80 year old man can read again, plus Kingdom Encounters Church Planting Blueprint

Cool testimony that happened Saturday July 26^th.  You’ve heard of Instagram, well this is an Instant I AM, or a portrait of how God works.

My wife Diane and I stopped at a roadside stand to buy corn in Council Bluffs Iowa and struck up a conversation with the older man. He is a farmer and has 1700 acres of land. He is 80 years old and has been married for 62 years. His name is Driar.  I asked him if he has 1700 acres of land, why he is selling corn on the side of the road, and he stated that his wife asked him the same question, but his answer was that he just liked meeting interesting people like me.  

Then I asked him if he needed prayer and he said no. I asked if he had any pain or financial pressure and he said no. I then asked him if he likes to read because I thought I might give him a copy of one of my books,  and he said he can’t read because neither of his eyes will focus and he hasn’t read in years. He pointed to his chest and said there is a gland in there that controls this and it does not function right.  Now I don’t know if he meant there is a gland in his chest or just inside of his body somewhere.

 I shared 2 or 3 quick testimonies including praying for a man a year or so ago that was deaf in his left ear for 28 years and how after a very short and quick prayer, his ear opened completely up, right here in the Omaha area.  So then I asked him if I could pray for him and he said yes. I stood about three feet from him and I spoke healing and asked God for a creative and restoration miracle in a 30 second prayer.  At this point I told him that there is a miracle when you check and asked him if he could tell if there was a difference and he immediately said he could see better.

So I grabbed a copy of my third book “Kingdom Encounters” in the car, and I opened it and asked him to read it for me and by pointing to each word, he read a paragraph perfectly and was startled because he said I usually have to have my glasses to read like this, and usually it is very slow but he read this normally.  So here he was reading fast, and without his glasses as well.

Then I asked him to send me an email to tell me of the improvement and he said he doesn’t have email and doesn’t use a computer because of his eyes, so I gave him my phone number and the book and he said he would call me.  Then he shook my hand and said God Bless You with a big grin that only an 80 year old man would do when he just got his “reading” eye sight back.

Now that is a Kingdom Encounter and that is what we want to inspire and impart through the church plant we are exploring. Praise God! Driar can read again.

Upcoming Events: 

Saturday – August 2^nd. – Prophetic Intercession Seminar at Grace University in Omaha – 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Jason West is teaching on Prophetic Worship and I am teaching on Faith Declarations and then we will pray for any who are sick.  The location is in the administration Building, Room 201 – dress casual, refreshments offered, no cost but a love offering is gathered.  Open to teens and adults, but no child care is offered. The address for Grace University is 1311 S. 9th St. in Omaha.

Sunday – August 3rd. – I am ministering at Mead Covenant Church, in Mead Nebraska, about 15 minutes west of Omaha.  The morning service begins at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday August 3^rd – Blueprint  meeting for a church plant called Kingdom Encounters will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the home of Jerry and Melissa Kelly 3880 s. 176^th Ave.  in Omaha – This is an exploratory meeting and I will be sharing the vision and mission. 

If you have read the book “When Heaven Invades Earth” by Bill Johnson or my second book, “Willing to Yield,”  that demonstrate and describe the anticipated flow of the church.  But there are some really new and innovative ideas that I will present.  Most churches have one level or path to join a church, and this one will have four.  Instead of levels though we are calling them Agreement Distinctions,  as we realize that we are all on the same parallel, just flowing in different lanes.  Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together unless they be agreed?”  And Jesus taught us that there is power in agreement too.

You will discover the overriding theme of discipleship that will surface consistently in this presentation, with many entry points, layers and opportunities to do what John Wimber used to describe as, “We all get to play.”   While having definite leaders this will be Kingdom driven with the idea and biblical concept that those in the church are being equipped and released to do the of the ministry in fun and innovative ways.  That’s why each Agreement section is also called a Splash Zone as we anticipate jumping into the River of God and having fun while ministering too.

 There are five main points in the statement of beliefs.  We are keeping it very simple, yet biblical in our approach to convey the vision.   The statements are:

We believe in the power of:

• Love – Represents the Father’s love toward us and our love for one another.
• The Word – Provides avenues for faith to flow and increase.
• The Cross – Demonstrates forgiveness.
• The Resurrection – Shows the way to salvation through Jesus Christ.
• The Holy Spirit – Releases the Gifts of the Spirit.

We anticipate many forms of the arts being expressed in a worship setting, including painting, drawing, dance, flags, drama, photography and others.  Our goal is for everyone, including children and youth to have significant ongoing Kingdom Encounters like the one listed above with the farmer that I recently had.  There are developing mentors and sponsors for all age levels.  We are developing a revival culture that emphasizes discipleship and encourages the supernatural power of God to be released and practiced both in the church setting and in the homes, educational systems, and marketplace by everyone.

We are asking guests to bring a snack to share, but if they can’t, then just come on out anyway.  For more information, contact me at anointed2go@cox.net   Over 50 people have expressed an interest in this church plant initiative.  Initially, we are primarily trying to reach those who are not already planted in a church, or who are searching for something different and are actively looking for a new church home. If you know of someone in that category, please forward this blog to them as well.  Thank you.