Across our nation, church leaders are waking up to an undeniable reality. Millions of dollars and mega-sized buildings may entertain the church, but they do not necessarily equip the church. Decades later we see a church that has little to no effect in the 21st century culture war.

We believe that our sovereign God is still fully capable of working out his purpose within his church, but he loves her too much to leave her as she is. We see that His Spirit is once again up to his work in building a new wineskin in which to breathe new life into his church. There are several words that could be used to describe this new wineskin, or framework, but it all centers on primarily one focus. Returning the heart of His children back to relationship instead of riches.

He knows that we are quickly misled into making any “good” thing that comes along into our “god”. Mankind, even the most devoted, will naturally lapse back into idolatry. And so we have, even as a church. We have worship man-made images, instead of our God. Buildings instead of relationships. We have reaped what we have sown. Yet our Redeemer can take these very mistakes, discipline us and return us to his mountain instead of the meadow of pleasure into which we have fallen.

Many people say they are wary of movements, but fail to see that we all are part of a movement. We are either moving with the status quo of the majority, or we are moving in step with the Spirit, often represented by the minority. There is unquestionably a movement of the Holy Spirit happening across our land right now. No, not in the White House, nor in our banks, businesses, schools, or workplaces. In fact as I write each of those words, you’re probably thinking they all of something in common which is much different than the work of the Spirit. Each of these areas, plus many more are experiencing judgment and discipline. The more man tries to fix the problems on their own, the deeper his hole becomes.

The Holy Spirit always does his greatest work within the bride of Christ-the church. The church that is not blinded by riches, but is open to relationship. Our God knows that if a man’s heart is not open to relationship within in his own family, it will never happen within his church. That’s why the Spirit and power of Elijah is working as we speak to “turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers”. It’s not happening in masses yet, but Lord willing if we are faithful to be useful in his hands, it will. There will one day be a revival of our nation as the heart of the church is turned to the heart of the family. And this will only happen as the heart of a man is returned to his family.

Money doesn’t do this. Nor flashy programs. Big buildings do not. In fact, each of these naturally does the exact opposite. What a man’s heart treasures becomes the legacy of his family, his church, and his country. Right now our Lord is mercifully speaking through his “megaphone of pain” to awaken the heart of man from his fascination with riches and returning it to relationship.

And men, one by one, are indeed waking up. When men wake up and begin to lead in a spirit of truth and love, the Spirit is unleashed powerfully. We don’t claim to know the many venues that the Spirit is working, but we are aware of one. The home-schooling community.

For years this community was comprised of industrious and faithful mothers who home-schooled their children almost completely without the help of dad. But the Spirit continued to work. Dads slowly began to wake up to the hearts of their children, and the heart of their wife who was training them. Whether it was because he saw how tired she was from carrying the burden alone, or how much fun he was missing out on, he woke up.

Men like Doug Phillips, Kevin Swanson, Norm Wakefield, Little Bear Wheeeler, and others. And they began to speak what the Spirit had written on their heart. And fathers like me were awakened to something we had always known to be true, but not sure how to act on it. God wants men to lead boldly and humbly in all aspects of their life, and especially their family.

Click here to read about our Family’s Journey

Over the last several years we have seen first-hand what happens as men do wake up and begin to lead within the church. We see God has doing a tremendous work within what has come to be called the “family-integrated” movement. Basically these are churches that are seeking to re-integrate the family instead of fragmenting them. This movement has been especially growing within the “reformed, denominational” churches. We are thankful for these brothers and sister and their willingness to boldly stand on the sufficiency of scripture and pioneer this movement.

Yet we see that the Spirit is not bound to building this new wineskin in only the reformed churches across our nation. We are sad to see that many non-reformed, non-denominational churches are still very asleep and not moved by this movement. We believe that this is often due to the lack of focus that the church has had in taking the Word of God seriously. Instead, the non-denominational church has often been sidetracked by cultural goods that are up for purchase. But not all non-denominational, non-reformed churches are asleep.

By the grace of God, he has turned our hearts toward our children and then to a church-model that seeks to do the same. And that’s what we are all about. We hunger to see many more “non-reformed, non-denominational” churches planted across our country. We’re calling them F.E.N.D. churches- “Family-Equipping, Non-Denominational, curches. Churches that take the word of God seriously in all aspects of life. Especially in how it pertains to making disciples for the glory of Jesus Christ.

If the Spirit is working in your heart and you have experienced a similar work in your church pilgrimage, then we would love to climb with you. Maybe you are a church leader who has already established this type of church. Let us know, we’d love to network with you. Maybe you are a church leader that wants to be equipped in how to return the heart of your church back to relationships, instead of riches. Let us know, we’d love to equip you.

The judgment that our country and our churches are experiencing right now tells us that the Spirit is doing his work of conviction. Once church leaders are willing to heed the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 then we will have the chance to be involved in how He desires to heal our land. Our church. Our family.

If you’d like to learn more about what a non-denominational, non-reformed church looks like, then feel free to check us out at: www.themountain.us.

If you would like to communicate with us further about networking together, being equipped and encouraged, or anything else, you can email us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it