This past weekend we held our annual 220 Leadership Retreat where our leadership team is refreshed, re-equipped, and sent out for the new school year. This is always a powerful time of ministry and fun but this year’s retreat was the best we have ever held. 285 existing leaders and brand new leaders were present as God’s Spirit moved mightily in preaching, praying, and prophesying.

I was so proud of my senior leadership team as they ministered with me and did the bulk of laying on hands. This gave me the feeling of a father whose children are walking in maturity and destiny. What a joy! The other thing that really moved me to my core was the ending session where we commission all leaders and new leaders to the harvest field with prophecy and apostolic sending. My heart overflowed with tears as I saw leaders that have been with me for years going back into the fires of harvest with fervor like never before. When leaders who I thought would never produce leaders were laying hands and weeping over new leaders that they were birthing it was more than i could handle. All I could think of is that the Lord of the Harvest was watching and was most pleased. It was definitely one of the most fulfilling moments in my life. I felt like a proud father and grandfather all on one day!

To know all that I have been through this year and the past few years was not able to stop the generational anointing of God’s Spirit from being passed down was such an encouragement to me. To see the fruit of all our hard labor (Amy and I) and know that it wasn’t just some monument to man or mark of man’s honor but a living, thriving, harvest combine that is unstoppable in the Spirit. Praise God! His ways are too marvelous for us to understand and yet His methods are proven effective beyond our ability to comprehend.

If you are not actively involved in “Going into all nations and making disciples” then I encourage you to lift up your eyes and see that the fields are ripe and waiting on the most precious commodity in the Kingdom, HARVESTERS!

Matt. 9:37- Jesus said to His disciples, The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, ask Him to send out more workers for His fields.

The fires of Revolution are burning in my heart like never before right now. 2 things in particular have sparked that fresh passion in my heart. The first was the youth conf. and seeing all those junior high and high school students getting right with God and crying out for more of our wonderful Lord Jesus. The second was an experience i had the other night while going to see the latest installment of the Batman movies. I am a pretty big fan of Batman so naturally we went and saw the movie at midnight Thur. night. While sitting in that theater for over 45 min. the Spirit of God moved on my heart mightily concerning this generation and their wickedness. Cussing, drinking, smoking, perversion, pride, rebellion, and a host of other demonic spirits were evident in the lives of those sitting around me. These kids were all between the ages of 20-30 and had no regard whatsoever for our precious Jesus or what it means to live a life set apart from the world. In fact, they want all they can get of the world because it is all they know. Being raised on MTV and Friends they emulate the filth vomited upon them 24-7 and strive to create an environment where sex with anyone is acceptable and partying is the norm.

OH! is it time for us to see God move by His mighty hand upon all those from 12-year-old junior high kids in the ghetto to the 25-year-old just graduating from university. This is where the Revolution will be. It will not be just a gathering of people for the sake of gathering but a time of true repentance. it will not be a movement for the sake of a movement but an outpouring of God’s Spirit that births such a deep, heart-felt repentance that despite their long way to go in Christ they hold on and never let go.

Join me in setting apart our lives for the work of the Master. Join me in praying for God to put mighty passion and unction upon us for the preaching of the Gospel to this lost and confused generation. Join me in asking God to give us the harvest and supernatural strategies for holding the massive harvest to come. Finally, pray that God would make us all faithful to the assignment that He has given to each of us (Jn. 9:4)

Matt. 9:36- Jesus felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help.

Acts 2:37- Peter’s words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

This last Sat morning we had our monthly prophetic stream and during the worship the Lord impressed on me to preach a word that I would like to share with you (see link to “Where is my sheep?”). It is a word of sacrifice and brokenness that I believe will bless you as to the walk of suffering God has called us to and the fellowship of His suffering as depicted in Gen. 22 with Abraham and Isaac. During the last morning of Conf. 2 I preached a message from the preceding verses in the chapter and yet could not shake vs. 6. Please enjoy this word and let the Lord speak to you by His Spirit.

This last month has seen over 7000 young people, youth pastors, and chaperones come through the 2 annual youth conf. we hold here at Bethany for the great 220 youth ministry. This year God poured out His Spirit at both conf. and I couldn’t have been more pleased with what I know God has done in the lives of all involved, including me! I will admit that it was a little different having these conferences again without my beloved wife but God’s grace was upon me and for the first time since 04 I was headed back and forth without Amy by my side. I know she was watching from the sides of heaven and rooting us on in our quest to reach and disciple as many of this precious generation as possible. ( us being me, Jonathan, and the rest of my 220 team, who by the way are the best in the world!)
God has truly honored me to have great support in way of my family, staff, and thousands of kids who I don’t know personally but have shown such great love. This will be a year to remember how God’s grace carried me through what could have been a painful experience and yet by His anointing and blessing I was able to not only make it through but see the best year’s conf. ever. Thank all of you for your prayers. We are taking back this generation one student at a time!