On behalf of First Lady Meikle I would like to present you with our first edition of The Kingdom Citizen. As the first fruits of our future publications, this newsletter has been designed to enhance as well as to empower the Kingdom believer with the necessary tools to fulfill their life’s purpose and access their destiny. I am excited to be able to share this with you.

As we enter the month of February, I want you to be cognizant of the fact that this is Fasting Month. This is a strategic time in our Year of Prosperity. Let’s dedicate the next twenty eight days to the denial of our natural appetites and devote them to the things of the Lord only. As you seek Him through fasting I am declaring that something powerful and life- changing will be released in you. Though you may feel naturally hungry, the Lord is going to feed your spirit with the finest of heaven’s bread. Prepare to be totally transformed.

I also want you to remember that “this is your Year of Prosperity.” Not last year and certainly not next year, now. Do not be denied and certainly do not be delayed --- now is your moment to prosper!

Again, welcome to the life of The Kingdom Citizen.

Pastor Orim M. Meikle

Dear Kingdom Citizen,

Under the direction of our Sr. Pastor Orim M. Meikle comes Kingdom Citizen a vehicle created to nurture relationships and extend the Rhema word beyond our sanctuary doors.

As we begin a month of fasting many questions will arise. I encourage you not to allow a single one to remain unanswered but instead to seek the wisdom and counsel of Rhema's Presbytery.

Let us vow in 2006 to take action, resolute that nothing will stand between us and the renascent Kingdom.

Jacqueline Evans

Pastor Orim M. Meikle

The body of Christ is caught in an interesting quandary. Do we continue in the same tradition of meandering through the business of the kingdom, or do we arise to a new sublimity of excellence? The answer is quite simple. Hear the clarion call of “excellence now” resounding throughout the body of Christ; a body which has been plagued and ravished by the diseased mentality of mediocrity. In fact, we have exalted the mundane and have worshipped around the sacred shrine of the menial, all in the name of Jesus Christ. Is it a wonder that in a world that is rapidly pursuing technological, biological and astronomical excellence that the words of Jesus echo, howbeit painfully, in our ears: “The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light!” (Luke 16:8)?

There are two key things that we need to bear in mind of this pivotal junction in ecclesiastical history. The first thing is that the words of Jesus contrasting the children of light and the children of this world are in fact descriptive words. He is not prescribing a Divine mandate that is to be upon the earth, rather, He is describing a condition that prevails through choice. Instead of ascending to our God given status as light bearers in this world, the people of God have always opted for being under a bushel. But the excellence that we seek now, demands that we be the head and not the tail; above and not beneath! It demands that we be blessed in our coming in and blessed in our going out, through the obedience of faith.

It demands that we walk in the fullness of what God has spoken concerning us in His Word and nothing less. It demands that we rebuke every spirit of lack and apprehend the abundance that has been apportioned to us. Simply stated, excellence now demands that we walk, through radical faith, in the illuminating light of His Word.

The second thing that we need to be cognizant of is the reality of the excellence of God’s name. Israel’s sweet Psalmist declares, “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” (Ps.8:1). This would necessitate, by association, that whatsoever is done in the name of the Lord must also be excellent. In other words, to do something in the name of the Lord is to do it in His person, or to allow it to bear the characteristics that are befitting to His resplendent personality. Consider well now. Does the ministry that we portray reflect the name of God or has the name of God become a frivolous cliché that we appendix to our words or actions? The answer returns into our bosom again: “excellence now!”

God is calling His people to excellence, a reality that has long been neglected. None is exempt from the call. Pastor, He calls you to excellence in pastoral administration. Preacher, He calls you to excellence in sermonic delivery. Chorister He calls you to a melodic excellence. The players on the instruments, He calls you to symphonic excellence. Teacher, He calls you to didactic excellence. Everyone, everywhere; He calls you to excellence of lifestyle, FOR OUR GOD IS AN EXCELLENT GOD!

Jacqueline Evans

Ours is an expansive, vibrant city with many of the best minds conquering boundaries in every arena once thought impossible. Where consistently there is proof that resilience and power reside within us without question.

If we were to stand back and assess the vocational prowess characteristic of the minds of this generation it ought to leave us emboldened, confident of our future.

That being the case we must ask 'why then is our community reeling from the unintended consequences of a succession of decisions we have made as a nation?' Instead of basking in the satisfaction of unprecedented accomplishments of this century and the last, we sit pondering -- head between hands-- grappling with what has the appearance of one of the greater mysteries of our time:

How have we managed to cultivate a generation of young people so displaced from traditional norms and values that they have nothing by which they can anchor themselves to the world?

They scramble to find balance in a culture that continually shifts the earth under their feet. Familiar signposts traditionally reflected in the makeup of families, the operation of schools and the active community involvement of churches, once reliable as markers of stability are now removed. Attempts at a graft of new norms and values of convenience by policymakers have failed to light a once-visible pathway. Winded the city struggles to catch its breath after each punishing blow with the nightly news delivering the punch.

Caught off guard the path that the nation has chosen has suddenly revealed a menacing world no longer able to contain the symptoms of a consuming illness. Is this yet another indicator that we have finally come to the end of ourselves and our own abilities and are encountering as a city and as a nation the need for a response that demands the regeneration of wisdom long discarded by many?

It is at this juncture that we see the renaissance of the church - the body is at hand! This moment in time is a defining one for God's people. Collectively we are awakening from a brumal slumber.

The Lord is looking for His saints to recognize who we are in Him and as a result understand how uniquely qualified His Kingdom citizens are as the answer.

Christopher Penrose

As the year 2005 was winding down to a close, Rhema Ministries prepared to welcome in the year of prosperity. While this declaration speaks to the current spiritual atmosphere that we are in, it was last year that laid the groundwork for a number of initiatives that have been established in order to manifest the increase that this year promises.

Some of these projects include:

Project Debt Freedom (PDF): Entering phase two, PDF will build on last year’s remarkable success. Spearheaded by Associate Pastor Anthony Burke, the PDF Program included an 8 week seminar series teaching Biblical financial systems, key economic principles, and the spiritual and psychological roots of debt. In addition to the interactive teaching series, participants engaged in one-to-one financial counseling.


Having laid the foundation for success, in December 2005 the program concluded with a graduation ceremony at which time participants received a disbursement of funds to be applied to their outstanding debt.

2006 is promising even greater success with a goal of 100% member participation. Whether you are in debt or are debt-free be sure to sign up when PDF 2006 is launched.

Full Employment: In order to ensure that increase and prosperity is experienced by all members of the house, Rhema has launched an initiative seeking to ensure 100% employment amongst its members. Job Listings are available on the Project Debt Freedom web page.

If you have access to job openings, please forward them to info@rhemaonline.ca.

Ministry, An Essential Service: In 2006, Rhema is moving to change what has become the ‘traditional’ church model which leaves ministry inaccessible for much of the week and church relegated to activity which happens on Sunday and a few evenings throughout the week.

Pastor Meikle's vision asserts that the leadership of the church belongs in all areas of life. The intent is to offer ministry that functions on a 24 hour per day, 7 day per week model available to meet the needs of the community as an essential service does; much like those offered by other community support systems such as Police, Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Services.

Take part in these and other initiatives throughout the year to experience 2006 as your year of prosperity.

Christopher Penrose

Over the course of 2005, Pastor Meikle was often seen and heard throughout Toronto’s major news outlets. As the city searched for answers, community leaders such as Pastor Meikle were regularly called upon.

When it was announced that CFRB 1010 AM had offered Pastor Meikle his own show on the city’s most popular talk station, the news was met much more by delight than surprise.

In the early weeks of the broadcast, a shocking shooting outside of a church holding a funeral service for another shooting victim occurred. A few weeks later, an early evening shoot-out on Yonge Street put boxing day shopping in the area to a halt and set a city aflame with a burning desire to find a solution. These events have kept this deeply troubling issue at the forefront of the Pastor Meikle Show. During the weekly broadcast, phone lines have been flooded, and notable guests such as Chief of Police Bill Blair and Hip Hop pioneer Maestro have participated in the discussion.

As a result of the program's popularity, Pastor Meikle's time slot has been moved from Sundays at 11:00 pm, to an earlier prime-time slot of Sundays at 8:00 pm.

Tune in to CFRB 1010 AM Talk Radio and call in with your questions. Or listen live at www.cfrb.com to the broadcast that is changing and affecting every listener.

• LADIES FIRST CONFERENCE
  May 10-12, 2006:
  Doors open at 6:30 pm
  Service begins at 7:30 pm
  Rhema Welcomes:
  Pastor Jackie McCullough - May 10th
  Pastor Paula White - May 11th
  Dr. Wanda Davis-Turner - May 12th
  Information: events@rhemaonline.ca
  
  
• THE PASTOR ORIM MEIKLE SHOW
  On Newstalk 1010 CFRB:
  Sundays 8:00 pm
  
  
• RHEMA TV BROADCAST
  On CTS:
  Saturdays at 4:00 pm
  Sundays at 11:30 am
  Tuesdays at 12:00 pm
  

• KINGDOM ADVERTISERS:
  Take a virtual leap. Advertise in Kingdom Citizen. For more information contact us at info@rhemaonline.ca
  
  
• KINGDOM WRITERS:
  We want to hear from our member writers. Poets and Storytellers with a passion for the written word, the time to share your gift is now. To submit an article, or a poem, send a query letter to info@rhemaonline.ca. You will be notified if your submission is selected for publication. We look forward to hearing from you