Letter to the Church: July 2023

July 12, 2023

When I hear the word summer, I can’t help but think about warm weather, gathering with friends and family outdoors, and parties and events full of reasons to celebrate. It’s the season of weddings, cookouts, and graduation parties. Kids are out of school, and many families are traveling and taking time off to enjoy their “summer vacation.”

As I was contemplating summer and summer vacation the other day, I was prompted to think of our ministry schools at Radiant that recently finished another incredible year. Radiant School of Ministry (RSM) and Radiant School of Worship (RSW) have been a part of the culture and heartbeat of Radiant Church for several years now, and I can’t help but be amazed at all God has done through these programs and the people who are involved in them.

Some of you may be very familiar with the RSM and RSW students and programs housed within our body of believers, but some of you may not have had the privilege to interact with these students and leaders to a great extent. I wanted to take a moment to update you about the many reasons we have to celebrate our schools and the people dedicating their lives to invest in the future generation of leaders for His Kingdom on this earth.

Currently, Radiant School of Ministry has grown to encompass three different programs. There is a full-time program for young adult students who want to devote their entire school year to grow in their knowledge and desire to follow Jesus.

We also have a part-time program that gathers once a week for working adults who desire to take the next step to deepen their knowledge and learn how to practically walk out their faith.

Then, our most recent addition is the LAUNCH program, a distance-learning program designed for working adults who specifically feel a call to vocational ministry and to be mentored in the local church.

Last but not least, our Radiant School of Worship program has continued to raise up worship leaders and musicians through discipleship and training in an immersive environment of worship and prayer.

One exciting piece of news I would like to share with you is that the Radiant School of Ministry and the Radiant School of Worship will merge into one school this upcoming year! RSW will become a program of the Radiant School of Ministry and will be expanding into a three-year program to raise up worship leaders to serve praying churches all around the world.

God has shown up in mighty ways in our schools. The students served on several Expedition Mission Trips in the U.S. and across the globe this year. On these trips, students helped thousands come to know Christ, healed the sick, cast out demons, and brought the Gospel to unreached people for the first time.

Here is a testimony from Alyssa, one of our students who was in the Philippines:

“After I preached at a church one Sunday, we got to pray for each person – for their needs and for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. One woman had breast cancer and had a painful lump on her chest. She was prayed over. Afterward, she said that she felt no more pain! Then, two days later, one of my team members received a message from the woman’s sister. The woman with cancer had gone in for a checkup at the doctor’s office and the cancer was GONE! Completely healed, in the name of Jesus!”

In May, we hosted our third Radiant School of Ministry/Radiant School of Worship Graduation Ceremony. We celebrated sixty-one students graduating from different programs in the school at our biggest ceremony yet! God’s presence was so profoundly felt during the time of RSW student-led worship that one student’s father (who was not a believer) told his son, “I never knew God was real until I felt him so clearly during the worship time. I want to begin to follow Jesus.” What a beautiful testimony and demonstration of how the Lord can move when these young people dedicate everything to His call in their lives.

It is easy to get caught up in the darkness that surrounds us in the world right now. The spiritual battle is real, but I want to take time in this letter to encourage you, lift you up, and turn your eyes toward the light of Jesus that is shining in our city and world through the obedience and boldness of the people involved with RSM and RSW. The students and leaders in these programs are making a difference, and I want to take a moment to honor them and the exemplary work they are accomplishing for His Kingdom.

Church, I urge you to join me in prayer for our Radiant schools this summer.

Give Him thanks for all that He has already accomplished through our schools, and pray that He will continue to move in mighty ways in the upcoming school year.

Pray for endurance, strength, and wisdom for the leaders and teachers who will be offering their time and talents to impart their knowledge to the next generation of leaders.

Pray for students to clearly hear the call of the Holy Spirit when joining our school programs and that they will say yes to His call. Pray against any attacks of the enemy and for spiritual protection for our schools, leaders, and students.

“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” – Psalm 145:4

Let’s continue to testify of the great things He is doing in our midst and declare them to our city, nation, and world. We have a lot to celebrate.

Pastor Lee Cummings

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