7/31/07

My own sister has just sent me the following email message from a man

who was the Associate Pastor at the church she used to attend in El Paso, Tx.

He now lives in Oklahoma. His name is Chuck Andrews and he’s only 49 years

old. I’m sure this was a very humbling message for this man to write. Thank you

for praying about this matter. It’s between you and the Lord at this point. How

can we, the Body of Christ, help?

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Recently, several well-meaning friends have lovingly encouraged me to

ask my subscribers and readers for funds. They were referring to YOU,

my friend.

I’d like to say a few things about my personal convictions regarding

ministry and money. Remember, these are MY personal convictions

based upon my OWN experiences with God; they are not intended to

serve as some sort of “formula for success.” That would feel too much

like witchcraft to me. Perhaps they just might clarify some issues within

your own soul as well.

I received quite a bit of feedback on my recent article, “The Christian and the

Cash.” Most of it was quite favorable. I received the following tidbit from Bro.

Robert Fitts. I liked it and thought it would bless many others as well regarding

this same subject.

Heeeere’s Robert…!

Mike

…I was editing a book I am writing and am sending the part on giving

which contains some of the verses on giving.  Robert

From tenth to total . . . giving generously, expecting the promised blessing.

David Brainard (1718-1747) was a colonial missionary to the American

Indians. He rode about the woods for three years, slept on the ground,

enduring bad weather, and actually died in bed of tuberculosis, age 29,

in the home of his mentor, Jonathan Edwards. He was known among the

traders and trappers and his stories of Indian conversions were amazing!

I’ve been reading his diary lately and came upon this entry today. I am

sure we can all relate to what this early American saint was wrestling

with. Yet, despite our natural flaws, God desires to work with those who

Though Institutional Churches (ICs) are certainly concerned with the

same issue, let’s focus upon the subject of shrinkage in the Simple Church/

House Church (SC/HC) variety.

From death to divorce, job relocations to relational difficulties, there

are a myriad of reasons why any group might be floundering. Many people

in the Western SC/HC movement are scratching their heads, wondering

if they’ve missed God by leaving the IC in the first place.

Others are asking themselves if they said anything to offend or had

Circuit Preachers on the road again

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!

I wanted you to know that I recently preached in Pakistan - BY TELEPHONE -

to a large crowd that were gathered outside at night. The Pastor who

organizes these events - a man who has planted nearly 900 House Churches -

called me at noon (10 PM in Pakistan) and he interpreted my message over

his sound system. Local pastors were invited to lay hands on the sick, baptize,

Living in Stephenville, Texas - a town known as the Cowboy Capital
of the World - supposedly home to more professional cowboys than
any other town in the country, one cannot help but notice that cowboys
are king around here. Personally, as a city boy born in Chicago, Illinois I’ve
never even ridden a horse. I sat on one as a child but couldn’t make her
do anything.

I have friends who are traveling minister who are going to a conference in the Phoenix area. Do you know of anyone who might be willing to take them in for a couple of nights? Let me know! They are members of CPI (Circuit Preachers International). If you have friends or relatives out that way, please ask. They’re great folks!

Thanks,

Michael Tummillo

Here’s an article from a friend whose church occasionally send me $100. He
wrote that article on giving that’s on the menu on our site.
He’s one of those who thinks I need a Mac. Go figure. What are your thoughts
on this comment? Thanks,
Michael

—– Original Message —–
From: “Tommy Musick” <tmusick1955@earthlink.net>
To: “Michael Tummillo” <team1min@our-town.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 9:07 AM
Subject: About donations

Where are you REALLY the real you? Metaphorically speaking, we

all tend to wear masks. We prefer to hide behind things.

Why do we hide? We’re not unlike Adam who hid from God because

he was naked. Remember God’s question when Adam was discovered

hiding (as if God didn’t know where he was)? The Lord asked, “Who

told you that you were naked?”

We hide behind shyness. We hide behind our talents. We even hide

behind our spiritual gifts. We hide behind public persona. We even have

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the San Antonio Christian Business Chamber

of Commerce. They were interested in learning about me for consideration regarding

a possible speaking engagement in August. That same day, someone from the Baptist

General Convention wrote requesting information as well. I began putting together a

resume of sorts, for both parties, complete with testimonials. As I was listing my

associations and certifications, things that many in The Church still require, I included:

Circuit Preachers International (CPI).

Since the launching of this ministry’s new website in May, we’ve received nearly 40,000 “hits.” As far as I’m concerned, the most exciting aspect of this

new site is that it allows us to determine where all the “hits” are coming

from. Aside from the United States, here’s a list that reveals the worldwide

impact of this online ministry, broadcasting from the loft of a cabin in the

Texas woods by way of a one-finger typist who doesn’t get along well with

computers. Praise the Lord, He will use anything!

Leadership, Jesus Style
by Michael Tummillo, Workplace Chaplain, t.e.a.m. ministries

When I was the Marketing Director for the award-winning Stephenville
Chamber of Commerce, I was asked to speak at the graduation ceremony
of a group called “Leadership Stephenville.” As I understand it, these
groups are sponsored by Chambers of Commerce all over the nation as
a way of training up the future leaders of our communities and educating
them regarding how it is that a city actually functions. More or less. The
graduates, friends, famaily members and other supporters met in the
conference room of a local downtown restaurant.I had been told that I could speak about anything I wanted, a dangerous
thing to say to me, as some would agree. The only thing I could even
think of was this: “Tell them about the greatest leader of all time. Tell
them the truth.”

Will you be attending the upcoming National Conference of House2House in

Dallas, Texas? As one who’s been there, I’m warning you…it will change your

Christian life!

Whatever issues and challenges you might be facing in regard to Simple

Church, they WILL be addressed at this exciting gathering.

Whatever you may be struggling with on a personal level, trust me, we ALL

require DETOX at some level. You are NOT alone!

If you’re in the proverbial “dry place,” here’s your opportunity to get watered

in a way that’s applicable to daily life and to your House Church experience

From today’s “Good Morning America” Program on ABC, 7/19/07.
As a Workplace Chaplain myself, I take a keen interest in stories of this nature.
If you’re a person in the business world, so should you.

Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
Workplace Chaplain
How to Practice Faith at Work
Without Offending Others
Here’s How Some Employers Integrate Religion
Into the Workplace

By TORY JOHNSON
July 19, 2007

The world is constantly changing. Like the old saying goes,

just when I thought I had all the answers, somebody went

and changed all the questions. Anyone who has purchased

a computer or cell phone in the past 4-5 years is well

aware of how out-of-date they quickly became when the

latest model rolled off the assembly line.
Where The Church is concerned, some say change is

necessary in order to stay in vogue and keep up with the

needs of modern man. We want “church” to be alive and

Most of us have heard John Lennon singing the famous song “Imagine”
– his second hit as an ex-Beatle. I heard it this morning and that line
keeps running over and over in my head.

“Imagine there’s no Heaven.”

Ok, let’s play along. Let’s imagine there’s no Heaven. What then?
Would you still be a Christian? Let’s face it, most of us signed on
because we didn’t want to go to Hell. In most cases, somebody
presented to us an “escape clause” which spelled out for us how
exactly we could avoid the “wages of sin” which we all deserved,
the eternal torment of Hell. Our interest was peaked. We recited a
prayer or got baptized, jumped through some denominational hoops,

As a Workplace Chaplain, I’ve been asked to speak at the August meeting

of the Christian Business Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) in San Antonio, Texas.

The gathering will be held at Community Bible Church, noon August 14th.

My topic will be: “What do we do with those High Places?” 

If you know anyone in the San Antonio area - or even in Austin - pass it on!

Incidentally, Bruce Cotter, President of the San Antonio CBCC told my

sister in the Austin area that, if anybody’s interested in starting a chapter

A Kingdom of Priestly Kings

When we read the Old Testament accounts of the Kings, we see that God’s
directive for each of them was two-fold: (1) live and rule righteously and
(2) exercise dominion over pagan high places.

If we applied that same standard to ourselves, the New Testament version
of the Priest/Kings, should we be held to any less of a standard?

Following is a brief excerpt from the James Rutz book, “MegaShift”

(pg 92). The House Church with which I am affiliated actually read

through this book during the course of several months worth of

meetings, stopping periodically to comment and share. It was such

a faith-builder! The book is loaded with true, documented stories

of miracles and faith.

Yesterday, I opened the book again and read the following excerpt.

For some reason, what I read impacted me so much, I read it to