The whole world is in a time of cataclysmic distress. The nightly newscasts are beyond disturbing: bizarre weather, global disasters, psychotic murders, never-ending ethnic wars, savage animal attacks, and now, a vicious attack on our own soil. Who would have believed that the United States of America, founded by our forefathers on Christian principles, would be faced with the horror of such terroristic evil? The Bible predicts that this will be the world condition before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The church must address the signs of these times. “Don’t worry about a thing,” David told Saul, “I’ll go fight this Philistine” 1 Sam. 17:32. The church is mounting a resistance with Christians of David-like qualities. Dear saint, be brave, the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church and the Lord God Almighty shall be glorified in this wicked world!
This ministry has bee raised up to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord in purity, purpose, and participation. The following Summer 2001 Update describes how we mounted an offensive against the devil with our first annual “Stop & Pray” Outreach.
Summer 2001 Update – Stop & Pray Outreach
Our American society is living in a time of great emotional and physical stress. This is a proven fact as seen on the nightly news. Growing atrocities such as youth violence, child abduction, rape, and suicides plague our communities.
When tragedy strikes a neighborhood, people will come together and pray. Suddenly, dividing walls are down and needs override differences. The church cannot wait until tragedy strikes to come together to pray. Today people are facing life-threatening issues that were rare just a few years ago. Sudden tragedies and incurable diseases have threatened countless lives. People’s emotions have been put through the wringer.
We are aware of the great duress in the lives of many. It sometimes seems there is no where to turn and no one to trust. We offered the community a solution – the hope of prayer.
We sponsored an outreach in which we joined together with some area pastors that believe in the power of prayer. These are community leaders in good standing: Les Derrick of Living Way Church, Bob Collins and Terry Rouser of Gulf Coast Foursquare Church, and Doug Troxell of Big House Church.
Stop & Pray was an evangelistic outreach offering prayer and salvation in an environment of continuous worship. The Bible says in Philippians 4:6, “…in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Our intent was to provide a safe harbor – a place for the community to bring their prayer needs. Evangelistic teams and large signs along the highway encouraged folks to “STOP & PRAY“. It was awesome!
We had a tent set up with praise and worship music played by several local bands: Eventide, Living Way Worship Team, Heart of the Arts High-Praise Band, David Browne and Randy Salazar. There was also a tent set up for those that wished to pray with a prayer partner. Those people who drove in for prayer were given cold bottled water, symbolic of giving a cup of cold water to the weary travelers of this life (Matt. 10:42).
On hand were prayer intercessors entrusted to pray over requests people eagerly dropped by or handed to our street workers. Some people, realizing what our street team was offering, yelled their prayer requests out of their vehicle windows. We assured these hungry folks that their needs would receive prayer. Jesus desires that if we come to Him, He offers hope in the form of hearing our prayers.
The STOP & PRAY COMMUNITY OUTREACH was originally scheduled for Saturday June 9, 2001 from 9 AM – 4 PM. Tropical storm Allison hit our city the day before with no warning. The initial outreach had to be cancelled. However, we were confident in what God had called us to do. Our prayer was that God use the flooding waters and its aftermath to His glory. We rescheduled Stop & Pray for July 14th. People were desperate and ready to pray, especially those from the badly hit Friendswood area.
As the outreach began: street team members dispatched, worship bands played, and intercessors prayed. The first request that came in was one that brought us to our knees. A man had written that his wife was emotionally disturbed, his money was gone, and his children were in jeopardy, but he was believing God for healing and restoration. He wanted us to join with him in his petitions to the Lord. Another man stopped in with his family. He wanted prayer for his wife who was suffering from a chronic and debilitating disease. We were able to join hands and hearts with this family in prayer. This scene continued for the remainder of the day. Even after we began to pull up stakes people were stopping to say, “Would you pray for me?”
For over 18 years we have been bringing the hope of the Gospel to those at home and abroad. Stop & Pray was a working example of what God has called us to do – reaching the nations through music, missions and world evangelism.
The Lord honored His word when He revealed to us that if we would lift His name up and be sensitive to the cries of the hurting, He would draw them (John 12:32; Is. 50:4). We believe Stop & Pray is a prophetic model for the body of Christ to replicate around the nation to reach this generation. It is a very non-threatening outreach. The entire church can participate and be used in reaching their community. We are encouraging other pastors and ministry leaders to take the model and tailor it to reach their specific area. Given the opportunity…people will Stop & Pray.
“A Man Called Jesus” Praise & Worship CD
The song “A Man Called Jesus” has a profound impact upon the hearts of everyone who hears it. In every city and on every continent that I have traveled, that song is singled out above the rest. The Lord spoke to my heart in Croatia that “A Man Called Jesus” would be sung in every language and on every continent before His coming. Today’s technology and the worldwide web internet radio is in place to see this vision fulfilled.
We have been diligently recording this project for over a year. Each song on the Praise & Worship CD is a portrait of A Man Called Jesus. The music book will be available also.
Notes & E-Notes From Your Heart
Hey Guys…just wanted to thank ya’ll for the awesome opportunity to help minister at the “Stop & Pray” Outreach. What a blessing to work with other Christians from different backgrounds – under the banner of Christ – to pray for hurting people. Thanks so much again. You have an awesome staff – Kim, Jessica, and the others were such a blessing to me! May God bless you for your selfless efforts.
Marti Cook – Houston, TexasWe really enjoyed your visit to our church…your group and your message from God really blessed us all.
Love in Christ,
Charles & Janean Clark & Nannie – Fairfield, TexasWe were truly blessed by your ministry…may God continue to use you mightily.
Love in Him,
Pastor David & Darlene Woodard – Nacogdoches, TexasGod has called you to be a blessing to the nations.
Darlene Burkey – Houston, TexasI appreciate your heart for the Lord and the diligent way in which you serve Him. Keep on preaching and singing for the Lord. You are a blessing.
Dennis Pollock, Lamb & Lion Ministries – McKinney, TexasYou brought to us many exhortations in the Word and happiness of singing with the piano. We wait for you.
Your Friend, xxxxx – Ho Chi Ming City, VietnamAwesome word, my friend. Love ya.
Curt Williams – Youth-Reach HoustonHello! Just read your newsletter about the “Sex Society”…thank you for preaching this way…I’ve read Part 2 twice. How refreshing to hear the TRUTH in place of watered down preaching of our day. Oh! To have more preachers of righteousness in America today – the Leonard Ravenhill’s, Charles Finney’s, George Matranga’s, David Wilkerson’s, etc. You are one of the Lord’s many watchmen.
John & Nancy Saggio – Steubenville, Ohio