Testimonies of 2016

Spreading God’s Love and Fire-December 2016

Our weekly outreach group met with more than our normal amount of people that week.  I shared with our group about “perfect love casting out fear” from I John 4:18 and what love looks like from I Corinthians 13:4-8.  Our group seemed  especially ready to head out that night so after a short time of listening, off we went!  We split into two groups and headed out.

The group I was in began the evening praying over a park, but not many people were out.  It was a cold evening and those interactions we did have were brief and didn’t seem to go anywhere.  One member of  our group had a specific picture of someone we thought would be in the park, but didn’t find the person.  After a brief time interceding in prayer ove the par, it seemed we were being led to move on.  I thought of a park closer to the downtown area and we set off for that park.

The downtown area park was pretty deserted as well.  And our interactions were again pretty limited.  The other half of our original group was close by and we decided to walk over and join them.

When we joined the other group, it seemed they were having a good amount of spiritual interactions.  Everyone in the group seemed to be participating.  One of the pieces of guidance they had received was “the fire” and people “warming themselves by the fire.”  As we headed over near the fire, it seemed that the spiritual fire that was ignited in the downtown portion of our group was spreading to us!  I watched different ones from our group begin to step out and talk and pray with others.   Praise the Lord!  What seemed to be a dull night was changing.

Eventually, as I warmed myself by the fire and listened to the stories being shared from our team members from the night, I felt a desire to step out myself.  I prayed God would bring someone to us by the fire.  Within about 10 minutes, three young women came and stood by the fire.  Soon after I began talking to them.

After some conversation, we were given permission to gather around them and pray for them.  While we were praying, God began to give me one word to describe each of them.  I shared the words as we finished praying, and the women were greatly blessed!  An applicable word of knowledge about some physical healing needs was also shared and we gathered around them again in prayer.

During the physical healing prayers, another word of knowledge was shared for one of the women about a specific aspect of her life.  It, too was accurate.  (Side note: This word was applicable to my own life as well).  When I prayed into this word for the woman, I prayed based on the specifics of my life situation.  It wasn’t a bad prayer, but I sensed that what I prayed may not have really applied to her like it did me.

Looking back, I think I projected my life situation onto hers at that point.  It was a right word with the wrong application. This is very easy to do and was a learning moment for me as I reflect back on this story.  I don’t think it took anything away from our interaction and all three women seemed very blessed overall.  I didn’t take any condemnation away from it as there is no condemnation for those of us in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).  Still, it is always good to learn so we can keep improving and loving even better!

Soon after that we went out to eat and finished out our night.  Praise God for an eventful evening!   He had removed our fears and indeed allowed us to SPREAD HIS LOVE AND FIRE!

Salvation via Social Media-August 2016

This story actually starts in June of 2016.  While I was in Korea, I messaged the Korean brother who had served as an interpreter for me in Japan.  Honestly, I can’t recall now why I messaged him that night.  God may or may not have prompted me to do so. Either way, God was surely in it!

That evening as I talked to this brother, he mentioned he had some Southeast Asian young men with him.  The Holy Spirit guided me to offer to prophecy for these young men.  I was told that they were from a buddhist nation and were not Christian.  I shared that that didn’t bother me and told my Korean brother to discern whether or not it was appropriate that night.

He talked to them and they must have agreed because before I knew it it was happening.  I had no words when I was told to prophesy, but words came when it was time to pray!  Amazing how that happens.

I was told later by my Korean brother how much the young men had appreciated my words and how it spoke to them.  One of the young men (whom I now call “Smiley”) connected with me on social media.  At first I didn’t even know who he was, but eventually we connected and things went well.  We began talking a lot after I went back to the USA.  I wasn’t led to say much about Christianity other than what was necessary to share about my present life situation.  Both of us enjoyed connecting and learning about each other’s lives and cultures.

In early August, I returned for my second trip to Korea to help with a Korean youth event.  My Korean friend (whom I mentioned above) had invited me to go with him to a missionary museum in Seoul in June.  I took a raincheck on that one and we decided a group of us would go in August before the youth event instead.  So on Saturday, August 6th, we went.

I invited “Smiley” to join us as I figured it would be a good opportunity to connect with him in person with a mutual friend with us.  I was a little hesitant to invite a non-Christian along to a missionary museum, but the Lord assured me it was ok and he agreed to join us.

Later on, I could tell Smiley was very blessed by our time together.  He expressed a lot of joy in spending time with me.  I learned later that he asked my Korean friend to read the Bible together later that week.  We continued talking when I returned to the USA.  And a few weeks later on Saturday, August 27th, our conversation ended up leading to me sharing the gospel with him and He came to the Lord!  Hallelujah!

There was much to learn for “Smiley,” as he did not grow up in Christianity.  I am thankful that my Korean brother is helping him learn the Bible even as I am able to teach and help him via social media.  I have spent hours talking to him and teaching him the ways of God and have greatly enjoyed it.

I have prayed much for him.  I pray not only for him, but for his family and for his home country in Southeast Asia.  May they all discover that Jesus saves and He is the Way for all people to get lasting freedom and peace with God and eternal life!

After a successful Friday evening ministering to children, Saturday found me sharing the message of Christianity with three teenage boys.  They were certainly much quieter than the children were the day before!  It was not too easy to get them to ask questions and I ended up doing most of the talking.  I shared honestly about struggles and fears of young men. I talked about all of us looking for purpose in life and prayed for them.  Two were professing Christians but one was not a believer.

After we finished our time together, I joined them for some basketball on the court near the church.  These days I rarely play basketball, and I don’t consider myself very good at it.  But today basketball was my chance to strengthen relationship with them.  There is something powerful when “preacher dude” will become like those he is ministering to (I Corinthians 9:19-23).  So, basketball it was, for the sake of the gospel!  I found through the time playing that I was especially able to connect with the non-believer (or I like to say “pre-believer”).  We didn’t share a lot of language in common, but they knew what I represented and could see more now of how I walked it out.  I finished that night with a really good feeling.  If you had told me before leaving on the trip I’d be playing basketball as a means of follow up discipleship/evangelism, I don’t know I’d have believed you.  Yet I’m glad it happened!

After ministering in the congregation on Sunday, I played more basketball with the youth kids again on Sunday evening.  Once again, the non-believer was among the group.  There were also a few others there who I learned later were hardened to Christianity because of hard home lives.  As I reread my journal later, I noticed I said on Monday morning “tonight I hope to play more basketball, etc. with the youth.”  What happened to me!!  Now I was liking basketball :-).

A second trip to Korea later in the summer provided additional opportunities for me to teach, love, and play more basketball with many of these youth.  I ended up scoring a lot of points in one game we played (ok, it helps that I am taller than most of them).  I say this not to brag, but rather to say I felt like I was a better basketball player than I had ever been before.  If God can empower me to teach, prophesy, and heal, why not play basketball too?  When it is for His purposes, I believe He does just that.  Praise the Lord!  Keep praying for these youth to open their hearts and for God to reconcile them to himself through Christ Jesus!

I Become a Basketball Player to Win the Basketball Players!-June 2016

After a successful Friday evening ministering to children, Saturday found me sharing the message of Christianity with three teenage boys.  They were certainly much quieter than the children were the day before!  It was not too easy to get them to ask questions and I ended up doing most of the talking.  I shared honestly about struggles and fears of young men. I talked about all of us looking for purpose in life and prayed for them.  Two were professing Christians but one was not a believer.

After we finished our time together, I joined them for some basketball on the court near the church.  These days I rarely play basketball, and I don’t consider myself very good at it.  But today basketball was my chance to strengthen relationship with them.  There is something powerful when “preacher dude” will become like those he is ministering to (I Corinthians 9:19-23).  So, basketball it was, for the sake of the gospel!  I found through the time playing that I was especially able to connect with the non-believer (or I like to say “pre-believer”).  We didn’t share a lot of language in common, but they knew what I represented and could see more now of how I walked it out.  I finished that night with a really good feeling.  If you had told me before leaving on the trip I’d be playing basketball as a means of follow up discipleship/evangelism, I don’t know I’d have believed you.  Yet I’m glad it happened!

After ministering in the congregation on Sunday, I played more basketball with the youth kids again on Sunday evening.  Once again, the non-believer was among the group.  There were also a few others there who I learned later were hardened to Christianity because of hard home lives.  As I reread my journal later, I noticed I said on Monday morning “tonight I hope to play more basketball, etc. with the youth.”  What happened to me!!  Now I was liking basketball :-).

A second trip to Korea later in the summer provided additional opportunities for me to teach, love, and play more basketball with many of these youth.  I ended up scoring a lot of points in one game we played (ok, it helps that I am taller than most of them).  I say this not to brag, but rather to say I felt like I was a better basketball player than I had ever been before.  If God can empower me to teach, prophesy, and heal, why not play basketball too?  When it is for His purposes, I believe He does just that.  Praise the Lord!  Keep praying for these youth to open their hearts and for God to reconcile them to himself through Christ Jesus!

I Will Bring Them To You!-May 2016

As we drove to a multi-cultural university in Southern, Japan, I sensed the Lord desired that we go to a “commons area” for a divine appointment.  I shared this with the rest of my team: Missionary Kim and my interpreter Shin Young (both Koreans).

After eating lunch with a Christian student Missionary Kim knew, we headed out to a commons area where we continued our conversation with the student.  At that point, I began to get hit with some spiritual warfare.  The devil was trying to stop us and was attempting to create confusion, shame, etc. I began to pray in the Holy Spirit and intercede.  As Scripture says, the Spirit helps us to pray and intercedes through us when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26).

After  time of prayer, God began to focus me on a few benches about 10 yards away from us.  Many students were gathered there.  I eventually felt the Lord prompting me to go sit near them.  I got up, said something to Missionary Kim, and went,  unsure of what would happen.  I prayed for several minutes quietly in that spot.  Which student(s) should I talk to, Lord?  But there was no clear prompting and eventually the students all left.  Then I heard the Spirit of God say, “I will bring them to you.”  This is always a little disheartening to hear.  For some reason, we think in evangelism we can make something happen and when God shows us he is clearly in the driver seat, it hurts our pride a little.  But I am so thankful He is the one in charge!

One student came over and we greeted each other.  Could he be the one?  But soon he moved on.  God then moved me to get up and prayer walk around the entire area.  I did so.  Missionary Kim and Shing Young were still sitting where we were before.  They had now finished their conversation with the Christian student who ate lunch with us.  After making a complete circle, I noticed three Japanese students had come and sat down right next to the spot I had been sitting when the Lord told me He’d “bring them to me.”  I felt a peace with talking to them and commented on the ice cream.  They responded back in English and our conversation began.

They were sophomore students studying at the university.  I found out later that their afternoon class was canceled that day.  We talked about Japan, our majors (or past majors in my case) in school, my travel in Asia, etc.  Eventually, they learned about my Christian work and I learned they were Atheists.  Shortly after, I didn’t feel I had any more words to say, other than to invite over Missionary Kim and Shin Young to meet them.  Missionary Kim was taking some PhD courses at the university and I introduced them to him.  At that point, he became the main speaker (now in Japanese).

Shin Young and I interceded quietly as he talked with the students.  They had some questions about Christianity and eventually, he was able to share the gospel with them.  I began to get some words from the Lord to encourage each of the students in who God created them to be and prayed for an opportunity to share them.  At one point, Missionary Kim stopped and kind of looked at me.  I shared at that point the words, sharing that I had been praying for each of them.  The students seemed to receive them well!

Missionary Kim continued his sharing after that and after a time, we took photos together and exchanged contact information.  The students may be following up with Missionary Kim to learn more about Christianity.  One of them had just read through the New Testament.  Praise the Lord!

God is faithful.  When we follow His guidance, He opens doors no man can open.  He brought them to us, just as He promised!  Praise the Lord!

“Mountain Top” Experience-March 2016

It was Thursday, about one week into my trip to Japan.  I had enjoyed spending time with the Shine Japan outreach group the previous two days and sensed God wanted to use me for more evangelism.  Shine Japan continued on Thursday–yet when I went to God in prayer, I was shown to spend Thursday “in leisure and preparation time.”  I was a little disappointed, but elected to be obedient.  I’d rather be in God’s will having leisure time than out of it doing outreach.  Anyhow, I was in Tokyo and there was much to see!

After some quiet time in the morning, I prepared for my day.  I brought along my Evangecube (which unfolds the gospel through pictures in a beautiful way) just in case.  I still had a passion to share the gospel, and I’ve learned you never know when that will happen when you walk with God :-).  I took the metro to Mt. Takao, a place that was suggested to me by a long term missionary in Tokyo.  I ate lunch, grabbed a water, and began hiking up the mountain.  It wasn’t an easy path up as there were a lot of roots.  But I had a sense I was right where God wanted me.

The summit of the mountain was beautiful.  Mt. Takao isn’t that high, but the view is great.  After enjoying the view, I began to read signs that compared the mountains of Japan.  Eventually, I wondered down some stairs to read another sign about the mountains.  It was then I saw the young man sitting by himself on a bench nearby.  I had a desire to talk to him and it kind of just happened.  I said, “Hi” and our conversation began.  He spoke very good English!

We began to dialogue about my trip to Japan, my impressions of the country, etc.  I mentioned my travel plans and “H” (that’s what we’ll call him) was shocked to find out that the city I would be visiting the next day was his hometown!  From there, the conversation led to me sharing some about my mission in Asia.  I even talked about sharing the gospel in Tokyo earlier that week.  I showed “H” my Evangecube (really glad I brought it!!) and explained it to him.  He was intrigued by it (the story of Jesus tends to have that effect on people).  I politely asked about his faith and he shared he was Buddhist.  Our conversation went a different direction then, but I figured we may come back to that later.

After a little while, I asked “H” if he’d like to walk down the mountain with me.  He agreed, and I could tell he enjoyed talking to me.  There were actually several different paths down the mountain, but I sensed the Lord leading us to take path #4.  As we walked down, we enjoyed conversing with one another.  Eventually we came to a Buddhist temple of some sort.  I began asking “H” about Buddhism and he shared.  I was prompted to ask about an after-life and he shared that “good people go up” and “bad people go down.”  That led to my next question: “Which are you?”  This question is really revealing and it was in this case as well.

He shared he was “good.”  I then used the analogy of a classroom and a teacher, students and a test.  Is 90% passing?  Is 80%?  How “good” do we have to be?  I could tell he hadn’t really thought about this before.  This led to me sharing more about my life: the times I thought I was “good” and passing the tests, the times I thought I was “bad” and failing the tests, and my present view of being forgiven and seen by God as perfect through Jesus.

“H” listened and I could tell it was a lot to process.  In Japan, Shintoism and Buddhism are often mixed and the resulting beliefs are rather complex.  There was a clash of world views taking place, so I was sensitive and loving, yet truthful and surprisingly bold as I proceeded.  We continued on our way down, and at one point I shared something God placed on my heart to tell him, regarding his future.  Again, it was hard to tell how he took it, but he didn’t seem awkward to me at all.  I’d say he was appreciative even.

When we got down the mountain, “H” shared this with me: “I had a very good day today–because I met you.”  This was a great compliment and I felt he really meant it.  I shared the same back to him.  We rode the metro together and traded contact information, before warmly parting ways.

Pray for “H” and all those in Japan.  Our Lord Jesus Christ loves this nation and I do, too!  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life–and is the only way to God the Father.  This may be offensive to some, but it is a great relief.  He scored 100% in this life and by truly believing in Him and Lord and Savior–this is credited to our account!  Peace and eternal life–now and forever!  Hallelujah!

Salvation on the Train!-February 2016

God is Sovereign!  Many times, that phrase is thrown around in Christian circles and it gives us a sense of comfort that God is bigger than our problems, has perfect knowledge in each situation, and orchestrates things in ways that are beyond our understanding.  My recent trip south helped me to see God’s sovereignty again in powerful ways!

As I mentioned in my Feburary 3rd post, I recently visited a missions team out of state.  I had been asked to come and do some teaching for the team several months back.  However, whenever I took it before the Lord, I was not getting the go-ahead.  I was a little frustrated, as I wanted to go.  Yet I’ve learned that if God is not in something, I’d rather not be either!

Finally, in early January, the Lord showed me to go February 2nd-6th and to take Amtrak.  I listened and booked my tickets later that evening.  At the time, it didn’t make total sense.  My friends lived three hours from the Amtrak station.  This meant extra drive time and likely some later/earlier travel hours.  And why not stay for Sunday?  It was puzzling to me.

Saturday, February 6th, I prepared to head back to Michigan after a great trip seeing the mission’s team.  As I sat waiting for the train, I noticed that my layover in Chicago was rather long.  I checked online and found out that there was an earlier train back to Michigan, and I was able to change to the earlier train!  My motive in doing this was so I could be home earlier on Saturday night and be more rested for my speaking Sunday morning.  I had peace with this.  Little did I know that what I had just done was key for what was about to come!  God can guide us through many ways.  Sometimes, he just works through our natural desires.

When I got to Chicago, I ate lunch in Union Station.  As I was finishing, I was approached for some money by a young lady.  This allowed me an opportunity to bless and pray for her.  As I finished, I noticed a young man sitting about twenty feet away.  He looked like one of my friends from Michigan, only with longer hair.  He was highlighted to me, and I knew in my spirit I should talk to him.

What does “highlighted to me” mean?  I get this question a lot.  Here’s how I will describe it: I noticed him and had a strong sense that I was to talk to him.  It is like my spirit was being drawn towards him for no apparent reason.  I could try to just forget it, but it was almost unbearable.  I had a strong love for him as well, a deep caring and burden for him to know God.

The next question is of course, “What do I do with this?”  I am not the kind of person who enjoys awkward conversations, so I’ve learned to pray and seek the Lord’s wisdom.  Often times though, we cannot wait too long or we will miss the opportunity.  I finished my lunch and walked over to throw away my garbage.  Then I opened my mouth and just starting talking to him!  I shared with him the truth:  how he looked like one of my friends and how I just felt like I should come say hi.  He was friendly and we began talking.

I learned “Mike” was on the train heading for rehab.  We made small talk for several minutes.  I learned that his past was checkered, but he seemed open spiritually.  I was moved deeply with compassion for him and shared about God’s grace to give us 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chances.  To demonstrate this, I gave him a few bucks even though he wasn’t in need of money (Note: I am reluctant to share about personal giving publicly as it is never for show.  In this case it was part of the testimony of God opening his heart).  I shared that God desires to meet us in our lowest state and help us up.  I prayed with him, spoke some words of encouragement God gave me, and shared a story of God blessing me with supernatural providence (See my November 13th, 2015 post).  I gave him my ministry card and shared that he was welcome to keep in contact with me if he wanted, but didn’t have to.  I told him I’d love to hear the story of what God does for him!  Then we gave each other a hug and I left.

At that point, I was praising God for a couple of unexpected encounters in the train station.  Yet things were only beginning.  Mike ended up being on my train to Michigan–that one that I had switched to that very morning!  As we stood in line, we agreed to sit together and talk more.  The ticket lady confirmed this when she told Mike, “You need to stick with him (me).”  Amazing!  About then, I texted a couple of intercessors back home in Michigan and told them to “Pray!”  God was up to something!

On the train, I learned more about Mike (who gave me permission to share this with you).  He grew up in a Christian home but had made some poor choices.   Like many of us, there was hurt from the past.  He was clearly a gifted young man, in spite of it all.  I showed him my two train tickets on my phone and how I had switched trains that very morning–so that I was now on this train with him!  I also shared how God had guided me to take this trip on the days He had.  Mike kept saying, “It’s a God set up!”

Next, I shared with him two passages of Scripture:  Romans 7:14-20 and Romans 8:1-3.  These two passages illustrate the difference between living under “The Law of Sin and of Death” and “The Law of the Spirit of Life.”  I shared my story with him and learning the difference between “Religion” and “Relationship with God.”  I shared how ever since the Garden of Eden, all of us are stuck under the curse of performance, and God desires to give us new life in Christ!  Our obedience then flows out of relationship with Him, as He lives inside of us.  This really clicked with him.  He told me he was not right with God and he knew he was not born again. Soon he was begging to be saved!  It was astonishing to watch the Holy Spirit work!

I was about to lead him in a prayer of salvation, but was guided by the Holy Spirit to just “let him pray.”  He prayed from his heart and it was beautiful!  When he finished, he looked physically different!  God’s Spirit took residence in his heart and brought a warmth to his appearance.  Without me telling him to, he began deleting off of his phone certain music and photos.  God was guiding Him! He texted his mother and shared what had happened.  It really blessed me when she rejoiced with her son and recognized that God had set up my meeting with him!

I prayed for the heavenly Father’s embrace to be real to Mike and for an encounter with God’s love.  This led to tears and some time of forgiveness.  I was also guided to speak against some evil spirits harassing him and tell them to go and to pray off curses that may be holding him down.   Finally, I pulled out my computer, opened to the presentation I had just given a few days before and taught him about the Holy Spirit.  He was hungry to be prayed to be empowered and used by God as a witness to others!

Pray for Mike.  I believe God is going to use him powerfully in the days ahead!  Just because he made some poor choices doesn’t mean his life is doomed.  In fact, his new life just started!  And how many more will be touched through the Spirit’s work in and through Him?

God is so faithful to guide.  As I got off the train that evening and gave Mike a farewell hug, I was filled to overflowing with the Father’s love.  We were all created for Him.  To be used as part of His sovereign plan in Mike’s life blesses me more than I can express.  To God be the Glory!!!

The Fruit of Prayer Walking!-January 2016

Sometimes in our Christian walks, we spend extended times praying for people/things and do not see much outward evidence of God answering our prayers.  We may have a sense of inner peace that we were obedient but move on with life and forget about our past times of prayer.  This has been the case in my life on more than one occasion.  Yet as I continue this journey of faith, I am finding that even when I am released from a prayer assignment God continues to work!  Praise the Lord!!  The story below illustrates this perfectly.

From late March of 2012-late August of 2012, I spent some time virtually everyday praying over a small skatepark.  While I myself did not skateboard, I was drawn to the young people in the park.  Generally, I would prayer walk around the park, praying quietly in my prayer language of tongues and in English as the Holy Spirit gave me words.

As an evangelistic person, I was constantly looking for opportunities to talk, share, and pray with people in the park.  Over the course of the spring and summer, many opportunities were given to me.  Yet there was always a sense inside of me that more was supposed to happen.  When God released me from the park and the burden of prayer lifted, I continued to wonder about what all God really had done, especially through  my prayers.

Fast forward to the fall of 2015.  I was praying one night and God brought back to mind the skatepark.  I was moved by the Spirit to pray to see more of the fruits of my labors.  Shortly thereafter, I met Henry at a prayer gathering.

Henry, like many young men I have mentored on some level, was “highlighted” to me.  This simply means I noticed him and something in my spirit was drawn to connect with him.  That particular December evening, I did not talk to him but prayed quietly to the Lord.  I knew that at some point, we would connect.

In early January, I saw Henry again and this time I talked to him.  I found out he had a desire to be a missionary in the future and was a young believer.  We exchanged information and met up soon after to talk more.  Sometime in there, the Lord revealed to me that Henry was one of the young men I had prayed over in the skatepark!

When we met up, I asked Henry about skating and found that he indeed was in the very skatepark that I had prayed over nearly 4 years before.  As a teenager, he was not walking with the Lord at the time but now as a young adult, he is fervent in his faith and a born again Christian.  It was such a joy to minister to Henry that evening and hear his story and heart for missions.

As I left that evening, I recalled that one of my prayers in the summer of 2012 was that God would raise up missionaries from the youth in the skatepark.  God heard that prayer.  Henry is proof!  Praise the Lord!!