|
|
|
 |
|
|
February 2012 campaign: 12 February - 25 March
|
Revival, Awakening, or Miracle?
If your church baptized 671 new believers, added 1,200 new members, and increased your
average attendance by 2,000 in just 40 days, would you call that a revival?
If, during those same 40 days, 2,200 previously uninvolved people volunteered to serve in
a ministry of your church, and another 3,700 committed to go on missions somewhere in the
world next year, what would you call that? An awakening?
What term would you use if your members became so burdened for their neighbors that they
started 2,400 Home Bible Study groups and convinced nearly 25,000 of their friends,
neighbors, and co-workers to attend for six weeks? A miracle?
Whatever you call it, this actually happened at Saddleback Church in the Fall of 2002
during an incredible spiritual growth emphasis called 40 Days of Purpose.
But it just didn't happen at Saddleback! Over 8,000 churches from all 50 states and 20
countries have now participated in 40 Days of Purpose! Many of these churches
are now reporting that it was the most transforming event in their congregation's history.
Hundreds of pastors have written or called saying, "Our church will never be the
same" and "This is the greatest thing that has ever happened in our church."
One pastor wrote, "I've seen more growth in our members and our church in 40 days
than in the previous 13 years."
Through 40 Days of Purpose, thousands of people have come to Christ, been baptized,
welcomed into membership, connected to a small group or Sunday School class for fellowship,
taught the meaning of real worship, equipped for personal ministry, and commissioned to
fulfill their mission in the world.
View video of Rick Warren giving an overview of the Campaign (20 min.)
High Speed Connection Low Speed Connection
Why is 40 Days of Purpose so Effective?
40 Days of Purpose has a track record of changing lives and churches because it is
built on five transforming principles:
UNIFIED PRAYER
The Bible says, "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."
Months of prayer preparation precede this journey. This is an indispensable ingredient.
Many churches schedule days of fasting to prepare their hearts for awakening. Jesus said
there is mountain-moving power in unified prayer.
CONCENTRATED FOCUS
During 40 Days of Purpose, the entire church-every age group, every ministry, every
small group or Sunday school class, and every worship service-focuses on the same thing
together: God's purposes for our lives. Most of the time, church programs point members in
twenty different directions. It is amazing what happens when your church concentrates on
the same truth at the same time.
MULTIPLE REINFORCEMENTS
We designed this journey around four vital habits that everyone needs to grow spiritually:
the habit of weekly worship attendance, a daily quiet time, a weekly group Bible study, and
a weekly Scripture memory verse. These will keep your people growing long after 40 Days
of Purpose is finished.
BEHAVIORAL TEACHING
Each of the messages are designed to cause people to become "doers of the Word, and
not hearers only." (James 1:22) Each sermon has either a homework assignment, or
event after the service, like the Ministry Fair or Missions Fair, where members can take
action on what they've learned.
EXPONENTIAL THINKING
This kind of thinking stretches your faith. It is thinking so big that you are forced to
completely depend on God because you know you cannot reach your goal on your own power.
This "faith factor" is what takes the 40 Days of Purpose out of the realm
of "What we've always done" or "What we think we could do" and instead
expects God to do something that's never been done before in your church.
Focused on God's Kingdom
At Saddleback Church, we're always experimenting with new ways to help our people grow
spiritually and reach out to our community. Every once in a while, we stumble across
something that really produces a significant spiritual harvest, and we feel obligated to
share it with other churches. In our 23-year history, nothing else has produced more life
change in our church than 40 Days of Purpose. It has transformed our church and
mobilized our members in ways we never dreamed of. That's why we want to share it with you.
We're all on the same team!
This campaign is all about the Kingdom of God, fulfilling his agenda in His world. Nothing
brings more glory to God than having his churches, small groups, and his people fulfilling
His Purposes. Because 40 Days of Purpose is about God's Kingdom, it is much bigger
than any individual, church or denomination. We must work together "to serve God's
purpose in our generation." (Acts. 13:36)
I hope and pray that your church won't miss out on this movement of God. I invite you to
join us. We're waiting to partner with you on the journey of a lifetime!
Back to Top.
Send this link to a friend.
Registration for this campaign is for the dates listed. We at Purpose Driven Australasia
will not be able to provide support and resource availability to a church who chooses to
run on a different time frame.
|
|
|
|
|
