Dear Church,

Thanks for praying!  I want to encourage you to be people of  prayer for God's kingdom to expand.  I returned home from San  Diego yesterday afternoon and helped Debbie get our home ready for  church that evening.  We had a wonderful time as we experienced a  deeper level of ministry, intimacy and the power of God.  It was  truly amazing.  One person wrote these words to our house church  this morning, "However, church last night seemed to be the closest  thing I've ever experienced to what I understand about the  functioning of the early church."  Those are powerful words of  hope, life and excitement.  As great as last night was, this  morning brought even more encouragement and ministry.

I was called over to Rhonda and Resse's home because Reese's  mother, who is a drug addict, wanted to get off of drugs and check  into a rehab facility.  Once I arrived at the home, I began asking  Reese's mother, Glenda, about her life and what she wanted to do.   I then asked her to share with me her spiritual story.  Glenda had  never heard that following Jesus was about what Jesus has done for  her, not what she has to do to please Jesus.  You could see the  lights going on in her head.  We talked for a while and  eventually, Reese and Rhonda joined us around the table.  Glenda  said she wanted to receive Jesus into her heart.  I told her that  with her attitude, it mostly likely had already happened, but that  her son, Reese would lead her to receiving Jesus.  Reese did a  great job - he had us all kneel down and prayed.  Glenda also  prayed telling God her heart as best she could.  Jesus came into  her life!  We then gathered back around the table.

I explained to Glenda that now that Jesus was in her life, that  Jesus has placed her on a mission to share what He has done for  her with others.  I also explained that now that she was child of  God, that she would be encountering spiritual battles and that she  would have to make wise decisions as she continued to walk through  life.  Glenda lives in Casa Grande so I instructed her that it  would be great that once out of rehab, to go back to Casa Grande  and to share Jesus with her friends and to begin many churches  there.  She was excited to do so.  Glenda told me that she knew of  at least two people who would be interested in doing church in  their homes.
Next, we took about 45 minutes and had church together using Acts  2:41-47 as our guide.  We made comments about what God showed us  from Acts 2:41-47, we encouraged one another, we partook of  communion and we prayed together.  Acts 2:42 says that when they  met house to house they would be "...devoted to the apostles  teaching, fellowship, breaking of the bread and prayer."  I told  Glenda that this is all she needed to do to have church with her  friends.  I also told her that Reese, Rhonda and I would come down  to visit her once a month as she began a church.

I then pointed out Acts 2:41 to Glenda, that the people believed  and were baptized.  So, Reese and Glenda got into their swimsuits,  walked into the very cold pool and Reese baptized his mother.   What a joyous occasion (I'll have pictures on Sunday night).  So,  I was able to see a drug addicted women come into the Kingdom and  state that she would begin churches in Casa Grande on her own.   May Jesus be glorified.
Please pray for Glenda as she goes through rehab.  Also pray for  her husband, Ken and their daughter Jessie to come to Christ.

Blessings,

Ed :-)

"Get out there and cast some seeds!"