Greetings from Cameroon!
This past week has been very full with DML foundational workshops, Economic
of Hope workshops, meetings with the Full Gospel Church and the Body of Christ
Church, as well as planning for the launch of BAM Cameroon. The week culminated in seven hours of church
services yesterday at two different churches, which included the commissioning
of new marketplace ministers.
As we dialogue with churches and pastors who are so
passionate about the Great Commission, I continue to gain new insights into the
message that God has invited us to share.
This past week, one pastor said, “I now realize that I have been keeping
my people in captivity. I have held them
back from being part of the priesthood of believers.” Another said, “I have not been a coach to my
members for how they can be ambassadors for Christ outside the building. I have been too focused on my programs and
not on how God can use them.”
As the DML Cameroon team processed these comments, we
realized that the call to make disciples is three-dimensional.
When we focus only on developing our personal
relationship with God, it is one dimensional (vertical) – me and God, and the
impact does not go further.
In this
case, we are often waiting for heaven.
When we focus on bringing in the Great Commandment, and integrate our
faith into how we relate with those around us, it becomes two-dimensional.
Now we have both vertical and horizontal
integration of faith and the people around us.
But it is still flat.
When we
bring in the third Great Directive of God, the Great Commitment of Genesis 1
and 2, we seek to bring about the Kingdom of God and the flourishing of ALL
things – all of creation, all creatures, all of humanity.
Now it is three-dimensional.
That is when it comes to life.
For many, Christianity has been flat – it has not come off
the page.
It has not seen the impact in
nation-building, in transformation.
We
have repeated the problem that Israel faced – being nations WITH priests rather
than being nations OF priests.
When we equip every member to be the church in every place
and space, we begin to experience the fullness that God intended from the very
beginning.
We serve a 3-D God who invites not only humanity to worship Him, but all of creation! Let's join Him by helping all of creation to glorify God!
