My Dear Brothers in Christ,
This is my first opportunity to write to all of you as the new Patriarch. I have no words to express how honored I feel that God has put me in this position to serve all of you and the ICCEC. My hope is that in the months to come, through communication like this and other venues, you will get to know my heart better and that each of us will get to know each other better and be more informed about what’s happening in each of our territories and dioceses.
Social media has made the world a much smaller place, and I intend to take advantage of that so that we, “Band of brothers” in this international church, truly feel like a band of brothers.
One of the things we are doing is working on totally revamping the ICCEC website to be much more informative and interactive, so that our people all over the world can know what’s happening at this strategic time around the globe in the CEC. I’ll be telling you more about that in the days to come.
There is a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit blowing across our communion, and I know that I am called, together with each of you, to steward well this “fresh wind” so that every Territory, Diocese, Parish, and person throughout the CEC experiences authentic and perpetual revival. I use the word perpetual because I believe true revival is simply being restored to normal from God’s perspective, and normal should be continual.
The CEC was birthed to be a movement of the Holy Spirit that flows in the river of God’s anointing, impacting the world for Christ. This has always been our vision. As Patriarch, I give my life, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to joyfully communicate that vision across the ICCEC.
We are an international church and therefore, my installation is happening in Paris and not my home country America. I also want all of you to be aware that my first act as Patriarch was to ask Bishop Elmer Belmonte to be the General Secretary of the ICCEC. I am very grateful that he said yes. I will be working hand-in-hand with Bishop Belmonte.
When communicating to you, my brothers, I will often be making you aware of points of prayer concerning your brother bishops. Having said that, I would particularly like for you all to be praying for Rwanda. The government in Rwanda for the last several years has passed laws that make it impossible for many churches to remain open. Over seventeen thousand evangelical, charismatic, and Pentecostal churches, as well as many Anglican churches, have been closed. This has profoundly affected many groups, including the CEC in Rwanda. Please pray for Bishop Emmanuel and Bishop Evariste, all the clergy and laity. Also pray that the hearts and minds of those in the government, particularly the president, would be changed so that they can revoke these oppressive laws. I am in communication with Bishop Emmanuel and will keep you informed about what’s happening there.
I love you guys very much with the affection of Christ, and I just want to serve you. This is all new to me, and I know that the Holy Spirit will be faithful to teach me how to serve you better and to serve the church better. Keep me in your prayers. Again, I am so grateful to be in this position at this very important moment in this movement of God called the CEC.
In Christ,
Chuck
Leave a Reply