Shift

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven
Ecclesiastes 3:1

We go through life with an expectation of what and where. The why of our purpose comes to question but all through new challenges and opportunities The "Who" of life is never uncertain. The Who is the creator of the universe, the source of love and our faith in Christ. The who is those around us that need our love, our spouse, our children our family and our neighbors.

In light of many open doors The Zion Project is heading to Southern California. We pray that new networks will be coming online as a result of this shift. Central Cal has been great and we hope that those that have caught the vision will continue to be contagious to all they can impact.

In Faith,
Mathew

John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

31 Flavors

In looking at the tapestry that is the body of Christ think of an ice cream shop. According to Barna there are 245 Christian denominations in the US today. We are all dynamic and diverse in our flavor texture and color. Some of us may be vanilla and others might be rocky road or mint chocolate chip. So if the body is the ice cream shop then The Zion Project is a banana split with extra nuts for sure. Through our common relationship and the bond of unity we come together to make a difference in our neighborhoods. When we manifest the love of God we can truly make an impact on those around us.

We may be different stylistically or in theology but we all worship the same God.

Romans 12:5
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

24

Come kick off the New Year with us. On January 2nd at 6pm we will launch a 24 hour time of worship and prayer. We will have great music, food and interactive prayer and worship. We need worship teams and volunteers still so your help is needed. Contact us for more information.

The Network

As we look at a network of faith we see the dynamic differences that make us unique individuals and the similarities that exist when we are joined together to impact our commnuties for God.
A Network is defined as:
Something resembling an openwork fabric or structure in form or concept, especially:
a. A system of lines or channels that cross or interconnect:
b. A complex, interconnected group or system:
c. An extended group of people with similar interests or concerns who interact and remain in informal contact for mutual assistance or support.

The picture above is a cross section of a nueral network from the brain. Now the brain is comprised of millions of nuerons connected by synapses that transmit the information and form the basis of all brain activity. The body of Christ needs to function in this manner millions of believers unified by the Spirit of God to carry out His plan for this planet.

The Zion project is a network of people from all walks of the Way of Christ that are unified for the sole purpose of loving God and loving people. We are a network that is going to meet the needs of the communites and neighborhhods that we are part of. It is up to us to be a diverse tapestry that looks out for each other and works together for the same cause.

Romans 12:4-5
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

There is...

a movement among believers that is stirring and if you have not sensed it then you are probably to busy listening to the yabadabadoo song by Rich Mullins. All kidding aside we are in the midst of some exciting; and quite possibly some of the most pivotal times in the history of Christianity. This stirring that is manifesting comes not from a new cool trend or some title that a rogue pastor looking for a few bucks on the book scene came up with. No what is happening is a viral grass roots resurgence of the pure gospel message:
Matthew 22:37-39
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

That is all it takes, no clever strategy or program just showing Gods love! At the Zion project we want to be those instruments of love and encouragement to all regardless of where a persons spiritual walk is or is not. One would be quite arrogant and proud to assume that their faith begets them some sense of entitlement or rank over another human that is in process. We love because God first loved us not because we have been given Gods happy stamp to go around and use at our whim. It is God working in and through us that reveals the very face of our creator.

Our next voyage into the adventure to unify and inspire is The Zion Project Christian Music Festival on September 20th, 2008. For more info please read the flyer below or call us at 559-760-3889.
In Faith,
Mathew