In
the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas,
Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of
Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As
they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart
for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to.” 3 Then after they
had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.
The best ideas are always those that originate with God
in Scripture. Hallmark claims the phrase, "when you care enough to send
the best", but that idea actually originated with the Antioch church! As
we see in Acts 13:1-3, the Antioch church had several teachers and prophets:
Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul (Paul). We know precious little
about three of these men, but Barnabus and Paul we know. They even became known
by the demons of hell!
Led by the Holy Spirit, while these church leaders were
fasting and ministering to the Lord, they heard God telling them to "send
their best" to do the work of evangelism and church planting. Paul and
Barnabus were set apart, commissioned and sent! It is this pattern that
Cornerstone has sought to emulate when it comes to church planting.
While ministering to the Lord, through much prayer and
intentional planning, we felt God calling us to send our best to plant a church
in Cedar Falls. Paul Sabino, Joel Vint, and Stan Hayek were proven teachers and
prophets among us who felt God's leading to be sent! It was a great idea. It
originated with God! We are looking forward to the fruit of that obedience.
Father,
we pray that your leading will result in the fruit of a healthy thriving church
being established in Cedar Falls / Waterloo. For centuries Your pattern has
been to raise up leaders within Your church to be sent to plant Your church.
Thank You for our leaders. Thank You for providing a team of men and women who
will come along side them to see Your work accomplished here through Candeo.
Thank You for sending Your best, Your only Son, as an example for us to
emulate. Amen.
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