Wednesday, September 21, 2016

City Reach Richton

Last night the service at Dodds was tremendous. We were blessed with friends and fellowship but much more importantly we were blessed with the presence of God in the house. I can hardly wait to see what happens tonight!

City Reach Richton

Hopefully we will be on the road in a few days on our way south to Richton, Mississippi for City Reach. Richton is not a major metropolitan area or even a large city but it is the place that the vision for City Reach was birthed in my heart. Pastor Scott Morris and his church erected a tent and had a tent revival in the city park in 2010. In 2011 we were doing our first complete summer of tent revivals and Bro. Scott invited us to be a part of theirs.

We showed up that fall with great hopes for revival. Those hopes were generated partly because we were working with folks that wanted revival and partly because we had experienced an absolutely wonderful summer of tent revivals in several states. Our faith was high that God was going to move.

And He Did Move!

Before the meeting was over Bro. Scott was figuring out dates for the next year and we were locking it in to our schedule. I had already decided to purchase a more durable and larger tent and by the time we rolled in there in 2012 the Blue and White Gospel Tent had already been the site of revival in a bunch of places. We had another great move of God that year and we have been back every year since.

It was evident from the first meeting that God was doing something special for the people of Richton And in our hearts. The meeting is sponsored completely by First Assembly in Richton and they do 99% of the work that needs to be completed, but other churches starting coming and taking part. The community began to look forward to the tent revival in the park. We even had people that were not a part of any church telling us they anticipated the tent revival every year.

God was working in a way that was bigger than one church and bigger than one evangelist. It seemed that God was taking all of our efforts and adding something we could not produce on our own. It was amazing to watch God bring it all together. 

I began to see the possibility that  God might duplicate that in larger cities. I shared that vision with Bro. Scott and he and his church jumped on board that instant. As I shared that vision in revivals across the nation I received the same encouragement.

We prayed. We preached. We prepared. We saved resources. And over the last 12 months we have reaped the harvest in City Reach. God birthed it in my heart. We made ourselves available. Bro. Jimmie Racliffe has added his all. Churches have pushed the effort. individuals have prayed and given. You have worked hard. People all over the nation have helped bring this to pass.

And God has given the increase!

Numerous folks that had never been inside the local churches have been saved. People have been encouraged and healed. We have testimonies of lives being completely changed. Churches and other ministries have been inspired to be the hands of Christ and are reaching for the lost and hurting in meaningful ways long after we are gone.

It almost seems like a dream. A good dream for a change! It some sense it seems as if I have watched it unfold and I was only along for the ride. What a ride it has been!

We are down to two more City Reach campaigns this year. As I mentioned, Richton is next. The church and Pastor that helped birth my vision and in many ways made the fulfillment of the vision possible will begin on October 3rd. I am anticipating the best City Reach yet!

I am believing God to saturate Richton, Mississippi with His power and presence in unprecedented ways. I believe God is going to bring the blessing they have sent around the USA back home to them. I believe that God is going to save. I believe that God is going to heal. I believe that God is going to deliver. And I believe God is going to do it in a big way!

Join with us in prayer. Join with us in person if you can. There is no telling what God will do! I and trusting God to change the spiritual climate in Richton, Mississippi!

Thank you for reading.

Davy


Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Another Good Monday

We tried to have low key day on Monday. Kelly Jo and I worked several hours late Sunday night on some of our book work and we are close to being caught up for now. I did some more Monday morning while she rested and kicked around on a few things in the barn but resisted starting on any major tasks. 

I was doing my best to spend my time trying to be prepared for service at Dodds Monday night but we did take a few minutes to stop by for a late lunch at Acapulco. We had to run to the bank and post office anyway and Acapulco was right on the way, don't you know.




I believe that place gets better and better! The salsa was awesome! I "may" have to go back again today.

I do not have a picture because it was dark when he arrived, but Bro. Jimmy Radcliffe is back with us. He spent Sunday night and part of Monday with his parents in Illinois and arrived here safe and sound about 9:30 PM or so. It was so good to see him and it is wonderful to have him back.

We had another good service last night at Dodds and we had a special treat too. All of my siblings and both of our parents were in the revival service. Theoretically that should not be too hard since Steve and Theresa and Dad and Mom attend Dodds all of the time and we are there in revival. But in practical terms it is a little harder. Tommy works a lot of hours on crazy shifts plus he drives along way to work. For him to be able to be there was a special treat.

For those that do not know my family, this is from left to right,
Front: Steve and Tommy
Middle: Mom and Theresa
Back: Davy and Dad


It was great for us to all be together in revival. Maybe it will happen again soon.

Please pray that God will help us in the remaining services. We are asking God to help in great ways in lives.

Thank you for reading.

Davy

Monday, September 19, 2016

#37 Weekend Woundup and Weview

It has been another great weekend and we are giving God all the glory for it. We spent most of the day Saturday with my brother Steve and his wife Karen. Steve has been at the barn lots of hours helping us work while we have been home but we have not spent much time together outside of work and church. It was a great day.

Karen drove us to Springfield and we walked around the Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market Extravaganza. I do not think we purchased one things besides food but we had a great time looking and talking. I just realized that we did not take one picture either. So, maybe it did not happen at all. I think it did though.

Mom and Dad called as we were getting back to town and we met them and Odie for a great meal at Acapulco! Of course, what other kind of meal besides great can you have at Acapulco, right? I did get a picture of that.



Then Steve and Karen helped us set up our sound equipment at Dodds and to get our sound check. While getting sound check, Kelly Jo discovered that her sustain pedal was not working on her Yamaha P120 keyboard. Steve and Karen took her to Guitar Center to buy another one while I was trying to prepare for Sunday's services.

Kelly Jo's Yamaha has been a work horse. We have traveled with it about 12 1/2 years and used it probably 3500 - 4000 services in that time. 700-800 of those services have been outdoors so we certainly have gotten our money's worth from it. 

We started to upgrade at the beginning of 2016 to another Yamaha that Kelly Jo has found but decided to make this one work another year. We have never had a problem with it until this year and it has quit us three times. Those three problems this year have cost us only about $150 so that is still not bad.

Sunday morning we kicked off revival with a wonderful response to the preaching in the altar. I believe that God is going to help us this week in a mighty way.














Sunday night Pastor Kelly Rogers relocated the 6:00 PM service to the Little Miami River. It was a beautiful evening, even with the slight threat of rain and the few sprinkles we had. It was obvious that folks were excited by the number of people that were gathering in early.




















Pastor Kelly Rogers kicked it off.









The threat of rain picked up steam during the preaching so my 15 minute homily was abbreviated to about 3-4 minutes. It was probably better that way.









Each of the candidates for baptism was given a chance to testify. It was awesome to hear my brother Steve give glory to God for what He has done in his life!





















Baptizing my brother Steve will always stand as a highlight of our relationship and my ministry. It was a wonderful day! Thank God for His mercy and grace to us! Hallelujah! 













There were seven of us Isaacs first cousins there. I was blessed to help baptize first cousin Debbie Isaacs too. She is the one in the front with towel.






That makes for a great day and a great weekend! Thank you for stopping in.

Davy