This week we had the honor of having Johnathan and Priscilla Langone, who are pastors at Creekside Ministries, http://www.creeksidefishers.org/, in Ind teaching us this week for a week focused on Inner Healing: A week of Victory and Freedom. Jonathan and Priscilla are amazing radical followers of Jesus. They are both Deaf which was amazing to have them be able to teaching and minister to our students in their native language, American Sign Language. They were radical atmosphere shifters, always bringing us to a place of thankfulness and praise to God!
The week started with discussing the culture of honor and how we are called to honor one another by speaking things that "is helpful for building other up according their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" Eph 4:29b. And acknowledging the work that God is doing in other people's lives. And valuing others with who God made them to be and their story, journey of life that God has brought them through. We went around and honored each other by speaking truth about who they are and what things we have seen in each other. Already, there was healing happening as we spoke God's truth and identity into each other. I knew that God has big plans for the week.
Throughout the week, each student (starting with Dan and I) had an individual session with Jonathan and Priscilla and me giving them the opportunity to pray through mother and father wounds, hurts from their childhood and choose to walk in forgiveness. They also taught basic principles of the bible related to inner healing and the life of abundance life that Jesus died for us. Such as the power of forgiveness, and how forgiveness is a choice, a fact we choose, which then our feelings come into agreement with our decision. We all become more vulnerable before God and opened ourselves to know God the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit better and saw miraculous things. We had a time of worship and prayer for more of God to come into our lives and praying over each other and speaking out our new identity.
(Jonathan leading us in saying "Thank you Jesus!")
On Thursday, after each student had their session, we shared testimonies. We all prayed that our walls would be thrown down and that we could be open with each other, and yes they were! Shelby started with her testimony of what God had done this week, which opened up others to be honest about even more areas in their lives that God still wanted to heal. Liza continued with the testimonies and it broke openness in the room. God still wanted to do so much in each of our lives and we were open. Each of us were courageous allowing God to heal deep wounds. We all learned that testifying what God has done open doors in other people lives for healing. We allowed God to have victory in our lives and experience the joys of walking in freedom!
God finished the week with a BAM as Jonathan and Priscilla had dinner with Jason and Kimberlee Hershey. And they stayed for the WHOP prayer meeting from 7 to 9. Jason asked them to join him and help lead the prayer time for Gallaudet University and the Deaf in DC. Praying for people who are saved to be revived and the lost saved. We had about an hour of worship when Jason asked them to come and pray. Jonathan stirred the room with a heart felt and powerful prayer calling back Gallaudet University back to its original design to train and send out pastors and missionaries. Passion for the lost invaded the room. Priscilla followed with an encouraging word that in every face we see God and for us to open our eyes to see him in every face we met. And prayed for DC in general from the white house to the homeless. Their prayers ignited the room for the heart of God. We prayed in small groups for Gallaudet University. The room roared with prayers. Afterwards, Brandon Josiah and Tabitha lead the prayer room in songs from their hearts in ASL. I interpreted them and the band created choruses with the same spirit and message. Brandon song was to turn it up the spirit of God in DC, Josiah sang a song of wells springing up and Tabitha's was how the word of God was bubbling up all around us and we could not contain it! The room was filled with rejoicing and song and signing as everyone joined in as the Deaf lead the choruses!
Other praise related to worship this week is that Kari decided to dive into learning the drums and has been playing the drums during worship sets following other drummers to keep the beat! Liza has always wanted to learn the guitar and voice lessons. This week she decided to declare it and share it with me. I get excited. She had it was hard to share because she has shared it in the past and many people have said that she can not because she is Deaf. I said you have a beautiful voice, as she has the ability to speak and you can sing and play the guitar! She was excited. A couple days later in the prayer room, God put the idea in my heart to give her my guitar that I got. So I left the prayer room immediately and got my guitar and wrote a letter and left it on her bed! She was overjoyed when she saw it and Dan already given her a guitar lesson!
Other praise related to worship this week is that Kari decided to dive into learning the drums and has been playing the drums during worship sets following other drummers to keep the beat! Liza has always wanted to learn the guitar and voice lessons. This week she decided to declare it and share it with me. I get excited. She had it was hard to share because she has shared it in the past and many people have said that she can not because she is Deaf. I said you have a beautiful voice, as she has the ability to speak and you can sing and play the guitar! She was excited. A couple days later in the prayer room, God put the idea in my heart to give her my guitar that I got. So I left the prayer room immediately and got my guitar and wrote a letter and left it on her bed! She was overjoyed when she saw it and Dan already given her a guitar lesson!
Jonathan and Priscilla were amazing! Dan and I enjoyed getting to know and having the opportunity to fellowship with another couple who is RADICAL for JESUS! We know that this week was only the start of a friendship and partnership with them to bring God's kingdom here on earth!
