From Jim:
Where can I start, this trip was such a whirlwind.
Friday was basically just a travel day without much in the way of issues but it was a long day non the less. We are two hours ahead (time wise) of Guatemala which made for the rather long,tiring day. We were up at 6:00 am and arrived around 7:00 pm our time.
Saturday was just a time of fellowship with Pastor's Josue and Raul, we needed time to talk with pastor Raul who is the pastor of the Father's Heart Church in Guatemala City. It has been two years since I had been there (because of the cancer I was battling), and there were a lot of things that needed to be talked about along with some encouragement that was badly needed. The people of the church were very concerned because of not hearing from me in such a long time. Pastor Josue took us into the city and blessed us with a couple of really nice meals and some relaxed atmosphere for our talks which seemed to ease the time we spent together.
Sunday morning brought us the privilege of ministering at the Castillo Fuerte Church where we spent an awesome time of worship led by the pastor's wife Lesly, David was able to minister with their worship team and then allowed to lead worship for a time as well.
After David led for a short time I was given the pulpit to speak about totally surrendering to God in every area of our life Pastor Josue told me (as well as others) after the service that they had someone else the week before who ministered almost exactly the same thing, he also told me that he had ministered another part of the message on Wednesday evening during their regular service.
During the alter call many repented and sought Jesus for healing as well, there were many who received their healing along with a little girl (she had heard me testify about how God had healed my torn rotor cuff during a time of worship) who received her healing with child like faith. I prayed for her the first time after which she told me she still has some pain so we prayed again, then she held her arm up and said "It's Done!" What a awesome thing to watch.
Sunday evening we went to The Father's Heart church and ministered much the same way (with a different message) and watched the people repent at the alter and then they lined up for prayer for healing. Many received their healing including a man who had been carried in by two men in a plastic lawn chair. He didn't even have a wheel chair! This man could not talk either. I laid hands on him with the help of the other pastors in the church (more on this later) and we lifted him out of his chair, helped him take a few steps, and watched as he tried to leap and dance. Not only did he walk but he started talking as well. What an awesome night.
Here is the later part: When David and I walked in, there were five other pastors there who are from many outlying ares of Guatemala (one from the Honduran Border) who are also under the covering of The Father's Heart Ministries as well. These all came to welcome me back, to say I was touched is an extreme understatement!
Monday was a little different as we had no definite plans for Monday evening but did have a really good meeting with six pastors and some of their families for breakfast. We were able to video them with a short discourse of who they are, where they pastor, and what their vision is for their church. We have some who are building new churches in Aldea's (small villages), those who are working with broken families, some who are doing evangelism (buses, parks, even in the stores), all with a hunger for working for the kingdom of God, not to build their selves up or their personal ministries.
After lunch we were asked what we wanted to do for Monday evening, David and I prayed for divine appointments and were later picked up by another pastor and his brother who (after another meeting) asked us to come to their cell group meeting. They were very apologetic because they only had ten people coming to the meeting and wanted to have us minister to more. But God!!!!! had another plan, when the cell group found out we were coming, they called one another and the church was full! David led worship and I spoke to them. The service was awesome, after the word I was able to lay hands on most all of the church and on those who were sick, to received their healing. This was one of the most powerful services I have ever been in.
God has been so good to us to let us be a part of the work going on there and we can't wait to get back there.
Please be in prayer for our next trip which we are planning for early April.
Want to go? Give us a call, Jim
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Fathers Heart Ministries Volunteer Picnic
From Jim:
We will be having a picnic on Saturday the 31st of July for our volunteers and their families at Frank Lisk Park in Concord, NC.
The Father's Heart will be providing the hamburgers, and hot dogs, along with the buns for the day. We will also provide the ice, paper plates and drink cups for your use.
Please come and bring your families, we have 2 shelters reserved for the day. There are tennis courts, volleyball courts, horse shoe courts, etc. available for our use for the day as well.
Please come, bring a side dish and/or a desert and your favorite drink to share.
This will be an opportunity to get to know and fellowship with the other volunteers as well as those you minister with on a regular basis. You will also be able to meet other ministry leaders who would love to meet you as well. We are also planning on inviting the Chaplains from the area to come and fellowship with us.
The shelters we have reserved are Wildlife and Vulcan and they are near the tennis courts. We have them for the whole day and we will start cooking around 11:00 so as to be ready to eat around 12:00.
Please come and be a part of something that will bless you and us as we break bread together and share in fun and games for all.
Please call us at the office for directions, details, and to confirm at 704-786-4511
We will be having a picnic on Saturday the 31st of July for our volunteers and their families at Frank Lisk Park in Concord, NC.
The Father's Heart will be providing the hamburgers, and hot dogs, along with the buns for the day. We will also provide the ice, paper plates and drink cups for your use.
Please come and bring your families, we have 2 shelters reserved for the day. There are tennis courts, volleyball courts, horse shoe courts, etc. available for our use for the day as well.
Please come, bring a side dish and/or a desert and your favorite drink to share.
This will be an opportunity to get to know and fellowship with the other volunteers as well as those you minister with on a regular basis. You will also be able to meet other ministry leaders who would love to meet you as well. We are also planning on inviting the Chaplains from the area to come and fellowship with us.
The shelters we have reserved are Wildlife and Vulcan and they are near the tennis courts. We have them for the whole day and we will start cooking around 11:00 so as to be ready to eat around 12:00.
Please come and be a part of something that will bless you and us as we break bread together and share in fun and games for all.
Please call us at the office for directions, details, and to confirm at 704-786-4511
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Guatemala 2010
From Jim:
Since 2003 we have been going to Guatemala two to three times each year to do missions.
These trips have resulted in more salvations than we can count. There have been healings, deliverances, and lives recommitted to Jesus. We have built new relationships with the pastors and people in the local churches in Guatemala, Jalapa, Chiquimula, Chimaltenalgo, and other cities and villages as well.
We have a church plant in Guatemala with a local pastor who loves Jesus and truly has a pastor's heart. He even goes with us to minister in other cities to help evangelize the local people.
We have watched God move in ways that can not be put in type, more times than we can remember.
Last year because of the cancer battle I went through we were unable to take any teams to the mission field but we are now planning our next trip for October of this year.
Our plans are to visit Guatemala city to minister in a youth conference where the last time we were there, we watched God not only train up, but mightily use them to bring about change in their community.
We are then planning on visiting Jalapa to train up pastors who will be brought in from far reaching villages that we could not reach in a short term mission trip. We will do this by bringing them in by bus, 4X4, or any means of transportation that will bring them into the city where we will set up a pastors conference in a local venue for the teaching sessions.
To close out our trip, we plan to visit Chiquimula where we will evangelize, this place is the least evangelized area of all Guatemala where there are only 2% Christian.
This trip is planned for October 14th through the 25th and is currently open for new team members. This trip will be life changing for those who have never been and will excite those who already have.
If you are interested in joining us, or contributing to the trip, please call us at our office or email us to let us know. Contact information below.
The Father's Heart Ministries
Office phone 704-786-4511
email: prisonpreacher@tfhpm.org
Since 2003 we have been going to Guatemala two to three times each year to do missions.
These trips have resulted in more salvations than we can count. There have been healings, deliverances, and lives recommitted to Jesus. We have built new relationships with the pastors and people in the local churches in Guatemala, Jalapa, Chiquimula, Chimaltenalgo, and other cities and villages as well.
We have a church plant in Guatemala with a local pastor who loves Jesus and truly has a pastor's heart. He even goes with us to minister in other cities to help evangelize the local people.
We have watched God move in ways that can not be put in type, more times than we can remember.
Last year because of the cancer battle I went through we were unable to take any teams to the mission field but we are now planning our next trip for October of this year.
Our plans are to visit Guatemala city to minister in a youth conference where the last time we were there, we watched God not only train up, but mightily use them to bring about change in their community.
We are then planning on visiting Jalapa to train up pastors who will be brought in from far reaching villages that we could not reach in a short term mission trip. We will do this by bringing them in by bus, 4X4, or any means of transportation that will bring them into the city where we will set up a pastors conference in a local venue for the teaching sessions.
To close out our trip, we plan to visit Chiquimula where we will evangelize, this place is the least evangelized area of all Guatemala where there are only 2% Christian.
This trip is planned for October 14th through the 25th and is currently open for new team members. This trip will be life changing for those who have never been and will excite those who already have.
If you are interested in joining us, or contributing to the trip, please call us at our office or email us to let us know. Contact information below.
The Father's Heart Ministries
Office phone 704-786-4511
email: prisonpreacher@tfhpm.org
Update
From Jim:
Since my battle last year with cancer I have been dealing with "what the doctors call" permanent nerve damage in my hands, arms, and feet so it is sometimes very hard to type. Also I have been somewhat busy as well. There is my excuse for not filling you in on the last couple of services poor as it may be. Today is not so bad so here we go:
Camile Griffith Graham, Saturday the 12th:
I was privileged to lead the team for Tamara with Denea, Lee, Joy, Perry and Dolly to minister to the women.
Joy was our MC for the night and opened with prayer.
Lee ministered in praise and Worship which got the ladies excited about what was to come for the evening. Lee also ministered with encouragement and testimony.
Dolly shared about her troubled relationship with her step father and left the ladies in tears as they dealt with their own issues of unforgiveness.
Denea came up to minister in worship before Perry spoke and was led to share a little about her family heritage before singing, she also had the ladies in tears, both from her testimony as well as her leading us in worship.
Perry then spoke to the women about "Are you a committed christian"? The ladies who attended the service were definitely changed as was the team.
Since my battle last year with cancer I have been dealing with "what the doctors call" permanent nerve damage in my hands, arms, and feet so it is sometimes very hard to type. Also I have been somewhat busy as well. There is my excuse for not filling you in on the last couple of services poor as it may be. Today is not so bad so here we go:
Camile Griffith Graham, Saturday the 12th:
I was privileged to lead the team for Tamara with Denea, Lee, Joy, Perry and Dolly to minister to the women.
Joy was our MC for the night and opened with prayer.
Lee ministered in praise and Worship which got the ladies excited about what was to come for the evening. Lee also ministered with encouragement and testimony.
Dolly shared about her troubled relationship with her step father and left the ladies in tears as they dealt with their own issues of unforgiveness.
Denea came up to minister in worship before Perry spoke and was led to share a little about her family heritage before singing, she also had the ladies in tears, both from her testimony as well as her leading us in worship.
Perry then spoke to the women about "Are you a committed christian"? The ladies who attended the service were definitely changed as was the team.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Stonewall Jackson YDC
From Kevin:
Tonight (Thursday)at Stonewall Jackson I shared with the guys about how God will never leave us or forsake us. I shared with them what happened to me Monday when I went to the doctor. My doctor told me that he had prayed for me by name at exactly 11:20 the night before and that God told him, "Don't worry about Kevin, he's OK now." What he didn't know is that I had been struggling with getting into God's presence for quite some time and that all that had changed on Sunday when I went to church. Needless to say we had a mini-camp meeting right there in the examining room! I used to show them that no matter what they are going through or will go through, that God will always be there and they are not forgotten! Oh yeah, Don never got to say anything!
Tonight (Thursday)at Stonewall Jackson I shared with the guys about how God will never leave us or forsake us. I shared with them what happened to me Monday when I went to the doctor. My doctor told me that he had prayed for me by name at exactly 11:20 the night before and that God told him, "Don't worry about Kevin, he's OK now." What he didn't know is that I had been struggling with getting into God's presence for quite some time and that all that had changed on Sunday when I went to church. Needless to say we had a mini-camp meeting right there in the examining room! I used to show them that no matter what they are going through or will go through, that God will always be there and they are not forgotten! Oh yeah, Don never got to say anything!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Cabarrus Correctional Center
From Jim:
Last night we met at Mt. Pleasant (Cabarrus Correctional Center) for one of our regularly scheduled services at this camp.
We had a short team last night but Joe came and led us into the Throne room (along with a couple of the units band members) with worship and praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. this was Joe's first time with us in several years, in the past he went with us into the youth facilities and I am sure this was a bit different for him but he did a great job, Thanks Joe, we hope you will continue to come with us, it was a joy to serve with you.
Phillip then brought the Word of God to the men speaking about our love being made perfect and "because as He is, so are we in this world".
We had one man come forward to receive Christ as his Savior and Lord, this made the night exceptional for all of us.
Last night we met at Mt. Pleasant (Cabarrus Correctional Center) for one of our regularly scheduled services at this camp.
We had a short team last night but Joe came and led us into the Throne room (along with a couple of the units band members) with worship and praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. this was Joe's first time with us in several years, in the past he went with us into the youth facilities and I am sure this was a bit different for him but he did a great job, Thanks Joe, we hope you will continue to come with us, it was a joy to serve with you.
Phillip then brought the Word of God to the men speaking about our love being made perfect and "because as He is, so are we in this world".
We had one man come forward to receive Christ as his Savior and Lord, this made the night exceptional for all of us.
Tabor City Correctional Inst. 5/30/210
From Jim:
Sunday morning we got into the van at 8:45 in the morning for the long drive to Tabor City, NC where we were able to do our first morning (actually afternoon) service at this facility, normally we go into this unit in the evenings.
Martha, Denea, and Rev. Lee along with my wife Joy, and I enjoyed a great time of fellowship on the drive down. This sometimes is the highlight of our out of town trips since we get to spend time with our ministry family that we usually do not get too much time with otherwise.
We arrived at the unit around 1:00 in the afternoon and were treated like royalty by the staff, this is not usual at a lot of the places we go, so it is refreshing to be received so well by staff. The officer in charge of us seemed to have a good time with us as well.
Service started with Lee opening with prayer after which she introduced Martha. Those who know Martha know she has a way of getting the crowd excited with her singing praises and worship.
Denea followed her with her own style of worship that the men have received so well, she walks in an awesome anointing to lead the men into the presence of our God and Savior.
Lee then sang a couple of songs, one of which I requested. It sings of the names of God and what they mean. Lee sang this song a couple of weeks back during our service at Mt. Pleasant and God healed my torn rotor cuff in my left arm that has been hurting for over 4 years. This song is kind of special to me because of that healing.
I then had a chance to bring the word to the men about what happens when you truly make Jesus Lord over all of your life.
What made this extra special was after the service the officer in charge came over and shook my hand and thanked me (and the team) for coming. Most of the time the officers can not show their support because they can not show emotion and or what seems like weakness around the men for obvious reasons.
All in all, this was an extra special time of worship for all of us, both the inmates as well as our team.
The drive home seemed to go really fast after this time with the men and with Jesus. We spent over 8 hours on the road and an hour and a half in service and yet it seemed like just a couple of hours to me.
Thank you so much to those who send us, it means more than you can know to us that you still send us during this time of recession when so many have had to stop giving for one reason or another. Things have been really tight, yet there seems to be just enough when we need it because of you. Thank you again, Jim
Sunday morning we got into the van at 8:45 in the morning for the long drive to Tabor City, NC where we were able to do our first morning (actually afternoon) service at this facility, normally we go into this unit in the evenings.
Martha, Denea, and Rev. Lee along with my wife Joy, and I enjoyed a great time of fellowship on the drive down. This sometimes is the highlight of our out of town trips since we get to spend time with our ministry family that we usually do not get too much time with otherwise.
We arrived at the unit around 1:00 in the afternoon and were treated like royalty by the staff, this is not usual at a lot of the places we go, so it is refreshing to be received so well by staff. The officer in charge of us seemed to have a good time with us as well.
Service started with Lee opening with prayer after which she introduced Martha. Those who know Martha know she has a way of getting the crowd excited with her singing praises and worship.
Denea followed her with her own style of worship that the men have received so well, she walks in an awesome anointing to lead the men into the presence of our God and Savior.
Lee then sang a couple of songs, one of which I requested. It sings of the names of God and what they mean. Lee sang this song a couple of weeks back during our service at Mt. Pleasant and God healed my torn rotor cuff in my left arm that has been hurting for over 4 years. This song is kind of special to me because of that healing.
I then had a chance to bring the word to the men about what happens when you truly make Jesus Lord over all of your life.
What made this extra special was after the service the officer in charge came over and shook my hand and thanked me (and the team) for coming. Most of the time the officers can not show their support because they can not show emotion and or what seems like weakness around the men for obvious reasons.
All in all, this was an extra special time of worship for all of us, both the inmates as well as our team.
The drive home seemed to go really fast after this time with the men and with Jesus. We spent over 8 hours on the road and an hour and a half in service and yet it seemed like just a couple of hours to me.
Thank you so much to those who send us, it means more than you can know to us that you still send us during this time of recession when so many have had to stop giving for one reason or another. Things have been really tight, yet there seems to be just enough when we need it because of you. Thank you again, Jim
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