I Have A Vision For New Life!

I have a vision for New Life Community Church!

I am happy to present to you this day, a vision for tomorrow. Let us remember that 15 years ago a luminous cloud of light emerged on the scene in Amery. That cloud was the birth of a new church called New Life Christian Fellowship.

We today, face the tragic fact that there are people all around Amery enveloped in a dark luminous cloud of death. The lost people of our community search in vain for happiness and contentment. They stumble all over our county and city in search of hope. The nation rolls on its selfish quest for more – more – and more. But heaven anguishes and cries out in pain, "Stop the insanity and come unto me and I will give you true happiness".

America’s church refuses to believe that the commandments have been broken. American Christianity refuses to believe that an injustice has occurred and that a life lies motionless. Polk County refuses to see its sins and it’s injustices to the innocent. We turn away the homeless, the helpless and desire to only think of ourselves. We spin fear into peoples lives that insinuate if theirs a half way home in Polk County the criminals will come. We scare older people with threats of closing down their homes. We scare, and instill fear and the beat goes on and the people sink further into darkness. But where is the church?

America refuses to acknowledge its own Declaration of Independence which states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." But where is the church?

America refuses to hear the words of a former President, "Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just for His justice cannot sleep forever." But where is the church?

I am here today at this hallowed place to remind the church of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in apathy and self-centered thinking and living.

Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all God’s children. Now is the time to cast off this cloud of darkness and death. Now is the time to join hands across Wisconsin and repent and cry out to God for mercy. Now is the time to gather together the brothers and sisters stand on the solid rock. Now is the time to bring in the harvest. Now is the time to prayer for spiritual direction and transformation. It would be fatal for this church to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the justice of the Lord God Almighty.

I believe that 2002 is not an end, but a beginning. There will be neither rest nor peace in Northwest Wisconsin until the lost children are found and brought home to Him.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations – in spite of great success of the past 5 years, I still have a vision. It is a vision deeply rooted in the Creator of the Universe.

I have a vision that one day His church will rise up higher and live out the true meaning of its motto: "Leading people from here to eternity."

I have a vision that one day on the hills overlooking Amery there will be new life and not death. I expect that there will be cries of joy as people find new life and not death. I believe this can and will happen all across our city, county and state.

I have a vision that one day even the county of Polk, a desert spiritual county sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice, embracing the truth of the Scriptures. Focusing on helping the ones in need and not just focusing on themselves. But where is the church?

I have a vision that my three children will one day witness a great revival in their schools and see God transform lives. I have a vision that they will see the light of God’s light radiating throughout this county and state.

I have a vision for New Life today. I have a vision that one day the city of Clayton will have a spiritual revival that brings multitudes into the kingdom of God. Were people find hope, and contentment and peace. Were oppression and hopelessness is replaced with a mighty presence of God’s love and mercy.

I have a vision for today. I have a vision that one day every valley shall be exalting His name, every hill and mountain will proclaim his glory, the rough places will be made plains of righteousness and the crooked places of death will made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together and cry “Praise Him!”.