Impacting Detroit area pastors

I will be sending my new book Pharaoh in the Church to as many Detroit area pastors as I can! The vision for a prayer-fueled city is on the move!

CHECK OUT the flyer at the end of this message! Pharaoh-in-the-Church-Box-Shot-032511YOU can help us reach every single church in the region! The effort to locate and gather 1000 intercessors, plus locking arms with pastors and key leaders of the city, can be realized! Shortly after casting the vision of sharing this burning message with every Detroit area pastor, $700 came in to launch the campaign! God moved fast! This will result in approximately 250 pastors receiving the book. That leaves around 1100 more for us to reach. Each book should cost around $3 to print and mail—you can donate toward as many as you’d like at www.detroitrevivalchurch.com/donate. Please let us know that the donation is for the “BOOKS”. ALSO—there’s a VERY EXCITING opportunity for us to develop a fiery, prayer infused television pilot that we’d pitch to a variety of Christian networks. The prophetic message of revival and revolution can get out to MILLIONS. If you’d like to participate, let me know. I’m working with someone who has big vision and abilities in this area. We looked at one possible venue that could be used to create the pilot. Imagine 30 minutes of our team contending for revival through prophetic intercession, teaching and worship—for the whole world to see! It will be hard core!! Here’s a flyer that I’m including in the package for the pastors. Pray with me that it touches a lot of them deeply!! Revival-Lab-Pastor-Flyer-web

Revival in Detroit for Dummies : The clear plan and how you fit in

Here is a clear explanation of the vision for revival in Detroit—and how you fit in.

First of all, nobody out there is a dummy… but, you know, that’s how those books are titled!

Dummies-Cover-Box-ShotFor 2011, I felt it was important to explain as clearly as possible what is needed to see revival land in Detroit.

People have some honest questions:

  • What exactly should I do?
  • What are the expectations on a personal and corporate level?
  • What are the key focuses for the new year?

Here’s my personal perspective. I didn’t move to Detroit for anything other than investing like mad into the process of full blown revival. That’s why I’m here, and if you live in this region, that’s why you are here too. The fervent advance of God’s Kingdom in Detroit is both demanding and urgent.

So, what’s the plan?

First, I’d encourage you to watch the most recent video on our NEW media site: http://media.johnburton.net. The 2011 Vision video will explain all of this in vivid Technicolor.

Second, determine to give yourself with wild abandon to the call.

THREE DISTINCT MESSAGES

REVIVAL CULTURE

At Revival Church, a prophetic center of revival for the region, the culture and lifestyle is all about the experiential fire of God. For everybody in Detroit, it’s time to transition our Christian and church experience into that of continual, night and day burning. Simply learning principles and trying to apply concepts that will enhance our lives week after week as the extent of our life focus won’t cut it anymore. We must BURN.

The call is to such a holy, fiery, passionate reality that atmospheres melt when we walk into the room. Be together, all the time, with others who cause you to tremble, people who are having perpetual encounters with God, who are continually undone in His presence.

What’s Expected?

  • Become a person who is giving everything you have to ensure the fire of God is raging in you, around you and into others.
  • Stay right on pace with the most fiery revivalists in the region.
  • Understand the extreme cost every day that’s necessary to launch revival—and then pay it.
  • Study on revivals of old.

REVOLUTION MANDATE

This is the tough one, yet it cannot be ignored. I’ll be honest, since I’ve been in Detroit a handful of people have truly impressed with the level of their commitment. However, the general body has been largely absent, distracted and hesitant.

This call to revolution is a call to EXTREME reformation in the structure and experience of the church. It’s RARE to find people who are willing to go to this place.

The 24/7 church is absolutely necessary if we are to see revival initiated and sustained. This means that we cannot just tweak our calendar. Everything must change. Everybody must be alert, in position, responsive, communicating, battling, praying and ready to move according to what God is revealing.

What’s Expected?

  • Start to schedule every day around the prayer room. Participate in as many of the weekly prayer meetings as possible (Mon, Wed & Sat at noon, Friday at 10pm).
  • Every Friday night from 10pm-midnight, theLab is an “all hands on deck” event for the city of Detroit. We pray in a different location each week, and we intentionally scheduled it during a time when most nobody would have any conflicts. Kids and everybody is invited and needed to pray together. www.revivallab.com
  • Rarely miss any church service, prayer meeting or special event. Truly, this reformation will require radical changes to our daily focuses and agendas. The season is way too important to have a casual approach to the corporate mission.
  • Communicate daily. Critical information, prophecies, instructions and other revelation is being sent out from this revival center, and other places as well. Thoroughly read, watch and listen…and then respond back to the sender. We must all be on the same page and in literally daily communication. Again, the mission of revival is job one for all of us, and staying on task continually is imperative. 20 Elements of Revival Box
  • theLab Broadcast. Every Monday night, every revival minded person in Detroit is needed to join us online for prayer and key instructions for the coming week. Go to www.detroitrevivalchurch.com/thelab to tune in every Monday night at 8:30pm.
  • Understand the vision. Read my book 20 Elements of Revival for starters. It’s a very clear, step by step process toward revival on a city level. It’s rare to find someone who’s willing respond to the call of that book, but many have said how it is an absolute must read. Also, watch podcasts, read articles and follow the many men and women in the region who are sending out prophetic insights and instructions.

REVELATION DRIVEN

Everything we do, every day, in every church, at every turn must be birthed and fueled from the prayer room. In fact, the church IS the prayer room!

As we see the church return to its original and primary purpose, to be a house of prayer for all nations, everything else will be sufficiently powered and supported.

We need to see Revelation Driven churches and ministries all over the city who are calling every member and participant into a lifestyle of zealous, interactive and fervent prayer. The prayer rooms must be full all the time. Sunday services must be mostly prayer and intercession. This is how we will see revival launch and continue in great power.

What’s Expected?

  • Be a person of continual prayer. Pray in the Spirit, allow the groans to erupt!
  • Eliminate everything that hinders prayer, hinders encounter with God.
  • Learn to hear God’s voice.
  • Do everything you can to never miss a prayer meeting.
  • Embrace holiness.
  • Stir a prophetic atmosphere in your life.

Please understand. This is a regional call to action. However, historically it’s a remnant that responds. Can you really imagine yourself NOT being included in that remnant?

The choice is yours… but, I implore you… don’t miss this. You are needed more than you know.

Seeking early adopters : Breaking away from the marginal Christian experience

The call at Revival Church : Three burning focuses will help rip the Christian church out of a marginal, stale state into a tremble that never ends.

I’m waiting.

I’m looking.

The strategy of God in this nation requires people who refuse to live according to a skewed Christian experience that has suffocated the church into a near flat line.

As a leader with a humanly impossible mission to call together people who will form their entire lives around the prayer room and the activity of the Holy Spirit, I find myself waiting and looking as I sound the alarm for the willing ones to move into position.image

A radical response will result in a nuclear explosion of shock and awe that the nations of the Earth will witness—and then tremble.

My current city of Detroit must wake up. The church must destroy the habit of a casual response to a terrifyingly urgent call to repent, to respond immediately and to follow the feverish pace of the Holy Spirit toward revival.

During a prayer & whiteboard session on Monday, God refined the burning focus of the Detroit mission. We are intent on calling people together to participate in the mission at Revival Church… and the call is unapologetically and necessarily extreme:

REVIVAL CULTURE

The focus every day at Revival Church is to develop a culture of revival. The presence of God simply must press against us at every turn. It’s hard to believe that church services actually are allowed to continue without it! How can we teach and worship without the fire of God burning in our midst?

This culture is impartation and refreshing driven—meaning, God desires to impact, heal, deliver and pull destinies out of every one of us. Additionally, this focus results in communities of fiery love. People who are intentionally committed to one another… people who become family…who go deep in relationship and Holy Spirit fueled love.

Also, a key focus of this ministry is taking the fire of revival to the cities of the Earth. (If you are ready to book me, go to www.johnburton.net/booking) Teams of revivalists will be moving out with me as I minister in churches, at conferences and other events. We desire to train and coach others into a vibrant culture of wild revival.

REVOLUTION MANDATE

The second strategy of our ministry is all about reformation. Revolution.

Understand, the Sunday style of ministry must end. The 24/7 church must emerge. Now.

People who are used to living their lives throughout the week and attending church for a couple of hours on a Sunday morning must brace for an abrupt shock to their systems. A Kingdom perspective is being imparted into the forerunners who will be leading the church into it’s new reality.

Today, the church tends to be focused on feeding people… tomorrow the focus is for the people to feed God. To minister to him. To pray.

Today, the church gathers together, on average, 2-4 times a month. Tomorrow, people will be together several days a week.

Today, people tend to seek out teaching. Tomorrow, they will receive equipping and instruction with an expectation of response…ministry…action.

There are a lot of changes coming, and the call is now for the early adopters to respond and change their lives unlike few are willing to. At Revival Church, we are setting up shop to appeal to these early adopters.

REVELATION DRIVEN

The entire church and Christian experience must be driven by the voice, activity and revelation of God himself. RevelationDrivenPrayerBoxShot-50%It must become normal for every Believer to be a person of extreme, zealous and fiery prayer as their primary activity in life. The church must embrace this primary mandate. Revival Church certainly does.

As prayer becomes the primary reason we gather together in the church, and the number one activity of our lives, we’ll hear God’s instructions clearly and continually.

Revival Church is called to be a prophetic revival center for the region. We must hear God. We must have people in our midst who are zealously on their face in night and day prayer. This is non-negotiable.

I’ll say it very clearly. If Detroit is to experience Kingdom normalcy… a revival culture… drastic and momentous change must come now.

Are you hungry enough for such a drastic interruption in your life? Are you willing? OK, let’s go. It’s time.

THE REVIVAL CHURCH CALL

So, what’s the minimum call for this new-form mission at Revival Church?

  • Be early for prayer every Sunday at 5pm
  • Make it extremely rare to miss a Sunday evening service.
  • Nurture a life of radical prayer, study in the Word and pursuit of God’s presence.
  • Participate in theLab, our weekly 8:30pm Monday radio show at www.detroitrevivalchurch.com/thelab.
  • Participate in all, or as many as possible, of our weekly prayer meetings at IHOPE. We pray at noon every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. www.ihopedetroit.org
  • Be extravagant tithers and givers
  • Be an extreme communicator—participate in theLab, email us about what God’s revealing to you regarding the mission, be in contact with leadership and share your heart as often each week as you can.
  • In order to understand the Revival Church vision, read John’s books, starting with 20 Elements of Revival (www.detroitrevivalchurch.com/resources)

The 24/7 church is emerging, and we’ll soon find ourselves in corporate ministry together at least 20 hours a week on the low end… and this transitional call of less than 8-10 hours a week will help ease our way into that new structure.

I’d love to hear from you! Are you ready to join the wild Revival Church family of revivalists? Contact me directly at [email protected].

A “Whatever Church” : TONIGHT Live Radio Broadcast

image First- TONIGHT, Monday, November 2nd at 8pm Eastern (just over two hours from now)  I’ll be live on blogtalkradio.com along with several other Revival Church ministers, revivalists and hungry people from all over the nation and around the world. 

We’ll be praying, declaring and releasing fire into Detroit at 8pm sharp, and will then move into discussion on the topic of strategic revival.

You can participate by:

Also, a NEW teaching from yesterday’s service will be uploaded to www.detroitrevivalchurch.com/teaching SOON!  It’s part two of Six Enemies of Fulfilled Destiny.

A WHATEVER CHURCH

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a bit raw, incredibly desperate.  I am craving a revival and move of God in our region- and I’m certain that church as usual isn’t the appropriate structure. 

There are over 19,000 cities in America, and none of them are experiencing revival.  Something’s wrong.

There are hundreds of thousands of churches in America, and few are experiencing revival.  Something is very wrong.

We can’t continue with the same structure, the same model of ministry.

Last night was an unusual night at Revival Church.  Prayer started as it always does at 5pm.  Then, at 6pm, when we were to launch into worship, our worship leader was having an encounter with the Lord.  Several people were around her, praying, warring, interceding.  Banners were being waved over her as she contended under a veil.  It was powerful.

I leaned over to a friend and said, “Do you think it’s time to give the announcements and take the offering?”  He laughed.

Yet, in many churches, the activity of the Holy Spirit would be stopped to ensure everything remained on schedule.

Well after the normal 6pm starting time, our worship leader shared about her encounter, about how fire was all over her hands.  She remembered an encounter she had of going to heaven a year ago, and that the trembling is intense in her yet again.

I want that kind of person leading worship at Revival Church!  I’m losing interest in all of the ‘supposed to’s’ of church planting.  I am raw, and I want a raw move of the Holy Spirit.

I want a place where people tremble as they walk through the door. 

Last night someone was praying and declaring on the microphone and she collapsed under the glory of God.  She was still there as I started to preach.

A strong prophetic atmosphere kept increasing throughout the night, and several were impacted by revelation from God at the altar. 

After it was all done, someone said, “Revival Church is a ‘whatever’ church.  Whatever God wants to do at any time during the service just happens.”

I like that.  I think we need a lot of “Whatever Churches” in our nation.