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Here you might find the answers to the questions you are asking about
Mountain of Worship.
---your questions to us via e-mail results in the posts
here in this FAQ---
The vision of MOW is multifaceted. It’s much larger than a one man vision,
nor is it simply a “local church” as is commonly viewed. The vision
“encompasses” multi-faceted visionary leaders, developers, and practitioners
that have a common desire to see the practice of passionate love of Christ
implemented in all facets of society. The vision is new… the way of
accomplishing it is new… a critical and common recognition that all of us
have is that …
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we haven’t seen all that we know is available for us …
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we don’t believe the current methods are producing the kind of
disciples that Christ intended to transform the world…
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we cannot “own” this recognition and continue to do things the way we
always have in order to achieve new results…
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we must think new and act new
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we must explore areas not commonly associated with “church
leadership, church expression, or church outreach” in order to find, locate,
and wield a much more powerful and effective answer to the lost of this
world, and those who have grown frustrated and even antagonistic towards the
“church” as we now see it…
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we must think of ourselves as “shaping the church to come” and not
simply “maintainers of the shape that is”…
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we must proactively respond to every question that society has… with
the genuine, authentic power of Christ.
Not only is the vision new… the style of leadership is new, when compared to
21st century church leadership styles. We must not simply conform
to existing models or use “business” knock-offs as models for leadership. We
must look carefully at the method described in the Word first by Jesus, and
then through several of the Apostles. This is the journey of Mountain of
Worship... not easily defined, but focused on hearing God for a new
generation!
1. Is Mountain Of Worship a "church" or a "Para-church
ministry"?
- Defining MOW
is difficult. It doesn't easily categorize into what has been traditional
thinking in regards to either church or ministry. To some MOW may be "their"
church, although the focus is much more on a lifestyle than on developing an
organization. The Mountain doesn’t exist to take the place of “church” – it
exists to perpetuate the “verb” of Worship and to sustain those who are
“perpetuating” that verb (we are sustaining those called to minister and
those who are “actually” ministering to others). Eventually, “pastors” will
exist in MOW who will minister to the needs of those who are ministering …
but the focus will continue to be “decentralized” and not developing a
“structure” to be a “needs based” ministry. As a result it may "look" more
like a ministry than a church... but for some it may be all the "church"
they know.
2. How are the needs of Mountain Of Worship
and their staff met?
- Through
financial gifts and direct support from those who desire to see this vision
become a reality. MOW is a Non-Profit Ministry.
3. How are decisions made for MOW,
what type of accountability is there?
- MOW operates on a
"roundtable" basis, seeking the Face of God for His direction and leading.
Various individuals at various times facilitate the direction of the
ministry. Ministry decisions are made through what we call the Council (see
Acts 15), those who are actively directing and leading various functions of
the vision of MOW. The "organizational" part of the ministry is overseen by National and International leaders and businessmen and an
Advisory Board
to maintain integrity and fiscal responsibility.
4. What makes MOW different?
- MOW focuses on a
lifestyle of worship that is expressed everywhere and anywhere through all
means... the usual approach to church planting is developing "successful" meetings, MOW focus
is on lives empowered through sustaining the Presence of God, through Spirit
empowered teaching and ministry, and through multi-faceted worship.
5. What about offerings, does MOW
receive offerings at all? Doesn't MOW have any expenses?
- We believe that God speaks to His Children, and as such
believe that God will speak to His Children their financial and other
aspects of investment in the vision of
MOW. We absolutely believe that in the early church, (see Acts 4:35)
the people were encouraged to hear from God in regards to giving, and that we too
have that same ability to hear from God, and should cultivate our obedience
to His Voice without manipulation or hype. For those who follow the leading
of the Holy Spirit, giving isn't simply something you "owe" but
something you desire to excel in as a child of the Most Generous of all, Our
Father God! MOW focuses on lifestyle and we believe that this
lifestyle will produce hearts of gratitude and obedience to His Voice. If
your heart hears from God and you are a cheerful giver, you will make sure
it makes it to a box, basket, an offering plate, or a responsible person.
Obviously, MOW has significant expenses (travel, equipment, staff living
expenses) that
can only be fulfilled through the generosity of those who respond to the
Holy Spirit's leading in giving... but we still believe in Jehovah Jireh
(i.e. the Lord who provides!). People who give can write a check to Mountain
Of Worship and place it in a box or basket designated for that, use the online
offering, or send it to MOW at the mailing address shown at the bottom of
this page.
6. Why is Mountain Of Worship being
established, do we really need something else?
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MOW is the establishing of something that
is bigger than a man, a movement, or simply another church choice. The
vision in it's fulfillment, will actually see the fulfillment of many
ministries and churches working together in a collegiality and functioning
as a single organism with power.
7. Why is Worship the focal point,
won't that make you off balance?
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The focal point is worship... simply
because nothing should even start flowing until people have passionate
relationship with Him. The Lord gave me (DS) Philippians 2:10-11 and told me
it was to be my main focus for the remainder of my life... not verses simply
to "recognize" in their fulfillment, but words that determine the focus and
vision of all that I do. That means that EVERY tongue... which means WORSHIP
is already WAY outside of my box... because in order for there to be people
worshipping ... there has to be something that will draw them in their own
frame of reference to worship Him! ... So Worship sets the foundation... and
becomes a lifestyle (not simply in song, but in demonstration of our love
for God) ..... BUT from that place of Worship .... multifaceted ministry
flows... AGAIN, to bring people to the point of Worship. Not ministry for
ministry sake.... but ministry that produces in the hearer a passion and
longing to "bow the knee"!
8. Why are the
MOWTeams that meet during the week so important?
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Because the vision is unique... we know
that the foundation is critical... we want
relationships above all else ... and a foundation of people who don't see
"meetings" as the goal... even if they are "good meetings"... we see a
lifestyle that sustains the Presence of God and causes others around us to
"bow the knee" as the goal. Homes tend to produce and foster relationships
that last.... That doesn't mean we don't have larger meetings... (we
do, on Saturday evenings and at other times!) it's just
that we want the "foundation" to be really a VERB of Worship... rather than
a NOUN of "a new church" or a "good meeting" or yet another new church on
the panorama of the "church scene!"
9. This seems so different, wouldn't
it be better to simply follow a model?
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It's VERY awkward... some would struggle
with what we have been called to do... but I believe it's simply because
it's NOT the norm in recent church models... although I believe it is
thoroughly Biblical and sets a standard of trusting in God that needs to be
exemplified to the world and the church ... the focus is not what most have
had (including myself) .... It's a very insecure
place to walk... but I really don't have anything else to live for ... this
is my commission!
10. I heard you eventually want to
have worship 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is that true?
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Yes, I do believe there will come a time
when we have a facility that will produce worship 24/7 ... but that is
worship beyond simply the "music form" of it! Worship to us at MOW is a
lifestyle.... it's the expression of loving Jesus with all our hearts at all
times and demonstrating that love to him through our actions ....
We also
believe that most facets of that "worship" will happen outside
our venues ... as lives are touched, redeemed, healed, and brought to the point of
passionate love of God .... in the clubs, in homes for boys and girls, in
homes for unwed mothers, in homes for broken people, in community with each
other, in places of business where people gather at a noon lunch to simply
touch God with their love for Him... in parks and on the streets as
worshippers express the Tabernacle of David where all can see the "flame" of
His Glory in their midst and will be drawn to "bow the knee".
11. What was it that you saw, I heard
about a mountain with rooms?
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The vision I saw was a flat NOTHING here in
Columbia and then a Mountain that came out of it.... and eventually
splattered "volcanic worship" all over the map in the region, but also
through the US and to the Nations.... I then saw ministries birthed and
released through this Mountain Of Worship in the form of rooms like
Intercession, The Poor, The Broken, Media, Creative Arts, Music, etc
etc ... I mean the list really is as broad as those who will do it... I see
"groups" (proto-type churches) meeting in places of business... in public venues
(malls, restaurants etc.) ... on the streets and in parks ... with profound
gatherings that literally will touch a whole region!
12. So what will it look like, what is
your vision statement?
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The prophetic words have come for this
through many all over the country... stating a "Mountain of Worship"....
Many of the visions I had during my tenure here in Columbia while with the
Vineyard.... and each of them reflect another facet of this vision!
What I see happening is profound, diverse, passionate
Worship, The Word
spoken and demonstrated, Authentic Power of the Holy Spirit not born from
hype but truly releasing the authority of heaven in daily life, and
Relational Lifestyle that fosters meaningful interaction and friendship in
the Kingdom and gives us the ability to love each other and minister to each
other and with each other both locally and wherever God, by His Spirit, may
send us.
Our vision statement is:
Mountain Of Worship exists to
perpetuate the event of sustained, perpetual worship of Jesus that causes
the lost to bow their knee and the found to adore the One they live for
...until every knee bows... until every tongue tells... both the lost and
the found... in heaven and in hell... that JESUS is Lord!
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Come to the
Mountain!
"In the last
days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief
among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will
stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to
the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will
teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths."
Micah 4:1-2 |
P.O. Box 212204
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©2003-2006Mountain Of Worship. All
Rights Reserved.
SM & TM Mountain Of Worship is a registered Service
Mark, use by permission only.
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