Vision of the City Leaders
- John Steele - Pastor in the City of Greater Bendigo, Member of Pray Bendigo
- Other Community leaders here
John Steele
My dream for the Church of Bendigo
The church will grow in its unity so that all branches of the church will operate for the benefit of the whole body of Christ offering the particular gifting that Jesus has put within His Body.
For example:
- Pentecostal – enthusiasm, worship and evangelism
- Charismatic – healing, equipping and evangelism
- Anglican – Word, Tradition and Reason
- Catholic – Sacrament and authority
- Worldwide Church of God – importance of our Hebrew roots and the willingness to be reformed
- Uniting – social conscience
- Church of Christ, Baptist and other congregationally governed churches – the people of God as the priests of God
- Presbyterian – sound doctrine
My dream for Bendigo
I dream that all in the city will see that there are two indispensable elements of the Kingdom of God that need to work together:
- The church leaders
- The community leaders
Each holds one of the two keys to the unlocking of the riches inherent in the city by divine appointment.
- The church is called to be both the prophetic voice declaring the word of God and the pastoring voice bringing the healing and comfort of God to the city and its leaders
- The community leaders are called to act with complete integrity and justice to enable all in the city to live in peace and prosperity
Each is called to serve the other – the church serves the community and the community calls on the church for a word from God and a healing hand.
How do I see this operating?
I see the time very soon when the community leaders in all areas of leadership realise there is a spiritual dimension to their work and ministry. Hard work will produce effective results when all the spiritual barriers are removed and the grace of God is received through the prayers of the church.
I see the community leaders asking for prayer before decisions are taken and then seeing the ease with which those decisions produce the desired results.
I see the church taking up its responsibility to pray and support all the leaders in the city.
What do I see the effect of this being?
- A city transformed by the power of God
- Crime rates down dramatically
- Personal hardship alleviated
- Prospering businesses
- Jobs for all with dignity and satisfaction
- People able to remain in Bendigo after training here
- Mental and physical health standards improved
- Physical and sexual abuse eliminated
- Chemical dependence replaced by healthy living
- Prayer meetings filling the largest buildings regularly as thanksgiving is made and prayer covering for the city maintained
- The land healed of the effects of ecological devastation and becoming more productive
- Church buildings filled to overflowing and new churches established
- The ‘glory days’ of the past far surpassed by the glory of God in our midst
- Harmony between old and young, men and women, all races and peoples.
- Families strengthened and homes being places of support, safety and growth
- Education reaching such a stage of excellence that we lead the nations in ways of pursuing knowledge that enhances humanity
- The arts redeemed to enrich the soul of the community and its citizens so that the riches of pure hearts can be expressed freely in all forms of the arts: music, decorative arts, graphic arts, dance, etc
In other words, a society healthy and whole
How realistic is this?
God has done it in other ages and in our present age in other places. Why not here?
All we need to do is to make him welcome. Where he is welcomed, he comes with great power to redeem and transform the very structures of our society and the lives of the people in the city. The city will then fulfil its redemptive gift which in Bendigo’s case is ‘to be a blessing’.
How do we welcome God into our city?
- United leadership
- Persistent prayer
- Holy living
(2 Chr 7:14 NIV)"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."