Thirty years ago my wife Jenny and I drove into Melbourne, Florida with my then two children, Chanda and Tim Jr with our youngest daughter Aleena to be born here five years later. Even though I spent four years of discipleship training under our pastor Dr RJ McIntyre in Baltimore, MD and four years of pastoral training in Jacksonville, FL under our pastor Will Cohorn, I was still only twenty five years old. I had eight quality intensive years of ministry training along with being raise up as a preacher’s kid (PK) of my Baptist preacher father.
I had under the tutorage of great men of God birthed evangelism, bus, kids, youth, music and drama ministries in Baltimore for four years and in Jacksonville for another four years. My wife and I had won dozens of souls to Christ in those eight years and rooted many families in the church. I preached at the Baltimore Centennial Celebration before 87,000 people and held “revivals” in several states. We taught near 100 Bible studies but even after great ministry successes, I came to Melbourne with one prayer; “Lord I can’t do this without you.”
30 years ago when I came to Melbourne, I said I did not come to build the biggest church in Melbourne, but I came to IMPACT. I then and now more than ever want to demonstrate the Kingdom of God, not simply put on a show. 30 years later, we have baptized 3875 and have seen 3583 to receive the Holy Ghost here in Melbourne alone. This is not counting the many thousands in 32 different countries around the world. To God be the glory.
30 years ago, our ministry was a mere infant. We grew into a toddler and then a young man as a church. We grew from infantile craze to a deeper appreciation of people and their needs. From gossip to glory, from selfishness to sacrifice and from appearance to anointing. No, we are not finished yet, but we’re no longer childish. What constitutes spiritual maturity in a church?
John offers us an insight in 1 John 2:11-13 when he explains we have three stages of maturity: Babies, Young men and Fathers. Babies can’t care for themselves; they need others to provide for them, watch over them and keep them safe from hurting themselves. Babies are very selfish in nature, needing full attention almost 24/7. The church as a child cries, What can God do for me? Then the church grows into young men; where they can care for themselves, ambitious and very strong working towards their careers. The church as young men cries, What can God do through me?
Then the church must become Fathers, but very few (in my opinion) ever reach this stage. Fathers no longer live for themselves, or strive for things. Fathers are all about their children. They work, strive and quest for legacy, not legitimacy. Fathers don’t care what others say about them, but they care totally about their offspring. The church as Fathers cries, What can God do? I have only meet a few churches and ministries that have ever come to Fatherhood status. I’m not simply talking about starting other churches; I’m talking about taking upon them the Father’s Mantle.
Now that we have reached our 30th Anniversary, we find ourselves walking into the Temple to pick up the Bible like we’ve never done before and read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel” (Luke 4:18). Jesus was 30 when he was classified as a Grown Man and anointed to go… Heal the sick, raise the dead, feed the poor and preach the gospel to the world. I feel like Promiseland has now entered the stage of our Fatherhood. Now we are accepting our new mantle and Fathering fathers to have children to raise them to be young men. We are accepting the Adult stage of the Anointing.
By Dr. Tim McClure (for more articles, see my blog): http://drtimmcclure.blogspot.com
You are invited to help us celebrate our 30 years Founder's Anniversary of Promiseland Church and Pastor Tim & Jenny McClure.
COMING EVENTS
September 2010 – Church – Theme for September, 10:30 AM Sunday’s
Sept 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Steps: Walk to Maturity - Wednesday @ 7 PM
Sept 11 – Never Forget 9-11 – Prayer & Family day – Dare to Care
Sept 18-19 – Anniversary 30 – Bishop W Malcolm, Prophet W Pugh, Pastor N Brooks:
Saturday 6 PM – Sunday 10:30 AM. We’re celebrating 30 years – Founding Promiseland. www.Anniversary30.yolasite.com
Promiseland Church
1855 Lansing St. Melbourne, FL 32935
www.promiseland.org
http://drtimmcclure.blogspot.com/
http://www.drtimmcclure.maxous.com/sp7
http://www.anniversary30.yolasite.com
