Jeff Peterson

Looking out over what is known as ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’, hugging and holding multiple people who are HIV positive after listening to their difficult stories, watching girls who have experienced tragic abuse dance in a circle around food purchased for the ministry they now see as a safe ‘home’, seeing a building go up as the fruition of a 19 year old dream on a property purchased in 1993 for its purpose, watching a team where most barely knew one another upon departure grow close and enjoy one another by the trip’s end…

As with the many missions trips I have taken through the years, it is always an interesting few days upon returning. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, faces and ‘moments’ pepper your mind as you go about your daily business back in the routine of life at home. So yes, since returning last Sunday with a team of 18 from Ghana, the entire week has had plenty of flashes of Ghana in my mind…it was a great trip!

I’m excited for the team to share next Sunday night (26th) their experiences and to report back to Central on the investment made in the five ministries we focused upon in Accra, Ghana. Each was impacted in a significant way through the giving and prayers of Central. We will again, be highlighting:
the digging and dedication of a well – what an incredible moment that was!
3 days of ministry at Lifelines home for abandoned / trafficked young ladies – an awesome ministry!
2 days of meeting with many HIV positive – incredible learning experience, key word we heard “stigmatized”
1 day at a Bible college in the north of Ghana – great needs / a special memory for one of our team members
the building of a tabernacle for a ministry with both national, and even continental impact for Africa
6 speaking engagements last Sunday – great for our team to experience the spiritually rich joy in the hearts of many who live in extreme financial poverty

It will be great to worship once again at Central this Sunday, but in the distance of 18 minds will no doubt be the experiences of West Africa.

Calibrate…then, Faith. It will be a good start to the year on Sunday mornings at Central. There are moments as a pastor that I pause to reflect on the incredible privilege and responsibility it is to bring the Word of God to people on a regular basis. It’s something I never take lightly and am so grateful for.

As we embark on a new year, beginning this Sunday will be a short series considering the calibrating, i.e. assessing, setting and/or adjusting of our lives for the year ahead. While this should be a regular discipline to the Christ-follower, this time of the year just seems to call for it.

In February, we will begin a lengthy series through one of the classic chapters of God’s Word, Hebrews 11. For months I’ve been preparing my heart in anticipation of what we will discover for our own walk of faith from these ‘ancients’ of Scripture. It will be an enlightening and extremely applicable series for us all.

The word God has laid upon my heart for Central Assembly this year is ‘passion’. I pray we allow God to instill greater passion for worship, His Word, prayer, our community and world, and greatest of all, simply Him. Let’s make it a great year together.

Well, it’s 6:36 a.m. Christmas morn and the city lights of Kansas City are fading in the distance. I’m thankful as I reflect on the beautiful worship, communion, and singing of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ just after the lighting of the final Advent Candle. It was great to worship together this Christmas Eve.

Glancing out the window Phoenix-bound to enjoy this next week with our family, I was struck with a memory of some twenty-five years ago. That night, as the plane lowered into the lights of Phoenix, my heart was filled with one prayer, “Lord, use me.” Returning from a speaking engagement, Phoenix had now become home with a youth ministry to return to. I distinctly recall the passion I felt in that prayer as I looked over the city, “Lord, use me. Please use me greatly.”

These many years later the prayer is the same. If anything, it has matured in understanding, but not dimmed in passion. I’ve never wanted to settle for waste, but always to push to be productive in God’s Kingdom. Such is my prayer as we near a new year for Central Assembly and the community we share in.

In this unique week between the Sundays of Christmas and New Year’s Day, it provides the perfect time for some rest, reflection and re-charging for the year ahead. With great anticipation I enter 2012 because I am convinced God wants to work greatly in and through Central Assembly. That word ‘passion’ is what He dropped into my heart just a few days ago…that 2012 would be a year for Central Assembly of much greater passion in worship, passion for His Word, passion for relationships, and passion to impact our community.

Would you join me in praying as we head into 2012 that God would do this within your own heart? The more of us that seek greater spiritual passion, the more we will experience it as a whole community of followers of Jesus that worship at 1301 N Boonville. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

A business executive said to me recently, “Jeff, tension is a good thing when it takes place among mature people with a common goal. Otherwise, it’s destructive.” There are all kinds of tensions that come with any organization where the abundance of personal paradigms and opinions are to be somehow forged into ‘one’. Such is true of a local church and according to the Apostle Paul, the Church (Eph. 4:4-6). I also suppose the operative words there are ‘mature people’ and ‘common goal’.

Last night was an important night for the leadership of Central Assembly. I really enjoyed getting to share my heart and vision in a few key areas; as well, as call our leadership to A.G.R.E.E. Central is unique, as all churches are. In fulfilling our unique vision and purpose God has called us to, I asked our leaders to allow the following to undergird all that we do as leaders, with the desire this finds its way into the hearts of all who make Central their family of faith:
A – all to God’s glory (basis to all we do)
G – generations matter (our uniqueness as a ‘whole family’ church)
R – reach one at a time (God’s heart)
E – express good things (creating a positive atmosphere)
E – excellence in everything (reflecting our God)

Our common goal is to ‘connect people to God, others, and their purpose in life’. Please join me in ‘agreeing’ to these five ideals to make Central the place God wants it to be!

Every two years pastors and leaders of the Assemblies of God convene to do church business and be refreshed in spirit and friendship. This week’s was particularly enjoyable for me – as each seem to be, the older I get. Reconnecting with many old friends in ministry can be very encouraging and such times of receiving from others, very strengthening to a pastor.

Actually, a verse of Scripture has been in the forefront of my mind recently and in reflection of this week, freshly applied. In addressing the way God’s Kingdom is built through people (leaders in particular) the apostle Paul gives us one of the most important ‘perspective’ passages of all in 1 Corinthians 3. Paul asks a question and gives an answer in verse 5: “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.”

People were running after the ‘famous’ church leaders of that day, even as they do today. I guess it’s just something about human nature. But, Paul calls us to a gut level honest perspective of Kingdom work: men are just servants. Famous men, wonderfully godly men that He uses greatly are still, just servants. And, the key: as each simply fulfills the task God has assigned to them. With this truth connects all kinds of surrounding themes such as talents, gifts, accountability, future judgment and stewardship. All have to do with our God-task.

This week, the thousands that gathered were blessed by the quality leadership we have in our movement of the A/G. Dr. George Wood led with expertise, gavel in hand. Gifted communicators spoke God’s Word to us. Even Rick Warren popped in for a brief window. Sitting just two rows behind him momentarily, I have to admit I was a bit awe struck. Silly me. He’s just another one of those ‘servants’ Paul talked about…just doing his God-task. I could go on and on; but, equal to these stars in ministry is the bi-vocational pastor in the town of 350 and its church of 27 congregants.

I reflect this week, thankful for the present task before me. It’s morphed through the years, and with the change demanded personal growth in scope and responsibility. 27 years ago it was that first Wednesday night with 35 youth…my first God-task. 18 years ago it was a church of 125 and I was officially their ‘senior pastor’. Today, the weight of responsibility feels much greater, yet it’s all still the same – a servant with a God-task.

True of ANY Christ-follower, wherever and whatever God assigns you to, keep your eyes off of others and onto who you are as His servant simply doing what He wants you to do. That’s all He expects and there’s nothing more fulfilling in all the world!