eBridge

Team Meeting

Matt Brennan — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:10:41 +0000

Hi folks. Just returned from an annual team meeting. Very encouraging time and time of committing some plans to God. In the next twelve months we will attempt to organize 3-4 communities in large cities across the Middle East/North Africa. For security reasons I cannot name the cities and countries specifically. We have a consistent number of visitors/members from key cities in the Middle East. Of the thousands that visit, we will gather a dozen or so face to face for fellowship/discipleship. The leaders are long time site members that have a mature relationship with our indigenous teams.

We are seeing an uptick in visitor traffic this year from about 14,000 visits per month to 30,000 visits per month.

Here is a link to our newsletter archive and a place to sign-up for future updates:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs038/1101372403842/archive/1103582945454.html

Updated Site Statistics - Top Ten Trailing 12 Months

Matt Brennan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:36:19 +0000

Country/Visits/% of Total

1. Egypt 18,174 19.88%
2. Saudi Arabia 12,341 13.50%
3. Morocco 8,305 9.09%
4. United States 7,830 8.57%
5. Algeria 4,197 4.59%
6. Jordan 3,885 4.25%
7. United Arab Emirates 3,544 3.88%
8. Syria 2,593 2.84%
9. Israel 2,419 2.65%
10. Libya 2,359 2.58%

Ministry Update - New Workers for the Plentiful Harvest

Matt Brennan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:42:38 +0000

This summer, a small group of Middle Eastern men
from five different Islamic nations will gather in an
ancient country notorious for enslaving the nation of
Israel. These men have never met each other face to
face. All they know is that they are all followers of
Jesus.In September of 2007, the Lord reminded me that we
are not trying to convert the masses, rather disciple
the faithful. I studied the first three hundred years of
the church and saw that the 12 disciples had
expanded to 20,000 by 100 AD. Within 3 generations
the church had grown to 30 million. Oh the joys of
compounding interest!

Our online ministry does gather thousands of seekers
each month. This broad reach allows us to invite
some interested users deeper into discussion and
relationship. Eventually we reach out to them through
email and phone calls. We are using the larger
outreach as a place to build relationships with
Muslims.

We have asked God to develop disciples from within
the site that can grow to disciple other Muslims to
submit to Christ’s authority. For years we have been
blessed with faithful Arab Christian users that go onto
our website and engage Muslims the way Paul
engaged the lost at Mars Hill. We selected several of
these faithful men to meet with us this summer.

Our prayer is that God will speak to some of these
men and tell them to deliberately join us in this effort.
Instead of being willing volunteers, we would like to
see them become active team members. This will
strengthen and expand our efforts in building Christ
centered relationships with Arab Muslim seekers.

Pray for this event! It will take place in late June.
As you can imagine, these men are taking great risk in
answering our call. They don’t extend the Kingdom
from the safety of Europe and America. They have
answered the call to change their nations by staying
deeply planted in the culture. They have answered the
call to be a planted seed that must die to bear fruit.
Pray that God will bless them as they take the Muslim
world as described in Hebrews… “by faith”.

Preparation: A Difficult Necessity

Matt Brennan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:30:10 +0000

I hope this letter finds you fully aware of God’s sovereignty. Our hope in this time is to abide in the knowledge that God is in control. Without this perspective, you will not be able to extend courageously God’s Kingdom in the way that He has established for you. See Hebrews 11:32-40.

With sovereignty assured, today’s troubles take on new meaning. Our King, Teacher, and Friend is teaching us and preparing us. Hebrews 12:11 says:

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

I have taken heed of the phrase “those who have been trained by it.” This means that it is possible to suffer the circumstances and not be trained by them. Specifically, it is possible not to allow your heart to be changed, your character strengthened. It is possible to retreat into a fallen perspective and look out for your own survival.

Isaiah 42:23-25 (The Message) tells us plainly:

But is anyone out there listening? Is anyone paying attention to what’s coming? Who do you think turned Jacob over to the thugs, let loose the robbers on Israel? Wasn’t it GOD himself, this God against whom we’ve sinned– not doing what he commanded, not listening to what he said? Isn’t it God’s anger that’s behind all this, God’s punishing power? Their whole world collapsed but they still didn’t get it; their life is in ruins but they don’t take it to heart.

If you find yourself discouraged, seek fellowship. Be transparent with a brother or sister and let God restore your perspective. As He restores your perspective He will restore your joy and mission.

Our joy is the long arm of Jesus Christ. He is able to save and transform EVERY human heart. Our mission is to build relationships that allow His Kingdom to touch EVERY human heart. We will not transform the world by criticizing it, but He will transform the world by redeeming it. He “heals our land” when WE repent of our critical, survivalist ways and extend His Kingdom as boldly as He did. Even submitting Himself to death on the cross. His actions were the opposite of self-preservation. Lord, help us to learn from the very personal struggles we are all enduring. Change us for your glory.
With you In Christ, Matthew Brennan