Why I am attending the First Kingdom Congress - by Lori Baxter

Ben & Lori Baxter

Ten years ago, I was working in the office of Apostle John Kelly in Texas. It was September of 2004, and I traveled with Apostle Kelly to Spain to assist as a translator and administrative assistant for meetings with Spain’s top apostolic leaders. The purpose was to assist them in determining and
  mobilizing the Lord’s strategy for advancing the Kingdom of God in their nation. 

The timing of this gathering was strategically planned on the heels of a major worship and prayer event occurring in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, a top pilgrimage site for Catholics all over Europe. This location had been identified as a stronghold of the Queen of Heaven over Spain, affecting much of Europe. Doris and Peter Wagner, as well as Chuck Pierce, called upon prayer leaders and worshippers of Jesus from around the world to gather at Santiago de Compostela to exalt the name of the Lord, war against the stronghold of the Queen of Heaven there, and see Spain step into her kingdom destiny—a destiny that would have far reaching effects on all of Europe (see more
http://ecaleaders.eu/maler/convenors-blog/article/410131). 

God had given John Kelly a mandate to follow on the heels of this event with an activation of Spain’s apostolic leaders in order to capitalize on the gains in the Spirit achieved through prayer efforts. Once in Spain, I was privileged to sit in on meetings both public and private meetings with these servant leaders who God had called to influence the destiny of a nation. I witnessed as they took counsel together about the Lord’s plans for Spain and what He would have them to do to join Him in His work.

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The connecting of the body is not overly complicated, but there are certain things it requires. It requires prayer. It requires participation from key leaders. It requires finances to fund key administrative components. It requires a commitment to communicate.

As the meetings went on, however, I became a little discouraged. Although these apostles had no doubt been called and commissioned by the Lord to impact their nation, although they possessed a desire to work together, and although they were full of vision and carried an anointing to bring change, there was no infrastructure for administrating their corporate goals. Questions emerged about whose office would oversee communications. How would planning and logistics for joint efforts be approached? How would the budget for their 
corporate vision be handled? Here was a people who knew they should work together, who were receiving prophetic direction for working together, who wanted to work together—but the critical components of communication and administration were lacking.

Every living organism needs enough structure to support the life of the body, and as I returned to Texas, I prayed our efforts in Spain would not be wasted for lack of administrative structure. I prayed for the leaders of Spain to be able to move from meetings and talk into real action. I wondered even how our small office in Texas could assist in the administrative efforts required for progress. But my part in these efforts came abruptly to an end that fall when I left Texas and returned to Seattle due to a family crisis.

A vision birthed in Spain comes to Seattle

 On the plane ride from Dallas to Seattle, an interesting thing happened to me. As I traveled back to the Evergreen State, the Lord began to download a vision for effective communication, joint strategic planning, and resource sharing for the body of Christ. The vision I received took into account how the Lord had been positioning the saints in places of influence throughout the various spheres of society—or the seven mountains as they’re now called. It leveraged each of the giftings of the five-fold ministry for equipping and positioning the body of Christ for transformational ministry in our communities. It activated believers through prayer and cooperative efforts. I saw what it
would look like for a whole body to be working together toward a common goal—exalting Jesus and advancing His Kingdom.

Flying above the clouds, I furiously scribbled down in my notebook all that the Lord was showing me. I drew diagrams that helped me to process the information and see a picture of what the Lord was describing. My drawings looked like a bit like the structure of a brain—a
central hub that processed information, with neurons and synapses receiving and sending out information to the body.  I pondered what it would look like for the Church of Jesus to function—not just with eyes and ears, and hands and feet—but with a brain that facilitates all of those parts working properly together. Verses like Ephesians 4:15 and Mark 4:28 popped into my head with suddenly new meaning. I knew that as the Church advanced toward maturity, growing up into the head, these corporate brain-like functions would begin to emerge.

As I touched down in Seattle, I closed my notebook with a clear vision for strategic communication centers. I could see the need for them in every city and region. Some big, some small, but all with the ability to communicate effectively with the whole, to facilitate the supply of resources needed in different parts of the body, and to see the Kingdom of God affect cities and regions on a level never before seen.

I had no idea what to do with this vision. My time working in the international apostle’s office was over. The next 12 months of my life were to be consumed with serving my family and caring for them in a time of great crisis. So, I determined to just keep the vision in my heart and continue to pray.

Connecting the body through prayer, strategic councils, and communication

A short time later, I was attending a service at Sonrise Chapel. I was new to the church and didn’t really know anyone. At this particular service, a man named Tim Taylor was sharing the vision God had given him to connect the body of Christ through corporate, united prayer; through strategic councils of leaders representing the seven mountains and the five-fold ministry; and through a communication strategy called CONECT. I listened in awe as Tim Taylor described almost exactly what the Lord had shown me on that plane flying from
Dallas to Seattle.

“Lord, am I supposed to work with this man?” I prayed silently. I didn’t feel like the timing was right, but I introduced myself after the meeting anyway. Nothing came of it. I had no idea that 10 years later, the Lord would join me again with that same man in order to work with him on this very same vision. That 10 years later we would again be meeting at Sonrise Christian Center for an opportunity to challenge the body to work together, communicate strategically, and see the Lord’s Kingdom purposes advance in every sphere of
society. 

The connecting of the body is not overly complicated, but there are certain things it requires. It requires prayer. It requires participation from key leaders. It requires finances to fund key administrative components. It requires a commitment to communicate. The vision to be presented this Friday evening at Sonrise Christian Center at the First Kingdom Congress lays out a plan for all of these things to take place. 

There is no telling the exploits we can accomplish for the Kingdom when we work together. Join us this Friday at 7 p.m. at Sonrise Christian Center in Everett. Hear the vision and pray about what your part should be. Opportunities to sign up and begin the work of linking together will be offered. 

We look forward to seeing you.

Lori