I hear that Pastor Warren is well known or something south of the border. So I thought I’d attend his plenary session, and I got a few bits FYI, though I confess I was in dire need of a coffee infusion so wasn’t quite as alert as I could have been!

1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush [a] and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth-

7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
who have ears but are deaf.

9 All the nations gather together
and the peoples assemble.
Which of them foretold this
and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.

11 I, even I, am the LORD,
and apart from me there is no savior.

12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.

13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”

God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness
14 This is what the LORD says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, [b]
in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator, your King.”

16 This is what the LORD says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,

17 who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

We stand with you in solidarity. You have a great commitment to a great commandment, a great commission to build a great communion.

If God is willing to bless ACNA we must:
1. Get our Father’s perspective
2. Follow the Son’s pattern
3. Do it in the Spirit’s power.

Problem is Christians love the world (value system) not the world (people).

You may lose the steeple but you won’t lose the people. Christ did not die for property.

Most churches tend to go one of two ways - Come/See churches attract crowds but no maturity, Come/Die churches radical discipleship but nobody coming in the front door. Need a progression to allow both styles. ACNA needs to do this.

God does not call ACNA to be a reactionary church. You did not leave TEC / ACC (they left you being the implication). A new communion, a new reformation.

I understand the full text will be available later, you may compare and contrast with this and agree that I was indeed in dire need of coffee.