Family Roots

Chris Little's house in Fayetville N.C.

On my journey I have been challenged, encouraged, and blown away by some of these amazing men and women of God. The amount of wisdom that these people carry is just amazing. I have never heard the simplest truths become so deep and powerful. I am seeing this amazing God that we serve in a new light. At times I just couldn't take any more information and I would get overwhelmed or frustrated, but I started getting before God and asking Him what He wanted to speak to me. I have never had such a clear view on God and His love like this and I started to open my heart more and more to His love in areas that I never even thought of.

We were able to meet with a man named Matt Peterson yesterday in Winston Salem, North Caroline. Matt is a former school leader at Morning Star ministries in Charlotte N.C. and now pastors a church. He shared a lot with us yesterday, but the one thing that struck a chord in my heart was what he shared about the "Parable of the Lost Son"(Luke 15:11-31). Matt pointed out about how the son's expectation in coming back to his father’s house was so work as a slave and be fed. What actually ended up happening was his father welcomed him in, dressed him in a robe, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet so that they could have a party! He had a wrong perspective about what His father was like.

I wonder how much of my perspective of what God had for me has been filtered through what I think I deserve or what lies I believe about who God is? I have been launched into a revelation of what it is to have my mind renewed. I have never had so much hope, joy, peace and excitement about what God has for me!

We are spending a few days in Charleston, S.C. to rest, pray and just enjoy family time together. I have been blessed with such an amazing group of people to live life with right now. I realize how important it is to have community to challenge, hold accountable, encourage and love each other. These are foundational things that I want more than anything in ministry. I see how important it is to have deep roots that can support the abundant fruit that we desire.

Prayer Requests:
That we continue to seek God for direction and be obedient.
That doors would open to the right people for us to meet.
That we would be open and available for God to put people in pour path to minister to.

The first steps

After a week of this pilgrimage we are finally settled down in Washington D.C. where I hope to catch up on what God has been showing and teaching me through many amazing ministry leaders. We spent our first four days in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the Justice house of prayer where a lot of young people around my age and older gather to cry out to God for injustices like abortion and also for a revival in the many college campuses in the area like Harvard. One thing I never knew about Harvard was that it was founded to train ministers. Now it is far from its original purpose and is highly affected by humanism. We were also able to meet a friend of ours named Eunice who attends Harvard and holds a weekday morning prayer group with about 7 other students. These groups hope to see the Kingdom of God established and see leaders come out of Harvard that will be able to truly change the world.

We were then launched off to New Jersey where we visited the Resting House of Prayer where we were welcomed in like family. As soon as we arrived they sat us down and fed us and then let us rest until the next day. I loved seeing such an awesome group that loved Jesus and wanted to do ministry together. They were such a great example of being family in the body of Christ. They love serving the Lord and their heart is to bring healing and restoration into peoples lives in the community. I believe that this is the kind of community that everyone desires and it’s good to see it that its possible.

Next we took a trip to Lancaster P.A. where we spent a few days with a man named Corey Martin. He is an awesome man of God who truly loves telling people about Jesus like I’ve never seen before. Corey is a pastor of a church and also does a lot in the community as well as works a few jobs. I have never seen someone so passionate about sharing the gospel before. I was able to go with Corey and Chris Little to a drug and alcohol rehab meeting that Corey does ministry at. The age group was between 18 and 21 so it was a little intimidating for Chris and I to share, but Corey was so unashamed about confessing the love of Christ and didn’t hold back. Chris and I mentioned what we did in Hawaii at the Discipleship Training School and two of the guys were showing a lot of interest. They more expressed their desire to just go to Hawaii but I could tell that they hungered for a chance to have their lives changed.

Next we left Lancaster and drove to a town called Coatesville P.A. where we met up with a man named Jamie Galloway. He is a young pastor who had such a perspective on the Kingdom of Heaven that shook us up and challenged us more than anything yet. I could see how his teaching was shared in such a sincere way, but language and lack of time got in the way of a lot of understanding. I can see how instances like this this split up so many churches and denominations in the body of Christ. I am still trying the process the giant load of information that he gave us in the short time we were with him.

I now sit here in Washington D.C. wanting to process everything but overwhelmed at the thought of traveling for two months. With the Supreme Court across the street and having just read about the Heartbeat Bill I am faced with the reality that there are problems in this world that are bigger than me and my understanding, but the creator of the universe knows every day of my life. I just want to know Jesus!