Debt-Free At Last...!

If God Had Asked These Mothers...

Rebecca would have wanted Jacob to become a prince and a patriarch...but not to be cheated at Laban's house and to walk with a life-long limp after being crippled by an angel...

Rachel would have wanted Joseph to become Prime Minister...but not to be sold into slavery and be falsely imprisoned...

Jochebed would have wanted Moses to become the deliverer...but not to be raised by pagan Egyptians and spend forty years on the backside of the desert...

Hannah would have wanted Samuel to become a prophet...but not to be exposed to backslidden priests at a tender young age...

Eunice would have wanted Timothy to become the Apostle Paul's protoge...but not to be circumcised as a grown man and be criticized for his youth...

Mary would have wanted Jesus to become the Messiah...but not to have gone through Gethsemane and the cross...

Mothers cannot protect their children from all pain or hold on to them forever. Jochebed "...hid Moses as long as she could...(Exodus 2:3)," then put him in a basket and released him into his destiny.

Every mother must do the same...!

(from Teresa's Mother's Day sermon)

When Death Brings Life, Resurrection Sunday, April 24, 2011

Video streaming by Ustream

Countdown to Baruch Ha'Shem

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Thursday, April 7, 2011

Dear Hillcrest Church Family,

I can hardly believe we just have two more Sundays at our Hillcrest Road campus before we move to our new, temporary home at the Baruch Ha’Shem Messianic Synagogue…! God is truly doing a quick and great work in delivering us from the stranglehold of debt and setting before us a open door of opportunity to pursue our Antioch destiny…!

Earlier today, I took a moment to record a video clip with some of my thoughts about where we are and about what is coming over the next few weeks. When you receive this email, I encourage you to take a few moments and view it online by clicking the picture above or on this weblink.

Teresa and I love you and thank God for the privilege of serving you…! We believe more strongly than ever before that the very best is yet to come…!

See you on Sunday…!

Pastor Mark

mbrand@hillcrestchurch.org
http://www.markbrand.org/
www.twitter.com/mwbrand

P.S. In case you did not receive Pastor Susan Rutledge’s recent email sharing her heart about the new season of life and ministry she believes the Lord is calling her to, I have inserted it and the end of this message. We love and appreciate her very much here at Hillcrest Church and we will be honoring her in a special way at the end of the month of May. We will send you more details later. We are also very excited about the way God has raised up Rolanda Green to serve our congregation and our children as we move forward into our future. She and her husband, Terry, and wonderful people and we are blessed of God to have them as part of our team!

From: Susan Rutledge

Subject: Personal Update From Pastor Susan

Dear Hillcrest Friends,

I had hoped to talk in person this week with the people I've worked alongside and been closest to at Hillcrest Church, but I've realized it's just not possible. I'm sending you this email, because I value you as a friend. You've had an impact on me in my years of service at Hillcrest, and I want to share with you some important news.

In the past months, I've sensed God preparing me for a change. While I've had open conversations with Pastor Mark about retiring "in a few years", I expected to stay through our transition to a new location. But in recent weeks, God has shown me that the decisions to be made regarding Hillcrest's children's ministry should be made by the person who is called to lead it long-term in its new season.

Two weeks ago, God spoke to me as clearly as He did when I accepted my position nearly 18 years ago…and told me my assignment at Hillcrest was complete. I knew if I was going to walk in obedience to the Lord, I had to turn in my resignation that day - and I did. I told Pastor Mark I felt incredibly guilty leaving at such a pivotal time in the church. But as I've had time to process my decision, I realize how wise God is. It is the absolute perfect time. As Hillcrest is about to experience a new birth, He is putting in place the team that will establish a new, strong foundation and build up on it. I leave with peace in my heart, knowing God's hand has orchestrated a special plan for Children's Ministry.

While He has been preparing me for a transition out, God has been working in the heart and life of Rolanda Green to bring her in. Rolanda has both experience, training and a call on her life for ministering to children. As a volunteer, she accepted major responsibilities while covering for me while I was on sabbatical, and continued with those even after my return. We have talked of her succeeding me one day, and I'm thrilled to tell you she will be officially coming on board May 1 to lead our Children's Ministry into a wonderful future!

I will remain on staff through the end of May. I don't know what God has in store for me - that is a walk of faith as Grant and I wait to see. I would love to be able to devote full time to writing and video work - two of my passions. I also will enjoy the freedom to spend time with my eight (soon to be nine) grandchildren.

My years at Hillcrest have been blessed by the people I've known. I will treasure my precious memories and forever count each of you as my friend. I know you will love and support Rolanda as she moves into this new role, in the same way I've felt your love and support for me.

God bless you!

Susan Rutledge

Pastor of Children & Family Ministries

Hillcrest Church
Dallas, TX

972.392.3992, ext. 148

Follow My Blog:
http://web.me.com/susanrutledge

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Dear Hillcrest Church Family,

I HAVE SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS…!

Our Hillcrest Church Elders and Trustees have received, accepted, and unanimously authorized me to sign a contract for the sale of our church campus “as is” to a great, historic church in our Metroplex for $18 million cash with a rapid timetable for closing and full payment…!

In accordance with our Hillcrest Church Constitution and By-Laws and the terms of the contract, this letter serves as formal notice that our Hillcrest Church members will be voting on this matter two weeks from today on Wednesday, March 23rd at 7pm. Our Constitution and By-Laws require congregational approval by majority vote of our active members for any sale of property. Absentee ballots will be available upon request for all members who cannot be present to vote in person and who wish to vote in advance.

We will have a Hillcrest Church “Family Meeting” immediately following our 10:30am service this Sunday, March 13th, where we will present complete details concerning this transaction.

We will also have a Q&A time in our Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, March 16^th at 7pm.

Our Hillcrest Church Elders and Trustees are unanimously recommending that the members of our congregation approve this sale.

Teresa and I love you and thank God for the privilege of serving you as God uses us all to build this “Antioch” Church.

The best is yet to come…!

Blessings…!

Pastor Mark Brand

Hallelujah! Praise Report

A Special Appeal From Pastor Mark...

Dear Hillcrest Church Family,

Thank you for taking the time to read this very important email and to prayerfully reflect on what I have to say. I encourage you to also watch the video recording I have inserted above. It is less than twenty minutes long and will give you more detailed information concerning the latest developments in the sale of our church campus and the specific challenge that lies before us.

Spiritually, we are in a wonderful new season here at Hillcrest Church, but WE NEED YOUR HELP in meeting A VERY SIGNIFICANT NEED. Since you love our church, I want you to know exactly where things stand.

God is doing an exciting, new thing among our people…!

A true revival spirit spontaneously broke out among us two weeks ago, resulting in six nights of unplanned but very powerful services. Many people testified to divine healing through the sudden disappearance of physical symptoms; others were baptized in the Holy Spirit; and a wonderful new measure of God’s manifest presence filled our “house” and our hearts. This has given fresh momentum to our various ministries. I have personally sensed a strong new anointing as I have been preaching my series entitled, “What Is An Antioch Church?” My heart is filled with excitement about the wonderful future God has in store for us as a people.

As our Elders, Trustees, and I lead you forward into our destiny, while believing God for deliverance from the very high level of church debt incurred on our facility many years ago, we face TWO DISTINCT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES:

1.     The approximately $10 million dollar “balloon payment” on our church mortgage that will come due in September. In an effort to sell our campus and use our considerable equity to purchase new facilities, we have retained the leading real estate agency in North Texas specializing in marketing church properties. They seem confident they will be able to sell our building if they are given enough time. Between their efforts and our own contacts in the church community, at the moment there are three different potential buyers that appear interested in further discussions.

2.      The large monthly expenses we must meet in order to make the mortgage payments and cover the heavy costs of operating such a large facility. We have trimmed our discretionary expenses every way that we can. While our church income is more than sufficient to fund our ministries, meet our payroll, and provide for us to rent a temporary meeting place such as at Baruch Ha’Shem, it is far less than we would need to stay in our current building long-term given our indebtedness.

Earlier this week, we received some stunningly good news from our lender when they unexpectedly agreed to allow us to make interest-only payments from now until the balloon note comes due in September…! That is a significant short-term step toward finding an answer to the first challenge because it gives us more time to find a buyer for our campus and also cuts our monthly expenses by more than $42,000. (It does not, of course, solve the long-term issue of the balloon payment next September.)

Here is the CRITICAL problem we are facing today…

Every year, our church income drops substantially in January and February before rebounding to more normal levels in the month of March. Even though our January and February giving has never been enough in past years to cover our expenses during those two months, we have always had enough cash left over from the preceding December to meet our obligations in January and February. As a result of the weak national economy and the loss our congregation suffered last fall when we processed the vote to sell our facility when we were approached by the NDCBF, our giving so far this year has been VERY GOOD but NOT ENOUGH for us to make it until March.

Here is “THE BOTTOM-LINE”…

WE NEED AN EXTRA $60,000 above our projected giving levels in order to have any hope of meeting our expenses through the next several weeks. A total of $100,000 would raise our bank balances enough to allow us to manage our cash flow in a more normal fashion into the summer, provided our giving strengthens in the same percentage as it has in past years beginning with the month of March.

We need half of that IMMEDIATELY or we will be unable to make our interest-only payment to the bank and pay our church ministry team at the end of February.

Here is WHAT I AM ASKING YOU TO DO…

Prayerfully consider giving as large an extra offering as you can THIS SUNDAY.

Here is what your offering will do…

• It will help meet this immediate financial need.
• It will provide our leadership the time that we need to walk out a thorough, thoughtful, and wise process of finding God’s answer to the mortgage challenge we are facing. 
• It will give God time to work a miracle to keep us on this campus if that is His will. He is still able to that. We just need to make sure that we do whatever He wants and that we do not “short-circuit” His work in our hearts. 

All of our pastors and I are passionately committed to partnering with you in the vision God has given us to build an “Antioch kind of church” here in Dallas.Your generous offering this Sunday will be a clear vote of confidence from you in our destiny as a church family.

Whether God keeps us on this campus or settles us somewhere else, this I know for sure - Our future is as good as His character and as bright as His promises…!

Teresa and I love you and thank God for the privilege of serving you. We believe the very best is yet to come for Hillcrest Church…!

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday…!

Pastor Mark Brand

www.markbrand.org

www.wordandspirittv.com

www.twitter.com/mwbrand

God is giving us a special opportunity at Hillcrest Church...!

Dear Hillcrest Church Family,

Through the special Revival Services we have had all this week, I believe God is giving us a very unusual spiritual opportunity. A little earlier this afternoon, I shared my heart about all of this in a short video clip. When you receive this email, please take a moment and watch it.

I look forward to seeing you tonight (Friday) in our special service at 7:30pm...! The best is yet to come...!

Pastor Mark

Three More Nights of Revival Services (Wed-Thu)...!

Dear Hillcrest Church Family,

The presence of the Lord settled in our Worship Center during the service last night in such a precious and powerful way that we found ourselves on our faces before Him during an extended time of worship and prayer. Such a spirit of revival is gripping the heart of our people that Evangelist Dale Everett and I feel led to have three more nights of special services starting tonight (Wednesday) and going through Friday. Please note that these meetings will start each night (including tonight - Wednesday) at 7:30pm.

We do not know how long these meetings will continue. As I wrote to you yesterday, I URGE you to NOT MISS YOUR MOMENT of deliverance, healing, Holy Spirit baptism, salvation for your family (Be sure and bring them to the meeting!), or fresh anointing for ministry…! Tonight could be the night God changes you and the circumstances around you forever.

I encourage you to invite others to these meetings, especially those who are sick and who desire healing from the Lord; those who need a fresh touch from the Holy Spirit; those who need deliverance from bondage; and those who need to come to know Jesus personally. Jesus, our Savior, Healer, Baptizer, and Deliverer will honor your faith and work powerfully in their lives through the person of the Holy Spirit.

Teresa and I love you and thank God for the privilege of serving you. We believe the best is yet to come for Hillcrest Church.

See you tonight at 7:30…!

Pastor Mark Brand
http://www.markbrand.org/
http://www.wordandspirittv.com/
www.twitter.com/mwbrand

From My Heart to Yours...What I Believe God Is Doing At Hillcrest Church

Miracle Service Tonight (Tuesday) at 7:30pm...!

Dear Hillcrest Church,

God has been doing something fresh, new, and remarkable in our spiritual family since Sunday morning’s service. Last night (Monday), several more people testified to receiving healing from the Lord through the sudden disappearance of symptoms, including a more than year-long rotor-cup like pain in my own left shoulder.

Evangelist Dale Everett and his precious wife, Debbie, have agreed to come back tonight (Tuesday) for another miracle service. In order to make it easier for people to reach our church campus (12123 Hillcrest Road in Dallas) through the city’s traffic, we are going to start tonight (Tuesday) at exactly 7:30pm.

Dale is going to be preaching the second part of the message he started last night entitled, “How to Walk on Water.” There will be prayer for the sickand I am sure the Spirit of the Lord will again minister healing to those in attendance. I also believe God has given me a specific word that He wants to deliver people from all sorts of addictions in the service this evening.

We do not know how long these meetings will continue. I URGE you to NOT MISS YOUR MOMENT of deliverance, healing, Holy Spirit baptism, salvation for your family (Be sure and bring them to the meeting!), or fresh anointing for ministry…! Tonight could be the night God changes you and the circumstances around you forever.

I encourage you to invite others to these meetings, especially those who are sick and who desire healing from the Lord; those who need a fresh touch from the Holy Spirit; those who need deliverance from bondage; and those who need to come to know Jesus personally. Jesus, our Savior, Healer, Baptizer, and Deliverer will honor your faith and work powerfully in their lives through the person of the Holy Spirit.

Teresa and I love you and thank God for the privilege of serving you. We believe the best is yet to come for Hillcrest Church.

See you tonight at 7:30…!

Pastor Mark Brand

www.markbrand.org

www.wordandspirittv.com

www.twitter.com/mwbrand

Laying On Of Hands Service Tonight (Monday, January 24th) at 7pm!

Don't forget our special Laying on of Hands service tonight (Monday, January 24th) with prayer for the sick at 7pm! This is a great opportunity to invite your unsaved friends to a service where they will see the reality of God's love for people manifested in a very tangible way.

If you have not been reading the One Year Bible devotions written by our pastors, I encourage you to check them out online by clicking here. If you would like to receive them free via email every morning, click here.

See you tonight at 7pm...!

Pastor Mark
========= 
mbrand@hillcrestchurch.org
www.markbrand.org
www.twitter.com/mwbrand

Special Holy Spirit Anointing Service with Dale and Debbie Everett tonight at 6pm...!

Jesus the Healer worked many miracles in people's bodies this morning through the ministry of Evangelist Dale Everett in our 10:30am worship service. So many individuals gave specific testimony to healing that we lost count. Jesus Christ is truly the same yesterday, today, and forever...!

Tonight Dale is going to minister concerning 'How to Flow in the Anointing.' If you have never received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or have never prayed in the language of the Spirit or ministered in the gifts of the Holy Spirit or if you simply want to go to another level in your walk in the Spirit...This service is for you!

The Lord put specific faith in my heart this morning to believe Him for our children to be filled with the Holy Spirit in this service tonight. I encourage you to bring your entire family, whether young or old.

When you receive this email, I want to ask you to do something very specific: Please contact three people immediately whether by phone or in person, tell them what God did in our service this morning, and then invite them to join you tonight.

Several days ago, I received this word from the Lord, 'According to your faith, so be it unto you!' Tonight, dress is casual so you can come 'as you are' but above all, come expecting God to impact the lives of your friends and your family in a profound way.


Deep in my spirit, I sense that this is truly a time of 'New Beginning' for Hillcrest Church. You won't want to miss it!


Teresa and I love you and thank God for the privilege of serving you. We believe the best is yet to come!


See you at 6pm...!

Pastor Mark
=========
mbrand@hillcrestchurch.org
www.markbrand.org
www.twitter.com/mwbrand

100 Days to A New Beginning Update - 12/2/2010

A Joshua Generation - CFNI Spring Graduation 2010

Sorting through some files on my computer today, I came across this video recording of the message I preached at the Christ for the Nations Institute Spring Graduation Ceremony earlier this year entitled, "A Joshua Generation." I am so thankful for the opportunities God has given me to minister there. Nothing gets my "juices" going like a chance to share my heart with a bunch of young "leaders in the making...!" I attended CFNI myself in 1978 and my life was profoundly impacted, particularly in the areas of worship and missions. Experiencing the manifest presence of God day after day in chapel service and sitting in classes taught by John Garlock, the World Missions teacher, changed me forever...!

Happy Thanksgiving...!

From My Study - Seeking God With All Your Heart, November 17, 2010

Word and Spirit - Expanded Broadcast Schedule

Our Word and Spirit telecast has recently moved from cable to satellite. We are also broadcasting over-the-air in Dallas, Columbus, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio, and Midland.  (We expect to be on the air in Fresno, Sacramento, Orlando, and Los Angeles in the near future.)

CHANNEL AND STATION INFO:
(NOTE: All showings are listed in CST / Central Standard Time)

Monday - Friday
2:00-2:30am
7:00-7:30am
2:30-3:00pm

Saturday
7:00-7:30am
12:00-12:30pm (noon)
10:30-11:00pm

Sunday
7:00-7:30am
12:00-12:30pm (noon)
10:00-10:30pm

CITY / STATION INFO:


Satellite: 


All of North America - Channel 103 (Glorystar satellite network - www.glorystar.tv)


All of North America - Galaxy 19 at 97.0°W Non-encrypted (TP Freq = 12060 H; TP = 20; Band = Ku; EIRP =  46.5-48.5)

Over-the-Air:


Dallas, TX - Channel 38.2

Columbus, OH - Channel 32.1

Miami / Fort Lauderdale, FL - Channel 38.1

Phoenix, AZ - Channel 50.3

Houston, TX - Channel 21.3

San Antonio, TX - Channel 10.2

Midland, TX - Channel

INTERNET:


Live - www.mikesimons.com

On Demand - www.wordandspirittv.com

We are grateful to the Lord and to our friends, Mike and Hazel Simons, for making this ministry outreach possible. Please join us in prayer that God will use us to bless many people!

From My Desk - Hurry Across

I’ve been thinking about the Joshua narrative a lot lately. Here is one verse that captured my attention a few days ago,

“Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the Lord and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. ” (Joshua 4:10–11, NIV)

As each of us walks with God, seeking to know and do His will, we must strike the right balance between haste and caution.

Rushing headlong into major decisions is often a recipe for disaster. Familiar folk proverbs warn us away from that extreme.

Haste makes waste...Marry in haste, repent at leisure...Look before you leap...

Those statements are very good advice - unless God has suddenly parted the Jordan in front of you. When His deliverance instantly appears, you must respond quickly or you will miss your miracle.

Standing on the banks of the Jordan River at flood season, the people of God were facing an enormous obstacle. Perhaps they intended to search for a better location upstream or to wait for the river to go down. God suddenly showed up with His own ideas and the muddy waters rolled back.

When that happened, the Israelites did not call a committee meeting or a consultant; they did not speculate or hesitate; they did not casually saunter over to the other side. Instead, they ran across an eerily dry riverbed and into their destiny.

Most of the time, we should make major decisions slowly and carefully. When God suddenly points the way forward, delayed obedience becomes disobedience.

Do you need God to show up in your circumstances? Are you prepared for Him to do so in the way of His choosing? Are you willing to walk through whatever door He opens? Answering “Yes” to those questions helps position you for a miracle.

When you get this email, I encourage you to pause for a moment and pray these words,

Heavenly Father, I thank you for promising you will never leave me or forsake me. I know you are wise beyond anything I can imagine. Intervene in my life in whatever way you choose. Solve my problems in whatever way you know is best. Help me recognize when your hand is at work in my circumstances. Give me the strength, the faith, and the courage I need to run through whatever door you open into my destiny. Help me encourage others to do the same. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

He who knows and he who knows not...

I came across this Persian proverb today, while reading Joel Rosenberg's, "The Twelfth Imam,"

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool - shun him.
He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a child - teach him.
He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep - awake him.
He who knows and knows that he knows is wise - follow him.

HC Family Conversation - Day 5

Do you believe in Providence? That God’s unseen hand can guide human events?

According to the New Testament, the early church did to an astonishing degree. Consider this description of the process they used to choose an apostle to replace Judas,

"Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry…Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. ” (Acts 1:23–26, NIV)

They followed an ancient Jewish practice similar to throwing dice or drawing straws. The Lord had directed Joshua to divide the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel in this manner. (Josh. 13:6; Ezek. 45:1; Mic. 2:5; etc.)

The book of Proverbs promises God hand can overshadow such an approach,

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. ” (Prov. 16:33)

It also gives a very practical reason why this is sometimes healing and helpful,

“Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. ” (Prov. 18:18)

Why do Spirit-filled people need to reflect on such passages?

Because even on our best and most spiritual days we only, “…know in part and prophesy in part.” (1 Cor. 13:9, 12) None of us is able to perfectly discern the mind or will of God. Neither will we always agree concerning His will.

As you contemplate the decision that is before us, perhaps you feel a bit like the Apostle Paul when he wrote, “Who has known the mind of the Lord?” (Rom. 11:34)

I have some good news for you…

God has promised to keep His providential hand upon our faulty, frail, utterly imperfect human processes if we call upon Him.

As one country preacher put it, “I believe God is so great that He can draw a straight line with a crooked stick!”

Are you willing to join your faith with the rest of our church family for God to guide us this way? Will you accept the outcome of our congregational vote as ordained by Him?

Are you willing to pray these words?

“Heavenly Father, Thank you for promising to help our weakness. Thank you for promising to overshadow our process. Please settle my heart and calm my fears. Help me think your thoughts today. I trust you to lead us by your Providence into your perfect will. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!”