To my sons and daughters in the faith:

Welcome to the month of April, and what an exciting month it plans to be. April is declared to be Worship Month here at Rhema as we shift our focus to achieving a deeper level in praise and in worship. As a ministry we plan to worship like David; until we come out of our current covering and enter into a new level of glory. We also anticipate turning the Hershey Centre into an oversized tabernacle of praise as we descend on this facility for Resurrection Sunday on April 16th.

As we enter this time of intensified worship here are three points that I want you consider when it comes to worship; and not just any kind of worship. I am referring to Kingdom worship. Kingdom worship is that which prepares a throne for the King to be enthroned upon and prepares the way for the expression of His glory throughout all the earth.

Consider the following:
Kingdom Worship is Invitational --- God has sent forth a universal invitation for all to enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise. The whole earth, with all its inhabitants, creaturely and human has been summoned to enter into the worship of God. Now let the whole earth praise Him, (Psalm 148).

Kingdom Worship is Intimate --- The essence of worship is closeness. During the intercourse of worship the worshipper is drawn closer in order to experience intimacy with God. This drawing nigh to God facilitates a deeper exchange during worship, wherein the worshipper becomes impregnated with the anointed things of God, (James 4:8)

Kingdom Worship is Immaculate --- Finally, worship is pure simply because God is the epitome of purity. A holy God requires worship that is undertaken in spirit and in truth. For Kingdom worship to be of any effect it must be done with clean hands and pure hearts, (Hebrews 10:22)

This month prepare to go deeper into the throne room of the King through praise and worship. Through the use of your hands, your feet, your mouth, your soul and your spirit, and upon the instruments, proceed to bless His holy name. This month, let us “kiss the son lest he be angry and we perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little,” (Psalm 2:12).

I would also like to invite you to join me this month in daily devotions as we receive valuable instructions concerning worship. Daily online at www.rhemaonline.ca, we will exalt His name together. Now, “let everything that hath breath praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150:6)

Shalom and agape,

Pastor Orim M. Meikle

Dear Kingdom Citizen,

2006 continues to be an incredible year of transformation. The passing weeks filled as much with excited anticipation of what we sense in the spirit is being made manifest, as with a compelling need to listen prayerfully and with a quiet, introspective posture.

Being a kingdom citizen implies a call to progressive levels of understanding and boldness of action. A willingness to dwell in the zone of uncharted territory which seems to always precede new understanding is a prerequisite.

The changes occurring this year, we have not seen the likes of before. Foundations have already shifted and are being rearranged; dreams we have barely dared to whisper in the past are now unfolding. Areas of our selves long hidden and in need of healing surface, poised to be eradicated once and for all. The not-too-distant winds, fragrant and heavy laden with change are on a course headed in our direction. We have reached that enabling force called critical mass. This is the place where what's not been possible before merely because we could not see it, is now possible because we can. Rise up! Answer the call to do something different than you have done before so that you may experience results different from those you've experienced before.

Jacqueline Evans

Chris Penrose

Resurrection Sunday is the high-point of the Easter Celebration, which is the pinnacle on the Christian calendar.

As 2006 has been declared the “Year of Prosperity”, this coming Resurrection Sunday will also be a high- point for Rhema Christian Ministries. On April 16th, at 11am Rhema will be conducting service in The Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

Pastor Meikle is aware that this day is more than an event, and describes it as, “Continuity of a vision, continued growth, and the Lord opening doors to facilitate that growth". During this season of teaching on dominion we are seeing the word manifested as, Pastor Meikle explains: “we will impact our city through this event. We will see lasting effects”.

The service itself will feature a professional dramatic presentation titled, “The Victory”. Written by Minister Cheryl Nembhard who is being assisted in directing and producing by Tristan Barrocks and Yvonne Byfield, the play recounts the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This realistic portrayal will feature, “all original music by Robert Chambers and a cast of more than thirty dressed in costumes of the day" says Cheryl. Radiating with passion, Cheryl adds that, “The message of what God has done for us will be communicated to thousands of people, who will be able to literally see and to feel what took place with the resurrection”, adding that, “it’s a very interactive production”!

After the play, the celebration will move into Praise and Worship. Having launched the caliber of the sound of Rhema to the world with “The Experience” earlier this year, the city of Toronto will have a chance to witness the music to a heightened level. In addition to the Rhema Praise and Worship team, a choir has been assembled, totaling one hundred and twenty voices. Of the music, Pastor Meikle indicates that, “There’s a fresh sound that is permeating in the Kingdom, and we are trying to capture it”. To complement the voices, the GP dancers and the Liturgical Dancers have collaborated for the first time ever on this project.

As for the word for that day, Pastor Meikle indicates that he will be speaking on “Taking charge, dominion, and resurrection”. Expanding on the subject of resurrection which is coming back to life with more strength, more power and more authority”.

After an amazing morning, the service will then be broadcast across the country in a one hour special on CTS television. Currently, there is also an initiative to have a live feed of the event sent into the prisons.

With the eyes of our city, our nation, and various dignitaries set to be on The Hershey Centre for Resurrection Sunday, Pastor Meikle relays that it will be, “A day to showcase the Kingdom; A day to let loose and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ”.

Minister Temi Olanrewaju

As Rhema moves into the month of Worship [of our Creator, God, and King], and I meditate on the significance of worship to our relationship with God, I am reassured that a dynamic worship life is imperative to spiritual growth. To worship means to honor, reverence, love, and esteem. It is no surprise then, that our worship moves the hand of God – Matthew 8:1-3. As the leper approached Jesus, he worshipped Him and said: if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. This simple act of worship demonstrated dependence, confidence, and faith in Jesus’ ability. Jesus’ response is noteworthy: “I will, be thou clean.” This passage shows worship in action. Worship communicates to God that no matter the situation, we honor, reverence, and esteem Him higher than everything in our lives; and He consequently acts on our behalf.

Since man is made in the image and likeness of God, this may be depicted to all relationships. Paul says in Philippians 2:3b, "_in lowliness of mind, let each [person] esteem the other better than themselves.” I especially like the message version which says: “put yourself aside and help others get ahead.” This Word appears timely in this age of intense competition, and “cut-throat” attitude; the Word of God encourages us to help others get ahead, and echoes the popular phrase, “be your brother’s keeper.” The acts of encouraging one another, bearing each other up, and esteeming others better than ourselves is applicable to all levels of relationships – family, church, business, and friendships. It says to the other person that I honor God in you; I am pleased when you excel and succeed, and I consider you to be valuable, serving as a practical demonstration of the love of God [that is shed abroad in our hearts] towards one another.

In this month of worship, I encourage everyone to move to a greater and deeper dimension of worship in God and as ambassadors of the Kingdom, remember to love, honor, and esteem all persons regardless of status.

Chris Penrose

On Saturday, April 22nd at 7pm, Rhema Christian Ministries will host Courtenay and Perfect Cadence and their presentation of Jazz According 2 Gospel.

While most of us are not strangers to gospel concerts, very few have really experienced gospel jazz. Gospel music itself covers nearly every genre one can think of, from Calypso to Rock to Hip Hop, but it is distinguished from such secular forms by the lyrics. So then the question is raised, ‘how do you tell if instrumental music is gospel’? Courtenay is quick to address this question. “It pretty much starts internally”, he opens. 'I do believe that the spirit is in everything including the intention of your heart', adding that, “It does say that anything that is in the heart will come out in what you do”.

Reflecting on his own experiences of worship with music, he goes on to say, “It’s not something that you can see externally, it’s something you feel internally. It is knowing that my heart is full of worship for God”.

Part of his conviction comes from some remarkable encounters. He shares, “I have received a lot of testimonies from people that don’t know God, and they hear the sound of God through the music, which is encouraging. People have come to me after corporate events and they ask ‘what is that? They haven’t heard that sound before. That is the Holy Spirit moving through us and what we do. And they want to know more”.

To explain how he found himself in music as a ministry, Courtenay goes right back to his beginnings. “I grew up in a family that is musically inclined. My late-father, Pastor Fraiser, had a gospel group in the mid-80’s, which mentored me and pushed me forward into what I should be doing, which is following in the footsteps of my father”.

As he has been progressing in purpose, they have formed a collective in the form of Perfect Cadence. 'Perfect Cadence is pretty much how my life has been moving forward facilitated to some degree by change in people’s lives and the inspiration that offers'. Then closing his thought on the subject, he says, “I’m just trying to do what God has given for me to do”.

As for the concert, there are three major aspects of his vision that are connected to the event:

Firstly, he explains that, “A lot of people coming will be aware of secular jazz, and will be people that love music. What this is, is gospel music. There will also be vocalists, singing the word, but what I want people to see is that the people up there are people that believe and confess that God is Lord in their life, as a result of that, whatever they are doing is glorifying God, not man or self”.

Secondly, he declares that, “This is not just a show to come and see – it’s for you to participate. I do believe that people can be restored through music, that they can be inspired and receive direction in their lives”.

Thirdly, he wants to let people know that, “This is an outreach, allowing people to know that we are here and we are going to be moving in Toronto and we are going to expand the borders and go throughout the world”.

With an album in the works, he really wants Perfect Cadence to be a testimony encouraging people to look at where they are, what their strengths are, and what God has called them to do. “Unless that happens” he says, ‘we’ll be doing the normal things, just going to work and helping others, but not really knowing what is happening;doing-doing-doing, and not really growing”.

With an assuredness that music ministry is the calling for his life, Courtenay closes saying, “I encourage people to take time out to pay attention to themselves and allow God to move in their lives”.

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