Early Evidence of Transformation
In the early stages of the transformation process, most of the work God is doing among His people isn’t visible to those looking in on the community from a natural perspective. Many people today are looking for a charismatic revival service when they look for evidence of transformation. Others doubt anything is improved if the work God is doing isn’t yet complete. For instance, you can drive through North Omaha today and see the condition of the neighborhoods and conclude “there isn’t any transformation here”. But if you LIVE in North Omaha, you would witness not only change in the church and families but even some early indication of change in the community itself; drive-by shootings have diminished, there are new community development and renewal efforts, crack houses are closing, prostitutes getting saved, families being restored, etc. And, there is a sense of joy and expectation in the atmosphere, replacing the hopelessness and oppression that prevailed upon North Omaha and it’s people until recently.
As we watch the beginning of the spiritual awakening and early stages of transformation in North Omaha what is the “fruit” of God’s presence among His people? Is there discernable evidence that a new season of transformation has begun?
It’s very important when we talk about transformation that there is tangible evidence of God’s favor and attention on the community. If you can’t find evidence that things are different than it’s not transformation. Transformation even in the early stages is not merely subjective opinion, if God is at work in a community in a fresh way, than a careful look will provide great encouragement!
Some indications that God is at work in a new way:
Church/Families:
- Leaders are walking in humility and deep unity with one another
- Leaders and their congregations have made repentance a lifestyle
- The corporate village of 7 congregations is functioning with a Kingdom perspective
- A spirit of repentance continues to hover over the people and congregations as the Lord takes them deeper to root out all issues that hinder intimacy with Him.
- God is turning the father’s hearts toward their children and the children in response are turning back to their parents. Where they was once alienation, there is now embracing, restoration of relationship between fathers and children
- The spiritual atmosphere is beginning to change so that people are being drawn to church, have a desire to pray often as the corporate body and are free from the oppression and bondage of sin
- People are being healed physically much more frequently
- There is an increased hunger and appetite for God
- The presence of the Lord is evident when the people gather
- There is a spirit of conviction among even unchurched people
- The healing and restoration of families in continuing! Not only is the Lord continuing to bring healing to the families that went through the transformation process, many more families are now asking to go through the same process!
Community:
4 crackhouses have closed since the journey of transformation began! 2 closed during the first week of the Divine Experiment and 2 more the week following the Healing the Land Process. The last 2 crack houses were on the same street where we stayed and met every day during the process!
- Favor with City Officials – leaders of the community are encouraged and watching with expectation of what God is doing through the North Omaha Village
- New Economic Development Planned
Some of the first fruit of the pastors praying together for 14 months was released shortly after the Healing the Land Process was completed. A week following the process the Omaha Herald had this headline in the local news section:
“3 Key Areas Identified for N. Omaha Renewal”
In the article three areas were identified as “keys to renewed economic vitality in north Omaha”. These areas were exactly the areas of N. Omaha that were targeted and prayed for in the Healing the Land Process.
The first area is a business center and office park the article reported "This is a business location second to none in the city”. The second area is a housing district where reconstruction would allow new cultural and entertainment areas in addition to “retail villages”. The third area is the park literally across the street from the church where all the transformation meetings took place during the Healing the Land Process! The city wants this park to become the “new central gathering place” for North Omaha!
Mike Green, a leading Omaha businessman, said "This is not a cookie-cutter approach to neighborhood revitalization". Green said "Not in my lifetime have I seen something of this kind have the potential for such a significant impact.
Why is this important?
A common occurrence in transformed communities is that the government, both local and national will begin to invest into villages that have spiritually returned to covenant relationship with the Lord. First, the Lord brings healing and restoration to the people, families and land and then oftentimes, the government will also respond with offers to bring natural transformation/improvement in new schools, roads, etc. As a result you see the partnering lessening of poverty, improvement in education, etc.
A once despised, devastated, ignored part of the city all of a sudden has captured the interest of the broader community. Rather than continued neglect, there is fresh interest and hope to bring change. That change begins in the spiritual but will continue in the natural.
When the eyes of the Lord turn to a community, His favor will rest on it. As a result other people begin to care for it in an increased way whether they are believers or not. The Lord begins to cause people to “tend the garden” of the community where He is moving.
10 Indicators of Transformation:
How do we know if a community is on the journey toward transformation? What do we look for? Can you discern if the presence of the Lord is increasing in a community?
During the last several years of researching and documenting case studies of transformation in the world, George Otis, Jr. has identified 10 common indicators that transformation is occurring in a city or nation.
- Political leaders publicly acknowledge their sin and dependence on God (2 Kings 11:17-18, 23:2, Jonah 3:6-9)
- New laws and business practices are put into effect (2 Chron.19:-10, Nehemiah 10:31)
- The natural environment is restored to its original life-nurturing state (Lev. 26:4-5, 2 Chron 7:14, Ezek 34:27, 36:29-30)
- Economic conditions improve and lead to a discernable lessening of poverty (2 Chron 17:3-5, Psalm 144:14, Isaiah 60:5, Amos 9:13)
- There is marked change in social entertainment and vices as Kingdom values are integrated into the rhythm of daily life (Ezra 10:-4, Neh 8:10, Ecc. 10:17, Acts 19:17-20)
- Crime and corruption diminish throughout the community (2 Kings 12:13-15, Nehemiah 5:6-12, Isaiah 60:17-18)
- Volunteerism increases as Christians recognize their responsibility to heal and undergird the community (Isaiah 58:10-12, 61:104)
- Restored hope and joy leads to a decline in divorce, bankruptcy and suicide (Nehemiah 12:27-28, 43, Isaiah 54:11-14, 62:3,7, Jer 30:17-19, 31:11-13, Hosea 2:15)
- The spiritual nature of the growing socio-political renewal becomes a hot topic in the secular media (2 Chron 20:29, Nehemiah 6:16, Isaiah 55:5, Ezek 36:36, Acts 19:17)
- Overwhelmed by the goodness of God, grateful Christians take the embers of revival into surrounding communities and nations. (2 Chron. 17:9, Is. 61:6, Acts 11:20-26)
(Excerpt taken from “Desperate For His Presence”, Bethany House Publishers, 2004)
North Omaha is experiencing the early stages of several of the above indicators: political leaders acknowledge their dependence upon God, marked change in community vices, crime decrease,
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