God's Forgotten Priority-2014

Proceeding Word Ministry Intl. and Maranatha Ministerial Fellowship Intl., are bibilically based in training and equipping that brings transformational life-change to the lost, the least. and the last peoples in the world.

Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Jesus's Last Words... Jesus' last words captured His greatest priority, what He desired for us to accomplish. Even more, in that he promised to give us the ability.

Forgotten Priority?... Around the World there are 2.9 billion people who have never heard the Gospel in a way they can understand. That's more than 40% of the world's population. The task may seem impossible, but it can happen, when the church has the proper vision and training.

The Local Church...God has used the local church to reach those who do not know Him. But most of the people who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, live in areas where there are few churches or that even exist. Some groups have no churches at all.

I believe more than ever that God has called many people to Go into all the World and preach the Gospel, many have gone, and many have waited. Now is the time...! Today is a new day & a old priority, let's give our hearts to God in a new way, that it becomes obvious that we are taking the Gospel into every man's world, near and far. In 2014 God has given all of us, a new fire for an old priority, "His"....may we never forget those who pray and cry out to God, for someone like you or me, to come and help them, The Macedonian Call...where will the Holy Spirit direct you and your resources this year? Please don't Forget His Priority for 2014...!  God bless you all and let's pray, and then "Go and Do".... that 2014 will be a year of great Harvest...!  In His Love and Mine...!

Bishop Rick Callahan

How To Advance through Adversity

Romans 8:16-18 "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Recently I just returned from the mission field with several other ministers and we had a tremendous time sharing Christ and His love to a people who have captured His heart. It was such a privilege to wash their feet and to minister His Word, to leaders in the Church, Congregations, Jail ministry, Crusades and Village ministry, the Radio, and serving them in any we were able to. We learned a lot in this process and were stretched in our lives, only to receive more of Him in every situation that presented itself. However, we dealt with some adversity along the way that shocked us and at times set us back in our thinking, why? When difficulties arise, how can you be sure you're responding in a way that would please the Lord? Here is an acrostic, based on the word adversity, that suggests some steps that you should take:

A- Accept the events of your life as part of how God equips you-

D- Decide to follow Jesus' ways of responding to trials-

V- Veer neither to the right nor to the left from the path of obedience-

E- Expect the Holy Spirit to help you grow through your difficulties-

R- Remember how the Lord has helped you in the past-

S- Set your face like a flint (Isa.50:7) to endure the trial without wavering-

I- Invest additional time in your relationship with God-

T- Trust the Lord, especially when you do not understand-

Y- Yearn to be made ready for the return of our Savior-

Adversity will either harden or soften us. Some people become hardhearted and resist God in times of adversity, but those who know how to respond are softened by troubles and broken. But when it is of the Lord, brokenness is a positive thing that prepares, equips, energizes, and empowers us as children of the King. We will come to know the fellowship of Jesus' sufferings and proclaim with Paul, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2Cor.4:17). When we encounter trials, let's make it a goal to "consider it all joy" (James 1:2-4), since such testing of our faith produces endurance and perfects us. No matter where in the world we, or you are today we all will experience many opportunities to grow and increase through our adversity whenever encountered. Amen!  I'm still growing....how about you??

Hard Places in life and ministry...!

Hello dear ones and fellow so-journers in Christ; what happens to our faith or confidence when we are in a hard place in life or ministry. Just a few points and observations...!  "Problems are actually opportunities in disguise. We are continually faced with great opportunities brilliantly disguised as inslovable problems. John Mason say, "The breakfast of champions is not cereal, it's problems".

Confiedent people do not run away from challenges, obstacles, or problems, they find a way to overcome them. Challenges come to every person. Your ability to face them and overcome them determines the possibilities of your achievements.

A problem contains hidden provision awaiting the correct person who has the confidence to solve it. In every problem there is a hidden possiblity.

Here are 5 suggestions for turning problems into opportunity:

1. Clearly indentify the problem you are facing.

2. Believe there is a solution to your problem. Belief opens your mind to figure out a solution to your problem.

3. Think positively and creatively about the challenge and how you can turn it around for your good.

4. Get a fresh perspective from an outside source. Sometimes you cannot "know" what to do if you really don't know.

5. Take positive action and respond (don't react) properly to the problem with new solution.

Well may this help all of us faced with problems and issues in life and ministry today. I have faced and still facing my share in life and ministry, and still learning how to follow Jesus. Love and blessings!

The Power of Setting Goals

Once you have heard God's Word and determined you will walk in obedience, nothing you can do will have more impact than setting goals. Goal setting is a common theme within the Bible, even though it is not widely mentioned. Moses set goals before the people of God as he led them through the wilderness. Joshua set goals for the conquest of Canaan. David set goals for the building of the temple, laid aside the materials, and established a plan. Soloman took the plan, enhanced it, and built the temple of the Lord. Nehemiah set goals for the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem, established a work schedule, and completed a monumental, near impossible task in just 52 days.

There are 5 reasons that are important for our future success of life and ministry. Each of them provides a greater understanding of why active engagement is better than passive acceptance of what you believe to be God's plan.

1. Goals Determine that the Invisible, Is Not the Impossible.

We must dream big dreams. In fact sometimes our dreams are so huge, they are for all intents and purposes, impossible. But, impossibility becomes possibility with wise planning and effective goal setting. Dreaming is simply seeing where there is no substance. Dreams happen between your ears, in your mind and heart, in your conscious and in your subconscious. Conscious dreams are the seeds of possibility which stimulate you to have attainable vision. Dream beyond the conscious level and often gain access to possibilities you otherwise would not consider. So you must dream beyond where you are. You set in motion a course that brings seeds of possibility toward fruition. Impossibility becomes possiblity, possibility becomes probability, and probability becomes reality, and reality is harvest.

2. Goals Nurture Your Conviction of Future Success.

3. Goals Allow For Change Without Derailing Vision.

4. Goals Establish A Framework to Manage Risk.

5. Goals Require Action In Order to be Effective.

Have Patience; Be Passionate; Be Focused; Seek Favor; Make Great Preparation; Qualify Your Relationships; Foster Beneficial Habits; Always Expect Miracles.  Hey let's Do Goals....!

The Leader: Staying Power

The Leader: Staying Power... The most effective leaders in the world today are those who demonstrate staying power. They are visionary, and committed over a long period of time to a significant goal. In face of tremendous odds, they "hang tough." Leaders who affect communities, organizations, or societal issues generally do not flare up into great fires of leadership overnight. but rather they begin like a small smoldering piece of coal that ignites or creates a spark that builds over time. It becomes obvious that this idea of staying power is built around very important and specific goals,things they desire to see accomplished. To reach our goals, we will need to employ the number one tool of the leader- influence! Paul wrote in Phil.3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Staying power must have Vision, compelling responsibilities, clarity of direction, strong motivation, and  self-discipline, to mention a few ingredients. .What do you think is helpful to leaders for the Staying Power?