Sun Ministries is looking
for dedicated Christians that feel called to the mission field of
America. This is not a clergy only position. Ministering in the
desperate places in America requires all kinds of gifts and skills.
Perhaps God is nudging you to take what He has gifted you with and
dedicate it to building His kingdom.
If you think this might
be the case, just submit the simple form using the link below. We
will send you a list of available positions and locations along with
an explanation of how you can get involved. Some positions are part
time and some are full time. Some require the missionary to raise
support and others can be done as a volunteer.
Sun Ministries has
launched a new APP for your smartphone or tablet. It is the best way
to get all our tools and information in one place. It has training,
events, videos, and connections to all our social media. You can see
staff bios, learn about volunteering, listen to our Podcast or
download a devotional.
The APP is free and so
are all the tools and materials offered on it.
The Community Pastoral
Care Network was born out of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is an effort
to identify the at-risk individuals in the areas where we minister
and connect them to the resources they need in order to shelter in
place. We utilize our missionaries on the ground and our virtual
volunteer network to contact these individuals, identify their needs,
and do our best to care for them.
What we have realized at
this point is that we started too late. We are behind the curve.
Identifying the at-risk during lockdown is less than ideal. Getting
the word out has been difficult. As needs rise exponentially it
becomes more difficult to find resources and to locate the at-risk.
Now that our eyes have
been opened to this hole in the fabric of society we intend to
address it. We are looking for concerned Christians that desire to
provide care to their community. Our desire is to come alongside them
and help them to implement what we have learned and set up a network
in their community. If this describes you then contact us today to
discuss the possibilities. Terry@sunministries.org
636-544-2151
It has been said that
necessity is the mother of invention. When it looked like the country
was heading toward lockdown I began to think about how that would
affect our elderly and at risk neighbors. We knew that many of them
had very little income or support network. Some relied upon public
transportation. What was heading our way would be very difficult on
many of them. How could we respond?
We met with Alderman
Brandon Bosley, Committeewoman Lucinda Frazier, and Linda Primer to
discuss some ways we could help. We had staff on the ground but
connecting with the at risk was the hard part. Going door to door was
out of the question. The solution that was birthed out of this
necessity was the concept of virtual volunteers.
The Alderman provided us
with a phone list and we recruited people to work from home calling
the at-risk in our neighborhood. We have now called about 1200 phone
numbers. We are providing care to many as they shelter in place. Our
missionaries on the ground are delivering groceries and doing minor
emergency repairs like fixing roof leaks.
As the pandemic moves
along and people struggle to embrace a new normal, we too are looking
at how things get done. We are currently brainstorming other ways to
volunteer virtually. Much of the country has ground to a halt but the
needs of people have only increased. Use the link below to sign up as
a virtual volunteer and help us meet needs during this trying time.
written by Dr. Terry Goodwin, executive director of Sun Ministries.
America is in a crisis of biblical proportions. People are alone, isolated, scared and losing hope. The places they once turned to in times like these are closed. Some turned to bars, entertainment venues, sports, and others to churches. Many of life’s distractions are gone but so are the spiritual support structures that many Americans relied on for the functioning of their faith. Churches, ministries, support groups and other programs are not functioning or are at very reduced capacities. Many Christians are finding it difficult to minister under these conditions.
Our vision has not changed but the world has changed around us. We are still dedicated to launching apostolic movements of disciple multiplication that reach the whole world. As a result of the pandemic we have launched a new way to train and connect Christians to the mission of God. The goal of Virtual Discipleship Small Groups is to continue to equip people and multiply disciples during this pandemic.
Our groups meet virtually and are organized virtually. Our tools are made available digitally, free of charge. Sun Ministries is organizing and launching this movement. It is what we see God doing at this time. Our role in it fulfills our vision. We come alongside others to empower and release ministry.
Each group is designed to meet for 12 weeks and cover the very basic disciple multiplication tools that have been developed by Sun Ministries on the mission field over the last 14 years. These are proven basic tools of disciple multiplication. Our hope is that many will start more groups and repeat the 12 week training with others. We have a window of opportunity to raise up and train a large number of people during this time. If we focus and succeed we may change the course of Christianity in America for years to come. We are laying a foundation for revival to come after the virus has left us.
Watch this short video to hear the vision explained.
You can participate by joining a group or hosting a group. Group Hosts can be trained to become Group Teachers that will offer teaching support for other groups. There are many groups and times available to choose from. More are being added all the time. If you don’t find one that works for your schedule or if you want to host a group just email us and we will work out the details.
Download our APP on your smartphone or tablet. It is the best place to access all the tools in one location. Once downloaded you can go to settings and turn on Push Notifications to stay up to date on what is happening.
Go to our Facebook page to Like and Follow us. Groups will appear as an event on our Facebook page. You may register for any event that is still available or email us to request a group at a different time or day.
Sun Ministries Facebook
I am hoping you will join this movement of God. I look forward to working with you. If you have any questions please contact me. We are here to help.
Dr. Terry M. Goodwin Founder and Executive Director Sun Ministries, Inc. 636-544-2151 terry@sunministries.org http://www.sunministries.org
The coronavirus pandemic has stopped life as usual for millions of people across the globe. Stay-at-home orders are in place, schools and businesses are closed, and everyone has to stay at least 6 ft. apart. As of today (4/4/2020) there have been more than 60,000 casualties. Seems like the "new normal" changes every two days, and no one knows what the next few weeks, months, or even years will look like. The economy has been rocked, and everyone has to find new solutions to things we took for granted just 4 weeks ago.
It feels a bit like living in an occupied country. Maybe there aren't soldiers posted on the street corners (at least not in America right now), but there's a risk to every daily activity. Sure, you're free to go to the store, but not REALLY free. Our entertainment destinations are all closed. Even our cultural and religious institutions have been taken away.
Church buildings have been closed. The main form of faith expression for many American Christians has been removed from them. We can no longer legally gather. Obviously, this is still a far cry from "closed countries" that have persecuted Christians, but it gives us Americans a small taste of what our brothers and sisters have experienced through the centuries.
Jesus was born into an occupied country. It's where He lived and died. The Romans scrutinized their every move, and there was a presence of threat in the air. Sure, they were free to live their lives, but not really free. Even the most devoted to the religious system proclaimed their ultimate devotion to Caesar when confronted (John 19:15).
Easter is arriving very soon, and for almost every American Christian, they cannot rely on their traditional ways of celebration. No big family meals, no easter egg hunts, no passion plays or Easter musicals, no packed pews. We may even have trouble finding the kinds of food we like. Families will be locked in their homes, maybe sharing a meal and some Scripture with whomever is there, and likely with a weight of uncertainty hanging while they try to celebrate the Resurrection.
The meaning of Easter is certainly the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Our hope is in the power and promise of Jesus' death and resurrection, forgiving our sins and granting us the Holy Spirit, regaining our communion with God. It's the ultimate expression of God's victory over sin and death. However, this season is resembling a much more ancient festival that God gave to His people, when they were locked inside surrounded by death. The festival of Passover.
For many Christians, Passover is something maybe mentioned around Easter, but few of the symbols or even story make it to our celebrations. But this seems like a good year to start. Passover is a very symbolic, yet simple, meal. It is somber and meditative, but celebratory by nature, praising God for his power and faithfulness to save His people. It is a reminder that we have been saved from death and slavery by a mighty God, not for our own sakes, but for His purpose - to go out and be His priests in the midst of a broken world, proclaiming the Good News that the Kingdom is here, that love of neighbor and enemy is the new law, and death is no longer in charge.
The Keener family, from outside Tulsa, OK, has been celebrating Passover for years, and agreed to make some helpful videos to guide your family (or quarantine partners) in observing this festival and remember our Lord and why He saved us.
You can click this link to download a PDF of instructions, and watch the videos below.
Written by Jessica Sanford, a Sun Ministries missionary.
Think about the Church like a chain.
One single link is still technically chain, but it cannot accomplish its intended purpose.
A bucket of unjoined links is useless.
Multiple links held together by one link doesn’t do what a chain is supposed to do. It makes the links easier to find and maintain, but it doesn’t do what it was made to do.
When you join multiple links together in the shape it was made for? That’s when you have purpose.
Homothumodon is a Greek word used in the New Testament to describe the community of the early Church. If you break it down, it literally means “to rush along in unison.” The Church has a purpose, and it achieves that purpose by way of homothumodon.
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)
Community (homothumodon) is built on the unity of shared purpose.
Without homothumodon:
-Accountability from leadership can feel like legalism.
-Our version of community will serve only our own pleasures.
-The Church is not mobilized in Her true purpose.
Homothumodon in the Church is built by responsibilities being fulfilled. The corporate responsibility is braced and bolstered by the individual responsibilities.
A message from our executive director, Dr. Terry Goodwin
Did
you ever get that feeling? It is as if fear, anxiety, calm, and a
sense of destiny all roll into one. The feelings are so intertwined
that you can’t separate one from the other. As I watch a surreal
scene unfold around me I can’t shake the feeling that I was made
for such a time as this.
I
have been preaching about the decline of Christianity and the
institutional church for many years. Sometimes to opposition. Many
times to deaf ears. Occasionally someone connected to the message.
Now here we are sitting in the new normal. A world of “social
distancing”. Churches around the country scramble to get live feeds
online and add electronic giving options.
The
survival of the institution appears to be at stake. Limitations and
restrictions on gathering divide churches and leaders. What are we to
do? We are the church and Jesus said the gates of hell will not
prevail against us. He was not speaking of the building or the
institution. In fact , not many years later He destroyed the very
symbol of that institution – the Temple.
We
are in fact living in one of the greatest opportunities for the
church in my lifetime. We have the hope of the world – Jesus! The
very things that many people have placed their hope in are crumbling
around them: stocks are plunging; government structures, the
healthcare system and public schools are all struggling to adapt.
Things are changing rapidly around. The fear of the unknown future
grips more people each day. God is not shaken.
People
are scared. Many are shut in their homes. They are lonely, afraid,
concerned about getting food, medicine, help if an emergency arises.
It is time for God’s church to rise up and meet the challenge like
David met Goliath on the field of battle. We have the technology to
organize and mobilize. We can still make disciples even if we can’t
assemble and that is the greater command of Christ.
My
destiny is to help Christians see the opportunity, get equipped to
take hold of it and unite us all to serve the poor, widows and those
most at risk from this pandemic. Please don’t do nothing and wait
this out. There are millions of vulnerable people around this country
that need us now more than ever. They need our Lord and Savior more
than ever. If we rise up together the church will come out of this
stronger and more united than ever before. It might not be wrapped in
the institutional form you have grown so used to but God never
promised to sustain the form. He promised to sustain His church,
which is you and me.
Please
connect with us. Fill out the virtual volunteer form. We can help
those most at risk from this virus and we can do it from the safety
and comfort of our homes. We can still fulfill the commands of Jesus
to love our neighbors as ourselves. We can be the bearers of the hope
of the world. We can still fulfill the Great Commission and build
God’s kingdom through this pandemic. Go to this link and fill out
the form.
written by Jessica Sanford, a Sun Ministries missionary
“God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.”
I’m sure by now, millions of people— Christian or not— have heard this statement. It’s interpreted most often through our individualistic filters. God wants me to be a pastor! God wants me to get married! God wants me to be a poodle groomer!
There is one caveat. The thing most people don’t tell you about God’s wonderful plan for your life... This plan is the same plan for every person who submits themselves to His will.
It’s not a plan to make you comfortable and rich. Not to fan the flames of your ego. Not to make you “the man” or give you a long, fulfilling ministry. It’s not even for you to be a designer dog groomer.
“You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:18-29
If we look to the whole of scripture, we see a different plan. We see something wholistic. We see a plan that is about much more than our own desires.
His plan for you: to refine you by fire in order to bring you into His Kingdom purpose
What is His kingdom purpose?
God is gathering His people to Himself. John 4:34-38 paints a picture of a field that is ready to be harvested, and all of the people involved in the growth working together to gather. We have the privilege of being a part of this harvest, even if we didn’t do the work of sowing or growing.
God is setting apart a people. (Titus 2:11-14) This people keeps itself from the corruption of the world and fervently seeks to do good works.
He is adorning His Bride (Revelation 21). The fulfillment of His kingdom purpose is that Christ’s bride would be spotless, pure, and adorned with good works.
The thing most people aren’t told about God’s plan for them is that It has very little to do with YOU and everything to do with what God wants to do in partnership with you.
Are you willing to lay yourself down in order to accomplish His Kingdom purpose?
Clint Eastwood once said “A good man knows his limitations”. I am trying to be a good man. I have spent the last ten years investing in a group of young and gifted leaders in Sun Ministries. They are exceptional people. They live their whole lives dedicated to Jesus. They hold nothing back. They are brave, intelligent and spiritually gifted servants.
What I have done very poorly is connect with you – those outside the ministry. That is going to change. In the next few months you will see a roll out of a variety of tools that help you connect to the vision, mission and people of Sun Ministries. The start of this process is an updated web site and a mobile App.
We are defining the roles available for you to connect to the work. We are defining pathways for volunteers, missionaries and work groups. We will help connect your church to the training that God has given us to help you connect to your community and reach the nations from right where you live. Look for the roll out coming soon. The Facebook page is the best place to stay informed until these upgrades happen.
A message from our executive director, Dr. Terry Goodwin.
We started Sun Ministries in 2006 with no experience at running a ministry or non-profit. We have been in training for many years now. As we begin 2020, I feel like we are just getting started with the growth of the mission. God has shown us how to enter the most devastated areas of our country. He has given us teaching and resources to launch a movement of disciple multiplication in America. The movement will take place outside the institutional church.
We are now focused on recruiting, training and relocating Missionaries to America. We currently have locations in St. Louis, Missouri and Barnsdall, Oklahoma. We have pathways to help you engage in an active and authentic Christian faith. We can connect you to the mission field right here in America. We can train you and support you, no matter if you want to be a part-time volunteer doing your part in the bigger picture or a full-time laborer in the field.
God has brought the nations to us. We don’t need to travel overseas to reach the nations. This great melting pot called America has lured them to our shores. Maybe it is time for you to send that email and explore the harvest fields of God. The harvest is ripe and plentiful. It is the laborers that are few. terry@sunministries.org
A message from our executive director, Dr. Terry Goodwin.
It has been a long time. Life goes on and the ticking clock pushes us closer to the end of this life. Tick – tock – tick – tock clicks the passing of the chronos - the finite time we have on this earth. A few years ago I came face to face with my mortality. I had 16 surgical procedures in 2 ½ years. I thought I may never work again. The end of my calendar was staring me in the face. In that dark and desperate time I found a second chance at life. The Kairos of God swept in and I was lifted up again to continue the work He had called me to do all those years ago.
I am no different than you really. We all will leave this earth. We will all succumb to the Chronos ticking clock. No one gets out alive. Throughout the New Testament there is an urgency proclaimed: Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand. They lived and acted as if the return of Christ could happen at any time. The measure of our service will not be placed upon scales balanced by wealth, possessions or church attendance. The other side of the scales of God’s justice are balanced by obedience, sacrifice, and the deeds we do in service to God on behalf of others.
Now I am focused on the Kingdom of God. I am looking at my mortality as an unknown deadline to complete the work I have been assigned to do. I cannot afford to waste another moment of self-indulgence or indifference to the hurting. We all end up in the cemetery. The Chronos seeks to put us there. The Spirit of God seeks to give us life in this age through the selfless service to others on behalf of Jesus. That is where I found life. I will not exchange it for the fleeting temporary pleasures of this world.
Earlier
this year I attended a men's prayer breakfast at a local church. I
had not been to anything like this in quite some time. I was invited by a friend and it is a church that supports Sun Ministries so I
went. There were about 60 men in attendance. As the speaker started
his presentation I was very interested in what was on his mind. It
would indicate to me what the church thought was important.
After
a little bit of event promotion and pleading for involvement he got
to his main topic. To my surprise it was The “Dones”. He quoted
statistics and made his case for why these “lost sheep” must be
returned to the flock. I was astounded at the way he derided people
for leaving the institution. It became obvious to me that he wouldn't
recognize a “Done” if one was right in front of him because there
I was – right in front of him.
I
don't blame him for presenting slanted information. Most of the
information on The “Dones” comes from institutional church
leadership sources. They are desperately trying to figure out how to
get them “back in the fold”. This is the source of their error. I
never left the fold. I am still as much a part of God's church as
ever. What this man did was to regurgitate information and
propaganda. He then decided to cast these people in a negative light.
That is beyond excuse.
He
had at his disposal a real life “Done”. This church has connected
with Sun Ministries and even supported it. All he had to do was ask
and I would have taken the time to give him first hand understanding
of the “Dones”. I could have introduced him to dozens of them. I
could have helped him understand their motivations for leaving and
what they are doing outside his system.
I
think every church leader and even those people that remain in the
institution should make the effort to understand the “Dones”. We
are a part of God's church. We are not likely to come back. We do
long to have unity in the body of Christ. So I am making it easy on
you. Do you want to understand the “Dones”? It's your move.
I
encourage you to participate. Use this link to join the Meetup group
and register to attend a Meetup of The “Dones”.
Would
you rather have us come to you? I would be happy to bring a couple of
people to meet with your staff and answer any questions you may have.
Just email me - terry@sunministries.org
The
Bible contains a lot of instruction for the church. There are
instructions for structure, leadership, operation, priorities and
function. The “Dones” have left an institution that many felt was
not found in the Bible. Some search for that more organic and
supernatural expression of faith they see displayed in the Bible.
This desire has led many of us out of the institution.
Genesis
2:18 - And
the LORD God said, It
is not
good that the man should be alone;
From
the beginning God has had a design for His children to live together.
Jesus clarified this more when He spoke of our love and unity.
[John
13:35 NASB] 35 "By this all men will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another."
[John
17:22 NASB] 22 "The glory which You have given Me I have given
to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;
Love
and unity are not just important concepts to God. They are indicators
of our union with Him. One reason the “Dones” must connect is to
display to the world that we are of the father and disciples of
Christ. We cannot do it apart from each other. Leaving the
institution is just one step on the journey. We must move on to do
church the way God designed it to be done. This will require us to
connect with each other.
We
encourage you to participate. Use this link to join the Meetup group
and register to attend a Meetup of the “Dones”.
The
“Dones” is a label given to one of the fastest growing religious
groups in America. The term applies to people that have left the
institutional forms of church after years of involvement. The “Dones”
are, quite simply, done with church but not with God.
I
am a “Done” by that definition. I was raised outside the
religious system of America. After accepting Christ at 13, I tried to
fit into the church system that was presented to me. I pursued
religious education reaching a Ph.D in theology. I was ordained by a
mainstream denomination and was selected to a district level
leadership position. The more I learned, the more I began to question
the practices and systems that I could not find supported in
Scripture.
In
2008 I resigned my positions in the denomination, turned over my
ordination and moved my family to one of the most devastated areas in
North St. Louis. Many thought that when I left the church that I was
leaving God. In fact, I met Jesus outside the camp and embarked on a
learning journey with Him. I now feel called to help others on that
journey by sharing my spiritual gifts and experiences freely with
others.
There
are Many “Dones” in America today. Some estimates put the number
at over 30 million with multiple millions joining them each year.
There are some important things to consider about this movement.
God
has a design for His church. Just because we left the institution
does not mean we don't need each other. The “Dones” need to
connect in order to be the church that God designed.
It
is important for those that remain in the institution to understand
the “Dones”. There are many misconceptions about us.
With
these two things in mind we have decided to form a group where
“Dones” can connect and those in the institution can meet us and
gain understanding. Me and a few others have embarked on this attempt
to bridge the gap, foster unity and help to unite God's children. We
encourage you to participate. Use this link to join the Meetup group
and register to attend a Meetup of the “Dones”.
We
look forward to having you join us. This is a time of great change in
American Christianity. God is doing something big and we are all a
part of it.
I am often contacted by
people who want to work with us in some way. The buzz in social
service circles is “collaboration”. Grant funders go to great
lengths to promote collaborations. They design grant opportunities
that require it. This has created a great deal of interest in working
together. These types of relationships may be beneficial to reduce
redundancy of efforts and overlap of services. I have rarely seen
collaborations produce long term beneficial results. If anyone cared
to examine the number of attempts at collaborating with the number of
sustained collaborations they might agree with me.
I believe that my
obedience to the Gospel of Jesus places a higher burden on me than
just collaborating. I must seek relationship first when anyone wishes
to work with us. Those that also seek relationship find us a willing
work partner. The difference, in my opinion, is personal. When we
start with relationship we put people above everything else. We can
then care for each other first and then for our joint efforts. We may
laugh together, cry together and pray for each other. We will find
ways to benefit each other through sacrifice and service.
As a minister of the
Gospel, I recognize that the Good News of Jesus is all about
relationships. It repairs our broken relationship with God. The
Gospel teaches us to love each other and have relationship with other
followers of Christ. God makes this relationship special through the
presence of His Spirit. But the Gospel doesn't stop there. It
continues teaching us to have relationship with others by showing
them love. This is often done in the form of sacrificial living and
serving on our part. Then the Gospel compels us to a radical course.
We are instructed to love our enemies. This is not only radical but
difficult.
Collaboration indicates
from the very start that we are coming together to do a task or fix a
problem. I am not called to Sun Ministries to fix anything. When we
start with relationship, we can focus on the real goal of loving each
other. When we all get better at loving each other, those different
from us and our enemies I am sure our problems will fix themselves. I
consider myself an ambassador of Jesus and an agent of
reconciliation. If you want to work with us it must start with
relationship. If that interests you then call or email me and we can
sit down over a cup of coffee and see what God will do through us -
tegether. terry@sunministries.org
636-544-2151
The
modern approach to church planting is directed at producing an
institution or another branch of an existing institution. People
plan, organize, hire and fund an effort that, if successful, will
result in an institutional church structure that can sustain its own
cost of existence. This is not what we do at Sun Ministries. Sun
Ministries exists to facilitate the planting of churches we call
faith communities. We do not do this by planting churches or creating
institutions.
Sun
Ministries plants “churches” by making disciples and teaching
them to make disciples. As these disciples gather together they
naturally form a church. Isn't that really the church? The church is
a gathering of disciples. It is “Ekklesia” in the Greek.
As the disciples gather together they are taught how to function as
the church as outlined in Scripture. They are taught biblical
teachings on leadership, spiritual gifts, baptism and communion, etc
...
Sun
Ministries then uses its resources to help the local church rebuild
the inner city. We resource housing, businesses, vehicles and
training. We help supply a wide variety of things to the work of
caring for the local community. We are not a church. We do not run or
oversee the churches we “plant” We offer training, leadership,
resources and a connection to other churches. We continue our efforts
to make new disciples and gather them into new churches.
We
have made much of our basic training available for free at
www.discipledrivenchurch.org
We have established The Church@HydeParkand are empowering it to minister in its local community. If you
would like to learn more or connect with our work in any way just
email me – terry@sunministries.org
Imagine
with me for a minute. What if the church was operating by God's
design? What if we all shared our resources, cared for our
communities, served each other in love and lived the supernatural
aspects of our faith that God designed for us? Would the world be
different if the church focused on making disciples, loving each
other and caring for the poor, widows and orphans instead of building
a religious organization that divides over doctrine and spends the
majority of its resources on buildings and staff?
What
we look forward to at Sun Ministries, what we long for, is a unified,
organic, unhindered expression of the supernatural God we serve. We
don't seek to control but rather to empower and release. We are not
the new denomination or clergy class. We offer assistance for free
with no strings attached. Our goal is to assist and become less
needed. We are a tool for the mission – Plant Faith Communities
that live and operate by God's design based on spiritual gifts under
biblical leadership structures.
We
have successfully planted the first Faith Community – the
Church@HydePark.
We
have explored, learned and put into practice the biblical design for
God's church. Now we want to help others do the same. If you feel the
call and are ready to answer it, you should connect with us. The
church by God's design must be interdependent with each other. Here
some ways you can connect with us:
The
Resistance Radio Show is the expression of what we believe God is
doing in America today. He is calling His people out of a centuries
old system. He is stirring discontent in people’s hearts. People
are leaving the institutional church at an increasing rate, and
statistically, the church is failing in everything from financial giving to theological aptitude. He is setting the stage for reformation.
This
show was born out of several experiences. First was the call out of
an empty and unbiblical religious system, and into the Kingdom, into a life of faith
and relationship. He led us to deny ourselves, make disciples, engage
the spiritual battle, and realize our spiritual gifts. Then He led us
into the darkest part of our city. He started a missionary work in
north St. Louis, MO.
This
work is now dedicated to helping others find their way back to God's
design for church and life. The
Resistance Radio Show was originally a live, 2-hour talk show
broadcast on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO. These shows have been edited into shorter podcast episodes available through iTunes or your favorite podcatcher.
The topics explore what we have learned as we walked in the modern
day reformation. We use music, satire and plenty of scripture to
expose the corruptions of the modern church systems.
This
tool is great for those who want to explore the topics on a deeper
level but can't connect with us in person. All of the episodes are
available on WordPress -
https://theresistanceradioshow.wordpress.com/
Please subscribe
to the PodCast to stay up on new episodes as they release. You can
also connect with us on FaceBook - Click Here
When
God places His Spirit in us, it kindles in us a desire to be fruitful
and serve God. This is the natural result of being redeemed. Many
today are frustrated in their walk with Christ because they struggle
to find their place in the church and the fruitfulness they desire.
They seek for service instead of purpose. They look to unbiblical
church and leadership structures to define their role in God's
kingdom.
God
has designed works for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). He has placed His
Spirit in you to guide you to those works. Do you think He would have
gone to all that trouble if He didn't intend to show you the works He
designed for you to do?
Many
fail to find their Ephesians 2:10 works because they fail to seek
them in the way God designed.They fail to see what is in the way of
finding them. Are you ready for some real hard truth? Here it goes.
The only thing in the way of you finding your place in the church and
your Ephesians 2:10 works is YOU!
Many today are tired of hearing about the wonderful plan God has for our lives
but never being shown how to find that plan. We developed this next
tool to help people find their Ephesians 2:10 works.
Finding
God's wonderful plan for your life comes the same way everything else
does. Through your loving surrender to God and your intentional
pursuit of His design for our lives and churches. We cannot find
God's plan outside His design. Give God another 50 days to show you
the path to spiritual fruitfulness.
Download 50 Days to Spiritual Fruitfulness for free by clicking here.
[1 Timothy 4:7 NASB] But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for
old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of
godliness...
This
is the first step for a Christian on the path to living by God's
design. We must discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness. I find that some Christians
today are still living in bondage. They have never cleaned house and
put on the armor of God. Instead they live with fear, bitterness,
greed, lust, and pride. All of these rob them of the joy that God
promises to us in Christ.
Everything
you need to be free from your sin, shame and guilt has been provided
for you in Christ. You must do what is necessary to apply His
atonement to your life. You can choose to walk in these sinful
behaviors and God will allow it. Removal of the effects of this is
not automatic. The removal of the eternal punishment is automatic in
Christ. Freedom requires us to be consecrated. Consecration requires discipline.
We have assembled a devotional called 50 Days to Spiritual Freedom. This
tool was designed to help you put some basic spiritual disciplines
into your life. It identifies root sins and behaviors that are
hindering your joy and fruitfulness. This is a personal journey tool.
It helps you to come before God in an organized way and focus you on
breaking free from the harmful effects of sin and your past. I
promise that if you give this a try, 50 days from now you will be
walking in a new and spiritually invigorated way.
50
Days to Spiritual Freedom is available free by clicking here.
The defining task for every Christian is a command given by Jesus to the disciples in Matthew 28:18-20. It is historically considered the primary task of the church. However, this command was not given to a organization. It was given to Christians. They were told to teach it to other Christians. We should have been taught to obey this command. For many Christians, the concept of making disciples is foreign or it is handed over to the clergy as their responsibility. In order to rediscover the church that God designed, we must rediscover how to make disciples and teach them to make disciples.
Do you know how to make disciples? Are you a disciple? Do you have a plan for making disciples and teaching them to make disciples? All of this is necessary to rediscover the church by God's design.
The concept of making disciples scares most Christians today. What a clever scheme by the devil - remove the training and equipping of disciple-making from the people and instead set up an ever increasingly ineffective structure to do the task. It is no wonder the church in America is dying. We have robbed God of His most effective evangelistic tool – YOU! Your testimony of grace and transformation is designed by God to declare His glory and reach others for Jesus. The trouble today is that so few are equipped to make disciples.
We have put together The Disciple-Makers Handbook to help equip you to be a disciple and make disciples. Remember this – we teach what we know but reproduce what we are. You will not be effective at making disciples unless you become a disciple. Jesus always starts with the foundation first and that is you.
Being the Church – Planting Faith Communities in a Post-Modern World - This book is born out of reformation. The church that Christ started on the Day of Pentecost was a loosely structured organism that operated under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and manifested His power through the spiritual gifts of the disciples. By the time of the Protestant Reformation, the church was a strictly structured and ordered organization with a leadership structure that had little in common with the early church or the instruction of scripture. This present reformation is about returning to God's design. We must stop planting new organizations and return to building the organism. How can it be bad for Christ followers to live by God's design? How can it be bad for the church to order itself under the structure designed for it by God and instructed in scripture?
[John
5:19] Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly,
truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is
something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does,
these things the Son also does in like manner.
Jesus modelled for us the importance of following God's design. That is how He worked. This book is a big picture work. Consider it a fly over of God's biblical design for His children and His church. The theology I will discuss will likely challenge many of the current practices of the modern church. The theology is plain and simple yet controversial. It would not be controversial except that many who profess Christ are ruled more by the practices and traditions of their church than they are by scripture. It was this way when Christ walked the earth. See what He said about the religious leaders of His day.
[Mark
7:7-9] 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE
PRECEPTS OF MEN.' "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold
to the tradition of men." He was also saying to them, "You
are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep
your tradition." This book can be considered the “What to do” for the church by God's design. It takes you through the basics of understanding your Gospel, baptism, spiritual disciplines and gifts, consecration and gathering together. It is designed to help you get focused and moving together to serve the world in the Love of Jesus. A free Bible study is included in the Appendix to help you and others to explore together.
Disciple Driven Church – The Coming
Reformation - This was my Phd. Dissertation that is now turned into a
book. This was where I began to put into words the journey that had
begun with a call from God to plant churches. Not to plant what I saw
all around me in America. God called me to plant what I saw in the Bible. This
book originally came out in 2009. It has been a long learning process
to discover how the church by God's design is meant to operate today
in America.
In the beginning of this book I outline
how the American church is dying. This fact disturbed me greatly and it still does. The Jesus I know is awesome and I have dedicated my whole
life to serving Him. How come others weren't getting what I had
found? I looked back through history and pinpointed some moments
where major changes took place in the church. Each of these brought
us further from God's original design. The church has gone down the
slippery slope of compromise and continues its slide.
This book outlines the corrupt
practices that permeate American churches and modern American Christian culture. Look at this book as the
“What not to do” guidebook for the church. This is the book that
put feet to our journey. If you are discontent with the state of the
modern church, you may find answers here. Remember as you read it
that forsaking corruption is not enough. You must go further and do
what is right. Many today in America speak out about the church but
continue to partake in it. You cannot remove the yeast from the lump.
You must start fresh. We will outline that in our next post.
The Disciple Driven Church – The
Coming Reformation Ebook is available free at this link.
Sun
Ministries now turns its focus to helping others plant faith
communities. We sincerely believe that the local church is the hope
of the world. In order for it to be that hope, it must be the local
church that God designed. This means it must free itself from the
harmful practices and structures that have infected the modern
church. It must follow God's ways and not man's ways. This is a
difficult thing to do in our modern times where most churches around us follow similar unbiblical patterns. Many people have great affection for their
church, the people there, and the things that happen there. Our
affection for God must overtake all of those things. Jesus said if
you love Him you will obey Him. Obeying Him extends to how we operate
as a church.
Today
in America, nearly every expression of Christianity that surrounds us
has adopted many of the same corrupt practices. What appears to be
normal is accepted as right. In order for the church to operate by
God's design we must go through a process of deconstruction and then
rebuild only that which we find in scripture. The Bible contains a
sufficient amount of instruction for how the church is to be organized,
led and operate. We do not need to make up our own ways.
Over
the last ten years we have developed a series of tools that are
helpful for people that desire to live their Christian faith
according to God's design. These tools will be outlined in this BLOG
series. They will be presented in the order we see as necessary for
you to engage in the Christian faith as God instructs us to in the
Bible. We will start with outlining the history of the practices that
have infected the church. We will call this the “What not to do.”
We will follow that with instruction on being the church by God's
design. Then a lesson in making disciples as instructed in Matthew
28:18-20, commonly called the Great Commission. We will continue
with a focus on your own spiritual freedom and then how to become
spiritually fruitful. At the end we will introduce you to our Podcast
called The Resistance Radio Show. This tool helps you explore these
topics more deeply.
All
of the tools presented here are available free of charge. There is no
denomination or organization to join. We are here to help you and
unite you with others that are seeking to experience what they read
in the Bible. Enjoy your journey.
Sun
Ministries plants faith communities by operating in eight core values
Properly structured and functioning church leadership - God has designed the church to function in a certain way. This way is defined in Scripture and must be followed. A return to this design is the fundamental first step of reformation.
Sacrificial attitude towards money – living a moderate lifestyle. Jesus said you couldn’t be His disciple unless you sell all of your own possessions. He also says you can only serve one master.
Building the Sacred assembly – no unbelievers in the worship gathering. The most dominant and unbiblical corruption of the modern church is that unbelievers are allowed in the worship gathering. This practice is not supported in Scripture. Correcting this error is foundational to restoring the sacred assembly.
Believers working in their spiritual gifts.The church is designed to function on the basis of spiritual gifting. The only way for the church to function by design is to teach and lead every disciple to operate skillfully in their God given spiritual gifts.
Spiritual Warfare praying Prayer is the key to living a victorious life. Spiritual warfare praying is the key to walking in the Spirit and obeying Christ.
Manifest power, presence and leading of the Holy Spirit The New Testament emphasizes the spiritual dimension of the Christian life. The disciple of Christ is empowered to walk in the Spirit. Knowing and understanding spiritual gifts, prayer, and spiritual warfare enables the disciple of Christ to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Discipleship for personal consecration and spiritual freedom.This core value highlights the need for spiritual transformation, sanctification, and maturity. As we fulfill the Great Commission we bring people to maturity in Christ. This process frees them from sin and their past and leads them to find their Ephesians 2:10 works.
Love. Without love, everything else is meaningless. Jesus said the world would know we are His disciples by our love for one another.
So how do we live out these core values? We
start with disciples making disciples in obedience to the Great
Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20. As we gather around this core
mission we find that the focus of the congregation stays on serving
the world. This is the core of the Christian faith. Be a disciple,
make disciples and serve others in love.
The
Church@HydePark is the result of
the leadership of Sun Ministries making disciples and teaching them
to make disciples. We help these disciples rediscover God's design
for the operation of the church. As other local churches are planted
by Sun Ministries both across North St. Louis and the country, we
will unite them in service to each other and the world. We are
facilitating the launching of a movement. No denomination, no clergy
class, no consumer mentality. Instead, we see a movement of unity
based on service led by spiritual gifts making disciples that make
disciples.
Sun
Ministries' role will decrease as each faith community is established
locally. In Hyde Park, you will see Sun Ministries' visibility
decrease as the role of the Church@HydePark
increases in service to the community. Sun Ministries will continue
to work in the background training, resourcing and empowering the
local faith community. This frees the leadership to work to establish
new faith communities in other areas. This is where we find ourself
in 2018. We are ready to work to plant new faith communities in new
areas.
As we've stated in the last few blog entries, Sun Ministries is focusing on what we've always wanted to do: make disciples and plant faith communities. The Church@HydePark is the first faith community planted by Sun Ministries. We say
planted because like a seed we will nurture it and help it grow.
Modern Christianity in America is largely an institutional endeavor.
The New Testament contains no instructions for establishing an
institution over the church. It does contain ample instruction on how
the church should be organized, led and operate. We are looking to
help people discover the organic and mission oriented nature of the
Christian faith as instructed in the Bible.
Sun
Ministries supports the leadership and provides resources to
stabilize and establish the local church. Then Sun Ministries
releases the faith community to pastor the community by sharing the
Gospel of Jesus and meeting the needs of those around them. Sun
Ministries plays an ongoing leadership role by promoting unity
through service among the local faith communities.
For
many years we have referred to those supported by Sun Ministries as
“Missionaries”. We did this because without a local faith
community it was hard to put what we were doing into generally
understood terms. We are no longer using this designation. The staff
of Sun Ministries is simply spiritually gifted leaders who have
dedicated their whole lives to the vision and mission of Sun
Ministries. Our goal is to plant faith communities that operate on
the basis of spiritual gifts under biblical leadership and function
by God's design. In order to facilitate that we must start with
spiritually gifted leaders who will equip people for the works of
ministry. These leaders are the staff of Sun Ministries.
The
facility that will replace the Penrose Project is located at the
corner of 14th
and Salisbury. The first stage will be to finish the garage at 3624
N. 14th.
This will house our woodshop, maintenance services, rehab and auto
repair shop. Phase two will finish the lower level of 3628 N. 14th
where we will relocate The Second Chance Bazaar. Phase 3 will bring
the sewing center into the building. Phase four will add the audio
and video recording studio.
There
is no time frame for completing this project. We are still recovering
from the damage that was done to us. We invested two years, hundreds of man hours, a considerable amount of money, and our reputation into a project that was ended outside of our control. We also realized the need to focus on making disciples and developing faith communities. We will spend 2018 rebuilding
our relationships with volunteer groups and our supporters. There is
a lot to do.
Our
goal is to focus our energy on the core businesses that allow us the
flexibility in our schedules to do what our mission and name
declares. We are first and foremost a ministry.
If
a business is not accomplishing our vision and mission then it does
not serve its intended purpose. This is the conclusion we have come
to regarding Sun Cafe. Sun Cafe has become the most visible
expression of our ministry. Some people even refer to us as Sun Cafe
and not Sun Ministries. This is not what we want to be known as. We
are not a restaurant. We have also concluded that Sun Cafe has not
moved the mission of Sun Ministries forward in proportion to the
effort, management time, and cash required to operate it. So we have
made the decision to permanently close Sun Cafe.
Upon
completion of the Opportunity Center Expansion, we will have all of
our core businesses operating out of our own facility. We will
prioritize adding alternative energy sources to the building to lower
our overhead. This will give us the lowest possible operating
overhead and allow us to operate with as little management time as
possible. It will give us new tools for empowerment and the operation
of our core mission. We are ready to plant more faith communities.
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