WHAT A NIGHT IN THE DURHAM COUNTY JAIL!!!

What a night in the Durham County Jail!!! The Holy Spirit showed up in there and lives were touched for JESUS! I had a number of guys that have an affiliation with the Crips gang. It is really something to see how many are familiar with the ministry and know what the van looks like. It gives the ministry so much credibility when you have inmates start telling stories about the ministry and also saying what the ministry has done for them. It sets every one's focus in more.

As I have continued to minister to these guys on getting out of jail and truly following Jesus and serving Him, I believe that some heart were touched last night! It all started by some of the guys asking me to tell some stories from approaching gang members on the streets. They find it very funny just because they are not approached by many people out there. Some of them have been in the groups that I have approached. For me it sometimes seems like nothing is happening but I am able to see that the seed was planted firmly when I converse with them. Several of them also said that it was awesome to see Eileen and I walking McDougald Terrace late at night. It meant alot to them again because it was something that they had never seen. I take no glory in any of this and I know that Eileen would not either. We were just being obedient to what the Lord told us to do!

The next thing that I did last night was telling them to open their Bible's to Revelation 9:5-6.

Revelation 9:5 They were not permitted to kill them, but to torment (distress, vex) them for five months; and the pain caused them was like the torture of a scorpion when it stings a person. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; and they will yearn to die, but death evades and flees from them.

I said that it is sad but is very likely that some in this room will experience what the above verses are talking about. I said to them that I had no idea what a scorpion sting felt like but for them to just imagine being stung by a bee over and over. I said that a scorpion sting has to be so much worse and said for them to just stop and think about how awful that would be. I said "just think about trying every way to kill yourself but all it did would bring you more pain". "No matter what you did you could not die". I then told them that everyone has a choice of whether to go through that or not. The problem that keeps so many of them from giving their lives up is that they love sin more than they love JESUS!

I then went back to asking them who was going to man up and make a stand for JESUS??? One Crip leader said "man, I want to make changes but I have never had anyone who would walk with me". I said "I will walk with you brother"! He said "I need your information so that I can get ahold of you". I gave him a ministry card and said "now you have it"! Another Crip leader was sitting right next to me and he stood up in the middle of the circle very broken. He then said "I have caused heart ache to many people in this room and their families. I want yall to know that I am very sorry and that I am going to get out of here and make a difference. He said "I want to walk with this man" pointing to me. This brother actually has a big time hit that has been placed on his life that he will have to deal with when he gets out. How exciting it is to think of EX gang members walking the streets with me sharing JESUS!!!!

I would have liked to stay in there all night! I know that we would have continued to have church! It has been tough waiting for lives to change in there. Granted, no one has actually stepped up yet but I feel strong in my spirit that the seeds that have been planted are about to sprout! Eileen and I used to always talk about when someone was going to finally step up and join us? I know she will be looking down and smiling when it happens! I am praying for favor that I will be able to have more time in the jail where I can focus in on the guys more. (actually the women also) I strongly believe that some big things are about to take place!

I have known Brandy for around 2 months. This girl has so much potential and is really a neat person but very much in need of help. Brandy has a severe heroin addiction. She came out of the womb exposed to heroin by her parents in Philadelphia. The girl has never really had a chance at a normal life. She told me of how when she was a young kid she would take off and be gone for a long time then expect to be in trouble when she returned home and her parents would never know that she was ever gone. She has been very exposed to witchcraft and today told me stories of battles with demons.

I was very concerned for her because it had been a month today since I saw her last. I actually seen her first yesterday but got with her today to get a plan together to get her some help. I prayed yesterday morning that I would find her and praise the Lord that as soon as I arrived in the village there she was! I did not have much success today as far as getting her lined up in a program. I ask that you join me in praying that Brandy will get in the right program to get the breakthrough she needs. We want to get her detoxed first then try to get her into a one year program in Florida. I would love to see her complete the program then return here and work with us on the streets!!!

Tuesday Durham Street Report!

What an awesome day of ministry today! The weather was fantastic with temps in the 60's!

Chevette Moore with Greg on Holloway Street. I was driving down Holloway and saw Chevette witnessing so I stopped and we ministered together for a while. Chevette has a real heart for the lost. She and her husband (Keith) were once on the streets on crack. Greg is making head way from when I met him three years ago. Praying that he will surrender his life to JESUS!

This is another brother that I have known for a long time. He is an alcoholic. He just did some time then returned right back to the area that he got in trouble at before. (Proverbs 26:11) This guy started singing gospel songs out there today and what a voice! He also started quoting scripture! He believes that he is ok with the Lord??? He is very deceived! One of those deals where he once prayed a prayer???? We ministered the Word to him and I told him that the Bible is clear that no drunkard will inherit the Kingdom of God! (1Corinthians 6:9-10)

I ministered to four different prostitutes today. April is such a sweet girl but just needs direction in her life. I am praying that she will leave the streets and get into rehab. She just did some time in the county jail so she is off heroin right now. She is using alcohol now instead. She needed a coat today so she is wearing one that was donated by the New Hope Church people this past Sunday. This is a Lee jacket that had the tags still on it. She just loved it! Please pray that April surrenders her life to JESUS!

An Awesome Weekend of Ministry!

SATURDAY---Praise God for the weather holding off for us at Rochelle Manor this past Saturday! We teamed up with Bethesda Baptist to minister to and bless the people of this community. I appreciate Pastor Jacob, Pastor JR, Marcia Elliott, Clint McCullen and the rest of the crew at Bethesda Baptist coming out to serve and minister. It was also good to work with the people of Flat Rock Baptist Church in Hendersonville, NC. who came in to team up with Bethesda for this outreach.

We had a very good crowd for the way the weather was looking. We have out 14 color tv's, clothes, bedding, food, toys, etc. We do this of course as a way to share the GOspel and to build relationships with the community. This has been a place of a number of shootings and a couple deaths since I have been here. All of this just opens the door for us to go in whatever the situation and conditions in the future. They never forget when their personal needs are met through ministry!

It is such a blessing to be able to bless the less fortunate little ones!!! Isn't she cute?

It was a blessing to have Pastor Pedro of Iglesia Evangelica "Comunidades de Formacion Cristiana" out there with us to be able to minister to the large Hispanic population that resides there. Pastor Pedro's church is located at 5516 Roxboro Rd. They share the building with Christian Assembly Church.

Angie Ashby greets and holds the canopy up for people to go in and do some shopping.

Pastor Jacob, Pastor JR, and Marcia Elliott looking over the situation.

The youth were passing out sheet sets that were inside a pillow case. They walked throughout the area blessing people with them.

SUNDAY ---- It was a huge blessing for us to be asked by New Hope Church of Durham to be part of their 10 year Anniversary Celebration. Part of the day was their people bringing in coats to donate which all went to us. It was so cold that morning. In the 30's with a wind and mist!! I about froze to death!! I kept thinking about the streets of Chicago and how I was ever able to handle wind chill factors of 40-50 below under expressways??? My blood has definitely thinned out!!!

We stuffed the van full from the front seats all the way back. I would guess that we have a couple hundred coats. Thank you Pastor Benji and the people of New Hope Church of Durham and the surrounding areas.

MONDAY----Three happy guys getting ready to go and eat at McDonald's. I had just got done setting them up with coats. Michael (front) is an extreme alcoholic. He told me today that he really needs to get his life right with Jesus. He has to bring me a signed bulletin from Pastor Fitzpatrick at One Love Ministries to continue getting food from this ministry. Ricky (back left) is supposed to be going in Durham Access to get dried out then will do a bit of time then he wants me to disciple him which I am glad to do. The hispanic gentleman is homeless and lives in the woods. I am going to be hooking him up with another homeless hispanic that is on fire for Jesus at a different camp.

What Place Does Jesus Really Get In Your Life?

Recently I have been feeling conviction in my heart for not really placing JESUS above all other things in my life. Many of us that profess to be Christians will say that HE is first place. How about the old line that so many of us use….”God first, family second and our profession third then everything else falls in after that”. How often we do not tell HIM the truth. What if we really did place him first in our lives? What if HE went ahead of your spouse? What if you gave your spouse the same treatment that you give the Lord? For many that would mean only talking to them on Sunday mornings! For some that would mean not talking to them at all because some do not even have a relationship with him while at church because they are there for the “social club” instead of HIM. The divorce rate would sky rocket because we could not stand to be treated the same that JESUS is! What if we really placed HIM above our jobs or professions? Many would be fired! My BIBLE says that if I seek HIM first that HE will add everything else unto me! I have walked this and personally been able to see that HIS WORD is true!!!

Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

WHAT IF we would give JESUS the same time as we give to our favorite NFL team? WHAT IF we would spend the same three hours in God’s Word that we spend watching that game???

WHAT IF we would have our children spend the same amount of time studying God’s Word that they spend playing video games of watching the television???

WHAT IF adults would spend the same time in the Word as they watch the television???

WHAT IF we were as loyal to JESUS as we are to our boss at work???

WHAT IF JESUS was as important as the children’s sporting event???

WHAT IF we would take the one thing in our life that occupies the most time and give JESUS that same amount of time??? Many would say that would not be possible because they could not get everything done in “their life” and that is where the problem really is. We can not really place HIM first because the world has moved in and controlled our lives.

1John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

God’s plan never was for us to get so caught up in the world’s ways that we would become so ineffective for HIM! If we truly are “in Christ” we should separate ourselves. People should see us as much different. So many that profess to be a Christian blend right into the world so no one can tell any difference.

Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

We could go on and on with the things that take our time away from truly living for and serving JESUS. The bottom line is that many out there know how to play out the role of the “typical American so called Christian”. Why are so many foreign countries sending missionaries to our country today? They know how messed up that those who profess to be Christians in this country are! They know that most that profess to be Christians in this country are not going to share “their faith” with others! Many seem to think that they are saved and going to heaven and that is enough. What will it really be like for them when they have to stand before a RIGHTEOUS GOD and give account for the way they lived “their life”??? Can one stand before a RIGHTEOUS GOD and hear the words “well done good and faithful servant” without having other souls connected to them???

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls. ---- wouldn’t this mean that he who does not win souls is unwise???

Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." ---- if HE wanted them to be “fishers of men” don’t you think that HE would expect the same from us??? I have friends ask me about going fishing and I tell them that I go fishing every day! When the story swings to fishing for souls the fishing conversation usually doesn’t last much longer.

We seem to have that way of speaking the “Christianese” language that we know so well. Everything will sound really good that comes from our mouth’s especially on Sunday mornings. WHAT IF we really lived out the songs that we sing to the Lord? Think about this….if we sing those songs and do not live them out what does that make us out to be??? Take time to really think about the words that you sing to the Lord. Are you really singing them to the Lord or are you just singing??? What if we really lived out the words that we speak? What if we truly "walked it" instead of just "talking it"???

Before the critics start sending me rebuking comments I want to say that in many cases there is nothing wrong with doing different things in this world. What is wrong is when we give more devotion to things of this world that we do to JESUS! We must give balance to the life that we live with the heavy side going to HIM! I know that I must give the ONE that died on the cross for me what is due to HIM! I was stirred at 5:00 a.m. this morning with all of this heavy on my heart. My flesh wanted to stay in bed. I am tired of my flesh having its own way! I am tired of not being the best that I can be for the Lord! I am tired of giving the devil pleasure by conforming to different things in this world. Dying on the cross was the most HE could do for me….living for HIM is the least that I can do!!!

Galatians 1:10 Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.