I Honor You!

Isa 60:19 “ The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light,
And your God your glory.
20 Your sun shall no longer go down,
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the LORD will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.
21 Also your people shall all be righteous;
They shall inherit the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified.
22 A little one shall become a thousand,
And a small one a strong nation.
I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.”

On Saturday November 14th, 2009 - over 1,000 young people flooded the streets of NYC to make a declaration that "God Belongs in Our City". This was a direct reaction to an Atheist Campaign launched in NYC that stated "1,000,000 New Yorkers are good without God. Are you? In my opinion, this march has changed the climate of our city. Through the power of unity, prayer, and a kingdom agenda 3 generations of believers moved in the power of God to take back our city. For that, I honor the dozens of leaders who organized this march, as well as the youth who had a passion to move and become an answer to prayers, to the adults who supported the passion of our young people, to the pastors who allowed this emerging generation of leaders to lead, to everyone else who simply made this day historic. To all of you, I tip my hat and say "It is an honor to lead in the GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD and to labor in ministry with the GREATEST LEADERS IN THE WORLD"!

Revival in My City

If God Belongs in My City, why have so many pushed Him out. If He is Lord of your city - what does He look like there? It is time for the Church to rise up and take her place as force that moves and shakes the city!

The Prophetic Clarion Sound is moving throughout at generation who is determined to see the tangible manifestation of God...the way of which Jesus spoke about "greater works shall YOU do..." I see in the Spirit, a people who will not give Him any peace till He establishes His kingdom in NYC; a generation that has turned from false religion but has its head inclined to the face of God.

If now is not the time to see revival take place, then when? If not us, then who? ...Who shall be those whom in our day will "turn this world upside down"?

What if You and I have been chosen for this hour in history to be the movers and shakers for this generation, what if we are today's authors of history, what if the Bible was written about us, what would it say? Would we be a people who served their generation, or ones who allowed for the bride of Christ to become silent because of the fear of opinions? What do you want His(story) to say about you?

I believe this is the hour for the Church to be the church, to awaken from her slumber and overthrow the devil from his place in our culture. Revival cost much...for some people, too much. What if you the price was your life, would you pursue revival? If it cost your reputation and image, your title and position, would you chance after revival?

I pray that the eyes of our understanding be open to the glory we will find in the suffering (if it takes that) of the gospel. Lord let us find the glory in pursuing you for who you are and not what you can give. I want to see revival in my generation - what about you?

Is the Gospel Offensive?

NEXT LEVEL will be hosting special meeting based on the topic "Is the Gospel (Christianity) Offensive?" This topic will be led by Rev. Ralph Castillo from Christ Tabernacle. Ralph will facilitate our meting by presenting what both, Christian and non-Christians think about the Gospel, and why. You will have the opportunity to sound-off throughout the night on this issue.
Please come out and be part of the move of God happening among this generation of 20's & 30's

Youth ROCK presents: Let THEM Lead!!!

Youth Ministry is all about YOUTH!
This training focuses on equipping youth to be leaders in their local churches, communities, and culture

Kickin' It Old Skool - Student Leadership Conference & Back to School Concert

Come and be part of a historic day in NYC. Several of NYC's faith organizations have come together to collaborate on a TRUE Student Conference. Please come out and bring your teens to experience a full day of impacting training, testimonies, and music.

Beer and the Bible: Update from session #1

Click on title link to read the Beer and the Bible update!!!

Notes from: My Version of a Seeker Sensitive Message

I have personally come to a place in which I am despising the idea of being "Seeker Sensitivity." This is due to the current reality, we in the US live in. That is, over 74% of US citizens claim to be Bible-believing Christians, yet we are failing more then ever to produce God fearing "Disciples." We have created a culture of indoctrinating new believers to become church members rather then disciples.

As a result, a large portion of today's converts fail to ever go beyond the basic understanding of God and His work in our live; to move into the "call of God" for them which is to fulfill "The Great Commission." I believe the "Seeker Sensitive" movement play a huge role in this fundamental teaching. I say this because time and again, these SS preachers fail to preach a FULL GOSPEL, one that addresses the issues of heaven & hell, sin, redemption, repentance, etc. They fail to present these issues for the sake of not offending those in their churches who might be considering God, or becoming consistent members at their churches.

I find this scary. How can we say we are of Christ yet denies who He is and what He stands for. My conviction is that many of these SS preachers and/or pastors are, what I would call, modern-day Pharisees. They know the law, yet fail to live it out. In scripture, these men who where religious leaders were consistently being rebuked by Christi for their false teachings and hypocritical life-styles. I ask myself, why is that? The conviction I received was, they had to be called out for the sake of the unbeliever.

These false teachings did damage to the unbeliever (as well as to the believer as seen in the writing of Paul). It was the lack of fleshing out the law that cause Christ to address His calling openly in Luke 4..."for the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me..." He declares the call of God on Him because all that He came to do, was also the responsibility of those religious leaders who were not doing it.

I believe if we are going to be "Seeker Sensitive" our focus must shift from being focused on how others feel to what does God say. Our sensitivity must go to God. My seeking must be Him. If I am going to be SS - this must mean that I am Seeking Him and in doing so, I am sensitive to His desires. When I become SS about God, I will begin to walk as He has called me to. I will become sensitive to His hearts desire to save the lost. The Word state that "He has come to SEEK and Save that which is lost. My Seeking must be Him and His plan for humanity.

Finally, I believe the gospel in its self is offensive. It is violent. When presented as an Unadulterated Gospel, it will tear through our hearts and reveal to us our sinful nature which is a complete and utter of offense to God. Therefore we are also offended at the way we are living. To present a SS gospel is to present a false doctrine which passivizes the flesh and does nothing to usher us into a deeper revelation of the creator of all. However, when the Truth is presented we hurt, we are ashamed, and convicted - this I believe is what is needed for man to come to the reality of the living God. Do we do it in love - YES. But even more importantly we should do it because of love. Our love for the lost. I can't stop the offense of the gospel but I must be willing for the lost to be offended and have their life take from the grip of hell then to allow a weak gospel to be presented to him and have him die and sentience to an eternal hell because i was not willing to present a gospel that exposes sin.

Maximize your Kingdom impact by connecting with other youth ministers for fellowship, prayer, training, and meaningful collaboration -- especially at the start of the new school year and the related busyness of our youth ministry calendars.

If you are a full-time, vocational youth minister who prefers to meet during the workday, come at 10 am. AND if you are a youth work volunteer with a day job, come at 7 pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

What do you seek, Riches or Glory?

For many years I have heard this specific portion of scripture misquoted by many preachers. They have used it to promote a "prosperity" agenda. Please understand, I am not completely against the prosperity teaching, when its aligned with the Word of God. However the prosperity teaching many times is not. Here is the scripture:

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19

I want to simply point out the key word in this scripture which is "IN". For so many we have heard it as "according to His riches AND glory". There is a great difference. The reality is we can't have access to His riches with His glory FIRST. It is in the GLORY of God that we find the riches. Riches without GLORY is not will led man to hungering for the idea of wealth and success from an unbiblical lens, but when we seek His glory the riches that we acquire may not necessarily be physical but can be things such as Joy, Peace, Health, etc. these things have a greater value to us then simply money.

So what do you think is greater, to seek riches or glory?

Spiritual Parenting is not a Popularity Contest

First off, I know that some of you will not like this note however it is scriptural. Unfortunately, we the US church have made spiritual parenting more about how cool we look, and how many "kids" we have under us then the actual work of parenting.

As a dad for the past 3 years I have found that parenting goes far beyond "being there" for my kid. Its more about, how do I shape, develop, empower, train, and transfer all that I am and all that I stand for into my child. That means that I MUST invest, guide, correct, rebuke, exalt, love, walk along side, and prepare my child to walk into her destiny. What I have seen i many Christians is a false model of parenting. Today, what we call parents are simply people who look to fulfill their "missed opportunities" through the lives of those who are vulnerable. These young Christians look for guidance and parenting but what they get is manipulation and lording from people who are afraid to pay the price it take for them to personally get the anointing, but would rather test God through the lives of others who are willing to listen to "them"

I am tired of men and women calling themselves Spiritual parents yet have not paid the price of birthing. If you have not spent time in the presence of God DO NOT CALL YOURSELF A PARENT! If you have brownness in your life and your children are rebellious DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PARENT OTHERS! If you are still struggling with your faith in God DO NOT CALL YOURSELF A PARENT! If your self-esteem is so low that you "parent" for the sake someone looking up to you, YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO PARENT!

There is a difference between Mentoring & Parenting. Lets get that straight. Here is an examples of a Fathering relationships:


Elijah & Elisha (1 Kings 19:10-21)
- Elijah produced in Elisha the call of God. He was led by the Lord to go and get Elisha and Elisha gave the witness that he was to follow Elijah.

- Elijah left Elisha an anointing after he departed.

- Elisha produced signs and wonders that were beyond what Elijah did.

THIS MEANS THAT YOU ARE NOT A PARENT IF YOU PROMOTE YOURSELF TO YOU "KIDS'
YOUR KIDS MUST HAVE TESTIMONY THAT GOD HAS SET YOU UP FOR THEM
YOUR ANOINTING MUST BE TRANSFERRED FOR GREATER WORKS BY YOUR KIDS


Paul writes in 1 Cor. 4:14-16 and say "I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.


Paul gave Birth to his kids and churches, he did inherit the work of someone else's investment. He gave birth to them. There will be many who invest into individuals but the role of a Parent is forever! That is why Spiritual Parenting is always about the Kingdom and not a church. I must view my children as a life-long relationship. Therefore, I am willing to correct, rebuke, love, and empower because I know it will benefit them for the long run not for the moment!

So, please reevaluate who you call your Spiritual Parents. Make sure they will be there when you are old. If you are a threat to them, its more then likely they can't parent you. However, they may be a mentor of a season.