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Editor’s Note: This continues a series of articles on how one UCC pastor applies the Purpose Driven concepts to mainline settings. Click here to see all articles related to the Purpose Driven Church

(c) 2008 Dr. Phil Corr

A few years ago Rick Warren was in Africa and crying out to God for a way to combat the huge challenges confronting humanity. As a result of that prayer time, Pastor Rick has developed the P.E.A.C.E. Plan.

Before explaining what that acrostic means, I need to share some other things with you. The plan involves many things, including being a network of networks. It ties in with the 40 Days of Community that teaches “we are better together.” It has to do with churches helping other churches.

One of the things that excites me most about the PEACE Plan is how it ties in with my life verses, which are Isaiah 49:5&6. But I hadn’t really noticed verses 3&4 before. In verse four we read that the prophet is experiencing a pity party. In verse three the LORD does not let Isaiah get away with this. He proclaims, “ ‘You are my servant in whom I will display my splendor.”” What an honor! To be used by God to bring glory to Him.

By the way, do you know the two most dangerous words in the English language? To say to God, “Use me!”

In verse five God says he is calling His servant from the womb to draw the people of Israel back to Himself. And then in verse six He proclaims, ‘‘It is too small a thing for you to be my servant, to restore only the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

There are five global giants that challenge humanity: spiritual emptiness, self-centered leaders, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases, illiteracy and education.

When we search the Scriptures, we see that Jesus gives us a strategy to slay those giants. It is the PEACE Plan, with each letter of “PEACE” standing fo a response to one of the giants.

P is for

Promote Reconciliation. Jesus preached reconciliation and calls us to do so as well. E is for

Equip Servant Leaders. A is for

Assist the Poor. In His first sermon–in His hometown church!–Jesus read and preached from Isaiah where it says “ ‘The Spirit of the LORD is upon me and He has appointed me to preach good news to the poor.’’” C stands for

Care for the Sick. Jesus cared for the sick. E stands for

Educate the Next Generation. Jesus educated the next generation.

Here is a definition of the PEACE PLAN in a nutshell: “Ordinary people, empowered by God’s Spirit, doing what Jesus did, together, wherever they are.”

When it comes to the PEACE Plan, there are seven pillars that make it unique. And, again, the word “pillar” stands for seven words.

P is for

Promotes, plants, and partners with the Local Church. The PEACE Plan

Imitates Jesus’ Model. It is

Led by Amateurs. It turns out that the word :“amateur”” means “out of love.” Each church is to respond in love to the world around us. And, besides, there are not enough professionals to slay the giants on their own! The second “L” in the pillar stands for

Links Public, Profit, and Church Sectors. Each one of those is a leg in a stool. A is for

Reorganizes Efforts through a Network. And it

Shifts to Sustainable Funding.

And how does all this happen? Through the local church around the world. Churches partnering with churches in this country and overseas. The local church has seven advantages over all other organizations. It has:

*the widest distribution;

*the largest participation;

*the longest continuation;

*the greatest credibility;

*the simplest administration;

*the fastest expansion; and

*the highest motivation.

I realize that all of the above is just skimming the surface. I hope in the LORD to flesh out the PEACE Plan in the upcoming weeks. Perhaps you could comment at this site, or ask questions. I look forward to hearing from you!