What is it like when God breaks in and shows up? What happens when a person, family, city, or whole nation encounters God? How does our life change when we get so touched by God that we discover again that He is real and not a theory?
These are some questions rumbling around in my mind and heart lately as I continue my journey out here in Redding, re-discovering again in my own life a freshness and realness to the presence of God. Day in and day out, I am privileged to be with some of the most incredible people who are not only hungry for more of Jesus, but who are dreaming to see cities and whole nations transformed by revival. In my own life and heart, Father keeps on bringing more healing and freedom, freeing me to dream again with Him. Just in the past month, I’ve been astounded to watch several people experience physical healing and freed from ailments and afflictions, and also unseen, inner burdens and chains. God really IS in the healing business!!
Here’s one that happened last month in Shasta Mall here in Redding. Three other Bethel students (Ken, Stephen, and Sean) and I decided to go to the mall to pray for people who needed healing from sickness. Ken and I were chatting together, and all of a sudden, in the corner of my eye I saw a guy walking towards us using a cane. I immediately turned around to him, and asked him if we could pray for him, and I asked him what was wrong. His name is Derrill. He's a high school football player, and he messed up his left knee while playing football, and so he had to walk with a cane, hence the limping. I asked Derrill if we could pray for him, but he and his friend were both skeptical and they weren’t really open to it.
Then I shared with Derrill and his friend about the lady who God healed of a torn up knee last year while I was on a flight on the way to France. Then I told Derrill that he doesn't have anything to lose. So he gave in and let us pray for him! Yay God. Ken and I laid hands on his knee, and invited Holy Spirit to come. We prayed no more that 30 seconds, and Ken asked him how he was feeling. I will never forget the look on his face! He was shocked, and he said it's better! All the pain is gone! We were all elated. Next thing I know, Sean and Stephen come up. I shared with Derrill about how Jesus transformed my life and how He's real, and Sean started sharing his testimony with both Derrill and Shane (his friend). I looked over at Shane and the look on his face was kind of like shock but also he was hanging on every word we said, especially after he saw that his friend's knee just got healed!! Sean led both of them to the Lord, and they both believed in Jesus right there in the mall! The Lord totally showed up and rocked them both. Before we left, Derrill walked around and said, “I don’t guess I need my cane anymore!”
(Visit my blog online for more God stories and testimonies of recent healings: www.forkedexpressions.com/supportblog).
I reached a major milestone on January 19th, which marked 10 years since I met Jesus for the first time. I wrote this in my journal on that day: “You have been so faithful, persistent, loving, and true. In light of eternity, 10 years is a drop in the bucket of history, but on the other hand, 10 years seems so long. I have had many chapters in my life with You, and I'm never the same man because of it. You are my Life, the reason I'm alive. As I embark and start this next 10 years of walking with You, I want to be possessed by You beyond anything I ever thought imaginable. I want to dream with You again, deeper and higher than ever before. I want to walk in the supernatural, raw power of God in a greater measure, and I want love to be the leader of everything I'm about.”
I believe that 2008 is a year of new beginnings for many of us, where the past season of trial and difficulty is ending and where we will begin to experience new life, new freedom, new dreams, new visions, new fruit, new intimacy, newness in every way. Take a second and let that seep into your spirit, that God is SO about bringing NEWNESS to your life and my life!
I mentioned in my last update that I am a part of a team of 40 people who will be going to Mexico City on an outreach trip from April 5-14. We’ll be hooking up with one of the fastest growing churches in Mexico to bring the revival we’re experiencing at Bethel down to them. Our team will be involved in organizing and running a three day Youth Encounter event, to inspire and train teens through supernatural worship, evangelism, discipleship, and street encounters. Our team will also be ministering in 5 local churches through healing, the prophetic, teaching and preaching ministries. Our team will also be involved with community outreaches, such as praying for the sick in hospitals, being a part of a "dumpster" ministry and possibly helping to start a new ministry to the homeless.
To zoom out a little bit, the school year here at Bethel will finish up in May, and I have applied already to do the 2nd year program, which is a continuation of 1st year, but with more closeness with the leadership where the students are mentored and championed to radically pursue their callings and destinies in bringing God’s Kingdom to earth. One of the privileges of being in the 2nd year program is traveling with Bethel’s leadership to other states and countries to spread revival there too!
I’m trusting and believing God for Him to provide all I need financially for this school year, both for tuition costs, the missions trip, rent, etc. The Lord has provided for all of my tuition! But the trip to Mexico will cost $1,000, and so far I’ve paid $475, which leaves $525. I want to thank you for your generosity and support! If you would like to help out with either the missions trip or for my personal needs (i.e. rent, food, gas, etc.), I will give you that information at the end of the newsletter. Bless you richly, and I pray that the windows of heaven will open over your life in every way, spiritually, relationally, financially, and emotionally in Jesus’ name.
Thanks again, and love,
Adam
WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY:
1. If you would like to contribute financially to the Mexico City Missions Trip, you can make your check out to BETHEL CHURCH, and mail it to Bethel Church, Attn. Kristie Joyce, 933 College View Drive, Redding CA 96003 USA. For this to be tax-deductible, you have to leave the "Memo" area blank, and include a slip of paper that has my name on it along with the name of the trip, which is Mexico City.
2. If you would like to contribute financially to help with my personal expenses as I do school (i.e. rent, food, gas, etc.), you can make out your check to ALL NATIONS, and mail it to: All Nations Support, c/o Walsh Washburn, 5330 College Boulevard, Overland Park KS 66211 USA. This is also tax-deductible as long as you leave the "Memo" area blank, but you can include a note with my name on it.
3. If you would like to contribute financially online (this is NOT tax-deductible), you can do so by going to http://support.forkedexpressions.com/supportadam.html. Then just click on "Make a Donation", and you will be redirected to PayPal's website.