Need a refresher about what the Elijah Prayer Project is? Or maybe a reminder of the (rules?)
I'm so excited to introduce you to someone I have great esteem for...my boss! (And no, I'm not just saying that because I have to...)
Rev. Phil Holsinger is CEO and President of Blue Ridge Women's Center, a non-profit ministry reaching out to women in unplanned pregnancies. He came to us just about two years ago and brings an amazing perspective of redemption, healing and most importantly, an opinion that the only way to reach the hearts of women is to change the hearts of men. Phil is new to Twitter...he's learniing so go easy on him. But he'd be happy for you to follow him.
I think you'll see how well his thoughts align with the heart of the Elijah Prayer Project.
Without further ado...Phil.
I recently had the opportunity to speak to a small group of dad’s and their son’s. One of the father’s had expressed a desire to inform and educate their young men about abortion and some of the circumstances that surround the lives of the clients we serve. I was faced with a bit of a dilemma; should I talk about the nuts and bolts of Pregnancy Center ministry and abortion or should I spend the time challenging these men to lead lives that reflect the Father’s heart.
I chose the latter and it kicked off a major work in the hearts of those men and their sons.
The heart of the Father is for earthly fathers to turn their hearts toward their children and for their children to turn their hearts to their fathers. It seems like a noble cause doesn’t it? But few Christians really understand who our Heavenly Father is and how he “fathers” us.
The challenge I presented was that until we understand who God is and how he father’s his children, we won’t really be able to turn our hearts to our own children.
How does that impact CPC ministry? Profoundly. Every child conceived has a father. Every woman that walks through our front door has at least one man involved in her life. Fathers reject, discard, abandon and destroy the lives of their children every day. But is that the Father’s heart for his children? I don’t think so. In fact, I emphatically know that it is not. When we get a handle on how He really father’s us then we will have an accurate example to model our fathering after. Turning the hearts of fathers to their children means getting the real Father’s heart for ourselves.
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Obviously, I'm praying the heart of the Elijah Prayer Project today...Malachi 4:5-6:
"Lord, give my husband the heart of Elijah. Create in him a heart like this, give him a vision for raising up our sons like this, and surround us with men whose hearts are to lead him as he leads our family."
"Turn the heart of my husband to his children, and the hearts of my children toward their father."
Friends...let's bless Phil with some conversation on this topic. Tell me how you feel about his words. Do they bring up certain emotions in you? Do you want him to come talk to the men in your church? :-)
How can we women help create the vision for this in the lives of our own men? Is it even our place?
Join us next week as Phil follows-up this conversation with part two of "The Father Heart of God."
Subscribe to A Life in Need of Change and join me as I seek the heart of God in the mundane and the beautiful.
And don't forget to enter to win Noel Piper's "Treasuring God in Our Traditions between now and Thanksgiving Day!
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