39 Decisions for Christ in Jacksonville

We are gearing up for the summer harvest, on the heels of a very fruitful start of the year. In January, two van loads of sunshine state saints braved the wintry weather of the mid-west to partner with our sister church in Chicago, Illinois for an impact team and two-night concert presentation. By the end of this three-day trip, 15 brand new believers made fresh decisions for Jesus Christ.

We followed that up with a weeklong marriage seminar, highlighted by a sweethearts ball at its conclusion. Marriages were strengthened and mended as many couples renewed their vows and pledged again an unfailing love to each other.

Shortly thereafter, we rolled up our sleeves and diligently went to work on our themed concert and drama presentation entitled “Ghost Town.” It depicted a broken hearted drifter who sets out to drown away his sorrows in the trinkets of the world. After realizing worldly pursuits left him in an even more depraved state, he finally struck it rich, as an old Christian prospector shares nuggets of God’s word and leads him into the riches of salvation. After this two-time presentation, 37 souls were added to heaven’s treasure chest.

We coupled this event with a Holy Ghost revival with Pastor/Evangelist Rick Martinez. Pastor Martinez ministered with fiery passion and zeal. His seasoned ministry brought timely words of encouragement and exhortation, with us seeing 39 decisions for Christ.

Keeping on track with our theme for 2009, “Being Discipled and Making Disciples in 2009,” disciples are being given platforms to minister the word of God to the congregation, for a time of facilitating and expression of God’s call upon their lives. God is revealing himself as the God that heals, as we are laying hands upon the sick and seeing them recover. Just recently a dear lady in our congregation was diagnosed with a generational form of Sudden Death Syndrome. During one of our morning services, we brought her before our congregation and prayed the prayer of faith that heals the sick. Upon a follow-up appointment, the doctors gave her a clean bill of health, showing no apparent signs of this illness ever threatening the life of our sister.

We also prayed with a number of our military men who were scheduled for deployments, asking God for a change of orders. Many of them received their new orders, keeping them here until 2010.

Sound biblical instruction through key Sunday school lessons are stirring the saints to become contagious Christians and restoring a moral compass in our day-to-day lives.

As this report is being written, we are making final preparations for our South East Pioneer Rally. Our theme for this year is Spiritual Conquest, as we are setting out to claim our city, our state and the south east region for Jesus Christ. We are going to follow this event up with a full length drama presentation entitled “The Mummy.”

God is annointing our labors and giving us fruit that remains, as we strategically target our city with various outlets of ministry, in a continual effort to reach the lost.

We would like to thank Pastor Mitchell and the Prescott congregation for a proven pattern that still works! God Bless Pastor Joe Campbell and the Chandler congregation for their continual love and support. Pray for Jacksonville, as we continue to press the battle to the gates of the enemy.