Friday, February 3, 2012

Salem, Oregon

 After finishing in Springfield, Or. I traveled up I-5 to Salem to preach for Pastor Kurt Harnett January 27-29. Pastor Harnett and his wife Dee took over this church a little more than three years ago and have seen a steady growth in numbers and also discipleship. I preached here a little more than 2 years ago and on this visit, I could see the new people and a new contending for evangelizing and discipleship. Saturday outreach saw almost the whole church out laboring in the streets handing out fliers for the evening service. God rewarded their faithfulness with visitors and people saved that night. Pray for the Harnetts as they continue to seek the will of God for this city, they are having breakthrough, but it needs to be slodified with New Converts being grounded, delivered, and established in God.

Springfield, Oregon

 January 22-26 found me in Springfield, Or. to preach for Pastor Jack Gaeta. All I can say is "the Lord helped us". We saw a number of visitors throughout the week and a real visitation of God's presence in the services. The last night culminated with their baby church from Eugene and they even had people that had not been in their church for a while, show up in our services in Springfield. Pastor Gaeta said he felt a new momentum during the revival, so we need to pray that it continues. Pray for Pastor Gaeta who is fighting some health issues currently, his wife Pam and their family as they labor here. They have been here over 20 years and have broken through in a difficult area to have revival and plant churches (they have 1 in Eugene and 1 in Medford, Or.) This is truly a banner church in the Northwest.

Santa Monica, California

 Just after Prescott Bible Conference, which was truly a "time of refreshing" for many including my wife Vanice and myself, we drove over to Santa Monica to preach for  Pastor Rob Scribner the 15-18 of January. This was truly one of the most rewarding times of ministry I've experienced in Santa Monica, there was a real favor of God upon the services as we saw a number of visitors and great attendance during this meeting. On a special note, there was a deaf young man that had been attending faithfully for some time and Vanice was able to interpret my messages to him. It was such a blessing as we were able to minister for God at night and enjoy the area together in the day time. As our children are now married, Vanice has been able to travel with me more. Before this time, I traveled to many places and thought, "this would be a great place to take my wife!"
 The Santa Monica Church is a unique church (aren't we all) with a school, a biannual medical mission trip to different nations, this church is truly a "City On a Hill" with people who have a big vision for the things of God. Pray for this church for miracle money to supply all that God is doing.
 We also want to thank the Cornetts for their hospitality and wonderful time of fellowship we had with them and the folks in their Bible Study.

2012 A New Year

 Before I begin my normal revival updates, I want to say something regarding the upcoming year. There has been so much speculated about 2012 by people in the world. There was the movie "2012" which was an end of the world scenario. People are refering to the Mayan (where are they now, anyway?) calendar which supposedly predicts the end of the world being 2012. My personal view is 2012 is going to be a great year for God's people and His church. I believe with all of this speculation there is a strategy to discourage God's people into a defeatist attitude. I know the trumpet could sound as I am writing this message, and that is our ultimate redemption we look forward to. However most believers I talk to as I travel yearn for one more outpouring of God's Spirit that will sweep precious souls in to the Kingdom of God. This is my prayer and what I am believing God for. I also believe we are even now beginning to see a "trickle" of this river beginning to flow. Let us believe God this year for revival in our homes, lost loved ones, our nation and our churches. I for one refuse to give in to the speculations of Hollywood and historians, but in the promises of God that says there will be a "latter rain" James 5:7, Zech. 10:1, Joel 2:23 and a "latter glory" that will be greater than the former, Haggai 2:6-9. Perilous times will come no doubt, but Isaiah 60:1-3 says in a time of great darkness in the earth and "deep darkness" in people, "the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you."