Every Nation

Every Nation Churches & Ministries
Motto Every Nation, Every Campus
Formation 1994
Founder Phil Bonasso, Steve Murrell, Rice Broocks
Location
  • Manila, Philippines; Nashville, Tennessee; and over 70 other locations.
Region
 Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America, Latin America, Oceania
President
 Steve Murrell
Website www.everynation.org
Formerly called
 Morning Star International

Every Nation Churches & Ministries is a worldwide organization of churches and campus ministries. Its name embodies its mission statement: "to honor God by establishing Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, socially responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation."[1] Their goal is to reach "every nation in our generation" with the gospel.

Every Nation was founded in 1994 by cofounders Steve Murrell who was then a missionary in the Philippines, Rice Broocks who was a campus evangelist in Nashville, Tennessee, and Phil Bonasso who was a church planter.[2] The ministry can be considered a religious denomination though it prefers terms like "family" or "movement." The family of churches and ministries performs many of the same functions of a denomination and can be compared to movements like Calvary Chapel, with an emphasis on relational ministry ties, InterVarsity for its campus ministry, and short-term mission movements like 1Nation1Day.

Ten Days Mission Experiences, Every Nation Campus, and Every Nation Music are ministries that make up part of this organization, among others. Every Nation has approximately 400 member churches in Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas.

Doctrine

Every Nation adheres to basic Evangelical Christian beliefs and is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals.[3]

Statements and beliefs

Believing in the Great Commission as stated in the New Testament, the movement has been crafted on a set of beliefs that aim to obey the command of Jesus Christ: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV).[4] Their Statement of Faith, Mission Statement and list of Core Values also point to Bible scriptures that emphasize the inclusion of all nations to this degree, hence the name Every Nation. An example of one of the scriptures they use is in Revelation, a New Testament book in which John the Apostle records symbolic visions of the future. They list Revelation 7:9 at the top of their statement, that says, "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."

In their mission statement (to honor God by establishing Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, socially responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation), they lay out "three pillars" through which their movement attempts to achieve the goal of the Great Commission. That is, through church planting, campus missions, and world missions.

In addition to doctrinal decrees for individuals within Every Nation, the organization lays out firm policies for the churches and ministries that wish to be a part and remain part of the organization, which can be found in their Church Membership Standards. The aforementioned Core Values list five: lordship, evangelism, discipleship, leadership, and family. It is expectant that their churches across the globe would reflect diverse cultures and views. While Every Nation as an organization appears to demonstrate pride in that diversity, they simultaneously desire to reflect an identical culture with respect to integrity, beliefs, and familial relationship.

Publications

Works by Every Nation leaders also show the organization's bent towards apologetics, evangelism, and discipleship. 100 Years From Now by the president and cofounder, Steve Murrell, is a manifesto of sorts that lays out the entire basis and intended trajectory of the movement. The back page summary states: "100 Years From Now explores the importance of understanding mission, values, and culture in order to grow and sustain a movement."[5] The book details the multigenerational focus of the movement, with leaders desiring more to pass on the vision and last into the future through developing young leaders in the campus demographic and within their movement. Joey Bonifacio, Every Nation pastor of a prominent Philippine Every Nation church fellowship with over 80,000 members, also published The Lego Principle, which has been cited by LifeWay Research president Ed Stetzer in an Outreach Magazine article examining successful practices for churches that prioritize membership growth not only in numbers, but in personal — or spiritual — development.[6] Bonifacio’s The Lego Principle argues the importance of discipleship based on the two greatest biblical commandments according to Jesus Christ, to “love God” and “love your neighbor.”[7]

Rice Broocks, also cofounder of Every Nation, has gained much traction in the public sphere with works like God's Not Dead, Myth, Messiah, the accompanying God's Not Dead movies by Pure Flix films, and The God Test app. His works create tools for the Every Nation core value of evangelism, also targeting college campuses worldwide, in order to spar with skeptic thought movements. His works aim to provide sound evidence and arguments that would allow further discussion and reception of the gospel in the intellectual sphere.

Generally speaking, Every Nation's doctrine might be examined within the spheres of Pauline Christianity and the New Testament creeds. Another text by Steve Murrell called The Purple Book is known widely in the Christian community as a tool for taking new believers scripturally through the set of Christian beliefs provided by the Bible, especially in the New Testament.

ECFA accreditation

In early 2008, Every Nation Churches & Ministries were accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), one of the largest accrediting agencies for Christian ministries.[8]

As a condition of membership, ECFA members must agree to a stringent set of standards, including providing audited financial statements upon request. Prospective ECFA members also must be independently audited before submitting an application. As an accrediting organization, ECFA protects the integrity of its seal by requiring members to adhere to their Seven Standards for Responsible Stewardship.[9]

According to its profile on the ECFA site, Every Nation Churches & Ministries 2009 revenues were $3,358,141 and total expenses were $3,097,551.[10]

Public acclaim

Leaders

With ministries spread across the globe, Every Nation and its members have up to this point accumulated attention from other researchers and organizations, most particularly in the Christian community. Ministry Today magazine has published multiple issues featuring the Every Nation organization and its members. In a 2012 issue, Ministry Today founder and publisher Steve Strang calls himself and admirer of Every Nation who's "seen good fruit from how they do things."[11]

The issue featured Joey Bonifacio, Every Nation pastor from Manila, as a guest editor, where he gives his response to researchers coming to learn their church growth process.[12] At the time of this publication, the Manila church had "94 weekend services in 15 locations with 51 lead pastors preaching and with approximately 65,000 in attendance," numbers that baffled the inquirers.[13] In that same issue were Rice Broocks writing on ideas of “strategic urgency”[14] and Christians being a strong cultural voice, Steve Murrell writing about their discipleship viewpoint that "everybody is a minister,"[15] and Brett Fuller (a member of Every Nation’s North America leaders and Washington Redskins Chaplain)[16] stressing the importance of rest.[17]

Churches

A 2015 issue of the same company recognizes Every Nation churches King's Park International[18] and Lake Mary[19] for crossing cultural gaps in diversity in North America. They quote Egyptian Every Nation pastor Shaddi Soliman (of Lake Mary) as stating, "Cultural diversity is our DNA with Every Nation."[19] At King's Park, Pastor Ron Lewis pioneered programs that brought the poor and wealthy together in a racially and socioeconomically segregated city, by establishing an inner city learning center, purchasing a facility to serve as home to the African Children's Choir, and intentionally selecting diverse leaders in their campus and church ministries.[18] They now have around 80 ethnicities represented, with 40 percent white, 40 percent black, and 20 percent Asian and Hispanic congregants.[18] They appear to exemplify the value of "social responsibility" in the Every Nation mission statement.

Media

A 2016 Ministry Today issue gives Rice Broocks a cover photo and feature spread for his philosophies and book, Man, Myth, Messiah,[20] along with Charisma Magazine following suit in a cover photo and spread focusing more on the associated God's Not Dead 2 movie.[21]

The movie God's Not Dead was inspired by Rice Broocks' God's Not Dead book,[22] a sleeper movie hit[23] produced by Pure Flix Entertainment. Though it received poor critic reviews[24] and was produced on a small budget, it still managed to more than triple in profit.[23] The next movie, God's Not Dead 2, leads from Rice Broocks' Man, Myth, Messiah.[25] Rice Broocks is said to have written portions of the script[26] and appears in the movie along with his Man Myth Messiah book. The Blaze, an American TV Network, also featured Rice Broocks on their radio show (The Church Boys) and in an article on their website.[27]

Methods

Ed Stetzer, the Life Way Research president, has conducted multiple interviews[28][29][30] with Every Nation leaders and appears to keep the organization in constant study. In his editorial article in Outreach's November/December 2015 issue, he too praised the ministry's ability to redefine a strong discipleship process[31] also quoting the growth success of the Manila church,[32] focusing not on the congregational numbers, but on the 10,000[32] small group leaders. Of the ministry he states, "Most churches should work toward a pathway similar to Victory's: one that is straightforward enough that people understand it intuitively, but with flexibility that enables people to adapt to the Holy Spirit and the needs of the person being discipled."[32]

Steve Strang agrees with Stetzer in the effectiveness of Every Nation's discipleship process, saying that Bonifacio's "The Lego Principle — a simple yet profound discipleship model — could change the American church."[11]

Warren Bird, Leadership Network research director, has also studied and written about Every Nation’s ministries. He focuses on Every Nation's process of developing leaders, quoting president Steve Murrell as saying, "We pay people to equip, not to do ministry,"[33] indicating that numbers growth not actually be the focus if it hinders young leaders from learning to lead.

Organizations

Every Nation’s ministers and pastors have raised up a few foundations and inspired or provided materials for others. One such foundation is the Real Life Foundation, begun by Every Nation pastor Joey Castro, dedicated to providing scholarship and character development in Filipino communities.[34] The project was at first inspired by the saying, "Give a man a fish, and he will not go hungry for one day. Teach him how to fish, and he will never go hungry."[34] He reports that more than 70 percent of their graduates gain full-employment.[34]

Steve Murrell's The Purple Book has also impacted the teachings in the Christian community. Baja Christian Ministries in Baja, Mexico, has taken up the biblical foundations study and created a program that uses the book to make disciples.[35] With the motto, "Building houses and lives for Jesus,"[36] they combine humanitarian efforts with the foundation of Christian doctrine presented in Steve Murrell's book. According to the Christian Post, their Purple Book Discipleship program produces 2,300 graduates a year and aim to reach 1 million people with the gospel (with the help of The Purple Book) in twenty years.[35]

Another foundation started by members in US Every Nation Church, Bethel World Outreach, focuses on adoption. The Ordinary Hero advocacy organization was founded by Kelly Putty, a rape victim who forgave her attackers and became a Christian after inexplicably recovering from scars from the attack.[37] They work between the US, Haiti, Ethiopia, and South Africa[38] to "advocate for the vulnerable, and empower ordinary people to change the life of a child,"[39] as well as "strive to bring worldwide, public awareness to the orphan crisis."[39]

Institutes

Every Nation has not only made marks socially and culturally, but has even been examined for architectural design. BluPrint magazine in the Philippines featured the Victory Leadership Institute for its architectural design, the writer praising its use of light, both natural and artificial, shape, intricacy and innovation.[40] The institute includes engagingly designed classrooms, dance studios, music rooms, and a recording studio.[41] As described by the writer, "At night, VLI [Victory Leadership Institute] is a blue beacon of light — after all, its occupants simply want to 'let their light shine' as commanded."[42]

Criticisms

Links with New Apostolic Reformation

Missiologist C. Peter Wagner identifies Every Nation as part of the New Apostolic Reformation, an offshoot of the charismatic movement that actively seeks to restore the offices of apostle and prophet to the Church and its leadership. C. Peter Wagner and the New Apostolic Reformation is closely associated with the Dominion Theology as evidenced by his book "Dominion!: How kingdom Action Can Change the World"[43] Rice Broocks authored a chapter about Every Nation in Wagner's The New Apostolic Churches,[44] a key book about the movement. Rice Brooks and Paul Daniel were members of Wagners "New Apostolic Roundtable" and Jim Laffoon was part of the "Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders" until approximately 2003. Wagner has also taught on several occasions at Every Nation's own ministry school and at Every Nation conferences.

Dominion Theology

The Every Nation website addresses its position on Dominion Theology by stating, "We do not believe in any form of theology that advocates Theocracy or a system where Christians dominate over non-believers."[45] There are numerous statements wherein C. Peter Wagner does advocate Christian dominion over non-believers. Wagner has said dominion has to do with control, authority, subduing and ruling as kings.[46] Wagner does not state he wants rule by a Theocracy.[47] At the same time, he wants Christians to take dominion of all areas of society. This includes government, the work place, etc.[47] Wagner does advocate the use of war in his Dominion book (See Chapter 6 of his Dominion publication- A New Reality: This means War!)[47] Wagner offers severe criticism of the anti-war movement.[48] He also indicates the New Apostolic Reformation is the most radical way of doing church since the Protestant reformation.[49] Every Nation Leader Jim Laffoon's sermon, "To Reach and To Rule" reflects a position preached from the pulpit as high-ranking official at Every Nation of its vision for reaching the nations of the earth.[50] In his "To Reach and To Rule" sermon, Jim Laffoon states the purpose of reaching nations is to rule them.[51] Jim Laffoon goes on to say the last 2000 years of Christianity reaching nations has had a limited goal of only reaching nations and not ruling those nations after they have been reached.

References

  1. ↑ "Mission Statement - EveryNation". EveryNation. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  2. ↑ "History - EveryNation". EveryNation. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  3. ↑ "National Association of Evangelicals". Nae.net. 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  4. ↑ "Matthew 283A19-20 ESV - - Bible Gateway". www.biblegateway.com. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  5. ↑ Murrell, Steve (2013). 100 Years From Now. Nashville: Dunham Books. pp. back cover. ISBN 9781939447227.
  6. ↑ Stetzer, Ed (Nov 2015). "On the Path to Discipleship". Outreach Magazine (November/December).
  7. ↑ "Matthew 22:36-40English Standard Version (ESV)". Bible Gateway. Bible Gateway. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Every Nation | Every Nation Receives ECFA Accreditation - Church Planting, Campus Ministry, World Missions
  9. ↑ Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
  10. ↑ Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
  11. 1 2 Strang, Steve (Nov 2012). "Making Disciples Via Lego Connections". Ministry Today (November/December): pg. 10.
  12. ↑ Bonifacio, Joey (Nov 2012). "A Culture od Discipleship". Ministry Today (November/December): pg. 12-21.
  13. ↑ Bonifacio, Joey (Nov 2012). "A Culture of Discipleship". Ministry Today (November/December): pg. 14.
  14. ↑ Broocks, Rice (Nov 2012). "The Rules of Cultural Engagement". Ministry Today (November/December): pg. 24.
  15. ↑ Murrell, Steve (Nov 2012). "Are You a Wikipedia or Nupedia Leader?". Ministry Today (November/December): pg. 36.
  16. ↑ "Our Team | Grace Covenant Church". www.gracecov.org. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  17. ↑ Fuller, Brett (Nov 2012). "The Rest of Your Life". Ministry Today (November/December): pg. 60.
  18. 1 2 3 Walker, Ken (May 2015). "King's Park International Church: College-Area Church Seeks to Tear Down Walls of Separation"". Ministry Today (May/June): pg. 30.
  19. 1 2 Johnson, Christine (May 2015). "Lake Mary Church: Pastor Refocuses from Ethnic Ministry to Evangelizing All". Ministry Today (May/June): 32.
  20. ↑ Johnson, Christine (Mar 2016). "Tell It Well: Dr. Rice Broocks helps the church build a culture of evangelism and engage unbelievers". Ministry Today (March/April): pg. 17-20.
  21. ↑ Berglund, Taylor (Mar 2016). "When a Movie Becomes a Movement: How God's Not Dead transcended expectations and created a movement of young people who can defend their faith". Charisma (March/April): 20-28.
  22. ↑ Berglund, Taylor (Mar 2016). "When a Movie Becomes a Movement: How God's Not Dead transcended expectations and created a movement o young people who can defend their faith". Charisma (March/April): pg. 21.
  23. 1 2 Cronk, Harold (2014-03-21), God's Not Dead, retrieved 2016-04-25
  24. ↑ Cronk, Harold (2014-03-21), God's Not Dead, retrieved 2016-04-25
  25. ↑ Broocks, Rice (2016). Man Myth Messiah: Answering History's Greatest Question. United States of America: Thomas Nelson. pp. Back Cover. ISBN 978-0-8499-4856-5.
  26. ↑ Berglund, Taylor (Mar 2016). "When a Movie Becomes a Movement: How God's Not Dead transcended expectations and created a movement of young people who can defend their faith". Charisma (March/April): pg. 22.
  27. ↑ "'The Bible Is History': Pastor Breaks Down Evidence That He Believes Proves Both Jesus and the Gospels". The Blaze. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  28. ↑ "Leadership Book Interview: Steve Murrell and Wikichurches". The Exchange | A Blog by Ed Stetzer. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  29. ↑ "The Lego Principle: An Interview with Joey Bonifacio". The Exchange | A Blog by Ed Stetzer. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  30. ↑ "Rice Broocks and Evangelism". The Exchange with Ed Stetzer. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  31. ↑ Stetzer, Ed (Nov 2015). "On the Path to Discipleship". Outreach Magazine (November/December): pg. 18.
  32. 1 2 3 Stetzer, Ed (Nov 2015). "On the Path to Discipleship". Outreach (November/December): pg. 20.
  33. ↑ Bird, Warren (Sep 2015). "Building on Discipleship: Philippines Megachurch Founder: "Our Focus is on Reaching the Lost — Not Growing the Church"". Outreach (September/October): 107.
  34. 1 2 3 "Life's Lessons: Real Life Foundation". Philippine Tatler (Charity Issue): pg. 150. Aug 2007.
  35. 1 2 "'Purple Book' Builds Army of Disciples in Mexico". Christian Post. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  36. ↑ "Home - Baja Christian MinistriesBaja Christian Ministries | Building Homes and Lives for Christ". www.bajachristian.org. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  37. ↑ The Christian Broadcasting Network (2009-03-12), Kelly Putty: Rape Victim Forgives Attackers - CBN.com, retrieved 2016-04-25
  38. ↑ "Bethel World Outreach · Our Missionaries". www.bethelworld.org. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  39. 1 2 Tunheim, Digital Design Solutions | Nick. "Our Mission and Vision - Inspiring and Empowering". www.ordinaryhero.org. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  40. ↑ Tengsico, Nikki (2004). "A Variation on the Glass Box: Modernist Geometry and Green Design Mix at the Victory Leadership Institute". BluPrint: The design sourcebook. volume 5: pg. 65-72.
  41. ↑ Tengsico, Mikki (2004). "A Variation on the Glass Box: Modernist Geometry and Green Design Mix at the Victory Leadership Institute". BluPrint: the design sourcebook. volume 5: pg. 71.
  42. ↑ Tengsico, Nikki (2004). "A Variation on the Glass Box: Modernist Geometry and Green Design Mix at the Victory Leadership Institute". BluPrint: the design sourcebook. volume 5: pg. 72.
  43. ↑ "Dominion!: How Kingdom Action Can Change the World: C. Peter Wagner: 9780800794354: Amazon.com: Books". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  44. ↑ Rice Broocks, "Morning Star International" in C. Peter Wagner (editor), The New Apostolic Churches ISBN 0-8307-2137-1
  45. ↑ "Follow Us". Everynation.org. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  46. ↑ "c peter wagner - Bing Video's". Bing.com. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  47. 1 2 3 "Dominion!: How Kingdom Action Can Change the World: C. Peter Wagner: 9780800794354: Amazon.com: Books". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  48. ↑ "c peter wagner war - Bing Video's". Bing.com. 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  49. ↑ "c peter wagner war reformation - Bing Video's". Bing.com. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  50. ↑ Laffoon To Reach and To Rule Sermon - clip 1b
  51. ↑ "Laffoon To Reach To Rule Sermon - clip 2". YouTube. 2004-07-15. Retrieved 2013-07-09.

External links

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