Whether it's happening across the street or across the country, check out what's happening with the Foursquare family.
Cricket Witt and her husband, Andy, are members of Grace Fellowship, a Foursquare church in Absarokee, Mont. Their story is one of restoration—how God can heal the brokenhearted from the wounds of the past. They say God ministered to them through believers who demonstrated their faith by how they lived—with integrity, a love for Christ and an unconditional love for people.
After 16 years of church planting and leadership development for Foursquare in Europe, Marc and Kathy Shaw have moved back to the U.S. and planted a church in Washington State with the goal of releasing the next generation into ministry. Marc says it’s all about building a band of disciples who will be change agents in their world every day.
There will be no lazy days for Serafin and Alva Contreras when they officially retire in January 2012. Following 42 years of fruitful service, the area missionaries plan to be as active in ministry as ever. They’re simply changing gears—a change orchestrated by God for this faithful couple who have influenced millions of people throughout Latin America for Jesus Christ.
David and Joyce Wing have served Dover Foursquare Church in Dover, Ohio—a small town of 12,000 people in the shadow of Amish country—for 42 years. Loving people well is what this church is all about. They are known as a place where the people show friendliness and love, serve the community and give freely.
Recent high school graduate Dylan Haynes started a father/son basketball outreach with his dad when he was still in high school. The idea was simple: Every Tuesday night, he and other members from New Life Community Church in Manchester, N.H., would play basketball for a couple of hours with people from the community and develop relationships. The impact has been profound.
Once a sergeant-at-arms with the Mongols motorcycle club, Big Al Aceves had become famous for all the wrong reasons. He was known among bikers as a warlord, a hit man who would take any job for the right price to pay for his mounting heroin habit. But then Big Al met someone way bigger than himself: Jesus Christ.
In an exclusive new three-part series, we take a look at the values, traits and behaviors woven into the makeup of Foursquare churches that have remained relevant and effective in their mission through decades of ministry. What is it about these congregations that has caused them to endure over the long haul and make a lasting impact in their communities?
In an open letter to Foursquare leaders, President Glenn Burris Jr. encourages Foursquare ministers to get the rest they need so they will be better prepared to mentor the next generation, and give it all for the kingdom of God.
Foursquare’s Emerging Leader Network (ELN) plans to add 12 new immersive ministry-training programs across the U.S. during the coming school year. Three new ELN programs recently received certification by the Foursquare board of directors and are now part of the expanding network of successful training programs.
Rosalinda P. Vint, assisting minister at LightHouse Church in Newbury Park, Calif., has dedicated her life to helping troubled youth who are transitioning out of foster care or the prison system and desperately need hope and healing. Having been a foster child who suffered much abuse, she founded a non-profit community service organization that reaches at-risk young people.