Discipleship: The Heart Of The Church

There is no doubt on the Commission Jesus gave us: “to go and make disciples of all people groups, baptising them… and teaching them to do obey everything Jesus had taught them.” (Matt 28: 19)

He came to redeem the whole of mankind, to restore all people into their identity as children of their Father, knowing His love and presence in their lives and the power of the Holy Spirit to live for Him. He came to establish His Kingdom, and transform lives of people and communities with peace, hope and freedom.

The extraordinary thing is that He personally touched so little of the world when He was in it. He trusted that task to a few often confused men – and yet within a few years the world was “turned upside down”. We know it was because he powerfully mentored/ discipled these few, and empowered them by the Holy Spirit, that they touched thousands and taught many to obey all the things that Jesus had commanded. But even they did not touch the world. They made disciples – and these people made disciples who made disciples – and the nations were transformed in Jesus’ Name.

That movement of transformation has continued at times and in some places since the 1st Century, and powerfully in some places today. But in Melbourne and the West, that dynamic growth and influence has shrivelled. Research shows maybe 3 million outside “the Church” in Melbourne, and probably outside God’s Kingdom, and attendance declining compared to the population growth.

A major factor is the failure to make disciples. Strategies aimed at “getting people to church” can never reach or impact the city. Calling people to “become a Christian” will not do it either. Church growth methods have not worked. Building more church buildings is not a key to changing lives. It is not more Christians that will see our city impacted for the Kingdom. It is disciples: people who are mature in their relationship with Jesus and committed to obey His call to live for Him – expecting Him to give them divine appointments with the lost, the least and the lonely, or anyone else, so through them God will change lives. Effective discipleship not only impacts more people and communities. It leads to a dynamic experience of the love and power of God at work, and the reality of the glory of God leads to inspiring worship and praise. Faith, worship and prayer and the Bible come alive. It becomes contagious. Our transformed lives touch more and more people and sothe City.

Powerful teaching on this core element of ministry and mission was given at the recent conference of the Evangelical Fellowship of the Anglican Communion national conference at Ridley College (see http://home.vicnet.net.au/~efac/ )

Unity

We Need Unity!

Any denomination, church, ministry or organisation that thinks they can carry out the work of the Kingdom alone has too small a vision of God’s Kingdom.

If God says He needs the whole Body of Christ to relate and work together then we certainly do!

Around the world and across Australia God is bringing His people together. There have been movements among lay-people to get together for prayer and a united witness to their city and nation. In the past 3 years many more local pastors have started to meet together regularly to share and pray. Pastors, clergy, priests from different denominations and traditions are becoming friends and colleagues and prayer partners. Pastors worshiping and ministering together.

Barriers are being dropped as long-standing enmity, ignorance or division have been dealt with through acts of repentance and forgiveness between pastors and even churches.

This is starting to happen in many areas around Melbourne, and in most major cities in Australia.

Melbourne Pastors Network

This is an initiative to encourage pastors to build relationships and pray together.
Initially this is to foster local and regional pastors fellowships.
It is expected that it will lead to occasional city-wide pastors fellowship meetings.
It is also hoped it will lead to consultation and a publishing of all major church events in Melbourne.

What Can We Do?

We Need To Be Intentional:

God’s Holy Spirit is bringing pastors together, but we need to be taking our part.
This is a time to reach our to neighbouring pastors, clergy, priests. Call in to meet them. Get together for lunch and to get to know each other. Take time to pray together.

Rejoice In What We Have In Common:

As God’s people we have such riches in Christ that we share!
Let us focus on Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Loving Saviour and our common task to reach our city for Him.

There is so much to unite us in all we share in Christ and in ministry. At the same time, let us recognise our diversity in style and emphasis all has a place in the Body of Christ. It is good to be different – God planned it that way, and gave each of us, and each of our churches different strengths and ministries. Let us value how we complement one another, and encourage one another in our common task in the Kingdom.

GOD’S VISION: ONE CHURCH OF JESUS IN MELBOURNE TO REACH OUR CITY
The issue is NOT bringing all the churches into one big structured organisation, but to be a movement of many different churches and congregations, praying and sharing and serving together in love.

There will always be the ministry within the local church. The challenge is to lift our vision beyond our own walls, to share together in the wider Church of God.

Unity

Our vision is to see the whole of greater Melbourne transformed by God. However a major focus of Transforming Melbourne is on local cities, because

The local city is where the Church is earthed to community
Pastors and Christians can relate at local city level
People can pray about the issues of their local community
The local city is where the Church can impact civic leadership
The local city is where the Church is most closely watched
Few Christians have a detailed knowledge of Greater Melbourne

And, if there is prayer for every local city, the whole of Melbourne will be prayed for.

We Need Unity!

Any denomination, church, ministry or organisation that thinks they can carry out the work of the Kingdom alone has too small a vision of God’s Kingdom.

If God says He needs the whole Body of Christ to relate and work together then we certainly do!

Around the world and across Australia God is bringing His people together. There have been movements among Lay-people to get together for prayer and a united witness to their city and nation. In the past 3 years many more local pastors have started to meet together regularly to share and pray. Pastors, clergy, priests from different denominations and traditions are becoming friends and colleagues and prayer partners. Pastors worshiping and ministering together.

Barriers are being dropped as long-standing enmity, ignorance or division have been dealt with through acts of repentance and forgiveness between pastors and even churches.

This is starting to happen in many areas around Melbourne, and in most major cities in Australia.

Melbourne Pastors Network

What Can We Do?

We Need To Be Intentional:

Rejoice In What We Have In Common:

As God’s people we have such riches in Christ that we share!
Let us focus on Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Loving Saviour and our common task to reach our city for Him.

There will always be the ministry within the local church. The challenge is to lift our vision beyond our own walls, to share together in the wider Church of God.

Prayer & Fasting

Why Pray and Fast?

Only God Himself can bring the changes needed in our community. It must start with the Church. Scripture and history tell us it must start with us on our knees.

Our situation in the church

The impact and influence of the Church has become minimal
Most churches work on their own, with little support from others
Many are struggling just to survive
Most people in Melbourne don’t know Jesus
Few churches are reaching those outside

But this can change

Pastors and Churches are starting to work and pray together
God is stirring new hope and faith
There is a new awareness of our great need for GOD to do it
Together we can reach our city with Jesus love

Why bother?

The Church is the only source of Hope for our city
God calls us to reach our city together
There is a new awareness of our great need for GOD to do it
HE will empower us as we come humbly to Him and repent
(2 Chron. 7:14)

Why fast?

We need to continue acting, but our effort alone has not worked
Scripture shows the people of God praying and fasting when they have been desperate for God to act
It shows God and us that we are serious about putting Him first
It makes us more focused on His call on our lives
The result has been He breaks in to advance His Kingdom

Why pray?

We all know we are to pray, but so many find it so hard to actually do it Let us decide to get serious and pray during the 40 days

What to pray

Transforming Melbourne encourages Christians to be praying and fasting for the renewing of the Church and the transforming of our city and nation. In 2009 the 40 days prayer and fasting will happen from Ash Wednesday (Feb 25) to Palm Sunday (April 5).

Prayer Topics

For the Lord Himself to Renew the Church in Melbourne
- to seek the glory of God in all we do
- to live by faith in God, not by finances, programmes and rules
- to repent of all divisions, pride, suspicion and competition
- to be motivated by God’s love and grace more than by structures
- to share God’s heart to reach and disciple the lost
- to be more committed to obey God rather than be comfortable
For Melbourne and our local Cities and Communities
- that the people of our city will know God’s love and blessing
- that civic leaders will come to trust and follow Jesus
- that justice and righteousness will prevail
- that thestrongholds of evil, abuse and ungodliness will be broken
- that people will no longer live and die in despair and emptiness

How to fast

Some will give up a meal a day for 40 days, or 2 meals, or give up all desserts. Some will not eat for 2 or more days a week. Some will give up TV. Some will give up all but fruit juices for 40 days. Check the fasting guidelines on our website before fasting.

The Challenge: Go beyond what is easy or comfortable. Be careful too.

The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from prayer.
He fears nothing from the prayerless work and prayerless religion.
He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.
Samuel Chadwick

What People Are Saying

What People Are Saying About “Unity in the Church”

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste” – Jesus Matt. 12:25

“We need to move from a local church vision to a city church vision.” “We need strong preaching on repentance and forgiveness – repenting of isolation and independence in the church.” “Pastors sharing together is vital – but not just because it is the thing to do, but arising out of a heart for unity.” Ken Gott (AOG Sunderland, UK)

“The extraordinary results of the Portland Crusade can only be explained in terms of the unity and combined prayer of the pastors and churches across the city.” Billy Graham after the 1992 Portland Crusade

“The world isn’t looking for denominations. It is looking for a Church in unity. It’s only a body in unity and harmony that will win the world” – “Washington for Jesus” brochure April 96

“It takes the whole Church with the whole Gospel to reach the whole city.” Ed Silvoso “That None Should Perish”

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity ..For there the Lord bestows His blessing – even life forevermore” Psalm 133

“Reconciliation will come between believers only through the cross, regardless of race or history. Unbelievers cannot be reconciled to each other, because the only path to reconciliation is through the cross.

This places incredible responsibility on the Christian community, both black and white, to humble ourselves and pray, and turn from our wicked ways and the events of the past that have separated us, and seek His face together. Only in this way will the curse of hatred which is the fruit of injustice, be broken over this land.” Brian Pickering, Spirit Alive Australia

While we act as 100’s of independent groups, in competition and suspicion, with little relationship, we deny Christ and leave the un-churched untouched and the nation in the enemy’s hands.

“Our separate, isolated efforts will not stop the flood of increasing evil in our cities … our cities are in disorder because the Church is in disorder … the direction of each city will rest upon the condition of the Church in that city …if the Church is united and praying together there will be hope for that area” Francis Frangipane “House of the Lord”

“The thing territorial spirits fear the most is the unity of pastors, and through them the unity of the Body of Christ” Peter Wagner “Churches that Pray”

“Unity among pastors is essential for spiritual anointing and authority to preach and heal in the city. When there is a high level of unity among the pastors there will be a high level of anointing and power from God on the crusades in that city. When there is little unity among the pastors there will be little anointing and power.” Carlos Anacondia, Argentinian Evangelist

“When pastors come together in a city, all heaven is going to break loose! The city has never seen and the devil has always feared a “city-church” of Christians moving in unity! Bob Fox, “Cornerstone” Pastors Network, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

“So there should be no division in the Body, but its parts should have equal concern for one another. You are the Body of Christ and each of you is a part of it.” – Paul 1 Corinthians 12:25

“It would be so exciting if the churches came together!” A lady on the tram

“Jesus prayed for unity within the Church, but we’ve yet to see it happen. In fact, what’s taken place is just the reverse: the house of God has become a broken home. And broken homes have little to say to a broken world. If we as Christians are to make a difference in our culture, we must come together and become one again; we must unleash the power God has given us, His family, to claim our streets and neighbourhoods for Christ.” Dr. Joe Aldrich, President of Multnomah Bible College, Portland, Oregon, USA

“I have given them the glory that they may be one as we are one….May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me” – Jesus John 17:21

Pictures of the “One Church in the City”

Local pastors

…sharing their journeys and visions, valuing each others gifts and styles, relating in love and commitment, pastoring each other, being mutually accountable and supportive, spending time in prayer for each other and their community.

Individual churches

…Honouring The Church of their area above themselves: being known first as part of (eg) “The Church of Bayside” and secondly as St John’s Anglican or Hampton AOG. Worshiping together several times a year, joining together in outreach and community care, praying for each other during worship, supporting each other in finance, resources and manpower, developing deliberate united links with civic authorities and media, recognising and drawing on each other’s ministry strengths, doing nothing individually that could be done together.

Demonstrating the power of the Cross in the way they relate together.

Being a team for the Kingdom in their area.

What is Transforming Melbourne?

Welcome to “Transforming Melbourne”

Through the Unity, Servanthood and Prayer of the whole Church

for God to Renew His Church and Transform our City

“Transforming Melbourne” is a Movement of Christians praying and acting together with the vision that God will renew His Church and not only bring new life to the people of our city, but transform its culture and society.

INTRODUCTION

The ministry of Transforming Melbourne grew out of a conviction that the Lord’s heart for the Church and His strategy for evangelism was expressed in His prayer in John 17:

“that we would be one, as he and the Father are one, that the world would know who He is”.

This has led to a passion to see the Body of Christ, including all denominations, relating and praying in unity with a common heart and vision to see the Church renewed and the Lord transform every part of Greater Melbourne. It began in 1996 as the Melbourne Pastors Network with a vision for “One Church in Melbourne with many congregations”. and for the pastors and churches in each of the 31 local cities to meet and share and pray together.

VISION: To see the whole Church in Melbourne become a united missionary movement, working and praying together to bring the compassion and salvation of Jesus to every people group and see our City Transformed. This vision is encapsulated in the motto:

“Transforming Melbourne “through the unity, servanthood and prayer of the Whole Church”

KEY VALUES: The key values that underpin the vision are:

Servanthood and humility
Prayer
Unity

STRATEGY: A Strategic Approach

We will communicate and impart our vision to the Church at large in Melbourne through these key strategic approaches.

Promoting the unity and renewal of the whole Church and its ministry to our city.
Working with local pastors’ to encourage relational unity between them in each of the 31 local cities of Melbourne.
Working to raise the level of prayer across the Church – especially sustained, united prayer.
Undertaking research to identify issues impacting the Church in Melbourne.
Communicating the vision and activities of Transforming Melbourne to individual Christians in Melbourne who are committed to the unity of the “Whole Body” and a transformed community.
Develop the administration and support for T/M ministry

The name “Transforming Melbourne” was introduced in 2001 with the second 40 days of Prayer and Fasting for our city. (The first “40 days” in 2000 was under the name “Love Melbourne” when a few hundred people joined in the fast).

Since then under the new name, thousands of Christians and churches from most denominations have joined in praying and fasting and the wider activities of this movement. “Transforming Melbourne” is now the name and the vision for this movement.

Those involved include: Melbourne Pastors Network, Awakening, Intercessors for Melbourne, other organisations promoting prayer, and Christians of many denominations and local pastors and churches in every area of Greater Melbourne.

OBJECTIVES

1. NETWORK PASTORS

* Foster Pastors Networks in 31 Local Cities of Melbourne: working with pastors of all denominations to build unity in relationships and prayer and to adopt the vision of being “One Church to pastor our whole city”.

* Organise the Melbourne Pastors and Leaders Prayer Summit: an annual 4-day time of prayer, worship and ministry for pastors and leaders of all denominations to seek God together and bring renewal of personal faith and vision for local and citywide ministry as One Body.

* Communicate with Heads of Churches and leaders of Christian Ministry Organisations to promote and support the vision of being One Church to reach the City.

* Maintaining a database of churches, pastors and key Christian leaders, and providing regular contact through leaders emails.

2. DEVELOP A CITYWIDE PRAYER MOVEMENT

* Initiate and coordinate the “TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE” movement of prayer

– Organising 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for Melbourne and each local city

– Fostering regular combined church prayer meetings in every local city

– Encouraging research of local community resources, needs and problems to allow focused prayer and to develop expectation of measurable answers to prayer

* Discover, work with and build an awareness of the many independent prayer activities and organisations, to encourage cooperation and unity in prayer across the city

3. DEVELOP COMMUNICATION FOR THE CHURCH IN MELBOURNE

Develop an awareness and potential of the One Church through:

* The “TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE” website and regular E-Letters, to inform and inspire Christians across the city with what God is doing, how to be part of the movement to see our city transformed and resources on unity, prayer and other key issues for pastors and leaders.

* The “Melbourne Christian Events Calendar”, and a “Directory of Christian Ministry Organisations” and other resources available on the website

4. CATALYSE NETWORKS OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WITH SIMILAR GOALS

* Christian Business Network (Now led by Aust. Marketplace Connections): networking the many Christian groups meeting across the city, encouraging Christians to see their workplace as a place of ministry (sacred, not secular), training Christians for leadership in business and politics, intentional outreach in the marketplace (Business Alpha, etc).

* Multicultural Network: fostering intentional inclusion of people of all cultures and ethnic groups in the life and leadership of local churches. Supporting and encouraging pastors of ethnic churches to feel included in the wider Body of the Church.

* Youth and Children’s Ministry Networks: gathering together those working to reach the one million Under-30s in Melbourne outside the Church. Involves the youth and children’s directors of denominations and leaders of organisations involved in youth and children’s ministry working strategically together to reach their generation for Christ.

* Other Strategic Networks: there is great value in having Christians in the main sectors of society relate and work together to bring intentional Christian influence and leadership in their sector. Eg: Education, Health and Welfare, Law and Government, Media, Entertainment and Sport. A number of sectors have such networks. There is a vision to bring representatives of each sector together in an annual “Citywide Strategic Roundtable”

5. RESEARCH THE HISTORY AND PRESENT SITUATION OF THE CHURCH

* Rediscover and communicate the Christian foundations of Melbourne
– the contribution of the Church to founding the many social institutions
– the Christian principles that are the foundations of our society

* Rediscover how God has touched our cities and nation in the great revivals

* Be aware of how much the Church contributes to the social welfare of the community. Knowing our Christian Heritage builds faith and inspires boldness in our stand for Christ. If we don’t know this information, we can be sure the rest of society won’t. Without this information there is little reason for society to respect or retain the Christian values that are the basis of our civilisation, but which are now being eroded as irrelevant. This process unchecked would lead to the collapse of social order, or systems such as “sharia law”.

For more information Email: office@transformingmelbourne.org or to become a partner in the vision click here

Who Are We?

TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE is a movement of Christians across Greater Melbourne working and praying together for God to renew the Church and transform our city. It involves people and Churches from almost all denominations, many prayer ministries and Christian organisations.

Transforming Melbourne and Melbourne Pastors Network are organised and coordinated by a small team of people who have a passion for the Kingdom of God in this city.

TEAM MEMBERS

Rev. Rob Isaachsen – Coordinator of MELBOURNE PASTORS NETWORK

Rob was ordained as an Anglican minister in Melbourne, Australia and served as Vicar of Christ Church, Dingley for 19 years. Rob has traveled widely in mission situations in East Africa, Asia and PNG with CMS, OMF and APCM (now Pioneers). In 1996 Rob left Dingley, and began the “Melbourne Pastors Network” with the vision of seeing unity in the Body of Christ across Melbourne. He has worked to foster networks of pastors and churches in each of the 31 local cities of Melbourne relating and praying to pastor their whole communities together. He has also organised the Melbourne Pastors Prayer Summit for 7 years with pastors from over 20 denominations and coordinates the “Transforming Melbourne” movement of prayer, which is focused on an annual 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for the Church and Greater Melbourne.

Lois Isaachsen – Intercessor

Sue Tinworth – Prayer Coordinator

Ruth Allison – Intercessor

Nofoao Thomas – Intercessor

Rosemary Breyley – Administrative Assistant

Sheryl Minns – Office Administrator

Jenni Kneebone – Office Volunteer

Dorothy Coleman – Office Volunteer

Bruce Seamer – IT Team Member

Richard Harvey – IT Team Member

Ben Van der Merwe – IT Team Member

Phillip Hughes – Research (All Melbourne Matters)

Kitty Cheng – Journalist & Communications

The management and accountability of this ministry is taken very seriously. The Servant Leader Team of key pastors provides the spiritual oversight. These pastors are appointed at the annual Melbourne Pastors’ Prayer Summit.

THE TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE BOARD

Richard Kasperczyk (Chairman), Pastor Graeme Cann, Neil Flavel, Colonel David Jamison, Peter Earnshaw and Rev. Rob Isaachsen.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

This is a faith ministry. We rely on individuals and churches to provide support for the ministries of Transforming Melbourne and Melbourne Pastors Network and for Rob Isaachsen in his role as coordinator. Up till now Rob has relied on a few individual churches and friends who share his vision to provide finance. For this vital ministry to continue and develop, we need churches, business people and other concerned individuals to be financial partners by providing regular contributions. To become a partner click here

PRAYER SUPPORT

It is only the Lord who can transform lives and communities, but He invites us to partner with Him through obedience and through expectant prayer. So, we invite you to become a Prayer Partner in this Vision and receive our monthly PARTNERS NEWS or join us for prayer in our office or other times, as you are able. For more information contact us

PARTNERSHIP

Transforming Melbourne and Melbourne Pastors Network (which is part of the same ministry) has no fixed income. They depend on those who share Gods Vision for the Church and our City to contribute financially (see our partner churches). Transforming Melbourne is an incorporated body with a registered Board of Management and transparent accountability. As well as needing finances to enable us to take up the unique opportunities the Lord has given us, we now need to find a skilled administrator who we will pay at least part-time. We invite you to become a Financial Partner in this Vision by completing the attached PARTNERSHIP INVITATION click here.

For more information contact: office@transformingmelbourne.org or to become a partner click here

Health and Sickness in the Church

“The Body does not consist of one member, but many. . . If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one is honoured, all rejoice together” (1 Cor. 12: 12, 26)

The highest call we have from Jesus is to love one another. Sadly it is too easy for this call to be lost in the often competing demands of church services, programmes and traditions, as well as the busy lives of often needy people, adults and children. It is too common that faithful people whom God loves, come together to worship Him, but have such limited relationships with those in the same row. A smile often covers pain. Politeness often covers hurt from others. Leaving early often covers feeling unwelcome.

Local churches, faithfully praying, worshiping and ministering the Gospel can be totally unaware or even suspicious of nearby churches, ministering faithfully and singing the same songs. One may be in great need, the other rich in resources, yet all share the same call and vision to bring the Gospel to their community.

Like separated body-parts: they all belong to each other, need each other, have unique gifts and contributions, but never experience the love and joy Jesus planned for His Body. Church programmes and traditions often seem so important, but can be the barrier to reaching our city for the Kingdom of God, and those outside seeing a loving and healthy church.

JESUS’ CALL FOR UNITY – There is only one Church in each local area.

Across the Church in Melbourne it is impossible to relate to all the other churches, but it is possible for leaders of denominations and citywide movements to relate and collaborate in the corporate mission and Kingdom life. It is certainly possible (and vital) for churches in a local city to join in their commitment to bring the love of Jesus to their community. In some areas of Melbourne many local churches are relating praying and serving their communities together. To not make serious attempts to do so, despite the differences we have inherited, limits the influence, impact and spiritual authority of the Church in the city. Our commitment to relate in unity with other parts of the Body, despite all the historical differences and barriers, demonstrates the power of the Cross to reconcile across divisions to a broken world that is waiting for reconciliation at all levels.

Jesus prayed fervently that we would be one, as He and the Father are one.
That is His strategy for evangelism – “that the world will know who I am.”

Can we faithfully serve Him and ignore His passionate prayer?