by Garris Elkins | Aug 13, 2020 | Apostle, Church, Church planting, Evangelism, Five-Fold Ministry, Kingdom, Kingdom of God, Leadership
One thing that will emerge from this time of social isolation and cultural shutdown will be a clarification between the Gospel of Salvation and the Gospel of the Kingdom. Those who follow the Gospel of the Salvation believe that Jesus came to Earth solely to lead...
by Garris Elkins | Jul 11, 2020 | Apostle, Change, Church planting, Culture
If you have been worrying about the state of the Church during this strange time in our history, I want to share an encouraging image the Lord revealed to me this morning. In the image, I saw a person walking toward a doorway. They were wearing multiple layers of...
by Garris Elkins | Mar 15, 2020 | Apostle, Change, Church, Church planting
It has been years since I used the word “para-church.” That word describes a form of ministry taking place outside a traditional understanding of the Church. The dictionary defines “para” as “beside or alongside” something. The word establishes a separation. Scripture...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 21, 2019 | Change, Church planting, Culture, Discernment, Faithfulness, Favor, Five-Fold Ministry, God, Grace, Honor, Humility, Leadership
Look across the landscape of your life and ask, “Who is the least likely person I know who might become a devoted follower of Jesus Christ?” This is a question the first believers in Jerusalem would have no problem answering. They would have said, “Saul!” Saul, who...
by Garris Elkins | Nov 30, 2019 | Church planting, Culture, Deliverance, Discernment
Just a few miles off the California coast near Santa Cruz, a cluster of unknown fault lines was recently discovered on the ocean floor. These seams in the tectonic plate of the planet look like wrinkles on the Earth’s crust. What makes this unusual is this area is one...
by Garris Elkins | Nov 3, 2019 | Apostle, Change, Church, Church planting, Courage, Discipleship, Discipline, Reformation, Revival, Teaching
After spending 46 years sharing the same bed with Jan, we have learned how to discern the difference between our sleeping sounds and when one of us is beginning to wake up. Early this morning, I quietly called out to Jan, “Are you awake?” She replied, “Well, it sure...
