August 2006 Archives

The History of the World Conference on DVD

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 31, 2006 | Permalink

Sister and Sister

Father and Daughter

Brother and Sister

Father and Son

Sisters and Brother

Sisters and Soulmates

Brothers and Comrades

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 31, 2006 | Permalink

The bittersweet glory of the final goodbyes between mother and daughter at a covenant wedding.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 30, 2006 | Permalink

On August 26, my personal assistant, Mr. Peter Bradrick (son of Michael Bradrick, President of aWashngton state home school organization) married Miss Kelly Brown (author of Coming In on a Wing and a Prayer and daughter of NCFIC Director, Scott Brown).

In so many ways the marriage and the wedding was a defining moment for a community of Christians yoked in the bonds of love and friendship. The marriage meant the realization of years of hopes and dreams and prayers.

First, the marriage represented the coming together, not merely of two individuals, but of two families of generational vision, Gospel emphasis, and tremendous doctrinal and orthopraxic agreement. Both families have been at the forefront of the battle to restore the biblical family to the condition, status, law, and jurisdiction presented by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Holy Scripture. Both families have demonstrated a life-time of love and self-sacrifice for the people of God. Both have suffered the slings and arrows of persecution for godly stands, and both have known the blessings of joyful spiritual victories. Both committed their children to the Lord early in life, and both specifically raised them with a vision for purity, for bold action, and for the strenuous life in Christ. For all of us, marriages like these are the blessed first fruits of a historic reformation which God is doing within His church, turning the hearts of sons and daughters to their parents, and parents to their sons and daughters.

Second, the marriage was conceived in moral purity. Long ago both Peter and Kelly had pledged their bodies and their hearts to the one true love with whom they would someday be yoked in marriage. Recognizing that the successive emotional relationships promoted through the dating culture of our era are fraught with trouble and lead to physical and emotional defrauding, they purposed to take the more difficult, but higher path, which involved receiving wise oversight, direction, and blessing from their parents in laying the foundations for a true biblical espousal.

Third, their marriage was a covenantal marriage. Both bride and groom have demonstrably lived lives as covenant keepers with the God of their fathers. Also, they have honored their parents and, as God has promised, “It is well with them.” Consequently, they have reaped not only the blessings which flow from a life of obedience to the Savior, but the benefits of receiving an enthusiastic and unqualified blessing on their marriage from both sets of parents. Moreover, both bride and groom have honored the Lord by keeping covenant with their local churches. To put it another way: They have been faithful churchmen, honoring their committments to the local church. Consequently, when bride and groom desired the support of their respective local congregations and their church elders. both received the public, verbal, enthusastic blessing of the people of God in their lives.

The Bible teaches that men reap what they sow. Covenant keepers reap blessings. Covenant breakers reap judgment. This couple reaped not only great blessings, but they inaugurated their life together by proclaiming to the world that their marriage is about more than themselves. It is about a joint dominion mission for the glory of God. It is about children and grandchildren yet to be born. It is about an unfolding generational vision which they will share together, as together they spend their life in the service of Christ.

And it is about the richness and permanence of the marriage covenant.

The vows below were drafted by Peter and Kelly on their own. They reflect an unusually mature appreciation for the meaning and nature of the biblical marriage covenant. I believe these beautiful and “epistemologically self-conscious” vows could be enormously helpful to future couples who seek to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

GROOM

I, Peter David Bradrick, covenant before God and man, to you Kelly Jeannette to be your loving husband, and to lead you, to protect you, and provide for you in the fear of the Lord.^[1] I vow to love you as my wife even as Christ also loved the church, to lay down my life for you;^[2] to wash you with the water of the word;^[3] to love you as my own body and to nourish and cherish you even as the Lord the does the church; to render unto you the affection due you, knowing that I do not have authority over my own body but you do;^[4] to dwell with you according to knowledge, giving honor unto you, as unto the weaker vessel, and living together with you as heirs together of the grace of life.^[5] You alone will be my delight as the wife of my youth.^[6] I will fight for you, for our sons, for our daughters, and for our household.^[7] The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.^[8] I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I pledge to you my life as a loyal and faithful husband.^[9]

BRIDE

I, Kelly Jeannette, covenant before God and man, to you Peter David Bradrick to be your loyal wife and to submit myself under your headship.^[10] Just as the Church is subject to Christ,^[11] so I will be to you in everything. I will live first unto our God and then unto you, loving you, caring for you, obeying you, and ever seeking to please you as my earthly lord.^[12] I will be your discreet, chaste keeper at home,^[13] diligently, industriously, and faithfully caring for the affairs of your household so that your heart may always safely trust in me.^[14] If the Lord chooses to so bless us, it will be my delight to be your fruitful bearer^[15] of children, and I will help you diligently teach them the commandments of the Lord as we talk of them in your house, as we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up.^[16] Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.^[17] The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.^[18] I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph, I pledge to you my life as an obedient and faithful wife.

Conclusion

After the vows were read and the bride and groom pledged their troth to each other, they sealed their covanent with a kiss— a very special kiss, the kind you don’t hear about any more. A kiss of purity and innocence — a genuine first kiss.

As one of the men selected to officiate in the ceremony, I had the glorious, ringside seat to the very first romantic kiss in the life of both the groom and the bride. This is now the fourth or fifth time in my life that I have had the privilege of watching such a “first kiss” as an officiating minister to a wedding ceremony. Here are my conclusions:

First, these beautiful kisses are worth ten thousand sermons. They are an antidote to the cynicism of the age. They are instructive and inspiring. They give hope to mothers and fathers, young men and ladies, and the children we hope will also grow up in purity before the Lord. We are all better off as a community of saints when a pure woman marries a pure man. Our job as parents, elders, friends, relatives is easier, because of this godly example.

Second, these kind of kisses are victory kisses. Against all “odds” the couple has run the race to the finish line. They have won the first great race of their lives. Victory is sweet.

Fourth, they are also covenant kisses. They represent the blessing of God on the faithfulness of parents, their children, and the children yet to be born who will drink deeply from the testimonies of those who went before them.

Finally, they are biblical kisses. I call them biblical kisses because these kisses (as much as any part of the wedding ceremony, other than the vows themselves) restore the biblical imagery of the marriage covenant to its beautiful representation of the eternal, holy groom and his spotless bride. Body and soul, bride and groom have kept themselves only for each other.

Praises to the Lord God.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 29, 2006 | Permalink

“This is a great mystery, for I speak concerning Christ and the Church.” Ephesians 5:32

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’” Revelation 19:6-9

“Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” Matthew 25:6

“Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Revelation 21:9

“Gather the people...” Joel 2:16

”...sanctify the congregation...” Joel 2:16

”...Assemble the elders...” Joel 2:16

”...Gather the children and the nursing infants...” Joel 2:16

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10

”...Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber.” Joel 2:16

“This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”

“Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried...” Ruth 1:16-17

”...May the LORD do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:16-17

“Thou art fair, my beloved; there is no spot in thee.” Song of Solomon 4:7

“For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” Isaiah 62:5

“And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people.” Genesis 28:2

“Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner...’”

”...my oxen and fatted cattle are killed...”

”...and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” Matthew 22:4

“But the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” John 3:29

“And he said unto me, write, ‘Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb...’” Revelation 19:9

“She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee...” Psalm 45:14-15

”...With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.” Psalm 45:14-15

“My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.’” Song of Solomon 2:10-13

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Mark 10:9

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 28, 2006 | Permalink

Vision Forum Ministries’ National Uniting Church and Family Conference to be held October 5-7 in St. Louis, Missouri, will include a noteworthy line-up of featured speakers including Alexander Strauch, Dr. Voddie Baucham, William Einwechter, Kevin Swanson, and Jeff Pollard, each of whom serve as shepherds and elders of congregations. Guest speakers Geoff Botkin and Arnold Pent will also bring messages.

The conference will focus on three timely themes: Biblical Eldership; Biblical Church Life, and a Biblical Response to Naysayers, Gossips, and Critics.

More than twenty-five encouraging, Christ-exalting, Bible-centered messages will be presented with the goal that participants will leave with a strong theological and apologetic foundation for the theology of the family and the local church, and with practical tools that can be immediately helpful with their family and local church.

To view a schedule, or to read our speaker biographies, click here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 25, 2006 | Permalink

The following are topic descriptions for Bill Einwechter’s topics at October 2006 NCFIC conference on unity between church and home:

The Covenantal Structure of the Local Church and the Biblical Basis for Church Membership

This message is a foundational look at the local church as a covenantal institution. In it, Einwechter will explore how a church is constituted and maintained in purity and peace. Attention will also be given to how a covenantal perspective leads to the successful integration of the church with the family. In addition, Einwechter rebuts the theology of non-membership, and provides the biblical argument for Christians formally yoking and covanenting through membership in the local church.

Children and the Dominion Mandate

This message will explain the centrality of children for the fulfillment of the dominion mandate of Genesis 1:26-28. It will seek to show how fruitfulness among Christians is essential if we are to fulfill our calling before God.

Interaction with the Sermon

Do the men of your congregation have the opportunity, encouragement and freedom to interact in an orderly and meaningful way with teacher after the presentation of the apostle’s doctrine? Would it suprise you to know that the New Testement meeting of the church patterns and presupposes such an interaction? Now Bill Einwechter examines the biblical basis for allowing the men of the congregation the opportunity to interact with the teacher in the public meetings of the church. The benefits, practice, and possible pitfalls of “interaction” will be considered.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 25, 2006 | Permalink

The following are topic descriptions for Kevin Swanson’s topics at October 2006 NCFIC conference on unity between church and home:

Suffer the Children: How God Uses ‘Imperfect’ Children to Transform a Local Church

Kevin Swanson shares the moving testimony of the way the Lord has transformed the heart of a local church by its decision to include special needs children during the worship of the meeting of the local church.

How to Have Meaningful Family Worship

Basing this presentation on three generations that practiced family worship, Kevin Swanson makes a fervent case for family worship. What kind of heart does Dad need to bring into the shepherding of his little ones? What are the obstacles to family worship? Kevin Swanson gives some great practical advice on basic exegetical and teaching methodologies, the elements of worship, the use of illustrations, motivating family members to be attentive during worship, and cultivating good heart attitudes.

Saying Goodbye, Saying Hello: How to Leave/How to Join a Church

Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about saying goodbye? In the modern world of transient relationships, millions suffer from the heart calluses that develop following a string of bad goodbyes. The recovery period is long and painful. But the Bible has much to say on the topic, and you will find immediate healing in this terrific message on saying hello and saying goodbye. In this session, Kevin covers the basic things you want to look for before committing to join a church, as well as some helpful heart considerations and practical issues to take into account before leaving a church.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 25, 2006 | Permalink

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. (Ecclesiastes 11:9)

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 25, 2006 | Permalink

OPC pastor Kevin Swanson is one of the most encouraging and visionary speakers in the home school movemen today. He is also the host of a noteworthy radio broadcast called “Generations.” Click here to read Kevin Swanson’s blog post on the Vision Forum Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Christian Families, and to learn about his important ministry.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 24, 2006 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 24, 2006 | Permalink

Here’s a report from Sovereign Grace Family Church on the 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Christian Families.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 24, 2006 | Permalink

On August 9, the First Baptist Church of Watertown, New York dismissed Mary Lambert as a Sunday School teacher with a letter explaining that the church had adopted an interpretation that prohibits women from teaching men. She had taught there for 54 years. The letter cited I Timothy 2:12 in support of their position, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.”

Click here to read the full story.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 24, 2006 | Permalink

I just want to let you know what great joy our three children get out of watching the ENN reports. They can hardly wait for the next one to come available and always ask to watch their favorite older reports. It is a common occurence to hear their cheery voices saying, “This is _ reporting for Everyday News,” followed by giggles and laughter. What is even neater though, is the encouragement our whole family has received from this venture of yours. My husband and I are continually blessed as we see our children picking up things they have seen in the reports and incorporating them into their own lives. For example, after the report on “Taking Care of the Ladies,” our son has much more enthusiastically embraced kindnesses such as opening the car door for his sisters, and their reply of, “Thank you, kind Sir,” always brings a smile to my face.

Thank you for all you are doing to encourage families. We cannot express how much we appreciate all your efforts.

—Carol E.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 23, 2006 | Permalink

Question: Does the Bible speak to the issue of women in leadership at home, in the local chuch, and in the ministry of the civil magistrate? Answer: Yes.

In this important essay, pastor William Einwechter tackles the question that most shepherds will not touch. Read “Should Christians Support a Woman for the Office of Civil Magistrate?” by William Einwechter.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 23, 2006 | Permalink

“The articulation of the theology of entrepreneurialism and the vision of multi-generational planning provided for the first time an intellectual understanding of why I’ve never felt right about leaving the businesses. I can truly say that after this weekend, I have firmly caught the multi-generational, dominion-mandate vision....” —Conference Attendee

“The lineup of guests you had at the conference was tremendous, and I thought very well balanced the philosophical/theological aspect with the practical aspects of business....” —Conference Attendee

Through tomorow you can purchase the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp CDs at a special price. These CDs are conference CDs, so they have not been edited and they are not packaged in a pretty box. You will essentially be getting “the raw director’s cut” version. Alternatively, the entire 26 messages on MP3 condensed to one disc are available for a limited time.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 23, 2006 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 22, 2006 | Permalink

In less than a fraction of a second, one man took one image that would give hope to millions. Though the photo continues to evoke strong emotions, the photographer is no longer with us. Joe Rosenthal, who took the iconic photograph of U.S. soldiers raising the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi, died yesterday of natural causes. He was ninety-four. Rosenthal shot his Pulitzer Prize-winning photo on February 23, 1945, four days after U.S. Marine forces hit the black sand beaches of Iwo Jima in a fierce battle against 21,000 entrenched Japanese soldiers. Rosenthal’s photograph, which caused a sensation when it was released in the closing months of the Second World War, would later become the model for the Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.

“What I see behind the photo is what it took to get up to those heights — the kind of devotion to their country that those young men had, and the sacrifices they made,” Rosenthal once said.

Vision Forum was privileged to honor Iwo’s young warriors — now in the twilight of their lives — when we journeyed with the aging vets back to the island for the sixtieth anniversary of the battle. This story is told in our film, The League of Grateful Sons. To learn about this engaging documentary, visit: www.leagueofgratefulsons.com.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 21, 2006 | Permalink

Dr. Jim Leininger (standing here with his wife Cecelia and friend Andrew) was the Lord’s tool for teaching the benefits of failure and the importance of humility before God. The life testimony of this successful entrepreneur was one of the clearest examples most of us had ever heard of (1) the benefits of godly counsel from a wise Christian wife; (2) the covenantal implications of blessing and trust between fathers and sons; (3) the blessings of failure as God’s anvil for shaping effective entrepreneurs and family men, and (4) the fact that God’s grace, not man’s own strength, is what sustains the entrepreneur — His “strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9). I strongly recommend that every husband, father and pastor listen to this life changing message.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 21, 2006 | Permalink

The 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp awarded more than $8,000 to winners of our Business Plan Contest during closing ceremonies at the event. Jonathan Lewis of Goldendale, Washington received the $5,000 Grand Prize for the Adult Contest for his business proposal for Seraphim Energy. The adult contest also featured awards of $2,500 and $1,000 which went to the second- and third-place winners respectively. Thirteen-year-old Christopher Youngblood came away with the “Budding Entrepreneur — Captain of Industry Award,” which included a $500 cash prize for his business plan for In His Hands Medical. Judges Scott Brown, Arnold Pent, and Wade Meyers (pictured above) were part of the team that evaluated, judged, and awarded the cash prizes to budding entrepreneurs. Many participants commented that the judges’ oral evaluations of the submissions were very helpful to better understand the process of conceiving and executing a worthy business plan.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 21, 2006 | Permalink

One of the unique blessings that the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp afforded was the opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to spend personal time with business leaders with experience — to hear pearls of wisdom from men who have both failed and succeeded in various business ventures. The speakers acted the part of mentors to the attendees by critiquing business plans, passing along fresh ideas, and offering encouraging counsel to those who thronged around them. A number of the speakers visited with men and their families late into the night, long after the formal sessions were done.

Among the points of counsel offered repeatedly was the need for strategic planning; entrepreneurs must “count the cost” before they plunge into a new business endeavor and have a solid gameplan for managing cash flow and projecting return on investment.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 21, 2006 | Permalink

The 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp was brimming with fresh, practical ideas for Christian entrepreneurs on subjects as diverse as new start-up companies to debt-free capitalization. During the Friday evening session, the featured speakers presented their own ideas for family friendly start-up companies. I strongly recommend these conference tapes for any family with a vision for entrepreneurship.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 21, 2006 | Permalink

In my opening keynote at the 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp I addressed “The Big Picture for Entrepreneurship and the Christian Family.” One of the sub-topics in the message was the problem of imbalanced and unbiblical theologies of wealth, poverty and human action. From the vows of poverty of the monastics, to redistributive agenda of liberation theologians, to the “positive confession” and “word of faith” movement within certain Pentacostal circles, imprecise and unscriptural theories of wealth, poverty and human action have been on the “Christian” scene at least since the early gnostics and ascetics sought to minimize the Lordship of Christ over the material realm with their dichotomous vision of reality.

Poverty as Virtue: The belief that wealth is inescapably the result of compromise, that it is necessarily a deterrent to righteousness, and that poverty is a sign of spirituality.

Disenfranchisement as Desirable: The belief that it is preferable or mandatory for Christians to be persecuted and disenfranchised from civil and cultural leadership within society.

The “Get Me Outta Here Gospel”: An anti-dominion, anti-stewardship philosophy that implicitly rejects Christ’s lordship over culture, civil government, and nations. This view minimizes the Great Commission and posits that there is little left to do on earth except share the Gospel and wait for the Second Coming.

Prosperity as Gospel: The belief that health and prosperity are promised to believers and are available through faith; the formulaic and mystical expectation that specific faith actions will result in specific financial, physical and health rewards.

Material Success as Prime Objective: The belief or attitude that business success and financial blessing are the primary or ultimate objectives of entrepreneurship.

The Sociology of the Postmodern Work and Family Ethic as Biblically Normative: The assumption that popular 21st century educational, social, and business lifestyles are historically normative and ethically neutral.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 19, 2006 | Permalink

At the 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Christian Families, agrarian innovator Joel Salatin painted the inspiring vision of the four generation of Salatin fathers and sons who have lived and farmed (and some of them been buried) on the same family land.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 19, 2006 | Permalink

Click here to read Matt Chancey’s reports on the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 19, 2006 | Permalink

At the 2006 Entrepreneurial Conference for Christian Families, Isaac Botkin presented a helpful message on the relationship between Christianity and Technology. He explained the reason why Christian civilization trumps Islamic civilization, and he provided a helpful response to both the neo-Luddite and the neo-utopian influences within modern evangelicalism.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 19, 2006 | Permalink

Over the last week, I have been interviewed by a number of leading Christian new agencies regarding the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Christian Families. Several articles have been published as a result, including a Family News in Focus article entitled, “Ministry to Host Entrepreneurial Camp for Christian Families,” and an Agape Press News piece entitled, “Ministry Teaches Families Biblical Models for Entrepreneurial Success.”

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 19, 2006 | Permalink

Vision Forum staff member Jordan Muela with brother and sisters at the 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp

Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

The event was marked by a spirit of hope and enthusiasm for the potential of the Christian family as it aspires to a Psalm 112, 127, and 128 vision of multi-generational faithfulness. In contrast to the neo-androgynous, hyper-individualistic, shortsighted, postmodern vision of the fragmented family, the Christian theory of entrepreneurship presented at the 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp affirmed the practical wisdom of families honoring God’s principles of (1) division of labor; (2) hierarchy and jurisdiction; (3) generational planning; and (4) sanctions and privileges — as they apply to entrepreneurship. The relationship of children to the economy of the Christian household, and the practical and spiritual blessing of children as God’s reward to the righteous man, were important sub-themes in a conference that emphasized sound orthodoxy and wise orthopraxy.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 16, 2006 | Permalink

One foundational theme of the event was the sufficiency of Scripture for all of faith and practice, including biblical entrepreneurship. As the author of Ten P’s in a Pod, the CEO of Pent Energy, and a father who has committed large segments of Scripture to memory, Arnold Pent used every opportunity to demonstrate that the Word of God is rich and alive and sharper than a two-edged sword.

After the event, Arnold Pent summarized what many of us felt in our hearts:

“I predict that this effort just completed will result in paving the way for the church (even though it was primarily focused on business) in raising up courageous men of God who can provide for their physical and financial needs, be very mobile, be spiritually in shape, and lead the way in starting new churches from the old foundations ... ‘a new beginning in terms of old foundations.’”

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 16, 2006 | Permalink

On behalf of the entire staff of Vision Forum Ministries, I want to thank the more than 1,200 people in attendance at the 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp held in San Antonio, Texas this last Thursday through Saturday. Most importantly, we want to thank our God for His many kind providences in allowing this event to come to pass. We are deeply grateful for the success of the event and believe that the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp may prove to be one of the most far-reaching and visionary discipleship conferences in the history of this ministry.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 16, 2006 | Permalink

Biblical entrepreneurship involves the moral obligation to be economically creative and productive. The principle of entrepreneurship is rooted in the dominion mandate and the biblical doctrines of work, stewardship, and fruitfulness. Biblical entrepreneurship incorporates principles of biblical patriarchy with its emphasis on multi-generational faithfulness, freedom in Christ, inheritance, jurisdiction, and the household as a vibrant, economically productive, God-ordained unit for cultural transformation. It is impossible to have a full-orbed vision of entrepreneurship without careful consideration for the Scriptural doctrine of the family. Any approach to entrepreneurship which is divorced of these considerations inevitably leads to the idolatries of materialism, individualism, and the love of money.

Christian entrepreneurship is purposeful. It involves the calling of men to live fruitful, productive, creative, problem-solving, dominion-oriented, kingdom-advancing, Lordship-loving lives. This is manifest as men advance their roles as fathers, reformers, leaders, servants, masters, and visionaries. Not all men will start independent businesses, but all Christians (both masters and servants, parents and children) should be entrepreneurially oriented as to their management, investment, and creative use of assets and resources. The Bible emphasizes that a sign of blessing on such men may include both physical and spiritual fruitfulness.

The first great reformation of Christian entrepreneurship took place with the Protestant Reformation. Reformers like Calvin and Luther emphasized biblical principles of economics, the doctrine of work, the relationship of the family to enterprise, and the necessity of the tithe to the advancement of the kingdom. The modern reformation of entrepreneurship seeks to build upon the best of the Reformers’ doctrines and to advance in the spirit of semper reformanda. Because the modern-day entrepreneurial reformation is the logical outgrowth of the present-day reformation of the Christian family along biblical principles of patriarchy, it is a movement of encouragement to all who love the law of God and who embrace the principle embodied in the following Scripture:

“But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 16, 2006 | Permalink

“[The Entrepreneurial Bootcamp] far exceeded my expectations, serving as a tremendous encouragement to me, and I’m sure many others. I have been running real estate/internet related businesses started by my Dad and I for the last several years, and been reformed in my Christian faith for nearly as long. The difficulties that come with running these businesses has often left me wondering if I was crazy to continue in this capacity rather than choosing an “easier”, more “secure” route... The articulation of the theology of entrepreneurialism, and the vision of multi-generational planning, provided for the first time an intellectual understanding of why I’ve never felt right about leaving the businesses. I can truly say that after this weekend, I have firmly caught the multi-generational, dominion-mandate vision. I am 23 years-old and can already see the largely unintentional results of that in my own life, with my parents’ initial attraction to business years ago resulting in my lifelong education in business.

“The lineup of guests you had at the conference was tremendous, and I thought very well balanced the philosophical/theological aspect with the practical aspects of business. After 15 years of business/entrepreneurial involvement, I’ve spent the last few considering and gathering notes for an entrepreneurial class for young people interested in going that route. With that perspective, I was rather curious to see if everything I would tell someone about business would be said. Without fail, every single one of those things was discussed from the stage, with the addition of some I wouldn’t have known/considered. And they were communicated very eloquently.

“I know I’m saying things you probably already knew, but just wanted you to be encouraged that yet another person really “got it” and found the conference to helpful, encouraging, and extremely worthwhile. God’s hand was definitely visible in that work. So again, I thank you, I thank the entire Vision Forum staff, and I thank all of the guests for investing their time in that conference....” —M. Poythress

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 15, 2006 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 15, 2006 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 14, 2006 | Permalink

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Aug. 8 / Christian Newswire / — More than a thousand participants are registered to attend Vision Forum Ministries’ first-ever Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Christian Families to be held at the Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas on August 10-12, 2006. The mission for the bootcamp is to cast a vision for entrepreneurship that highlights the testimony of independent businessmen who embrace biblical principles and include their families in their work.

“It has long been our dream to create an innovative training academy to equip families with biblical tools for business success,” explained Doug Phillips, founder of Vision Forum Ministries. “Now that we have the team and the resources to do this, we are pleased to inaugurate the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Christian Families.”

Featured speakers at the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp will include Dr. James Leininger, founder of Kinetic Concepts, Inc.; Nick Logan, CEO of Cornerstone Bancard; Joel Salatin, agriculturalist and founder of Polyface, Inc.; Wade Myers, CEO of RealManage; and Arnold Pent III, partner in Pent Energy LLC.

“Our goal with the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp is to inspire Christians to apply biblical principles of family life to the twenty-first century work environment,” remarked Phillips. “Whether a family’s business idea involves agriculture or e-commerce, real estate development or door-to-door sales, we seek to encourage families to pursue creative business solutions which foster freedom in Christ and multi-generational faithfulness.”

“Many men find themselves caught in a corporate culture at odds with biblical values,” continued Phillips. “They are looking for a fresh start to provide for their loved ones in a way that builds up, not breaks down, their family. We are seeking to communicate hope to such men and their families by offering practical teaching that explores various business models in light of God’s Word.”

Session topics will include: “The Rebirth of Family-Friendly Christian Entrepreneurship, “Creative Models for Raising Capital Without Debt Bondage,” How to Cultivate an Entrepreneurial Spirit with Your Children,” “Building An E-Commerce Business,”“Top Ten Legal Issues Every Family Entrepreneur Needs to Understand,” “A Biblical Model for Successful Agrarian Entrepreneurship,” and “A Christian Entrepreneurial Vision for Marketing and Retailing,” among others.

Bootcamp passes are $125 for adults, $85 for students. A Family Pass is $450. Space is limited. For more information on the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Christian Families,visit: http://www.visionforumministries.org/events/eb/001/

To interview Doug Phillips about his vision for the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp, contact Wesley Strackbein by e-mail at wesley@visionforum.com or by phone at 210-340-5250, ext. 222.

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 9, 2006 | Permalink

Please don’t forget to click through to see the following episodes of Everyday News Network. The following are a few of my personal favorites from the past two weeks.

• Taking Care of the Ladies
• Under the Gold Dome
• 10,000,000,000 Children
• The Most Decisive Battle

Posted by Doug Phillips on August 7, 2006 | Permalink