Sunday, August 05, 2007

Abide Training Center Begins


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August 3-5th marks a new phase of the Abide Brazil ministry. We now have our own space in the mountain city of Campos do Jordao where the dialog about the Satisfying LIfe of Jesus can take root in people's lives. The very existence of this special place is a a miracle of God's provision.
When God wants something to come into existence all He needs is willingness and cooperation among His branches here on earth.

A special thanks to all who have believed in this special place. Someday I pray all who gave and all who prayed can come and learn with us here in Brazil.

Friday through Sunday 39 of us spent over 8 hours in study and many more hours in conversation. Though the room is desgined for only 6 or 7 couples, we discovered that Brazilians can make it work for 39!

Good is good.

Bud and Pam

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Thursday, July 26, 2007

July-August Update


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ABIDE Prayer and Praise
August 2007



Praise

o We have completed two years in Brazil and have our permanent visas. God is good!

o Better health has replaced a phase of physical challenges.

o Construction in the mountains is coming to a beautiful conclusion.

o Publishing projects are just about finished and ready for use in the USA and Brazil.

o Our support has adjusted month to month through special gifts to offset the falling value of the dollar.

o Our daily radio broadcast will begin in August.


Prayer

o Wisdom and balance in a very busy schedule.

o Continued health and safety.

o Expansion of Abide Brazil to other languages and countries.

o Publishing of materials here in Brazil and in the USA.

o More monthly supporters who believe in the Abide message and life.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

A Matter of Life and Death

There is a man in our church who lost his left hand in an accident when he was a young boy. To see him in action using only one hand is to witness the definition of adaptability. He is amazing to watch. Still, I would never want to lose a hand unless it was a matter of life and death. In this man’s case it was a life and death situation that took his hand. His wonderful, adapted life is testimony to the choice he made to let the hand go in order to save his own life.

Jesus talked about losing a hand in Matthew 5:30 “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”

To me this has been one of the strangest of Jesus’ sayings. For some reason God has kept this verse on my mind for the past few weeks. Here is what He has shown me about the symbolism of cutting off one’s own right hand.

When it comes to sinning we are in a life or death situation. Sin requires that something drastic be done and we must choose to do it based upon the life and death choice that is before us every time we sin. There is nothing more serious than dealing with whatever it is that makes us sin.


Once I have identified how I repeatedly reach for sin with my right hand, I must publicly and permanently admit I cannot stop reaching. By cutting off the hand I make a statement of my public and permanent inability to stop reaching for something that I know makes me sin. Hand cutting is symbolic of public and permanent poverty of spirit.
Only public and permanent poverty of spirit can set the stage for no more sinning.
My missing hand says to me and to all who meet me “Bud couldn’t stop reaching”. The only way to stop sin is a life of public and permanent “I can’t” in the presence of Jesus.

All spiritual progress against sinning begins with the “I can’t” of the missing right hand. Still, the spiritual life does not stop at the cutting of the hand. I still need to reach for things. Only now, I have to ask someone to reach for me and with me. That someone I ask is Jesus.

When a desire to reach for something returns, I need to look at the permanent and public symbol of “I can’t”, turn my attention to Jesus and then ask Jesus to reach for me. It is amazing how quickly I know what He will and will not reach for once my right hand is gone! The painful, public and permanent “I can’t” makes the right kind of reaching with Jesus a public, permanent and joyful possibility. “I can’t” sets the stage for the “I can”.
As Paul said in Phillipians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

To abide is to live the life of a branch. A branch knows it is 100% dependent on the Vine for the reach of it’s life and fruit. The Vine reaches through the branch. The branch can’t reach on its own but the branch can reach if the Vine wants it to. That is why Jesus said “without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Do you have a missing right hand? Have you concluded what it is you cannot stop reaching for? Everyone one of us who sees sin as a life and death issue should have a missing right hand which is a public and permanent statement and reminder. Everyone of us should willingly admit we could not stop. When we saw stopping as a life and death issue. we decided to make the cut with our own ability and accept the fact that we can now only reach and enjoy what Jesus is willing to reach and hold for us and with us.

Abide Brazil ministries and our growing international outreach will only function through people who are missing their right hand. Don’t be afraid to make the permanent and public cut with your own attempts to stop sin. Go public and permanent with your inability and you will begin to release the reach of Jesus in the place of your reach for sin.

I would love to hear your comments!

Bud

Saturday, July 14, 2007

A Quiet Influence



July 15th marks two years since we arrived back in Brazil. What a ride these past two years have been!
July 11th also marked another birthday for Pamela Ruth McCord. What a blessing Pam is!

A group of Pam's friends surprised here with a small party. They recognize Pam's quiet influence. Truly, Pam's influence "sneaks up" on you. Without using anything but the quality of her life and words, Pam wins people over to a more godly life.

Just recently the head maintenance person in our building was saved and baptized. Can you guess who influenced him?
If you had been in our church a few weeks back you would have seen him being baptized. Pam went into the baptistry waters with him since it is the custom of our church for the person who most influenced someone to come to faith in Christ to do so.

It is no small thing for someone to give you this honor at their baptism. This dear man wanted Pam to witness his baptism since she was the quiet influence that made the difference.

I am so glad God reveals Himself in so many ways. I especially like Pam's style of influence. It sure has worked on me!

Sunday, July 08, 2007

A Flower's Life



Living on the 9th floor of an apartment building has its advantages. The view is great and I don't have to cut the lawn. There are some downsides to apartment living, too. Smelling the neighbor's lunch cooking each day gets a little old. All in all apartment life is what it is and adapting to it is part of the process of our life in Brazil.

One of the things I miss is being able to see plants like the ones that surrounded our home in the USA. I loved looking out the windows and seeing plants and flowers growing freely in our yard.

The architects of the building where we lived must have had this in mind when they built a small planter outside the main window of our dining area. The small planter is home to our small collection of plants.

These noble plants and flowers live between concrete, iron protection rails and a net we have up to keep small kids from falling through the window. Our plants live in a 12 inch space trapped inside protection that has nothing to do with them and their needs. Still, the plants are just as beautiful as any plants of their kind in the world. There nature has not been altered by the small space and the confining iron and netting.

As I see the plants each day, I am reminded that the life of Christ in me is able to thrive anywhere and bring beauty to any place.
At times I see Christians in such confined and cramped realities that I want to plant them in another place. Then I notice that they are there not for themselves. They are there because their beauty is makes a huge difference on the 9th floor of someone's life. The Great Architect put them there for now. He knows that the people who seem so bent on protecting themselves from everything have created crazy structures in which to live. So, He lets some of His prettiest flowers live their lives in tiny, cramped spaces. He knows they will be O.K. and He sees to their well-being every day.

Are you living trapped by other people's fears and need for protection? Let the life of Jesus bring beauty to that space right now. One day there will be no more cramped spaces for you. God is preparing your place in His Kingdom and there will be great views but no elevators, ninth floors or cramped lives. Thank God!

Sunday, July 01, 2007

This Moment

As Pam and I have been traveling with the TIME team from Miami, we have been reminded again and again how quickly our life passes by. It seems like only yesterday we brought our first team to Brazil back in 1976. Over thirty years ago we stepped off a plane in Rio with a group of young adults. Some of those young adults are now over 50 years of age!

It is easy to get discouraged with the passing of the years as one watches the energy of youth. Yet, there is a way to embrace the changes that come as time is flying by. We can learn to embrace each moment.

One sign of true spiritual maturity is to learn that the Christian life is one moment at a time. The Christian life is the life of Jesus in us. His life is forever the same in us moment by moment.

We look on the outside for support and affirmation. He is on the inside and He is our support and affirmation. He is the same and we can embrace this moment as just as important as any moment.

Our oldest son, Ken, Just turned 35 years old. I remember being 35 like it was yesterday. I believe a 35 year old man is at his very peak of development. For me, 35 seemed as if I was ready for whatever my calling from God would bring. Little did I realize at the time that being 35 was a moment with Jesus just like the moment I am living now. Right now is a moment for my calling and my complete life in Jesus.

The physical world is not the place to look for affirmation and support. The place to look is into the timeless and perfect life of the One who abides in us.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

TIME TEAM 2007






Pam and I are hosting a group of young adults from the International Bible Baptist Church of Miami. They are wonderful!
Over the past 5 days we have shared the Gospel in 15 different settings in and around the city of Campos do Jorão. Our audiences have been mostly teens in public schools.

Normally these kids from very poor families are not receptive to groups once they get past 15 our 16 years of age. The Time team holds their attention and a real bond takes place.

So far, we have given the message of Christ to over 3,000 and we still have four days to go.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

The Map

The Map.
Imagine for a moment that you are a military leader fighting a determined enemy. It seems that every time you make an attack you end up in the wrong place. Your continual losses leave you weakened and afraid. Over time this sense of loss and failure causes you to want to quit the war and give in to the demands of the enemy.

Suddenly you discover the source of the problem. The enemy has put false maps of the battleground into your hands. Every time you plan an attack, you have been starting in the wrong place and you always end up in the wrong place.

Having the right map is critical to any strategic plan. Starting in the wrong place guarantees weakness and loss. Ideas have consequences. Wrong maps produce wrong ideas and wrong consequences every time.

Over the years I have come to believe that our enemy Satan has given God’s people a false map for discipleship. His maps look good but they purposely start in the wrong place. Satan’s discipleship maps start in man and in what is lacking.

Satan’s discipleship map causes us to begin at a place called “ LACK.” When we use the enemy’s map we end up weak and suffering loss every time. For disciples of Jesus, starting at “LACK” can only lead us to “LOSS.” No wonder the enemy changed the maps!

The right map for discipleship is found only in Jesus’ words. Truly, He is the way, the truth and the life. There is no “Lack” on His maps.

God has given us the words of Jesus as the discipleship map for the children of God.
It is a map that begins in God and His abundant Vine. The very first words on Jesus’ map are “Blessed are…” and every page has the words “Fear not…”

In the battle for souls, instead of starting at man and what is lacking, we must now start at God and His Son’s perfect abundance. Starting at Jesus puts us where we must be to disciple others away from the enemy of their souls.

We are each responsible for the map we choose to use in the battle. For this reason Jesus repeated over and over again the word “IF” when talking to His disciples. “IF” you abide means “IF” you start in Me moment by moment then you will arrive at the glory of God. You must choose your map.

This is a very old battle and the warriors of old like David had a good map. His map started with the words, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” That is a good map but the one marked “Abide in Me” is even better. It is for today and for today’s battles.

Make no mistake, we are in a war for the souls of men. Satan has changed the map and we must abide in Jesus’ words or we will be weakened and suffer even greater loss. We must start at the place marked “ABUNDANCE” in the Vine. Start anywhere else and you will find yourself arriving at a place called “LOSS.”

It is not easy to change our old map in the middle of the battle, but we must be absolutely sure our discipleship battle map is consistent with Jesus’ every word. We must look closely at our map because our Enemy never tires in His hatred of God’s abundance. He wants you to start at “LACK.” The enemy of our soul knows when we start at God’s “ABUNDANCE” in the true Vine that means he ends up at “LOSS” every time.

Check your map. If it doesn’t clearly say ABIDE find the one that does. There is a battle raging and you need to be there moment by moment.

Abiding In His Abundance,
Bud and Pam McCord

Monday, June 11, 2007

Fortaleza








One of the most interesting things about Brazil is its vast size. Brazil is bigger than the continental USA. It really is surprising how different Brazil's reality differs from region to region. Traveling throughout Brazil leaves one wishing it were possible to live in five or six different cities at the same time. It is never boring here.

This past week I visited a city that is new to me but famous to all Brazilians. I was guest speaker at the annual pastors and leaders conference held in the northern Brazilian city of Fortaleza. What a city! What a conference!

Fortaleza is home to over 3 million and it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. A mix of beauty and poverty, Fortaleza is home to the Central Baptist Church led by Pastor Armando Bispo. For the past 24 years this dynamic man of God and his dear wife have seen God gather a congregation of nearly 4,000 in weekly attendance. The church is among the finest I have ever seen on any continent. Their energy and passion for Jesus is truly inspiring.

Each year the church hosts a leadership conference and over 500 pastors and leaders come from all over Brazil. The year the theme was "Leaders that Abide". I fit right in! What a privilege it was to preach for hours and hours to this hungry team of leaders.

Fortaleza has become the home to many, many Europeans who are taking advantage of the strong Euro and the excellent weather in Fortaleza. It is amazing to see how "small" the world is becoming day by day. One can see the day not far into the future where Brazil will be seen as a key player in world affairs.

Fortaleza is worth a visit. I, for one, will be going back and wishing I could call Fortaleza home, too.

Pictures from top....
First--Bud speaking at evening session
Second-part of Central Baptist Pastoral team
Third --Closing service of Conference
Fourth--Conference leaders Orlando and Chris
Fifith--Conference theme--Leaders who Abide
Sixth--Evening sessions
Seventh-- Senior Pastor Amando Bispo and wife with Bud

Thursday, May 24, 2007

The Amazon











Pam and I have just returned to our first trip to northern Brazil since returning to Brazil. We were guests at Word of Life North where we were able to minister to students and staff at the Word of Life Bible Institute. What a great ministry!

The young people at this institute are being trained to be able to minister among the 33,000 villages that can be found along the many rivers in the Amazon region of Brazil. We were taken to visit one of these river communities. The price paid to minister in these difficult to reach places is amazing. We visited the closest one to the Word of Life facility and it was still quite a day of heat and effort.

Our dear friends Bill and Mary Jo Price were saved many years ago through Word of Life in the USA and now they travel to the 51 international Word of LIfe locations to bless and encourage these great people. Bill and Mary Jo invited us to come to northern Brazil so Abide Ministries could make a connection with the leaders there.

There was also a youth congress held during this same trip and we were able to participate in the teaching ministry to the 200 teens who attended. It made us feel young again!

Click on photos to enlarge. Photos top to bottom.
#1 Guest speaker Dave Boque speaks at youth conference.
#2 Gary and Sandy Parker--Directors of Word of Life North
#3 John Reimer--Director for Word of Life Brazil--oversees seven locations
#4 Bill and Mary Jo Price
#5 The meeting of the two rivers that create the huge Amazon river. Notice they don't mix!
#6 The view from above as we flew over the Amazon.
#7 The river ministry transportation
#8 Elaine Bogue and Pam
#9 and #10 People who live on the river

Monday, May 07, 2007

Pastor's conference



Our home church here in Brazil has a tremendous influence nationwide. Through annual conferences for leaders and with the producing of materials for Purpose Driven churches, First Baptist of Sao Jose is really making a difference in Brazil.

The fact that God led us back to Brazil and to this place is nothing short of miraculous. By simply being here at this moment in time the Abide Brazil ministry has had instant access to hundreds and hundreds of church leaders.

Just two weeks ago I was able to deliver a messages on the theme "Where Leaders Find Satisfaction" to over 500 pastors and their wives during a 4 day conference. These pictures were taken as the messages were delivered. What an awesome opportunity!

Bud

Sunday, May 06, 2007

France decides-and French fries.

Living in Brazil one gets to watch news in English on CNN international network. If you think CNN in the USA is a bit left of center, you should see CNN internatiional. I don't think they can find much of anything they like about the USA.

So, since I am at home today nursing a case of cellulitus that has me wondering how a bacteria you can't see can make your lower leg look like a car hit it and feel like it is an oven, I am watching the news. Hopefully the antibiotics will work so I can get back to "normal" life. I would hate to think this car wreck appearance would spread!

Today CNN is covering the French elections. Down here in Brazil what happens in Europe is huge news. The Brazilians see themselves linked very strongly to Europe and especially to French socialism. Today was a tough day for French Socialism. It is kind of ironic that the French people just sent a tough message to the socialists that change is needed just when all over Latin America socialists are in full stride and power.

When the new French President elect said "America can count on us as friends", I nearly fell out of my couch and called McDonald's for some french fries!

Many of you who read this blog know that I don't speak or write about politics. It may the antibiotics that have caused this but here goes...

What struck me about today in France was the passion humans have for their nation and their world. It is awesome to watch unless it explodes into violence. Thank God for democracy. Thank God for a way to change without bombs.

This passion for fixing what is wrong with our world comes from how God created us in the first place. There is supposed to be a hunger and thirst for righteousness in the healthy spiritual life. The food for that hunger is to be found in God and not in defeating your political enemy. When our hunger for righteousnes and justice is found in God, then we are free to enter the battle for what is good and right in the world. If we enter the fight without God as our food for righteousness all we have left to "eat" is other people.

Oswald Chambers once said "In the world never expect justice, but never cease to give it." That is it! The passion for politics and change is not wrong. It is great. It is human. It is what God put into us as the leaders and caretakers of the creation. What he did not put into us is the idea that the passion for justice is only ours and the other people don't have any of it. All humans have it written somewhere in them.

The current politcal leaders in Latin America are filled with arrogance and pride about where they are headed for all of our collective good. Whether from the left or right this is really a very bad sign. The attitude one sees and hears down here goes something like this: "Everything that happened before we came to power was horrible so we will tear it all down and then we will figure out how to make sure we stay in power so those horrible people can't come back" Again, right or left this is tragic because it makes one group of people the source of justice instead of all people looking for justice which really comes from God alone.

France has an incredible history of political battles, wars and debates. The French hit the streets to demonstrate like no other nation I have ever seen. They also have a history of dealing harshly with some kinds of thoughts they don't like.

One of their citizens of many centuries ago was a woman named Madame Guyon. She was a devout Catholic searching for a barrier-free relationship with God who began to teach people they could practice God's presence in personal private prayer even if they did not know how to read or could not go to the church. This radical departure from State and religious dogma and control put her in France's worst prison for seven years. Ironically, they confined her where she could really learn to pray without any help or interference! She spent most of her time in a cell all alone. She came out of prison more convinced than ever one can enjoy God with no help except God.

When I think of the French and their spirit I think of this woman. I also read her words regularly so I will be reminded that what I teach openly here in Brazil about Abiding cost her 7 years in prison. Thank God for religious freedom! Would I spend 7 years in prison to spread the word that every Christian can experience the same quality of relationship with God without the need to depend on State or Church? I hope I would because it is that important to spiritual formation. If we have to be dependent on anything or anyone but Jesus to bear fruit, we have lost connection with the truth that makes Christianity so much more than an institutional experience.

Here is are some of Madame Guyon's words I read this morning.

Surrendering your will to God --Madame Guyon

"We practice this by continually surrendering our own will to the will of God, and renouncing every private inclination as soon as it arises, however good it may appear to be. We must become indifferent with respect to ourselves, only will what God has willed for us from all eternity, and resign ourselves in all things, whether for soul or body, for time or eternity.

We must also forget the past, leave the future to providence, devote the present to God, and be satisfied with the present moment. Whatever this moment brings, it also brings with it God's eternal order in respect to us, and is an infallible a declaration of His will as it is unavoidable and common to all.

Further, we must attribute nothing that befalls us as being from people. Instead, seeing everything as being in God, we must look upon everything, except our sins, as infallibly coming from Him"

I think Madame Guyon would see France's election in light of the last line of her words. Read that last line again and note the words "attribute nothing that befalls us as being from people" and "seeing everything as being in God..."

A person who so trusts in God moment by moment can do prison for 7 years and come away with their soul still well.
A person who so trusts in God can lose an election or win an election and still retain a soul that is well.

A person who so trusts in God can even watch CNN international as his only English news source and retain a soul that is well. It is a test, but it is possible!

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Radio


One of our Ask for !5 prayer requests was for funds to do a daily radio broadcast here in Brazil. God has answered that prayer with a gift from some very dear Abide Partners.
During my recent trip to the USA I bought some recording equipment that we have installed in our apartment where I can record programs for the broadcasts and then e-mail them to the station in southern Brazil where our dear friend Edson Bruno will turn my recording into a professional broadcast quality program of 15 minutes.
We hope to start soon and complete 250 programs that will take us through year one.
Thanks for praying.
The young man installing the equipment is the sound tech from our church. Rogerio is a deeply spiritual young man and a great help to this technically challenged radio broadcaster--me.

Priceless Moment



One of the most effective ways to teach the joy of living from the perfect life of Jesus in us is to teach on the subject of marriage. It is amazing how interested people are in marriage! I guess that is because being married is the biggest relational challenge any of us will ever face. Marriage is also the one place where hiding our true character becomes impossible. As someone has well said "Marriage doesn't create problems, it reveals them."

During a recent marriage retrreat Pam and I shared the material from our course "Six Metaphors of a Happy Marriage". The audience was entirely made up of Chinese couples whose parents had immigrated to Brazil from Taiwan. It was a joy to see how these dear brothers and sisters in Christ received this material.

When we reached the part of the course where we talk about satisfaction found 24 hours a day and seven days a week, you could have heard a pin drop in the room. That is may favorite moment in teaching on the abiding life. When a Christian begins to believe God has actually made such a perfect provision for all of us and we all start equally and perfectly provided for, they get very attentive. That moment for me is priceless.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

All Things


This past Monday night Pam and I experienced the fruit of missionary life and work. Our Brazilian church received as its guest speaker the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bagdad. A four year old church which now has over 400 baptized members and has already started a "daughter" church in the city.

This dear and godly pastor spoke of a tremendous spiritual awakening in the city of Bagdad that most people have never heard about. In great suffering the church of Jesus is alive in Iraq!

The thing that made this moment so special is that the First Baptist Church of Bagdad was started by Brazilian initiative.
The Brazilian Baptist churches have sponsored this entire effort and are incredibly committed to seeing the Gospel move forward in Irag.

One of the most interesting things was to hear the Iraqi pastor talk about having baptized some Amerian soldiers. Is that great or what?!

The photo shows the Iragi pastor on the left and the Brazilian missionary who has mentored him on the right.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Abide Training Center




The remodeling project in the mountain city of Campos do Jordão is going really well. If you have not decided yet to join us for our first ever Abiding Life Coaches training in August, now is the time to decide! We will be ready for you by August and together we will learn how to help others live the Abiding life in Jesus.
Bud McCord

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Training center





The work on our Abide Training center is moving ahead quickly. God has provided the funds for the remodel and we are praying for the funds to furnish the center for teaching. It is an amazing thing to watch God supply each step of the way.
Receiving from the Lord is a wonderful way to live. In fact, it is the only way to live!
Bud

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Prayer and Solutions

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6, His opening words drew attention to the fact that there is another KIngdom where the will of God is done all the time. His words were.... "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be your Name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."

Recently as I was praying this prayer, it came to me that what we keep wanting God to do is already being done in Heaven.
The fact that it is not being done on earth is not because He is unwilling. It is because the conditions are not right on earth. Mankind does not want to do what He wants to do. What should be happening here is because man will not cooperate with God's will.

Often I hear people really get frustrated at God's seeming lack of willingness. I, too, have been frustrated with God's seeming lack of interest or willingness to act. Jesus' prayer sets the record straight. There is a place where His will is done and we should pray that this world would become such a place.

My cooperation with God's will as revealed in Jesus' words is a start. Imagine the world if for one day everyone did the will of God. What kind of day would that be? How many things would immediately change? Imagine your private world with you doing the will of God moment by moment.

I believe that knowing there is a place where His will is being done is the best place to start our prayers. It focuses us on the fact that the same kind of kingdom is coming to this world. We need to become personally engaged with this new kingdom right now. It is just a start, but it is certainly a taste of greater things to come.

Monday, March 12, 2007

The Abiding Experience retreat







This past weekend we were able to enjoy our first retreat for 2007. We have six planned for this year in cooperation with the First Baptist Church of Sao Jose dos Campos. Twenty three people spent two nights at the camp in the mountains and we spent over 10 hours together learning more about the experience of Abiding moment by moment satisfied in Christ.

The camp setting and absence of distractiions made this a wonderful time in the lives of all who paticipated. This concentrated dialog about the perfect sufficiency of Jesus in our lives is an effective way to focus, inform and inspire. It was a very, very good time indeed.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Discipleship



Every now and then I read something that is so well said that I just want everyone I know and love to read it. Today I read just such a statement. Author Mike Wells in his new book HEAVENLY DISCIPLESHIP, makes the following statement on the back cover of the book:

"Generally the concept of discipleship follows a consistent model. First the determination is made about what is lacking in the disciple, and then attempts begin to try to fill that insufficiency. In short, dicipleship has deteriorated to the effort of putting something into a person. Heavenly discipleship begins from a different paradigm. First, it believes that the fulness of Christ exists in every believer, and second, the task of every disciple-maker is to reveal that great truth. Discipleship is not putting Christ or His characteristics into a person but rather revealing the Christ that dwells in a person. It is not working for but from. When a disicple works for what he already has, he will lose that which he has."

This new book by Mike Wells is available through the website Abidinglife.com

If you are ready for a paradigm of abundance and life, read the book. If you want to learn to disciple people in this way, come to Brazil in August and we will learn together.