4Tucson Church Domain

Pre-New Year Newsletter

 

Watch what happens when unity, collaboration, integrity and service come together…

Upcoming events:

  • BEYOND – January 7, 2012
BEYOND this Saturday.  We have 18 of the 22 sites with prayer coordinators, and at least 25 churches fully engaged.  If time was an unlimited resource, I’m sure we could have increased the participation by several multiples, but it’s still not bad.  The closing ceremony will be God-honoring, I believe, with hopefully a couple hundred prayer walkers participating in the torch procession.

January 7, 2012 marks the one year anniversary of the last day of life for six victims shot and killed in the 1/8/11 tragedy in Tucson. To move beyond that tragedy, a large coalition of over 90 community organizations have planned events all throughout Pima County on Saturday, Jan 7, with the overarching emphasis being on getting outside, being physically active, and spending time with people we care about.  See www.beyond-tucson.org for all the details.  The best part is that the Christian community has been invited to be a significant presence throughout the day.  We will have a designated torch bearer (literally) prayer walking the sites, with Christians invited to silently join in and pray prayers of blessing and protection over our city, while coming alongside each event as an invited guest with a “how can I help you” attitude.  At the end of the day, each of the several hundred (thousand?) prayer walkers are invited to follow the torches as they come together for a closing ceremony at Kino Stadium (formerly Tucson Electric Park) from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. (Doors open at 4:00 p.m.)  Thanks to God’s amazing intervention, the closing ceremony has a solidly Christian flavor to it.  Participate in an event near you, and come pray with others at the closing ceremony.  As Nehemiah led the Israelites to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, God is inviting us to rebuild a wall of prayer, blessing, and protection around our community, literally reaching from Marana to Colossal Cave, and Sahuarita to Sabino Canyon. 

For more info or to participate in the prayer walk at a site near you and at the closing ceremony, contact Brian Goodall (brian@4Tucson.com) or Dave Drum (dave@4Tucson.com).

BEYOND Flyer Final.pdf BEYOND flyer listing all the sites; other promo material available as well.

  • TMA (Tucson Ministry Alliance) – January 12

Tucson Ministry Alliance – a fellowship of the prayer, church, and social services domains.  The collaboration is already working – our high water mark for this monthly gathering in the last 15 years (counting all its predecessors) has probably been about 50, if you don’t count the years that Steve Hall’s student ministry brought about 40 of their own staff.  We already have more than 55 RSVP’s, with still a week to go, including several pastors we haven’t seen in years.  I’ve made some intentional outreach to the Hispanic and African American communities this week, and will continue to pursue those relationships.

Tucson Ministry Alliance is a collaborative venture of Tucson Ministry Fellowship, Community Renewal, and 4Tucson.  On the second Thursday of every month, this lunch symposium will focus on how the body of Christ in Tucson is responding to a specific area of need. 

11:30 a.m.         Lunch (a catered lunch prepared for those who RSVP - $10 per plate)

12:00 noon        Presentation by a local expert in the field

12:20 p.m.        Testimonies of God's provision

12:30 p.m.        Prayer with others around the issues and needs

12:55 p.m.        Closing

A resource list of area churches and other Christian organizations working in the area discussed that month will be supplied to help you and your church get involved.  Your church needs to be represented.

Location:                      Gospel Rescue Mission new women’s center, 707 W Miracle Mile

January 12 topic:          City Transformation

RSVP:                          Send email to tma@4tucson.com

TMA flyer.pdf TMA flyer


  • Abolition Conferences – January 13 and January 14

Another amazing coalition of many community groups, with Christians taking the lead, is presenting the first ever conference on human trafficking that is taking place right in our own back yard.  Friday the 13th is a focused training event with multiple specialty tracks; Saturday the 14th is an all day conference with multiple workshops. See www.abolitionconference.com for more info.

LACYfront_8.5x5.5x2.pdf   LACYback_8.5x5.5x2.pdf Lacy (front & back) – for Friday training event; ABConf (front & back) for Sat. event

  • Religious Freedom Sunday – January 15

Each year, the President declares January 16th to be Religious Freedom Day, and calls upon Americans to "observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship." The day is the anniversary of the passage in 1786 of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. Many people throughout the country are taking this opportunity to give thanks to God for bestowing upon us a nation in which our ability to practice our faith is an inherent right secured by our government. 4Tucson and Gateways to Better Education offer resources for pastors and church leaders to hold Sunday worship in honor of National Religious Freedom Day.  Equip your congregation and students with Free to Speak pamphlets which quotes the U.S Department of Education clarifying seven important religious freedoms on public school campuses.  Check out the opportunities at www.religiousfreedomSunday.com.  Contact Bernadette Gruber at Bernadette@4Tucson.com  or 520-576-8400 with any questions.

  • March for Life – January 21

Join the larger Christian community at this 18th annual march for the sanctity of human life from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m, starting at St Augustine Cathedral at ending at Holy Hope Cemetery.  For more information visit http://tucsonmarchforlife.org/.

  • Ignite Children’s Ministry Conference – January 21

The 4th annual Ignite Tucson is a joint venture of Christ Community Church, El Camino Baptist Church, Grace To The Nations, Oro Valley Nazarene, Pantano Christian Church and Vail Christian Church.  Last year had over 500 attendees representing over 60 churches.  See www.ignite-tucson.com for all the details and to register.

  • No Child Waiting – February 11

350 children and youth are waiting in AZ foster care for a permanent family.  Are you the family they’ve waited for?  The issue of adoptable children waiting for a home is a solvable challenge if the body of Christ in our city and state gets involved, and if church communities work together so that adoptive families don’t feel so isolated.  Join us at Wait No More on Saturday, February 11th from 1-5 pm at Scottsdale Bible Church. A group will be driving up from Tucson together.  Local contact is Pastor Bill Fisher: bfisher@pantanochristian.org.  Info and registration at www.iCareAboutOrphans.org.  Bulletin inserts and powerpoint promos available, but too large to attach.

  • Spring Pastors Prayer Summit – March 12-15

See below for a report on what God accomplished in our fall one day summit.  Imagine what God wants to do next!  The 4th annual spring pastors’ prayer summit starts with dinner Monday evening and ends by lunchtime on Thursday, and will be held on Mt Lemmon.  Is it tough to carve out 72 hours?  Absolutely. So was the cross.  As Pastor Mark Harris challenged me prior to the first one four years ago, “Dave, what could you possibly have on your calendar that would be more important than praying with other pastors for one another and for our city?”  Much more information will be available in January, but save the dates right now. For more info contact dave@4tucson.com or brian@4tucson.com.   And in conjunction with this… 

  • Prayer and Fasting – March 14

We’re inviting the body of Christ in town to spend Wednesday, and in particular Wednesday evening, to be in prayer for God to do all He desires in, for and through the pastors gathered together on the mountain.  More details to come.

  • Community Easter Sunrise Service – April 8

If your church doesn’t have your own Easter Sunrise service, advertise this opportunity for the body of Christ to worship together as one.  For more info or to help plan, contact dave@4tucson.com. 

Needs and Opportunities

  • Youth director position – a local church is looking to hire a youth director skilled at outreach. For more information contact jcords@mac.com.
  • 4Tucson orientations – Over the last six months we’ve developed a traveling one hour presentation that gives the need, history, call, strategy, and progress report of 4Tucson. If you’d like us to consider hosting one near you, let us know.  The feedback to date has been incredibly positive, with each month an improvement on the previous.  God has a compelling vision He’s pouring out all over our city; we just have the distinct privilege of being a part of it.  Contact dave@4tucson.com for more information.
  • Church domain admin help - I have good news and bad news.  The good news is that God has opened up more doors and windows than I have time to walk through.  The bad news is the same.  So I’m looking for help.  In particular, if you like writing, editing, phone calling, and/or details in general, contact me at dave@4tucson.com.  No guarantees, but let’s talk.
  • GV Resources, LLC – God’s Vast Resources – is a local organization established in November, 2010 by native Tucsonans, Mark and Debbie Struble.  GVR was created to generate financial resources to enable God’s people to provide to those in need, and build relationships for Christ. God’s Vast Resources is partnering with individuals, organizations, churches and ministries to create a powerful network that will enable all those involved to make a significant difference in our community, and far beyond.  God is stirring people into action.  Many exceptional outreach ministries are already mature, some are in motion, and others are in a holding pattern. Often lack of funding is the only thing that prevents a much-needed program from inception, or a mature program from continuing to expand.  With each of us just doing our small part, we can generate enough financial resources to make a significant difference for the Kingdom!  sit our web site at www.gvresources.com.  Call Mark at 520-808-7312, or Debbie at 520-437-5386 to learn more about the vision!

Past Successes:

  • November 2011 Pastors’ Prayer Summit

84 pastors representing at least 25 denominations in Tucson spent November 3 together at the Southern Pines Baptist Camp on Mt Lemmon, praying for each other and for our city.  Here are a few quotes:

    • “Just wanted to thank you again for organizing a terrific day! It’s the best twenty bucks I’ve ever spent!” – parachurch pastor
    • “What a blessing yesterday was on so many levels. It was just great being up in the mountains and listening to wind go through the pine trees, to meet other pastors, to be in prayer for Tucson, and each other.  I really liked the way the prayer went for each other, each of us praying ours and the others joining in. I just am sorry that others were not there.” – female pastor
    • “We had a wonderful time! Thank you for all you're doing to bring about true change in our city.” – Hispanic pastor
    • “I had some personal concerns that had created deep anger and resentment in my heart.  Prolonged bitterness and resentment will kill the effectiveness of any ministry leader.  When five leaders circled around me to pray for my issue, I felt it disappear from my heart as though the anger was a puff of smoke and someone blew it away.” – Anglo pastor
    • “When I was confronted with a decision to attend the Prayer Summit or not, many thoughts went through my mind.  How am I going to break away for a full day to spend time praying with many other pastors, some of whom I don’t even know? And it is all the way on top of Mt. Lemmon.  That’s about as remote as one can be and still be in Tucson.  Even cell phones don’t work up there.  I know from history that nothing great happens in God’s kingdom that isn’t first initiated with prayer.  How would any Christian that understands history have a second doubt about attending the Prayer Summit?  What did I have to do that was more important than spending the day with other pastors praying for each other and for our city?  I chose to go.  When I returned to work the next day, I also discovered the world had not come to an end in my absence.  My staff had actually resolved many of the problems that I had considered excuses for missing the Prayer Summit.  As I made the choice to spend time with God and while I was meeting with Him, He took care of the most pressing issues of my day.  Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these things will be added unto you.”  Deciding to attend the Prayer Summit was the best decision I made that day.”  Same Anglo pastor and business leader
    • “Thank you so much for having us @ the prayer gathering, it was a great thing to see many Pastors and church members attend this type of gathering.” – Hispanic pastor
    • “I just watched the slide show and am still feeling the power of the Holy Spirit. The images are very powerful. The contemplative prayer leaders in Tucson demonstrate so many styles that by the time I was finished I could feel God smiling down on me. What a magnificent service to our Lord!” – someone who just saw the pictures afterward!
  • Churches all in (profiling two this month)

Desert Hope Lutheran Church

            Desert Hope is a newer church plant, less than two years old, with about 200 in worship each weekend.  I’ve been invited to preach and lead Bible studies there on the topic of God’s strategy for citywide transformation.  I have also been invited to meet with their leadership team to talk about ways to reach out into their immediate neighborhood and sphere of influence, as well as their local missions/benevolence team.  Desert Hope has been represented by someone different at each of the six 4Tucson orientations held this fall, and is financially supporting 4Tucson (as well as many other local and international missions) both individually and corporately.  As a result, Desert Hope members are engaged in most of 4Tucson’s 12 domains.  Desert Hope is designing a new logo, and intends for T-shirts, etc to say “Desert Hope 4Tucson” – with the church’s logo immediately followed by 4Tucson’s logo.

Pantano Christian Church

            Pantano is one of the city’s largest churches, and is well-known for its citywide investment and perspective.  Pantano invited us to give a full one-hour 4Tucson orientation to its entire staff at their December full-staff meeting, wanting the whole staff to be fully on board.  They also opened up that meeting to anyone else wanting to attend, and approximately 20 other churches were represented.  Pantano has offered staff time to us at no cost, and is eager to give ministry away in order to help the Kingdom of God grow in the city.  Lead Pastor Glen Elliott will be sharing the weekend worship services with Brian Goodall and David Drum at a service in January so that the entire church catches the vision.

Planning way ahead for 4Tucson (co-)sponsored events:

  • May 3 - National Day of Prayer
  • May 27 - Global Day of Prayer
  • August 9-10 - Willow Creek Leadership Summit
  • Nov 1 - Fall Pastors Prayer Summit
  • Dec ? - Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony