April 1-2, Brighton Christian Church, Brighton, MI
Today (Thursday) I’m flying to Kalamazoo, to have our first visit with Joel and his family after moving there this month. Marci is meeting up with me in Kalamazoo today as well. Looking forward to this!
Then on Saturday I will leave Marci behind in Kalamazoo, and will travel by car to Brighton, MI. This will be my first visit to Brighton Christian Church. Saturday evening I will share for 15 minutes with the worship team at a fellowship dinner in a home, then Sunday morning I will share with the congregation.
Sunday 5:30 pm: Greetings from Detroit airport. Had a great weekend with Brighton Christian Church. I was finally able to piece together my connection to this church. Pastor Jacob has been here 2.5 years, and prior to this, he was a youth pastor in a church in Mobile AL where I had ministered in 2011. He remembered that time, and wanted me to come to this church now that he is pastor here. Saturday evening’s gathering with the worship team was very sweet, they just hung out and enjoyed one another all evening. Then this morning’s service was graced of the Lord. I’m hoping that this will not be our last time together.
Mar. 29, Salem Baptist Church, Chicago, IL; sbcoc.org
Wednesday: Today I’m flying to Chicago, to minister in the midweek service of Salem Baptist Church (sbcoc.org). Today they are starting a 4-week Wednesday series on worship, and they’ve asked me to be part of this series. This will be my first time with them. I saw in their online banner that they put the title “Exploring Worship” on my session. I saw somewhere the claim that they are the largest African American congregation in Illinois. Already I can tell I’m going to have a marvelous time tonight!
Thursday morning: Greetings from the 25th floor of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago. I have a stunning view of the downtown area from my window. The tops of the buildings are hidden this morning in the clouds, it’s raining.
Last night’s meeting at Salem Baptist was special for me. It was my first to meet Walter Owens in person, the worship director at this amazing church. For their Wednesday worship series, Walter decided to invite me to come for the first in the series. I spent all day Tuesday in preparation, and just wrestled all day to find clarity. I went into the pulpit feeling like I never did find full clarity, so I was leaning hard on the Lord. The Lord seemed to step in and help me during the time of delivery. In the end, there was much appreciation expressed for the message on the cross and the blood of Jesus. After the closing I did a book signing, and a lot of folks lined up for that. I would guess they had 450-500 people, which is a pretty strong attendance these days for a Wednesday midweek service. The Lord has led them to construct a massive facility in one of Chicago’s most needy areas. May the Lord enable them with wisdom and strategies to glean the harvest in Chicago.
Mar 26, Creekside Gospel Temple, Amherst, NY
Sunday afternoon: I’m heading home now from a marvelous morning of ministry. When I consider that I came close to cancelling the weekend because of bronchitis, after seeing what the Lord did this morning, I’m so glad I pressed through and was able to see the Lord do such a strong work among His people.
Mar. 24, Eagle’s Nest Worship Center, South Holland, MI
Saturday early: Good morning! I had to be driven to the Chicago airport extra early this morning because the other party being taken to the airport with me has an earlier flight. It was a short, restless night, and I look forward to taking a couple naps on the planes today, smile.
Even though I’m not feeling 100%, the Lord helped me in the ministry of the word last night. The saints seemed to receive the message with eager hearts, and the soaking time around the altar at the end was especially sweet. The musicians and singers got into a very sweet flow.
Now I’m making my way to Buffalo via Detroit. To be with my friends at Creekside Gospel Assembly in Amherst again. It’s already been 3 years since I was last with them. Interestingly, I feel drawn to speak on the same topic that I preached on last night — the chastening of the Lord.
Mar. 21, Intro IHOPKC Track 1
Tuesday: Had a great time this morning with the Intro to IHOPKC internship. I think the message was more for me than for them, because I myself need to be refreshed in the things God has given me in the past about prayer. I am not feeling so well today because of bronchitis and a little bit of achiness, but the Lord helped me to complete the sharing, and He graced it.
Friday: Today I’m returning to Eagle’s Nest Worship Center, South Holland, IL, for their annual worship conference. (south side of metro Chicago) I’m speaking in tonight’s service, then flying to Buffalo tomorrow, to minister Sunday morning at Creekside Gospel Temple, Amherst, NY.
Mar. 19, Hillcrest Church, Etowah, TN
Sunday afternoon: Had a marvelous time at Hillcrest Church this morning. The sanctuary was packed, the sense of anticipation in the room was palpable. A woman had some kind of cyst on her neck that disappeared during healing prayer. I’m trusting the Lord that the message on Jacob’s life was a blessing to everyone. Coming home with a happy, grateful heart.
Mar. 18, Riceville First Baptist Church, Riceville, TN
This morning I spoke to a room filled with 150+ women, at Riceville Baptist Church. About 15% of the group was from the host church, and the other 85% of the women gathered from churches all over the area for this event. It’s their fifth year to hold this event, and it seems to be growing each year. I spoke of drawing near to the Holiest through the sprinkled blood of Christ, and they seemed to respond appreciatively to the message. Mine was the first session of the day and afterwards I took the liberty of slipping out and returning to my place of lodging. Somehow I seemed to be of the wrong gender to stay with them for the day, ha.