Transformation...

So the question for this time is 'how are we, the Church going to bring transformation to the people, cities and nations around us?' What does it look like when earth looks like heaven, when the government of earth looks like the government in heaven, when the kingdom comes on earth through you and me - The Church? How do we 'bring it'? What are we going to do with our responsibility and our part?

I think about this often...

Maybe you have part of the solution...

Maybe we first need to get a good handle of what heaven really looks like, how the government system works there and how things are run...

Maybe we need to get a better understanding of how God runs His kingdom to learn how we can partner with Him to see the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God...

What does it look like???

Some things I've been thinking about are how to begin at the most basic level - and for me it means I need to be personally undergoing transformation before I can 'bring it'! And for me that looks like being transformed as I hang out with God in His presence. Seeing what He's like gives me a grace to change. 'Behold and Become'.

At a macro level I've been thinking of the concept of 'discipling nations' (as opposed to people in nations) - what does it look like to transform a nation? I've been thinking about how every nation has a unique identity and a unique destiny - that each can 'bring something' to the rest of the world. Somehow there needs to be some leaders who create a government that allow the people in the country to reach their full potential and their own unique identity and destiny. This would look like a governing system that allows people to thrive, flourish and be able to access resources to live in abundance...

For instance - what if Africa's unique identity was as the continent with the greatest resources in the world and their destiny was to release wealth to the nations? What would it take to make that a reality? Leadership that allows the people to fulfill their potential - to have opportunity to release it! Don't you think it's strange that Africa has the most natural resources in the world and they seem to be the 'poorest' people. I also think that righteous leadership doesn't necessarily look like the president being a Christian - look at King Neb. and Pharoah - their nations prospered because of people like Joseph and Daniel - men with the favour of God and open doors for influence.... So what is the identity of Australia? America? and what's our part to play in bringing kingdom transformation?

So there's what I think the micro and macro level look like at this stage but what about all the bits in between?

To be continued...

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In March, Shane and I are going on a missions/ministry trip to Cleveland Ohio to work with a church (Bethel Cleveland) who's mission is to bring transformation to the city they live in. There's various strategies they are implementing - specific help and outreach to the poorest neighbourhoods, serving the community, getting involved with local businesses and also equipping people to be excellent in their spheres of work and influence. We will be specifically involved in strategic planning on our trip, with planning for the planting of 100 churches in Cleveland and also involved in the local Bethel school's equipping and deployment program and the city's business summit.

If you would like to see a short video on some of the ways the church is doing this, click on the link http://www.bethelcleveland.com/its-time-video

If you feel you would like to partner with us financially for the mission trip or our ministry in general please give to (Australian) ANZ account 012834 509263962 (Shane and Louise Mandl)

or into our USA school account via www.ibssm.org (click on 'give to BSSM' and type one of our names in).

Thanks for your friendship, your interest in us and what we're up to, for your support and any prayers you've backed us up with :)

Love Louise (and Shane)