Praying for Kari Lake, candidate for Governor, AZ | |
|
Dear Tom,
I'm truly at a loss for words. (Yeah, I know...don't say it.)
| |
|
Summary
In the chaotic fray of these final days before Election Day, God is using dozens of unplanned/unscheduled encounters with candidates, patriotic men and women who genuinely love and fear the Lord, to speak, formatively, into the seeds of revival on the Hill and in Statehouses nationwide. We have never seen, nor heard of, anything like this.
And we're asking for your help in this race to the starting line. (America is about to experience a spiritual reboot.)
| |
|
TODAY is the 30th day of this 40-day marathon prayerwalk through what's become nearly 100 battlegrounds nationwide, representing about 130 races. The first priority of this assignment was (and is) to PRAY, boots-on-the-ground, on the front lines of the dividing lines.
Second to that, even though we knew the not-yet-seated candidates would be much tougher to get ahold of than incumbents, especially in this frenzied homestretch, we were determined to try. Realistically, we figured we'd be "lucky" if we prayed with, maybe,10% of them?
But much to our surprise, it's been close to 75% already! * And each encounter has been off-the-charts glorious!
"But what difference will it make?" the more-jaded among us might think...
First off, the "difference," i. e., how leaders respond to our intercession for them, is not our responsibility. Praying for them is. (Whether we voted for them or not.) And btw, I'm not referring to just the three of us, but all of us:
"First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."
(1 Timothy 2:1-2, emphasis added)
| |
With JD Vance, US Senate candidate, OH | |
|
Notice the highlighted "we?" Which begs the question, do "we" do that?
In a word? No. And we didn't read that in a study, we learned it firsthand, when we prayerwalked all 435 Congressional Districts a few years back. We found only a handful of Members with any semblance of praying brothers or sisters from their home districts, whom they knew and could actually trust.
Worse yet, were their experiences with "professional" pray-ers, that is, we pastors and ministry leaders. Testimony after testimony, we heard the same story--that rarely (if ever) had they encountered clergy without an "ask."
This prayerlessness drives me
For reasons only God alone may someday reveal, He has seen fit to gift me with a growing force of friends on Capitol Hill, and in many of the Statehouses. The honor, privilege, and deep responsibility of coming alongside our nation's leaders in such intimate, behind-the-scenes fashion is not lost on any of us. It has become an ever-present, sobering and profoundly humbling reality of our daily lives. The weight of what God has be doing through our simple acts of obedience over the years is staggering.
| |
With Jennifer-Ruth Green, US Congressional candidate, IN-01 | |
|
We obviously missed the memo
When we visit a leader, ostensively, to pray for them, we don't immediately default into some rote, rite-of-prayer. When we visit a leader, we...visit them. Can you imagine Jesus, just chillin' at Jacob's well... He sees a Samaritan woman headed His way and springs to His feet, makes a beeline straight for her, and rebukes her, right to her face. All without engaging her first.
Really? Or how about those two guys on the road to Emmaus! Happening upon a fellow traveler they don't yet recognize, they innocently attempt to greet Him, only to be rebuked by His raised hand, as He, the risen Lord Himself, shushes them in a forced whisper, hands piously folded, "Shhh! No talking! We just need to pray!"
When you and I purpose ourselves to minister to someone, all we need do is be Jesus to them. He alone is the change agent. He alone is the Counselor. He alone is the Healer. We just show up. And try to stay out of His way.
He always has a plan, and His plan is always good. (Romans 8:28)
That said, these last 30 days, we have watched the Lord show up, gloriously. What's He's been allowing us to sow into, up-close-and-personal, is exceedingly abundantly beyond all we could ask or think, according to HIS power at work within us. (See Ephesians 3:20-21)
Somehow, our unsophisticated attempts to simply represent, to be Christ to these candidates...these efforts are bearing fruit beyond imagination. We are being privileged to encourage, to affirm, to convict, to challenge, to counsel, to guide, often to "read their mail"...all in a manner that becomes a memorial stone in their life.
And we are thrilled to be meeting with them for such a time as this. Just when these change-agents of the next generation are at their starting line...
I was describing this to a Member-friend last night: It's like watering a long-buried seed, and watching it sprout up four, five feet tall, right before our eyes! (BTW, we do actually pray with-and-for them. We've even been known to hold hands!)
| |
With Jeremy & Stacey Shaffer, Jeremy is the US Congressional candidate, PA-17 (The Pittsburgh-area district that includes the neighborhood where I lived and went to grade school at St. Anne's!) | |
|
But the BEST part of this 40-day adventure has nothing to do with our efforts. Yes, I know it never does, but that's not what I'm referring to. I'm talking about the "newbies," this incoming "freshman class" of leaders destined for Capitol Hill and State Capitols nationwide...
Never in recent memory has there been a more Christ-centered, God fearing group of people answering His call to serve in governmental leadership, no matter the price.
What we see happening
With all our hearts, we believe we are witnessing a Sovereign Setup.
The Apostle Paul spoke of God using the LIFE manifest in non-"Chosen People" believers (Gentiles) to provoke the religious-establishment (Jews) to jealousy, that some of them might be saved. We believe God is doing the same thing with this 2023 Freshman Class.
As the permanent-Washington establishment watches their status-quo deference being eclipsed by these newcomers---Christ-followers working for-by-and-of The People, by working diligently for the Lord, rather than for their own twitter-feeds---we believe many of these stodgier Members will themselves be provoked to jealousy...which will lead to godly sorrow, which will lead to repentance, which will lead to LIFE. (2 Corinthians 7:9-10)
And what if this revival among elected leaders (Whaat?! Are you kidding me?!) What if God were to use these very leaders---presently, the least trusted, most roundly mocked people-group in our society---what if God were to use them to provoke the rest of us to jealously? To godly sorrow, to humility, to repentance, to REVIVAL?
We've heard a lot of "Cyrus" analogies these last few years. How about believing for some Josiahs?
| |
With US Congressional candidate Regan Deering (middle), her husband, Brian, family and friends, IL-13 | |
With NV-04 Congressional candidate Sam Peters | |
Kevin in deep conversation with our dear friend, Frank Dotson in Corpus Christi TX | |
|
Full Disclosure on an Urgent Matter
I hate the notion of using wide-reaching emails to talk about money. That's why we limit stand-alone appeals to donors only, although we do include a giving button/section at the bottom of most messages, never knowing who God might be nudging to support us.
At the bottom of my last email, I stated our need for a funding breakthrough as the first bullet-point on a short list of prayer requests, asking you to pray for "an immediate and significant increase in funding." We've always tried to maintain a "no fanfare" approach in all aspects of this ministry, especially when it comes to fundraising. No gala events, no walkathon pledges, just straight talk, the way we would want to be treated ourselves.
This weekend, we're not just asking you to pray for this need; we're asking you, straight-up, to pray about being a part of the tangible answer. Mind you, I don't believe this is a departure from our historical stance. We're just telling it like it is. And since we know God is raising up new donors, but don't know who they are, we're sending the following bullet-points to everyone.
PLEASE NOTE: The following is NOT required reading. We absolutely DO NOT want anyone to feel pressured or prodded. Ever.
"Buy the truth, don't sell it."
(Proverbs 23:23)
| |
|
So, with zero fanfare, but, hopefully, significant impact, here we go:
- Starting with the bottom line: We cannot sustain this ministry model without an immediate, dramatic and continual increase in support.
- We have ZERO DOUBT God will provide every cent needed, without compulsion, through the cheerful obedience of His beloved.
- These last four years have been particularly challenging, due to the accelerated progression of my MLA (Momentary Light Affliction).
- Until this challenge-curve began to level off some, we were remiss to announce any "big plans," not to be faithless, just prudent.
- We just never thought it would take four years! But with new treatment protocols, we can slow the progression. We have "flattened the curve."
- Suffice it to say Deanna and I have gone all-in to get here.
- We refuse to play "dialing for dollars," seeing no Biblical basis for the Church to emulate the unfortunate fate of most political fundraising.
- It doesn't speak well of our Spirit-led generosity as a People, that so many national ministries hire outside salespeople to raise their funds.
- At lease we're a "cheap date," as far as missionary partners go. And every penny we raise goes directly into the field.
- We only need tens of thousands, not multiple millions.
Two things we're asking you to prayerfully consider:
- One special gift per month, in October, November and December, 2022.
-
Becoming a regular monthly giver in January 2023.
THANK YOU.
| |
With our dear friends, Bob & Pati Fogal. Bob is the Founder of KLOVE and was being honored at their 40th Anniversary celebration, which "just happened" to be right in Franklin during our 3-day break. He's actually the founding pioneer of Christian Music Radio, period. ("That'll never work!" they all said. LOL) | |
Love and appreciate you more than you know. | |
|
P.S. Don't miss the GALLERY at the bottom!
* Sadly, these stats almost entirely reflect GOP candidates (as you may have noticed). Try as we might (and we are trying), the Dem candidates are almost impossible to reach. Unlike our southern border, the wall of separation between the parties is nearly impenetrable.
Despite this segregation, God has been faithful to give us a growing number of friends on the left, some at the highest levels in government. However, these friendships are still chipping away at a deeply entrenched spirit of fear on their part, regarding any evangelical leader, especially a white one like myself.
So far, we've still managed to work across this "wide aisle" of separation, though never without concerted and repeated effort. But in this last-minute, chaotic atmosphere, compounded by the elusiveness of today's Democratic candidates, there simply has not been enough time to jump through all the hoops required to make those personal connections within these 40 days.
But we will keep trying.
| |
|
As a nationwide at-large ministry, we do not administer a tithe-based "storehouse" of support like local parish-churches. Our funding is entirely faith-based, through the free-will offerings and gifts of faithful, generous people like you. Thank you for praying about supporting us!
You can also contact us at donations@pentecostwalk.org
All gifts are tax deductible.
Pentecost Walk is a mission of In His Presence Ministries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation.
| |
|
Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!
A few of the folks we caught up with in person.
Wish you could "see" the ones we prayed for over the phone!
(Just scroll down)
| |
With Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio | With John Gibbs, US Congressional candidate, MI-03 | With our dear friend, faithful prayer warrior and behind-the-scenes hero, Annie Marshall, Chesterfield MI | Prayerwalking in the rain, Madison, WI | With the campaigns in full swing, we often catch up with candidates after we prayerwalk, en route to the next battleground. Still sweeter than sweet! Derrick is a US Congressional candidate for WI-03 | Praying for our Roman Catholic friends in their regional (Diocese) Cathedral, La Crosse, WI | With Matt Birk, candidate for Lt. Governor, MN. Matt's a15-year NFL veteran, 12 with the Vikings, then three more with Baltimore, where he picked up a Super Bowl ring. (Great deli in Eagan, MN) | The kind of guy he is: This is a memorial bench that Matt had custom made, for the Christian school he built and donated to his home community. Come'on now... | The sign gives it away. With Tyler Kistner, US Congressional candidate MN-02 | Incredible prayerwalk on a boardwalk through wetlands in FL (If you look closely, you can see the railing and a bit of the walkway between Cliff's and Kevin's head) | Speaking of FL, we were unable to meet up with our friend, Congresswoman Val Demings, who is stepping away from her House seat to run for US Senate, but we prayed for her on her phone. We also could not intersect with Marco Rubio, the incumbent, when we were prayerwalking FL (it's a big state, plus recent floods, etc) but will catch up with him by phone before 11/8. | With Esther Joy King and part of her team, US Congressional candidate for IL-17 | Des Moines, IA. Prayed with our friend, Governor Kim Reynolds, by phone | |
With Paul Junge (pronounced YOUNG), US Congressional candidate MI-08 | |
Two of the sweetest reasons why it's so hard to be on the road, Lily & Emma | |
Got to see Kevin's Spec-Ops hero son and his sweet bride, Jace & Catie Roberts, San Antonio, TX | |
Snuck in another visit with our newest little grandbundle, Hopelynn Joy | |
Phil Keaggy pulled this chair up and stood on it for his picture with Bob | |
Lastly, here's my sweetest reason to hurry home. | |
We've put our 20,000-mile, unbroken-line-of-prayer on a brief hold,
...to travel to 100 BATTLEGROUNDS nationwide, representing 130 of the closest races across the country, in these 40 days before Election Day.
Whether Gubernatorial, Attorneys General, US Senate, or re-districted US House races, these areas epitomize the "us against them," polarizing bondage of offense and tribalism our once godly nation has fallen for.
We are prayerwalking each of these places purposefully and fervently, and, wherever possible, praying, hands-on, for every candidate along the way. Come, Lord Jesus! Help us in this race to the starting line.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
--Abraham Lincoln (Matthew 12:25)
| |
© 2022 Pentecost Walk. All rights reserved. | | | | | |
