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The Divine Experiment
Calling a nation to recovenant with God
If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
The "Divine Experiment”
Undistracted Seeking of God’s Face For 21 Days
February 1st - February 21st
Corporate Meetings Every Night @ 6:00pm
1st United Methodist Church, Peoria
THE CLOSING CELEBRATION FOR THE DIVINE EXPERIMENT WILL BE AT RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH, not at 1ST Methodist church. Service will begin at 6:00 pm and will be a thank offering to the Lord for all He has done. There will be no childcare, but children are welcome in the sanctuary. Parking is available in the Holiday Inn City Centre parking deck (but will cost) and on the street. Riverside Community Church is located at 207 N.E. Monroe in downtown Peoria.
The D.E. is a time of corporate prayer and fasting and consecration of our hearts, our families, and our church unto the Lord. During that time, churches will come together for a nightly prayer gathering and pray through the devotional booklet produced by Fusion Ministries. The beginning of this time will actually start the night of January 31st, a fifth Sunday and the regular meeting time of our Transformation services. That will be our commissioning service to begin the 21 days, and we will meet nightly after that, culminating on Sunday, February 21st with a testimony and celebration service. In order to receive a booklet, you must be signed up through your local church and your pastor must be willing to commit to leading the church through this time. The whole intention of the Divine Experiment is to be pastor-led and corporate in nature, so that it is not a time simply for personal devotions, but to walk in unity and fellowship with others for the sake of seeing Christ glorified and our city transformed. ALL meetings mentioned above will be held at 700 Main St. in Peoria and will begin at 6:00 pm. Further information is available through the website www.fusionministry.com or through your pastor. Details of fasting and cancelled ministries within your church will be given to each church by their pastor, and on the night of January 31st.
Along with the Greater Peoria Region, the churches and pastors of Terre Haute Indiana will be doing the Divine Experiment in the first 21 days of February as well. We believe a great move of God is waiting to be released over the Midwest!
What it is Not
- An important transformation principle is that transformation is not the goal but the fruit of a covenant journey with God and one another in a corporate context of the Body of Christ that results in fundamental lifestyle changes for us all.
- The Divine Experiment is not an end unto itself, The Divine Experiment is something the Lord has birthed to prepare a people to return to covenant relationship with Him for the sake of transformation at a community and societal level.
- It is not simply a programmatic tool to accomplish a congregational goal. Neither is it a method to stir people in prayer for a short term. Rather, the Divine Experiment assists us in establishing a Kingdom lifestyle in the Church that is more conducive to attracting the presence of God to our community.
- A basic value is that the DE is not designed for just an individual group or single congregation. It is best utilized by multiple leaders and congregations participating together for the purpose of preparing the way for the Lord to come to our larger community in transforming revival. We must be in this together and not just for ourselves!
- Leaders by their very nature are susceptible to the pitfalls of pride and independence. The DE cuts to the heart of this issue and counters this prevailing American value of leadership. So from the onset, you will experience the challenge of humility, unity, kingdom partnership and transformational vision.
Participation Requirements
- We ask that every leader participating be in agreement with the spirit and heart of the "Divine Experiment"
- Leaders who commit to the Experiment must lead by setting a personal example. This time of consecration is not to be “delegated” to the praying few but rather a corporate journey together led by the spiritual leaders of the community.
- We ask that at least some activities in the church be replaced by a renewed emphasis on prayer/worship/fasting etc. during this time. The Divine Experiment is not something that is “added” into a busy church schedule but rather a time of refocusing all our energy and attention to seeking the Lord for this season.
Participating Churches in the region
(in alphabetical order)
- Asylum Youth Ministry (Peoria)
- Bethel World Outreach Ministries (Nairobi, Kenya)
- Bloomington/Normal House of Prayer
- Bradley Epworth Church (Peoria)
- Chi/Alpha Student Ministries (Peoria)
- City on a Hill Church (Peoria)
- First Assembly of God (Peoria)
- Garage Youth Ministry of East Peoria
- Hilltop Campus Church (Peoria)
- Maranatha Fellowship Center (Peoria)
- Peoria Christian Fellowship
- Peoria Prayer Center
- Prayerview Community Church (Peoria)
- Star of Hope Full Gospel Church (Peoria)
- Trinity Mennonite Church (Morton)
- Zion Baptist Church (Peoria)
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What is the Divine Experiment?
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