Monday, November 16, 2009

November 16, 2009

It is so awesome to see all that God is doing! If we would only trust him the results would be continually amazing!

Since our outreach team went out on Friday night through the services on Sunday we have had 7 people give their hearts to the Lord and 15 rededicate their lives to him. I am so excited about all that God is doing that I am almost beside myself. This news is great, but on top of this we are receiving testimony after testimony of how God is moving in the lives of our people. I am seeing more spiritual growth than ever before. Thank God the word works! I believe this is what ministry is all about, changed lives! If we are not reaching people for Jesus we are accomplishing nothing!

When things didn't look so great many days ago we put our focus on God's word and his promises. When storms are everywhere the promises are still the same and so is God! We set our faith and begin to believe God. At this point we have surpassed every single goal that we set at that time. The church is growing weekly, the youth has more than doubled, our weekly income is surpassing our needs every single week. Thank God we serve a God that is more than enough! I literally do not have time to or space to give God all the credit he rightfully deserves! Just as usual he is doing all that he promised. If we will put our faith in him he will always see us through.

I have been in this church all of my life and heard about this vision. Today I sit in this church and it is unfolding daily before my eyes. God spoke to me in the beginning and said, "if you will give me this church I will show you what I can do with it." I have endeavored to do this daily and God has done just as he has promised. No matter what you are dealing with in your life I encourage you to just give it to God. God can when you can't!

To my church members: Thank you for your heart for God and your dedication to the vision of this ministry. Without a good God and good people great things do not happen! I recognize this and am more appreciative than you will ever know. It is so awesome to see each of you growing daily. I ask you to continually be in agreement with us for more souls for the kingdom!

Have a great thanksgiving and be safe!

Until next time,

Pastor J

Monday, September 28, 2009

September 28, 2009

Well, it's been quite a while since my last update, actually too long. There has been so much going on within the church that it's hard to remember it all. It is so awesome because everything that is going on is God!

We have gone out only twice with our newly formed outreach team and have won 16 people to the Lord. We have prayed with many more, but these are only first time salvations. We have recently had our first of many healing revivals and had several immediate healings. We will have the specifics later as we are going through the testimonies now.

I have never sensed the presence of God anywhere or at anytime like I have in this church over the last few months. It is amazing what God will do if you will only Pray, Listen, and Obey. I have chosen to do nothing or implement nothing unless the Lord directs. We love everyone, but I have found that God's plan works best always.

I cannot think of one thing in the church that hasn't increased. There is not a week that goes by that we don't have new people. We are having to plan our membership class right now because we have several couples and individuals that want to join. God gets all the glory for we have only been obedient to his plan.

On top of all of this Laura Leigh and I are going out to minister just as God has said. It is amazing to me to watch God work. I tell absolutely no one that I am even available to minister, but God has them to call me and ask me to come. It is amazing what God will do if we will only let him do it.

God moved mightily last week as I went to Columbus, Indiana to speak at a men's conference. The services were Friday and Saturday night. Many were encouraged, several rededicated their lives to the Lord, and the Holy Spirit spoke directly into the lives of a few others.

I believe with all my heart the best is yet to come! I am so grateful for our faithful upbringing under a true man of God that would not bow to anything but God and the word! Our foundation is so strong and this is showing up weekly by the outpouring of God's Spirit.

Until next time,

Pastor J

Monday, August 10, 2009

August 10,2009

It is amazing what God is doing! We have stood and faith for many years concerning the vision of this church. Now as we have backed this up with corresponding action the results are awesome! If we would only step out in faith to do all that he calls us to do we would see that he would meet us there every single time. All things are possible to him that believes (Mark 9:23).

Satan does all that he can to hinder God's plan, but he is a defeated foe. We had two more awesome services yesterday, great attendance, and all that we need to meet our obligations plus more! Our classes started up last week for LCU and we have had a great response to this as well. We had the most in attendance in our corporate prayer meeting this past Wednesday night than we have since we started them over two years ago. The best part is that the presence of God was extremely powerful. Many more have joined the first year class and are being taught the word of God every week! I look back at all that is happening now and know that it was God all the way. All that we are doing he instructed us to do and where God guides God provides. Many are doing there own thing and struggling continually, but you don't have to. If we will do God's thing he will meet us there every single time. I am so excited about the things he has instructed us to do over the next couple of months. We will have increased leadership training as well our start our Healing Revival in September. I will talk more about this later.

Continue to thank God for all that he is doing and know that the best is yet to come!

Until next time,

Pastor J

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

July 28,2009

We just arrived home late yesterday evening from our annual trip to Oklahoma. We took 28, part kids and part adults, on the 8 day trek. We had a very good time, but are glad to be home. We dropped the kids off at Dry Gulch (their camp) on Tuesday evening and picked them up on Saturday morning. They had a blast and enjoyed their time in the Lord as well as making new friends. While they were there the remaining adults enjoyed Campmeeting at Rhema Bible Church. It is so awesome to get refreshed in the Word and by the Spirit. I believe it is time that we stand up for the faith and back down for nothing or no one. So many people change their beliefs like they do their clothes, almost daily. I thank God that the Word of God never changes. I look through the book of Acts and see that as the word was preached they either had riot or revival or both. I am so thankful for what God is doing in our lives and ministry. He has not only sustained us, but it keeps getting better every single day. He provides in both the good and the bad times! Thank God that heaven is not having a recession. The word is settled in heaven and we can settle it in the earth when we access his promises to us by faith! We have the victory!

I encourage each of you to continue to fight the good fight of faith because God is for us and not against us. The victory is ours!

I have received much direction by they Holy Spirit over the last several weeks concerning this ministry. I am looking forward to all that he is instructing us to do! God is a God of increase and if you will stay faithful to his plan he will see you through!

Until next time,

Pastor J

Monday, June 15, 2009

June 15,2009

I realize it has been some time since my last entry. Things have been really busy over the last several weeks. Just as always we have been witnessing God moving mightily in our lives and ministry. To him I give all the glory and credit!

This past week Laura Leigh and I celebrated our 14th year of marriage. As we look back it is amazing at what God has done. I would not trade my marriage for anything in this world. It is so awesome to be married to someone who loves God with all of their heart and flows with you in all that God has called you to do. Although it has taken much work and dependency upon God the relationship we have today is so rich in every area. If you could only convince young married couples to seek God on how to be the spouse he has called them to be and to be committed no matter what their lives would change drastically. So many people date their spouses until they get married and then they don't care anymore. This is what causes marriages to grow stagnant. There is hardly a week that goes by that we don't go on a date and spend time with one another. As we have done this and put God first always the rewards have been continual. Nothing works properly without God at the head.

God has also been doing great things in the services. We are continually having visitors and people who desire to join up with us. If you will only believe him and obey him he will do just as he has promised. I believe that God desires to pour his Spirit out upon his church now more than ever. I have been pressed to seek him more than ever concerning this move of God. He has instructed me to start something else this fall that will open the door for many lives to be changed. We will continue to seek God and his plan for changed lives among us.

Until next time,

Pastor J

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Tuesday, April 28,2009

Well, it's been a few weeks since my last update so I figured I need to get it done. There has been so much going on that it is hard to slow down long enough to do the daily things that need to be done. I am definitely not complaining about what is going on because it's all good and it's all God. We have been making great strides with the church on a weekly basis. Not that I would, but I can't think of anything to complain about. God has given us great new direction and we have many people that are hooked up with us and ready to go.

Just a couple weeks ago Laura Leigh and I took the majority of our leadership staff up to Greensboro, NC for some outreach training. We received the training and then went to the streets. The focus of our training was street evangelism. We are taking the gospel outside of the four corners of our church and it is already paying great divedends. In less than 3 hours we prayed with over 100 people and got 35 people born again for the first time! It was an absolutely amazing experience. These were not church people we went to, but people who were coming out of the clubs and bars and parking lots.

I do believe that the message we have and receive is a great message that we should be thankful for, but it seems that many Christians have forgotten that we have a responsibility to share the gospel to this world. We will become motivated now not just to fill this church with people, but we will be motivated to build the kingdome by winning the lost for Christ. Every church being full is a great thing as long as those numbers represent changed lives for Christ. We have so many things we are implementing right now that will only strengthen us as a body as well as help those outside the church. I am so thankful to have the staff and help that we have that are so willing to see the vision come to pass. Nothing we do would be possible without people to help who are sold out to God!

Continue to pray for us that we will be led by the Spirit of God to make the right decisions in all that we do.

Until next time,

Pastor J

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

April 14, 2009

These are truly the best days of our lives! The last couple of Sunday's have been absolutely awesome. The Holy Spirit has been moving more freely than ever and people's lives have been changed as a result. It is so great to see people coming down to the altar after being truly moved by the Holy Spirit. It is also great that many that we are seeing give their hearts and lives to the Lord now are people that we have never seen before. As the Lord has been dealing with me continually about what is going on we must understand that this is only the beginning of what he desires to do. The best is yet to come.

As Dr. Hagin used to always say, "it always pays to serve God." Everything we have heard all of our lives we are now seeing come to pass at last. It is a time that in order for us to be successful we will have to walk by faith in God and be led by the Spirit of God.

Easter service was great and the crowd was great as well, but there is still much more for us to do. What he is moving us into right now is unchartered territory for our church, but lives will be changed forever. We will now begin to see salvations, rededications, and Baptism's in the Holy Spirit like never before. The focus of every believer's life must be to win others to the Lord. We have not only been reconciled to the Body ourselves, but we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. Each of us are to do our part in reconciling others to the Body of Christ.

I have never been this excited in my life. The Holy Spirit is flowing more freely than I have personally ever seen. People are coming continually now. Finances are flooding in like never before! What is happening? When we put our faith in trust in God he will provide no matter the season. This is what I hear every single day. God is steady saying, "just trust me." As I have done this in a greater measure than ever before the results have followed. I encourage every single one of you when it looks like there is no way out, just trust God and he will provide!

Until Next Time,

Pastor J

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

March 31,2009

Thank God for all that he is doing! I cannot help but be excited because God is moving so mightily. I know it sounds like I am saying the same thing every time I blog now, but it keeps getting better every single day and I must give God all of the glory. It is so awesome to see God vindicating the faithful ones and those that have stayed with him. There are so many that have stepped out and done as they pleased and followed the flesh and it has cost dearly. It pays to stay with God! He has a plan for each and every christian and that plan is a plan of success and not failure!

For so long it looked like the plan was not going to come to pass, but now we can see it weekly. Our family, our church people, our finances, the church finances, have drastically increased as we have believed God! Where God guides he provides! We never changed the message or course even as opposition came. We stayed with the uncompromised Word of God and it pays off. Many are in extreme debt, but we listened to the Spirit of God and we do not owe one single dollar on this ministry. It pays to follow him!

I believe the greatest support system we could ever have is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the originator of all things. Jesus is the executor of all things. And the Holy Spirit is the revealer of all things. Thank God for the finished work of Jesus Christ which is our plan of redemption. Because of this work we have been made free from sin, sickness, disease, and all the power of the enemy! We must realize we are free today, right now.

Many ask if we are free then why are so many Christians caught up in sin and living a life of failure and defeat? I believe there are two things the church does not realize: First, we don't realize all that was done for us by God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Secondly, we don't realize just how much we have a part to play in our success. Immediately after Jesus received his authority he turned around and gave it to the church, you and me! If we do not walk in our authority we will live a defeated life! If we willingly sin and do not repent we break our fellowship with God and thus hinder the plan of God for our lives!

Nowhere in the bible does it tell us that God or Jesus is going to resist the devil for us. The bible tells us to resist the devil! (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:7) We know because of the finished work of Christ that you and I do not have to live in sin for sin no longer has any power over us! We are now free to live in Christ Jesus! Then even if we do slip up and sin we have an advocate, Jesus Christ who is our hope. (1 John 2:1) All we must do is confess our sins, repent, and we are put right back in fellowship with God!

One of the biggest false doctrines we have dealt with in the church is that all sins past, present, and future are forgiven. This does not line up with God's word! In 1 John 2:1 Jesus is not talking to sinners and telling them not to sin, but he is talking to us. Jesus never called sinners his children, but we are his children.

The church of the Lord Jesus Christ should be a powerful church that is not full of sin, but that is full of the Love of God and the Word of God. The reason God has not been able to move is because of the feel good gospel that has been adopted by many who refuse to allow God to do a work in them. I thank God he is changing me daily for the better!

I agree with the Apostle Paul. I believe he is a great man of God to follow.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:21:

And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you,and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication which they have committed.

Paul was not speaking to sinners, but to those that had already been converted under his ministry. Paul was looking for a reason to rejoice again concerning them and this would only come as they repented for the sin they had committed. I believe that God is speaking to many today to get back to their first love, just to know Jesus.

I believe that he is raising up a group of people right now that will walk in all the light that he has provided for us. I believe that their is a group that will get on their faces and repent for not placing God first in their lives. He died for us and we should live for him! This group will stick with the Word and not follow the false doctrine that Satan tries to impart into the church. These will be the leaders in the last day army for God. Thank God you and I are part of the family of God. We have been reunited with our Heavenly Father through Jesus and the plan of redemption.

Until next time,

Pastor J

Monday, March 16, 2009

March 16,2009

Well, it's been a couple weeks at least since I wrote anything on my blog so I figured it's time. There are so many great things that are going on that something to write about is not the problem, but finding time to write is the problem.

On yesterday we celebrated Homecoming (24 years and counting) and everything went so great. The anointing to preach was so strong and the crowd was ministered to wonderfully. It is amazing what the Lord can do if we will only yield to him. I have been anointed to teach for some time now and the gifts have been flowing more than ever, but I also enjoy this new anointing to preach like never before. It really encourages people when they can see the anointing and know that it is not a show. How awesome it would be if we would all walk in the anointing that God has for us!

I know that it is because we have stayed in line with God's word and not followed a bunch of foolishness and false doctrines, but it is amazing what God is doing in this church. I honestly do not know one thing that is not getting better! It is happening just like the word said it would! My life at home, our church, our attendance, and even our finances have all increased drastically. God is truly vindicating those that have stayed the course! All of my life I have watched people attack the uncompromised gospel only to see them fall after a short period of time.

I never enjoy seeing people fall, but it does vindicate the gospel when people lead others astray by attacking the truth and then what they call truth doesn't work out so well for them. For some time now my messages have not been very popular, but they are still the truth that never changes and will set you free!

As Dad used to say, "God's word always works!" We are truly living in the best times of our life. Remember that Jesus is coming back for a glorious church and we are being transformed into that daily. I can see it happening right before my eyes!

Until next time,

Pastor J

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

February 17,2009

Attendance: 377
Saved: 102

These are the numbers for Sunday's services! We had John Jacob's and the Power Force come and God moved mightily. The testimonies of these men were absolutely amazing. What was even more amazing was the lives changed in this service alone. People from all over the community that never even knew where the church was located came Sunday night. People that for years have ran from the Lord were there as well. The church was full of saved and unsaved, young and old, as well as all different races. This is how it is supposed to be! The most important thing was not that the church was packed out, but that there wasn't enough room at the altars for all that came forward.

I have prayed for many hours for what started Sunday night. I believe this is only the beginning. Many that gave their hearts to the Lord said they will be back Sunday morning. God is so awesome! I have always stuck to my faith, but it has amazed me at just how much he has increased us in every single area within the past few months! It pays to stick with God's plan! The anointing, unity, hunger, visitors, finances, and every thing else you could think of has increased drastically! There is only one way and I thank God daily we chose that way! The word must be the final authority in our lives!

We are planning right now to have The Power Force come back in the fall for a Monday thru a Wednesday. They will get in the schools in the daytime and do assemblies and invite them to the church at night. They have a mighty impact on all, but especially the youth.

We also are planning right now to start our evangelization and outreach ministry. After training, we will go to the streets and bring the harvest into the church.

Thank God for what he is doing in our lives! We were born for such a time as this!

Until next time,

Pastor J

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

February 3,2009

Get ready! Get ready! Get ready! I know that many have thought we were crazy for the message we have been preaching some time now, but I see it coming to pass every single day. We definitely are not the only ones for everyone that is in tune with the Holy Spirit has been saying the same thing! It is now time to stand up and be all that he has called you to be. We see the world system getting worse every single day and this will only continue to get worse. God never promised us in his word that he was coming back for a glorious world, but for a glorious church.

It is amazing to me what he has been doing within our church. I see people coming back that have not been in church for some time now. I see people rededicating their lives to God that have not walked with him in many years. We are experiencing the power of God and the Gifts of the Spirit like never before. Is seems to be increasing every week now. I am so thankful that when so many false doctrines have been all around we made the decision to stay with the word. The bible says that you shall know them by their fruits. When people say they have a new revelation, but have failure in their lives you better watch out. The fruit tells the story about what is really going on. I have watched so many people conform the gospel to fit their lifestyle instead of allow the gospel to change them that it is pitiful. What is worse is that now is the time that the fruits are being found out. We are children of a God that takes care of us in good times and in bad.

I don't know about others, but I know that right in the middle of all that is going on in this world God is taking care of every aspect of my life and ministry. Matter of fact it is getting better every single day! Yes, we have to stand by faith in God's word, but as we do this he always provides!

I believe the world is going to wax worse and worse and those that have put faith in the world system will be in great trouble. Many have claimed to be christians, but lived like the world and the devil and now is not the time to be found in that situation. The great part is that as the world waxes worse the church is going to become more glorious than ever before. I believe we will see uncountable salvations, rededications, healings, and deliverances like never before. we are going out of here soon, but we are not going out quietly!

Remember that it is never too late to give your heart and life to God as long as you have breath in your body! Give your all to him today and he will absolutely amaze you at the changes that will take place within you. Jesus is the way!

Until next time,

Pastor J

Thursday, January 15, 2009

January 15,2009

Well, it has been some time now since my last post. I pray everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. We have much to expect this year concerning the things of God. As the Lord told us repeatedly over the last few years the world is waxing worse every single day. There is now so much of the world in the church that you cannot tell the difference between them. It is amazing how so many have fallen away from the faith that we are to contend for daily.

It is such a terrible thing to watch people's lives crumble around them. So many have refused to listen to what God has been saying for so long now that they have been caught off guard. Many enjoyed times of rebelliousness during great economic times, but that is coming to a sudden halt. I have been preaching and will never stop preaching that Jesus is the only way! We should get on our knees and seek God with everything within us every day and night of our life.

What is even more awesome is that many who turned away for some time are now returning. We are continuing to preach the same message that many have said was not right, but not only is God sustaining us he is also growing us. I believe that the number one thing God is looking for is a pure heart. I know that God has had me checking every area of my life lately to make sure it is line with his word. To make sure that my motives are right in all areas. If we are not treating our spouses and children like God has instructed us to I do not believe that we qualify for anyone else to listen to us. My desire is to be real and true in all areas of my life. No wrong motives, no wrong agendas. It seems so very often that we leave off the most important things and then we are limited in how far we can go. I choose not to make the mistakes that I have seen so many others make and that is to make sure things look right in public and let their character and private life fall apart.

Well, I don't know why I got off on that, but thank God for the victory. We have so much to be thankful for. As I was thinking the other day I don't have one single thing to complain about. I have a beautiful wife, 3 beautiful kids, an awesome church, and my God who sees me through all that I face in this life.

Remember that no matter what goes on in the news and in the world that God has not given us a spirit of fear. The word of God still reads the same and God is still on our side. The promises of God are yes and amen!

Until next time,

Pastor J