Well we just got back from World Mandate, which is missions conference in Texas. I have attended this for the past 6yrs & it is always a huge blessing to see the potential of the local church. Every year I am inspired that a community devoted to the person & purposes of Jesus can reach the world with the gospel; & this is done primarily through raising & releasing disciples who go & do likewise throughout the world in local expressions of faith: Church Planting.
This year we were 17 people went with our church, which is a testament to what is going on with us. There were 5 people who had never been to an event like this & two of them who aren’t even totally sure about Jesus, but they’re so intrigued by him that they follow as close behind as possible as they discover who this man is.
God spoke to me is several ways: As I was holding Abigail, our youngest, high up in the bleachers one night I heard God say very clearly, “Spiritual Authority.” I was blessed because this is something I have been wrestling with for some time. I have desired for some time to see the Holy Spirit set people free from all forms of spiritual oppression; however, my theology in this area is underdeveloped & needs some attention in spite of my life’s experience. Certain things ring very true for me in regards to the works of the Spirit (too many to talk about right now): God desires all mankind to be free from spiritual oppression, especially as it regards death & sin; As believers we are endowed with spiritual authority to enact the purposes of God throughout the earth. So back to God’s message to me; God tells me, “Spiritual Authority.” 1 minute later a young man approaches me & says he has a word for me, he’s nervous, but I encourage him to take a chance. He says he saw a picture of me on a white horse & my eyes were burning with fire (others have seen this too, but I’m generally mad!!). He’s embarrassed, but I share what God had just shared with me & what I’ve been wrestling with & what it means to me; we pray. Then the next night I go forward for prayer, not really needing to hear another word from God, but wanting to sit at God’s feet again. A man starts praying for me & says, “I see you as a man with great spiritual authority.” (This wasn’t a leadership thought, but a “..we wrestle not against flesh…word.) I was encouraged again that this is God’s theme for me & a new season for our church. God wants to set people free from sin & death & its effects upon humanity; he has entrusted the power to do this to his people the church.

This is a huge subject, but I wanted to share a small part of what God did in me at Mandate.