MIDWEEK CONNECTION
Almost two weeks ago, during the Unite to Restore Prayer Gathering, a gentleman who is known as a prophet in this region asked me if I was from St. Louis. I told him, “Yes” and he proceeded to speak a word into my life.
He said, “Since you are a son of St. Louis, God has given you authority to speak into the situation there.”
The next morning, I awakened with a strong anointing weighing heavily upon me and a prophetic word for St. Louis. I made a video recording and posted it for our spiritual sons and daughters to share with others. Six days later, the video had been shared 59 times and seen by over 2,800 people.
I was not trying to address if whether the young man, who had been killed, was innocent or guilty. I was not trying to defend or condemn the policeman that shot him. My total focus was the response of the church at that critical moment.
Many churches had already been responding to the growing crisis. I was not trying to say that no one had been doing anything. My main focus was simply what God had placed in my spirit and that was a call for the church to get out of the four walls and go to the streets with praise and worship. I told them it was time for the church to get out of the four walls and go to the apartment complex where the teen was killed and pray for a traumatized community. I told them God was bringing forth a new spirit of St. Louis.
One church family, in direct response to that word, went to that apartment complex and walked the streets praising God and praying for people along the way. They even got a chance to pray for some police officers and for the police captain who was in charge of everything. It was a divinely orchestrated and profoundly important night. See their video from that night at http://youtu.be/9O-vwKODF8U
We may never know how important it was for them to do that, especially if the accused officer is declared innocent. There are forces in play that are ready to take over that city if there is a massive riotous response.
Now that this has become a national and international issue, an innocent verdict could spark riots all over the United States. So it basically comes down to this: Will we see the fires of revival or the fire of riots? We might see both. Right now we’re seeing revival and we want Urban Life to be a part of that revival.
Six months ago we sent you an email about perilous times. We wrote that we feel intense persecution is coming against churches and Christian leaders. We also warned that we will no longer see these events taking place only in foreign countries.
My exact quote was, “We can see a lot of trouble on the horizon for America, Pennsylvania and Harrisburg. The trouble will no longer be in the news, in some country far away. It will be knocking down your door or a neighbor’s door.”
We know we keep repeating this like a broken CD, but, it’s time to pray and get ready to minister to our families, friends, neighbors and co-workers as these trials and tribulations come upon our nation.
Very soon, the only way you and I will be able to even hear a sermon or any other type of Biblical message will be via internet postings. Eventually, this will go away, too. We’ve been sharing these things with you guys for several years now and you are watching it unfold right in our home city of St. Louis.
Three weeks ago, hardly anyone had even heard of Ferguson. As a young couple, we actually lived in that very apartment complex, 29 years ago. We don’t think it’s merely coincidence that your pastors are THIS close to a situation that has become a central focus in our nation.
As we watched our family, friends, and spiritual children take a bold stand in evangelism in our hometown, we hope it gives you a clear picture of what we desire for Urban Life and Harrisburg. We desire to see a new spirit in Harrisburg, too. But like most cities, it may take a similar crisis to wake up this community as well.
Please heed this call. It's not time for fancy sermons, counseling sessions, seminars and workshops. We’re not interested in conferences, conventions and political rallies. Those things have their place, in their time. But that place and time is not now. Right now, it’s time to seek the Lord. We desire a genuine encounter with the living God.
We’ll see you Sunday!
He said, “Since you are a son of St. Louis, God has given you authority to speak into the situation there.”
The next morning, I awakened with a strong anointing weighing heavily upon me and a prophetic word for St. Louis. I made a video recording and posted it for our spiritual sons and daughters to share with others. Six days later, the video had been shared 59 times and seen by over 2,800 people.
I was not trying to address if whether the young man, who had been killed, was innocent or guilty. I was not trying to defend or condemn the policeman that shot him. My total focus was the response of the church at that critical moment.
Many churches had already been responding to the growing crisis. I was not trying to say that no one had been doing anything. My main focus was simply what God had placed in my spirit and that was a call for the church to get out of the four walls and go to the streets with praise and worship. I told them it was time for the church to get out of the four walls and go to the apartment complex where the teen was killed and pray for a traumatized community. I told them God was bringing forth a new spirit of St. Louis.
One church family, in direct response to that word, went to that apartment complex and walked the streets praising God and praying for people along the way. They even got a chance to pray for some police officers and for the police captain who was in charge of everything. It was a divinely orchestrated and profoundly important night. See their video from that night at http://youtu.be/9O-vwKODF8U
We may never know how important it was for them to do that, especially if the accused officer is declared innocent. There are forces in play that are ready to take over that city if there is a massive riotous response.
Now that this has become a national and international issue, an innocent verdict could spark riots all over the United States. So it basically comes down to this: Will we see the fires of revival or the fire of riots? We might see both. Right now we’re seeing revival and we want Urban Life to be a part of that revival.
Six months ago we sent you an email about perilous times. We wrote that we feel intense persecution is coming against churches and Christian leaders. We also warned that we will no longer see these events taking place only in foreign countries.
My exact quote was, “We can see a lot of trouble on the horizon for America, Pennsylvania and Harrisburg. The trouble will no longer be in the news, in some country far away. It will be knocking down your door or a neighbor’s door.”
We know we keep repeating this like a broken CD, but, it’s time to pray and get ready to minister to our families, friends, neighbors and co-workers as these trials and tribulations come upon our nation.
Very soon, the only way you and I will be able to even hear a sermon or any other type of Biblical message will be via internet postings. Eventually, this will go away, too. We’ve been sharing these things with you guys for several years now and you are watching it unfold right in our home city of St. Louis.
Three weeks ago, hardly anyone had even heard of Ferguson. As a young couple, we actually lived in that very apartment complex, 29 years ago. We don’t think it’s merely coincidence that your pastors are THIS close to a situation that has become a central focus in our nation.
As we watched our family, friends, and spiritual children take a bold stand in evangelism in our hometown, we hope it gives you a clear picture of what we desire for Urban Life and Harrisburg. We desire to see a new spirit in Harrisburg, too. But like most cities, it may take a similar crisis to wake up this community as well.
Please heed this call. It's not time for fancy sermons, counseling sessions, seminars and workshops. We’re not interested in conferences, conventions and political rallies. Those things have their place, in their time. But that place and time is not now. Right now, it’s time to seek the Lord. We desire a genuine encounter with the living God.
We’ll see you Sunday!
