Churches We've Ministered At

Maranatha Life
Churches We've Ministered At

Alabama

Victorious Life Church - Eva, AL - 16 Nov 97 - We were on our way from New York to Texas, after getting rid of our home. God had us turn South at Nashville, TN. We asked God where he wanted us to stop for church on Sunday, and He led us to this church in a town of 1700 people. We went in for prayer on Saturday night, and met the pastor.

Sunday morning we had a great service, the pastor shared the message, but we shared about our ministry, traveling, and added a p.s. to his message. That evening, even though they didn't know us, the pastor had Rich minister on “An Excellent Spirit.”

One lady in the church felt led to bless our children, so she went to a store and bought some clothes for each of them.

Arkansas

Living Water Worship Center - North Little Rock, AR - 22 Jun 97 - We were in North Little Rock for a homeschooling conference. God led us to Living Waters Worship Center in North Little Rock. We were asked to minister in both the morning and evening services. The leadership in the church was really depressed & discouraged, and we were able to encourage them. Various people in the church were led to bless us with offerings, tapes, cookies, and 5 suits for Rich.

22 Nov 98 - We had been ministering at Perry County Fellowship (see below) in the morning. Since they didn't have an evening service, we decided to check on how they were doing here. They were thrilled to see us. We were able to encourage them, and Rich preached on "The Ten Blemished That Exclude You From the Priesthood."

Perry County Fellowship - Houston, AR - 22 Nov 98 - Met the pastor when we were at Living Water Worship Center. He asked us to come minister at his church when we were in the area. We had felt it was God's timing, so called and scheduled to minister at their church. Rich ministered on "After God's Own Heart." Since they didn't have an evening service, we went to Living Water Worship Center (see above) to see how they were doing.

River of Life - Searcy, AR - 23 May - 1 Jun 99 - We almost didn't find the church because the address in the phone book was for the church office. Found someone at the Baptist church who knew where the church was, and gave us directions. Although we didn't preach in the Sunday service, Rich shared briefly, and preached Wednesday night on "Get Desperate for God & Plunge into His River." We ministered to couples nonstop the whole time we were there, sharing on the Jewish understanding of communion five times.

California

Living Waters Fellowship - Barstow, Ca - 24-28 Aug 99 - Received an e-mail from a couple asking us to come out and do a marriage seminar. Since we were in Nevada anyway for our daughter's wedding, it was no problem to go out there. Had a great seminar.

On Sunday, we went to Living Waters Fellowship with the couple who had invited us out for the seminar. Rich and the pastor fellowshipped a while. They gave us a love offering. On Wednesday, we were still in town, so we went back to the church, and Rich preached on "But if Not."

Palo Verde Valley Christian Center - Blythe, CA - 30 Aug 99 - Stopped in town to spend the night on a Friday night. The church was having a Friday night outreach service. Rich ended up preaching.

Florida

Brownsville AOG - Brownsville Revival - Pensacola, Fl - We've been to Brownsville twice for their revival, in November 97, and May 98. There is definitely a move of God going on there. The emphasis of this revival is repentance.

Georgia

Joy Christian Center - Buford, GA - 2 Mar 97 - We were invited to Joy Christian Fellowship by one of the members we had met at a homeschooling conference. She called the pastor and told him about us, and received permission for us to park the motor home at the church. We arrived Sat. (the 1st) at 9:00 pm & met the Pastor. He asked if we would like to set up a book table.

During morning service, we danced, and gave testimony on the motor home. At the end of the service, the pastor had us come to the front for prayer. He prophesied that God would be moving us more in ministry, and less in selling our books. They took up a love offering for us.

During evening service, we were asked to do a special dance, and Rebekah was asked to do a special dance. After service, Rebekah anointed and prayed for those who felt the Lord leading them into dance.

Kansas

Community Revival Center - Ottawa, KS - 1 Nov 98 - God directed us to this church, while we were on our way from New Creation Bible church in Sedalia, KS to meet with our pastor at Word of Faith Fellowship in McPherson, KS. Although they didn't know us, the pastor asked Rich to share briefly, so he did on "Knowing God."

Rock of Life - Emporia, KS - Showed up for a Sunday night service in a downpour on 4 Oct 98. They were having a "freedom night" allowing anyone to share. It became a night of Rich sharing about Jewish customs. Afterwards we went out to ice cream, and ended up talking about marriage. The pastor had been looking for someone to do a marriage seminar for two years. He called us two days later, asking to schedule a marriage seminar in two weeks.

Next morning, we were asked to go to the Christian school and share chapel with the upper elementary grades. Spent an hour (chapel was usually ½ hour) sharing about Jewish customs and festivals.

Went back for the marriage seminar on 17 Oct 98 (Saturday). Ended up being the best marriage seminar we'd ever done. Also ministered Sunday night on "Taking Your Tabernacle With You" with slides of a model of the wilderness Tabernacle.

Faith Baptist - Chetopa, KS - 10 Dec 96 - While on our way from Schenectady, NY to Amarillo, TX to pick up our motor home, we had vehicle problems. God had a couple stop to help us (see "The Story of Our Motor Home"). On the way back, we felt that God wanted us to be at their church for Sunday service. We had trouble getting there on time, but arrived while praise & worship was going on. At the end of the worship, the pastor introduced us, and Rich shared on "Seed Faith."

At the end of the service, the pastor asked us to pray for him, and the church. Even though this was a small church, in a small town, in the middle of nowhere, God directed Rich to pray for God to send him to the nations. Afterwards, he told us that the prayer was a confirmation, and asked if we knew where he could learn to witness in Swahili. He bought one of the first copies of "Bible Swahili 1" from us.

Faith Tabernacle - Greensburg, KS - 1 Feb 98 - While waiting to minister at New Life Center in Hays, KS, God had us take a loop through southern Kansas. On a Tuesday afternoon, we were passing through Greensburg, a town of 1800 people, and saw the church (the third building from the end of the town). We looped back through the neighbors parking lot, and took a second look. They had a Wednesday evening service scheduled, so although it was only Tuesday, we felt that God wanted us to stop.

Wednesday eve wasn’t a service, they had decided to have a work night, so we pitched in cleaning. It didn’t seem that anyone wanted to get into a spiritual conversation. Afterwards, we went back to the motor home, and were wondering what we were doing there. The pastor came over to the motor home, and asked us to stay over till Sunday.

One of the church members was going through a rough divorce, and had been charged with child abuse for spanking his daughter. He came over Thursday & Friday night, so we could minister to him.

In the Sunday morning service, Rich preached on “The Year of Jubilee.” Afterwards, we prayed for people, and God gave us several prophetic words which obviously brought healing to hearts. The “catchers” didn’t know what to do, so they were holding people up, so they weren't able to fall down under the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the evening service, Rich preached on “Two Sons” (Ishmael & Isaac). The Holy Spirit took over the message and Rich talked about Tereh stopping at the desert. They were blessed by our dancing. Although the pastor was 72 years old, he still danced before the Lord.

Khool School - Wichita, KS - 25 Sep - 3 Oct 99 - We celebrated the fall feasts of the Lord. On Saturday night (the 25th) some of the Messianic Jews were shaken up by our freedom in worship. They were used to dancing choreographed circle dances, but not dancing in the Spirit.

On Sunday (the 26th) Rich ministered on "The Bride." That evening, there was no service planned. Some people showed up, so Rich taught on "The Tabernacle).

On Monday (the 27th) Rich preached on "What the Talmud Says About Sex."

On Tuesday, Rich preached on "On the Altar."

On Wednesday, Rich preaced on "The Holy Place, the Place of Service."

On Thursday, Rich preached on "Worship - Entering the Holy of Holies."

Saturday night (the 2nd), after the worship pagent, we had a bunch of people praying, and God moved very powerfully in a communion service.

Sunday morning (the 3rd), we didn't have anything planned. However, a bunch of people gathered together and we prayed, anointing each other, doing a foot washing, etc. God was preparing something in the Spirit.

The Lighthouse -(home church) Wichita, KS - 5 Oct 99 - Met these people at Khool School and they asked us to come and minister. They normally have about 10 people, and when the people heard that we were coming, there were over 20. Rich preached on Daniel, the "But if Not" kind of faith, and the Love of God.

New Life Center AOG - Hays, KS - 8 Feb 98 - Had passed through Hays on the way to Denver for Christmas '97. While we were in Hays, the pastor asked us to come back and minister sometime.

On the way back to Texas in January, we stopped in, and he asked us to come minister in three weeks. While there, Rich ministered to the pastor about allowing the Holy Spirit to preach through him.

We ministered the evening service. Rich preached on “Being Led by the Spirit.” God told him this title in Dec, when we were through here. After preaching, he prayed prophetically for several people. Several went down under the power of the spirit. The church had prayer cloths, although they were in the storage room. Then, since it was obvious that God was moving, several more people came up for prayer.

Word of Faith Fellowship - McPherson, KS - 18 Jan 98 - While waiting to minister at New Life Center in Hays, KS, God had us take a loop through southern Kansas. We arrived Saturday night for the Sunday service, and found out they were having revival services every night for the last 85 days. Went to the Saturday evening service, and stayed for several more days. One of the single ladies in the church, invited us to come stay with her. Sunday evening the pastor asked Rich to minister even though they had never met us before. He ministered on the “The Bride of Christ.”

7 Oct 98 - Went back to Word of Faith to talk with the pastor about becoming our home church. He asked Rich to minister on Wednesday night. Rich preached on "Loving God With All Your Heart." They agreed to become our home church.

11 Oct 98 - While we were there, the pastor asked Jenni (who was 11 at the time) to minister to the youth group on Sunday night. She preached her first message on "Being Totally Sold-Out to Jesus."

Kentucky

Tri-County Open Bible Church - Lawrenceburg, KY - 20 Jul 97 - We had been in Massachusetts for a homeschooling conference, and realized that we didn't have anything scheduled for the next weekend. We called the Kentucky conference, and asked if they had any space, even though it was ridiculously late for that. They told us no, but we could be put on the waiting list.

Since we didn't have anything scheduled, we prayed, and asked God for direction. Both of us felt that God wanted us to go to Kentucky anyway, so we went.

Finally was able to get in touch with the conference again on Wednesday. They said we could have one table (we needed two), but there was no way we could get there on time. I answered that we were almost there, and we'd see them the next day. When we arrived, and were paying for the table, someone gave the man a note saying that another vendor couldn't make it. We now had our two tables.

The first customers we met were a couple of ladies from Tri-County Open Bible church. We talked for a while, and they invited us to the church for Sunday service.

When the conference was over, we went over to park our motor home in the church parking lot, so we'd be there for the morning service. It turned out that the pastor and his wife lived in a mobile home on the church lot. We spent the evening fellowshipping with them. Late in the evening, the pastor said "The Lord's been after me for the last three hours to have you minister in the morning, would you be willing."

Rich ministered in the morning service about "Being Led By the Spirit." For the evening service, Deborah had a vision/prophetic word that God wanted people to lay things on the altar, hurts, sins, whatever, and He'd burn them up with His fire. The pastor confirmed the word, and the whole service became one of confession, and turning things over to God. At the end, people gave prophetic words, speaking new ministry into the church. The Pastor asked Jenny to lay hands on the children, and pray for them. She had prophetic words for several of the kids. Rich had a confirming word about the church’s vision/role in the community.

Louisiana

River of Life Fellowship - Baton Rouge, LA - 26 Apr 98 - We had been trying to contact the people for the Louisiana homeschooling conference, but hadn't been able to get them. Another vendor couple we knew e-mailed them for us, saying that we'd been trying to contact them, and were on the way.

When we arrived, the conference coordinators informed us that exhibit space was by invitation only, but they had some space that we could have anyway.

There were a couple of couples we met at teh conference whom we were able to send some time ministering to. One of them, who was in the ministry really needed encouragement. We'd met them a few years earlier in New York, and they were struggling.

Ended up spending some time talking to the conference coordinators. They invited us to come spend a couple of days with them. We went to church with them Sunday morning, and the pastor said that there was a reason God had sent us, so he asked Rich to minister. Rich preached on "Believing God for the Impossible." PLUS -

First Baptist (SBC) - Slaughter, LA - 5 & 9 May 99 - We were kind of stuck in Baker, LA due to an engine fire, and a cracked engine head. So, while we fixed it, we stayed with some friends who helped us with the repairs. On Monday night, there was a men's prayer group at their house, so Rich joined them. While eating, the men were joking about their wives. Afterwards, they asked Rich to share about our ministry, so their joking had been a perfect setup for Rich to minister to them about their marriages..

They invited their pastor over to meet us, and he asked us to minister at the church Wednesday night. Rich preached on "The Bride." On Sunday, we were still in town, so the pastor asked us to minister the evening service. Deborah and Rebekah (our youngest) introduced them to praise dancing, and Rich preached "On the Altar."

Massachusetts

Homeschooling Support Network Conference - Boxborough, MA - 13 Jul 98 - I know this isn't a church, but we preached there anyway. We know the people who organize this conference, and had been part of their conferences for the previous two years. Called them a week ahead of time, and asked to get in. They always have space for us, so we weren't worried about it.

When we arrived, Rich talked to the lady who schedules the workshops. They do a three day conference, with the third day being free to the attendees, and done with a missions emphasis. Rich asked who was doing the Sunday morning service, and she said "you are." Rich ministered on "Vessels of Honor." The lady who was recording the conference gave us a nice love offering.

Another vendor, whom we were right next to, had been seeking God about getting rid of their house and living full time in a motor home, ministering. God put us right next to them, so that we could minister to them. Before leaving, they blessed us with some books, and a love offering.

When we left the conference, we visited some people we knew in the area. Ended up staying up most of the night ministering to them.

Michigan

Christian Renewal Center - Potterville, MI - 8 Jun 97 - God led us to this church after the homeschooling conference in Lansing, MI. The pastor is really fired up about missions, especially in Kenya. Rich shared the testimony of the motor home, and was asked to minister about Jewish traditions.

The Pastor invited us to park at his house, so we did. One of the guys in the church blessed us by changing the valve cover gaskets on the motor home. We had been needing a cargo trailer, and the pastor had one that he offered to us, if we would give an offering to the ministry in Africa that he works with. We were able to minister to the pastor and his wife.

Mississippi

Hosanna Family Worship Center - Pope, MS - 22 Apr 98 - On our way to Louisiana for the homeschooling conference. Asked God where to stop for Wednesday evening service and He took us to Pope, MS for church at Harvest Family Worship Center. Pastor asked Rich to share.

After the service, one lady came up to us and said that she had something for one of our children. She gave Jenni a $100.00 love offering, saying that God had told her that Jenni needed something. Jenni had been needing clothes, so she was especially blessed. God managed to stretch that money so that Jenni got about $300.00 worth of clothes for it.

Oasis of Love - Tupulo, MS - 16 May 99 - Went to Oasis of Love, outside of town for the Sunday service. They were just moving into their new sanctuary, and this Sunday was the dedication of it. Even with that, the pastor felt that Rich should minister. Rich preached on "But if Not."

Missouri

Covenant Christian Center - Fruitland, MO - 1 Nov 98 - God led us to this church even though they had a guest missionary. Before the missionary shared, the pastor asked Rich to say a few words. So, he talked on “Something More Powerful than the Word of God” (traditions). Ended up being a powerful word. The missionary didn’t impact the congregation in 45 minutes as much as God had us do in 5 minutes.

They had been interested in learning about praise dancing, and starting dance in the church. So, that afternoon we did a dance class.

Jefferson City Christian Center - Jefferson City, MO - 25 Oct 98 - Felt we were to go to Jefferson City for Sunday. The church was outside town, and had originally been a dance hall and restaurant. It was a large place with lots of land. The pastor asked our kids to pray for the other children in the church. Jenni had prophetic words for a few of the kids, and some of them fell out in the Spirit. Rich & Debbie both shared briefly in the service.

Joplin Church Alive - Joplin, MO - 26 Mar 98 - Stopped in Joplin, MO for Wed. evening service. It turned out that they were having an awards night at their church for the Christian school instead of the regular church service. Although it wasn’t a service, we attended. Even though we hadn't ministered, they gave us a love offering. It was at a time when we really needed the money, too.

New Creation Bible Church - Sedalia, MO - 28 Jun 98 - We had left Word of Faith Fellowship in McPherson, KS to go to New York, and didn't have the money to make it there. Stopped in a campground for the night, thinking that we could go to the Smithtown, MO revival right down the road. God had other plans though. In the morning we drove 20 miles into Sedalia, MO. At Wal-Mart checked the phone book, and felt God wanted us to go to New Creation Bible church. Unfortunately, the motorhome wouldn’t start, so we called and asked the church to pick us up.

Before the service, met the pastor. He walked off, then came back to see Rich again. Was wondering why this “orthodox Jew” was in his church. Started talking about “The Bride,” and he got excited. After praise & worship, he asked us to introduce ourselves. Then he mentioned to the church what we had been talking about before the service, and asked Rich to come up and share on it. Rich asked “for how long,” and he said “about 20 minutes.” Before Rich could start, the pastor interrupted, saying “take as long as you need, if anyone has to leave, go ahead and leave, we’ll get it on tape.”

Rich did the full message on “The Jewish Wedding and the Bride of Christ” it took over 1 ½ hours. Then did an altar call for prayer. Everyone came forward, and God moved. People were falling down as fast as they were touched, the ushers had trouble keeping up. Once everyone was on the floor, including the pastor, there wasn’t anyone to close the service, so Rich just prayed and closed it.

Stayed over Monday to put a new alternator in the motor home, and weld the trailer frame, which had cracked for the umpteenth time. The church was an old Salvation Army building that they had fixed up. It seemed like walking into God’s house, homey and comfortable, not sterile like most churches are. They had a nice bedroom set up upstairs.

The pastor and his wife came over a couple of times and we ministered to them. Just as they left in the evening, a man from the church stopped by with a friend who had put a x-acto blade through the bottom of her foot. We talked and prayed for a little. She gave us a love offering big enough to pay for the gas to get to New York.

23-25 Sep 98 - Went back to do a marriage seminar. This was done on three consecutive nights, instead of a full day Saturday. Several couples said that they were ministered to greatly.

27 Sep 98 - When we came for the marriage seminar, the pastor also asked us to do the Sunday service. God started moving in people's lives, and we never got around to the message. There was a great time at the altar and in prayer, specifically prayer for freedom. Dance broke out for the first time in a bunch of people. As we were dancing, Rich saw the Spirit on several people, and got them out to dance. For most of them, it was the first time.

30 Sep 98 - Pastor Tony & Rich both felt we should stay and do Wed evening service. Rich preached "On the Altar.”

Salem Faith Assembly - Salem, MO - 1 Apr 98 - Went for the Wednesday evening service, which was a short service. After the service, the pastor said not to leave, they wanted to give us a love offering, even though we hadn't ministered. He gave us a check and both he and us prayed over it. That’s the first church that knew how to give correctly, praying over the offering.

The pastor asked if we had bicycles, and we answered that we had bikes for the kids. "What about for you and your wife? "he asked. We said "no," so he offered to give us a bike. They had about a dozen brand new bikes from Wal-Mart in an upper room. He told us to pick one. After we had, he asked if we had room for 2. We ended up with 2 new mountain bikes. God had been speaking to us about needing exercise, which is very hard to do while living in a motor home on the road. This gave us an easy way to exercise.

Smithton Community Church - Smithton Outpouring - Smithton, MO - 1-2, 23 Oct 98 - The Smithton Outpouring is in a small church, in an even smaller town. God is definitely moving there and people from around the world have come and been touched by the power of God. Both times we were there, pastors gave us business cards, inviting us to come minister in their church.

Word of Faith Tabernacle - Rolla, MO - 29 Mar 98 - We missed this church in the phone book, but found them when we couldn’t find another church we had written down. God has a way of getting us where He wants us, even when we make mistakes. The pastor asked us to give a testimony. One couple invited us over for lunch. Met a couple from Nigeria, who introduced us to a couple from Kenya. Spent the afternoon with them. The church gave us a love offering, and the pastor said he wanted us to come back and minister sometime.

15 Nov 98 - God told us while we were in Kansas that it was time to come back and minister at Word of Faith Tabernacle. At the same time, God had put us on the pastor's heart, and he was praying about having us come back. God made sure that we both were hearing about the same thing, at the same time.

Rich preached about King David, "A Man After God's Own Heart." At the altar call, most of the congregation came up. The pastor announced that we were going to be there Monday night also, and instead of the ladies's prayer service, the service would be open for everybody.

That night, three ladies from another town, who went to a different church came. One of them had heard about us from a lady in the church, and told the other two. They were hungry for God, and for revival. We spent some time talking with them, and prayed for them.

On Monday night Rich taught on Intercessory Prayer. After the service, the pastor announced that we would meet Tuesday night also.

On Tuesday morning, the pastor announced that we'd meet Tuesday and Wednesday night. By afternoon, he'd announced that we'd meet Tuesday and Wednesday, and we'd minister at their Thursday night midweek service also. That night Rich taught on "The Bride."

On Wednesday night, Rich taught on "Being the Gift of Love that God's Called You to Be." A brother that knew the pastor 10 to 15 years ago showed up for the service. Although he didn't even know if there was a Wednesday evening service, he felt that God told him to come that night.

On Thursday night, Rich taught on "Four Moves of the Holy Spirit." Another pastor from the area had called the pastor of Word of Faith that morning, and he told this other pastor that she needed to come and hear us minister. Even though she didn't have time to come, the Holy Spirit made sure she was there.

The next morning, we had breakfast with the other pastor, and she told us that God had told her to have us come minister in her minister's conference in June. Until then, she didn't even know that she was having a minister's conference.