Dear Friends,
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
(2 Corinthians 3:17)
It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Vineyard Movement. Around the world, we are seeing God stir up hearts to trust again, risk again, and move again with confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit to work through us.
And when we partner with the Holy Spirit, people in our cities and towns come into freedom – freedom from fear, freedom from hopelessness, freedom from addictions, and freedom from despair. Jesus heals, and it is so amazing how often He uses us to see His will done in someone else’s life.
What a privilege! Your Vineyard – my Vineyard – is important to our communities. Our Movement is filled with examples of how God is using the Vineyard to equip ordinary women, men, young adults, youth, children, sages, and churches – to make Jesus’ name famous through expressions of faith and power across the country. It’s true what we say: We all get to play.
Folks like you are committed to seeing the Great Commission fulfilled – not in our own strength, but by the power of God at work in these jars of clay. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
The theme of our Movement this year is “Come, Holy Spirit,” and this prayer has been central to who we have been as a unique expression of the Body of Christ in church history.
We’re going to be inviting you and your church into a season of prayer for our local churches, and for the Vineyard Movement as a whole, in the coming months. Stay tuned!
It continues to be a privilege to serve this Movement that we love, and Jan and I are looking forward to seeing you at our 2019 National Conference, COME, HOLY SPIRIT in Denver, CO and Dayton, OH in July.
To the Greater Glory of God and the well-being of people,
Phil
Phil Strout
National Director
Vineyard USA
