Why Living Stones?
When Mark and Cathy asked the Lord what they should call the ministry He gave them the words "Living Stones" - so they looked up the passage in 1 Peter and were amazed how well it fitted the vision:
As you come to Him, to the Living Stone (Jesus) – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4,5 NIV)
First we need to come to Jesus. He is THE Living Stone – the corner stone. We focus on HIM and follow HIM. He is the only way to the Father.
But we are also living stones. We come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes and colours - from different nations, cultures, denominations and backgrounds. God said, "... my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations" (Isaiah 56:7 NIV). This means His house of prayer is for everybody; no-one is excluded.
So, we need to COME TOGETHER, so that God can build us into a spiritual house – a dwelling place of His Spirit. We can’t do this on our own. We need one another and we need the Holy Spirit to fit us together, side by side, in a spirit of unity.
TOGETHER we give Him our worship, praise and intercession – spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. The result is a house of HIS PRESENCE, a place where HIS GLORY rests, a place where HE is ENCOUNTERED.