Greetings from Apostle Bob Pierce
My family and all the people at the Capital Region Prayer and Healing Center have all been busy serving the Lord over these past two months since my last Report. Our Apostolic Council has met several times in Albany, New York to discuss how we can help a few of the many business proposals I have received. We have decided that the following guidelines would help us to choose which projects we can promote to investors during the next year (it takes a long time to find investors who are willing to consider investing in another country).
When the Council has chosen a few projects to promote it does not mean the other Proposals are not worthy. However, as Apostles we have to be practical and wise when approaching investors. If your proposal is not chosen do not think your effort was given for nothing. Every one of you that have sent me a Proposal have taken a very important step, just as the Scripture says:
"Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it certainly will come, it will not delay. Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith." - Habakkuk 2:2-3
Below are some of the guidelines we have established for our initial attempt to find investors. Later on, after a few project proposals have been successfully started, some of the same investors may be more willing to fund some more.
At the same time go before the Lord with your recorded vision - you should seek the Lord and discover ways to push ahead on your own. We believe that where you can band together to help one another and to jointly start some business projects - you will be able to encourage and teach one another how to start and grow a business. There is of course one of the great principles of the Bible that needs to be kept at the front of your vision:
"The secret to living is in giving." The business projects that will succeed will be those which are designed to give and serve others first. Rather than asking for a helping hand, ask God how you can pray for business people. Even in hoping for us to find investors for your projects you can begin by asking and praying for the investors who may end up financing the Proposals.
GUIDELINES FOR FUNDING A PROJECT:
1. It should be outward focused. It should seek first to serve others in their community rather than just their own family or church or ministry.
2. It should be capable of becoming self-sustaining after the initial investment is given to launch it. It should be profitable within a short period of time, such as 1-2 years.
3. It should, as much as possible, involve others in their community teaching them skills and trades to lift the people of the community up to a higher level.
4. It should be a project that benefits the whole Kingdom of God - not just 1 family, 1 denomination or 1 village.
5. It should be administered/owned by a person or persons who have already proven they have skills and have success in the marketplace.
6. It should be administered/owned by one or more who will contribute their own money, land or other resources.
7. It should be one which funds, works of mercy from its profits - rather than a project that is itself, a work of mercy (such as a hospital, a fund to assist widows and orphans or, an elementary school or other such non-profit work of mercy. These should be funded by the profits of your own businesses.)
8. It must be able to easily be monitored by other Christian business people. It must be able to demonstrate from regular inspections and reports that it is accomplishing its vision.
God is in business for those whose business is in God! You have taken a first step by writing your vision. Now take some time see how your Proposal matches up with some of the Guidelines above. You do not have to write me about this unless I request it from you later. As we come closer to selecting a few initial Proposals then I will ask you to send me more information - but not right now.
Be blessed; be diligent; and persevere in this task!
We love you and pray for you.
Bob Pierce
"Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.” Matt 25:16
There is a shift occurring in the area of stewardship; have you noticed? The Lord is teaching us something that most have not seen before. I mean when the word stewardship comes to mind the first thing we think of is Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." We are taught about the tithe and are encouraged to give; and if we do so, God will give us all we need. Of course this principle is absolutely tried and true and still applies. Nevertheless, the Lord is teaching us something new.
Look at Matt 25:16 again. Could it be possible that the parable of the talents which is always used to exhort us to use our spiritual gifts and natural abilities - that this parable should be taken literally, instructing us to invest our money and multiply it? I believe this is true. The Lord is telling us to make a profit with the money He has given us. Invest it, trade, do business, even take risks to do so. He is displeased with the one who is afraid to take a risk, allowing their money and assets to remain unproductive.
At this writing there are probably hundreds of ministries in your area with multiple millions of dollars worth of vision and we are all dipping into the same pool of resources. In the natural there is not enough money to go around. It is a fact that God gives vision AND the provision; but Paul was a tentmaker wasn’t he? The provision of God came to him through the work of his own hands! Don’t be limited by the mindset that says if you only pray a little harder and maybe fast a little longer then God is going to have someone give you all of the money you need to fulfill your vision. How many years have you been thinking this way? Do you still have lack? God may be withholding the provision to show you something new. The truth is, most of the body of Christ is hard pressed for finances… and I believe the Lord is allowing it to happen at this point in time to get our attention. He wants to expand our thinking and change our understanding of stewardship.
Up till now, most churches and ministries have received donations and then dispersed them where needed. The money comes in and the money goes out. We are then in need of more money and the cycle continues… and there is usually never enough money. Now consider this: The money comes in and you save some of it until you can make a high yield investment or open a business – something that will turn a profit and bring in a steady income. Can you see? Like the wise steward, you have multiplied the Master’s money and now have more money and assets to use for His purposes.
Churches and ministries all over the world are learning how to do this. Some are buying rental properties or restoring and selling houses… or some other profitable business. Others are investing in the stock market and high interest bearing accounts. The entrepreneurial spirit is emerging and these ministries are prospering. God is using the business leader to advance His kingdom. Local ministers and godly business people are working hand in hand to make the best investments and turn the greatest profit.
I can sense that some from the “old school” may be upset. They have always considered money to be dirty and say “the church has no business being in business.” Yet somehow they themselves still need money. Can you hear what I’m saying? God is teaching us to make money… not in place of preaching the gospel but for the sake of preaching the gospel!
You know I believe that God is up to something very BIG. He has been stirring prayer for revival and transformation all over the world. He has been restoring the office of apostle and prophet and has been preparing and placing individuals in key positions throughout our society. The Lord has been refining and pruning us - making us ready for this great hour. And the gospel is spreading like fire around the globe. I’m sure you realize what God is now doing must be funded. It costs millions, even billions! He will provide all that is needed, but please don’t think the money is going to fall out of the sky. Ask God about these things!
"And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deut 8:18 Peter Whitehouse
Part I
“But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” Deuteronomy 8:18
This series of BUSINESS SEMINARS will lay the ground, the sure foundation, for any person of God to prosper – not only in spiritual matters but in material blessings. I must confess dear brothers and sisters, that for many years I lived a life of multiple material blessings without understanding the scripture quoted above. Although my heart was reaching out to God – and He responded abundantly – I did not know that it was He alone who was the power behind my good fortunes.
Much of Part I in this series of teachings is a summary of what I shared at two Business Seminars in the towns of Bungoma and Kitale, Kenya, East Africa during my visit in August 2007. I am dedicating this written document to the wonderful new friends I have made there and I thank God for each of them.
MAJOR CONCEPTS TO UNDERSTAND “TO MAKE WEALTH”
1. God wants us to prosper “and be in good health just as your soul prospers” (III John 1:2)
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son the father turned to the oldest son and declared to him, why do you care if your younger brother is treated to a celebration – you own everything; you own the whole farm!
2. Breaking the “spirit of poverty” is the same in any country, especially in America – it is a matter of renewing our minds to have “wealth-thinking”. Here in America, perhaps the richest country with unlimited opportunity to prosper – many, many Americans live without enough. They are poor primarily because they think poverty.
3. Anyone who has followed God for any period of time – knows that God is constantly helping us to change in all areas of our lives. In order to renew one’s mind he has to begin to change his thinking patterns, to change his vision, to change his habits and even change his traditions that he received from his family.
4. God loves mystery and He loves to hide things – not from His people but for His people. Whenever we come up to something we don’t understand that God has not revealed to us, there is a good chance that He has hidden it for us for a reason: He desires that we pursue the mystery and discover what He has hidden for us!
5. How to take God’s power “to make wealth” which then confirms His covenant He made with Abraham – seems to be one of those mysteries. Here is the revealing of part of this mystery; here is a secret uncovered: IF YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF PROSPEROUS THEN GOD WANTS YOU TO UNCOVER THE MYSTERY OF “MAKING WEALTH”. This is a sign that God is willing to bring a future event into the present time as long as you are willing to participate with God in the unfolding of that event. God wants us to co-labor with Him rather than Him just handing it to us!
6. Don’t keep looking at your current provision, your current level of prosperity (or lack of prosperity). If we only can see our current provision we will only develop a vision that is limited by the current level of provision. We will only live with our present means and not live in faith. Start living within His blessings, within His abundance which are beyond logic, our current resources and reason. START THINK BIG; ASK GOD FOR BIG IDEAS, FOR BIG GOALS.
7. Kenya can be transformed within a short period of time. It is rich in natural resources, rich in people of God and rich in business opportunities. I continued to ask in my seminars, “Kenya change? Can you change your thinking, vision, habits and traditions to move where God wants to take you? I believe the transformation is under way. Do you?
Business Conference
Albany, NY USA