ICAF CONNECT_JUNE ISSUE

The Radical (A quote from his book.) This growing
disconnection between the true needs of the people and the
priorities of the leadership holds just as true for the churches
today as it does for nations. So many anxious clergy seem to
be unwilling to radically address the mounting crisis in the
denominations they represent. Many church leaders are
trying just to maintain rather than trying to build a better
church or organization. This preoccupation of non-spiritual
and religious ideas with lesser agendas, and the smugness
of those "in charge," have created a growing burden that
many of us Christians can no longer support intellectually or
by faith.
When I criticize "old agendas" in institutional Christianity, I
am thinking especially about the many denominations and
organizations that had valid reasons for their origins. Today,
the diminishing influence of churches, coupled with most
members' lack of concern for many old denominational
priorities and prejudices, have rendered much of these old
causal factors for the development of denominations and
organizations obsolete.
To put it another way, the postmodern "Christian" wants to be
part of an organism of faith, not an organization dedicated to
religion. What is crucial, if Christianity is to survive in viable
denominations, is that churches, or their offshoots, do
whatever is necessary to become more actively relevant to
global and local urgencies. "Churches," "fellowships," or
whatever, have to be agents of Godly transformation to the
contemporary world or they will be a big part of the world's
problems. Due to his radial yet sound message of
reformation, and his unique perspective on the past and the
future, a lot of traditional thinkers don’t know how to take him.
He was raised in a very traditional environment and
understands the history on how we got here. However, he
stands now with the new generation of believers and is yet
willing to lead them through these difficult transitions. He is
also misunderstood because of statements like these that are
frequently stated in his kingdom addresses and posted in his
writings: We I asked him what he thought about what others
label as radical, he simply answered: ‘Truth that is
confrontational always is labeled in misunderstanding or fear,
because people are not yet willing to accept change...until
they are forced to. However, truth opens the door for dialog
and change. If no one ever confronted issues that were
confrontational, we would be still the same.
The Church
Dr. Harris not only leads the country internationally through
the ICAF platform, but he also serves in the capacity of
Pastor & Founder of Praise Covenant Church. His vision for
the church is as relevant and impactful as the national
movement. He works untiringly with his cabinet of leaders to
reach out to the community to change the world, one family
at a time. Dr. Harris frequently hosts events within the
community to ensure that the community and the entire city
of Louisville know that God is real and is ever saving souls
and performing miracles.
In 2009, the church purchased an entire square block of land
within the community to expand their current church
structure. One member remarked, “I am so proud to be a
part of Praise Covenant because I know that we are more
than just a normal church. I have seen the Lord bless us in
so many ways, with the purchase of our building and the land
and much more. I know through the leading of God and the
vision of our Pastor that there are many more things in store
for us as we strive to impact the world’.
Another new member remarked, “Our Pastor is different, he has
a vision to change the world and I know that he can get the job
done that God has called him to do. I am excited to be a part of
not just the church but the ICAF movement as well’.
The Future
The many aspects of Bishop Harris — the promise to "break
out of some of those old arguments" — speaks powerfully to
many younger Christians, who have turned out in record
numbers to attend their conferences, as well as, have moved
and positioned themselves to work with him and the ICAF
vision. Dr. Harris is a visionary that is not afraid to reflect
their widespread feeling that time is marching forward but the
Apostolic church is not, that the traditional preachers in the
church and the stagnant leaders are indeed trapped in a time
warp, replaying their stalemated arguments year after year.
The theme recurs in conversations with Harris supporters:
He just feels like something new. Bishop Harris is constantly
underlining this idea as he travels across the country. His
favorite statement is "We can't keep doing the things we've
been doing and expect a different result." It is a message his
national staff has taken to heart. Harris's is the first truly
wired campaign, seamlessly integrating the networking
power of technology with the flesh-and-blood passion of the
Apostolic movement.