Nov. 13, Family Christian Center, New Rochelle, NY
Sunday from the sky: I’m in the air, making my way home on a direct flight (smile) from LaGuardia to KC. This morning’s service in New Rochelle was delightful to my soul and blessed of the Lord. The congregation is almost totally black, with many of their people coming from the islands. The pastors are from Jamaica. They have a certain song that they always sing during the offering, and during that song the pastor and his wife got into a Jamaican dance, and I’m thinking, I need dance lessons! I wanted to join them, but wouldn’t even hazard an attempt. I spoke on the chastening of the Lord, and sensed the Lord’s presence strongly upon the ministry of the word. I didn’t bring enough books on that topic. For some reason I just don’t expect people to want a book on the chastening of the Lord. And usually they don’t. But once they hear the message, there’s immediate interest. I’m grateful to God for the week of ministry ending in a good time in the Holy Spirit. And thanks to Bob Lester and Joel Sadaphal, my hosts for the week, who took grand care of me.
Nov 12, Harvest Fields Community Church, Bronx, NY:
Saturday 6:00 pm: The Lord’s grace was very much with us this morning at the men’s breakfast. Eye covenant message. They absorbed every word. Good ministry at the end. A great time!
Observation: NYC is the city of diners. There are diners everywhere. And their menus are usually quite large and amazingly varied. And they’re designed to look like diners, sort of like the old time passenger train cars. And true to form, their coffee is usually horrible. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
Nov 10, Kingdom Partners Network, Living Word Christian Fellowship, Ozone Park, NY
Thursday 5:45 pm: Today’s leadership gathering in Queens went very well. I spoke on the life of Jacob, and mostly was just building up my own soul in the word of the Lord. I think some of the folks present got blessed by some of the splash-over, smile. Now I’m joining some of the pastors for dinner at a nearby Cuban restaurant.
Next up: A men’s breakfast Saturday morning in the Bronx. I’m preparing my heart to speak on a covenant with my eyes. It’s being held at a church in Bronx that I’ve heard good things about (Harvest Fields Community Church).
Then Sunday morning I’m ministering at Family Christian Center in New Rochelle. I’m really looking forward to that meeting, and am planning on speaking on the Lord’s chastening (Heb. 12).
Nov 9, Remnant Pastors Network, Family Christian Center, New Roachelle, NY
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.: Today’s leadership gathering went very well. A good turnout, everyone seemed pleased to be together, and they were very attentive to the message. Several of the leaders present are planning on joining us Thursday morning for another leaders meeting. The Thursday gathering is a different pastors network that meets in Queens. The calendar for the day will be the same. I will speak for an hour before lunch, and then another pastor will speak after lunch.
Nov. 6, Living Word Christian Fellowship, Ozone Park, NY
Saturday: Greetings from lovely Kansas City, where we are enjoying a delightfully warm fall. Yesterday I managed to do some yard work, it’s great to get outdoors this time of year. Today I have a direct flight to New York’s LaGuardia. I’m launching on an 8-day trip to NYC. My host is Bob Lester, who is the Elim Fellowship rep for the NYC region. He has put together an itinerary of ministry for me in NY, is providing my lodging, and will be my driver for the week. He has scheduled meetings for Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. And some fellowship meals in between. So you’ll be getting a few emails from me, from NYC.
First up: Sunday morning at Living Word Christian Fellowship, in Ozone Park. (Queens) I met the pastor on a previous occasion at a retreat, and now this will be my first time to minister at his church. Not a large church, somewhere around 100 adults. NYC is dotted with hundreds of smaller sized churches, which is reflective of the neighborhood feel you find in every corner of NYC. People expect to find everything they need within walking distance of their house, smile, and they usually can.
Sunday 6:30 p.m.: Today I was “in the trenches of NYC.” When you look out the pastor’s office window, you are looking out onto a street of houses. People walk from the neighborhood to get to church. This is where you see the church of Jesus Christ reaching people right where they live. I spoke on how God is writing a story with our lives, and then showed the baseball film. I believe the saints were edified, and I was honored to watch Him strengthen them for the journey. Afterwards, I enjoyed a delightful lunch with my hosts at a Mediterranean restaurant.
Wednesday morning I am speaking at a pastors network meeting in New Rochelle, NY.
Nov. 2-3, Williams Chapel Church, Spring Lake, NC
Wednesday morning: This morning I am flying to Fayetteville, NC, to be with Williams Chapel Church in Spring Lake, NC for the second time. I was with them once before during a week of anniversary meetings, and am returning for another such week of meetings. This time I will be with them for two evenings—Wed and Thurs this week. I had a marvelous time with them a couple years back, and am looking forward very much to our renewing of fellowship. Just a marvelous family of believers.
Wednesday 11 pm: This church has a most unusual way of showing hospitality. My hotel room was prepared as though I were a king. More food than I could ever possibly consume. The whole room sparkling with touches of hospitality, including 2 sets of plates at a dining table, all kinds of drinks, snacks, sweets, cheeses, etc. I’ve never seen anything like it at any other church. And of course it makes me feel warmly welcomed. Tonight’s service was graced of the Lord, a meaningful connection. Already I’m looking forward to tomorrow evening, for our second service.
Thursday 10 pm: Another great evening together. The Lord helped me in the delivery, even though the group was obviously weary from working all day and then gathering two nights in a row for meetings. His grace was evident. And I had the pleasure today of reconnecting with three of my friends who live in the area. A happy day for me.
Oct. 30, Forerunner Christian Fellowship, Grandview, MO
The Lord gave me strength and grace to preach twice, and the receptivity of the group to the message was very open and eager. The altar filled after each service, and others just hung around for a while in worship and connecting with the Lord. A very precious atmosphere. It was a good lead-in, I think, to the Solemn Assembly we’ll beholding in the same building for Mon/Tue/Wed this week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Jesus wants us to respond to His chastening by being zealous and repenting (Rev 3:19). This is an excellent time for us to respond to the Lord with fasting and prayer, with zeal and repentance. We cry out for our nation, for the church, and for our own lives personally.