As requested by One Accord in the State of the forum thread (see quote) I will now tell you what the org. that I'm assocciated with does in reaching out to those that the churches (over generalization) don't feel need to be reached.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneAccord
Thank you, Brother Daniel R, and I'm glad you enjoyed the article. There are those, as you might suspect, in both camps, Trinitarian and Oneness, who might take you to task and say that there is bo room for fellowship between the two groups. But, it isn't my place to agree or disagree with you. My place to to pray for you and to encourage you in your walk with the Lord. And, to support your effort in obeying the Lord in what you feel He has called you to do. The rift between the two groups, and the rifts within the separate groups, make any cooperation and fellowship seem impossible. But, with that I disagree. I believe the Holy Spirit is big enough and strong enough so that we can share the common goal you speak of. That goal, reaching the lost, is the very heart beat of the Spirit-filled Church.
Anytime I think of the diversity within the Body of Christ I think of what General Colin Powell said in a Republican National Convention a few years ago. He said that the Republican Party is big enough and strong enough to rise above the diversity and unite together as one. And, as I heard those words, I thought, "If a political party can do that, surely the Spirit-filled Body of Christ can do so much better". And it can. If we all will realize that diversity is what built this nation. Diversity, even on this forum, is what makes it strong. And diversity is what enables your organization reach people that I, or others, cannot reach.
May God bless you as you continue to walk with Him. I'd like to know more about your group. You can post further info here, or send a PM.
1Cr 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
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I am in leadership and part of an orginazation of Christians from many different denominations and sects that goes to and reaches out to people in areas that most Christians would never get caught dead in. The Christian rate in these areas are between 10-20% so you can see the need for ministry in these areas as well as the fact that 8-9 out of every 10 people are perspectives to being led to the Lord. These people must be witnessed to in their world because they are not receptive to evangalism outside of it, for the most part (although there are a few exceptions). These people are right under your noses, many of you will condemn them if you only knew the truth about them, and for that reason alone is why I can reach them better than you can. Their ony crime in not trusting in the Lord, and the reason many of them don't is because they see a HUGE inconsisantcy between nature and what many Christians teach about the God of nature. They believe with all their hearts this scripture in
Genesis 1
26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 2
25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
But when they hear from Bible teachers that they must be covered up all the time with clothing they outright reject the Gospel due to the contradictions between Genesis chapters 1 & 2 and what is taught behind the pulpits. Who are these people, most are called nudists or naturist, although must won't wear either name so I'll just call them naked people in a social setting. (Now, let me clarify, I'm not talking about swingers or people engaged in group sex, although they misuse social nudity, that is not what nudism or naturism is about.) I'm talking about people that can and do distinguish between a naked body and sexual activity. These people adhere to personal actions of modesty that exceedes what you will find in church most sunday mornings, they just don't follow the modesty in clothing argument. (If everyone around them in dressed the same, how can you tell who's immodest?)
OK, now what we ("we" read christians with a burden to reach these people with a message of salvation) do is go into this non-sexual setting whether it be a clothing optional beach, a naturist resort, or a social nudist gathering of friends (just like many of you will do in a clothed gathering, resort, job, whatever) to be a Light for those that are there. You've heard the saying, "When in Rome, dress as the Romans" that's right, to be effective in witnessing to these people, they have to be able to see that you also believe that Genesis chapters 1 & 2 are also currently relevent to you as well.
So where does the org. that I'm in leadership fit in? Once a year in a few parts of the country we hold conferences at a resort to encourage and equip the saints with the tools needed to be a witness in their areas. My position is to plan, schedule, and run the midwest convention held in Missouri. This is pretty much a weekend retreat, but you will be fed alot of spiritual meat and potatoes during the weekend. The org. is called the Christian Nudist Convocation or CNC for short. If your interested to know more about the ministry, their website is
http://www.cnvillage.org/cnc/index.htm We also support some home study groups that take place in the larger cities.
We use ordained pastors and lay ministers for our training seesions and our Sunday morning service. We come from many denominations, yet we share the burden of reaching the lost in this subculture.
I am just answering a question with this long post, please don't take it as promoting this subculture in any way, that is not my intent.
Daniel
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