We are the light of the world!

Piedmont Park is one of the darkest neighborhoods were in right now. The way the enemy has gripped this neighborhood is truly disturbing. Young men and women with so much potential are deceived, bound and blinded by the darkness in alarming numbers.

If we are the light of the world and if their are thousands of believers in this city how can conditions like this exist? Maybe we to have become deceived, bound and blinded.

As we approached this neighborhood in the early evening a few police cars were just leaving, people were out on the street in numbers and obviously something was going on.

As we started to talk to people they looked at us like "what are you doing here" and some even said "this isn't a good time." Well I believe we were right on time. The enemy had drawn all these people out of their homes to see a fight, and now they were going to see and hear about the kingdom of God.

We got to minister to at least twenty people as we made our way around, and what the enemy meant for evil God was using for good.

One thing I've noticed is even our very presence in a neighborhood changes the atmosphere and even the behavior of the people. Many times people are convicted and try to hide their sin or apologize for what their doing as we love on them with the gospel.

The neighborhood is a circle of about 50 buildings and as we approached the end their was a group of about 15 people getting out of control. We kind of nudged our way into the middle of them and just declared that "Jesus is King and His kingdoms on the earth". 

As we began to pray and share with people, one woman pointed out a 13 year old boy very drunk and stumbling around. Very heartbreaking to see this culture being past on to the young kids. This women wanted prayer for deliverance from a spirit of addiction.

We  prayed and broke the spirits power. When we were done she tried to light up a cigarette, well, her lighter wouldn't work at all. You should have seen the look on her face as she said "I didn't mean cigarettes, just alcohol." Awesome Jesus!!! this really got her attention as we shared the reality of God's power.

As we were leaving it was almost dark and things were getting crazy again with people coming out of their homes. As we drove off 7 police cars and 1 ambulance came racing in. It felt as though the host of angels we brought in with us were leaving with us and the darkness was again taking dominion.

The light in us is more powerful then we think, if we continue to let it shine the kingdom of darkness doesn't stand a chance!

 Let us with cheerful courage boldly take the land!

Stirring the embers

I have much empathy for backsliders having been one for 8 years in one season of my life. One of my favorite things on outreach is when we meet one who's in that place of indecision and warfare, because we know what it's like. The joy is when we can help one come back to the Lord.

Tuesday night at Colony Place we approached six people hanging out on a porch. As we preach the gospel of the kingdom they slowly left one by one until only one was left, a backslider named teeyan. 

He had been away from the Lord for a while and had gone very far into sin. He was in that place of wanting to live for God but  feeling like he had gone to far into sin. We strongly encouraged him that if he had the desire, it's not to late. It's God who puts that desire in us.

It felt like we were rescuing a drowning person trying to convince him to grab the life line. After about 15 minutes he finally began to reach for it and respond to the Lord.

By the time we were about to leave we all joined hands in a circle and he was actually praying for us. As we all continued to pray you could sense the embers in his heart beginning to burn for the Lord again.

Lets continue to pray for him as he's about to face some more critical decisions in his life. Awesome Jesus!

On our way out we stopped to encourage and pray for some of our people. They shared with us what God's been doing in their lives this week thank you Lord!

God working with us!

On a recent outreach to Cleveland Homes God reminded us that He is working with us, it's not just us out there by ourselves but the Lord actually there helping us.

 About halfway through the outreach we spotted some young men drinking beer and smoking behind one of the apartment buildings. As we approached them it was obvious they didn't really want the light shining on them.

 One man named Jermaine responded that he knew what we were doing and that they were all set and didn't want to talk to us. 

(little did he know we weren't there to talk, but to preach and demonstrate the Kingdom of heaven.)

One of us asked him "what was going on with his shoulder?" He jumped up stunned, shaking his head and said "how did you know that?" After a little more preaching he let us pray for his shoulder. I'm not sure if he got healed he was so shaken he wouldn't really say if the pain was gone or not.

We ministered to the other men and assured them of God's love for them and encouraged them to repent. Amazing how one word of knowledge changes things. Thank you Jesus!

One simple word and........... wham!!!

We hit one of our favorite neighborhoods this week Piedmont Park. We've been calling it Piedmont Heaven lately because of the favor and presence we've had.

There were loads of people out on a Thursday night and the atmosphere was a little crazy feeling. Maybe it was the crazy guy on the motorcycle doing wheelies the whole length of the street contributing to the mood.

 First off we got to minister to a man named Dexter recently laid off and battling depression. We took authority over depression and prayed he'd find a job. He was greatly encouraged and kept saying he was so thankful we came by and that he felt changed. Amazing how what we think is simple low level ministry is actually very powerful in setting people free.

Well as we continued on we met some women gathered around a parked car. We simply asked the woman in the car if they needed prayer. She said "oh yes" as we started to pray one of us asked what was going on with her brother. 

All of a sudden Wham!!!!! something broke loose as they all gasped "how did you know?" The woman in the car started weeping and there was such a tangible anointing it just about messed us all up. It took us a few minutes to even say anything as the Spirit was so thick.

Keitha ended up getting delivered and giving her heart to the Lord as He powerfully loved on her! Awesome Jesus!!

People started lining up asking for ministry. We encouraged one woman about her gift of  intercession and leadership and after a few minutes she opened right up and wanted prayer for the whole neighborhood. As we prayed we realized it was the national day of prayer, fitting confirmation for this intercessor, God's so good.

The incredible shrinking cyst!

A few months ago one of my co-workers was complaining of a very painful cyst on her wrist. Doctors said surgery was necessary and the mri alone was going to cost her $900.00 

I told her God could heal her and explained that it's not Gods will for her to be in pain. She let me lay hands on it and pray. We didn't see any change right away but I told her to continue to lay hands on it and pray, "God's kingdom would come and His will would be done".

She works at another plant and I don't see her that often. Well a few days ago I saw her and she told me the cyst was 95% gone. 

She said "I kept praying  like you said to do and it worked!" Wow ! now she has no pain and she'll need no surgery. Praise God it does work, awesome to see people experience His love and favor. This woman had no theology for healing all she did was exercise simple faith and obedience.  

94 yr old man gets saved!

Ahhh..... there's nothing like storming the gates of hell with the kindness of the Gospel, a sure cure for spiritual boredom.

 Monday we went to Colony place, this neighborhood is always buzzing with people and desperately needs the light of the kingdom.

The first house we stopped at we got to minister to two older men Angus and Robert. As we share about the kingdom they began to get stirred up. Just as God used Caleb well into his eighties, we encouraged them that God wasn't done with them yet. It was like a light was turned on as we encouraged them to influence there neighborhood with the Gospel.

Angus ran inside to write his number down for us. Hopefully we can have a house church meeting there soon. When he came out his 94 yr old stepfather came to the door, he's been blind in both eyes for many years. I prayed God would restore his sight and as I started to deal with him about his  soul  he wanted to get things right with the Lord. Talk about being on the edge of eternity!

Sometimes we assume older people are right with God when in reality they are not ready. Thank you  Lord for saving Johnny!

Our next stop was Edith's house we've prayed for her six or seven times over the past six months that  God would open her blind eye. Well this time after prayer she said she started to see some red light in that eye. Thank you Jesus!!! Were believing as we continue to contend, her eye will completely open.

 As we continued on we met some people hanging out on a porch. We began to preach to Kelly a young man 26, after about 10 minutes of preaching he began to open up and come under some conviction. We led him in a re dedication prayer and laid hands on him to receive the Holy Ghost. 

We've seen some progress in our new believers recently and were encouraged to see them respond. Lets pray God would fill them with boldness and the reality of His Spirit!!