Spiritual Journey & Formation

Happy Holidays to Everyone.

I want to share some things concerning a two-year journey of faith and spiritual formation we are taking at Immanuel Christian Fellowship. We have teamed up with other pastors and their congregations in something called Cohorts.

What is Cohorts?


Cohorts is a process, a journey of faith where we are changed spiritually in our hearts first of all. Its a journey where we as a congregation hook up with other pastors and their congregations and seek tremendous spiritual transformation and renewal, revitalization and change. Through a two-year journey we meet together and go deeper in various directions.

Upward--Deeper in Truth, Relationship,& Life with God. God is central. Our relationship with God is primary. We worship Him and praise Him and seek Him more and more. A desperate hunger is created where only God can be the living bread that feeds our souls. Our hearts are changed and transformed as we go deeper with God in Truth, Relationship, & Life.

Inward--Deeper in Truth, Relationship, & Life with One Another. Our relationships with each other are vitally important. Our hearts need to change toward all those who are a part of Immanuel. We need to minister to, serve, and care for each other. We must build each other up in love. God is able to develop real, authentic, vibrant community at ICF as we come together and live life together. Our hearts are changed and transformed as we go deeper with each other in Truth, Relationship, & Life.

Outward--Deeper in Truth, Relationship, & Life with the Lost. Our relationship with the lost people who surround us cannot be overlooked. Lets face it. We must learn to love the lost. Our hearts must change toward those who are lost. To seek out people who do not know Jesus whether they are family, friends, or strangers is the very heart of God. As we become more like Him in worship and as we love each other we will reach out and share this love with people who are empty inside. Our hearts are changed as we go deeper with the lost in Truth, Relationship, & Life.

Forward--It is inevitable that we will go deeper into our future, the future that God has planned for us when all these other areas are growing. Developing leadership, making disciples, equipping and training and charting a course for our future is the very heart of God as we go deeper into the future in Truth, Relationship & Life.

I know that many folks have been wondering what has been going on. What have we been up to as a Church Board, Leadership Team, & Pastor? We have been busy but the results have not been quick and easy to see nor will they be quick and easy to see for a while. Remember...mushrooms grow up overnight. Oak trees take years. Which would you rather we become, a mushroom or an oak tree?

Much talk and much prayer has been taking place. We want foundational change to take place at ICF and by that I mean our hearts must change before changing any programs or adding any programs will do any good. To change a program when there is no change in our hearts is merely surface change and brings no lasting results. Thats why its essential that our heart must change as we go deeper in each of the directions mentioned above.

I along with Board members, Ministry Team members, and Home group leaders will be sharing what we believe God is saying as we journey together with everyone in the congregation. To be honest until recently we have not been able to share because we had nothing to share! But then God gave us something. He spoke to us.

The tip of a mission statement that is still a work is progress was given to us. It is:

Immanuel: Truth, Relationship, Life

We believe this is the word that God is speaking to us at this time. This is His heart and this is His vision. Immanuel--God with us. Truth--He is the truth. Relationship--To be in relationship. Life--Abundant and overflowing life is the result and reality. These three concepts are to be experienced in all four directions during this journey of faith.

We will be continuing to craft our Mission Statement, purposes statement, ministry activities and everything else as we continue onward. However I want to point something out. YOU are essential to this journey. From the oldest to the youngest. Every single one of you. No one is to be left out or left behind. In small groups, in Sunday services, in prayer meeting, in coffee shops, and every where else your input is needed because you are Immanuel Christian Fellowship. You are the people God has called out to bear and share His name.

In your Home Groups this week pray about and discuss Immanuel: Truth, Relationship, Life. Ask your home group leaders about Cohorts and what has been happening there. All our Home Group Leaders have been taking part as leaders and are able to answer any questions you may have just as easily if not better than I can.

In addition on Sundays during my sermon times I will be explaining what has been taking place and how things are becoming clear to us. This is not a secret journey for a select few but a wondrous, fantastic journey of faith in growth both spiritually and numerically as a congregation.

The beginning is here!

Happy Thanksgiving and Christmas Immanuel. God is with us!


God's Peace.

Pastor Ch@rles Bivens

"I will take the ring to Mordor...though I do not know the way"
Frodo Baggins (Hobbit and Ring~Bearer)