Merlin Gonzales

merlin

Merlin founded Faith Hope and Love Intl., which collaborates with churches crossing denominational lines. He has developed the concept of “Mission Trips in Your Own Backyard” to unify the Body of Christ by bringing the love of God into the community. Merlin’s messages and teachings are about raising up a generation passionate for God to build a legacy of transformation. He is an Advisory Council Member for the State of Indiana Office of the Faith-based and a co-host for Religion in the News. Merlin speaks at churches, businesses, government, educational institutions and faith based organizations to encourage people to live out their faith. He is a church consultant helping pastors reach out in their communities to raise and train leaders. Merlin and his wife Annie live in Noblesville, Ind.

Update on the Classes

April 30, 2013 Merlin Gonzales blog

When you’re having fun, things and events seem to go fast. The Session #5 is coming up May 1st. We will spend half of our time about the 7 Influencers of a society and about some practical applications such as preparing a Project Proposal and Plan. In this session, students will learn how to identify needs, resources and how to mobilize volunteers. You don’t want to miss it.

It has been my intention to make my classes available online. The class at Martindale Church of Christ became our launching pad to publish the class online with the ArtSees Diner. Thanks to my friend Mary who have worked hard unconditionally to make it happen.

The teachings are now available via YouTube through Artsees Diner. We are still working on finding the right device for better sound. Please let us know if you have suggestions.

I am thinking of expanding my teachings that will span for a few months starting in Fall of 2013. Please pray for our team for the Lord’s direction. However, our next regular class may start as early as mid or late May.

For the meantime, I am offering personal coaching, mentoring and training to a few individuals who want to experience more on Living in God’s Dominion here one Earth. You can contact me to set up a for personal assessment via [email protected]

Don’t ask for a miracle; be the miracle!

Preaching at Iglesia Monte de Sion

April 30, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Speaking Engagements

This is a Special bilingual Mother’s Day Service on Sunday, May 12 at 10am. Artsees Diner will host this Live online. The physical address of the church is 3305 Lowry Rd Indianapolis, IN 46222.

Our awareness directs our action

April 30, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Indiana, KIOM

In Genesis 28, Jacob was running away because of his lies in the past. He was at a low point in his life – in the desert both figuratively and physically. However, God reassured His promises even though Jacob knew that he messed up repeatedly. Jacob was in no position to earn God’s favor but God promised to be with him. This event marked the beginning of Jacob’s lifelong relationship with God. Since then, he operated his life at a higher level, he believed God even through the tough times in his life. He trusted God’s promise in the midst of being taken advantage of by his Uncle Laban over and over again. His awareness expanded beyond the physical realm.

‎”Our awareness directs our action and our collective action changes our culture.” ~Merlin Gonzales

We are aware of the benefits of exercise. How about eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep, living a less stressful life and the importance of education? All these are good information that everyone should know about. It could change how you feel, how you look and how you live. But they are only information; unless you act on them, they will remain in your head and they may not have a direct effect in your life.

Awareness directs our action but only when you act on it, then it will have impact on your life. You act on things that are important and according to your priority. A good example that all of us can relate to is breathing. Everything stops in your life until you have your next breath. If you are under the water and needing to breath, you don’t stop to think about the nice coral or fish next to you. All your energy, all your focus will be to swim above the water. The information of not breathing is good but until you act on it, you’ll die.

Our next step is to expand our awareness of the Kingdom so we can see what’s available to us and how we can act on it. If all the aspects of your life, your family, your work, your money, your business, your promotion and your future depends on the Kingdom of God, what would you do today, tomorrow or the rest of your life? How would your priorities change, how would you rearrange your schedule, where will your focus be?

My next Blog will be about simple steps to expand our awareness of the Kingdom.

The Next Step

April 6, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Indiana, KIOM

Previously, I wrote the article about Missional Community and the most recent one was about taking the time to be intentional to have a transformational community.

I mentioned that I will be writing about the next step towards building missional community. In order for us to have lasting changes, we need to build a strong foundation. Our foundation is the Biblical Principles.

I am currently conducting a teaching series on “a study on Living in God’s Dominion Here on Earth.” Here’s Session #1 Introduction to the Kingdom

Be blessed!

Merlin

Take the time and be intentional

March 26, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Indiana, KIOM

Completed illustration of the KIOM Video Trailer

You are probably wondering what the heck the image above is. Well, check this video to see Take a fresh look at your communities.

In my previous Blog, I asked you to take a second look at your community. What did you see? Did you walk your neighborhood, did you talk to the people in your church or in your school or the Cashier at a grocery store?

If you were not able to, there’s grace for all of us. But if you did take the time to “explore the land”, you should notice some obvious things that became familiar or were neglected – in the physical, emotional or spiritual realm.

Two years ago, I found out that my cholesterol was high. I tried to eat healthy foods and I exercised regularly. However, the busyness in my ministry prevented me from following through what I’ve started. Last Saturday, I found out that my triglycerides was very high. If I wanted to live longer and live a healthy life, I need to take the time to exercise and to be intentional to eat healthy foods. (I’ve started eating healthy foods and did some exercise last night and this morning – shoveling snow).

So the first step in order for us to have healthy neighborhoods, we will need to the take time to see what’s happening and we need to be intentional. In order for a change to happen, we need to know what needed changes. We need to find what the problem, then we can start finding the solution.

BTW, hope you liked the video trailer; please consider sharing it with others as we work towards missional communities.