Sunday Sunday

WOW! It's just amazing what God does when you go for it. We had an awesome street service again today. The weather held out for us, even though we had scattered thunderstorms in the forecast. Since we know THE Forecaster, we had Divine Favor. Today was a good day. The message was great (he taught on Who You Are, and gave practical applications for how to combat the enemy when he comes along and reminds you of who you once were) and Frank and I were also told by a 54 year old "member" that she had adopted us as her mom and dad. :) Very sweet.

I was listening to a few messages by Todd Bentley a few weeks before we decided to "just do it" on the street church deal. He was talking about it costing you something when you follow hot after God's anointing for your ministry. I thought, in all honesty, that I was prepared for whatever the cost would be, and at this point I figured the worst part would be my time and money, and hugging people who don't smell nice. Actually, this HAS been a huge factor in the "cost".

But today I encountered a price-tag I was unprepared to pay. Our middle child, Caleb, was in a day camp all week at a church in Hephzibah, and today was the grand-finale and parent's program. This is a big deal and not something I wanted to miss, however, I was torn. Should I go down-town to minister and love on the addicts and ex-strippers who are trying so hard to follow Jesus --- and DESPERATELY need someone to gently prod them along in their journeys, or should I go to Caleb's show. Everything within me wanted to go see Caleb, but something else deep inside me was compelling me to go to the streets today.

And because God is a God Who honors obedience, I went down-town AND to Caleb's performance. He just worked it out for me! Isn't HE just so awesome! Initially, I was unsure if I was willing to pay the price, if I was willing to let this thing that God is putting together in front of our very eyes cost me THIS event, or any other event related to my boys. But when I decided to make that move toward obedience, God gave me both for the price of one! LOL! My dad was able to pick up the boys while we were down-town and get the kids to the church in Hephzibah on time, and we were able to finish up down-town and get to Hephzibah just a few minutes after the program started. And the way Caleb's face lit up when he saw us come in....a very heart warming moment indeed.

Yep, it will sometimes cost us something we don't want to give up to pursue after His calling, but when we offer our obedience to Him, He comes through for us. And I'm thankful that my dad was willing to make a sacrifice for us today, which ultimately became a sacrifice for A Church Without Walls.

Follow hard after the anointing over His calling on your life and see how He automatically pulls things together for you. Go after Him. Pursue Him. Then go after the things that are dear to Him......people. Be the Light in the darkness!

ACWWs ministers in down-town apartment building on Monday night

Awesome stories to come....


Things are just happening so fast that I can't keep up the posts! Wow!! God is awesome!

I'll get them posted as soon as I can. I think you will be inspired to hear what God is doing among the poor of Augusta!

A Church Without Walls ~ EXPONENTIAL GROWTH!

OK, so the first service we have a lot of people come by, check us out, eat breakfast with us, but really, only one lady stayed the whole time. That was Paige. Well, Paige brought a friend to church today. Her name is Michelle. So technically, in a week, we DOUBLED our attendance! LOL! How do you like that for growth? Who doubles their service in a week? Hee hee. Now, if we count the gnats that keep showing up....well, we have made it to mega-church status!

Again, though, we had a lot sitting in the alley ways, still afraid to come any closer. But they are being drawn in by the Love of God. And several people coming and sitting a few minutes to have breakfast with us. Still unsure of all this unconditional love going on. But a total Love Revolution is happening down-town! A city on the hill will not be hidden!

Now the most exciting thing happened AFTER church was over. We went into our "second service", all unintentional...at least by us. Holy Spirit wasn't calling it unintentional. I had gone up to Paige's apartment after church to visit with her a bit. She has a sweet little kitten named Oreo, so I played with him for a few minutes and she showed me her apartment and told me more about herself. On the way into her building I did get a chance to speak to several other people that were in the alleyway, and was pleasantly surprised to hear many of them tell me how much they like that we are down there (even though they haven't come yet! LOL)

After my visit with Paige...I went back down-stairs and through the alley way back to our church location to find Frank and Hosea still there set up with the music and an entire new crowd of people sitting in the benches! So we ministered through anointed worship music and prayer. There was a group of people sitting on the bench that actually begged us to just stay a little longer. And a little longer. Even longer. We ended up keeping it going for almost another two hours! We have met so many nice people down-town. Just all out nice people trying to make a life and survive the best way they can. And God is drawing them to us so we can love them and share Jesus with them. It's so totally cool. So now we have doubled our service AND gone to a second service....all in one day! Gotta love God's sense of humor! LOL!

oh,oh,oh! I have to tell you about a little man named Dave. He was so precious! He was worshiping with us during the second service and my goodness, he was in total abandonment in his absolute worship of His Saviour. He kept weeping with joy and with complete surrender to God as His Presence rolled in like a beautiful plush carpeting of love. I so enjoyed watching Dave love on Jesus today.

A Church Without Walls Street Service

Frank has decided to write a book. He wants to call it "Just Do It." Too many times we know the calling God has for us, but we putter around, wondering how it's going to happen, if it's really what God is telling you to do, how it's going to happen, if you'll have enough help, how it's going to happen, if people will show up, where will you get the finances and the equipment, and........ did I mention how it's going to happen? Well, we just decided to JUST DO IT. So today we had our first Sunny Sunday Street Service. We met in the middle of the street, between 7th and 8th on Broad Street. There's a lovely shaded area with park benches and a water fountain complete with a confederate monument. Hosea came and did our music, my gosh he's super talented, and our friends Sam and Steve Jones and Pam and Frank Peterson (and their children) came down to help us launch our very first street service. The music was phenomenal! Hosea is the best male singer I have ever heard, and he can really play that guitar. Before we knew it, people were coming out of their apartment and coming to see what we were all about. We fed many, many people breakfast, and we had our very first visitor named Paige. She stayed for the entire service, start to finish. We had countless people stop by, but there seems to be a little trust issue among the poor down there, as well as the homeless, in regards to religious people. I have come to learn that many of these people have gone into area churches only to be rejected and unloved because they smell bad or aren't clean enough. These types of attitudes are wounding to people, and it's an area where the enemy can infiltrate their lives and bring them down continuously and before you know it, they associate a few snotty Christians with what God is really about. And He's really not that kind of God. So it's going to take some time to earn the trust of these people. But the really cool thing was that there were so many people who were sitting off on the other side of the street, still within listening distance, just trying to check us out. And then guess who showed up? "Lucifer!" And he had breakfast with us. He's really coming around. I can see God's love penetrating his heart. It's so cool to watch!

After about 20 minutes of the music playing, a police officer circled the area in his car like a shark. I was so nervous! When he got out of his patrol car and started walking towards us, Sam just started praying and praying Then he got closer and I thought, "Ok, I'll just let who ever is in charge of this talk to the officer." Then I realized....Frank was up there playing the sax with his eyes shut and totally oblivious to what was going on....which meant...it was all up to me! YIKES! So he came closer and as I went over to greet him, Sam was still praying, and I was about to pee my pants....then I greeted him and he said, "What church are ya'll with?" So I said, "Well, we aren't really with any church, we call ourselves A Church Without Walls, is it ok that we are here?" He said, "Well, we did get a complaint about loud music." So I said, "Ok, we can totally turn it down." Then he said, "No, don't." I was like Huh? He said,"These people down here NEED this." TOO COOL! YAY GOD!!!!! So we kept at it. Then Frank preached and his voice reached out to the depths of the alley ways and I know, I know, I know....that it was not in vain! God's Word does not return void! It WILL establish everything it sets out to accomplish. God totally rocks! And Jesus TOTALLY saves!

Bringing the Light into Darkness

I have a pretty powerful story to share here that Peterson was a part of. As soon as he emails me the details I'll post it. It's just proof positive that when you bring Jesus to an area that is stricken with the darkness and ruler of this world....only good things can happen!
Stay tuned!

A Merry Heart is Good Medicine! (July F.F. continued)

For months now, as we set up on the corner of the street with our signs on First Fridays, we have been "visited" by a man. This is no ordinary man. He is a grumpy old man. In fact he's a snarling growling discontent type of man. But each month as he passes us by on the streets, we smile and greet him and treat him like he is the most important person on the planet. He doesn't like it. However, if you've been down-town, you know that when you walk down the streets of Augusta, and you want to avoid certain people or maybe not pass by a particular store or band playing on the streets, you can cross the street and walk on the other side. But this grumpy, growly, snarly man always walks on our side of the street. This got me to wondering why.

The first thing he does when he passes by is say in a growly mumbled voice, "I don't need no prayer." Then he makes a mean face at us and keeps walking. He does this at least 4 times a night. But you know what I think? I think he is being DRAWN to our side of the street by the Holy Spirit. I think the Lord is wooing this fella and he can't help but cross our paths time after time. So I have to smile, knowing that at some point in the future, I'm going to get to see God do something super cool with this man.

Well July's First Friday was the night! He had walked by for the first time in the evening past one of our newest team members, Sharon. (She is mentioned in another post) Well, I had not thought to warn her about him but when he passed by, she offered her hand as a friendly gesture of a handshake and he yelled at her in his typical growly manner. She pulled her hand back and looked a little more than startled. When he had gone passed, I spoke with her and told her that he was probably carrying a little baggage (we call him the devil) and not to take it personally, but to watch because God was going to get him soon. Well she agreed that he had a demonic stronghold of some sort, as it was clearly evident, mostly by the look in his eyes.

So about an hour passes by and the band is playing and the Presence of God was with us and we were really enjoying our ministry with the passers-by. Then here comes the grumpy, growly, snarly fella again. This time he came with a determination that we were not going to be nice to him. He made eye-contact with me and decided to stare me down as he walked passed me. I kept my eyes fixed on his eyes, the whole time praying and rebuking the devil. Well, he didn't like me staring back at him and not getting scared of him one bit! So he stopped and stood right beside me, his eyes fixed on mine, with a heavy oppressive glare. And all I could think in my head was, "I'm not scared of you Satan!" Well, as we were staring at each other and he was doing his best to intimidate me and provoke fear, I kept smiling and said, "What's your name?" He growled at me and said, "I don't have a name!!!!!" So I kept smiling, didn't look afraid (cause I wasn't...hello....greater is He that is in me....) and I said, "Yes you do have a name!"

So he looked at me with that hard glare and he said, "My name is LUCIFER!!!"

OK, you don't know how bad I wanted to say, "I KNEW IT!!!" hahahaha But I didn't. I just looked at him and said, "Wow! That's a cool name!" And he said, "Yeah, and I have 666 tatooed on my back." Hmm....interesting. So I said, "Would you like a drink of water?" He snarled back at me, "No!" I said, "Are you sure, I've got some in a cooler and it's all nice and cold." He said, "You got some in a cooler?" "Yep." "Well, ok, I guess I'll have a drink of your water then." So I handed him a bottle of water and he stood there and started to drink it up.

Meanwhile, the band is still playing and he stands there for a few minutes and is listening to the band. Then Frank Peterson comes over in my direction. Now Frank Peterson, whom I will henceforth refer to as Peterson so as not to confuse him with Frank Strausser, had been shaking the city up all night long praying for folks. So when he comes over I said to him, "Hey, ask this man what his name is." So Peterson looks at grumpy, growly, snarly guy and says, "Hey man, what's your name?" And he replies, "Lucifer!!!" And without missing a beat, Peterson says, "Do they call you Lucy?" And all of a sudden, 'Lucifer' starts to laugh uncontrollably and just like that, the walls were broken down and a new relationship with him had formed. I'll tell you what...a sense of humor is a good thing to have! So 'Lucifer' ended up staying with us the rest of the night, laughing and having a good time. He even requested several Christian songs from the band. Every now and then he would elude to his past experience as a band member in a Christian organization, and that now he was a heathen. I think Lucifer is in his late 50s or early 60s, and he is a "street survivor." That's pc for homeless, I'm told.

So I'm waiting and watching to see what God does here with this man. It's going to be cool whatever it is.

UPDATE: This last Sunday on our morning street service, "Lucifer" came! He came around 11:30 when we were going into overtime (see other post). He had some donuts and water with us and enjoyed the music. And requested "Elshidai", which we fully intend to find the music for and play for him next Sunday. I did find out from some of the residents in the building across the street that he happens to be a highly respected street survivor, and he looks out for the newbies. I wonder what's up with him? My first thought is that he was hurt by "church people" and maybe that's why he was such a snot to us all these months. So we shall see what unfolds for this man. God has a plan and a purpose and I'm so excited to see what He does here!

July First Friday! SEVEN Souls Saved!!!

WOW! What a night! We had a total blast tonight at our July First Friday! It was packed down-town, mostly due to the Independence Day celebrations that had been taking place all week. I have SO MUCH to tell you that I fear this will be the absolute longest blog post in the history of blogging! But it was just an incredible night and too much GOD to leave out any details....just an absolute wonderful night of ministering to people. YAY GOD!!

I'll post some here and then another cool story about a man we deal with every First Friday in another post....cause as usual....it's a long one!

This week we were blessed with several extras. First, we had a fire-cracker go getter named Sharon come and join us. She was a blessing! She operated in A Church Without Walls as our "greeter". She shook hands with everyone who passed her by. She has amazing energy and boldness. And we had SEVEN SOULS SAVED!!!! Whooooo--hooooo!

We did something a little bit different at this First Friday, and it went over well enough to repeat it next month. We had helium filled balloons and we tied a message on a business card to each one and handed them out to children. It was so much fun. We had scripture written out as decrees for the kids, such as "I am fearfully and wonderfully made," "No weapon formed against me shall prosper," "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me," "I am strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." That sort of thing. The best part I think, was a man who came down with Sharon who lives down-town in poverty, who helped Frank pass out the balloons. I could tell he had such a sense of belonging and doing an important work for the Lord. That picture blessed me beyond measure.

Later I had a conversation with him and found out he was just a regular guy with a job and a home, then his wife suddenly passed away from cancer three years ago. I could tell he was hurting so much inside from her loss. He said that last year he had a heart attack and became very ill, spending a lot of time in a rehabilitation center to recover from the damage done to his body from the lack of blood flow. And when he was released, there he was, in extreme poverty with no one to look after him. This could happen to any of us. I was so blessed to watch him be involved and feel important and needed for the work of God. I could just sit here and cry when I think about it.

We also had another real treat for First Friday. For the first time we had a band! A wonderfully talented and anointed man named Hosea came and sang and played the guitar. He really ushered in the presence of God! Another lady named Karen, also an anointed and talented worship artist, played the bongos. This made the world of difference for our night. There is something so special and so profound when you bring together people for worship...the atmosphere totally changes!! It was such a GOD NIGHT!

As You Go....

It's not necessary to have an evangelistic night or a specific set time to go out and release God's love. Matthew 10:7 implores us to do the things Jesus did "as you go". So as we go about doing our normal things, we can reach the lost with a simple hug, act of kindness, and an offer of prayer. It's amazing how offering to pray for someone can brighten the day of any one, lost or saved, and somehow this enables them to feel the love of Jesus being released to them from you. Give it a try...you'll see.

A few weeks ago, I went to the hospital to visit one of my dad's church members named Pauline who was suffering from a kidney infection. This dear sweet lady is in her early eighties and is as sharp as a tack. In fact, we went on a church retreat recently to a lake house, and Pauline was kind enough to teach my boys how to properly bait a hook. Frank was at work, so he wasn't there to assist in this delicate procedure...and speaking of delicate....that just pretty much describes me and my stomach for some such baiting matters. So I was genuinely grateful for Pauline's expertise in the fishing department. :) And moderately grossed out.

After we visited with her, my dad and I were on our way to the parking lot when we came across a man sitting on a bench outside the hospital. He looked sad and lonely, so we spoke with him a bit and then found out his father was in ICU. We had the privilege of praying for his father, and for this man's strength. And although he was already a believer and loved the Lord, he was deeply, DEEPLY moved by the touch from God, as well as strengthened in his faith for God to move in his life.

After a while we found ourselves at Walmart where there was a lady sitting in a wheel chair at the deli. The Lord prompted me to go over and speak to her. In the course of our conversation I found out she was a believer, in fact when I asked her if she knew Jesus, she said, "He and I are old friends." I think she was in her eighties. She appreciated the love and affection, and the attention, that God gave her through a regular person standing in line at the deli. That's all it takes.

At our Walmart, in recent weeks, we have had a group stand in front of the door soliciting for funds for the homeless. The ironic thing was that there was a man at the corner of the street who WAS homeless. He had a typical sign requesting money and stating he was homeless and hungry. I noticed him outside as I went in, and got him a meal at the deli where I was praying for that sweet little friend of Jesus. Anyway, I left the store and went to the man and gave him the food and a drink. He started to cry and when I asked him a few questions, I realized that he was mentally retarded. He had a bunch of ant bites on his leg, so I prayed with him about that, gave him a hug (held my breath cause boy did he smell!) and he thanked me over and over and continued to cry.

When I left, I got this image in my mind of a little boy born to an excited set of parents, only to discover their brand new bundle of joy was not quite right. I imagined them later taking him to physicians to determine a diagnosis. I could see them later enrolling him in school for the special classes. Then I caught a glimpse of him maybe 5 years ago, in his late 40s, at a funeral for his parents, and no one left to continue to care for him. He was all alone, no one to tell him what to do next. And there he was, surviving the best way that he could. You know, when these mentally retarded children grow up and their parents pass away, what happens to them if they don't have anyone to tell them what to do next?

I'm telling you these stories of a day filled with "as you go" examples in an effort to encourage you and inspire YOU to get out of the four walls and be Jesus to the world. This is supposed to be normal Christianity! Love them to life!

God Heals at Work!

One of our bigger desires is to see other people begin to walk in God's power. Our home Bible study group is one area where we get to discuss Power Evangelism and offer encouragement to one another to see God move in our lives and personal ministries. And let's face it, every believer has a personal ministry, in one form or another.

Samantha is one of my favorite people. I have had the honor of watching her bloom in God's garden, and have enjoyed her company and friendship. She adds a special fragrance to our lives! Here is a story she shared recently with me about a God Encounter she had at the busy restaurant where she is the manager:

I just wanted to share an experience I had at work. It was a Sunday afternoon and I hadn't too long got to work, I was walking the floor, checking things out, making sure all is well for Sunday at the Mountain (restaurant). I stopped at the table of one of our frequent customers, I asked if they were ok but I could tell Elaine wasn't feeling well. I sat down next to her and across from her husband. We were kind of busy and in my line of work sitting down on the job just doesn't happen often.

She began sharing with me that she didn't attend church that morning because her leg was hurting her too much. Elaine had a stroke a while back and although every day is a little better than the day before she is healing slowly, and she is in constant pain. She says the doctors cannot fix the pain, all they can do is give her pills to try to control it , which wasn't working very well. I told her that we needed to talk to the greatest doctor of all.

I asked her if she believed that God could heal her? She said yes that when people at church pray for her it feels a little better for a little while. I asked her if I could pray for her. She said yes and we sat there at the table on a busy Sunday afternoon. I laid my hand on her knee and we prayed and asked God to heal her leg and remove her pain.

When we finished praying she asked me if I felt the heat on her knee. I didn't feel anything but I knew God would heal her. Her husband thanked me with tears in his eyes and she hugged me. I had to go and do that management stuff and got so busy that I couldn't get back to the table to check on her.

A few days later I was sitting down and having dinner with my co-workers and Steve, my wonderful husband , and Elaine and her husband came in. I spotted Carol (her husband) fixing his plate and I asked how Elaine's leg was feeling...

He said I had to come by the table when I get a chance. So I finished my meal, walked my husband to his car, kissed him bye, and went back inside the store. I went by the table and asked her how her leg was? She hugged my neck and said it didn't hurt anymore,(praise God!!) She said she didn't realize it for a little while and then all of a sudden she noticed that her leg didn't hurt anymore. She thanked me and I told her to thank God that it was his Power that healed her. Isn't God Great!!