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.

Missional Community

March 22, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Indiana, KIOM

One of FHL Food Pantries

Take a “fresh look” at your community. Yes, take a second look with your keen eyes and see what’s obvious.

Many times, the obvious gets neglected. Just look around you as you are driving to work, to your church or to your school. What do you see…I mean, look around with observant eyes. How’s the sidewalks, how’s the person driving the vehicle next to you or how’s your fellow student or your co-worker who has been indifferent. They are apparently present in our world and yet we miss them.

FreshLook Our society had become so enamored with the conveniences of modern living that made our lives complicated and we tend to become individualistic creatures. We are busy people. Many of us spend more time gazing at our smart phones than our spouses or our loved ones.

I would like to ask you to “take a fresh look at your community” again. What direction is your community going if you accept the status quo? Do you see deterioration, self-centeredness, residents are living in fear and oppression? How’s the environment? Or, do you see a Missional Community where the atmosphere is charged with vigor, joy, freedom, helping one another and caring for each other. Are the neighborhoods clean, safe and vibrant?

When you look again, do you see little things that can make huge impact? Do you see your neighbors getting involved in making it a better place for your family and for your community? What would the church at the street corner say if you offer your assistance to come alongside them to reach out to others? How would your employer or the principal of a school nearby react if you approach them to build a Missional Community – a place where residents are caring for each other, a place where all the sectors of the community come together to build safer and healthier neighborhoods?

Yes, I believe that together, we can build a society known for its hospitality, cleanliness and prosperous in any way possible. My next blog will provide you with practical steps that we can take to transform our neighborhoods together.

God bless,

Merlin Gonzales

24/7 in Indianapolis July 21-27

March 5, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Indiana, FHL Week, KIOM, Message

I pray this message will reach you well.

BREAKING DOWN THE DIVISION WALLS

In the past 8+ years, the Lord had guided me to meet numerous people from all walks of life. Through the annual FHL Week in Indianapolis, I had the privilege to interact with many leaders for the “Mission Trip in Your Own Backyard” also known as FHL Week in Indiana. Because of our deadline (every last full week of July), everyone who committed to participate, works hard to bring the community together through projects & services and, prayer & worship. We have seen dozens of churches come together, many businesses come to serve and to provide resources, both the local and the state government proclaim FHL Week, educational institutions and local neighborhoods are mobilized to serve people unconditionally and to spread the love of God in our communities.

Throughout the years, the projects and services accomplished were worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most specially, many people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Relationships began and has deepened in central Indiana. With the grace of God, division walls are being broken down.

FHL Week projects/services focus was very beneficial for those who receive services and for those who serve. We have seen outreaches and ministries birthed through the unity during the missions week. There are groups of churches in Greenwood, IN and also in Noblesville, IN working together on a regular basis. It is to the glory of God. Truly, our journey together is better than what is being accomplished. A legacy of transformation is evident and alive.

The Lord is leading us to deeper relationship with Him and with each other. We all know that without prayer and worship, we will not be able to attain deeper knowledge of God and of our role in the expansion of His Kingdom. Each of us has a part to play in this mandate.

CONVERGENCE

The passion I have to see unity in the Body of Christ and to continuously pursue Him in the expansion of His Kingdom here on earth, and after fervent prayers, I would like to invite you to consider coming together for the 24/7 Prayer/Worship during FHL Week 2013, July 21 3pm to July 27 3pm. We will still do the projects/services simultaneously.

You can help bring God’s presence through the unity of the believers by praying for us and/or joining us during the 24/7. We will divide the 168 hours by 12-hr segments. Each segment will be facilitated by 14 Coordinating Teams from different churches, ministries, localities, nationalities, etc. This model will bring more of the unity in the Body of Christ since many groups are invited to work together instead of one church/organization coordinating all the scheduling and preparations. Many rivers of Living Water John 7:38, “as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them,” will converge together for a powerful week of prayers, worship and works of service.

Through my years of experience working with the different FHL Week Area Coordinators and Christian leaders in central Indiana, this model brings unity, accountability and deeper relationships with God and with others.

GOD’S GLORY THROUGH UNITY

We will start speaking with potential Coordinator Teams next Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Please let me know if you are interested in being a part of this monumental vision. You may reply to this Blog or call us at 317-578-3370. I will keep you posted through my Blogs. Thank you for your prayers.

Thank you in advance for praying with us for the sake of the the Body of Christ in Indianapolis Eph 4:11-13, ”So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unityin the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.“

I will send you more information as we continue to move in step with the Spirit. For the meantime, please pray for this vision and feel free to forward this message to those whom you think have the same vision of bringing unity in the Body of Christ through unabashed 24/7 Prayer/Worship. I am asking you on behalf of the Church in Indianapolis.

And Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers – John 17:20-21, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

God bless you,

Merlin Gonzales

Indianapolis, IN USA

A Study on God’s Dominion: Session 2

January 28, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, KIOM

Week Two: Signs of the Kingdom

Read The Kingdom in our Midst (KIOM) Part 2 and answer all questions on pgs. 99-103

Study Is. 35:5-6

And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind

and unplug the ears of the deaf.
⁶The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will water the wasteland.

~ Isaiah 35:5-6 (NLT)

Based on the verses above, what are the signs of the Kingdom that Jesus will bring to the earth?

‎”Our future is affected by our response and action today.”

Someone once said, “I don’t regret the things I’ve done so much as I regret the things I didn’t do when I had the chance.” Have you found yourself saying, “I wish I would have, should have and could have”? What can you do now to live the life you meant to live?

Jesus taught the Kingdom of God through His ___________and ___________. Pg. 66

Jesus came not only to give us freedom from the ________________ but also to be “Christ-Like” in the world. Pg. 70

What is the main focus of FHL Week? Pg. 74

Jesus had more conflicts with the ______________ than the _____________ and the ___________. Pg. 76 Why?

Based on Matthew 23:23, what are the things that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees neglected?

Why were the sinners attracted to Jesus? Pg. 79