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Advance to the 2nd Power!? You have got to be saying, what does this mean? In the mathematics world, when you advance a number to a given power, it produces an exponential multiplication of the original number to massive growth. You can see the word “Advance2” has the second power next to it. This is the word for 2021 our team felt was given as we prayed and pressed in for three days, seeking what God has for this year, this season. We also realized that the Grand Rapids Dream Center is entering its 8th year since the birthing of the organization and movement. Someone reminded us that in the Bible the number eight represents a year of new beginnings. We are so excited for the season God has us in! We know the advancement represents growing leaders and disciples to the “next generation.” What do I mean by generation or generational growth? If you look at the birthing of the Grand Rapids Dream Center, we have had basically 1st and 2nd generations of leadership and disciple growth. As we have learned the communities as well as valuable ways to love those we serve, we have known that we need to get more 2nd and 3rd generation leader growth of leaders leading leaders. We are excited as God has been defining the specific strategies we need to get to this next level. We are thrilled because as we do this, we are empowering more leaders and disciplers to fulfill the great commission through committed, loving, relationships in communities!
There are seven key elements that GRDC has always applied and we see greater focus on two of the elements. Those elements are “Extraordinary Prayer” and “Obedience-Based Discipleship.” Every explosive God movement cultivates daily personal prayer and devotion of one hour, group prayer together of one hour, and one four hour session
of prayer per month. Currently, GRDC core members are actively seeking these depths of prayer, personally and as a group. We also have taken the step to do four-hour extraordinary prayer sessions quarterly. Our next extraordinary prayer session is Sunday, April 25 from 2-6 pm at the Oakdale Community House; 1025 Oakdale St SE in Grand Rapids. Please join us as an “extraordinary prayer” warrior, devoting yourself to prayer over what God is doing with us as we are developing and putting these things into place.
For years we have recognized that for transformative discipleship to take place, we must have those we are teaching involved in the discussion. This means that doing one-way monologue teaching is ineffective in producing people who are seeking to follow and obey Christ. This has been a humbling experience for those who are used to preaching this way because we have had to “decrease so Christ can increase;” going from preaching to facilitating, causing people to wrestle with the scripture truths in discussion that involves Q & A through relationship connection. We also knew that to support this kind of environment, we need to grow practical systems so these discussions can take place at an exponential rate. This year we are seeing even more vision to release and empower believers into this kind of discipleship, which works not just in the communities we serve but everywhere and beyond. We also had to learn that
obedience isn’t assumed. Many believers in Christ believe all people seeking God will obey. This simply isn’t true. Matthew 28:19-20 tells us to go into all the world and make disciples and TEACH them to obey. We are thrilled to have a simple process that ensures this can happen with any believer.

GRDC community within communities
What we love and value about the Kingdom of God is that it transcends difference, borders, boundaries, geography, neighborhoods, communities, cities, and ethnicities. It unites all as ONE in Christ! The Bible says every nation, tribe, and tongue will worship the Lord. It also says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28. Any difference we can think of, we are all one in Christ Jesus; equal in value, worth, and loved by God. I just have to say we love and cherish this as we see Christ building such a beautiful community; so many diverse peoples coming together as ONE in Christ through the work of the GRDC. We celebrate African-Americans, Africans, Caucasians, Latinos, and everyone else coming together as friends and doing God’s good work; spreading the Gospel, and loving each other!

How can this be? How can the Apostle Paul say this in Galatians? There is one distinguishing quality that stands out in the character of God in Christ Jesus. It is the FORGIVENESS He died to give us that reconciles us to Him and allows us to forgive others who have sinned and hurt us. Injustice comes in so many shapes and sizes. As a husband, I can unjustly react to my wife, expressing harsh anger she doesn’t deserve. These small injustices can happen all the time in the home and family. Even bigger injustices can and do happen, where a person could steal from someone in the home, hurt, or even kill someone. It’s all wrong. And we know sometimes there are some of these mass injustices that happen to whole groups of people. It’s just wrong. How do we, as being human, come back together to be reconciled into relationship? Laws help, but I heard a wise person say you can’t legislate love. It takes a love that surpasses all
understanding that is not found in our human nature but only in God’s nature. It is a love that forgives even when so much pain was inflicted. That is such freedom when I don’t let someone else’s pain define me, hold me down, or consume me. Forgiveness releases me to love and to keep my love on. Unforgiveness turns off a person’s love and slowly limits our ability to allow ourselves to love big. The more I grow in God’s love it allows me to continue to meet new people and love people so different from me, even those who don’t like me or may judge me. Why? I am free to do so because I am not bound. Do I have to obtain this love and seek God for grace sometimes daily to stay in
this place? Absolutely!!

Forgiveness is what validates that Christ is God. You can study any world religion and their belief systems; even false religions who proclaim a version of Christ. In doing so, you will see one unique thing. The one and only true Christ in the Bible and Gospel is the only One who offers this undeserved forgiveness. This is powerful and so unique. Forgiveness doesn’t divide, it unites. Lord, we pray that You continue to grow us in this love and abound through the work of GRDC and the body of Christ in Jesus name!!