An Introduction

Dear Ministry Friend,

 

For the last several years God has been doing a profound work in the lives and hearts of pastors and church leaders throughout America. Churches which have traditionally taken a more “closed” view of the Holy Spirit’s ministry are being stirred by the Lord. Quietly, with almost no notice, He has birthed a hunger for, and an embracing of, the broader ministry of the Holy Spirit among thousands of these Pastors and leaders. There has been no grand man-made strategy. There have been no slick marketing campaigns. And yet, an undeniable shift has – and still is – taking place. One by one, church after church, people are beginning to be open to – and even experience – the hand of God moving in supernatural and miraculous ways.

 

This movement of God began touching our lives back in 1997. We were two years into a new church plant when we saw God begin to miraculously deliver people from various forms of spiritual bondage as we prayed with them.  As our faith was expanded, we also began to witness God’s power provide physical healing, and soon … well, we just found God doing all kinds of things that didn’t fit very well into the traditional theological boxes we had grown up with.

 

In our excitement at the tremendous things we were experiencing, we began sharing what God was doing with our family and friends. We weren’t sure how they would respond, but were thrilled to find that many of them were also seeing God’s hand work in similar ways.

 

Unfortunately, no one seemed to be talking about this on a broader level. Indeed, we found many ministers had no theological framework within which to put the things they were beginning to see God do in their lives and ministry – and didn’t know where to turn for insight and help. Others kept quiet, afraid of being marginalized – or even fired. Missionaries often kept silent out of fear of losing support.  

 

And so, out of this need, we sensed God calling us to start The Center for Church Renewal. Our vision is simple: To partner with the Holy Spirit for spiritual renewal in the Restoration Movement and beyond.   We believe with all of our heart that God is birthing a renewal in our movement – and in other parts of the body of Christ that have traditionally been more closed to the fuller ministry of the Holy Spirit. We simply want to come alongside what He is already doing and nurture it along.

 

If, as you read this material, you find God’s Spirit quickening your heart, we pray that you too will be spurred to join us and give voice to what the Lord is doing in our midst. 

By clicking on this link, renewthechurch.nextmeta.com/content.cfm, you may view a powerpoint presentation giving additional information about The Center for Church Renewal's ministry.

In Christ,

 

Tim Snell