Tag Archives: baptisms

Nov 23 2010
44 Comments
Baptism, Personal Growth, Preaching, Resources, Sermons, Teaching, Theology

More from Francis Chan on Repentance, Baptism, & The Holy Spirit

A few weeks ago in this post I shared a short clip from the DVD teaching aid accompanying Francis Chan’s bestselling book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God.

In the clip, Francis articulated his struggle to base his  beliefs strictly on the written word, and not on what others fed him outside of it. His conclusion from reading scripture only: if you want to become a Christian, you shouldn’t walk an isle and pray a prayer, you should repent, be baptized, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Honestly, he is the first leader outside of Restoration Movement churches I have ever heard say or teach this, and I was quite shocked to hear him do so (so were many others as revealed in the ensuing discussion). In the Restoration Movement, we’ve been teaching this for many years, and have taken much heat and been accused of many unkind things for doing so. It’s encouraging to me to see at least one ‘mainstream’ evangelical leader in agreement with us, and, at the risk of sounding pretentious, with scripture!

One commenter (Tyler Ellis – a campus minister friend) directed me to further teaching from Francis on this subject, and that teaching is what I would like to share with you today.

I encourage you to watch this lesson, take a few notes, and share your thoughts in a comment. This is the simplest, best lesson on repentance, baptism, and the Holy Spirit I’ve heard in a long time, and would love to hear what you think about it. It’s 39 minutes long, and well worth watching.

Here’s the video (if you’re reading this in a feed reader or via email subscription, you may need to come to the actual website to see it):

Love to hear from you. What do you think about this?

Thank you to Tyler Ellis for the sharing this with me.

For more teaching materials and study aids by Francis Chan for use in your ministry, go here. To access archived sermons by Francis Chan at Cornerstone Church, go here.

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Dec 06 2009
7 Comments
Baptism, Evangelism, Missional Living, Outreach, Pictures, San Francisco Ministry Plant, Update

Another Baptism at Lake Merced Today – Sonia

Today was a good day.

A few months ago during our Wednesday night Bible study, a young lady pulled into our parking lot with steam coming out from under the hood of her car. We were in the midst of a devotional when Bull, a Lake Merced staff member, looked out the window and noticed someone was having car trouble.

That someone was Sonia – a college student.

Bull went out to meet her, invited her in to use the phone, and the Lake Merced members listened to her story and offered comfort in the midst of crisis. She was shortly thereafter introduced to our college ministry, and began attending our church. After taking her out to lunch and having her over for dinner a couple of times, Bible studies followed, and the rest is history.

Check out what she had to say today:

Awesome.

God had been working on Sonia’s heart even before she met us. While what happened with her car was an accident, I don’t believe it was an accident she was introduced to the Lake Merced Church that day in August.

Airiel and I with our new sister, Sonia

We can’t wait to see what God is going to do with Sonia!

Today was a good day!

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Jun 10 2009
3 Comments
Baptism, Urban Ministry

God’s Work Through River City Ministry in the First Half of ’09

Just got this note from Anthony Wood – full time evangelist for River City Ministry. I’ve written about River City several times before having spent a good part of my growing up years being influenced by this ministry. My dad, Jim Woodell, currently serves as the Executive Director there, and my brother-in-law filled that position before him.

River City Ministry is a mission to North Little Rock, AR’s, poor and homeless population with facilities located in a pretty rough part of town.

Free groceries, shelter, clothing, showers, toiletries, medical services, prescriptions, eye and dental care, daily meals, and a host of other services are provided by the good people at River City.

But there’s one more thing: they also have a full-time evangelist on staff whose sole purpose is to share Jesus with those coming there for other services, and check out these results.

Here’s the email I just got from Anthony Wood – River City’s evangelist:

Hey guys, here’s the latest in God’s work to save souls. Praises go to God. Thanks to all for the great teamwork we share and enjoy that glorifies God. It is a pleasure serving with you.

We at RCM believe each person’s response to God, whether for the first time, or a return to God, is precious. Please take time to pray over this list that each person may come to know Christ and make Him known.

Blessings,
Anthony

 2009 River City Ministry Baptisms:

  1. 1/12 Alfred T.
  2. 1/14 Randy T.
  3. 1/15 Pamela M.
  4. 1/20 Ray T.
  5. 1/20 Teraz H.
  6. 2/9 Tony M.
  7. 2/10 Ricky B.
  8. 2/12 Clara H.
  9. 2/17 Gracie H.
  10. 2/24 Alonzo P.
  11. 2/26 Oliver S.
  12. 3/2 Lee B.
  13. 3/2 Loretta D.
  14. 3/10 Krystal W.
  15. 3/10 Darren B.
  16. 3/11 Bill K.
  17. 3/12 Ronnie T.
  18. 3/18 Vicki B.
  19. 3/24 Frederick F.
  20. 3/30 Tawana H.
  21. 4/1  Claude A.
  22. 4/6  Tim S.
  23. 4/6  Jackie G.
  24. 4/6  LaVonne T.
  25. 4/8 Tony B.
  26. 4/9 Freddie W.
  27. 4/14 John G.
  28. 4/15 Rachel M.
  29. 4/15 Buford B.
  30. 4/22 Ken P.
  31. 4/23 Frieda R.
  32. 4/27 Norman S.
  33. 4/28 Quartez S.
  34. 4/29 Chris H.
  35. 4/29 Bryan S.
  36. 5/6 Christy C.
  37. 5/7 Shawn C.
  38. 5/12 Mary B.
  39. 5/13 Cleophus B.
  40. 5/18 Brian T.
  41. 5/21 Mike R.
  42. 5/27 Adam M.
  43. 5/28 Helen D.
  44. 6/1 Kristopher S.
  45. 6/8 George B.
  46. 6/8 James T.

 
2009 River City Ministry Restorations:

  1. 1/6 Billy B.
  2. 1/8 Mack Y.
  3. 1/8 Rita W.
  4. 1/12 Geraldine L.
  5. 1/13 Aaron J.
  6. 1/20 Carlton W.
  7. 1/21Cherry W.
  8. 1/22 Lilly W.
  9. 1/25 Donald B.
  10. 2/3 Brian S.
  11. 2/3 Wesley B.
  12. 2/4 Sharon H.G.
  13. 2/4 Gary Z. W.
  14. 2/4 Anthony S.
  15. 2/4 Michael Y.
  16. 2/5 Dan S.
  17. 2/11Adam M.
  18. 2/11Stephen S.
  19. 2/17 Alonzo M.
  20. 2/17 Willie L.
  21. 2/17 Ron M.
  22. 2/17 Earl M.
  23. 2/17 David R.
  24. 2/17 Ronnie K.
  25. 2/19 Billy B.
  26. 2/25 Oliver S.
  27. 2/26 Donald J.
  28. 2/26 Marcus T.
  29. 2/26 Joanna S.
  30. 3/2 Manuel O.
  31. 3/2 Desmond A.
  32. 3/4 Adrian B.
  33. 3/4 Wiley C.
  34. 3/4 Christy S.
  35. 3/9 Robert B.
  36. 3/10 Marty R.
  37. 3/16 Earle M.
  38. 3/17 Bryant R.
  39. 3/17 Barry M.
  40. 3/18 Albert B.
  41. 3/24 Terrence C.
  42. 3/25 Gary M.
  43. 3/30 Gastivus H.
  44. 4/1  Lloyd P.
  45. 4/1  Oliver S.
  46. 4/1 Tochelle W.
  47. 4/6  John G.
  48. 4/7 Larry H.
  49. 4/7 Kay M.
  50. 4/7  Ruth J.
  51. 4/13 Joe K.
  52. 4/16 Jeremy R.
  53. 4/20 Michael F.
  54. 4/21 Yolanda C.
  55. 4/21 Keith M.
  56. 4/22 Shantana M.
  57. 4/26 Sara B.
  58. 4/29 Danny P.
  59. 5/4 James W.
  60. 5/4 Calvin C.
  61. 5/6 Odell D.
  62. 5/7 Samuel T.
  63. 5/11 Willie J.
  64. 5/14 Mike H.
  65. 5/18 Kenneth H.
  66. 5/20 Ricky N.
  67. 5/21 Steve K.
  68. 5/26 Jay A. G.
  69. 5/27 Ed D.
  70. 5/28 John G.
  71. 6/1 Robert G.
  72. 6/5 James T.

 

What an encouraging update!

I’ve heard Anthony often refer to River City as a well just like the one Jesus was sitting by in John 4. The Samaritan woman came there for one thing (water), but she found something else (Jesus).

Anthony says, “Our job is just to find the wells, Wes. River City is a well. People come here for our goods and services, but they find something else. They find Jesus!”

The “well” for me is the university campus that sits a few hundred yards from my front door.

I think I’ll go sit there a while … I wonder who God will send me …

 

P.S. – Anthony will be speaking at the 2009 CMU Workshop July 9 at Harding on how evangelism to the poor can equal evangelism to a university campus. Should be good stuff – I’m looking forward to it. Here’s Anthony’s bio for the event.

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