Gathering Highlights (Saturday Nov 7th)

We began with a word of prayer and thanks for the gathering, the food, and His interventions, followed by a time of open discussion that was lengthy, but a wonderful bonding experience for all of us. We talked about ministry purpose and our individual insights of where we felt God wanted us to go as a group. It was also a time of testimony and story-telling.

This was followed by communion and a prayer seeking God's interventions in our hearts and minds while we entered into a time of corporate silence and seeking His words, and visions that He would soon place upon us. This took about fifteen to twenty minutes of silence for everyone to be served by God.

We then discussed what God had placed on our hearts, scriptures that came to mind, and visual pictures in our mind's eyes. We concluded with prayer.

This is a summary of the gathering:

Note - Before I go into this, I know that not everyone is comfortable with this level of intimacy (being exposed spiritually). Having said that, we as a group, are willing to get uncomfortable when it comes to hearing from God corporately as a group. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy. If we continue to share with each other what God is sharing with us, then we will continue to receive more from Him. As this process continues, we will grow, and love will prevail. If it is crushed, we will stagnate. May God grant us the wisdom and courage to continue in intimacy with Him.

The silent time revelations - According to one, in the future, God had asked that we enter into a time of praise before we seek revelations (we will honor that word). This one also saw a branch going forth and Zac 6:12. One saw a network like blood vessels, train tracks going up a hill, and hands joined in unity. One saw the light of God shinning through windows, followed by many (seemingly endless) scriptures regarding light (you are the light of the world, perfect light casts out all darkness, etc.). Another saw Psalm 84 like people (us) walking on a bar graph, coming out of Baca. Another saw a small paper cup filled with black poison swirling empty and being replaced with clear fresh water. This was all that we saw in that time of silence that was shared. (This was followed by discussions and interpretations)

Closing prayer revelation - I asked if anyone got a number (referring to the price that we should offer on Crestwood) only two numbers were given, and they were both the exact same number. Both said that they saw this number clearly, and the rest of us were at peace with presenting this amount as our offer, though it was higher than the asking price.

Our discussions - We talked about focusing on the subject of love and relationships. We decided to hold weekly fellowships in a public setting on Saturday afternoons. Bev Long offered her church building. Our hope is to teach love principles publicly at a time that doesn't conflict with Sunday morning worship, as we much prefer to become a ministry to the body of Christ that churches can rely upon, rather than being seen as a group that steals their sheep. Where Crestwood is concerned; If the pastors can't trust us with their congregations, how are the congregations going to trust us with their pastors? We are all one body.

Later in the Day – More people coming on board from Florida to Vermont. Got a nice response from Richard and Diane Evans (FL), and Kevin Moffat (VT). The Evans' were part of the original group of pastors and leaders that evaluated the Net2Church vision in 2004 that released us as a ministry. They are family to me, and will be coming back to the northeast briefly in April of 2010 – yes we will host them! I have asked Kevin Moffat (who is an artist that paints during worship services) to join us as part of our core networking ministry team to bring back art, music, dance, and theater back into worship at the center. We will be connecting with him soon.

Food for thought:

Today is the first open Net2Church gathering in over three years. I have chosen my home instead of a church setting (though it is sure to be crowded) to help people see this ministry as a relational cause or purpose, in a "people helping people" relational environment.

I know this is strictly my own opinion, and I am not trying to "sell" this concept, but ministries are made up of people focused on a purpose or a cause. The danger of buildings and structures (even Crestwood) is that the structures are often identified as the ministry (assuming the cause is fellowship). "I go to that church". No church structure has ever loved me. People have loved me (or not). And the truth is that I prefer home fellowshipping over church building gatherings because there is less preaching and more relating - it is far more interactive and loving for me, and I don't have time for both. Intimacy is not optional in the body of Christ. God requires it, and we need to strive for it or we will never be accountable to righteousness with one another.

The exception to this is corporate worship. This is where the whole body of Christ comes together (no denominational lines) to sing and dance and otherwise celebrate our "Lord with us". This is certainly a "the more the merrier" time. My heart is to cast the pews out and bring in the musicians to the center of the room (David's tent style). A time of dancing and scripture reading and more. Haven't been to that church yet. (But I'm willing to build it... it did go 24/7...hehehe!)

When I first took the ministry team to Crestwood, I stood in the middle of a large field with them and pointed to the 100 amp power service that someone had already placed there. I said; "I see David's tent. Perhaps we could see this for just one 24/7 period. If we could do that, wouldn't that be a great start? The power supply was not originally intended for musical instruments - but yet here it is, ready for us."

A Prayer Of Preparation....

Written and submitted to me by Mike Cole. Thank you Mike.

Note: As you read Mike's prayer for the Monadnock region, please consider this prayer also for other regions. If you live outside of the Monadnock region (where Crestwood is), please pray for your region. Our core ministry covers the six New England states plus New York, the Monadnock region is simply our home base, but our vision for unity is global. - Dave

"Lord,

WE pray for the New Hampshire Mondanock Region.... We are thankful for the work you are doing within your church in this region. This has been a time of shaping and molding.... a time of chipping away at our old ways so that you can be seen by others through us in the days to come.

There are many who have endured much and we grow tired of the world's strain. We long for your springs of living water to bubble from the hard granite rock of our region. We wait for your hand to move over our land in a mighty way and while we wait we prepare....

We pray for the pastors of the region. We pray that you meet the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of each pastor and their families. Clear their hearts and minds of the worry and grief of this world, and fill their spirit with yours. Comfort them. Give them the peace that surpasses all understanding. Give them discernment to know how to direct the people of their congregations to you. Help us as members of their congregation to help them. Help us to realize that they are people too who have the same frustrations that we do. Help us to go out of our way to meet their needs.

We pray for the walls of denomination to crumble. We pray for unity of the body. Do we believe in you as our Lord and Savior? Do we believe that you conquered death and sin by your resurrection on the third day? Yes! Then let us set aside our differences and reach out to one another.

We pray for those in the region who have not come to you yet. We pray that we begin to allow you to move in us and through us in such a way that we are inspired by you to help those in our community in ways we never have before. Help us join, congregation with congregation, to meet the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs of those you have yet to reach in our community. Will this be difficult? Yes. Will it be messy at times? Yes. But if we trust in you we can do all things for you and through you.

Lord, give us as your church the courage to move forward for you. Let us not be shaken by the lies that enter our head which tell us that we are too weak to be any good to you. Help us to remember that what we have and who we are comes from you. Our frailties and shortcomings pail compared to the blessings you have in store for this region and for each one of us.

We thank you for the many blessings you have given us during this time of preparation. You have given us what we need when we needed it; and their have been moments when you gave us more than we asked for. Thank you.

Lord, we give the Monadnock region to you. We wait in anticipation for your love to gush forth. In the meantime, we prepare, in Jesus' Name. Amen."

Friday Nov 6

This week I have met with Bev and her church for prayer time, and broke bread with Hinkley and Ken and his family including some scripture reading, praying, and we blessed of his home and land.

About Saturday's Meeting Nov 7th
Tomorrow's gathering is at my home in Winchendon (155 Grove St, 2nd floor). This is a noon gathering (pot-blessing style) for the purpose of prayerfully solidifying our intentions and committing ourselves as a group to one another in this ministry purpose. You can expect open discussions, prayer, and scripture reading, as well as prophetic words coming forth.

Crestwood
Care Center

Crestwood Care Center is a place to experience the love of God, His royalty, and His generosity. The ministries of Crestwood Center are all hospitality driven, and are designed to edify the body of Christ.

Our missions are to enrich, enable, and encourage all those who enter to use their faith, education, experience, talents, and gifts to change the world around them, by helping them to build a solid platform to stand upon.

Two-fold Primary Focus

Net2Church Global Ministries is established to provide life to two central purposes. “Build a communications tower, and pastor my pastors.” This simple instruction has led the Net2Church ministry team to seek to establish the new Crestwood Care Center in the town of Winchester, NH, USA.

Two-fold purpose of prayer camp network

The care center will be a base of operations in the ministry of “networking” prayer camps throughout New England and New York state (7 states). The prayer camps are simply tiny groups who gather to listen to God and intercede for others as they are led, and secondly to communicate back to the network regarding and specific spiritual needs, promptings, understandings, praise reports, and the like. These camps are the eyes and ears of Net2Church, as we seek to find pastors/leaders and their spouses who need our help.

Two-fold purpose of pastoral restoration ministry

Spiritual Awareness:

Crestwood's hospitality is for the pastors first, then to the body of Christ. It is our turn to love them in a natural palace full of God's love found at this majestic setting. Providing places of solitude in a serene environment is a core function of the Care Center. There are 157 acres, views up to 120 miles, and a history of pastoral retreats dating as far back as the late 1800's with Cirus Scofield's original Chapel still on the grounds (where he authored final drafts of the Scofield Study Bible).

Spiritual Experience:

Crestwood is already an events center with a history of catering to weddings and other community, corporate, and individual functions, while still providing peace and solitude to guests. With this in mind, Crestwood will continue to cater functions that will allow for pastoral guests to come and enjoy without having to become involved in leadership, though their level of participation is solely discretionary.

Center for Arts and Education

Crestwood is a gathering place for Christian art, music, dance and theater. The creative energy that flows through God's people will be showcased here at Crestwood, and will become the center for the networking of these groups throughout the seven states.

Christian education has suffered much in the way of resources and support. Crestwood will be a center for Christian education, and agricultural awareness. With 138 acres zoned agricultural, Net2Church ministry teams are looking into ways to wisely use the land for supply, and education. We have already established the location of a multifaceted library building as a priority for our initial infrastructure development program. We are thinking high school and undergraduate studies.

sponsored link: CharityNet USA

Monday Nov 2nd (Day 8)

Five Net2Church team members gathered at Crestwood today at 9:00 am. Those present were Bev, Ken, Hinkley, Andy, and myself representing our ministry. We met with the Realtor and the present owner to discuss many of the property highlights, visions, and other details.

After careful examination of the property, and much prayer, we all unanimously agreed that God wants us to move forward to secure the property and build the new ministry center at Crestwood.

We are now in full pursuit of establishing the first Net2Church pastoral restoration center.