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On the weekly podcast that is sent to our pastors, our host Benjamin Kreps always begins with “Welcome to the Mark Prater podcast where our aim is to connect our global family of churches to our Executive Director.”

Recently, Ben commented on his introduction and asked an important question:

“Mark, I always say "family of churches" when introducing this podcast, because that's what we aim to be. That's what historically we've enjoyed together. We want to preserve that relational way of building together as family. We've talked a lot over the past number of months about church planting, about global partnership agreements, and churches being adopted and brought in, and that sort of thing. So potentially a lot of growth in the days ahead, as a denomination, as a family of churches. What are your thoughts about the way that we build relationally and that value we have in Sovereign Grace?

It's an important question that if God allows us to grow and it looks like he's going to do that, how do we maintain that value of building relationally?

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Mark Prater is the Executive Director for Sovereign Grace and serves as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church.

The full post We Are a Family of Churches appeared on the Mark Prater blog on September 6, 2021.

An update from Emmanuel Iluzada, a Pastor of Cross Of Christ Salvation Gospel Ministries (CCSGM) in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines...

This pandemic has brought us both limitations and possibilities. And one of the things that has become possible is a gathering of around 100 worshippers from all locations in one virtual place. This transpired at the recent Worship Team Fellowship on July 24, when the worship team members from various churches in the Philippines came together online. 

Friends and fellow-Christians from various churches in Luzon, Vizayas and Mindanao (Philippines’ main islands) were invited, brought together, and connected via Zoom for a Saturday afternoon of teaching, prayer and fellowship. It was a chance to get to know each other and the ministries that each one of us does in our respective local churches. 

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The full post SGC Philippines Worship Gathering appeared on the Emerging Nations Blog on September 3, 2021.

I have some great news. The 2021 Sovereign Grace Churches Pastors Conference is a go! Because we couldn’t gather together last year, I can’t wait for us to gather together again on November 9-11 in Orlando. After needing to cancel our 2020 conference, I have been even more eager to give you the details of our 2021 Pastors Conference.

Given the events in our world over the last couple of years, there isn’t a more fitting theme than “Christ Preeminent” for our 2021 Sovereign Grace Churches Pastors Conference. We look forward to being together to focus on Jesus because “he is before all things” (Colossians 1:17), and “he is the head” of the church’s that we have the privilege to pastor and lead (Colossians 1:18). Every session we have planned will equip you to continue to build your church upon the gospel and in a way that celebrates the preeminence of Jesus Christ.

How will we celebrate the preeminence of Jesus Christ? By hearing Christ-exalting preaching from our main session speakers C.J. Mahaney, Jared Mellinger, Jon Payne, and Jeff Purswell. Additionally, we have one main session dedicated to giving you a faith-building Sovereign Grace Missions update that I will lead along with Dave Taylor and Eric Turbedsky.

We also have five breakout sessions planned. Each one is designed to equip you for the challenges you face in leading and pastoring your church. As a Leadership Team, we want to do all we can to make sure we don’t lose our gospel-centrality, including how we help the members of our church apply the gospel at home. Therefore, we have a breakout session dedicated to parenting and one dedicated to marriage. Jeff Purswell will use his breakout session to help us grow in preaching and in particular our delivery of God’s Word from the pulpit. Josh Blount will address the current cultural pressures churches are facing and how to equip your members to remain faithful to the teaching of Scripture. I have the privilege of leading a breakout session that will help you develop future pastors and leaders.

Registration for our conference is now open. You can register here and find more details on our website here. Look to register early so that you can take advantage of the reduced early registration fee.

Can I ask you to begin to pray now for our time together in November? Here are a few ways you can pray:

• Pray that all that happens at the conference would celebrate the preeminence of Jesus Christ in a way that He alone would receive all the glory.

• Pray that God would use the preaching to equip us to live our lives and pastor our churches in a way that we make much of Christ as we faithfully serve His people.

• Pray for the work of the Holy Spirit as we spend time together.

• Pray that God would give us opportunities to care for one another and strengthen our relationships.

• Pray that God would use our time to strengthen and unite us in the gospel mission we share.

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Mark Prater is the Executive Director for Sovereign Grace and serves as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church. Mark and his wife, Jill, have three adult daughters and ten grandchildren.

An update from Riley Spring, Lead Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Parramatta, Australia…

It is a such joy to report on some of the key developments that are happening here as we seek to move forward in Sovereign Grace Churches Australia. The Lord continues to be so good us, and so here are some headlines for you:

Pastoral Internships, Leadership Bootcamp, Three partnership opportunities, Podcast Launch

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Dave Taylor is Director of Emerging Nations for Sovereign Grace Churches and serves as the lead pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Sydney. He resides in Australia with his wife Emma and their five children.

The full post Moving Forward in Australia originally appeared on the Emerging Nations blog on April 1, 2021. Emerging Nations exists to serve the pioneering work of Sovereign Grace Churches around the world.

Remember the former things of old; for I am God and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me…

Recently, Bill Patton preached a powerful message titled The Doctrine of God as part of a sermon series at Covenant Fellowship Church called We Believe: The Doctrine Driven Life. The series is teaching through sections of the Sovereign Grace Churches statement of faith: We Believe. Jared Mellinger, senior pastor, began the series with five reasons for teaching through the statement of faith: it reinforces our identity, guards us against wrong ideas, unites us around what is most important, helps us grow in maturity and produces a life of praise. We wanted to share Bill’s sermon on the doctrine of God in the hope to shape, educate and inspire you; producing a life of praise.

There is only one true and living God, who is infinite in being, power, and perfections. God is eternal, independent, and self-sufficient, having life in himself with no need for anyone or anything. (We Believe: A Statement of Faith p. 11)

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Bill Patton is an elder and a founding pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church. He resides in West Chester, PA with his wife Sue. They have 5 children and many grandchildren.

Jared Mellinger is the senior pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church and serves on the Sovereign Grace Churches leadership team. He resides in Glen Mills, PA with his wife Meghan and their six children.

Recently on the blog of Cross of Grace, Santa Ana, Senior Pastor Kyle Houlton encourages believers to fast from the world and feast upon Christ. He shares 4 steps to clarify your vision of Christ and sharpen your affections for him this Christmas: