We’re back from Vegas!!… Now What?
We are back from Las Vegas and caught up on all the festivities. We were blessed to have Jon, Chelsea’s father, arrive in town for a 5-day stay the day after we returned from Vegas. Launch501c3 was a HUGE blessing and we left with more clarity, more vision, and much more inspiration than we had when we touched down in LAS (that’s for our few airline friends out there.) As you know, we stepped out into for this trip for all those reasons so it was very encouraging to say the least. You can see a brief video of our time in Vegas with Launch 501c3 here - Launch 501c3 - Fireproof Ministries Event on Vimeo.
This email could be extremely long if we broke everything down for you, so we will do our best to pare everything down and give you the highlights:
For me (David), it has been a VERY long time to be in a ministry-centric setting. I cannot remember the last ministry conference I have attended. Being around believers that were, like me, dreaming big for the sake of His Kingdom yet not exactly positive of what that all looks like was very sweet. It was neat to share my heart with those in attendance and yet at the same time be able to speak life and wisdom into other visions. In fact, I believe one of the greatest revelations I received came as I repeatedly shared our vision to others. That realization being the mountain of religion and unbelief/ignorance.
In short, we can reach out all we want to gay porn stars but what do we do with them once they come to us?
What body of believers do we connect them with that will not only BE safe but be a place of full ministry in wisdom, love, Spirit, and truth?
This isn’t like a divorce recovery ministry (not saying those are small). The reality is there are very strong demons and principalities associated with pornography and homosexuality and my concern is that the “church” is sorely behind the 8-ball in truly respecting and believing the unseen warfare for these peoples souls. ?Maybe the church needs to be evangelized as much as gay porn stars? hold that thought….
As Craig and his team shared, I really saw that though I have a rather full vision, it does not mean all has to be or necessarily should be completed all at once. I walked away with the thought, “Ok, what can I do NOW?” and “What do I have to give NOW?”
The answer I am chewing on: Travel to churches, sharing the testimony of Jesus inside me, exhorting, teaching, and building up the Church in the Knowledge of the Unseen so as to equip them to radically love, serve, and do the “greater things” He exhorted us to do…so that WHEN the church starts to receive these extremely broken souls, they will be able to truly help them and partner with Holy Spirit to deliver them from evil and release them into their God birthed spiritual destiny in Christ Jesus. This form of ministry would not only be physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually safer for me and my family, but it would allow a net to be cast and a network to be built so that whatever ministry grows from this will have a sure foundation to lean on and lead from.
There were a handful of lovely people that I connected with that are located in Southern California. As God would have it, Chelsea and I will be in Oceanside in August for a Lydell family vacation. During that time, we are going to reconnect with these brave souls and see how everything is going. I’m very much looking forward to that.
So, now what? What are our needs and where do we go from here?
Prayer.
Jeremiah 33:3 keeps coming to mind: “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” That’s truly where I’m at and what I’m rolling with.
Since returning to Asheville, I feel I have been bombarded with thoughts like, “CAN people really change?” “Is it more loving to just ‘let’ people experience homosexuality and just ‘love’ them through it?” There have been a few things that got on my radar that caused me to question a lot; specifically, the “coming out” of Jennifer Knapp and the relaunch of Ray Boltz’ career. I have been VERY afraid offending people when it comes to this subject but I still wrestle with what I know to be true:
Jesus came for the sick and not the healthy - and homosexuality is anything but healthy. I feel, honestly, that I am good at loving people where they are at. It’s just the uncontrollable of putting things down on paper or email where I fear being misunderstood. Please pray for me that I would rest in what I know to be true and press on according to His will and purpose. Chelsea spoke a very true word the other night, “I(meaning her) don’t follow a church, I follow the Word of God.” That REALLY silenced a lot of whispers in my ear and brought much clarity. God help me that I remember that.
I will be honest with you; I feel the Lord through this has shown me a very serious sin within the “church”, that sin being grace OVER truth, specifically in regards to homosexuality. The Lord has opened my eyes to see how many churches are quickly jumping on board the ‘feel good train’ of “homosexuality is not a sin, just accept them for who they are.” This grieves my soul greatly and must be addressed and repented for. I have concern because I see a great temptation moving faster to the church to accept this false doctrine and very soon that which was wrong will become right and vice versa, and those of us who know this to be a sin will be on the defense even from our own “body”. I pray you all are kept strong in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this temptation passes over you.
The next few months will be an interesting spiritual tightrope to say the least. Pray for humility and from that strength.
Well, that’s about as short as I could make it. Please pray specifically for:
- Our move back to California that much money and finances will come through to facilitate this move.
- Peace to Chelsea’s body as she is now (thankfully) in the second trimester of her pregnancy.
- Health and greater spiritual wisdom than all others to our baby boy, Joseph as he grows and is fashioned in our Fathers hand.
- Peace to the ministry plans as they unfold.
- Trust to walk through any doors the Lord wills.
- Strategic Spiritual connections with churches will arise and grow
- Continued vision according to Eph 3:20
Should you care to contribute to our moving fund, you may do so easily through our PayPal account. Simply click the logo below to be connected and give away!
Love you all!
In Faith,
david and chelsea
Check out the links to the ministries represented at Launch…
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