Mere Missions

168 • M ere M issions : M oving F orward to M ultiply

When Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done” are we not praying for submission to the rule and reign of God and His authority? The Apostle Paul was steeped into the spirit of submission (Rom. 13.1, 5; Eph. 6.5-9). Insubordination was a disqualifier for one seeking to be an Elder (Titus 1.6b). Submission to authority is little valued in our culture. It, too, has infiltrated the Church. Just look at some social media sites and read comments by professing Christians. Everyone is right in their own eyes and have no need to submit to church authority (good shepherds) because they know good from evil more than their pastors, elders, and spiritual parents and grandparents in the Lord Jesus. If one can’t submit to someone they see, how can they submit to someone they can’t see? This all-but-forgotten qualification must not be compromised in identifying church planters to apprentice.

Connection Story In 2005, World Impact leadership, asked me to relocate to South Central with my family and strengthen our church planting efforts in communities of poverty. Being new to Los

Angeles, I was praying to the Spirit to lead me to Kingdom leaders within the urban harvest in which to come alongside and partner to further expand and advance God’s Kingdom through church planting. In His faithfulness, the Spirit led me to Reverend Hector Cedillo. Hector planted The Church by the Lake in MacArthur Park. This unassuming gathering of the homeless, addicts, and forgotten met weekly under a large tree next to the lake. There was no roof but the leaves of the trees and no walls in which to gather. For a season I would load up the folding chairs at the World Impact center and bring them over to the park to set them up for the service. One Sunday we brought a tank, filled it with water, and baptized those who