Posted: 07/25/2004 at 5:24pm | IP Logged

We have become part of a team of revolutionaries, perhaps a movement, perhaps a church without walls. But more of a fellowship, more of a body, more of a group of ordinary people who have decided to walk away from denominational boundaries, walk away from tradition, walk away from being trapped within a system that tends to perpetuate the very problems it pretends to address.

However, we are not alone. There is a groundswell across the body of Christ from nation to nation that is rising up to follow the heart of God no matter what must change, what must be challenged, and what price there is to be paid.

How's that for an introduction?

We have begun meeting from house to house, re-establishing the father-led family as the focal point for building the kingdom of God. We are laying down our lives in honor of our Heavenly Father as He reveals to us heart-level worship and what it is to exalt His desires above every preconceived notion we may have.

We are not competing with established churches, but we are challenging the status quo. We are spending our tithes and offerings to directly revolutionize people's lives by revealing the acts of a righteous God - not to erect yet another facility on yet another street corner. The manifestations and gifts of the Spirit are stirring in prophecy, intercession and healing. Are we starting a church? Not unless you consider that Kansas City "is our parish."

More accurately, we are stepping into the river of a move of God, carrying a virus that needs to infect everyone and every church it comes into contact with. We certainly do not have all the answers, but God is up to something and if its reality strikes you, you will truly never be the same.

You see, it's time that all of us returned to the basic message from which God has never wavered. He is the Father and He desires that His children know Him and spread that knowledge to the Father-less. This kind of pure religion is about "visiting widows and orphans" - the fatherless. This is about establishing households with fathers, to keep widows and orphans from being created. This is about pursuing intimacy through the work of the Holy Spirit, revealing the love, mercy, grace and power of God?the heart of the Father.

In a sense, this a true "church without walls," for the community of faith is breaking out into households, businesses, and even the streets. Who will dare to simply build the kingdom of God through servanthood, discipleship, and living transparency; rather than building just one more institution with state-of-the-art "smoke and mirrors"? Who will demote themselves to the trenches of service rather than promote yet another exalted platform? Who are the ones going to be who climb to the top of a cross rather than the top of a pedestal?

Can you see it? Do you see the sword that Jesus is wielding over His church? This self-perpetuating, self-centered, self-protective, professional church system is over. If the place where you are feeds itself on its sheep, is more concerned about establishing buildings, lands, and programs than it is about establishing Godly households, it is headed for destruction. Within just a few more years, we will not be able to recognize what the current "church at large" has become, for good or for evil.

Some of you are aware of the wilderness our family went through over the last three years. In the midst of this, we discovered some of these things and began to make the changes that Jesus challenged us to make. We discovered hunger for Him. We gained a hunger and thirst for righteousness beyond anything we could have conceived before?and we have only just begun to be filled. We lost our ambition and found that it was OK, even desirable, to be nothing and nobody. We are tangibly impacting lives, as it began with our own household and is spreading outward to the ones alongside our path. Within a few months after making these changes, like a flood, our financial situation shifted as the blessings of God began to pour in, empowering us to do even more.

It is impossible to describe this salvation, this restoration of our household, and we can see Jesus smiling. As we stumble toward this city whose builder is God, not having all the answers, still blind to many of our own character flaws that must be corrected, we have come to embrace this wonderful journey. What an incredible God, Savior, and Friend.

For so many of you that stood with us in prayer during this transition, how can we possibly thank you enough? Perhaps it would be enough if we knew that this virus infected you. Don't stop praying now! And if any of you need anything, please put us at the top of your list of those to call.

Go to the Eagle Fellowship website link below to get more of an idea of what we are up to.

May His kingdom break out in your life,

Blessings in the Name of the Lord,
--Laird & Amy Garner

reply-78a889b4c7-basileia=advi.net@o.vresp.com

http://www.eaglefellowship.org/

[This message has been edited by News Room (edited 30 August 2003).]