June 26, Calvary Church of the Quad Cities, Moline, IL
Tuesday from Minneapolis airport: Great time last night. I wasn’t feeling much movement in the Spirit during the worship time, so I went into it leaning hard on the Lord. And He was enough. The Lord chose to anoint the message, and the room went places in the Holy Spirit. A great night.
June 24-25, Penuel Church, Hatfield, AR
Saturday morning: Today as the Lord helps me I’m flying to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and then driving by car for two hours to Hatfield, AR. This will be my first time at Penuel Church in Hatfield. I met the pastors last year at another church, and they asked me to be with them in Hatfield. Originally we were planning Saturday and Sunday ministry, but after we had set the weekend up, the host pastor learned that the city is having a city-wide fireworks night this Saturday. So we are having Sunday morning ministry only, and tonight I’ll be joining everyone for the fireworks show. Sounds fun!
Please agree with me in the Spirit for a mighty impartation through the preached word this Sunday.
p.s. In other news, we just received 3 sample copies of the French translation of Envy. Please bless this book in your prayers, may it be a blessing in France and throughout all of Africa.
Sunday 8:00 pm: Greetings from Atlanta airport where I’m waiting for my flight to Moline, IL. I had a great time this morning with the Penuel family in Hatfield, AR! This jewel is tucked in a town of 400 people in the hills of Arkansas. Beautiful spirit of worship in the house, and much expectation for the word of God. They were riveted for an entire hour. Meaningful response afterwards. My heart is enlarged, this little family of faith is now in my heart forever. Thanks be to God!
Now I’m flying to Moline, IL, to prepare for a Monday evening service at Calvary Church of the Quad Cities. The site for the event is deeperconf.com, it’s an annual event that Calvary hosts. David and Nicole Binion are also at this event, so I’m stoked to minister with them and to make new friends at Calvary — my first time at this church. The service will be Monday at 6:30 pm, and since this event is a worship event, I’m planning on speaking on following the river of the Spirit in worship.
June 22, Luke 18 Project Summer Leadership Program
Thursday afternoon: This morning’s session on the Secret Place was graced of the Lord, and I was so blessed for the privilege of sharing with students and campus leaders.
June 20 Intro to IHOP
Tuesday afternoon: This morning’s session at Intro to IHOPKC was strong in the Holy Spirit. I spoke on the Luke 18 parable of the persistent widow and the Lord put fresh grace upon it. So good for me, too.
June 18, Church of Love, Rochester, NY
Sunday 2:00 pm: Greetings from Rochester airport, where I’m about to board for LaGuardia and then home. Had a blast this morning worshiping with the saints at Church of Love Faith. Very easy to engage in worship, their worship ministry makes it uber easy to connect with the Lord. The Lord graced me to speak from Heb 12, on the Father’s chastening love in our lives. At the close the altar filled with folks expressing their heart response to the Lord. It’s such a delight to minister to such responsive and engaged believers. Hope to do it again soon!
June 17, 5:00 pm, Shepherd’s Heart Church, Rochester, NY
Saturday 8 pm: We’re back from today’s 5 pm meeting. The Lord graced me to speak on the cross. The group was tiny, about 20 folks, and so there never was any kind “room momentum” or “group synergy,” so I just went straight ahead anyways and preached as though 1000 people and Jesus were in the room. I love the cross!
June 17, Worship Leaders Forum, Church of Love, Rochester, NY
Friday: Today I’m flying to Rochester, NY, to be with my hosts, Ron & Valery Sykes, and the ministry they have lined up for me for the weekend. Here’s what Ron has arranged:
- tonight is a cookout with some of the Saturday Forum leaders
- Saturday morning is a Forum with worship leaders from the region. They will have a panel-type Forum, after which I will speak for around 45-60 minutes. 8:30 to noon. Venue is Church of Love.
- Saturday 5:00 pm: The regular weekend service at Shepherd’s Heart Church in Spencerport
- Sunday 10 a.m.: The regular weekend service at Church of Love, Rochester
My host, Ron, provides leadership to the Saturday church, and is on the pastoral staff of the Sunday church, leading right now in the areas of children and youth. Plus he’s an exceptional musician and worship leader. Our connection is through our mutual IHOPKC affiliation. He and his wife served on staff at IHOPKC for several years before returning to Rochester earlier this year—the city of their roots. They’re just fantastic people.
Friday 6:00 pm: I’m now at my place of lodging, with Jay and Laurel Lynn. If you’re interested, here’s a bit of some back story. When my brother Sheldon was a student at Elim (early 70s), he attended a church in Rochester called Covenant Church, Paul Garlington pastor. He was very enthusiastic about the church, and took me there once. Turns out I’m lodged in the home of the guy who was the primary drummer of that church back in those days. His first question to me, upon collecting me at the airport was, am I related to Sheldon? He did some recording (drumming) with Sheldon’s Elim choir way on back. Some years later, that church collapsed. My host church this weekend, colfc.org, is one of the city churches that has taken over where Covenant Church left off. This has been Jay and Laurel’s home church for 17 years now.
Saturday 1:30 pm: Today’s worship forum was marvelous. Strong sense of the Lord’s presence. The panelists on the forum did an amazing job, such excellent insight and help for everyone. I spoke on an eye covenant. At the close, a worship team spontaneously came up (whoever felt to do so), and I anointed with oil the eyes of those who desired that anointing of the Holy Spirit. Which ended up being the whole room, smile. Then they just hung out and worshiped — they were still going when I left with my hosts an hour after the closing. (I left to honor my hosts, and also to prepare for this afternoon’s 5:00 pm service.) The Lord honored our gathering with His presence and I think everyone was edified and renewed. I was.