Welcome! What a pleasure it is to be in touch with you again. The FMI Report mainly documents the previous month's activities. We would like to thank all of you who have been forwarding these messages to your friends and family. 

In This Month's Report:
* Editorial - "Not Many Fathers...?"
* Promotions - Frank Houston 1922 - 2004
* November Events - City Action Coalition launched
* November Ministry - our ministry activities over the past month
* Coming Soon - NJ FAITH Alliance Annual Conference
* Tips and Resources - The Meaning of Christmas
* Products - order "Worship Wars" (see link below)
* Partnership - invest in God's program for the Northeast of America

We would love to hear from you; please send us your feedback today. Don’t forget the ever-popular 'GOD THOUGHTS' at the end of this report. Enjoy! JB

JEFF BEACHAM'S EDITORIAL – "Not Many Fathers...?"

 

"For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers..." 1 Corinthians 4:15

 

INTRODUCTION

In the first week of December I was at the annual International Coalition of Apostles (ICA) Conference in Dallas, Texas. Without doubt this is one of the most stimulating meetings that I attend each year (see detailed report next month).

 

THE UNDERCURRENT

Many challenging issues were brought to the table in Dallas by some of the world's greatest Christian leaders of our time. We learned of massive amounts of money, in some cases numbering in the billions, that are beginning to be poured into the Body of Christ in different parts of the world. Cutting edge apostolic and prophetic strategies were defined and workplace apostles were affirmed and encouraged. However, there was one constant undercurrent at the conference that became clear to me. There was a heart cry, and almost a grieving, by some leaders for a lack of spiritual fathers in the American church.

 

FAMILY SECRETS

Saying that fatherlessness in the natural is a major problem in our generation is stating the obvious however, spiritual fatherlessness is not often spoken of and seems to be one of those deep dark 'family' secrets in the Body of Christ that is painful enough not be spoken of often. There is a high number of spiritual leaders in America who had to endure an 'orphanage' upbringing. The strong ones survived but many others perished. Some didn't know better and thought that the absence of spiritual fathers was normal and just pushed on anyway.

 

PROPHETIC TO THE END

A month ago, I lost my greatest spiritual father (see 'Promotions' below). I had served Frank Houston for 17 years at Sydney Christian Life Center (now known as the Hillsong Church) before coming to America six years ago. I had spoken with Frank on the phone for an hour a day or so before he passed away and he was very positive as usual, even though he was really missing Hazel, his wife, who had passed away unexpectedly six months earlier. I was intending to visit Frank in Australia next February and the last thing he said before we hung up was, "Well, I am really looking forward to seeing you in February Jeff, but if I don't see you then I guess I'll have to wait to see you in Heaven." He was prophetic to the end.

 

Frank had the greatest influence upon my spiritual life and was a real 'father in the faith' to me. Most of what I know about ministry I learned from him. However, he was not the only 'father' I had! I could name several other people who fathered me to one degree or another, some still alive and others already gone.

 

PASSING THE BATON

Hearing the heart cry of several leaders in Dallas for the lack of fatherhood in their spiritual lives made me appreciate more than ever the input from men of God who took time to sow something into my life. They were able to make a difference in me that I am endeavoring to pass on to other younger men and women who are coming on in their faith.

 

Let me provoke you to jealousy! If, for whatever reason, you have not sought out a 'son' to raise in the faith, or if you have not found a 'father,' it is never too late to begin. Sons are looking for fathers; fathers need to respond! #

 

 

Apostolic Pioneer Passes - Frank Houston 1922 - 2004

On Sunday evening, November 7th, I received a call from Australia to tell me that Frank Houston, my friend, mentor and founder of Sydney Christian Life Center (known today as the Hillsong Church), had passed away that day at the age of 82.

Upon getting the news of his passing, I caught a flight to Australia a couple of days later and arrived early on the day of the funeral in Sydney. This was my first visit back to Australia in the six years since I came here to the United States. If it is true that you meet everyone you've ever known in Heaven, then Frank's funeral was a little foretaste! There were friends and church family there going as far back as 40 years in one case.

Getting off a plane after a 22 hour flight, feeling jet-lagged, lacking sleep and then meeting just about everyone you have known for decades, plus having to say goodbye to my spiritual father, was a very challenging and surreal experience indeed, bittersweet to be exact. But I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Below is a copy of what was included in the funeral service brochure.

"Frank Houston - A LIFE STORY"

Born in Wanganui, New Zealand, on 22nd April 1922, Frank Houston suffered a great deal of sickness as a child. The son of a tough Irish father and a greatly loved mother, Frank was one of four children.

At 18 years of age, young Frank was attending the funeral of his best friend (a Christian) when God spoke to him audibly with the challenge that he was to take his young friend's place. As a result of that encounter, Frank made a commitment to Christ and was soon training to be a Salvation Army officer. He fell in love with one of his fellow students, and Frank and Hazel were married thereafter in 1948.

Soon they were in ministry and enjoying the first of their five children. Frank and Hazel had a number of postings in the Salvation Army, and were successful young ministers when Frank's sickness caught up with him. A complete breakdown left the young couple and their small children out of ministry, broken and desperate. At the invitation of a young man, Frank attended an Assemblies of God church and was supernaturally filled with God's Spirit. He was miraculously healed, and he teamed up with Ray Bloomfield for a series of revival and evangelistic meetings in Ellerslie (Auckland) and Northland.

In 1960, Frank and Hazel moved their young family to Lower Hutt and commenced 18 years of very fruitful ministry. This church became a centre of influence in the 1960s and 1970s with many ministers (including his own son Brian) trained at Christian Life Bible College. During this time, Frank became the Superintendent of the NZ Assemblies of God, and an unprecedented season of church planting, growth and blessing followed. Frank also travelled widely preaching the gospel. Many towns and cities were impacted with moves of the Spirit that, in a number of cases, formed the platform for some of Australasia's strongest churches.

In 1977, Frank received a vision from Isaiah 54 and God called him to start a work in Sydney. In July that year, at the age of 55, Frank and Hazel pioneered Sydney Christian Life Centre with a team of nine adults and five children. Over the next 22 years, the church was pastored and led by Frank and Hazel and, again, the fruit was astonishing. Upon Frank's retirement, the Hills and City congregations merged to become Hillsong Church.

Countless thousands of lives, worldwide, have been impacted by the life, passion and ministry of Frank and Hazel Houston, and we give honour to "one man" who, through both good and difficult times, lived a life devoted to Christ."

 

 

City Action Coalition Launched at Empire State Building - Continuing on from the Defense of Marriage Clergy Press Conference, March 29, 2004 and the Traditional Marriage Renewal Day, July 25, 2004, over 60 Metro New York area Leaders came together on November 10th at Kings College in the Empire State Building, New York City, to launch a new social action organization called City Action Coalition (CAC).

Present at this event were clergy, marketplace leaders, students and several concerned citizens. Featured speakers included Rev. Jeff Beacham, Rev. Carlton Brown, Rev. Michael Faulkner, Rev. Robert Johansson, Dr. Joseph Mattera and Mr. Kevin McCullough.

The general theme of all the speakers was that now, more than ever, we need to stand up for truth and advocate for mainstream America!

The mission of CAC is: “To successfully represent and advocate for the Judeo-Christian values of mainstream America to elected and public officials, media in the New York Region and nation at large”

CAC will:
• Be a call to action (become part of a large clergy led movement that acts out its faith in society).
• Be practical (you will learn how to positively affect society).
• Highly informative (receive an up to date cultural report).
• Inspirational (receive an impartation of faith and hope).
• Feature the planning of a press conference alerting public and elected officials of our intentions.

For more information, go to: www.cityactioncoalition.com

 

NOVEMBER MINISTRY…

Last month, we were at the following churches and events:
Wed 3rd - CCC Roundtable, Calvary Cathedral of Praise, Brooklyn, NY
Sun 7th - Beth El Church Ministry, Newark, NJ, Pastor Gloria Harris
Wed 10th – City Action Coalition Launch, Empire State Building, New York, NY
Frid 12th – Funeral for Frank Houston, The Hillsong Church, Sydney, Australia
Sun 14th - Blue Mountains City Church, Mt. Riverview, NSW, Australia, Pastors John And Marion Drury
Sun 21st - Metrowest Christian Life Center, Boston, MA, Pastor Don Braswell
Frid 26th - Kingdom Builders Leader's Meeting, Mansfield, PA, Johnny And Juanita Berguson
Sun 28th - The Missionary Church of Christ, The Bronx, NY, Bishop Hector Bonano

 

COMING SOON…

 

New Jersey FAITH Alliance Annual Conference - with special guest Dr. David Cartledge from Australia, a leading authority on global apostolic, prophetic and workplace ministry trends. Conference includes three interactive panels with input from key local leaders including David Cartledge, Dale Mast, Walt Healy, Jeff Beacham, John and Sheryl Price, Johnny and Juanita Berguson, Abraham Fenton, Peter Roselle and Chris Healy.
 

TIPS AND RESOURCES…

A Christ-Centered Christmas - 24 short devotionals from Sharon Velluto and Suzanne Meredith to help the family escape the commercialism of the season, and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Contact and order information, links. http://www.ChristianWebSite.com/cgi-bin/se/jump.cgi?ID=82111

A Holy Christmas - Many links to sites and to original resources to help celebrate with joy and reverence the birth of the Christ. http://www.ChristianWebSite.com/cgi-bin/se/jump.cgi?ID=91890

A Search for the Meaning of Christmas - Literature, poetry and stories that throughout the years have become part of our annual celebrations. http://www.ChristianWebSite.com/cgi-bin/se/jump.cgi?ID=91561
 

A LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE AVAILABLE THROUGH FMI...

 

Worship Wars

 

"Our leisure, even our play, is a matter of serious concern. There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan." - C. S. Lewis

All wars began in Heaven with the war over worship that caused Lucifer to be cast down into the Earth, becoming Satan. However, his jealousy against God continued, competing for our hearts from the Garden until today. The present war on terror, the culture war, the war against drugs or any other war, even WW II, are ultimately over who will be worshipped.
 

The history books of the future will tell us that in the year 2004, there were two major wars; the war against terror and the war within our own culture! Both intimately involve our nation. Jeff Beacham presents a timely and topical message to put you in the picture.

 

Available on DVD, audio CD and audio cassette. To order, click here

 

BECOME A PARTNER WITH FMI...

 

FMI is a 'not for profit' organization which operates purely by faith. Please consider supporting 

this great vision for spiritual awakening in America and beyond. Donations are tax deductible. 

BECOME A PARTNER WITH US IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS: 

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Check Jeff Beacham's schedule at: http://www.firepowerint.com/jeffsitinery.htm 

 

I hope you will seriously consider joining us in this great adventure for Christ!

 

JEFF BEACHAM  
  Pastor / Evangelist
  Firepower Ministries International 
  2 Route 37 West, Toms River, NJ 08753 
  Ph.(732) 349-1550, ext. 205 Fax (732) 286-6311 
  Email: info@firepowerint.com Website: http://www.firepowerint.com 

 

GOD THOUGHTS - "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - George Carlin

REPRINT AGREEMENT: Duplication and re-transmission of original material in this report is permitted provided that complete source and website information is included. 

 

©2004 - THE FMI REPORT IS THE MONTHLY COMMUNICATION OF NEWS FROM FIREPOWER MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL, THE MINISTRY OF JEFF BEACHAM    top