Our primary purpose is twofold; to help Forge participants develop a more intimate relationship with the Lord; and to build in them a desire to see the headship of Christ expressed in new ways in his church. Like the New Testament followers of Christ, they will be part of an army of ordinary people sent out to impact their world.
What will students take with them from The Forge?
1. Centrality of Christ: We live in a “me-first” society. Most of what we do, say, and hear centers around our own needs. This self-centered thinking has carried over into our understanding of the Christian faith. Much of what we hear is centered on the individual believer and what he or she needs to do to be more pleasing and useful to God. While that can be helpful, it is not the central focus of the gospel. God is focused on his son, Jesus Christ and views His creation through Christ’s centrality in it. Through living, working and serving together, students will taste the joy that comes from laying down our lives for the sake of others as we focus on knowing Christ. This perspective is at the foundation of Forge ministry. With Christ at the center we then find our place in the work of God’s kingdom. In short, those who come to the Forge will leave with an expanded vision of the centrality, the greatness and the practicality of Jesus Christ.
2. Christ’s Life in His Followers: It is clear from the gospels that Jesus Christ came to give us his eternal life. That does not simply mean that our sins are forgiven and someday we will meet Him in heaven. In fact, it holds a daily significance for us as believers. There is nothing more practical and in some ways more difficult than laying hold of the simple phrase, “For me to live is Christ.” How do we live “by Christ?” In answer to that question, the Forge training will focus on key concepts like Life, the Cross, the Kingdom, the Church, and the Heavens. We will cover the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives, choices that we make, the work of the cross in daily living and getting along with other fallen human beings. Learning how to develop and maintain an intimate relationship with the Lord will be central to the Forge experience. Living in close proximity to other like-minded believers will give all involved many opportunities to learn how to choose Christ and know Him as life.
3. Corporate Worship of Believers: God loves the gathering of his people. He delights in being at the center of his people as they worship and meet. During the worship and sharing times at the Forge all the members of the body will have the opportunity to participate. We will discuss how to have worship that is not led by only one or two individuals. Then we will practice it. The meetings will not be without order but they will have elements of spontaneity and openness that will allow the Lord himself to be the head of the meeting. Students leaving the Forge will have learned how to sense the Lord’s moving in a corporate gathering, how to be a part of a Spirit led meeting and what their gifting is in the body of Christ. We pray they will have also tasted the intimacy of true fellowship with the Lord and his people. It is also our aim that as a result of such experiences students will leave the Forge having made friendships that will last a lifetime.
4. Christ as Head of the Church: In America and around the world, church practice is largely centered on those who stand in the pulpit. The pastor is viewed as the church’s dominant role player. The believer in the pew is too frequently a passive observer. Part of this is due to fixed timetables and a desire for continuity. But in our desire to keep everything in order we have organized a great deal of the spiritual life out of the expression of the church. Many pastors and parishioners sense a need for greater depth. The word “church” itself has come to stand for an inanimate building rather than a living, breathing community of believers. While the body of Christ must have those who lead, our goal is to elevate Jesus Christ. While we will develop the leadership gifts of those who attend, we encourage a style of leadership that energizes the functioning of the whole body. It is our belief that the more God’s people are freed up to participate in the life and meetings of church fellowship, the more Jesus Christ will be revealed. The more He is expressed, the greater will be the ministry to the body of believers and to the world.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Iron Sharpens Iron at the Forge
Forge Objectives
The call to follow Christ is a call to a loving relationship with him. It is also an invitation to the spiritual battle of establishing Christ’s kingdom in a world made hostile by sin. With these truths in mind, life at The Forge will incorporate the following six objectives:
1. Guiding students into developing and maintaining an intimate experience with Christ in their daily lives.
2. Leading students to study, serve and live together and to corporately participate in meetings where Christ is followed as head of His body.
3. Developing a holy love and reverence for the Scriptures.
4. Establishing a forum for examining the structure and expression of the body of Christ, the church. Contribute to practices that emphasize the Headship of Christ in the church, the unity of all believers and the kingdom work of the Holy Spirit.
5. Developing a first-hand connection between students and the work of God around the world.
6. Increasing the English competency level of overseas students
The Building Blocks of the Forge
1. A 13 acre property in Afton, Virginia where 25-30 people can live together, meet and study
2. Daily sessions for teaching and fellowship.
3. Foreign and American students
4. Evening meetings for worship, outreach and a variety of other activities.
5. Individual small and large group prayer
6. Students working together on household responsibilities and community service projects. American students will participate in an English tutoring program for the foreign students.
7. Ministry leaders from foreign countries who will share how God is working in their countries.
8. Four week sessions
9. Two to five week internship in a Global South/developing country serving with a mission organization led and supervised by national leaders.
