Sr. Pastor's Blog - Rev. Demetrius L. Davis

Name and Location Change

2010-10-08T01:08:00.000-05:00

I know this typically only happens to people in the witness protection program, but our church is changing its name and location. In fact it already has! As of Sunday 10/3, we are CityPoint Community Church. Our new location is a Classic Jazz Venue in the South Loop, with lots of history. We're so excited to be in this new neighborhood and to have such a cool venue.

Here's our address:
Jazz Showcase
(806 S. Plymouth Ct. -Chicago)
10am and 12n

Free Parking @ Clark/Polk

http://www.citypointcc.org/

A Pastor's Thoughts on Allegations Against Bishop Eddie Long

2010-09-21T21:55:00.000-05:00

Of course by now you've heard about the allegations against Bishop Eddie Long, either through CNN or the social media outlets. If not, here's an article from the Assoc. Press: http://bit.ly/c0m5IH

Please allow me to begin by expressing that I sincerely hope that these claims are untrue. The role of the body of Christ, must be to pray for Bishop Long, New Birth, and the two young men in the meantime.

Having said that, I need to give you insight from a Pastor's perspective. As Pastors we face enormous temptation. Also, we often burn ourselves out with ministry responsibilities. Burnout leaves us open and vulnerable to temptation at a very deep level. Preaching to and praying for people is spiritually exhausting work, and oftentime we give all of our spiritual strength to other people. Consequently we leave nothing for ourselves. There have been many weeks, that I've felt spiritually drained for several days after preaching on Sunday. What's striking is the differences that I perceive in myself during those times. My flesh gets the best of me during these moments, which is why I prefer to be at home and away from social situations when I'm spiritually drained. In short, I can be a jerk during these times. I also find it hard to pray, my desire for reading the word decreases, and I start considering things that I wouldn't ordinarily. I try to limit the amount of time I spend on the computer when I'm in this condition because the temptation toward internet porn is very real, and very present.

People are often surprised when Pastors get caught doing immoral things, but I'm not. Oftentime it's not due to wickedness, it's due to weakness. Ask yourself this question, "When was the last time you prayed for the local Pastors in your community? (not just your own Pastor)" Remember, spiritual battles can only be won using spiritual weapons.

Keep in mind, God chose us not because of who we are, but in spite of who we are. There are those who would argue that Pastors should pursue other professions or step down, if they know they have issues. But remember, most of us didn't sign up to be ministers and pastors, but God called us. I love what I do, but I don't Pastor because I always wanted to do it. I Pastor because it's what I have to do. It's what God called me to do. And until I receive new orders from God, I must stick with this assignment!

As for Bishop Eddie Long, I hope this stuff is false. But if it's true, I hope he owns his actions, repents (turns away from this sinful behavior), and is given the grace that he deserves, and is restored.

Well, this is just a Pastor's perspective

I pray for him, his family, for the young men, and for the church, and all who will be impacted.

-Pastor Demetrius Davis
Sr. Pastor of Proviso Community Church/ CityPoint Community Church

http://www.citypointcc.org/

It's God's Church Stupid

2010-09-18T11:25:00.000-05:00

Every now and then, in the midst of planning for the future of the ministry, tweaking budgets, and scores of other Sr. Pastor responsibilities, I'm reminded that this is God's church! Now that has several implications:

Our Job is Not Worrying, but Working! If God truly called us to this work, why should we ever be worried about what abilities or money we don't have? This is God's business and He will supply every tool we need for every ministry endeavor He desires us to accomplish, to bring glory to His Name!
Keep your Sign Pointed in the Right Direction! The ultimate purpose of highways is to get people to their destination. Can you imagine a highway with no exit signs or exit arrows? One would ask "what's the purpose of this highway?" In ministry, our purpose is to point people to God's redemptive work through Jesus Christ, and to a lifestyle of obedience to God's word. Therefore it's imperative that in everything we do, people are pointed in that direction. Strive to be a Pastor or Christian that is guilty of pointing people "God-ward." Otherwise, we're useless highways! Remember, "It's God's Church Stupid." It's fine to pray for people, but be sure to teach them that the power is from God, not you. It's fine for people to respect you, but teach them to reverence God above all.
It Won't Work Without the Battery! Ever tried operating your cell phone without the battery? You can have a 4G iPhone with 1,000's of apps, and it be useless, without the battery! That's what a church is like without God empowering it. No ministry, no matter how slick the marketing strategy can be successful without God directing and empowering the church.
One Day We'll Have to Turn in our Work! Leased cars never belong to us. We just get to drive them. One day they have to be turned in. Be sure to lead your ministry that way. Remember, "It's God's Church Stupid." One day God will inspect the work that we've done, if I'm interpreting Colossians 1:28 correctly. Also, be sure to drive the car in a way that takes into consideration that there may be a new driver after you. We can't Pastor these churches forever. In relation to time, it'll only be a little while.

Remember, "It's God's Church Stupid!"

Sunday Night Dump

2009-10-11T20:35:00.003-05:00

This Sunday went really well. Gospel recording artist Bridgette Campbell-Croft blessed us tremendously with her voice! She is such an anointed singer. My prayer is that today's message "Faith in the Famine" helped restore the hibernating faith of the people. This week we're preparing for God to move in a mighty way on behalf of our congregation. Now is the time for us to Ask, Seek, and Knock for God's favor to rest on us. I hope to be able to share some exciting news next Sunday!

I had a very interesting conversation with my cousins and wife this evening about humility amongst black men. Admittedly, our "baller" mentality and sense of entitlement many times is wrapped up in our BIG EGO. I know Beyonce sings about it as if it's a good thing, but the word says that pride goes before destruction and a hauty spirit before a great fall. Could it be that for many of us, God has been sending us through tests and trials to get us to be more humble?

This week I'm committing myself to practicing intentional humility in every decision I make and every interaction. You should join me.

Share Your Fasting Experience So Far

2009-09-29T16:23:00.005-05:00

Many of you have now begun on the journey with us on this 30-Day Fast for Spiritual Renewal. It's exciting already to see so many believers committing themselves to renewal and revival. This will prove to be a time of refreshment as well as revelation. God will and perhaps already has revealed some things to us about ourselves as we've begun to sanctify ourselves through prayer and fasting. For some of us we've learned that we're much weaker than we thought, but God is much stronger. For some of us we've learned that we can do things through God's strength that we could never do on our own.

Some of us have experienced God granting us a new found peace, gentleness, meekness, and humility that we haven't experienced in a long time. I know I have! What's been your experience so far? Share it by clicking on the comment link below. You never know who will be encouraged by your experience.

A Contribution from Yolanda James-Parks of PCC

2009-09-29T16:20:00.001-05:00

Hi Pastor,

I just wanted to share during the fast too.

"Jehoshaphat was alarmed by this news and sought the LORD for guidance. He also gave orders that everyone throughout Judah should observe a fast". 2 Chronicles 20:3

The commentary for this passage says:

"When the nation was faced with disaster, Jehoshaphat called upon the people to get serious with God by going without food (fasting) for a designated time. By separating themselves from the daily routine of food preparation and eating , they could devote that extra time to considering their sin and praying to God for help. Hunger pangs would reinforce their penitence and remind them of their weakness and their dependence upon God. Fast still can be helpful today as we seek God's will in special situations."

Words of Encouragement

RESOLVE TO GET INVOLVED

"Get involved in your church, in your community, in the schools, and in mentoring programs. Unconditionally offer your time, talent, love, support, and money. Give for the joy of giving and not with the expectation of a return." Tavis Smiley

Sunday Night Dump

2009-09-27T20:53:00.002-05:00

Today's worship experience was awesome! I'd been really intentional over the last few weeks in trying to get the music ministry back on track and they nailed it today! Veronica did it like only she can do it. We made some adjustments like moving the band off the stage so that the singers and musicians could see and communicate with each other. This worked out very well. Also, removing the drum noise from right behind the singers helped them hear themselves better. We also had ample time for sound check which made a huge difference. The crowd was pretty thick too! I had been praying that God would send a crowd today and He did just that. Lots of new visitors dropped in today, it's always good to see new faces in the place. I think we probably average 10 to a dozen visitors each week. The challenge now is to make our church sticky!

I challenged every member of our congregation during my sermon to step up to the plate and avail themselves to volunteer in some capacity within the church to take the load off me. I spend time throughout the week editing video, dealing with finance, administrative duties, and all kinds of other random busy work that pulls me away from my primary responsibility of preparing to preach a sound, practical, powerful word from the LORD.

Many members have already stepped up to the plate to take ownership. I'm sure there will be many more to follow. I thank God for the spirit of the people of PCC. They genuinely want to please God.

We also collected over 200 lbs of items to be donated to Atlanta flood victims. We'll be partnering with The Courageous Church (www.courageous.tv) in Atlanta to get this stuff to the people who need it. By the way I'd like to shout out to Pastor Shaun King, Lead Pastor of The Courageous Church for getting in the trenches with the people of ATL and simply being the church. Your courage has sparked a movement of generosity around the world!

Lastly, be in prayer with PCC as we prepare for God to use us more and more for the advancement of the kingdom in our neighborhood and beyond. For the next 30-days we'll be fasting from food (just water allowed) for 12-hours per day. Pick your own 12-hour span. This fast is for revival and spiritual renewal within our midst.

Let's do it together!

That's it for tonight.

2009-09-27T13:59:00.001-05:00

Today I returned to the pulpit from a much needed vacation. It's been a long time coming but the old me has finally come out in my preaching. It feels good!

2009-09-23T21:52:00.001-05:00

I'm away on retreat in Lake Geneva for a few days getting some much needed rest and relaxation. Though I must admit that I've cheated on my vacation by working

We Wear the Mask

2009-09-22T10:44:00.003-05:00

I had a conversation with my wife over the weekend about the difficulty Pastors and Ministers have with being transparent. On the one hand we're expected to be human, but on the other hand, not as human as everybody else. What an oxymoron!

Truthfully, the reason that many of us wear the mask is not because we desire to be pretenders, but because most people just can't handle the real thing. Actually, if they ever got a glimpse of it they would chalk us up as being phony, not a "real preacher," or my favorite, "just like all the other preachers."

On the surface and underneath the surface we are actually real people! We're just ordinary people drafted by God not because we were better suited than any other person, but because God chose to glorify Himself through us despite our faults. Preachers and Pastors are not just ex-gangbangers, ex-drugdealers, ex-playboys, etc... Some of us have it in our past but still struggle to overcome it in our present. The title "reverend", "pastor", "bishop", or "minister" does not somehow make us more resistant to temptation, neither does it nullify the flesh that we battled with before acknowledging the call.

Sadly, some very gifted brothers and sisters have left the ministry or been dismissed from their place of service because their imperfections were unmasked. Ultimately we're just real people who feel every emotion that everyone else feels. We get angry sometime, we don't see eye to eye with our spouse sometime, we lack faith sometime, we neglect our prayer time sometime, we lust sometime, we drink too much sometime, we overeat sometime, we're jealous of other people sometime, we're selfish, prideful, and arrogant sometime. But God grants us the same grace as He does every other Christian when we come to Him in repentence.

Throughout my first year of Pastoring, I've been so bent on not being like certain Pastors that I know, but as time has passed and left behind it more wisdom through experience, I've discovered that it's arrogant and presumptuous of me to ever believe that I'm any different.

I used to speak of what I wouldn't do, now I think the more appropriate statement is "what I don't want to do" and "what I haven't done." I now realize that much greater men and women than I have fallen to all sorts of temptations, and made all sorts of bad leadership decisions.

I now realize that when I get to the end of my career and life it's less important that I present to God a perfect preacher (Calvary has already taken care of that), it's important that I present to him a completed work.

The Apostle Paul summed up the close of his ministry this way,

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day..."

Please add Ministers and Pastors to your prayer list

The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. 2 Ti 4:7-8

2009-09-22T10:26:00.001-05:00

While on vacation I've discovered how difficult it is to just rest. Being a visionary, it's sometime difficult to stop working and just live in the right now.

Another Murder in Maywood

2008-10-07T15:04:00.004-05:00

Last week I was at a loss for words when in a meeting I heard Bishop Porter mention that another murder took place in Maywood. The number of murders for the year has reached into the double digits within our little village, which possibly places us amongst the worst in the U.S. per capita. Of course this is where we begin playing the blame game, but what I'm more interested in is someone stepping up to the plate and accepting responsibility for failure.

A 21- year old brother joined Proviso Community Church last Sunday, and one of the things that he mentioned in conversation was very interesting. He said that he was so thankful to be alive at 21. Now indeed, he does recognize that making it to the age of 21 is a gift and that every good and perfect gift comes from above. But there was something more to that statement than a celebration of God's grace, there was an undertone of the pessimism with which our young men view their future when they've grown up in Maywood and even Proviso Township as a whole.

I met a brother at PLCCA in Maywood a few weeks ago. He was there for a job fair, I was there to register voters. When he registered to vote, I spoke with him briefly and he talked about the fact that he needed to find a job because he needed to get "off the streets." He said he had gotten grazed by a bullet a day or so before. He's also 21-years old. Unfortunately, there aren't many jobs for him within our community. And the schools haven't prepared the average grad to compete very well in the job market outside of our community. This is unacceptable!

Proviso Community Church, in partnership with the Maywood Police Department's Community Policing will be working with Proviso East's principal Milton Patch to ensure the safety of our students after school between 1st avenue and 5th avenue on Madison St. We're seeking out men and women in the community to serve in a security capacity for a 30-minute period after school. This has come as a plea from the school because of the violence that oftentimes takes place within this area after school. It's a shame that our students sometime walk home from school fearful of a drive-by or a gang fight breaking out right in front of them.

This has to change! This community has sunken to an incredibly low level. It's time for the people of God to stand up!

It's Been 8 Weeks!

2008-09-24T11:12:00.005-05:00

Praise God! It's been 8 weeks and we're still rolling. God has given us tremendous favor. We've got one of the baddest church bands in the area and our ministry team is always fired up!

So far we've made a very solid impression upon the community. On Tuesday, September 2nd, several of us prayed on the campus of Proviso West High School as the students returned from their Labor Day weekend. This is the day that the school sees it's largest number of students in attendance, so we accepted the invitation to pray for a safe and productive school year. Friday, September 5th was the launch of our "Bless the Block" initiative. There are key areas within the community, especially Maywood and Bellwood, that we're targeting to take back for Christ. Approximately 15 of us prayed on the corners spanning from 19th/St. Charles to 19th/Madison in Maywood. One family drove from as far as Chicago's Northside to participate. The neighbors were very receptive to our "phase one" of "Bless the Block." We're looking forward to rolling out phase two within the next several weeks. After the prayers, most of us hung out at Home Run Inn, which was an awesome opportunity for us to get to know some new faces.

This is what it's all about... Celebrating God, Serving God, Serving the Community, and Sharing with each other. I'm so excited that we've captured this essence already!

I'm beginning to get accustomed to preparing sermons every week, but it's still not easy. It's a discipline that develops total dependence on God. Some weeks I approach the podium with what I would consider a "mess" and God somehow turns it into a "message." I'm desperately trying to develop the ability to get my sermons done by Friday so that I can spend Saturdays doing something other than staring at my laptop. These are usually great days for my wife and I to hang out. Thankfully, our Assistant Pastor, Rev. Antoine Simmons, is preaching again this week, allowing me a second week of rest. I thank God for his willingness and his ability.

Even though I'm thankful for the rest, I'm still anxious to get back on that stage to deliver a message. I guess I just love preaching.

If it's God's will, I 'll be preaching again beginning next Sunday, October 5th. Wow! That'll be here before I know it.....better get started now.... Gotta Go!

Simply Caring, Simply Community, Simply Church

Survivor Stories...

2008-08-04T13:47:00.001-05:00

Regardless of who we are, and where we're from, all of us are survivors and overcomers in some regards. Some are survivors of heartbreak or shady people. Some are survivors of abuse or neglect. Some are survivors of financial hardships and devastation, but we all made it through.

What's your survivor story? Dare to be bold enough to share one for the building up of the rest of the believers. You never know who may be going through what you've already conquered.

Sermon Outline and Discussion (Aug. 3, 2008)

2008-08-04T08:40:00.001-05:00

“By God’s Grace, I’m a Survivor”

2 Corinthians 4:7-12
(New International Version of scripture)

Exegetical Idea (Big Idea): Our sufferings, and our death-like situations, leave room for us to experience God’s resurrection power.

Transition: Paul explains that he has experienced and shall experience this resurrection power in two ways:

He’s experienced this resurrection power and subsequently emerged as a survivor 1st of all of…

I. Outward Trials
A. Pressed (v.8a “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed”;)

1. Supporting Scriptures

a. 2 Corinthians 7:5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.

b. 2 Corinthians 11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.(emphasis mine)

c. Acts 9:23-30 (Paul always managed to escape the crushing, by God’s grace.)

2. Sermon Excerpt

“…But the amazing thing, and it testifies to God’s power, is that even though like Paul we’re hard pressed on every side, the good news can be found behind the “but.”

The text says, “we’re hard pressed on every side, but not in depair.” Thank God for the “but nots” in your life. Every believer whether you want to admit it or not has a “but not” testimony. The “but not” essentially says that God has defied logic in your circumstances. And even though your dead circumstances warranted a certain doom and disaster, you somehow emerged as a survivor.

Some of us have been guilty, but not convicted
Some of us have been jobless, but not broke
Some of us have been penniless, but not homeless
Some of us have been without food in the refrigerator, but not starved

Pregnant, broke, jobless, heartbroken, written off, but not in despair

Somehow you’ve emerged as a survivor!”

B. Persecuted (v.9a “…persecuted but not forsaken;”)

1. Supporting Scriptures

a. 2 Cor. 11:24 “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25) Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea…”

b. Deuteronomy 25:3 (rules for flogging)

2. Sermon Excerpt

“In almost every city that Paul went, he was almost sure to face some persecution. All because of the boldness and conviction with which he proclaimed Jesus Christ.

· In Jerusalem he was arrested,
· In Philippi he and Silas were jailed because Paul had driven the demons out of the slave girl, whom the word says brought her master much gain.
On another occasion he was stoned and left for dead”

C. Struck Down v.9b (“…struck down, but not destroyed…”)

1. Supporting Scriptures (none)

2. Sermon Excerpt

“Almost everybody who grew up during my generation had one of those inflatable-clown punching bags. The interesting thing about ‘em was…

· You could punch it, but it would…bounce back
· You could kick it, and it would…bounce back
· You could lay out on it, but as soon as you got up, it would just…bounce back

I never could quite appreciate it when I was a child, but when I got older I discovered that the reason it was able to be kicked down, knocked down, beat down, and still get back up again, was because of something on the inside of it.

But I’ve discovered that not only is this true of the inflatable clown, but it’s also true of the Christian, because some of ya’ll have been knocked down, beat down, stepped on, and treaded on, but somehow or another you keep…bouncing back
They thought you were down for the count when you were heartbroken, but somehow you…bounced back.
Really they thought that the depression had you but you…bounced back
They thought the trials, tribulations, and tears had torn you down, but you…bounced back”

But none of it was because of you, none of it was because of your own power, none of it was because of your own endurance, you bounced back because of what’s on the inside!

The Holy Spirit has enabled you, to take a licking and keep on ticking”

II. Inward Trials v.8b “[we are] perplexed, but not in despair.”

(more notes to come...)

2 Weeks to Go!

2008-07-20T10:08:00.000-05:00

Two weeks from now, I will deliver a sermon for the first time as pastor of Proviso Community Church. I don't think I've really been able to wrap my mind fully around the implications of this, nevertheless I'm excited. I think my excitement is mostly centered around finally getting started. The planting process has not been a long one, relatively speaking, but it has been a bit difficult lingering in the middle.

My entire team has been going through what I would call "life" over the past few weeks, and amazingly God has begun giving me insight and discernment to see what I wouldn't ordinarily see. I guess this is part of the pastoral transformation that God is taking me through. My wife and I have begun intereceeding on behalf of so many, and our hope is that many are interceeding for us.

What transformations have you been experiencing in life lately? What new season has God been preparing you for? Are you ready? You may only have weeks to go!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

2008-06-05T10:48:00.000-05:00

It comes as no surprise that God has been faithful in putting people and resources in place for the local church plant. Last week I did a one year budget for the church, however I specifically left one important line item out of the budget, "the favor of God." The reason for this omission is so that I will always be able to recognize what it should/could have cost and taken to be successful, minus the favor factor.

Perhaps in the midst of this recession you've found yourself looking at your personal budget and the numbers just don't seem to add up on paper. Just remember that the missing line item is "the favor factor."

LORD, great is Thy faithfulness.

One is Worth it!

2008-05-20T07:47:00.000-05:00

One of the challenges of being what I call "Second Generation Mega Church" is the ability to easily get caught up in numbers. For the last 11 years I've consistently attended services where seating capacity was a major issue, and where thousands of worshipers gathered week after week for fellowship, worship, and to hear a Word from the LORD. However, as I get ever closer to the launch date of the new local church plant, the question that looms over me is, "what if no one shows up?" The space that we're renting has a seating capacity of close to 1,500. It takes a lot of bodies to make that space not look empty! But in reality it's not about the numbers. But then again there's a wonderful feeling that I get when I'm preaching to a crowd of 1,000 high energy worshippers.

I think the sum of the truth is this, if the whole church plant is for one soul to be saved, it's all worth it. If one individual walks through those doors as a sinner with a gaping hole in his/her life that only God's love and redemptive power can fill, and he/her leaves that place with an authentic relationship with God, it's worth it!

Indeed, my prayer is that God would send masses of people, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to preach to just one. In fact, to preach at all! Paul said that we have these treasures in earthen vessels. I count it as a privilege for God to entrust me to carry this treasure despite the simplicity and frailness of my vessel.

Not How? Who?

2008-05-14T22:44:00.000-05:00

As I really avail myself for the necessary preparation involved with the local church plant, I find myself facing tough questions. The common denominator of most of the questions is the word "how." Over and over again I've come up with another question within my mind involving the word "how." As of this date I have nothing but a vision and an incredible call and burden that God has placed upon my heart to plant a local church in Maywoood, IL. I need the auditorium at our local high school as a worship facility, I need financial resources, musicians, and countless other individuals willing to serve. In addition to these needs, there's a possibility that I may have to step down from my job as CMO at my current church, which could significantly affect my family's budget. My prayer is that God allows me to maintain this position and salary until the new church is financially stable.

As I stare at this mountain of needs, which I feel inadequately equipped to scale, the question that looms is, "how?" How can I afford to bring this vision to fruition? How will I be able to obtain the resources needed? How, how, how?

But then again I realize that it's not "how?" It's "who?" Who will make it happen? Who will provide? If I can just throw 3 words back as a volley against every "how" in my head and heart, they would be:

God is Able!

"Now unto Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or think according to the power that works in us." Eph. 3:20 (paraphrase)

Trying to Find Balance

2008-05-06T18:29:00.000-05:00

One of the most difficult things for me to accomplish in ministry is, balance. Constantly I'm finding myself overworked and neglecting one thing or another. Below is a list of the things which I'm responsible for currently:

CMO (Chief Ministry Officer) - Victory Cathedral Worship Ctr.
Exec. Director- SmokieNorful Ministries
CEO- "45 Company" an upscale custom tailoring and alterations boutique
Chairman & President- ProvisoPromise NFP
Interim Youth Pastor- Victory Cathedral Worship Ctr.

In addition to these things I'm actively involved in various initiatives within my community, I believe God is leading me to plant a church this summer, and last but certainly not least, I'm a newlywed.

So to say the least, "balance" is a major issue for me!

I definitely need to learn to say NO to some things, but that's easier said than done. How do you create balance in your life? What measures have you had to take? How do you learn to JUST SAY NO?