HIS BRANCHES

 

 

A.  Scope of Ministry Commitment

    

   1. Spirit (pneumo)

                prayer

                intercession

               new birth

               healing

               deliverance

               confirmation

               praise

               worship

      

   2. Soul (psyche)

                                counsel

               train

               encourage

               visit

               reconcile

               edify

               comfort

        

   3. Body (soma)

                bind up wounds

               splint

               assist functioning

               relieve

                remove source of assault (e.g., antibiotics)

               rest

               protect

               nourish

               shelter

 

All interrelated

 

Recognition in common language:

in good spirits - cheerful, well, cooperative

in bad spirits - hostile, ill-tempered, depressed

psychology - study of the emotions

psychiatry - lit., “soul healing”

psychosomatic - physical illness related to the emotions

somatic signs - evidence of physical illness

 

Object: to love a person into the wholeness and fullness of his calling.

 

Word:  1 John

         Luke 10

          James

                    1 Thessalonians 5

 


B.  Focus of Ministry

 

1. Individuals

 

2. Families

 

3. Fellowship groups

         community households

         prayer fellowships

         house churches

         organized bodies

 

4. Neighborhoods

 

5. Broader Community

 

Ministry originates within Body of Christ and serves other parts of the Church as well as reaching into remaining secular community.

 

Word: Romans 12 & 13

 

 

C.  Ministry resources provided by:

 

1. Jesus Christ operating by grace through a group of renewed individuals:

Christians with a calling to this work

volunteers

people with gifts and talents

a united group

saints

people whose lives are in order

the ransomed of the Lord

 

We will be unable to give anything which we have not yet received ourselves.

 

Word: Ephesians 4 & 5

1 Thessalonians 1 & 2


D.  Functional needs:

 

   1. Space   

              prayer center 1+

             counselling  2-3

             examination and treatment 2-3

             waiting

             group meeting

             office and records

             support (lab, lavatories, kitchen)

 

2. Finances

                    space and utilities

                    equipment (office, exam, treatment)

              furnishings

                    support for full-time staff

 

3. Authorization

                    spiritual commission and oversight

                    secular clearance for facility

                    incorporation

           licensure

           inspection codes

 

   4. Time   

             devotions and prayer

             sharing and discussion

             study, teaching seminars

             retreats

             solid foundations

             growth and development

 

Word: Luke 6

      Phillippians 4


E.  Subjects for thought and prayer:

 

1. What could be nature of problem? approach? solution?

 

overweight

alcohol abuse

drug abuse

skin rash

depression

anxiety

loneliness

divorce

unwed mother

epilepsy

venereal disease

hypertension

school phobia

peptic ulcer

spastic colon

angina

marital strife

pregnancy

injury

threatened suicide

impotence

criminal behavior

unemployment

grief

developmental disorder

paralysis

deafness

blindness

                           ....

 

2. Are there any limits to the redeeming power of grace?

 

Word: Isaiah 53 (see alternate translations also)

              Matthew

          Mark

          Luke

          John

          Acts

                      Romans 8

            Isaiah 35


F. Selected References

 

     1. Holy Bible

 

       2.    Recent books

 

Healing Belongs to Us, Kenneth Hagan

 

Healing, Francis McNutt

 

The Normal Christian Church Life

Release of the Spirit

           What shall this man do? Watchman Nee

 

The Foundation Series, Derek Prince

 

Surgery of the Soul, William Reed

 

I Married You, Walter Trobisch

 

3. Journal articles

 

“Help for the Cities”, John Poole, New Wine,

May 1977.

 

“Free Community Clinic”, Schacter & Elliston, JAMA,

April 25, 1977.

 

“Wholistic Health Center Project”, Tubesing, et. al.,

Medical Care, March 1977.

 

 

 

William R. Morehouse, MD

Winter 1977-78