By Board of Directors
This Blog statement is Two-Fold in its purpose. First, to inform all of our financial Partners that you will be receiving, in the mail shortly, a letter from Pastor Matthew and Christa Manning regarding an incredible ministry opportunity that has been placed before them that will greatly affect the future of LightHouse World Evangelism Inc. Second, we want to inform those that are not ministry financial partners, but viewers of our Web-Blog, (Approximately 500 of you a day) of the changes that will be occurring to the website and blog.
We, the Board of Directors, have unanimously agreed with the Manning’s on their decision that they have made regarding their future as leaders within the Body of Christ, and the direct impact that it will have on LightHouse World Evangelism Inc. We firmly believe that their obedience to the will of God has already begun to take this ministry to the next level in seeing God’s healing power become manifest in so many people’s lives.
In every organization, change is always accompanied with its own sets of fears and anxiety. Pastor Matthew and Christa have received numerous conformations and statements of support regarding their decision. As they begin to take one of the biggest risks they have had to make in over a decade, please be in prayer for both of them, their four children, LightHouse World Evangelism Inc., and its leaders as we all listen to God’s voice and transition our ministry and organization over the next six months.
For those of you that are not partners but faithful readers of our blog, we can only encourage you to stay tuned for what is coming next. We assure you all that what God is doing in and through this ministry is only getting better and the opportunities are abounding. You will notice that the LHWE Website has been taken offline. For the amount of changes and overhauls that are currently taking place in the transition of LightHouse World Evangelism, Inc, to its new destiny, this needed to occur. The LHWE Blog will remain up a little longer to allow our blog users to know of the change that is coming, and to notify our partners that a letter has been mailed prior to this post hitting the World Wide Web.
Thank you all for your patience as we work through the legalities of this change and the official announcement in the future of the final result of what God has accomplished under the leadership of Pastor Matthew C. Manning and the entire transition team that God has put into place.
For those of you that would think something bad has happened to cause this transition to occur, we as a board of directors want to assure you that nothing has occurred to Pastor Matthew or his wife, and that what it happening is not due to any wrong doing, but rather, it is an awesome end to a twelve year old ministry that has seen success at every turn, and an exciting new dawning of what God has in store for us as a ministry in the future. There is a truth in the fact that “Old wineskins” cannot hold “New Wine!” Pastor Matthew and Christa have faithfully served God over the last twelve years, and God has just given them “New Wineskins,” so they can continue to serve us for another decade or longer. Pastor Matthew and Christa have lived a life of integrity before God, and in the midst of negative propaganda and insults by those that want to put their own slant on things, God still works and opens new paths of opportunities where there seemed to be none. Pastor Matthew and Christa Manning are and will remain our leaders in this new dawning of ministry expression. For all of our partners and those that have just been blessed to hear encouraging words from time to time through our blog postings, this is the end of a decade of ministry that served its purpose, and at the same time is the beginning of something new and fresh. As our Website communications come to an end, it is only just the beginning of a new era of fresh bold ministry.
Thank you for your prayers and your continued support. While we are still online, please E-mail us any questions that you may have at: blog@lhwe.org or call us at (415) 349-LHWE (5493).
The Board of Directors
LightHouse World Evangelism, Inc.
By Board of Directors
The LightHouse World Evangelism 2010 “State of the Ministry Address”
“Failing to plan is planning to fail. If Jesus does not build the house, they who build labor in vain. But if you have a plan to build a house designed by Jesus, no one can stop you!”
Quote from our President and Founder
When the president gives a state of the union address, his purpose is not simply to report on national happenings, but on what he plans to do. It may seem strange for a church to have a state of the union address, however, Pastor Matthew’s purpose here is the same; any organization, be it a church, a business or even a family, should have clear set goals and a purpose. Today’s message addresses the goals and purposes of LightHouse World Evangelism (LHWE) in 2010. Though a state of the union is given once a year, a mission statement should be available at all times. Read LHWE’s Mission Statement here!
Pastor Matthew and Christa founded LightHouse World Evangelism in order to have an impact on the San Francisco Bay Area as well as around the world. LHWE is growing every year, and with that growth comes many responsibilities. Pastor Matthew will be addressing how each of our partners can be a LightHouse in their own community and how you can partner with us to continue to be a beacon of light for lost and hurting souls. The next series of Blogs that will be posted will be a series on the preciousness of our time, talents and treasures and how to use them wisely and in a God-honoring way. Here is an overview of the upcoming blog posts that Pastor Matthew will be writing to help us all focus on God’s purposes for our lives in our own communities.
1. Time – the progression of our existence
We all have 168 hours in each week, nothing more, and nothing less. Donating 2 of those hours in ministry can make us lighthouses to our cities.
2. Talent – Unique expression of Holy Spirit power.
With our partners and the several hundred of you a day that regularly visit our website, you all make up a group with many talents that can change the world for the better, serve your fellow men and women, and honor our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is important that we use our strengths to their fullest rather than trying to do things that are not in our gifting. For example, if you have the gift of teaching, your talent may be to reach many learners in a powerful way. However, if your gift is prayer, then you pray and let the teachers teach! Each person should serve in an area where he or she can have the greatest impact.
3. Treasure – That which has exchangeable value.
If those of you that regularly view our blog (approximately 400 a day) would each commit to giving $5 a week or $20 a month to our organization, the total would come to over $125 thousand dollars a year we would add to our current operating budget. Using that money could do incredible things for not only the San Francisco Bay Area, but the world as a whole.
God has always made it clear to this ministry that we are to reach out to our community and beyond to those who suffer and are considered “the least of these” because nobody else will. Pastor Matthew and Christa Manning, where ever they go, encourage everyone to join a ministry suited to his/her talents so that together we all can touch others and empower our cities, our state, our country and our world (Act 1:8). Going to church and listening to a sermon is nice, but that is not the only thing which God has called us to do. He wants us to help point others to the saving power of the Cross of Jesus Christ, give hope, and give love. With so many ministry outreaches that we have in operation, and you have happening in your own cities that need help, there is certainly one to suit your gifting. There are ministries to help the church function, reach out to elderly people, serve with youth, perform with dramatic arts, witness to gang members or prisoners, or simply give hope to “the least of these in your community”. One outreach that we as a leadership body have found to be of concern here in the Bay Area and is becoming more and more “known” about in America and the world is the issue of human sex trafficking. We have had many individuals come to us for emotional and inner healing due to the cause and effect of being raised in families that were involved in not only incest but also in the business of sex trafficking. Let us be very clear, we as an organization are not called to go out of our way to try to bring down these sects of individuals. This is the job of local, state, and federal agencies. Yes we unfortunately have seen where some in those positions of power are themselves involved; however, we also from experience have found that this percentage is less than more. What God has called us as a ministry to do is to help those who come seeking emotional healing and safety from such experiences a safe place to talk, share, heal and find the loving and compassionate arms of Jesus Christ that will take their damaged and broken lives and put them back together for His purposes and for His glory.
Our city, your city, this country and this world need help and it can start right here with you. We are asking that our partners and regular viewers of this website continue or for the first time become a partner of this ministry as well as become “Lighthouses’” in your own community by volunteering and make a difference in the life of others. LightHouse World Evangelism had its humble start in a room at the King’s College and Seminary in Los Angeles, California over a decade ago as a prayer group called the Gethsemane Prayer Warriors. Now for the last decade we have plucked individuals out of the clutches of satanic ritual abuse, helped persons out of sex trafficking families, helped numerous people find their identity in Jesus Christ, through our four day seminars, that struggled with their identity stemming back to childhood judgments and vows they made, child abuse, molestation, incest, the lack of affirmation due to growing up in broken homes, and or families that were and may still be involved in satanic covens.
Thank you to all of you that have given over the years in support of what God is doing here at LightHouse World Evangelism. We have gone through many changes in the last year that are for the better. One major change occurred in July of 2009 when we moved our offices out of Sonoma County to San Francisco. This move was a tremendous undertaking but went smoothly and efficiently. Thanks to all of our partners we ended 2009 better than we could imagine financially. Thank you all for your prayers for Pastor Matthew and Christa as Pastor Matthew underwent three minor operations at the end of 2009. He is still recovering, and though his travelling has been lessened as we begin this New Year, he and Christa look forward to a busy and prosperous 2010, seeing God’s Kingdom come into the lives of the many that they together will encounter throughout this New Year. We all have a powerful work to do for the Lord, so let’s continue to be focused as a people who what to serve God with all of our hearts and move forward together!
How would God have you serve His people, or how would God have you give of your financial resources in 2010?
The Board of Directors,
LightHouse World Evangelism, Inc.
By Pastor Matthew
New Year’s Eve is a great time for Christian believers to get together and rejoice, either in homes or in churches. Food, fun and fellowship are a healthy alternative to all-night excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages.
Traditionally, many people in the world get inebriated on New Year’s Eve, only to wake up sometime the next day not knowing what they might have said, what happened, or with whom. But God’s people can unite in prayer power for God’s will to be done, and for His Kingdom to come. Although this may perhaps sound too religious or “goody-two-shoes,” it is a safe and sane alternative to the typical New Year’s celebrations that dominate cultures around the world.
Gathering together with music, food, games, good conversation, and perhaps an inspirational message right before midnight, along with prayer, make for a blessed New Year’s Eve celebration. Then go home, go to bed, and enjoy the next day without a smashing headache or an upset stomach.
One of the traditions associated with New Year’s observances is the making of resolutions, promises to stop or start something in the New Year. On the average, about half of American adults make one or more New Year’s resolutions each year, which commonly include weight loss, exercise, quitting smoking and better money management.
Typically, about 75 percent of people who make resolutions maintain their commitment past the first week, and less than half keep their word to themselves after six months. Numbers vary, of course, and some people actually make the desired changes in their lives. But for the most part, it’s another disappointment and another failure, and it comes up again at the next New Year’s time.
Making New Year’s Resolutions was started by early Babylonians. Although this is generally assumed as accurate, no one really knows, but it’s the stuff of great trivial conversation at social gatherings, particularly New Year’s Eve parties. For the Babylonians, the start of the New Year was a good time to return borrowed items, such as farming equipment, and so begin the New Year with a clean slate. Some believe that New Year’s resolutions began as promises made to the gods, negotiating or bargaining in the hope that the gods would grant some favor in return, such as a good harvest. It was also believed that breaking of New Year’s resolution brought bad luck.
The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. Every day is the day the Lord has made, as Psalm 118:24 states, and “we will rejoice and be glad in it.” One can make a resolution or promise to oneself any day of the year, and keeping it or breaking it is in their hands. One thing the Bible does say in Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4 and 5 is that if one makes promises or vows to God, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”
Setting a goal or several goals at the beginning of the New Year can be stimulating, but it is the motivation to keep the resolution that is important. One can determine to pray more, read the Bible more, go to church regularly, or volunteer more, but these resolutions can fail without correct motivation. The incentive must come from within with purpose and a plan. Even though there might be a setback at times, the best thing to do is to immediately start again.
After months and months of tests to develop an electric light-bulb, Thomas Edison was interviewed by a reporter who asked Edison if he felt like a failure and if he thought he should just give up. Edison replied, “Young man, why would I feel like a failure? And why would I ever give up? I now know definitively over 9,000 ways that an electric light bulb will not work. Success is almost in my grasp.” After over 10,000 attempts, Edison successfully invented the light bulb. The point is, don’t quit. If it is a worthy goal, it is worth sticking to, even if it means starting over a few times.
Happy New Year Everyone…
Pastor Matthew and Christa Manning
By Pastor Matthew
I realize more and more that it was not only joy and peace that Jesus brought to our world. More than that, it was God making a statement that He stood on the side of the dispossessed. Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus ended up in a cave (or something like it), because there was no room at the inn. Mary, who was about to give birth to Jesus, was forced to walk (or ride a donkey) for miles to another city — forced to do so by a foreign dictator who wanted to make a census to further tax the Jewish people.
And then there was the suspicion that she and Joseph experienced in regard to accusations of an illegitimate birth. The only human beings who came were shepherds; the lowest class of riffraff in the culture of that time. Additionally, God did send the angels to celebrate and encourage Mary and Joseph.
In human terms, Jesus’ birth was not only simple, but it also dignified the poorest people that God could have chosen. Thirty years later Jesus told a would–be follower that He (Jesus) had no place to lay His head. So, from beginning to end, God sided with the poor and dispossessed rather than those living in Herod’s palace.
If you can see beneath the surface, this “Christmas Story” has an even more encouraging Christmas message this year where many of you reading are concerned with your future due to the state of our economy that has possibly effected your financial future. However, this Christmas Season means that God is with you more deeply than ever, even in your times of trial, when you may have fewer possessions than before, may even have no place to lay your heads, and for some of you may have lost your reputations.
Jesus not only knew about these trials that you may be facing, but He lived through them with His family, long before He was crucified.
He will be your companion always, no matter what, as long as you stay close to Him!
With Christmas peace, joy and hope for a blessed New Year, (Jeremiah 29:11)
Pastor Matthew and Christa Manning
