New Life Church Pastor Brady Boyd Embraces Tongues

New Life Church is “one of those tongue-talking churches,” the senior pastor said unashamedly on Sunday.

Pastor Brady Boyd acknowledges that there's a wide range of teachings on the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. To some, it's foreign or weird and to others, it's no longer active.

But Boyd believes the spiritual practice is as real today as it was 2,000 years ago when believers in the very first church service spoke in tongues (as recorded in the New Testament).

Continuing his message series on the “The Supernatural,” Boyd felt he hit a particularly sensitive topic as he was swarmed with questions on the gift of tongues before he even preached on it this past weekend.

He has many friends who disagree with him on the subject. But for Boyd, speaking in tongues – known to some as a private prayer language – is nothing out of the ordinary. Every church he attended while growing up he saw the demonstration of tongues, he said.

“I thought everybody had that at birth because of the way I grew up,” he told the New Life congregation.

He himself couldn't imagine being without it. Pointing out that pastoring a church is tough, he said he would not survive long-term at New Life if he didn’t pray in tongues – which gives him “amazing strength.”

But traditions aside, Boyd asked the thousands in attendance to “let Scripture interpret Scripture” and approach the Bible as if they were reading it for the first time.

“I'm not going to stretch Scripture,” the New Life pastor emphasized.

Reading from Acts 2 in the New Testament, Boyd underscored the account that on the first day of the first church service, every one of the 120 people were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.

“If I were reading the Bible for the very first time, as a young believer, and I was trying to make sense of this tongue thing, I think that would jump off the page at me and go ‘wow, if in the very first church service everyone there spoke in tongues when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, it should be fairly common among us today,’” said Boyd.

“I think that’s a safe assumption on all of our parts.”

The senior pastor went on to point out the God-fearing Jews who recognized that their language was being spoken by people that didn’t know the Jews’ native language.

Speaking in tongues, Boyd said, could be used to communicate the Gospel to unbelievers. Thousands were born again that day when the Holy Spirit first came down upon believers. And Boyd said he knows tons of stories of such witnessing in tongues happening today.

“Sometimes we think tongues is just people getting in an emotional frenzy,” he said. But the spiritual gift is practical, he stressed. It is intended to draw people to God.

“I think that oftentimes we have made the spiritual gifts about us. ‘What does it do for me?’” he noted. “Not every time are the spiritual gifts for you. Oftentimes gifts are there ... to draw people to Christ.”

Even if attendees might dismiss other reasons on why Christians should embrace the gift of tongues, Boyd asked them to “at least consider that God may want to use you to communicate the Gospel to unbelievers.”

Other reasons he listed to embrace the gift are: to strengthen fellow believers, to personally communicate with God, and to “strengthen ourselves.”

If the gift is used properly in a public setting, such as in church, then the body of believers can be strengthened, Boyd said. The pastor, citing Apostle Paul, noted the need for boundaries as to not become consumed by fascination with speaking in tongues and get away from the priority of the Scriptures.

On a personal level, praying in tongues “edifies” believers, or “does something in our hearts to strengthen us for the [spiritual] battle we’re all in,” said Boyd.

“Oftentimes I just find myself praying in the tongue God has given me ... and I find an amazing reservoir of strength from heaven that I could never tap into in the natural but it's certainly available in the spiritual,” he said.

When Boyd prays in tongues, sometimes he know’s what he's praying for and other times he has no idea what he’s praying for.

“But I know this: the Holy Spirit is God and He’s omnipotent and omniscient and if He urges me to pray I’m going to pray because He knows what needs prayer,” said Boyd.

Dispelling some myths about the gift of tongues, the New Life pastor said tongues isn’t always the first evidence of baptism of the Holy Spirit and it does not signify that the Christian is a mature one. Also, speaking in tongues does not mean one will lose control and fall into a trance.

“The Holy Spirit never ever asks us to lose our free will to do anything on His behalf,” he stressed. “God is not looking for somebody He can take over.”

New Life attendees were given the opportunity after the sermon to pray and ask God for the spiritual gift of tongues.

“We lay down our pride, our unbelief, our doctrine that’s been wrong,” Boyd prayed. “We say ‘yes’ to your giftings.”

Boyd began leading New Life Church, one of the largest churches in the country, in 2007. He kicked off “The Supernatural” message series at the start of the new year. Topics he covered since January include miracles, giving, leadership, prophesying and demons.

[By Audrey Barrick - Christian Post Reporter]

Are you a good leader?

The ability to listen has been identified in study after study as one of the most important leadership skills – if not THE most important – than any other.

When you listen, you’re seen as a leader that:

• Is trustworthy
• Is patient
• Cares about others
• Is respectful
• Is compassionate

The ability to listen is a core, foundational skill for successful leaders. The ability to listen is key to:

• Developing and maintaining relationships
• Making good decisions
• Solving problems

Listening is one of the EASIEST leadership skills to learn and apply! We were born with the ability to listen. It’s a natural gift. Most people already know how to listen, and when they choose to, can do it very well.

If you want to listen, but for some reason you really don’t know how, no worries. All you have to do is keep your mouth shut. Then, listen like the someone important is talking to you. Or like you're on a first date.

If that doesn’t work for you, then there are plenty of books, videos, courses, and blog posts with excellent, proven tips. No need to repeat them all here. With a few tips and a lot of practice, you’ll be astounded with the results.

Talk about little things that will make a BIG difference – what other skill could give this kind of return on investment? Give it a try. Sit back and watch your relationships improve.

The Bad News:

Listening is one of the lowest rated leadership skills. It’s an average rated skill for individual contributors, then takes a nose-dive for leaders. It’s one of the most common flaws I see on 360 assessments. It’s the number one reason people think their leader is a jerk.

The bottom line: poor listening is a significant contributor to executive derailment (failure).

When you fail to listen, you’re perceived as someone who:

• Is insensitive to the needs of others
• Is arrogant, impatient, or uninterested
• Is dictatorial
• Makes others feel stupid or unintelligent
• Is close-minded

Failure to listen can result in:

• Disastrous decisions
• Mistakes
• Bruised and unproductive relationships
• and eventually, if not addressed – you’ll go down in flames.

If you’re seen as a bad listener, in most cases, it’s because you’re making a CHOICE not to listen. To be blunt, you’ve gotten so full of yourself (due to your success), that you don’t have the interest or patience in what most people are saying.

If you don’t believe me, try asking for true feedback. Ask the people in your life that matter to you how well you listen - and what it means to them when you don't.

[from Great Leadership by Dan McCarthy]

Some Leadership Challenges Cannot Be Avoided

There are some things that God will call a leader to do that he simply cannot delegate. That means …

• There are meetings that you are going to need to attend.
• There are conversations that you are going to have to have.
• There are decisions that you are going to have to make (and they won’t be easy!)

Spring Forward

Daylight Saving Time falls on Sunday, March 14, at 2:00 AM. As you move your clocks ahead this year, you may find yourself wonder why and when we started “springing forward” and “falling back.”

Daylight Saving Time was first instituted in the United States during World War I in an effort to save energy for war production.

Read complete article

Time-Saving Tips for Spring

While spring cleaning - Depending on just how meticulous you are, spring cleaning can be quite the overwhelming task. Make a list of what you’d like to accomplish and spread the work out over several days.

In the garden - Plan your garden on graph paper before touching the soil with a single tool. You’ll be amazed by how much you can fit in your growing space and how quickly the actual planting will go!

At the gym - Document your workout. Set goals and time limits for what you want to accomplish. Forcing yourself to stay on a schedule will get you in and out the door more quickly. Dedicate a portion of your weekly workouts to walking or running outdoors to enjoy the spring weather.

In the kitchen - Plan and write down your weekly menu. You’ll save time by reducing trips to the store. Know when you will be harvesting your spring produce and plan to incorporate it into your menu.

[DayTimer.com]

CGP Looses Several Key Leaders

The Church of God of Prophecy has announced the death of four top leaders in the nation of Sierra Leone. Those who have perished in a car accident as they were returning from planting a new church are:

- National Field Secretary - John P. Meindy

- District Overseer - Alfred B. Kargbo

- Pastor - Samuel Meindy

- National Evangelist - Victor Stephen

Please remember the families of these dear and precious brethren as they all had young family.

The announcement was made by Sherman Allen, Presbyter for Africa, Church of God of Prophecy.

Why Is Your Small Church Not Growing?

Why is it that so many smaller churches in North America are not growing? Good question. It rarely has anything to do with how much the pastor and key leaders love God. Some of the most devoted followers of Jesus I know lead smaller churches that are not growing. It also has little to do with whether or not the church is part of a denomination. There are denominational churches that are growing, and denominational churches that aren't. Location isn't a deal killer either. Location is important, obviously, but alone doesn't prevent growth. Let's say, for example, your church is located in a small rural area. That will have a definite impact on the rate of growth and overall growth potential of your congregation. But it doesn't prevent it from growing. We know this from smaller churches in little towns that are doing well. We know this even more so because of the reverse. There are smaller churches in huge cities that aren't growing at all.

So what is it? Before I offer some thoughts about why smaller churches aren't growing I want to mention something that I have written about a few times. It's "The Big Three." They are prayer, evangelization (harvest), and leadership (development). They must be the core values of every church. This is a given. There is and will always be a direct relationship between the emphasis on these things and the growth of your church. The intriguing thing about these three elements is that they apply to both smaller and larger churches.

The following five questions are connected to possibilities about why your church isn't growing, or could stop growing. They are meant to serve you as a tool for evaluation that can move to implementation and ultimately change that produces growth. These five ideas are not designed to be specific solutions, but a set of leadership lenses to help you see your church more clearly. I pray that as you consider these five, you may be encouraged about the potential of your church's future.

• Has friendship outpaced focus?

One of the best things about a smaller church is that the fellowship is alive and vibrant. People love and care for each other deeply. People know each others names and connections are tight. That's a good thing, a very good thing, but it can backfire when it comes to growing the church. New people visit and the church is friendly, but friendly like in a hotel where the guests are not expected to stay for a long time.

It's easy for a smaller church to turn inward and invest most of its ministry energy into itself. In time this will begin to shape how decisions are made, how money is spent, and ultimately what the church does and doesn't do in order to reach people.

In one way or another, the Great Commission is the focus of your church. It's why your church was started and why you keep it going. A focus on friendship and relationships in general can take your leadership eyes off the goal. So, how about your church, which is truly first? Is your focus on the Great Commission or caring for established relationships?

• Have you stopped believing its possible?

I'm certain that when your church was started, there was great passion and hope for its future. That's how all churches start. Years into the journey, however, some or even all the zeal can fade. And when the road has been particularly difficult for some time, it's possible to no longer believe the church will ever grow again. You can talk the talk in the lobby and even on the platform, but deep down inside you may have given up.

This sounds bleak, but I'm compelled to say it because it's true in far too many churches. If you are the pastor or a key leader, you must believe your church can grow. You must believe it has a future. And if you can't believe that, then believe that God has imagined a future and He can grow it, but He needs you in the game. God needs you to change your mind to match His. Capturing the mind of Christ about your church is essential.

Kevin Myers, Senior Pastor of 12 Stone Church in Lawrenceville, GA occasionally tells the story of when he gave up. Many years ago the church was small and struggling and he lost faith in the church's future. He shared this with a close pastor friend and his friend said; if you've lost faith that your church can go on, borrow mine! Kevin did! Today 12 Stone has thousands of people attending. The size of the church isn't as important as your belief. Find some leaders close to you who still believe and tap into their faith until yours is once again strong enough to take the lead.

• Have you embraced a shotgun ministry style?

Over-simplified and exaggerated for affect, there are two approaches to ministry design in your church. 1.) "If you have an idea for a new ministry that might help somebody, do it." 2.) "No new ministries are started here for the next two years." The general vibe of the first one is "Yes." And the general vibe of the second is "No." The second is the wiser of the two.

If you and your church team employ a nearly random freedom to start ministries, even though they may be good, you create a busy mess of activity. You inadvertently experience a lack of focus that drains the best ministries, and exhausts volunteers and staff. In the big picture, you are doing more and accomplishing less.

It's important that you offer fewer ministries in order to accomplish more life-changing ministry impact. To do this, you need to be very intentional in your choice of ministries. No one church can do every ministry, that's an obvious fact. So what you choose to do needs to be selected wisely and prayerfully. Saying no to all other ministry options is not squelching the Holy Spirit, its common sense granted from God. Doing less allows you to do it better and with deeper impact.

• Is there a lack of courageous teaching?

Loud doesn't indicate truth and thundering away doesn't guarantee courage. Courage comes from the inside. This kind of godly boldness overcomes personal fear. When you know God is speaking to you, there is a quiet confidence that allows you to stand before the people and speak the truth, letting the chips fall where they may.

I've been reading commentaries for many years. I respect the hard work the authors put into their craft. But I get frustrated when they get to the difficult verses and glance over them or skip them altogether. I don't need commentaries for the easy verses! People in your church feel the same way about the messages, even if they don't say it. Don't skip saying the hard stuff. I'm not referring only to difficult biblical passages. In fact, I'm really talking about the spiritual leadership contained in your teaching.

If you are the pastor, let me shoot straight. Ask God what He wants to say to your people and say it. Don't back down. Say it in love, but say it. People respond to truth, they don't always like it on the first round, but they instinctively know its right. People respond better, over the long haul, to robust vision over nicely crafted scholarly sermons! Don't expect one Sunday to accomplish the big picture. This is a 52 week a year process.

• Does popularity override good decision-making?

Pressure is part of every leader's life. How you handle it internally and what you do with it externally matters. Pastors have to deal with their issues just like anyone else. Pastors love people. That's a good thing. The bad thing that often accompanies that reality is that pastors want to please people. In a smaller church that can turn into an issue of popularity. If the pastor's desire to be liked becomes unhealthy, that can have a huge impact on decision-making in the church. This does not reflect integrity or morals, just human nature.

I was a pastor for almost 25 years. I love people. I prefer that people love me back. But that didn't always happen. Especially if I had to deliver an answer that went against what someone wanted. But I chose the right leadership decision over being liked. Candidly, those moments aren't much fun, but they are necessary. And they can make the difference about whether or not a smaller church stays small or grows larger.

Take an honest look at these five questions. I trust that addressing one or more with serious effort will help your church reach its potential!

"Glorifying God through prayer, the harvest, and leadership development."

[by Dan Reiland, The Pastor's Coach - modifications and personalization by Don Brock]

Chaplain Corps Threatened by Policy Change

A pro-family leader and former military officer is very concerned about the future of the U.S. military Chaplain Corps if President Obama is successful in ending the ban on homosexuals serving in the military.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council (FRC) had been invited to speak at the National Prayer Luncheon at Andrews Air Force Base on February 25. But because he had spoken out forcefully against President Obama's desire to repeal the 1993 law which bans homosexuals from military service, his invitation to speak at the event was cancelled.

Perkins, who is an ordained minister as well as a Marine Corps veteran, had planned to give a devotional message -- not a political one. He says what happened to him should serve as a warning to those who would dare oppose Obama's agenda, particularly military chaplains who espouse a biblical worldview.

"[The Chaplain Corps is] very concerned about this policy in that if it does go through and the military is forced to embrace homosexuality, that there will be a mass exodus of chaplains," contends Perkins. "And quite likely because chaplains have to be sponsored by an association or denomination, that those who have an orthodox view on Christianity and scripture would be disqualified from sponsoring chaplains."

So Perkins says in essence the military would become void of Bible-believing, Bible-preaching, Bible-counseling chaplains.

[by Chad Groening - OneNewsNow]

Women's Media Center Has a Hidden Agenda

Jehmu Greene and the Women's Media Center are the most insensitive, anti-Christian, rude people I have seen in a very long time. I am appalled that they want all Christian rights taken away in the U.S., a country founded on freedom and Christian principles.

They are a so-called progressive, secular, movement who wants to stamp out everyone's rights but theirs.

They are behind the NCAA decision to pull a Focus on the Family innocent ad, claiming that college athletes find the ad objectionable. What? What is there in the ad on the right that any human being would find objectionable?

The truth is, the Women's Media Center simply hates Focus on the Family and anyone else that believes that killing babies is wrong. May God have mercy on their souls. I don't know who I detest more -- the Women's Media Center or the NCAA for caving in to them.

The American Psychological Association joins the political debate on homosexuality.

The American Psychological Association (APA) will highlight its policy in support of same-sex "marriage" at its annual meeting in August.

The APA also claims it has science that supports that position.

Julie Hamilton, president of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, said the APA cannot have enough evidence on the issue, because there have not been enough reliable studies to make a scientific argument for or against gay marriage.

"The APA is taking sides in a political debate without an adequate scientific basis for their stance," she said. "This is another example of a scientific organization acting politically rather than scientifically."

Caleb Price, research analyst with Focus on the Family, said the vast majority of Americans have "no clue that the mental health profession is heavily involved in activism."

"When groups like the APA position themselves as authorities on a controversial issue in the public arena like same-sex marriage," he said, "they can be disproportionately influential in the debate."

NCAA Disallows Christian Ad

The ad features a father holding his young son and saying, "All I want for my son is for him to grow up knowing how to do the right thing."

The tag line: "Celebrate Family. Celebrate Life."

This Focus on the Family ad, believe it or not, has been yanked off the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) website for one simple reason: Focus on the Family supports natural marriage, believing that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.

The NCAA, who apparently believes only in selective diversity - "Christians need not apply" - has censored this ad after homosexual activists complained.

Look at the message again. By scrubbing this ad, is the NCAA saying we want our sons to grow up knowing how to do the wrong thing? With the number of NCAA athletes who get in trouble with the law every week, you'd think the NCAA would enthusiastically support a message which urges fathers to be great role models for their sons and athletes-to-be.

Are NCAA officials saying that they celebrate divorce rather than intact families? That they celebrate death instead of life? That they don't want fathers to be involved with their sons? What is remotely objectionable about the message in this ad?

NCAA officials even went so far as to say that even if the message was okay, they'd have to spike it because of the messenger.

In other words, the NCAA is telling America that it has no room in its view of diversity for voices of faith and family.

What do you think?

You can email the NCAA's "Office of Diversity and Inclusion" to let them know that you oppose its lack of diversity and its exclusion of people of faith.

Finding a Place for Your Church Plant

Planting a church? Looking for a venue? Here are a few “do’s and don’t’s” to finding just the right place for your new church to meet:

- DO clarify your target area. Has God called you to a specific community or neighborhood? Is there one part of town where you just know you’re supposed to be?In searching for a meeting location, you don’t want to venture much further than 5-10 minutes outside of your target area, so you need to have that target area fairly well-defined.

- DO look for locations that are familiar to the people you’re trying to reach. Ask around and observe people’s patterns, then use that to give you some ideas. Since you’re brand new, people won’t be familiar with you so you want to make sure they’re at least familiar with your location. The familiarity factor is why some of the best meeting locations for a church plant are schools, movie theaters and community centers.

- DO ask God for eyes to see beyond the “obvious.” Sometimes an answered prayer for “fresh eyes” is just what you need to find your next meeting location. There is a tendency to lock in on one or two potential meeting spaces to the neglect of dozens of others. Block out some time, take a drive and ask God to open your eyes to the possibilities.

- DON’T make a rush decision on a meeting location. Your new church’s meeting location is very important and not to be decided lightly. If God has called you to this area, then He has also picked out just the right meeting place for His new church!

- DON’T ever stop looking for meeting locations. It’s a good idea to keep a running list of potential places to meet for as long as your church is portable.You never know when a sudden growth in attendance, a school board policy change or an excessive rental rate hike might have you scrambling for a different space, so it helps to stay ahead of the curve.

[from Nelson Searcy - Renegade Pastor - Church Leader Insights - Church Growth and Evangelism by nsearcy]

Prayer Request - Chile

My friend in Chile tells me that his power is off, utilities are down, and his home is standing but windows and doors are shattered. He has a generator and got an email to me somehow.

Please pray for all earthquake victims in Chile.

Pastor Benny Hinn Will Continue His Ministry In Spite of Divorce

In a letter to ministry partners, evangelist Benny Hinn said he is praying God will heal his family.

Hinn's wife, Suzanne, filed for divorce from the high-profile minister Feb. 1. The filing says the couple had been separated since Jan. 26, according to the Associated Press.

Hinn said his wife had been under great stress, but he and his children "never expected this to happen."

"Divorce was the last thing on my mind and theirs," Hinn wrote in the letter posted on his ministry Web site. He said it was a "total shock" when his wife's attorney called Feb. 17 to inform him that she had filed for divorce.

"Suzanne never gave the family even a hint that this was on her mind," Hinn wrote, adding that his wife's parents did not know she had filed for divorce until he told them Feb. 17. "Even to this moment, the children and I don't know why she did it. ... I love my wife, and I am praying that the Lord Himself will take care of this and bring healing to my precious family."

Hinn said his wife does not have biblical grounds for divorce because neither of them engaged in immorality throughout their 30-year marriage.

"We both have kept our covenant with God and stayed pure before Him, and I am praying with all my heart that our precious Lord Jesus will heal my family and protect His work for His glory," Hinn wrote.

Hinn said he does not plan to take a break from preaching and leading healing crusades worldwide. "I am going to continue preaching the Gospel and praying for the sick as I have for 36 years," he wrote. "I will not allow anything to slow me down or stop me. My commitment to my precious Jesus is forever, and nothing will ever change that."

[by Adrienne S. Gaines News, Chrisma News Online]

NCAA looks to ban Tebow-type eye black

In what some are already calling the "Tim Tebow rule," the NCAA Football Rules Committee is proposing that college football players be prohibited from writing anything on their eye black -- the very types of messages the former Florida Gator quarterback made popular with various Bible verses.

The recommendation was made by the committee in an announcement Feb. 11 and it now must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel.

The committee actually called the new rule a "clarification" because a rule that apparently would ban such messages already was in place. The clarification, which would take effect this fall, says "if eye shade is worn it must be solid black with no words, numbers, logos or other symbols."

Tebow -- the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who just completed his senior season -- was not mentioned, although he popularized the trend, and the nation noticed. On the same day that Florida played Alabama in the SEC Championship Game Dec. 5, the No. 1 Google "hot" search in the U.S. was John 16:33, the verse Tebow wore on his eye black.

In fact, Tebow's Scripture choices were among the Top 10 Google searches in the U.S. during nearly every major Florida game in 2009. For the Sept. 19 game against Tennessee, his choice of Romans 8:28 was the No. 5 search; for the Oct. 10 game against LSU, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 was the No. 7 search; and for the game against Florida State -- his final home game -- Hebrews 12:1-2 was the No. 3 search. His choice of Ephesians 2:8-10 was the No. 4 search for the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl. The Google trend dates back to the 2008 BCS Championship Game, when John 3:16 -- Tebow's verse for that game -- landed at the No. 1 spot.

Tebow's eye black was by far the most-followed eye shade in college football, but he wasn't the only one doing it. Former Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson wore on his eye black the words "press on," words taken from Philippians 3:14, a verse that was repeated by his father often at family gatherings. His father died in October. Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor also wore Bible verses on his eye black, including Philippians 3:14. Pryor, though, was involved in one of the more controversial instances of eye black when he wrote the word "Vick" under his left eye as a tribute to Michael Vick. Vick is a controversial figure to many because of his former ties to a dog-fighting ring, although at this year's Super Bowl he shared his how his life has changed and how "I feel I'm in the back seat now and God is in the front."

The NCAA's football rules already prohibited "anything on the uniform other than a player's numbers; a player's name; NCAA Football logo; memorial recognition; the American flag; or institution, conference or game identification. No other words, numbers or symbols are permitted on a player's person or tape." The rule was part of the rules section on illegal equipment.

[byMichael Foust - Baptist Press]