walls of the church.
As a direct result of the weekend the church is already planning a brand-new outreach in an apartment block close to the church building and many individuals shared with me that they had a new fire in their heart and wanted to make Jesus known where they are!
Yesterday, I spoke at Fusion church in Castaic California, again on the theme of spiritual awakening and our need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. As in Alabama, the area at the front of the worship area was filled with people kneeling and crying out to God, asking Him to fill them with the Holy Spirit and His power so that He can build His Kingdom in and through them.
The presence of God has been so apparent in these gatherings and I praise Him for the lives that have been transformed.
God has also gone before me in a number of meetings that I have had with pastors, leaders and people who are willing to join a support group that is being formed to help the ministry expand across Latin America.
He is on the move and it is a privilege to see all that He is doing and to seek to stay in step with Him – a mixture of exhilaration and exhaustion!!
Today I am heading to Nashville.
Please pray for the following this week:
• For all those that re responded in Alabama and Castaic. Pray that what was experienced in the gatherings won’t end there but will flow out into their daily lives
• For the people that I have met with concerning the Hispanic Expansion of the ministry, that they will hear the voice of God as they consider joining the group.
• For Esau Canales, who serves on the International Council, and will be leading this group. Pray that God will guide him as he leads the group and explores ways of expanding and resourcing the ministry across Latin America and among Spanish speaking people in the US.
• For meetings that I will be engaged in during my time in Nashville, primarily with people who are thinking/praying about supporting the ministry.
• On Sunday I will be preaching at Northside Baptist Church in Murfreesboro TN. Please pray that God will speak powerfully through me.
• For Lynn as I spend the last week away from home.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
In Jesus,
Dennis