July 15, 2003
FSM 365 CM/FM
Special Action FSM #5
11/00
Copyright © 2000 by The Family
Cover photo: Crystal (of Peter)
By Trust (U.S. Activated Desk) and Abner, NACRO
In September we held our first Activated Seminar for the U.S. and Canada, attended by over 100 brethren who came to the meeting site in Southern California from as far away as Boston, Massachusetts and Ontario, Canada. The CROs who came from India (Cephas), Taiwan (Sweetie), and Europe (Gallio) won the prize for the most miles logged. It was also a great inspiration to have Tommy and his wife Joanie attend the meetings to share about the beautiful follow-up and discipleship ministry that has been exploding in Brazil.
A Gleaning or a Harvest?
One of the biggest questions that the Family in the U.S. and Canada grapples with is whether this field has already been reaped. The Family on these fields can be tempted to wonder if there really is going to be another harvest here-after all, the Family has been witnessing, winning, and discipling in this field for over 30 years since our Teens for Christ days at Huntington Beach, California. The Lord answered this big question in the first paragraph of the keynote prophecy that was sent by Mama and Peter for this seminar meeting:
(Jesus speaking:) The harvest truly is plenteous, and the laborers few. You may wonder whether the harvest truly is plenteous in that land, or if it is more of a gleaning. I tell you that if you will go to where I send you and use the methods I show you, there is far more than a gleaning—there is yet a mighty reaping ahead.
He also reminded us that many would still answer His call to foreign fields:
(Prophecy continues:) As for the laborers being few, where they are fewest and most in demand is in many needy mission fields. While the harvest in the U.S. is abundant in itself, I will at this time, in this new era of action, call many more of you away, across the seas and on to new fields.
So whether we are called to go on to new harvest fields, or remain to reap the mighty harvest that the Lord has promised here, our calling is the same:
(Prophecy continues:) This is the day to go forth to battle. It is a day to clearly hear My voice and receive My instructions and obey My orders. It is the day of swift action. As you do your part to swiftly obey, I will do My part to swiftly supply. I will specifically guide each one of you and I will lead you to the field of My choice. But wherever that field is, and whatever calling I call you with, your supreme calling will always be to feed My sheep.
Over the course of our time together, the Lord continued to encourage us that He has a mighty harvest waiting to be reaped in the U.S. and Canada. We also reviewed some older prophecies received for the North American field (FSM 214) in which the Lord said that we would once again see a mighty harvest on this field:
(Jesus speaking:) For, yea, it is a great battle! It is a mighty harvest! It is a great work, greater than ye have ever seen there before, for I have many, many children there who long for the Words of David, who are lost and starving and desperate! They wander the streets in darkness. It is a harvest that ye may not see unless ye go out and seek and search for that which is lost. Call and I will answer you, and I will show you great and mighty things that you have not seen before! Yea, and this dark land, it shall be reaped! I say, it shall be reaped. There shall be a GREAT reaping! For ye are called into the Kingdom for such a time as this. Do not be timid, but reach out and take hold of My anointing, and I shall work through you, and it shall glorify Me. If ye lift up My name, I shall draw all men unto Me.
In another prophecy which was received before the keynote presentation, the Lord encouraged us that this meeting would re-ignite the work in the U.S. and Canada:
(Jesus speaking:) There is a great vacuum here—a vacuum of anticipation, a need for direction, a desire to learn and grow, a desire to see the new, to implement that which to date most have only read about and not put feet to. In this meeting what you are doing is giving them the ability to run the distance and bear much fruit. For this will be the re-igniting of a work somewhat fallow in many regions, a work that will inspire the hearts of those that are here, and go on to inspire others around them as they go forth bearing the light that will be rekindled during these meetings. (End of message.)
New Avenues for Tool Distribution and Support
After the Lord ignited the passion in our hearts and united our vision through the keynote meeting and prophecy, we had two meetings covering the new Distributor Program that now provides tremendous new opportunities to distribute the tools, get out the message, and raise support while doing so. Since tool distribution is such an integral part of any follow-up program (we won't have sheep to follow-up on if we're not faithfully getting out the Word), we want to make it as easy as possible for the Homes to distribute the Get Activated books and materials, as well as our tremendous audio and video products.
In order to make this happen, we [the U.S. Activated desk] have expanded the residual income program that was announced in the Action Series, Part 3 (ML #3290, GN886) to include not only tools sold to Activated subscribers, but any tool sales that Homes make through the Distributor Program. That means that once a Home sells a tool to someone (whether he or she is a subscriber to Activated or not), if that person buys any future tools or products through Activated, the Home who originally made the contact will get the profit on future sales as well. Or if a Home were to distribute flyers with their distributor number on it, and someone receiving the flyer were to call the U.S. Activated Desk's toll-free number and order some products, likewise the profit would go to the Home.
We've also started the Video of the Month club for the Treasure Attic videos, in which Homes can sign someone up for the TA club and the person will receive a new Treasure Attic video each month. Once again, once a Home signs someone up for the TA club, the profits from the sale of all videos and any other products sold to that person go back to the Home! With 29 videos available in the series, a Home can establish a great base of support by signing people up on this program, support that will last for years to come. And, most importantly, more of the Gospel will be getting out!
After going over some of the specifics of this new program, everyone was popping with ideas of ways to increase our tool distribution-not only through traditional outreach methods but by approaching retail stores, wholesalers, having booths at fairs and conventions, holding parent meetings at churches and schools, hosting Activated parties at friends' houses to showcase our tools, and selling tools to companies as gifts for their employees and clients.
Everyone also got a sneak preview of the new Christmas Activated magazine, which was made for street distribution during the Christmas season. The Christmas magazine is the same size and format as the regular Activated magazines (half of the pages in full color). This pub was produced by the U.S. Activated desk, but has been made available to other desks as well, with 16 pages of inspiring Christmas material, including Love Came Down at Christmas, Christmas Angels, a Christmas Heaven's Library story, Christmas poems, plus one full page of advertisement for Christmas tapes, videos, and CDs—as well as a subscription card on the back and a big space for the Home's distributor number.
With a tool like this, as Homes put their number on each magazine before distribution, the profit from any tools that are bought as a result of the distribution of that piece of lit also goes back to the Home! It's an extremely attractive support program that is a total win-win effort: The message goes out in a big way, lives are changed, and support is raised. In fact, if you compare the benefits of this program with any other similar program offered by direct marketing companies, the Activated program is by far the most rewarding, both in terms of the tremendous message that is preached and the good missionary support that is gained.
We also showed the proofs for our new 16-page color product catalog that is being printed right now. Once again, Homes can leave catalogs with those they meet or distribute tools to, and since there is a space for their distributor number on the catalog, the profit from any sales that come through the Home's catalog distribution are again sent to the Home.
The Christmas CD cards were also a huge hit—and we sold out of our first run in advance sales before we'd even gotten it from the dupers! We're now finishing a second run of 100,000 CDs in English and Spanish. CD card sales are hot!—A great product, the best message, music that moves people, and at a price that is unbeatable and allows for the Homes to wholesale or retail at an attractive markup. To help increase sales to retail stores and other outlets, we're producing full-color cardboard counter-top displays for the CD cards in both English and Spanish, which will be available for ordering by the time you read this. (Check first, as they may even be sold out! Contact the U.S. Activated Desk at: activatedUSA@activated.org.)
Conventions, Fairs, and Booths
We set up our Activated booth at the back of the meeting room, and it was inspiring for everyone to see how easy it is to have a colorful presentation at a fair, convention, festival, flea market, or mall stand. Many folks got inspired with the vision of promoting and selling tools at trade shows, county fairs, swap meetings, conventions—anywhere that they can set up a table and booth. We took a portion of our meeting time to share some tips that we've learned in our booth presentations, such as how to get people interested in the products, how to present the tools, how to work the floor, etc.
Support, Support, Support!
As the Activated Desk serving the North American field, we emphasized our commitment to do all we can to support our field missionaries on this field. We will do our best to provide the best service possible, answer any questions and meet any needs that we are able to. We are here to help the Word and the message to go out in as great a way as possible. If we are able to facilitate greater distribution, personal follow-up or meet special needs in any way, that is our goal. If we can help in any way, please ask and we'll do all we can do.
The Wine Press
We also had a Wine Press display rack right next to our booth set-up, which gave an opportunity for everyone to look through the 37 issues of the Wine Press that have been sent out over the past three years. This monthly magazine, designed for friendly former members and close live-outs, contains lots of feeding and meaty Word, such as The Spiritual Health Revolution, the Keys to Victory series, The Weakness Revolution, Ask Me Everything, Prophecy Questions and Answers, and You Don't Have to Be Perfect. We had a short presentation about the Wine Press ministry, encouraging folks to not only send in addresses of folks they think would benefit from the Wine Press, but also to use the Wine Press in the follow-up and feeding of their sheep.
In The Action Series, Part 2, Peter explained that there are 26,000 people who were in the Family at one time, but are no longer live-in Family members (ML #3301:43, GN903). We feel that we've only scratched the surface of finding and ministering to these dear former members, the vast majority of whom are thankful for their time in the Family and love the Words of David and Maria. The Wine Press came as a result of the continual pleading of former members who wanted to get more feeding. They'd often quote the Letters to us, reminding us that Dad said, I'm ready to send MO Letters to anybody that wants them and is willing to read them and pass them on to others who need them!—And anybody who wants more of them to pass on to others, I'll send them more! I don't care whether they belong to a Colony or not, as long as they publish the glad tidings! (ML #242:34).
Follow-up and Discipling
—The Vision and Program
After we got full to overflowing with ideas on how we could start sowing the seed in greater abundance, we then moved to the second main topic of our seminar, which was how to have an effective follow-up and feeding ministry and how to bring our sheep into closer circles of discipleship. Tommy showed the Activated 2000 video about the work in Brazil, and we were all so touched to see the many precious and totally committed live-outs there who are now leading and teaching their own discipleship groups.
The Lord convicted our hearts as we realized that in so many ways we've become secluded in our blessings. We knew that He wanted to renew His fire within us to reap disciples for the Kingdom. For many of us it was a turning point as we made a new commitment to be the disciple-winners and lovers of the lost that the Lord has called us to be. As we studied the prophecies in the new Action GNs, we saw how we had strayed from that calling, and how the Lord is now asking us to get on board with this new disciple-winning revolution.
In The Action Series, Part 1(ML #3298:111-119, GN 895), the Lord said:
Those who remember the early days know what it means to work day and night to feed the hungry, to win and train disciples, to be surrounded by babes who constantly need to be taught and guided. However, with time the Family got away from that calling and that main ministry. But now there is an army ready, and the time is approaching when you will once again turn your eyes outward and give of yourselves day and night to tend to the hungry, the sheep, the new disciples.
The children of David have forgotten much. Though there may be some exceptions, for the most part, they have left their roots of compassion and understanding of the poor and downtrodden and they have grown cold. Like many of the churches, they have become secluded in their blessings.
The complacency, the deadness of spirit, the attraction for the world, the compromise and slow seepage of the world into the hearts and Homes of the Family will continue to be eliminated naturally as they find these multitudes of hungry sheep on their doorsteps. Love for the sheep and a desire to meet their needs will automatically begin to replace a desire for the world and a focus on your own needs. They will not be able to turn them away. Their whole lives will be disrupted, their schedules will have to be thrown out the window, and they'll find themselves with the totally joyful ministry of giving their lives—all their time, strength and attention—to feeding these precious ones who depend on them for their very lives in the spirit.
The children of David will fulfill their destiny as being the teachers of all nations, for they will train the leaders, those who speak the language of their land, who can go out and reach their own people in the distant fields, towns and villages. What begins as a pleasant breeze will grow to a mighty wind of power and fruitfulness.
The action I speak of in the days of action is outward ministering, outward teaching, and outward caring for the needy. The children of David will finally return to their roots, to the basics, and they will find the joy and satisfaction that has escaped them.
The Lord has always called us to be disciple-winners, as Dad said in 1975:
If the Revolution is anything at all it is a soul-winning, disciple-making Revolution or it is nothing at all and no better than the rest of the churches! The Revolution was born in the white-hot fires of a soul-winning explosion amongst the spiritually-starving youth of this generation, and a disciple-gaining movement of a salvation army on fire for God to win youth of the world from pitiful hopeless lives of drugs, vice, crime, nothingness and uselessness to the thrilling, exciting, inspiring, glorious life of love and usefulness to others in the Kingdom of God on Earth!
If we have ceased to be such soul-winning disciple-makers and lovers of the lost, desiring to save them and train them to serve God and others, then we have lost our reason for living and have no longer any excuse for existence and might as well cease our operations as just another dead church that has gone to sleep and left its engine running! We might as well cut it off and save fuel and quit pretending to be a revolution when we've stopped revoluting! (ML #328B:79-80).
Our time together at the Activated seminar helped to crystallize the disciple-winning vision for all of us. We also studied the recent prophecies that explained the commitment that will be required from us in order to become the disciple-winners the Lord wants us to be—personal commitment to gain victories and make progress in our spiritual growth, commitment in our Homes to refocus our lives on reaching and winning others, and commitment as an area to work together in love and unity for the sake of the sheep.
Seeing the sample of the live-out discipleship explosion taking place in Brazil gave us some solid direction on how to bring this exciting new vision to pass. Tommy took everyone step by step through some of the basics on where to begin and how to grow as a hot new religious movement: classifying current sheep, deciding what type of study group to bring them into, how to put together Bible classes, and many other aspects of discipleship training. We all took some time to pray about our own Home's sheep and how we could implement this vision immediately with those we are already ministering to.
Using the Activated magazines as an example, Tommy showed how the 12 first magazines could be used for a complete introductory course, and he also put together some sample classes from the Get Activated booklets. It increased our vision greatly to see how much material we already have available that makes our job of feeding the sheep so easy.
(Editor's note: Now on the Members Only Web site you will find the first classes in the basic course of the Activated Training Program. This course is called The 12 Foundation Stones, and takes a new convert through the basics in about six months, depending on how often the classes are given. Although the entire course is not finished, we will post new classes are they are ready, so that you can begin using them with your sheep!)
Setting Our Goals: Commitment and Unity!
From all that the Lord has poured out in the Action Series GNs, it is very clear that commitment and unity are vital and essential ingredients to a successful fruit-bearing, Lord-pleasing, life-fulfilling active ministry for Jesus! These two goals—commitment and unity—were stressed throughout our time together, as we took stock of our lives and service for the Lord and charted our course for the journey ahead.
Our desire is to live our lives with the commitment that it takes to reach others with the love of our incomparable Husband. Only by working in unity with others in our Home, our city and country will the harvest be reaped. This takes yieldedness, unselfishness, and trust. It takes walking by faith, trusting that while one sows and another waters the harvest, it is God that gives the increase. It takes giving and going the extra mile to help others and to put the needs of others first. By God's grace, we will be those men and women of God that will give our lives so that many others may live to know the love of our great Savior!
Inspiration and Fellowship
We also had some super inspiration nights! The first evening we heard testimonies from the visiting CROs. Cephas shared how Activated is exploding in India and how the Homes have been rolling with subscriptions. Sweetie gave some thrilling news from China and the Far East, and Gallio gave an overview of the many pioneering moves and thrilling testimonies from the Family in Europe and Africa.
The second night we had a Loving Jesus inspiration, and Simon Black sang some of his many beautiful songs. We had a gorgeous trio of female vocalists, English Joanie, Christina (Huldah), and Topaz, who lifted us to the heavenlies with their sweet voices. Miguel, Nic, Godfrey, and Philly provided music for all our meetings and inspirations—and it was so inspiring to praise the Lord in song together.
On the last night before departure we had a dance, which was packed out and lasted into the wee morning hours.
Closing Communion And Prophecies
We closed our meeting with communion and prayer time in a beautiful outdoor campfire area which overlooked the mountains and hills. (Our meeting was in a mountain campground at 4000 ft elevation). We all wrote down our prayer requests, put them in a pile for united prayer, and then took some time to hear the Lord's Words of direction and encouragement as we stepped out to make our Activated future a reality!
(Jesus speaking:) Be not faint in your minds; do not doubt in your hearts. Have no fear, for My promises I will fulfill to you. I will give you My strength if you will receive it by faith. Trust in Me and look wholly into My face and I will strengthen you. Open your hearts and I will pour My Spirit into you. I will lift you up. I will have you stand before the nations as a voice to many. But I say unto you, you must not fear, you must not doubt, you must accept by faith what I have given you. You must take this gift in your hands and draw it to your breast and believe it and cherish it and love it, and it will be wholly thine and I will bless you.
Look not at your weaknesses and your sins and your past shortcomings, for My love has washed them all away. I have given unto you a new day, a clean slate, a new beginning. My Spirit has blown as a cool breeze to blow away the chaff and the weakness and the disbelief. I will fill you to overflowing with My Spirit if you will but receive it.
Look not at the waves—trust in Me. Put your arms around Me and I will love you. Put your arms around your brother and love him with My love. (End of message.)
(Jesus speaking:) I am here with you by your side right now. You feel My love. You see My love. For My love is a love that never fails, and the same love that I show to you now, I ask you in turn to walk forward and share with all those that I will put in your path. For I do not put this love between us and in your hearts just to stay, for you must give it away.
If you could only see the future and how bright it is. As you look out over the horizon and you see far off in the distance, it is a beautiful sight—and that is what it looks like in the spirit, a beautiful sight. As we continue to love each other and walk together hand in hand, we will walk towards that horizon, bringing many others along with us.
So do not look behind. For I know you feel weak. I know you feel incapable. I know there have been mistakes in the past. But you passed all those—don't you know that? Don't you understand? So hold My hands and let's start walking right now—forward to the goal, forward to the vision I have set before you.
You cannot fail, for I am with you, and a mighty Heavenly host of angels and spirit helpers are there with you too. Do not think that you have to do something in your own flesh. Please follow My voice and do the things I tell you to do and then trust Me for all the rest.
Many great victories are ahead for each and every one of you. Do not falter, do not fear. Hold My hand, hold the hands of those around you, and we'll all walk forward together, making a net that catches all the many precious souls that I put before you. And we will all be together at the end, at that new horizon in Heaven. (End of message.)
(Jesus speaking:) Strengthen your bonds of unity, your cords of communication, for I've helped you to break down the walls, to open your hearts to one another and to realize that you need each other. That is the beginning. I know as you go forth you wonder, How can I do this— for I am just one? There are so many questions, so many uncertainties. Your past mistakes and weaknesses, the ways of the past, are ever present in your mind and in your thoughts, and you wonder how you're going to break out of the rut and how you're going to launch forth with the new.
But just remember: small beginnings, greater ends. Start with the little things today, and most of all keep your hearts open to one another. Remember what the Family is all about, what you're all here for. That's the greatest thing that's come about from this time together: that you've all remembered what you joined the army for. You all remembered why you love your neighbor, even with all their peculiarities and idiosyncrasies, through thick and thin, through all the battles and trials and tests that you've been through. You remember why you're here and why you love each other—because you're united in a common goal.
You can't find that love in yourselves; you can't find that strength in yourselves. But isn't that a relief?—You don't have to. You just have to keep looking to Me and following Me and keeping the door open—the door of your heart, the door of your life, the door of your Homes. And then all the other doors will open too—the doors of opportunity, of ministries, of follow-up, of finances, of everything. It's all got to start in the heart.
So when you walk away, the most important thing for you to remember is not the plans or the projects or the steps or the how-to's, the percentages, the figures, the numbers. But the most important thing is that you walk away remembering this feeling of love and unity, knowing that you all sat together at My feet and learned of Me, that you all drank deeply of My voice and inhaled the fresh breath of My Spirit. That you are one. That you love your neighbor. That will carry you through. (End of message.)
Dear Family, recently the Lord led the team working on the Activated Training Program to post the first two classes of the course The 12 Foundation Stones on our Members Only Web site, with the rest to follow as they are completed. With it they posted the following introduction. Since it is a good explanation of the materials that are being prepared for your use in follow-up, we are including it for you here. Love, WS
By WS
The Activated Training Program contains the basics that new believers need to ground them in knowing, living for, and serving the Lord—the principles of Christian discipleship whether inside or outside The Family. It helps them grow in their relationship with the Lord; how far they go in their own commitment is up to them. They may be content to go just a short distance and be satisfied with getting closer to the Him and thus improving the quality of their own lives, or they may take up the challenge to go further.
The program contains various courses, each one with classes organized on a particular topic. The first course is a basic one entitled The 12 Foundation Stones. A course on discipleship will follow, with other courses to be added as time goes on.
In addition to the classes themselves, The Activated Training Program will have a workbook for each course, which students can use for home study. And there is also the Teachers Handbook with guidance and tips to you, the teachers. Resources in the Word and other materials that you'll need to teach this course are also provided as part of the program
The program begins with the first course: 12 Foundation Stones, which brings the new believer from salvation to an understanding of basic Christian teaching and living. This course consists of an introductory class, then twelve sets of two classes each, each set covering one of twelve foundation topics, then a concluding class. (See list of classes on page 17.) At the rate of one class a week, this course is meant to last about six months (though it could be spread out over a shorter or longer period of time depending on your students and their ability to absorb the material.).
The next course is currently titled Discipleship, and will also last about six months. It will give further training, such as tips on teaching others, more on what it means to be a disciple, and deeper understanding of teachings that are particular to The Family.
The Activated Training Program is still being worked on. However rather than waiting until it is all finalized, we want to make available to you the classes and supplementary materials as they are completed, and are therefore posting them on the Members Only site.
Please note that the final versions of these classes may differ slightly from the versions posted here. These versions may also contain some typos and other mistakes; they haven't yet been final proofread, as that will be done after the layout stage. Once the first course of the Activated Training Program—that is, The 12 Foundation Stones—is completed, we plan to print it in a book, along with all of the corresponding workbooks and teacher's helps, for your use. But in the meantime we hope that you can use these classes to feed your sheep. The Activated Training Program materials are also going to be translated into Spanish and Portuguese—and hopefully eventually other languages—as time goes on. As they become available in any other language, we'll post those versions on this site also.
12 Foundation Stones
When all the pieces are in place, this first course of the Activated Training Program will consist of the following:
THE 12 FOUNDATION STONES [TEACHERS'] CLASSBOOK
This book contains 26 classes that make up the 12 Foundations Stones . It is for use by the teacher, with an outline and material for presenting the course. At the moment we envision Family members as the teachers, but in the future we believe this book may well be used by other Christians and it is designed somewhat with that in mind.
Each class is presented in a meeting format, with an outline as to how to spend approximately two hours with your group, including songs, teaching, discussion, skits, etc. The main points and substance of what you are trying to teach and get across are listed as focus points. Under each focus point heading you'll find a variety of material, including Bible text, optional anecdotes, testimonies, song suggestions, and additional activities.
Also included with each class are suggestions on how to prepare for the class and teach it, ideas for other activities, skits, and more!
You can pick and choose whatever class components the Lord leads you to use, bearing in mind the needs of those you are teaching, as long as you achieve the basic aim of teaching the focus points.
For instance, if you're teaching one-on-one, you may decide to skip the skits and songs. Or if you only have an hour to teach, maybe you'll divide the class in half and teach it on two occasions. One time you might want to read one of the optional extra Bible studies. On another occasion it won't be necessary. Sometimes you'll see an anecdote, illustration or example that you may want to replace with a personal favorite you prefer to use for that point, or something that the particular group of people you're teaching will relate to more easily. In that case, use your favorite! The materials are there for you to choose from and use as you need and see fit.
We pray that having the components for teaching prepared in this way will make it easier for you to give classes, whether you are an experienced teacher or not.
12 FOUNDATION STONES [STUDENTS'] WORKBOOK
This workbook is to be given or sold to those attending the classes for them to read and study at home. Each workbook section corresponds to one of the classes and reinforces the lessons taught.
Each workbook section corresponds to one of the classes and is four to six pages long. The first page or two contains verses to memorize, reading lists, short summaries of what was in the class and things for them to do.
The other three to four pages are supplementary reading material. Some is a repeat or condensed version of what was taught in the class. Some material is new but related to the subject the students just learned about.
(Again, these workbook sections will be printed for your use when the course is finalized. But for now you can download them from the Members Only Web site, print them out and use them as you see fit.)
TEACHER'S HANDBOOK
This book is meant to be used by Family members. It will give general instruction and explanation on how to present and teach the Activated Training Course.
Also included will be lots of practical advice on teaching, a reference section on how to answer various issues and controversies that could arise, ideas for how to bring people along to get them ready to start the course, bait meetings to get them used to the idea of attending classes, and more!
The handbook will be accompanied by teacher's aids such as song sheets, sets of promise verses, visual aids, etc. This will also be posted on the Members Only site once the content is finalized, as well as printed in book form.
WHO CAN YOU TEACH THESE CLASSES TO?
The Activated Training Course has been written with the expectation that when someone begins attending the classes, he or she will have already reached a few basic goals. It's not a requirement that someone reach all of these before starting on the course, but it is recommended that he or she has reached most of them in order to understand the basic thrust of the classes and grow thereby. (See next section on what to do for those who haven't yet arrived at these levels.)
(1) Be saved: The person should be saved. This does not mean that they need to have a deep understanding of salvation by grace, as these subjects will be covered in the 12 Foundation Stones course, but they do need to enter the course already saved, with Jesus in their hearts.
Many Activated subscribers will have received the Lord before receiving the magazines, or in the course of getting the magazines or other follow-up from you.
Other people you meet and want to teach should also receive the Lord before starting the course.
(2) Be filled with the Holy Spirit: The person needs to have prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Again, as with salvation, a comprehensive doctrinal knowledge of the subject is not necessary, but a basic understanding and a willing receptivity to the Holy Spirit are needed. Without the Spirit, the course could be dry words. The classes are meant to change lives. For the Word to be alive and meaningful, the student needs to have been filled with the Spirit.
(3) Show an interest in the Word and a desire for the classes:The classes are presented in a way that assumes those attending want to learn about the Word. They aren't written to convince unbelievers. Naturally some of your sheep may not believe everything in them, but it is assumed that they are not overly skeptical, that they have a desire to bring Jesus further into their lives, want to learn about Him and His Word, and show some interest in acting on their beliefs.
(4) Know that we believe it is the Endtime: Whether they personally are convinced or not, the theme of the Endtime is threaded through the classes somewhat, so they should have a basic understanding of our view on the Endtime being near.
(5) Have a basic idea of what The Family is: The Activated Training Course is a Family-produced course. It is more than just a Bible course; we're also offering them the New Wine that the Lord has delivered in these Last Days to the Children of David.
Although they do not need a full history of what The Family is and our background, every potential student needs to be introduced to The Family and understand that we produced the course before they sign up for it.
If your sheep have reached these five goals—or at least most of them—then they are ready to be taught the 12 Foundation Stones classes.
With the exception of point 5 about The Family, the basics needed before someone starts The 12 Foundation Stones—about salvation, the Holy Spirit, the need for the Word and prayer in our lives, and the Endtime—are covered in the first six Activated magazines. So if someone has read the first six Activated magazines, they should be ready for this course.
WHAT IF YOUR SHEEP HAVE NOT REACHED THE ABOVE GOALS YET?
A series of introductory meetings/classes are being produced that you can use to help prepare your friends and potential students to take the 12 Foundation Stones course, whether or not they've read the first six Activated magazines, have gotten saved, received the Holy Spirit, or know about the Endtime, etc. These introductory meetings will also include suggestions and materials for explaining The Family. These introductory meetings aren't ready yet, but will be coming very shortly. So watch this space, and please keep this in your prayers!
GETTING STARTED—IN THREE EASY STEPS!
Step 1: Read the Introduction to the 12 FOUNDATION STONES CLASS BOOK
This will give you some basic information on how to teach these classes.
Step 2: Read through the classes.
Familiarize yourself with the contents of the classes. The first two classes are being posted with this introduction—the rest will go up as they're ready.
Step 3: Select classes and start teaching!
Ask the Lord which of your friends are ready for the classes, invite them, and start teaching!
You might want to explain the course to a potential student something like this: Once you have received Jesus as your Savior, He lives in you. You are the temple of the Holy Ghost! Jesus is the cornerstone of your life. In this course, we look at how to base the building of your life upon Jesus and His teachings. We want you to learn how to be happy, how to find fulfillment, how to know Jesus more and how to help others know Him too. There is practical advice as well as a scriptural foundation for the essential beliefs of a Christian who wants to maintain his or her faith and put it into action.
USING THE ON-LINE MATERIALS
You can teach the classes in order or at random.
The main advantage of teaching the classes in order is that each one builds upon the former class; the subjects are developed gradually. It will most likely be better for your sheep's growth and easier for you if you teach them in the order they are presented.
However, if the Lord shows you to teach a certain class sooner or later, or if you want to juggle the order, or if you only want to teach some classes and not all of them, that is up to you. Just do whatever works and follow the Lord's leading for you and those in your group!
Print out the class you will be teaching, along with the corresponding workbook sections.
Remember: The class is for your use and is not meant to be given to your sheep.
The workbook is meant to be given to those who attend the classes.
If you don't have the facilities to do a lot of photocopying, if you give them the first two pages of the workbook section, then this will at least give them some assignments of memory verses, things to read and things to pray about.
Be ready to offer the Get Activated books and other publications.
The course has been designed around the Get Activated booklets and other Family publications. We hope you will use the opportunity to offer the pubs that are suggested in the classes to the people you are reaching, according to what is available in your local language.
If something seems missing
When you read the classes you'll sometimes see a reference to a visual aid, a song book, etc. We're sorry that we don't have all of these available yet, but they are in the works. All of these are planned for the final version of the program, which will be printed. But for now we're just trying to provide you with what we have done thus far so you can start using it. Please do keep praying for the production of the course!
MORE COMING SOON!
More classes and other portions of the course will be posted as soon as they are prepared. This will include parts of the Teachers Handbook and other supplementary materials.
YOUR FEEDBACK APPRECIATED
Any comments, testimonies, questions or suggestions about the course are welcome! Please e-mail any comments to activated@wsfamily.com. We love you and pray this tool will be a blessing and help you feed the Lord's sheep. GBAKY!
LIST OF CLASSES IN THE 12 FOUNDATION STONES COURSE
Here are the class names and a very brief look at the purpose of each:
Introduction: Introducing The 12 Foundation Stones
Target: Get motivated for the course!
Class 1a: THE WORD OF GOD, PART 1: TREASURES NEW AND OLD
Target: Read the Word!
Class 1b: THE WORD OF GOD, PART 2: MEMORIZING
Target: Memorize God's Word!
Class 2a: THE HOLY SPIRIT, PART 1: ACTS 1-4
Target: Be empowered by the Spirit!
Class 2b: THE HOLY SPIRIT, PART 2: GIFTS AND BENEFITS
Target: Understand the benefits and gifts of the Spirit.
Class 3a: PRAYER, PART 1: PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE
Target: Praise!
Class 3b: PRAYER, PART 2: COMMUNICATING WITH GOD
Target: Pray!
Class 4a: HEARING FROM HEAVEN, PART 1: HOW TO RECEIVE PROPHECIES
Target: Learn to use the gift of prophecy.
Class 4b: HEARING FROM HEAVEN, PART 2: PROPHECY IN ACTION
Target: Get guidance and inspiration from the Lord in prophecy.
Class 5a: THE GOLDEN RULE, PART 1: SUCCESS WITH PEOPLE
Target: Be loving!
Class 5b: THE GOLDEN RULE, PART 2: LOVE IS THE ANSWER
Target: Love others!
Class 6a: BIBLE KNOWLEDGE, PART 1: KNOW THE BOOK
Target: Get to know the Bible.
Class 6b: BIBLE KNOWLEDGE, PART 2: PROPHETS AND PEOPLE
Target: Follow Bible principles.
Class 7a: BIBLE PROPHECY, PART 1: DANIEL CHAPTER TWO—A PICTURE OF PAST AND FUTURE
Target: Know that it is the Endtime.
Class 7b: BIBLE PROPHECY, PART 2: SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Target: Watch for the signs of the times.
Class 8a: THE GREATEST LOVE, PART 1: THE LOVE OF JESUS
Target: Get closer to Jesus and know His love and salvation.
Class 8b: THE GREATEST LOVE, PART 2: ETERNAL SALVATION
Target: Understand that salvation is forever.
Class 9a: HEAVEN, PART 1: WHAT IT'S LIKE
Target: Appreciate our Heavenly future.
Class 9b: HEAVEN, PART 2: NOW AND FOREVER
Target: Lay up rewards in Heaven.
Class 10a: WITNESSING, PART 1: SEVEN STEPS
Target: Learn how to witness.
Class 10b: WITNESSING, PART 2: GETTING RESULTS
Target: Lead people to Jesus.
Class 11a: OVERCOMING PROBLEMS, PART 1: THREE STEPS TO VICTORY (PART 1)
Target: Identify your problems and win victories.
Class 11b: OVERCOMING PROBLEMS, PART 2: THREE STEPS TO VICTORY (PART 2)
Target: Keep the victory.
Class 12a: GOING GOD'S WAY, PART 1: WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS?
Target: Understand God's ways.
Class 12b: GOING GOD'S WAY, PART 2: WHAT IS HIS WILL?
Target: Find the will of God as you go through life.
Class 13: CONCLUSION: COMPLETING THE COURSE
Target: Finish the 12 Foundation Stones Course!
By Jason, Mexico
It's been a wonderful fulfillment of everything the Lord has said in the New Wine to see follow-up meetings and seminars popping up everywhere here in Mexico and Central America. The Lord's Words about the Activated/follow-up vision have turned on a light for us to see the way ahead, and now the most exciting thing going on is Activated, and ministering to and feeding the Lord's sheep.
I'd say the most exciting Homes to be in right now are the ones that have really gotten behind this vision and are living it. You see the Lord's Spirit moving and working in those like never before. And it's not as though every Home is doing it exactly the same way, as the Homes start out their meetings in a number of different ways—some very small, others bigger—but they have all been accomplishing the goal of reaching and feeding their sheep and bringing them closer to the Lord and the Family.
The spiritual chemistry started at the Conéctate meetings, when many brethren here read Our Activated Future for the first time, and saw and heard living examples of extensive follow-up already being done. It caused something to happen in the spirit, and, mixed with everyone's little mustard seeds of faith and expectancy, a chain reaction began! Everyone started realizing, Hey, I can do that too! The meetings helped to blow away a lot of the follow-up phobia that many of us have had, thinking that we have to be highly organized, very intelligent, extremely tops in Bible knowledge, super charismatic, and even financially stable before attempting to think about stepping out on the unknown waters of follow-up, and (if we be so brave as to take it a step further!) disciple winning. Ha! I know these have been some of the things that have held me back.
Now people are talking about a disciple that's on the line who they have been giving classes to, or the exciting follow-up meeting they had that lasted till midnight. News like this is the highlight of my day, and I'm sure it keeps the angels in Heaven rejoicing, along with all our Heavenly spirit helpers who are cheering us on in this new era of action.
The far-reaching effects of this change of gears we are experiencing as a Family are challenging our present limitations and mindsets, as we've been so used to setting very low goals for ourselves in the disciple-winning department. Another immediate effect of Homes beginning to commit themselves to follow-up is that people have come to life who previously had crawled into their shell, as far as using the gifts and talents the Lord had given them for His glory.
While recently attending an Activated seminar hosted by a Home near here, I was so encouraged to see some of the YAs and SGAs whose progress I've followed with great interest and who have kept me on my knees at times due to their having being on again and off again at times. But at these meetings they were shining for the Lord as key pillars in the organization, planning, and presentation of this, their first seminar for the 17 sheep and potential disciples that attended. It just goes to show how (as with any of us), once we have a vision we'll gladly make sacrifices and commit ourselves wholeheartedly because we feel His sheep are a goal worth fighting for.
I thank the Lord every day for giving us the Activated vision, and for how it's helping us to see that witnessing and follow-up is an exciting and fulfilling way of life in itself, actually our main commission, and not just something we do to survive. In just the last two months, about 35 to 50 percent of the Homes here in Mexico and Central America all have been holding weekly or bi-monthly meetings and seminars for their contacts, friends, live-outs, and sheep already, and that statistic is rising fast, thank You, Jesus!
For example, the second regional seminar is soon being held in a provisioned 10th-story corporate conference room, which the Homes from various cities are bringing their sheep to. Another city is now also about to host its first regional seminar, sending out 300 invitations to the most regular friends, contacts, and supporters of Homes in the area. A Home in one city has already begun monthly classes, which started with their half-dozen long-time friends, a few of whom are live-outs, but the number of those attending these classes continues to climb every week. Another Home has several scheduled weekly follow-up meetings—one on Thursday for young people, another one on Tuesday for couples, and their little local flock continues to expand as we speak. The other Home in the same city has a potential disciple on the line who has been making steady progress and wants to join. These are just the first examples that come to mind to give a little idea of what the Lord has been doing in many of our Homes across Mexico, not to speak of Central America, where they have a very active catacomb ministry which has already turned out a couple of disciples in the last year!
No one wants to lose the momentum the Lord initiated through the Conéctate meetings, which is when the explosion of Our Activated Future really touched down here in Mexico and Central America. Old things are passed away, and behold, all things are become new! Praise the Lord!
Love and prayers, Jason