The Forerunners Fellowship

A Holy Order for Kingdom Leaders in New England

WHAT IS THE FORERUNNERS’ FELLOWSHIP?

It is a dispersed holy order for Church and Kingdom leaders, focused on 3 vital practices:

  • Praying humbly and expectantly for revival, beginning with ourselves

  • Adopting and committing to a practiced way of life that engages the vision of God so as to cultivate the breadth of virtues needed to lead with spiritual authority in the chaos of spiritual decline and revival

  • Preparing ourselves and others and innovating structures for the next revival


WHY DOES THIS FELLOWSHIP EXIST?

The short answer is for the sake of the Church and the World. There is a desperate need for spiritual revival in the Church in the post-Christian West, especially in New England.  

If we need revival and are asking God for it, Kingdom leaders need to be ready to provide leadership as revival breaks in, like the bridesmaids who had their lamps ready and oil topped off for the Bridegroom’s coming. We believe that God has been calling some of His People to be harbingers of revival and awakening, forerunners leading in the pattern of John the Baptist, pointing others to the One Who is coming, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 

By its very nature, revival induces radical change. This requires leaders who will:

  • Pursue an intentional Way of Life rooted in God The Holy Trinity so that they can operate at a high level of spiritual intimacy and authority.

  • Embody Christian virtues, especially: faith, hope, and love, so that they can function as a non-anxious presence in a deeply anxious culture.

  • Practice disciplines in which they are centered, transformed, and grow in obedience to God

Christian leaders need support and accountability to operate in this way, especially in a milieu of chaos, spiritual decline, and Kingdom revival. Covenanted communities have long provided this kind of support to Christian leaders and have served as bulwarks of stability.  They offer a context in which Christian leaders can be transformed from the outside in, such that the way of Jesus moves from practice, to habit, to the disposition of virtue.  Being part of a holy order helps leaders to avoid distraction, deception, and deconstruction.

WHO SHOULD JOIN?

The Forerunners’ Fellowship is for:

  • Church/Kingdom leaders (anyone with a following)

  • In New England

  • Who are longing for revival

  • And who are willing to covenant with others around a common way of life


WHERE/WHEN WILL THE FELLOWSHIP GATHER?

We gather:

  • Once each year for a multi-day in-person retreat to reflect, evaluate, and rededicate ourselves to one another and our common mission, as well as to receive and commission new members.

  • Monthly for 2 hours on Zoom to pray together for revival, reflect on our way of life, and to develop and sustain structures for revival in the communities we lead.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR MEMBERS?

Members commit to:

  • Reading 3 books/year on a topic related to revival or revival leadership and discussing with other members

  • Regular attendance and participation at gatherings

  • Practicing our common rule of life, being accountable to one another

  • Evaluating their way of life once a year with another member and with the Spiritual Director 

  • Praying for one another another daily

  • Inviting others to join us

  • Each year, after Easter, discerning whether to remain in membership for the next year.

WHAT IS THE COMMON RULE FOR THE ORDER?

Each member will make, commit to, and live out an annual Plan, Rule, or Way of Life for:

  • Practicing Habits and Disciplines to keep us in the Face of God The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit so that we can grow in Faith, Hope, and Love.

    • Practices that stabilize us in Faith

    • Disciplines that convert us in Hope

    • Commitments to obedience in Love

          This so that our inner disposition and outer habits are congruent in being transformed by God. A template can be found in “A Way of Virtue” promoted by The Abbey of The Way, linked here:

  • Preparing ourselves and others for Revival, particularly through prayer

  • Supporting each other in our life together and our unique ministries.

WHAT IS THE INITIATION/DISCERNMENT PROCESS?

First time members will:

  • Have a discernment conversation with one of the leaders (Chris Bannon, Len Cowan, Greg Johnson)

  • Commit to a six-month trial membership

  • Come to the retreat for commissioning and laying on of hands

WHAT IS THE CREEDAL AFFIRMATION REQUIRED?

All members must affirm:

  • The Nicene Creed

  • The Vision of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

  • The trustworthiness and authority of all Scripture 

Forerunners Invitation