UPDATES
December 9, 2020
SO how in the world do you do college ministry in the Covid era when the college is closed?
It can be done!
This has been a question I've had to wrestle with in this unprecedented time. Campus ministry has always been a challenge since I came here to Port Huron, but this is a whole new ballgame! This semester we have been able to connect to a handful of students. But just when we feel some momentum, we're hit with new closure orders, or students having to quarantine because of exposure to the virus, or students simply staying home many miles away from each other. It's enough to make one throw his hands up! BUT....
The Intervarsity Area Director, Lara, invited me to join her weekly meeting with her ministry coach Dave today. I'm telling you, this group of people is undaunted by the unique challenges of our time. I left this meeting with a number of valuable resources to move forward with, and fresh ideas and vision exploding in my spirit to reach students ...online. Please pray as I will be dedicating a significant block of time in the next weeks developing online ministry focusing on reaching college students, saved and unsaved. It was through such ministry that Lara was able to connect with the young women that have become participants in our group this semester, including an athlete that's now praying how to be a witness to her whole team, and a baby Christian who is now reaching out to her friends and family. Pray I connect with some young men. Pray that when things open again, we will already have a strong community of students regularly connecting here at SC4. Students are deeply feeling the isolation of these times. We can bring them hope.
As always, thanks for your friendship, prayers and support.
Joe
SO how in the world do you do college ministry in the Covid era when the college is closed?
It can be done!
This has been a question I've had to wrestle with in this unprecedented time. Campus ministry has always been a challenge since I came here to Port Huron, but this is a whole new ballgame! This semester we have been able to connect to a handful of students. But just when we feel some momentum, we're hit with new closure orders, or students having to quarantine because of exposure to the virus, or students simply staying home many miles away from each other. It's enough to make one throw his hands up! BUT....
The Intervarsity Area Director, Lara, invited me to join her weekly meeting with her ministry coach Dave today. I'm telling you, this group of people is undaunted by the unique challenges of our time. I left this meeting with a number of valuable resources to move forward with, and fresh ideas and vision exploding in my spirit to reach students ...online. Please pray as I will be dedicating a significant block of time in the next weeks developing online ministry focusing on reaching college students, saved and unsaved. It was through such ministry that Lara was able to connect with the young women that have become participants in our group this semester, including an athlete that's now praying how to be a witness to her whole team, and a baby Christian who is now reaching out to her friends and family. Pray I connect with some young men. Pray that when things open again, we will already have a strong community of students regularly connecting here at SC4. Students are deeply feeling the isolation of these times. We can bring them hope.
As always, thanks for your friendship, prayers and support.
Joe
September 10, 2019
Greetings Friends and Supporters
Well the school year is fully underway at St. Clair County Community College (SC4). I have been extremely excited about this fall semester now partnering with the InterVarsity Club here. We had one returning student from last year, and at least one new student showing up each week since we started 3 weeks ago.
It has been a new semester with new challenges for me. The department where I was a hired instructor at the college was eliminated last year, thus causing me to lose any official tie to the school. Then, in order to even be involved in a school club, I had to go through a background check and sign a contract. But as of a few minutes ago, I'm "official" again and am free to really step into ministry to students again. There are three young men I can already see building discipleship relationships with including one from Mexico, one that is called into ministry, and another that was a basketball player at the college and is still here, also working at student housing.
As for our church, we are still very much a missionary effort. We are still slowly growing. But I recently found out this is a VERY significant year for our church, and I feel there is prophetic significance in it. It is the 70th anniversary of our building here. It is the 80th anniversary of our congregation being an Assemblies of God church. And it is the 110th anniversary of Pentecost in Port Huron! 110 might seem like a strange number to get excited about, but the Holy Spirit downloaded great prophetic significance to it, Stay tuned to hear what! We are planning an anniversary celebration on the weekend of October 25-27. We'd love to have you come. We may expand the celebration, especially of Pentecost in Port Huron to the weekend before with a major internationally known worship leader coming. Stay tuned!
Again, we couldn't do this assignment from the Lord without your prayers and support. Thank you!
We love you!
Joe
August 7, 2019
Greeting Friends and Supporters,
In case you haven't heard yet, God has brought me into a tremendous partnership.
I will be working with InterVarsity this fall. After meeting with the regional staff person for InterVarsity last semester, God knit our hearts in vision for the campus. I was invited to help the him as we saw a solid ministry formed here for the first time in many years, Although I am really sad to see Josh move on from here to the west side of the state, I am thrilled with the person that has been assigned to take his place to oversee the outreach to St. Clair County Community College (SC4). Her name is Lara. She has a powerful testimony herself of coming to the Lord during her college years and has dedicated her life to helping today's students experience that same transformational power of the Gospel. We had a tremendous meeting and I have never been so encouraged with my role here in student outreach at SC4. I am so glad for the partnership I as a Chi Alpha director have had with this already established group. For better or worse, Lara will not be able to be on campus here every week like Josh was, but that means I and the two new faculty advisors will need to take stronger leadership roles. Lara couldn't have been more encouraging to me in taking such a stronger role. As we met, ideas for outreach were bursting out like a fountain! I can hardly wait for fall semester!
Although the clubs aren't allowed to meet during summer semesters, we have had some strategic events. On July 18, I set up a booth at Family Night, a huge part of Port Huron's famous Boat Week, leading up to the Port Huron to Mackinac Race. Hundreds of people came by, and I was able to encourage numerous future SC4 students to look for us on campus.
On Sunday, July 21, InterVarsity sponsored a prayer walk on campus. Several area staff leaders and some students from other campuses came to pray and help us strategize for the fall.. I have been asked to more formally connect with InterVarsity, and with the blessing of our district Chi Alpha leadership, I will be doing that.
As for our church in Port Huron, we have added a second Sunday morning service. Although we still have room for growth in our little sanctuary, being a resort town, I thought it would be strategic to offer an early service at 8:30 am. We have seen several people coming now who would otherwise be unable or unwilling to come later. I believe this service has the potential to explode our growth further. It's a lot of work, but we need to reach this town! We are also doing all kind of outreach this summer, including also having space at Family Night. We had a float in the big parade here in town, and even had our band on the Main Stage at another outlying community's festival!
Although we continue to grow, it has still been a challenge to for the church to be able to pay me a livable wage. Whipping this facility into shape, having to deal with some major issues over the winter have increased our expenses. That is why your support is so helpful. We couldn't see the work here in Port Huron come to life as it has without your support of us through Chi Alpha or the Assemblies of God. Just this morning, several pastors pressed me to continue an apostolic role in this community. Your support releases me to do that, and your prayers are coveted. We are at the eastern gate of Michigan, "Where the glory comes in and the River flows out!" (Ezekiel 43:4; 47:2) It is a strategic place!
Information on how to support Jeanne and me, you can go to the Partnership Page on this site.
Personally, we have been VERY busy. Being in a house for the first time that's older than me, I have had a lot of work to do. We did get a chance to have a little fun and camped for a couple of days and went to a family reunion in Atlanta with our kids. Jeanne is back to a full schedule as an English tutor. Stephanie got a new job with an upstart media company right after graduating from Eastern Michigan University. We're SO proud of her. She loves her job and is a writer extraordinaire! Culver's wont let James go. He's a manger there now, but is getting the itch to get back into education, possibly to be an English tutor like his mom.
There is so much more I could share, but I'll leave that for another time.
Praying you have a great rest of the summer!
Blessings!
Joe
Greeting Friends and Supporters,
In case you haven't heard yet, God has brought me into a tremendous partnership.
I will be working with InterVarsity this fall. After meeting with the regional staff person for InterVarsity last semester, God knit our hearts in vision for the campus. I was invited to help the him as we saw a solid ministry formed here for the first time in many years, Although I am really sad to see Josh move on from here to the west side of the state, I am thrilled with the person that has been assigned to take his place to oversee the outreach to St. Clair County Community College (SC4). Her name is Lara. She has a powerful testimony herself of coming to the Lord during her college years and has dedicated her life to helping today's students experience that same transformational power of the Gospel. We had a tremendous meeting and I have never been so encouraged with my role here in student outreach at SC4. I am so glad for the partnership I as a Chi Alpha director have had with this already established group. For better or worse, Lara will not be able to be on campus here every week like Josh was, but that means I and the two new faculty advisors will need to take stronger leadership roles. Lara couldn't have been more encouraging to me in taking such a stronger role. As we met, ideas for outreach were bursting out like a fountain! I can hardly wait for fall semester!
Although the clubs aren't allowed to meet during summer semesters, we have had some strategic events. On July 18, I set up a booth at Family Night, a huge part of Port Huron's famous Boat Week, leading up to the Port Huron to Mackinac Race. Hundreds of people came by, and I was able to encourage numerous future SC4 students to look for us on campus.
On Sunday, July 21, InterVarsity sponsored a prayer walk on campus. Several area staff leaders and some students from other campuses came to pray and help us strategize for the fall.. I have been asked to more formally connect with InterVarsity, and with the blessing of our district Chi Alpha leadership, I will be doing that.
As for our church in Port Huron, we have added a second Sunday morning service. Although we still have room for growth in our little sanctuary, being a resort town, I thought it would be strategic to offer an early service at 8:30 am. We have seen several people coming now who would otherwise be unable or unwilling to come later. I believe this service has the potential to explode our growth further. It's a lot of work, but we need to reach this town! We are also doing all kind of outreach this summer, including also having space at Family Night. We had a float in the big parade here in town, and even had our band on the Main Stage at another outlying community's festival!
Although we continue to grow, it has still been a challenge to for the church to be able to pay me a livable wage. Whipping this facility into shape, having to deal with some major issues over the winter have increased our expenses. That is why your support is so helpful. We couldn't see the work here in Port Huron come to life as it has without your support of us through Chi Alpha or the Assemblies of God. Just this morning, several pastors pressed me to continue an apostolic role in this community. Your support releases me to do that, and your prayers are coveted. We are at the eastern gate of Michigan, "Where the glory comes in and the River flows out!" (Ezekiel 43:4; 47:2) It is a strategic place!
Information on how to support Jeanne and me, you can go to the Partnership Page on this site.
Personally, we have been VERY busy. Being in a house for the first time that's older than me, I have had a lot of work to do. We did get a chance to have a little fun and camped for a couple of days and went to a family reunion in Atlanta with our kids. Jeanne is back to a full schedule as an English tutor. Stephanie got a new job with an upstart media company right after graduating from Eastern Michigan University. We're SO proud of her. She loves her job and is a writer extraordinaire! Culver's wont let James go. He's a manger there now, but is getting the itch to get back into education, possibly to be an English tutor like his mom.
There is so much more I could share, but I'll leave that for another time.
Praying you have a great rest of the summer!
Blessings!
Joe
January 1, 2019
Greetings Friends and Supporters
Happy New Year!
I want to thank all of you who have financially supported and/or prayed for our ministry in 2018. We simply could not have done what we have done this past year without you.
As my last update stated, significant clarity came in 2018 to my calling as a re-digger of wells of revival. We have continued to dig here in Port Huron. We have seen people saved, filled with the Spirit, broken of addictions, delivered from bondages, and propelled into new dimensions of faith. Despite people coming and going, there has been continued growth in our little church. One pastor-mentor of mine said that when we reach 100 in average attendance, the church should be able to support me full-time. We have a ways to go, but we're getting there! In the meantime, I cannot stress again too much that your support is allowing our work here to continue and flourish. Even when we reach that 100 mark, your continued help in our apostolic efforts would be much needed as we are always looking outward to the harvest.
Even now, one of the most significant breakthroughs in our church is how the people are moving from a place of being revived to being revivalists and catching the apostolic mantle themselves! When the Lord began to speak to me about reviving a once-great church that fell into life-support in the town of Carsonville, 40 miles north of us, our worship team and others went all-in! It still amazes me that week after week, they are giving up entire Sunday afternoons and evenings to travel with me there, minister, and just be there as seeds of a new crowd we are seeking to bring in. They caught my missions bug! We all go on a missions trip every week... and it's exciting!
It's also truly amazing that Port Huron Assembly is willing to share their pastor. I'll never forget the meeting when I announced to our people that the Assemblies of God District office has proposed that I become "Pastor of Record" in Carsonville until that day we can raise up a Pastor. Several people blurted out "NO!" but then after a pause, followed up with, "But we need to help that church and community! They need Jesus!" Amazing! Here is a church that was itself on life-support not even 3 years ago, now with a passion to help another such church. So, we've been going door-to-door, sending out mailers, advertising on the radio and even built a float and were a part of a Christmas parade in the the nearby larger town of Sandusky, from which we are beginning to draw people.
We have purposefully established our meetings there as revival services with our full praise band leading worship and by bringing in anointed revivalists from our region and even internationally. There is a desperate need for revival centers again, let alone fully-Pentecostal churches. Mainline and even Evangelical churches are closing all over the Thumb of Michigan. Church attendance has been dropping, with all the consequences that follow. We're bucking that trend!
A side benefit of our outreach there is that our newly saved, newly Spirit-baptized, and newly-discipled Port Huron people are even making the trek all the way to Carsonville to be powerfully touched. Along with our people who come, where there were only 4 or 5 attending that church before we came, we have 10-20 from that community coming to Sunday nights consistently, and the numbers are growing. We're beginning to get visitors from outside the region traveling in. But locally, I've had two men from the community already tell me they feel called to that church, and will begin to support it financially and however else they can! THAT is what Carsonville needs.
One last interesting thing about Carsonville is that when the Lord spoke to me about His heart for that well to be re-opened, that His will for it was to be a wealth-producing missions center to the world. I found out recently that two veteran Assemblies of God missionaries have their spiritual and missionary roots in that community when the well of revival was flowing there years ago! It's going to happen again! The Thumb of Michigan has a critical and very symbolic apostolic calling!
As for campus ministry, a major announcement is on the horizon for my outreach to students at St. Clair Community College (SC4) here in Port Huron. I'll admit, although I've tried several methods and have been able to meet a handful of students, it hasn't been as fruitful an endeavor as I would like.... yet! I can't tell you what this new possibility is just yet, but confirmation should come in the next couple of weeks. However, I can tell you that I have continued to have great opportunities to connect to some staff and faculty. I regularly attend and volunteer at events there. That, with my status as adjunct faculty has opened doors, even though I haven't had one hour of teaching given to me yet! I think the Lord just gave that to me to have unhindered access to the campus. I LOVE this college and think it is an undiscovered gem. I keep dropping hints to the staff there to create some kind of ambassador role for me!
Please pray for all these things that are happening. Pray especially for souls to be won for Christ in all these communities, and that they be discipled, and released into ministry. We need laborers. We need resources. And we always need the direction of the Lord.
Again, thanks so much for your love and support. If want more information on how to partner with us, go to our PARTNERSHIP page.
Love you all!
Joe
Greetings Friends and Supporters
Happy New Year!
I want to thank all of you who have financially supported and/or prayed for our ministry in 2018. We simply could not have done what we have done this past year without you.
As my last update stated, significant clarity came in 2018 to my calling as a re-digger of wells of revival. We have continued to dig here in Port Huron. We have seen people saved, filled with the Spirit, broken of addictions, delivered from bondages, and propelled into new dimensions of faith. Despite people coming and going, there has been continued growth in our little church. One pastor-mentor of mine said that when we reach 100 in average attendance, the church should be able to support me full-time. We have a ways to go, but we're getting there! In the meantime, I cannot stress again too much that your support is allowing our work here to continue and flourish. Even when we reach that 100 mark, your continued help in our apostolic efforts would be much needed as we are always looking outward to the harvest.
Even now, one of the most significant breakthroughs in our church is how the people are moving from a place of being revived to being revivalists and catching the apostolic mantle themselves! When the Lord began to speak to me about reviving a once-great church that fell into life-support in the town of Carsonville, 40 miles north of us, our worship team and others went all-in! It still amazes me that week after week, they are giving up entire Sunday afternoons and evenings to travel with me there, minister, and just be there as seeds of a new crowd we are seeking to bring in. They caught my missions bug! We all go on a missions trip every week... and it's exciting!
It's also truly amazing that Port Huron Assembly is willing to share their pastor. I'll never forget the meeting when I announced to our people that the Assemblies of God District office has proposed that I become "Pastor of Record" in Carsonville until that day we can raise up a Pastor. Several people blurted out "NO!" but then after a pause, followed up with, "But we need to help that church and community! They need Jesus!" Amazing! Here is a church that was itself on life-support not even 3 years ago, now with a passion to help another such church. So, we've been going door-to-door, sending out mailers, advertising on the radio and even built a float and were a part of a Christmas parade in the the nearby larger town of Sandusky, from which we are beginning to draw people.
We have purposefully established our meetings there as revival services with our full praise band leading worship and by bringing in anointed revivalists from our region and even internationally. There is a desperate need for revival centers again, let alone fully-Pentecostal churches. Mainline and even Evangelical churches are closing all over the Thumb of Michigan. Church attendance has been dropping, with all the consequences that follow. We're bucking that trend!
A side benefit of our outreach there is that our newly saved, newly Spirit-baptized, and newly-discipled Port Huron people are even making the trek all the way to Carsonville to be powerfully touched. Along with our people who come, where there were only 4 or 5 attending that church before we came, we have 10-20 from that community coming to Sunday nights consistently, and the numbers are growing. We're beginning to get visitors from outside the region traveling in. But locally, I've had two men from the community already tell me they feel called to that church, and will begin to support it financially and however else they can! THAT is what Carsonville needs.
One last interesting thing about Carsonville is that when the Lord spoke to me about His heart for that well to be re-opened, that His will for it was to be a wealth-producing missions center to the world. I found out recently that two veteran Assemblies of God missionaries have their spiritual and missionary roots in that community when the well of revival was flowing there years ago! It's going to happen again! The Thumb of Michigan has a critical and very symbolic apostolic calling!
As for campus ministry, a major announcement is on the horizon for my outreach to students at St. Clair Community College (SC4) here in Port Huron. I'll admit, although I've tried several methods and have been able to meet a handful of students, it hasn't been as fruitful an endeavor as I would like.... yet! I can't tell you what this new possibility is just yet, but confirmation should come in the next couple of weeks. However, I can tell you that I have continued to have great opportunities to connect to some staff and faculty. I regularly attend and volunteer at events there. That, with my status as adjunct faculty has opened doors, even though I haven't had one hour of teaching given to me yet! I think the Lord just gave that to me to have unhindered access to the campus. I LOVE this college and think it is an undiscovered gem. I keep dropping hints to the staff there to create some kind of ambassador role for me!
Please pray for all these things that are happening. Pray especially for souls to be won for Christ in all these communities, and that they be discipled, and released into ministry. We need laborers. We need resources. And we always need the direction of the Lord.
Again, thanks so much for your love and support. If want more information on how to partner with us, go to our PARTNERSHIP page.
Love you all!
Joe
October 4, 2018
Greetings Friends and Supporters,
It has been said, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Well, that seems to be the mantra of my life in ministry. After 35+ years of ministry, I'm beginning to find some common denominators wherever my assignment may be. And I wouldn't be able to do it without friends and partners like you.
Last year, Russ Kline prophesied over me that I was a re-digger of wells, that is, wells of revival. Just this past August, Adrianna Philece Simon prophesied that what was happening here was a re-digging of wells of revival. Adrianna and Russ have never met. 7 years ago, I was closely associated with Lou Engle who wrote the book "Digging the Wells of Revival."
In Genesis 26, we are told of how Isaac had to re-dig wells that his father Abraham had dug, but became stopped up because of the Philistines. They didn't want Isaac to have his father's wells and settle in the land that the Philistines wanted for themselves, so they plugged up the wells. There is a powerful spiritual lesson here. Wells often get plugged up by the enemy of our souls: personal wells of the Spirit and corporate wells such as churches or movements. It often happens to the latter in times of transition. The enemy wants his territory back.
When I was at the University of Michigan, I was obsessed with seeing the well re-dug of revival like the one that happened under the leadership of Jim Seregow in the radical 60's and 70's,. Well, we saw amazing things happen at the U of M in my years there. In Dearborn Heights, there used to be a great church called Fairlane Assembly of God that moved out of the city. I wanted to see that well re-dug. We began to see a touch of revival there. And when I came to Port Huron, I found that there was a massive revival in the Assembly of God here that affected the whole city. I constantly run into people who tell me "I was saved there," or "My parents got married there," or "I was dedicated to the Lord there," or "I got called into the ministry there," etc.... CONSTANTLY! I want to see that well re-opened! And we're seeing a real revival happening here.
34 years ago, my wife and I stumbled upon a little country church while driving around during our honeymoon. Cars were everywhere. Curious, we went in. It was a Sunday evening. The church was packed. There were lots of teens and young people along with adults. It was not a special service. It was a regular Sunday night service. They worshiped for some two hours. The place was vibrant! And we received a prophetic word there that night from a farmer couple that has guided our lives ever since!
Today that church runs about 5 people. They have no Pastor.
I want to re-dig that well!
Not only do I, but the Lord spoke to me as clear as I ever heard Him to do that. And how God brought together circumstances and how he connected us to the remnant crying out to God there is incredible.
So this Sunday, we start revival services on Sunday nights in Carsonville, MI. I believe it is going to be a breakthrough church in that rural region. It has a history of missionaries coming from it. We will see that happen again! I believe wealth for the Kingdom will be released through the entire Thumb region of Michigan.
Two weeks ago, we had a "private" prayer service there. God sent us a sign. It was a great night with much our Port Huron team present (they are completely on fire about this mission!). We were praying that the many who once attended that church but were now going to church nowhere would return. Just after we prayed that, a woman with her son came into the service. She stayed for the rest of the time and was touched. Afterwards we found out she was a former member who was no longer attending church anywhere. She drove by and saw all the cars and got curious about what was happening. So she came in. She told us, "I'm definitely coming back and bringing my whole family!" That was a sign from God for us!
Here is our worship team at that prayer meeting. Like Port Huron, it is a beautiful facility with a heavenly portal over it!
Last Sunday we had a "dry-run Revival Service" with just our team to work out the kinks before we go public this Sunday. It was NOT dry! God really moved upon us and poured himself into us for the mission ahead!
Zechariah 8:20-21 says, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts..."
Please pray for our opening revival service this Sunday evening in Carsonville.
Keep praying for Port Huron Assembly of God. This Carsonville mission is really fulfilling our mission to be a revival center for the region. We continue to slowly and consistently grow despite somewhat of a setback earlier this year after a huge growth spurt. But even though we've doubled in size, we're still a smaller church and struggling financially. Along with reviving the church, we're reviving these wonderful facilities. We're still not at a place where I can be paid a full-time salary. Jeanne has gone back to work, but we're still under-budget. That's not stopping us from moving the Kingdom forward and being a revival center! Your support of Jeanne and me keep us going in ministry.
AND speaking of a revival center...
...the more things change, the more they stay the same.
When I first came to Port Huron, everybody felt that since I was an experienced house of prayer builder, that I would take leadership of the house of prayer here that was in transition. I said "No," not feeling the release of the Lord. That ministry through several leadership changes and has faced some struggles. When the most recent leader stepped down, I felt like God said "Now!" That has been confirmed many times over. One Pastor looked me in the eye this morning and pleaded with me, "We must keep prayer going here!" I said, "We will!"
Beginning this Friday, Port Huron Assembly will be hosting what was formerly known as the Blue Water House of Prayer. I will tell you more later about the new name and mission of this particular house of prayer and why it is so strategic. I am building a team of young millennial leaders to help me lead this. I've always felt there was a strong connection between the house of prayer movement and the younger generations, including college students.
Speaking of college students, some great things are happening in relation to my connection with students at SC4 as well as faculty and staff. More to come later!
Again. Thanks so much for your friendship and your prayers. And for those who support us financially... we can't do this without you!
If you'd like to give, you can follow the instructions HERE
Blessings!
Joe
Greetings Friends and Supporters,
It has been said, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Well, that seems to be the mantra of my life in ministry. After 35+ years of ministry, I'm beginning to find some common denominators wherever my assignment may be. And I wouldn't be able to do it without friends and partners like you.
Last year, Russ Kline prophesied over me that I was a re-digger of wells, that is, wells of revival. Just this past August, Adrianna Philece Simon prophesied that what was happening here was a re-digging of wells of revival. Adrianna and Russ have never met. 7 years ago, I was closely associated with Lou Engle who wrote the book "Digging the Wells of Revival."
In Genesis 26, we are told of how Isaac had to re-dig wells that his father Abraham had dug, but became stopped up because of the Philistines. They didn't want Isaac to have his father's wells and settle in the land that the Philistines wanted for themselves, so they plugged up the wells. There is a powerful spiritual lesson here. Wells often get plugged up by the enemy of our souls: personal wells of the Spirit and corporate wells such as churches or movements. It often happens to the latter in times of transition. The enemy wants his territory back.
When I was at the University of Michigan, I was obsessed with seeing the well re-dug of revival like the one that happened under the leadership of Jim Seregow in the radical 60's and 70's,. Well, we saw amazing things happen at the U of M in my years there. In Dearborn Heights, there used to be a great church called Fairlane Assembly of God that moved out of the city. I wanted to see that well re-dug. We began to see a touch of revival there. And when I came to Port Huron, I found that there was a massive revival in the Assembly of God here that affected the whole city. I constantly run into people who tell me "I was saved there," or "My parents got married there," or "I was dedicated to the Lord there," or "I got called into the ministry there," etc.... CONSTANTLY! I want to see that well re-opened! And we're seeing a real revival happening here.
34 years ago, my wife and I stumbled upon a little country church while driving around during our honeymoon. Cars were everywhere. Curious, we went in. It was a Sunday evening. The church was packed. There were lots of teens and young people along with adults. It was not a special service. It was a regular Sunday night service. They worshiped for some two hours. The place was vibrant! And we received a prophetic word there that night from a farmer couple that has guided our lives ever since!
Today that church runs about 5 people. They have no Pastor.
I want to re-dig that well!
Not only do I, but the Lord spoke to me as clear as I ever heard Him to do that. And how God brought together circumstances and how he connected us to the remnant crying out to God there is incredible.
So this Sunday, we start revival services on Sunday nights in Carsonville, MI. I believe it is going to be a breakthrough church in that rural region. It has a history of missionaries coming from it. We will see that happen again! I believe wealth for the Kingdom will be released through the entire Thumb region of Michigan.
Two weeks ago, we had a "private" prayer service there. God sent us a sign. It was a great night with much our Port Huron team present (they are completely on fire about this mission!). We were praying that the many who once attended that church but were now going to church nowhere would return. Just after we prayed that, a woman with her son came into the service. She stayed for the rest of the time and was touched. Afterwards we found out she was a former member who was no longer attending church anywhere. She drove by and saw all the cars and got curious about what was happening. So she came in. She told us, "I'm definitely coming back and bringing my whole family!" That was a sign from God for us!
Here is our worship team at that prayer meeting. Like Port Huron, it is a beautiful facility with a heavenly portal over it!
Last Sunday we had a "dry-run Revival Service" with just our team to work out the kinks before we go public this Sunday. It was NOT dry! God really moved upon us and poured himself into us for the mission ahead!
Zechariah 8:20-21 says, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts..."
Please pray for our opening revival service this Sunday evening in Carsonville.
Keep praying for Port Huron Assembly of God. This Carsonville mission is really fulfilling our mission to be a revival center for the region. We continue to slowly and consistently grow despite somewhat of a setback earlier this year after a huge growth spurt. But even though we've doubled in size, we're still a smaller church and struggling financially. Along with reviving the church, we're reviving these wonderful facilities. We're still not at a place where I can be paid a full-time salary. Jeanne has gone back to work, but we're still under-budget. That's not stopping us from moving the Kingdom forward and being a revival center! Your support of Jeanne and me keep us going in ministry.
AND speaking of a revival center...
...the more things change, the more they stay the same.
When I first came to Port Huron, everybody felt that since I was an experienced house of prayer builder, that I would take leadership of the house of prayer here that was in transition. I said "No," not feeling the release of the Lord. That ministry through several leadership changes and has faced some struggles. When the most recent leader stepped down, I felt like God said "Now!" That has been confirmed many times over. One Pastor looked me in the eye this morning and pleaded with me, "We must keep prayer going here!" I said, "We will!"
Beginning this Friday, Port Huron Assembly will be hosting what was formerly known as the Blue Water House of Prayer. I will tell you more later about the new name and mission of this particular house of prayer and why it is so strategic. I am building a team of young millennial leaders to help me lead this. I've always felt there was a strong connection between the house of prayer movement and the younger generations, including college students.
Speaking of college students, some great things are happening in relation to my connection with students at SC4 as well as faculty and staff. More to come later!
Again. Thanks so much for your friendship and your prayers. And for those who support us financially... we can't do this without you!
If you'd like to give, you can follow the instructions HERE
Blessings!
Joe