The Transformation Of A Rural Community Church

[FireBrand]

A year ago I was asked to help a very troubled non-denominational in the area I grew up. The church had a very bumpy few years when a pastor of 40+ years resigned, leaving the elders to search. The next 3yrs the church went into a sharp decline from 300+ to about 40 when I stepped in. It was 4 months later they graciously asked us to stay on as pastors. The church has shut the door on the Holy Spirit over the decades saying they werent "that kind" of church.

So, when they asked a Pentecostal to guest speak every Sunday they knew what they wanted and knew what they were getting. I didnt. The Lord instructed me to go easy on the Pentecostal experience following Dad Hagin's experiences in the book "Understanding The Anointing", that they would see the value of it every Sunday by just letting God do what He loves to do. From that first sunday I was getting some amazing reports, stuff I did not expect.

Little by little I have been hearing from those wanting more of God, wanting the Baptism, rededicating their lives and best of all they want me to teach on the gifts. This is going to be interesting.

[FaithfulOne]

That's wonderful and to LFF

[fuego]

Sweet. It will be interesting seeing how it comes along. I can see that as an exciting challenge, line upon line, precept upon precept, leading them back into the things of the Spirit. Of course we know where “line upon line, precept upon precept” ends: with stammering lips and another tongue will I speak unto my people.”

And keep us updated.

[A.J.]

Wow. That’s fantastic.
fasten your seatbelt, hey?

[Ezekiel 33]

A year ago I was asked to help a very troubled non-denominational in the area I grew up. The church had a very bumpy few years when a pastor of 40+ years resigned, leaving the elders to search. The next 3yrs the church went into a sharp decline from 300+ to about 40 when I stepped in. It was 4 months later they graciously asked us to stay on as pastors. The church has shut the door on the Holy Spirit over the decades saying they werent “that kind” of church.

So, when they asked a Pentecostal to guest speak every Sunday they knew what they wanted and knew what they were getting. I didnt. The Lord instructed me to go easy on the Pentecostal experience following Dad Hagin’s experiences in the book “Understanding The Anointing”, that they would see the value of it every Sunday by just letting God do what He loves to do. From that first sunday I was getting some amazing reports, stuff I did not expect.

Little by little I have been hearing from those wanting more of God, wanting the Baptism, rededicating their lives and best of all they want me to teach on the gifts. This is going to be interesting.

God is AWESOME!

[FireBrand]

Sweet. It will be interesting seeing how it comes along. I can see that as an exciting challenge, line upon line, precept upon precept, leading them back into the things of the Spirit. Of course we know where "line upon line, precept upon precept" ends: with stammering lips and another tongue will I speak unto my people."

And keep us updated.

The ugly fighting that led to the crowds leaving were in part those that didnt allow the moving of the Spirit. It was prophesied 20 years ago this day was coming. A couple very near the church I have known told me when his wife danced during worship he got "the visit". The staff pastor told them to go elsewhere because they were not pentecostal. The man said, "you will be if God wants you to be", the man became indignant saying THAT will never happen. The husband said, "it will happen when God brings a pentecostal pastor in". About this same time the Lord gave me a dream and I was preaching at a pulpit of another church. This was 20yrs ago, and I knew it was prophetic. Last year as my wife and I sat in the car nervously waiting our going in to greet people at a new place, I said "if this is the church in my vision/dream you better hang on because it's going to be a new chapter in our lives and a fun one it will be".

Last January I visited a couple with communion. The wife had stage 4 cancer. When we 3 came to the Table, Heaven came down and heavy. After partaking we were caught up in worship. Suddenly I heard a whispering in other tongues from the husband. Wow. He was the one that last summer talked to me in the parking lot about my being pentecostal. I had assumed he was "anti". I was so wrong. On the drive home I was in tears just laughing in the Holy Spirit.

Since then it has been a floodgate open with ones that are filled and others seeking and wanting. Since our being here there are several that we have known through the years that are now part of this church. These are also spirit filled. One couple used to drive the hour to visit our former church. They came in and said "we are here just to watch what is going to happen".

[fuego]

The ugly fighting that led to the crowds leaving were in part those that didnt allow the moving of the Spirit. It was prophesied 20 years ago this day was coming. A couple very near the church I have known told me when his wife danced during worship he got “the visit”. The staff pastor told them to go elsewhere because they were not pentecostal. The man said, “you will be if God wants you to be”, the man became indignant saying THAT will never happen. The husband said, “it will happen when God brings a pentecostal pastor in”. About this same time the Lord gave me a dream and I was preaching at a pulpit of another church. This was 20yrs ago, and I knew it was prophetic. Last year as my wife and I sat in the car nervously waiting our going in to greet people at a new place, I said “if this is the church in my vision/dream you better hang on because it’s going to be a new chapter in our lives and a fun one it will be”.

Last January I visited a couple with communion. The wife had stage 4 cancer. When we 3 came to the Table, Heaven came down and heavy. After partaking we were caught up in worship. Suddenly I heard a whispering in other tongues from the husband. Wow. He was the one that last summer talked to me in the parking lot about my being pentecostal. I had assumed he was “anti”. I was so wrong. On the drive home I was in tears just laughing in the Holy Spirit.

Since then it has been a floodgate open with ones that are filled and others seeking and wanting. Since our being here there are several that we have known through the years that are now part of this church. These are also spirit filled. One couple used to drive the hour to visit our former church. They came in and said “we are here just to watch what is going to happen”.

Amazing. 20 years huh? God is faithful.

[curly sue]

This is a wonderful report!

[Quest]

Powerful...And the time lapse of 20 years is significant....how impatient we get sometimes....The other thing that speaks volumes is God saying just let ME do it...Oh if all pastors everywhere would do that...just let God be God and move as He will without feeling a desperate need to control....

[FireBrand]

Powerful...And the time lapse of 20 years is significant....how impatient we get sometimes....The other thing that speaks volumes is God saying just let ME do it...Oh if all pastors everywhere would do that...just let God be God and move as He will without feeling a desperate need to control....

Too many younger guys want to be a new phenom or Steven Furtick or something. The remnant here wanted a local because the previous 2 wanted programs. They brought a local and seasoned pentecostal in I assume because they want newness and power. The one thing missing is the one thing they could scarcely due without: the demonstration of the power of God. It’s been fun to see the responses to just that. I promised straight up I didnt come here to make it Pentecostal but quickly added that God might have different plans and whatever that is, I’m cool with that. There has been a church on this property since 1890. We have a strong grace DNA. I like that.