January 2010

You've Got To Be Dreaming!

From the Director's Desk

You’ve heard about Divine appointments; right? I just had lunch with a man named Joe –– it was clear from the start that God has been at work for years setting the stage for our meeting.

Though I’d never talked with Joe, I’d read a best-selling business book about his work helping everyday people live out the dreams God put in their hearts. I was intrigued by Joe’s ideas because for over a year EMI staff and volunteers have been telling me that EMI’s calling is to equip individuals and churches to start living the dreams God is putting in their hearts.

As I’ve worked with Church leaders around the USA, I’ve been asking “Why are you settling for anything less than God’s dream for you?” The answer is usually that neither they nor their people are equipped to do what God is calling them to do.

For over 30 years EMI has created ways to give people practical skills they need to embrace God’s dreams and follow His true calling for their lives–– and to help others do the same.

So I’ve come up with a new EMI slogan: You Dream: We Equip!

No matter what you’re dreaming of . . .

A better relationship?
A deeper connection with God?
A healthier, faster growing church?
A greater impact for your life and ministry?
A stronger marriage?
A life-changing outreach in your community?

Odds are “we have an app for that!”

As I talked to Joe this afternoon, it was clear that after decades of working with people, God has put a common dream in both of our hearts. We dream of thousands and even millions more Christians living the dreams that “God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). We dream of Churches revolutionizing their communities and bringing countless ordinary people to extraordinary faith in Jesus!

EMI has already started piloting “dream teams” of folks who have taken EMI courses, with the goal of helping one another discern, pursue, and hold each other accountable to the dreams God has placed in their hearts. It also looks like Joe and I may be pursuing a collaboration that could help this go down in EMI’s history as the year of the dream.

In the meantime, let me wish you a Happy New Year and encourage you to join us in dreaming big and praying even bigger in 2010!

Blessings in Christ,

Dave

PS––If you want to find out more about how you can get involved in the dream team initiative, please contact Simon Chen.
Download a new EMI brochure to share with a friend.

Are you a SHELTER? a REFUGE? a STREAM? a SHADOW?

by Pam Ping, Global Training Manager

I'm being haunted.

The Lord keeps bringing one particular scripture to my attention, Isaiah 32:2:

Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

Isaiah 32 + 33 describe a desolate time being foretold for a spiritually complacent and thriving Jerusalem. Ungodliness, folly, wicked schemes and lies, leaving the hungry empty and withholding water from the thirsty has become normal.

Fools are called noble and scoundrels are highly respected. It is a time without justice. My heart breaks to see more and more of this scenario in my own realm of experience . . . especially when I watch the news.

But there is hope. Reading on. . . .

. . . until the Spirit is poured upon us, then righteousness, peace, security, quietness & confidence reign.

"The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."

What does this mean for us today?

My sense is the Lord is underscoring the value and importance of Spirit-filled people who give out from themselves the peace and truth and confidence that comes from God.

When times grow dark and difficult, people become hungry and thirsty for peace and truth. The Body of Christ, then, has an opportunity to interact with those caught in fear and despair or trapped in complacency and arrogance...in the church and outside of the church!

We become a shelter from the winds of lies and injustice by offering care, respect, and understanding.

We are a refuge from the storms of national and international threats when we speak the truth of who God is.

We offer streams of water in a dry land when God's truth overcomes PC thinking and Hollywood norms.

We provide shadow in a hot, barren landscape when it's difficult to find someone speaking and living love and truth and goodness.

We will be for others in a dry and hostile land a source of His shelter, His refuge, His streams, and His shadow.

For me, this scripture is an admonition and an encouragement from the Lord to persevere in doing good. The ministry of EMI is to help in building up the Body of Christ into His likeness, His characteristics, His fruit of the Spirit. We do this by teaching basic healthy, effective relationship and ministry tools. The way we come along side those in struggle is powerful!

Nations are coming to us for this teaching as they face generations of violence, poverty, shaming beliefs, and bondage. Their vision is to take home our training and begin to change their nations, one person, one household, one church, and one village at a time.

FOR EMI TEAM:
To our team of volunteer teachers, facilitators, and prayer warriors, I say you are highly esteemed.
You will find yourself in more and more situations when God will call upon you to be His shelter to someone.
You will see the impact of being a listening ear and a respectful guide as an experience of God as refuge.
You will know the joy of providing healing, life-giving prayer and setting captives free because our God lives in you!
I believe God is calling us to go higher up and deeper into Him together this year.

JOIN US!
If you would like to participate in this caring community, contact EMI about taking our courses and being equipped and even certified to pass it on!
If you are part of our team already, take a next step to being equipped or praying or serving the Body together.

TEAM HUDDLE - Saturday, February 6th (9am-2:30pm)
Join us for a time of listening to God and brainstorming how to bring the Spirit's work more powerfully to EMI training.

TEAM INGATHERING - First Mondays/ Third Tuesdays monthly (6:45pm-9:00pm)
Participate in our open house for people seeking prayer or to pray. We listen to God together and then pray for each other.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES: EMI ACADEMY (2nd Saturdays monthly) + LIFE SEMINAR weekends (March, July, October)
Take a next step in learning to facilitate a small group or teach an EMI course.

Contact me with your needs & interests. Email Pam

SUPPORT THE WORK:
Much of what we offer to internationals is free (to them) and registration rates are as low as we can manage. If you'd like to participate through a donation, you can make a difference around the world -- really! Donate online.

Let us serve you!
Let us be a shelter, refuge, stream, or shadow on your behalf!
Join us in 2010.

International Spotlight: Walter Liatema, Kenya

: Walter and Alicia (front center) with a church congregation

Rev. Walter Liatema completed EMI's International School of Service in 2006 and heads the training ministry for the Church of God in Kenya. Following is his most recent report.

"My teaching schedule has been so tight out of the city and deep in the country where few people can write and read. So many people there are not free with anybody who looks foreign and they don’t trust young people. But my confidence when I meet these people rests first in my faith in God, and second on my assurance in my heart that I am well – equipped with what it takes to face them.

"The skills I obtained from EMI have changed my approach to any issue, and the people I teach can perceive a humbled spirit in me. I have changed from my previous habits of being in great hurry and have matured in being patient to listen to what these people have to say. Then I am able to tell them the truth of the word of God, but in “Love”.

"Equipped with EMI skills, I am unstoppable. I am walking in God’s grace, ready for bold exploits, trickery situations and bravery beyond belief. I started out weak as spiritual dwarf and I am trusting God to end up strong as a spiritual giant. This is because I am experiencing the power of the cross as I see people receiving real healing.

: At a wedding ceremony

"Some of my people believed that Christianity was for weak people and especially for women and children only, but I thank my God because Jesus is being preached to all of them now. Irresistible evangelism has a place here as I preach and teach. Many are finding salvation and bearing fruit that allows them to defeat problems and tensions of contemporary life. I am leading my people past their fears and very negative traditional concepts about God. I travel a lot to meet my people at their homes and churches as I evangelize, teach, preach and train. My new ministry is showing people how to make homes truly Christian. Newly married couples, parents and even grandparents are finding a clearer understanding of what is involved in making a home Christian. I deal as realistically as possible with the common problems parents face as they try to create within the family that atmosphere of love, understanding and mutual respect. This makes possible a Christian home. It seeks to help parents develop an understanding both of themselves and of their children for wise guidance.

"The building of a Christian home is a lifelong task calling for patience, understanding and convictions on the part of every member of the family. This ministry has started saving many homes from “divorce”, a word that was never heard of in Kenyan communities in the early days. God is renewing our minds, thus making our thinking, feeling and acting more like Jesus. I highly appreciate the training I received from EMI."

Your gift to EMI is equipping leaders from around the world like Walter, who are working to advance God's kingdom. Partner with us to equip leaders.

Click to donate online.

January Special: Recursos En Espanol

Recursos en español

¿Sabía usted que casi todos los cursos de EMI están disponibles en español?
Nuestro equipo de español ha sido muy fiel traduciendo los Manuales del Maestro, Notas de Clase, y Notas del Facilitador. Ellos los han usado para equipar creyentes hispánicos más de una década. Estos excelentes materiales están disponibles para usted desarrollar un ministerio hispánico sano.

Especial de enero: 10% de descuento de cualquier material en español.

Llame al 513- 74211 o 1-800-EMI GROW (364-4769)
Esté seguro de mencionar este especial de descuento en promoción cuando usted llame.

Más información

Resources in Spanish

Did you know that most EMI courses are available in Spanish? Our Spanish team has been faithfully translating teacher's manuals, class notes, and facilitator notes and using them to equip Spanish-speaking believers for over a decade. These excellent materials are available for you to develop a healthy Spanish ministry.

January Special: 10% off any Spanish material.

Call 513-742-1100 or 1-800-EMI-GROW (364-4769).
Be sure to mention this special promotional discount when you call.

More info

_________________________