Participating at the Call2All Next Generation in Tauranga-New Zealand was a great experience for me! It was great to be in a place with people from over 40 nations as we worshipped our Lord, Savior and King! I believe that it was a taste of how heaven is going to be like!

I was really honored to hear such fine men of God speak… such as Laren Cunningham, founder of YWAM. What a privilege to hear stories of how God is using youth around the world! Also, it was a great joy to minister to young leaders from over 20 nations who showed up at the church planting workshops and theme presentations that DCPI was in charge of leading.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support! God bless you all,

David

Step 9: Meet with God in a quiet place. Listen and take notes.
Consider Elijah, who was discouraged, and needed guidance from God. He found his quiet place in a cave (1 Kings 19:9-13). The Lord instructed him to stand outside the cave, and wait for the Lord to pass by. First came a great wind, followed by an earthquake, and then a fire. But the Lord was not in any of these earth-shattering forces of nature. Finally the Lord spoke in a gentle whisper.

That is why I love to walk by myself in the mountains when I really need to hear from the Lord. His guidance usually comes to me in a gentle whisper. The world is too noisy for me to hear his still, small voice. But as I am quiet and prepare myself through the previous steps, I am able to quiet myself and listen to His whisper.

It really helps my mind and spirit to connect with the Lord when my body is engaged in an exercise like walking. I take along blank 3 x 5 cards or a small notebook and a pen. At the beginning of the hike, I pray, “Lord, this time is your time. If it pleases you to communicate with me, please do. I am open to you. I pray that you will give me guidance concerning those questions and issues that I’ve written down. Most of all, I want your will. I want to hear from you about any issue or question that you want to communicate with me about.  In Christ’s name. Amen.”

Then I start my walk. It is hard for me to express how much joy I find in a good hike. Just the simple act of walking along a trail can totally exhilarate me. I hear the breeze through the pine needles. I love the warmth of the sun radiating from the trail. It is quiet. I am experiencing a sweet solitude with the Creator. The views from the trail overlook a lake or the surrounding valleys and peaks. I praise and thank God for the opportunity just to be with him in this place.
I pay attention to my thoughts. Each time I have a thought, I stop and write it down on a card or in my little notebook. You could also use a palm pilot to record your thoughts.

Here are some thoughts I have marked down while on a prayer walk:

   My kids need to know how much I love and appreciate them…especially now.
   They need to know they can come to me to get their needs met.
   Reconcile with a couple.
   You must love your staff.
   Don’t create your own vision. Test your vision… your ideas… with the counsel of godly leaders.

I consider the majority of my notes to be “consecrated” thoughts. “Consecrated” means to set apart, dedicate or sanctify to some sacred purpose in the service and worship of God. Since we have dedicated ourselves to the sacred purpose of being alone with God and hearing from Him, it makes sense that we are thinking consecrated thoughts.
 
And then there are times when you will receive a thought or a vision or a picture that you know is directly from the Lord. Of the above examples of thoughts I had while on a prayer walk, only one impressed me that it was directly from the Lord: Reconcile with a couple.  Soon after my retreat, I did reconcile with that couple. It was a great blessing to all three of us.
So, after you have prepared yourself to hear from the Lord, I encourage you to take a walk. 

Expect God to speak to you.  Write down your thoughts. 
May God communicate with you!

Dr. Paul Becker
Founder and President
Dynamic Church Planting International

Cathy and I just returned from the Holy Land. We met many “Yofi” Jewish and Palestinian Christian leaders in Israel and the West Bank. ‘Yofi’ is the Hebrew word for ‘wonderful.’

A Palestinian Christian leader drove us from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, which is only 6 miles south of the Old City. Just before we reached Bethlehem, we saw a long, high wall that reminded me of the Berlin wall. It divides Israel from the West Bank. We were stopped by a guard at the gate. We presented our US Passports and were waved through into the West Bank. We drove into the center of Bethlehem.

Immediately to our left stood the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the place where our Lord and Savior, Jesus, was born. We walked about two blocks and entered a meeting room. Eleven Palestinian Christian leaders were gathered there. Cathy and I were privileged to teach the 12 Biblical Principles of Church Planting. Later, our top leader told us they wanted DCPI to return in 2010 with our full training for the Palestinian Christian leaders of the Holy Land. Praise the Lord!

While we were in the Holy Land, Cathy and I were surrounded by the conflict and the confusion of people who are trying to protect and promote different religions. When you cross from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, it is like you are entering a new country. Most Palestinians cannot enter Israel. Israeli citizens are prohibited from going to Bethlehem or any location within the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. There is hatred. There is conflict. Always looming before the people of the Holy Land is religious war between the Jews and the Arabs.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, his world too was a place of confusion and conflict. There was hatred between the Romans and the Jews. King Herod had all the male children killed in order to rid the earth of Jesus. But Jesus was born the Prince of Peace and he prevailed. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.

We met some great Jewish Christian leaders while we were in the Holy Land. Cathy and I shared a meal with Dr. Erez Soref and his wife, Cissy. As a Jewish believer in Jesus, Erez has paid a high price for his faith. He serves as the President of Israel College of the Bible which has about 75 students. 30% of the student body are Palestinian Christians. Just think! In this school are Christians, from Jewish and Palestinian backgrounds, learning about Jesus. Together! That is what the Prince of Peace can do. He can make a loving peace between people who are conflict with one another.

You may have people around you with whom you are in conflict. They may seem like enemies. Jesus said “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44.

Stop and think for a moment. Who are the people around you with whom you have conflict? Write down three names.
Will you commit to love these ‘enemies’ during this Christmas season? Will you pray for them?

Rejoicing with you in the Birth of the Prince of Peace!

Dr. Paul Becker
Founder and President
Dynamic Church Planting International

CHILE. Concepción. Church Planting Essentials. Contact: David Godoy at davidgodoy@dcpi.org

PERU.  Lima.  Church Planting Essentials.  Spanish. Contact: David Godoy at davidgodoy@dcpi.org
 
IRAQ. city unknown. Oct 6-11th. Church Planting Essentials. Arabic.  Contact:  service@dcpi.org

SYRIA. city unknown. Oct 21st -25th.  Church Planting Essentials.  Arabic.  Contact:  service@dcpi.org

Check Out Our Website At:  www.dcpi.org

Consider Elijah, who was discouraged, and needed guidance from God. He found his quiet place in a cave (1 Kings 19:9-13). The Lord instructed him to stand outside the cave, and wait for the Lord to pass by. First came a great wind, followed by an earthquake, and then a fire. But the Lord was not in any of these earth-shattering forces of nature. Finally the Lord spoke in a gentle whisper.

That is why I love to walk by myself in the mountains when I really need to hear from the Lord. His guidance usually comes to me in a gentle whisper. The world is too noisy for me to hear his still, small voice. But as I am quiet and prepare myself through the previous steps, I am able to quiet myself and listen to His whisper.

It really helps my mind and spirit to connect with the Lord when my body is engaged in an exercise like walking. I take along blank 3 x 5 cards or a small notebook and a pen. At the beginning of the hike, I pray, “Lord, this time is your time. If it pleases you to communicate with me, please do. I am open to you. I pray that you will give me guidance concerning those questions and issues that I’ve written down. Most of all, I want your will. I want to hear from you about any issue or question that you want to communicate with me about.  In Christ’s name. Amen.”

Then I start my walk. It is hard for me to express how much joy I find in a good hike. Just the simple act of walking along a trail can totally exhilarate me. I hear the breeze through the pine needles. I love the warmth of the sun radiating from the trail. It is quiet. I am experiencing a sweet solitude with the Creator. The views from the trail overlook a lake or the surrounding valleys and peaks. I praise and thank God for the opportunity just to be with him in this place.
I pay attention to my thoughts. Each time I have a thought, I stop and write it down on a card or in my little notebook. You could also use a palm pilot to record your thoughts.

Here are some thoughts I have marked down while on a prayer walk:

   My kids need to know how much I love and appreciate them…especially now.
   They need to know they can come to me to get their needs met.
   Reconcile with a couple.
   You must love your staff.
   Don’t create your own vision. Test your vision… your ideas… with the counsel of godly leaders.

I consider the majority of my notes to be “consecrated” thoughts. “Consecrated” means to set apart, dedicate or sanctify to some sacred purpose in the service and worship of God. Since we have dedicated ourselves to the sacred purpose of being alone with God and hearing from Him, it makes sense that we are thinking consecrated thoughts.
 
And then there are times when you will receive a thought or a vision or a picture that you know is directly from the Lord. Of the above examples of thoughts I had while on a prayer walk, only one impressed me that it was directly from the Lord: Reconcile with a couple.  Soon after my retreat, I did reconcile with that couple. It was a great blessing to all three of us.
So, after you have prepared yourself to hear from the Lord, I encourage you to take a walk.  Expect God to speak to you.  Write down your thoughts. 

May God communicate with you!

Dr. Paul Becker
Founder and President
Dynamic Church Planting International

KENYA.  Muranga.  Becoming A Mentor.  English.  Contact: Francis Kamau at cfackenya@africaonline.co.ke  

ETHIOPIA.  Addis Ababa.  Becoming A Mentor.  English. Contact: Francis Kamau at cfackenya@africaonline.co.ke  

ENGLAND.  Nottingham.  Church Planting Essentials.  English.  September 28th-30. Contact: Timothy Rabiu at pastortimothy@gloryhouse.org.uk  

KENYA.  RWANDA, SUDAN & UGANDA.  Contact: Francis Kamau at cfackenya@africaonline.co.ke  

USA.  Cleveland, TN.  Churches Planting Churches. English. November 4th-6th. Contact:  Sam Douglass  at sdouglass@dcpi.org  

USA.  Three tracks of training.  Church Planting Essentials.  Churches Planting Churches.  Building A Church Planting Movement.  English. 1st week of December 2009.  Contact:  Sam Douglass at  sdouglass@dcpi.org

  Plant 120,000 churches in 122 countries.
  Open 80 new countries with quality church planting training.
  Train 50,000 church planters worldwide.
  Equip 5500 new reproductive trainers and leaders to train church planters in their countries.

These goals emerged from Prayer and Planning Retreats with God.  Let’s now get back to the steps in “How to Experience an Effective Prayer Retreat” for you.

Step 8: Write down your specific issues and questions.

What are the specific issues and questions that you really need to hear from God about?

When King David was confronted by a Philistine threat, he inquired of God using two specific questions: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD answered him, “Go, I will hand them over to you.” So David and his men proceeded into combat, and God brought about a magnificent victory. The Hebrew name for the place of victory, Baal Parazim, means God “broke out” against the enemies (1 Chron. 14:10-12).

What a great example! King David asked the Lord two specific questions, and the Lord answered each one specifically. David acted on this guidance and won the battle.

Do you want God to “break out” in your life and in your ministry? Take your specific questions and issues to God in a prayer retreat… and listen!!!

For my prayer retreats, I have three categories of issues and questions: personal, family, and ministry.  Here are some sample questions that I have asked in my prayer retreats.  

Personal: What do you want me to do now to strengthen my spiritual life and keep it vital?

Family: What do you want me to do to help my spouse and strengthen our marriage?

What do you want me to do to prepare my children well for their lives?

Ministry: What is the next step in our ministry and how do you want to bring it to pass? Who is being led to join our ministry team?  

Don’t use my questions.  Write down your own specific questions and issues.  What are your top three questions for God right now?  Write them down.  Do a Prayer Retreat.  Expect to hear from God!

May God give you the guidance that you need to follow his path for your life and mission!

Until the whole world knows Him!

Dr. Paul Becker
Founder and President
Dynamic Church Planting International

It’s commom for “favelas” to be located near the affluent

On July 6-13, I went to Vitoria, the state capital of Espirito Santo, Brazil (yes, the state is called “Holy Spirit”). I was hosted by Pastor Celso Godoy (he is not related to me, he just happens to be a Godoy). I met Pr Celso during a Tribal Generation event in 2008. He is the Director of Urban Missions for the Baptist National Mission Board and the president and founder of CEMUCA (Urban Mission Training Center). He’s a visionary who wants to impact the planting of dynamic churches in communities of high social risk, also known as “favelas”, all over Brazil.

Pastor Celso arranged meetings with other key regional and national leaders during my visit. One of my stops was at his church facility at the “Morro do Romão”, which is a “favela” dominated by drug dealers. I was impressed to hear testimonies of people who had their lives changed by Christ in such a violent and dangerous community where alcohol and drug addiction, homicide and thefts are things people live with on the daily basis.

Our last meeting for the day was at the Baptist State Convention head quarters where I met with Pastor Flávio Gomes, who is the State Director of Missions and Evangelism. He was so impressed with DCPI that he traveled 150 miles the next day to attend our training event. He committed to organize training events for 150 leaders who will be mother church pastors and church planters themselves.