Sunday Extra – September 15th, 2024
Christ’s Church
Steve Turnbull, a dear friend of LFM, shares this week’s Sunday Extra. Speaking from his church in the Columbus, Ohio, area, he talks about the nature of the church. Jesus chose to establish His kingdom through His Bride, and we enjoy the privilege of being loved by the Beloved.
Several of our LFM staff members have partnered with this congregation in the past, helping them through some staff restructuring and pastoral transition.
The Lord’s Spirit
LFM’s newest mentoring group, The Deanery, recently held their first in-person retreat. Under the direction of Matt Woodley, this group of young church planters from the Chicagoland area. One participant shared, “It was so refreshing to be prayed for and there were a lot of things the Lord had been stirring in my mind, and the space to share that and then receive feedback and prayer was deeply meaningful. I think it was most helpful for me as a place of discernment, confirmation, and clarity.”
From Kyle:
I was very blessed and encouraged by our recent Deanery retreat led by Fr. Matt Woodley. As our host, Matt thoughtfully prepared an agenda and space for us to hear from God through one another. Our time did not feel rushed, and the overall tone was open-hearted and geared toward increasing friendship with one another and with the Lord. In my opinion, each member of our group had specific, important words spoken to them and/or prayed for them that ministered Christ’s wisdom and love to their souls. I left our time feeling refreshed, and as a result of our time together, I took home important thoughts and prayers to keep bringing before the Lord in my own prayer life. I look forward to the next opportunity to gather with these men under Matt’s leadership and am grateful to Leighton Ford Ministries for making this experience possible for us.
From Nate:
Fr. Matt — thank you so much for leading this retreat. I found it to be so helpful to just have time together in a relaxed setting to pray with and enjoy my brother rectors. It was so refreshing to be prayed for and there were a lot of things the Lord had been stirring in my mind, and the space to share that and then receive feedback and prayer was deeply meaningful. I think it was most helpful for me as a place of discernment, confirmation, and clarity. A lot of things that I had been processing (the value of prayer, my role in preaching/praying/and training) had only been in my own head and so the ability to say it out loud and then receive confirmation and prayer was really clarifying and helpful. I also think it’s been a while that a diocesan event has just been oriented towards caring for one another and thinking about the future – and that was really refreshing. I really appreciate your intentionality, your hospitality, and just creating a space for us as brother rectors to be human together. Thank you for doing this – and for leading us in this format. Really – it was a great gift.
From Aaron:
What an amazing time this week, Matt! I’m grateful for your TLC of us Rectors. So encouraging. Had a deliverance last night, I’ll have to tell you about it. Still processing it! And… in need of sleep. Yet really grateful for the Lord’s work. And for Bp Stewart willing to sacrifice his rest.
