The Church & the First Shot of the Revolution

_ Excerpt from David Barton's What is The Black Robed Regiment - click to go to Wall Builders ? 

When Paul Revere set off on his famous ride, it was to the home of the Rev. Clark in Lexington that he rode. Patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams were lodging (as they often did) with the Rev. Clark. After learning of the approaching British forces, Hancock and Adams turned to Pastor Clark and inquired of him whether the people were ready to fight. Clark unhesitatingly replied, "I have trained them for this very hour!" [47] When the original alarm sounded in Lexington to warn of the oncoming British menace, citizens gathered at the town green, and according to early historian Joel Headley:

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There they found their pastor the [Rev. Clark] who had arrived before them. The roll was called and a hundred and fifty answered to their names . . . . The church, the pastor, and his congregation thus standing together in the dim light [awaiting the Redcoats], while the stars looked tranquilly down from the sky above them. [48]

The British did not appear at that first alarm, and the people returned home. At the subsequent alarm, they reassembled, and once the sound of the battle subsided, some eighteen Americans lay on Lexington Green; seven were dead - all from the Rev. Clark's church. [49] Headley therefore concluded, "The teachings of the pulpit of Lexington caused the first blow to be struck for American Independence," [50] and historian James Adams added that "the patriotic preaching of the Reverend Jonas Clark primed those guns." [51]

History Points to the Future

The free Church and her ministers played a great role in the founding of this nation.  Besides training and influencing so many who wrote the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution, they also trained some of the original minutemen. In each locality the church functioned like a storehouse.  In the Old Testament the storehouse was used for one of two things.  It equipped people for worship and it equipped people for war.  The ministers were often some of the most educated and their local church served as a resource for their community.  They usually had the best library of books which covered all aspects of religion, science, philosophy, politics, government and yes, even strategy and military tactics.  They acted like they believed

Proverbs 23:23:  Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.  NKJV

It is no wonder why so many ministers and churches were engaged in the founding of this nation.  They were knowledgeable and had understanding of their times.  They were leaders who were prudent.  Proverbs says that a prudent man acquires knowledge (Prov. 18:15) and prepares when they foresee evil (Prov. 27:12).  Rev. Clark prepared his people and established his church as a resource center and a communication hub.  His resource center was not only a training center, but must have served as some sort of armory as well as a communication hub.  How else could Rev. Clark have mobilized 150 in front of his church in Lexington to meet the British so quickly?

The Churched Reformed and Always Reforming

The Church in America came out of the reformation in Europe.  The motto of the reformers was  "ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda:”  the church reformed and always reforming.  It is time for the Church to reform again, or should I say, continue its reformation. 

At one time the Church in each locality played a very important role equipping their people to serve the citizenry of that local.  They were a resource center.  In December 2007 God spoke to me about His desire and plan to see the Church in a city or region develop a strategic (apostolic) resource center following after the pattern King David set (click here - Vision of the ARC).  Through ORT we've helped leaders in 32 nations to take the first two steps that King David took.  This strategy has equipped them to mobilize a powerful prayer army while gathering the elders at the gates of a city into 7 strategic councils.

Pioneering an ARC - The Next Steps

We will continue stewarding the ORT strategy and providing it to leaders to help them mobilize and connect their people city by city.  But now, I've received the word of the Lord and know it's now time to expand our pioneering efforts.  We've excelled at mobilizing a "prayer force," now it's time to develop the areas of strategic councils and discipleship.  It's time to add strategic action and boots on the ground with that powerful prayer force.  It's time to train citizen soldiers in the kingdom of God to be ready to mobilize like a spiritual minuteman at a moment's notice. It's time to put our faith into action with regards to Mathew 28:19 and make disciples of all nations.

The Lord has been speaking to us about a kingdom league; a league of ministers, churches and saints passionate about demonstrating a presentation of the gospel of the kingdom in power and glory in every sphere of society.  Our founding fathers and the Church arose to the crisis of their day to serve their generation.  It is time for us to serve ours.  It is time to build upon their legacy and expand the role of the Church in a city and turn them into strategic (apostolic) resource centers.

In the coming months I'll share a lot more of what the Lord has been speaking to me over the last five years.  I'm am very excited.  Know that we are not changing direction; we are simply building upon all that Christ has done through us so far.  Watchman Ministries International, is in a metamorphosis process similar to the process that a caterpillar goes through as it becomes a butterfly.  Remember the cry of the reformation, the church reformed and always reforming.  Well, that's my cry and the process God is taking us through.  God is adding to all that He's done through us so I'm looking forward to unfolding all the marvelous things He has shown that He intends to do that I believe will be a blessing to you.