Fellowship of Ministers and Churches FMC

03/03/2023

“Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning... He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all... Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply.” - Hudson Taylor

I knew a lot about Hudson Taylor and was familiar with the quote taken from the last phrase of this passage from his journal, but I did not know the context until Fred Wynn posted this on Facebook today. I love it! Teresa and I have lived it and found it to be true in our own lives and callings! - Pastor Mark Brand

02/17/2023

This is a good article: “Nine Things You Should Know About Revivals.”

- Mark Brand

What was scheduled as an hour-long chapel service last Wednesday has turned into a multi-day revival at Asbury University. Here are nine things you should know about revival and the history of revivals in America.

02/16/2023

A report from Asbury by one of my favorite theologians.

- Mark Brand

02/16/2023

Perhaps you have heard about the visitation of the Spirit going on at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. I have personal friends who have visited the meetings and who have testified to the reality of what is happening. Pastor Dwight McKissic shared some interesting background info about Bishop Asbury (for whom the university was named). It is worth reading, along with the link I have posted to an article from the Gospel Coalition.

- Pastor Mark

“One Declaration of Independence signatory called him “the greatest orator in America.” Likewise, after hearing Black Harry preach several times, John Wesley’s right-hand man, Thomas Coke (1747–1814), journaled: “I really believe he is one of the best preachers in the world. There is such an amazing power attends his preaching.”

Black Harry preached during the Second Great Awakening to both black and white congregations, bringing many to Christ. He was admired across racial lines for preaching the already-not-yet kingdom, but served within a church that treated him as almost-but-not-human.”

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/black-harry-one-of-the-greatest-preachers-ever-forgotten/?amp

https://twitter.com/pastordmack/status/1625333471014010887?s=46&t=047diFpzVq1VaWg2pOyNsw

01/09/2023

When Jesus returned from the desert clothed in the power of the Spirit, the first thing He did was preach and teach the Scriptures. Word and Spirit always go together! (Luke 4:1-30)

- Pastor Mark Brand

12/07/2022

“Fasting deals with you so God can use you can deal with others.” - FMC Vice-President giving a charge during our ordination service tonight.

05/26/2022

Dear FMC Family,

I am excited about being a part of this 50th Anniversary of the amazing Holy Spirit-prompted gathering that brought together more than 100,000 young Jesus People at the Cotton Bowl back in 1972.

Let’s pray for God to do it again in our day!

How about coming to be a part of it!

- Pastor Mark Brand

P.S. Scholarships (travel assistance) is available for people coming from out of town.)

TOGETHER‘22 is a catalytic stadium gathering on the 50th anniversary of Explo ‘72. The event will empower the next generation of Christians to Make Jesus Known.

05/23/2022

05/23/2022

Dear FMC Family,

What Russell Moore calls an “apocalypse” in this article in Christianity Today carries lessons for every Christian leader. Concern for the church’s image should never result in a “coverup,” even in the name of evangelism! This is in direct defiance of the solemn apostolic admonition given to us in 1 Timothy 5:17-21.

When a congregation or body develops what anthropologists call a “shame/honor” culture, steps taken to “protect” its reputation can lead to dishonoring, disregarding, disparaging, or even destroying victims of abuse within its ranks, instead of caring for them with the lovingkindness of Jesus.

It can also result in extreme disparities and distortions in its overall ethics and emphases, as Moore graphically describes:

“Who cannot now see the rot in a culture that mobilizes to exile churches that call a woman on staff a ‘pastor’ or that invite a woman to speak from the pulpit on Mother’s Day, but dismisses r**e and molestation as ‘distractions’ and efforts to address them as violations of cherished church autonomy? In sectors of today’s SBC, women wearing leggings is a social media crisis; dealing with r**e in the church is a distraction.”

Those of us who are outside the SBC must take care lest we decry what is happening “there,” without remaining vigilant against it happening “here.” We must never let the depth of our friendships or the duration of our relationships keep us from doing what the Apostle Paul commanded with the full force of Holy Spirit inspiration,

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. […] Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.” (‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5:17-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬)‬‬‬‬

May God help us all, and may God help those good people within the Southern Baptist Convention whose hearts are broken by what is happening, and who are tasked with righting these wrongs.

- Pastor Mark Brand

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/may-web-only/southern-baptist-abuse-apocalypse-russell-moore.html

05/16/2022

05/04/2022