Following our camp for students in 6th-12th grade, Camp Overflow, we took 52 students and adults on the streets with an organized outreach to kick off our Empower 2012 week. Because of having 100 people at camp, everything took longer than expected, so by the time we were ready to go out, we really only had 45 minutes to minister in the various neighborhoods where God led us. By the time all of our teams had gathered back for dinner, we led 155 people to Jesus!
I was with Brian and Jay and we had tremendous testimonies! At one point, Brian (11 yrs) saw a large group of people on the basketball court and was immediately wanting to go minister to them. You see, at camp, Brian received the Holy Spirit and was empowered to be a witness (Acts 1:8). I told him to let me run grab the cooler full of water and we'd head over there. Jay was off getting another guy saved while Brian and I started wheeling the cooler to the court. Brian shouted, "Come get some FREE WATER!" It was like we had fish food! They all came over and grabbed a bottle. I presented the gospel and Brian led 16 young men and women in the prayer of salvation. After he got done praying, he said, "Now, who needs healing in their body?"
One guy perked up and said he had just twisted his ankle playing ball. I shared with him from our blue Miracle Working script and then Brian laid hands on him and commanded the pain to go! He said it was a little better but after we ministered to him once more, he said, "I'm straight now!"
I believe Brian is a shining example of Acts 1:8 and what happens when the Holy Spirit empowers believers! He said he would have never done that before camp!
This is just one of many miraculous stories that God did in just 45 minutes! What can He do if you give Him something to work with?
Showing posts with label believer's ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label believer's ministry. Show all posts
6.18.2012
10.15.2011
.shockwave challenge - day 56
Karis and I went to Wal-Mart to get a "shockwave sandwich" as she calls the shockwave challenge. We went in armed with 7 invitations and were determined to leave without any left. While we were doing our shopping for a few items, we were on the prowl for people who needed Jesus! At one point, we were following a couple up and down several aisles looking for the perfect opportunity to approach them. We invited 7 people to church and prayed with all of them for various needs. One grandmother asked her grandson if he wanted us to pray for his school, so we did. They were already saved.
Another couple we met said they knew they would go to heaven because they were good. Like many people we've met, we found out later that they had already accepted Christ as their Savior. They said, "We haven't ever had anyone ask us that in a store before." I laughed aloud, but cringed inside. Isn't it sad that so few believers are doing our part?
While we were finishing up our shopping, I noticed a lady with a cane shopping with her family. I told Karis that we were going to invite them to church. The approach was a little awkward because Karis said, "Excuse me" when we walked up to them and they tried to move as if we were asking them to get out of the way. I jumped in and said that she wanted to invite them to church. There was a little girl there that was the same age as Karis, so she wanted to get out of the cart and personally hand the card to her. She handed out a card to each person in the family and we told them about our Trunk or Treat event. I asked them if they needed prayer, and immediately the lady with the cane said she had some serious health issues. I inquired further about her health condition and found out that she had been diagnosed with quite a number of things from high blood pressure to blood clots and back problems and other things I couldn't remember. I began telling her how Jesus healed the blind, lame, deaf and mute and that her problems were nothing for Him. I shared with her from John 14:12 and Mark 16 about how Jesus had given believers the commission to lay hands on the sick and we could do the same works and even greater works than He had. I shared the testimony of the lady with the broken thumb, whom I prayed for last week, and told her God's power would work the same way for her. Then, with her permission, I laid hands on her and commanded her body to be made whole. After we prayed, I asked if there was any difference. She looked at me, wide-eyed, and speechless. I said, "Your back's warm, isn't it?" She said, "Why, yes! This is weird. I could hardly stand up in here shopping before, but I feel better now!" I explained about the power of God working in her body to bring about a healing and a cure for her condition and then shared the gospel with her and her daughter. The two of them prayed the prayer of salvation with me! They were both so thankful that I had approached them because they needed what I had to offer.
And, if you're a believer, you have something to offer, too! Get out there and give life to someone today. Don't let another opportunity to minister healing or salvation to someone slip away. Seize the moment and you won't have any regrets!
Another couple we met said they knew they would go to heaven because they were good. Like many people we've met, we found out later that they had already accepted Christ as their Savior. They said, "We haven't ever had anyone ask us that in a store before." I laughed aloud, but cringed inside. Isn't it sad that so few believers are doing our part?
While we were finishing up our shopping, I noticed a lady with a cane shopping with her family. I told Karis that we were going to invite them to church. The approach was a little awkward because Karis said, "Excuse me" when we walked up to them and they tried to move as if we were asking them to get out of the way. I jumped in and said that she wanted to invite them to church. There was a little girl there that was the same age as Karis, so she wanted to get out of the cart and personally hand the card to her. She handed out a card to each person in the family and we told them about our Trunk or Treat event. I asked them if they needed prayer, and immediately the lady with the cane said she had some serious health issues. I inquired further about her health condition and found out that she had been diagnosed with quite a number of things from high blood pressure to blood clots and back problems and other things I couldn't remember. I began telling her how Jesus healed the blind, lame, deaf and mute and that her problems were nothing for Him. I shared with her from John 14:12 and Mark 16 about how Jesus had given believers the commission to lay hands on the sick and we could do the same works and even greater works than He had. I shared the testimony of the lady with the broken thumb, whom I prayed for last week, and told her God's power would work the same way for her. Then, with her permission, I laid hands on her and commanded her body to be made whole. After we prayed, I asked if there was any difference. She looked at me, wide-eyed, and speechless. I said, "Your back's warm, isn't it?" She said, "Why, yes! This is weird. I could hardly stand up in here shopping before, but I feel better now!" I explained about the power of God working in her body to bring about a healing and a cure for her condition and then shared the gospel with her and her daughter. The two of them prayed the prayer of salvation with me! They were both so thankful that I had approached them because they needed what I had to offer.
And, if you're a believer, you have something to offer, too! Get out there and give life to someone today. Don't let another opportunity to minister healing or salvation to someone slip away. Seize the moment and you won't have any regrets!
10.13.2011
.shockwave challenge - day 54
We went to the Kroc center this afternoon to workout and swim. After my run, I walked over to the water fountain and saw one of the lifeguards watching an indoor soccer game from outside the gym. I walked up and asked if he was just getting off of work or taking a break. He said he was happy to be going home and was ready for some sleep. After a little small talk, I invited him to church and he said, "You know, I've been wanting to get back to church but I've just had some bad experiences at churches." I promised he would find just what he needed at Good News Church and then I asked how he got involved in church in the first place. He said he was really involved as a kid when the local church sent a van into the neighborhood to pick kids up.
I told him I didn't want to assume anything just because he attended church and that I needed to ask him an important question. Then I dropped the million dollar bomb on him. He said he thought he'd go to heaven because he was a good person. He said that he felt like the more good you do, the closer you get to God and the more bad you do, the closer you get to the devil. I told him that I could tell he seemed like a good person, but ultimately how good do you have to be to get into heaven? He nodded his head like he understood. I then shared the gospel with him and pointed out that there's no way we can be good enough and that's why God sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us. I shared Romans 10:9 with him and asked if he'd ever prayed a prayer like that. He said he thought he had when he was a kid, but wanted to do it again because he felt like he needed to. I was happy to oblige and so I led him in the prayer of salvation. After our prayer, he said, "I really needed that today. I feel good now!" I continued to share with him about the benefits of salvation and encouraged him to come to church to grow in his faith. He said he'd like that.
Who can you share the gospel with today? Go out and give life! You could encourage someone. You could lead someone else to Christ. You could challenge another believer to share his faith. You could lay hands on the sick and heal them. You could do the works of Christ and join the most important ministry there is: the ministry of the believer!
I told him I didn't want to assume anything just because he attended church and that I needed to ask him an important question. Then I dropped the million dollar bomb on him. He said he thought he'd go to heaven because he was a good person. He said that he felt like the more good you do, the closer you get to God and the more bad you do, the closer you get to the devil. I told him that I could tell he seemed like a good person, but ultimately how good do you have to be to get into heaven? He nodded his head like he understood. I then shared the gospel with him and pointed out that there's no way we can be good enough and that's why God sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us. I shared Romans 10:9 with him and asked if he'd ever prayed a prayer like that. He said he thought he had when he was a kid, but wanted to do it again because he felt like he needed to. I was happy to oblige and so I led him in the prayer of salvation. After our prayer, he said, "I really needed that today. I feel good now!" I continued to share with him about the benefits of salvation and encouraged him to come to church to grow in his faith. He said he'd like that.
Who can you share the gospel with today? Go out and give life! You could encourage someone. You could lead someone else to Christ. You could challenge another believer to share his faith. You could lay hands on the sick and heal them. You could do the works of Christ and join the most important ministry there is: the ministry of the believer!
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