News

By LeeAnn Witzigman

When Kara was a few months old, she was dedicated at church and the pastors declared a prophetic word over her life. It was several lines long and overflowing with the treasures of Heaven that were releasing and sealing her identity. We have seen many of these words of God’s truth come to pass, but one of them recently showed up in a very special way.

It was spoken over her that she would have the roar of a Lioness and we have been faithful to remind her of this for many years. Then, one night, after her shower she was putting on lotion, and decided to leave a handprint on the mirror instead of moisturizing her skin. I left it there for a few days, because her creativity always makes me smile, despite the mess. But when I glanced at it from a certain angle inside the bathroom, I noticed something. I squinted a bit thinking I must be seeing things, but there it was, right on the center of her palm print. A roaring Lion. An unmistakable mark of the Lion of Judah. A holy confirmation that she is who God says she is. And a physical witness that her identity and divine DNA testify of Jesus Christ Himself.

When I hold her hand, I know I am touching the Lion and the Lamb. I love knowing that she has a physical fingerprint and also a sacred handprint from the Lord. What a beautiful Father to imprint His truth upon the hands of our children. And what a gracious Dad to place His face on the palms of our lives. I believe our faith revealed this hidden glory in Kara when we partnered with the word spoken over her and believed with all of our hearts that what God said about her was true and right and so very good. This is only a glimpse of all the ways that He is marking us and setting us apart to unveil who He is to the unbelieving world around us. May we be sons and daughters who search to find the revelations of His identity that He’s beautifully bestowed upon all of His glorious creation.

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By: Eglaide Seiber Barroso

Inspired by this artwork from Stephen Johnson, the Drummer from Connect Church and the founder of Father’s Heart Ministry in the Philippines, I began to think about how we quickly forget who is fighting for us and with us in times of personal battles.

Jesus said in Luke 10:19 KJV: “I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” The greater tool used by the enemy of our souls is fear, which brings discouragement to kill the steadfast belief in the dreams and plans the LORD has for us. According to Google, the definition of discouragement in the Bible is a loss of confidence and enthusiasm. And the meaning of the word discouraged is courage that is taken away by trials, tribulations, and long periods of battles.

Looking at the four stories representing courage, persistence, and unshakable faith in the God of Israel, this illustration from our Bible study allowed me to see that courage is the foundation to pursue God’s will for our lives. Courage and the burning desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in any way that is available to me has always been the strongest driving force leading me in everything I do. Faith is described in the Bible as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Trusting God’s unfailing love has been what gives me the courage to take risks, to reinvent myself into Christ’s likeness, believing that HE uses my insecurities and frailties to make all things to work for His glory. This allows me to keep moving forward, doing what is ahead of me one day at a time, knowing that through my weakness and God’s power over them, He will inspire others to follow their dreams too.

To have the courage to face our impossible situations means that we are fully dependent on God’s power to fight our giants. And by trusting God with steadfast confidence in His goodness and love, we become victorious over the giants of our past mistakes and failures.

If we can look back on the failures, disappointments, and tragedies life brings without allowing fear of success to paralyze our dreams, God’s unfailing love will lead us to stay focused on His promises. I have overcome many giants through worship, prayer, and fasting, knowing that only by focusing on God’s power I was able to defeat my ungodly beliefs. By continually trusting His goodness in the middle of mind-tormenting storms, He directs my steps and provides the way out for me.

The Bible also says in Galatians 6:8b-9 BSB: “the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit, will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Finally, when all is said and done, we will walk away from these hard places where everything comes against us to make us give up or give in to the lies of the enemy. A true warrior will never give in. A true warrior will never give up. A true warrior will pray harder for God’s direction even when everything is against what God’s promises are saying in their hearts.

1 Samuel 12:24 KJV says: “Only fear the LORD and serve HIM in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things HE hath done for you.” We will never be moved if we look to our past and remember how God came to our rescue.

By: Stuart Kellogg |

It’s not surprising if your church cheered after the Supreme Court overturned Roe, outlawing the

federal right to an abortion and returning to states the ability to outlaw it. And why not cheer?

More than 60 million innocent children have been killed in the womb since the 1973 Roe vs.

Wade decision that legalized abortion in all 50 states. What is troubling is that the vast majority

of Christians have only cheered.

While researching for The Post Covid Church book, I spoke with dozens of Christian leaders

about the urgency facing the church when the doors closed because of the pandemic shutdown.

The consensus: the need to get outside and re-engage the lost, hurting, and lonely community.

Too few churches leaned into the opportunity and aggressively expanded their outreach. Here is

a second chance now that the doors are all reopened. Overturning Roe is the perfect opportunity

for the church to make a difference in every community for Christ and show the world—-

especially the lost world—what the Christian faith inspires men and women to do for each other.

In states such as Alabama, frightened pregnant women no longer have that easy choice to simply

get rid of their “problem”. That means thousands of opportunities for Christians to step in and

help the moms and their babies. To help the organizations such as the Women’s Care Medical

Center in Baldwin County to gear up to serve many more in need. To get out and show what

pro-life really means. What better way for the church to shine?

The good news is that these Centers are getting more publicity and financial support. For

example, The Women’s Care Medical Center is opening a third location in the Bay Minette, the

Baldwin County seat. The need, however, is going to explode and too many Christians are

simply content to cheer.

The secular culture is more antagonistic to the Christians faith than ever, and now almost one out

of three Americans rejects any faith. The biggest challenge is that many of the lost see

Christianity has not just false, but evil! Overturning Roe simply ramped up the antipathy. This

is not just an opportunity to be the loving hands and feet of Christ to women and babies in need.

It’s also a chance for the lost to see that followers of Christ are much more than vocal

cheerleaders against a law. They can see followers of Christ coming together, as Christ did, to

help the most vulnerable. Christ today demands nothing less.

As a free service to churches, I teach a one-hour program called Life Matters: The Post-Roe

Mission. It helps Believers better prepare to defend the pro-life movement by learning more

about the Christian worldview and how to engage an increasingly hostile culture. If you’re interested, write me: stuart@thepostcovidchurch.org

By: Tresa Walker

Every season has a purpose, whether a time for the earth to produce or to rest and prepare for the next season of harvest. According to Ecclesiastes, seasons can represent different periods in our lives. Those seasons offer time for growth during difficult periods and time for rest during pleasant periods.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stone and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

Precious babies are born into our lives, and at some point cherished loved ones die. Sometimes homes or relationships are destroyed, but then we rebuild new ones. Some days result in crying while others bring laughter. There will be disheartening moments of grief, but eventually we can dance again. We may go through extended periods of difficulty, but we can be sure that there will also be moments of peace and joy. 

We will face many diverse seasons during our lifetime. Each one serves a specific purpose in God’s ultimate plan, and each will vary in length as well as magnitude. If the choice were ours, there would be no difficult seasons, but that also means there would be no time for necessary new growth. Pleasant seasons give us an opportunity to rest as well as minister to others going through intense moments. Although it is challenging, we can be sure that He is with us through each period of drought or freeze no matter how severe. When those difficult seasons are complete, we can often look back at all He has done and see the beauty He created.
https://strengthrenewed.blog/

By Dawn Hill – Lovesick Scribe

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-8 ESV

Over the past few years, I have had the privilege and opportunity to steward our oldest daughter’s education by homeschooling her. This was a decision my husband and I made years before we had children. We were both products of the public school system, and yet we both felt compelled to keep our children at home for instruction and education.

One of the things I enjoy about homeschooling is the freedom we have in studying various areas. We begin our day in school with a look at Scripture, and this may consist of her Sunday school lesson from church, a Biblical question about foundational beliefs, or reading a chapter in a particular book of the Bible and discussing it. We also spend time once a week being aware of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are globally being persecuted for their faith, praying for them and for those who persecute them.

Our faith in Jesus Christ is vital to our family, and school presents a wonderful opportunity with a captive audience. Our daughter gets to think and to ask questions. I use opportunities to teach her what Scripture has to say when discussing world history and practices that took place, including ancient cultures who were polytheistic. I use wisdom as to what to share with her while recognizing I cannot shield her from the things of this world. As her parent and her teacher, I become her first line of natural defense and understanding, teaching her the ways of the Lord and His instruction while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with her in daily life and the value of God’s holy Word.

As parents, we are to be proactive in teaching our children and in instructing them in God’s ways. I pray our children can say as the psalmist did in Psalm 71:17, “O God, you have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.” Even if you do not homeschool, invest in your children spiritually and Biblically.

https://lovesickscribe.com/

Jennifer Lynn Easton Joy

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. Then I said, ‘Alas, LORD GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.’ But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,’ declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 1:5-8, NASB).

The name Jennifer means “to be set apart” in the Hebrew language. Although, I was not a youth in my chronological years, I felt completely incapable and certainly unqualified for what the LORD asked. In the previous year, I was introduced to prophetic worship instruments and found them to be an unknown foreign language. Then HE asked me to make one, which I did not know how to do. I sat on the floor of my furniture-less apartment the consequence of a previous unprecedented storm and waited. HIS presence tangibly arrived. He instructed me with every single meticulous detail of creating Prophetic Worship Glory Rings with HIS own unique pattern. Over the course of the year, I made eight personal Prophetic Worship Glory Rings, sitting at HIS feet, listening to HIS voice, embraced by HIS presence. The Holy Spirit requested that I remove all secular media influences from my life (movies, newspapers, magazines, books, TV) and to just spend time studying the Scriptures and worshiping my King YESHUA. It was an in-depth season of HIS impartation. The Holy Spirit mentioned that there were some Integrity Tests in my future which were related to my gainful employment situations. Sometimes when a person stands for truth, they are terminated from employment in hopes that what they uncovered will remain covered.

In December, the Holy Spirit asked me to make 50 Finger Prophetic Worship Glory Rings (one-inch brass rings with eight quarter inch and one-eighth inch ribbons) and to give with a “very rough draft” of the booklet, Have Glory Ring will Travel! instead of the traditional holiday greeting cards. Surprised and overwhelmed by HIS request, it was January 1997 before the assignment was completed. The Holy Spirit spent the next two years teaching me how to give prophetic words (words of encouragement, exhortation and edification) over Prophetic Worship Glory Rings – HIS Prophetic Songs in color, type and symbol before any were released to Nations in 1998.
https://www.hisgloryreigns.com/our-story.html

Minister Joy’s passion is to see the Destiny and Glory of YESHUA, Our Messiah released through the Body of Christ, both individually and corporately. She walks in an apostolic anointing given by the Holy Spirit to release unity, restoration, faith, truth, redemption, revival, renewal, inspiration, creativity, courage, hope, healing, holiness, and freedom through teaching, preaching, prophetic encouragement, intercessory prayer and worship arts. Jennifer, a fourth generation native Oregonian, has ministered throughout the United States and internationally since 1996. Minister Joy was raised in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, USA with six siblings, one being her fraternal twin sister. The Conservative Baptist Church was the origin of her faith. Later in life she transitioned to a more Charismatic Protestant Christian Worship Atmosphere. Jennifer graduated from Northwest Christian College, Eugene, Oregon, USA with a BS Psychology 1994 and from Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Oregon, USA with a Master of Divinity and Pastoral Counseling Certificate 2010, in addition to being ordained as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, YESHUA, Our Messiah in May 2002.

https://www.hisgloryreigns.com/our-story.html

by Stuart Kellogg

Imagine hearing that phrase from a ministry leader while sanctuary doors closed, people isolated alone at home and one out of three Christians walked away from the church?  Yet Dr. Bill Wilson, former pastor and founder of The Center for Healthy Churches remains convinced THIS is when the church must, and will, shine as Christ’s beacon to an increasingly lost and hurting world.

As the pandemic raged, I noticed that there were two types of congregations:  those acting like “turtle churches”, hunkering down and waiting for “normal” to return, and those leaning in and aggressively using the crisis as an opportunity to shine.  I spoke with almost 100 ministers, Christian leadership experts and lay leaders to find out how Christ’s church could not just survive but THRIVE in the midst of this deadly pandemic.  What I found was an almost universal faith in the ability of the body of Christ to indeed thrive, although likely as a smaller, more embattled body.

The early Christ followers stood out by how they lived.  Plagues were a regular occurrence and while the rich were able to flee to the hills, the rest were left to face death.  Those early Christians saw the need and helped the sick, sometimes succumbing to the plague themselves.  The people noticed that there was something indeed very different about these Christ followers and wanted to know more.

The challenge today is similar.  How can the church stand out so that those lost without Christ want to know more?  A common thread that runs through the congregations that thrived is the willingness to more aggressively reach outside the walls of the church.  There have never been more Americans with no religious affiliation (almost three out of 10),  fewer attending church (less than half)  and more hostility to the faith.  One reason:  only a little more than one out of three Americans believes ministers are highly or very highly ethical!

The forced shutdowns have driven up the number of suicides, depression and isolation among all age groups in America.  The increasingly hostile partisanship has pitted citizens against each other in ways not seen since the Civil War.  An increasingly powerful secular class wants to stamp out any faith-based influence in the culture.  Within this reality is the challenge for the church and its leaders.  The allegiance must be to Christ, and Christ alone, not to any political party or human leader.  Its mission must be to the lost and hurting.  Its goal must be Christ-centered tangible help that encourages a new life and new living.  In other words, there is a LOT of work to do.

https://bit.ly/PostCovidChurchBook

https://www.thepostcovidchurch.com/

By Donna Marable

Our Father’s Heart Outreach has partnered with a team in the Philippines to distribute food and Balikbayan Boxes which contain clothing, children’s Christian and educational books, DVDs, blankets, powdered milk, dried foods . . . and love.  An outreach to the native children and families in the city of Mabalacat, Pampanga Province, is a monthly event.  The team, with ‘boots on the ground’ in the Philippines, cooks spaghetti and distributes various nonperishable foods that are purchased in their local area via donations from Our Father’s Heart Outreach on the Gulf of Mexico Alabama coast in America.  The meals and the distributions are done in the Clark City Park and in a camp under a Mabalacat bridge.  The trackable boxes of love are shipped via  UMAC Express Cargo from the Babayan Grocery store in Pensacola, Florida.

The Filipino team leader, Maricel Larawan partners with Gulf Shores founder Stephen Johnson and his son Caleb – who is full of ideas and known as “the creative think tank”.  Their common vision and passion is:  “Showing the love of Jesus Christ and the Heart of Father God by the power of the Holy Spirit through tangible giving”.  The Mission’s name grew out of Stephen’s recognition that the Mission was not from HIS OWN heart, BUT directly from THE FATHER’S heart working through him and the team.  Keeping their thoughts and focus on the Bible verses I John 3:17 and Hebrews 13:16, they have experienced the favor of God with stability and growth.  Their progress may be followed on the website:  www.ourfathersheartoutreach.org

Besides performing practical acts of love to the children and families in the Philippines, Stephen’s desire is to let the recipients know that no matter what background they come from, God has a purpose and a plan for their lives.  He is expecting God and the Mission to encourage and enable the family members to recognize their God-given talents and giftings in practical ways as Stephen knows that their gifts are attached to their purpose.  On his next trip over Stephen hopes to shower crowns and tiaras on each of the children, demonstrating they are kings and princesses in God’s eyes.  The last Balikbayan Box shipment arrived in August. 2022.  To help with the next shipment, planned for inbound December, 2022, or future shipments in 2023, please contact ourfathersheart7@gmail.com or jim.curtis.connect@gmail.com or Stephen at (770) 771-3664.

This monthly, tangible example of the Father’s love is possible through the provision of thoughtful items and generous monetary donations from the members of Connect Church in Foley, Alabama and by others around the U.S.  After speaking with the Founder, it is easy to understand the joy of the Lord in his expressions and on his face as he explained this passion birthed out of his lifelong experiences.  There are other locations in the Philippines on which Stephen has his eye – anticipating future shipments there as the Lord networks and opens doors – – ‘job well done, faithful servant’ and – Glory be to Our Father!

The ministry is expanding to partner with Jesus Saves Ministries Inc. – Cavite Outreach, in Dasmariñas, Philippines, under the leadership of Assistant Pastor Andrea Morden.

https://www.connectchurch.faith –  www.ourfathersheartoutreach.org – www.facebook.com/JSMCavite

The Dying of the Light

By Eglaide Seiber Barroso

These beautiful faces on this page are the faces of two teachers and 19 innocent children. On May 24, they went to school but never came back alive. Their dreams of a brilliant future in the land of the free vanished from the face of the earth in a split second. The actions of a single evil-infected mind of a human being have forever robbed their families and relatives from experiencing the fullness of what they could and would have conquered during their lives’ journey together. Their families now have the broken pieces of their precious lives cut too short, the confusion that comes with the burial process, the criminal investigations, and the emptiness and profound pain that can only be understood by those who unexpectedly suffered such a brutal trauma. In addition to all these dark emotions, they must also deal with the media’s repeated noise about how it happened, who is to blame, what will stop these tragedies, and who will handle their court cases’ opinions. They see their unimaginable losses transformed into a media-politicized drama. Since when did a celebration of life event turn from comforting those who mourn, to becoming an opportunity to highlight political parties’ agendas?

How many times will we have to hear false promises of changes that never happen from people on both sides of the political arena? Where did prayer go since we, as The PEOPLE of a Nation under God, didn’t mobilize as the church to be involved in every area needing our gifts to bring back God into every high place of government in our country? The Bible says, “It is not for us to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” (Acts 1:7-8a) What do we think Jesus was crucified for? As Americans, we are to strive to be the light of this world, especially when gross darkness abounds. We can’t continue to hide our gifts and do nothing and expect a different result from what we are experiencing in America. I voted this past election. Did you? Did you research the background of the candidates you voted for? Did your vote help a pro-life, pro-family, pro-Bible, and godly principled agenda to come back to this Nation regardless of parties? Or did you just punch your voting answers to post your sticker on social media to feel patriotic?

Since this horrific event happened in Uvalde, Texas, where 21 innocent lives were taken by a lunatic with an AR-15-style rifle, another 33 mass shootings have been reported on television nationwide, making this year so far overtake past years’ reports. Today as we are thinking of that, the question I have is who still remembers the victims of Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Parkland, or of the September 11^th terrorist attack? And all the other terrorist attack victims prior to that event. What we are seeing in America is not because law-abiding citizens can purchase guns; it is because of the lack of a godly government. WE, THE PEOPLE of this godly sovereign Nation, have the right to own and carry guns as stated in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. But WE, THE PEOPLE, through our slothful utopian lifestyle, have sat back and done nothing to keep God in schools, public places, and political agendas. We now have a self-righteous entitled generation of young adults who have been brainwashed to support gay marriages, abortion, gender neutrality, and schools that teach our children explicit sexual content. Some citizens support illegal immigration, defunding the police, and Christian clergy and leaders give in to the occult traditions and pagan beliefs that for many decades have infiltrated the church with the purpose of destroying this Nation. These things didn’t happen overnight. Our forefathers knew we needed the Constitution as protection for our country. They fought for it because they were brave men who were ready to die for the freedoms we have today. They wrote our Constitution by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, who is THE FATHER OF ALL GOOD THINGS!

To finish what is going through my mind today, the LORD reminded me of the Bible verse from 1 Samuel 15:22b, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” So, let’s RISE UP to teach everyone the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ without fear of man. He gave us ALL POWER to conquer our enemies. HE is our LORD AND ONLY GOD that died for our salvation and reconciliation to the Father’s Kingdom!

This coming November, we have another opportunity to make a difference and kindle the fire, so America has the chance to be the light to the world and the land of the brave again. GO VOTE!