Outpour Magazine - June 2021 by Outpour Magazine

OUTPOUR MAGAZINE FOUNDER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Krystion Nelson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joy Shamberger COPY EDITOR Bryndle Bottoms CREATIVE DESIGN EDITOR Donald Currie, 12/24 Media

June 2021 CONTRIBUTORS Danielle Eni Keyonia Wright Latoya Bryant Kristel Acevedo Ronald Obie Published by Issuu Inc. Cover/Article pictures: Envato Elements/Canva

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THEOLOGY EDITOR Ronald Obie

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Letter from Editor Krystion Nelson Founder/Editorial Director

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We love you and are praying for you! God Bless!

(page 12). Also read about the power of purpose and passion (page 20); how to teach and support our youth in the church (page 24); and understand the importance of the Word of God in our lives (page 32). And lastly, meet the leaders of BOLD Church® in Charlotte, NC - Pastors Keith and Carolyn Spellman (page 26). We would love for you to subscribe to our FREE magazine at outpourmagazine.com and share with your friends, coworkers, church members and family! And we’d love to hear from you! How are you living by faith each and every day? Contact us and send us prayer requests at info@outpourmagazine.com.

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“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’” (Heb. 11:1 NKJV). I love the saying “faith moves mountains.” And oftentimes, I think that faith only moves mountains. But in fact, faith moves the small hills, valleys, ponds and rivers of our lives too. We are called to live by faith, no matter how big or how small a situation is. Faith doesn’t come into play only when obstacles seem insurmountable; faith is required even in the day to day moments, when we must believe in the unseen - such as our children turning out alright; the paycheck stretching one more week; the sickness ending; the marriage lasting; or the eventual salvation of our entire family. Recall what Paul writes in Hebrews 11:7 NKJV, emphasizing the faith of Noah, in the midst of fierce opposition and ridicule: “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” Noah lived daily by faith. It was a choice. We too can make that choice - deciding to live by faith each and every day. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6 NKJV). Choose faith today, with situations looming as high as Mount Everest to as diminutive as an ant hill. Choose faith, no matter what. And believe that God will reward that faith by being right there with you. In this month’s issue, we invite you to meet a family that lives by faith each and every day (page 14); learn how to be filled with living water (page 8); and how to love and embrace your immigrant neighbor

Ronald Obie

Latoya Bryant

Keyonia Wright

Kristel Acevedo Danielle Eni

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Contents 20

In Every Issue:

LOVING OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS

THE CHRISTIAN BOOKSHELF

FAMILY FEATURE STORY P A G E

PASTOR SPOTLIGHT

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THE POWER OF PURPOSE & PASSION

EDITOR’S LETTER

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Pastor Spotlight

Meet Pastors Keith and Carolyn Spellman of BOLD Church® in Charlotte, NC.

Water Pots to Living Water

Family Feature: the Hefner Family

Meet the Hefner Family: Corey and Heather, and their three children. They talked to us about God's faithfulness; this season of transition; and how God and family remains first and priority in their lives. SUBSCRIBE AT OUTPOURMAGAZINE.COM

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TURNING WATER POTS INTO LIVING WATER by Latoya Bryant

Are you running on empty? Are there areas of your life that you are trying to fill? But are you relying on your own strength to fill these empty places or are you allowing God to intercede, and fill you first? Let’s look at the story of the Samaritan woman and her encounter with Jesus at the well. In the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John the woman at the well had some areas of her life she was trying to fill. After five husbands and a current relationship with a man who was not her husband, she may have been trying to overcome numerous issues in her life, that may have resulted in some scars and gaping holes in her soul. We can only speculate what she may have felt or what she had been through, as it is not clearly stated in scripture; but Jesus knew. In fact, He knew everything about her including the exact time she would be at the well. He also knew that she was not fully aware of what was lacking in her life. She kept trying to make the broken relationships work, but after several failed attempts, she went to the well seeking

to fulfill her natural need for water. And yet, she met Christ who gave her living water. We see this interchange between the Samaritan woman and Jesus here (John 4:10-11, 13-14 NIV): “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and he would have given you living water.’ ‘Sir,’ the woman said, ‘you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” Drinking water supplied her physical needs; however, her soul was also in need. Only Jesus was able to satisfy the longings of her soul. He was able to give her everything she did not even realize she was searching for.

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realize was even there. Whatever your “water pot” may be, God wants to offer you living water. If you are struggling to keep filling voids in your life, know that there is fulfilment in Christ. If you are longing for love and acceptance, receive the love of Christ today. As He met the woman at the well, may He meet you. Freely drink of the living water that is available in Christ. Jesus wants to encounter you in a new way. He sees all your needs and He wants you to find rest in Him. Cease striving. There is freedom in surrender.

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Eventually, she left her water pot because of her excitement, in exchange for the living water she found in Christ. Similar to the woman at the well, we may find ourselves in behavioral or habitual life cycles. Too often, we are unaware of the root of these cycles. We attempt to fill voids only God can fill. Whether we strive to be the perfect parent, the best spouse or even the best Christian, our broken attempts for perfection can often come from a wounded part of our soul. When we encounter Christ, we have the divine opportunity to surrender every area of our lives to Him. He knows exactly what we need. When we rest in Him, striving ceases. As a young college student, I was constantly looking for acceptance. In efforts to appease my friends and peers, I would go to clubs and parties even though I did not enjoy going. I despised dancing in front of people. I never really had a great time, but I knew partying was the center of college life. Looking back, I can reflect on decisions I made mainly to please others because there was a need for affirmation in my soul. One night, my friends and I attended this club. A few things happened and I had an overwhelming sense that I was not supposed to be there. I did not know it then, but the Lord was convicting me. A week or so later, when my friends were ready to go out, I decided I was not going to attend. It did not go over well. One of my friends was adamant that I should come. Another friend stated that if I did not go, she was not going either. Still, they were persistent. At the time I had a Bible on my nightstand. I remember telling them, almost half-jokingly, that I was going to open it and see what it said. I literally opened my Bible and immediately landed on Proverbs 1:10 which is a warning to not let sinners entice you. The Lord spoke loud and clear to me in that moment. I firmly decided to not go. Eventually, I stopped attending clubs and parties altogether. I surrendered to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He alone filled the void in my heart. He satisfied my desire to fit in by assuring me that I am fully accepted by Him. He fulfilled a need that I did not

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Latoya is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. She has a heart to encourage people to draw closer to God and not conform to the ways of this world. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship, from Hampton University, she is the founder of Awake Christian Clothing. In addition, she is the founder of Prayer is Breathing and hosts prayer events while teaching on prayer in a weekly podcast. The “Prayer is Breathing” podcast can be found on all major podcast platforms. For encouragement on how to trust in God, Latoya is also the author of “Before the Promise” which is available for purchase on Amazon.

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“Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.” Psalm 54:1-2 NKJV 1 1 | O U T P O U R M A G A Z I N E

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been praying, reading, and learning about what the Bible has to say about immigration. Through the help of some incredible Bible teachers, I’ve seen God’s heart for the “other.” The marginalized and vulnerable among us are to be loved and cared for. And it’s our responsibility as Christ followers to love and care for them. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger BĞ KėĎĘęĊđ AĈĊěĊĉĔ and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of “…love your neighbor as yourself…” me; I was in prison and you visited me; ‘Truly (Mark 12:31 NIV) I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did When my mom and dad were in their for me’” (Matthew 25:35-36; 40 CSB). early 30’s they made one of the hardest So, how do we do that? How do we love decisions of their lives. They packed up a few our immigrant neighbors? There are many belongings and began the journey from their ways, but here are just a few: home in Managua, Nicaragua to the United 1. Listen to their stories. Have you ever sat States. It wasn’t just themselves they were down and listened to an immigrant’s story? thinking of. They had a young daughter, and I grew up hearing stories from family and my mom was pregnant with me. They knew friends on how they came to the U.S., and staying in Nicaragua was no longer an option. I was always fascinated. They were so Violence was erupting in the streets. Guerrilla brave and had overcome so much. There’s soldiers and the military were at war, and the something amazing that happens when casualties were often innocent bystanders. you listen to someone’s story. There’s a My dad had been targeted as a threat for his deep intimacy. Your compassion grows. political affiliations. They had to go. It produces empathy. Take some time to The journey was difficult. It involved sit down with an immigrant and listen to bouncing around from country to country until why they left their home country, how they finally they arrived in the United States where made the journey, and why they decided to they made a new home in Miami. Miami is make this their new home. vibrant, filled with people from almost any country you could think of. I grew up with 2. Affirm their cultural identity; don’t force friends from Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, the assimilation. It can be lonely being in a Dominican Republic, Haiti, Brazil, and more. new country with new traditions. Allow The most important person I met though was space for them to share about their culture, Jesus. He met me when I was a teenager and their food, their music, and their language. changed my whole life. Don’t look down on their culture or make it It wasn’t until I was much older, seem inferior. See the beauty in it. however, that I realized what that meant for my identity as a Latina with immigrant roots. 3. Disciple them. Sometimes we make My identity is first and foremost established discipleship hard when really it’s just doing in Christ. Everything I am flows from that. But life together and pointing people to Jesus. God also made me who I am for a reason. It’s really that simple. Invite immigrants to There is a purpose for my Latina-ness. There your table, hang out at the park, ask them is a purpose for my immigrant roots. These what they like to do and see if you can tag are not things I had to erase or diminish in any along. As you find opportunities to spend way. God was going to use the way He made time together, point them to Jesus —not me to point to Himself. in any forced way, but organically and Over the past ten years or so I have authentically. As you build relationships,

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there will be much fruit that comes from it.

calling to love your immigrant neighbor. If you do, you’ll be the one who is missing out.

“The marginalized and vulnerable among us are to be loved and cared for. And it’s our responsibility as Christ followers to love and care for them.” 1 3 | O U T P O U R M A G A Z I N E

Some immigrants are already Christ followers and know Jesus in a deep, intimate, and beautiful way. There is a couple in our church who immigrated from Honduras. While they speak some English, their first language is Spanish. When they first came to our church, they didn’t always understand everything our pastor was preaching; however they knew he preached with passion. The words they did understand resonated with them and they did their best to take notes so they could read through all the Bible verses in Spanish at home. Talk about being true students of the Word! The husband later told me, “I knew that I had to rely on the Holy Spirit to interpret on my behalf. I may not be able to understand on my own, but I trusted that the Holy Spirit would let me understand what I needed to understand.” That is true faith, trust, and humility in action! The fact that this couple was willing to be uncomfortable in order to be obedient to God’s calling to be a part of my local church community, blows my mind and humbles me. I’m thankful for their obedience because it has helped me to see Christ more clearly and love Him more deeply. Fellow Christian, don’t neglect your

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4. Let them teach you something. Sometimes Americans can view immigrants as only needy, but they actually have a lot to offer! Immigrants bring so much value to our community. Not only do they bring their culture, music, and food (oh, the food!), they also bring a wealth of experience and wisdom. They have lived through incredible circumstances. Something I’ve noticed throughout scripture is how often God tells us that we are sojourners in this world. The problem is that we’ve forgotten. We have become far too comfortable in this world and don’t know what it means to be a stranger in a strange land. This land is home, but an immigrant lives daily in the reality of being a literal stranger in a strange land. They can teach us a lot about living as sojourners.

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Kristel Acevedo is a wife, mom, and writer. She serves on staff at Transformation Church in Indian Land, SC and is a graduate of Southeastern Seminary. You can learn more about her at KristelAcevedo.com or on social media @KristelAce. Kristel has a 3-Day Devotional called “You Took Me In,” all about developing a biblical view on immigration. You can download this resource for free on her website.

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photos by Julie Wallen

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Meet the Hefner Family: Corey and Heather, and their three children, Ryleigh (14), Carolina (12), and Walker (5). They talked to us about God's faithfulness; this season of transition; and how God and family remains first and priority in their lives. Outpour Magazine: Tell us a little bit about yourselves: Who are the Hefners?

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Corey Hefner: We are an open hearted and close-knit family. Everything we do is Christcentered. Heather Hefner: It’s true. I think we have built our lives around each other and church and putting God first. We’ve made ministry and family our top priorities. Almost everything we do centers around spending time together and serving God. We’ve navigated through some rough waters and we’ve seen God’s faithfulness. It’s made us into a family who is thankful and committed and willing to follow where God leads. OM: What have been some of your best memories as a family? CH: One of my favorite memories is when my girls each won state champion trophies in our denomination’s talent competition. Ryleigh won for drawing and Carolina won for monologue. All of us being together in that moment to experience the awards, celebrate, and see their faces was the best. Also, I love Christmas mornings and seeing the joy from my kids in those moments. HH: I think we can agree that both of our favorite memories include our beach trips or trips to Disney World. I love any moments when we get to spend uninterrupted time with each other outside the normal routines. We truly get to enjoy each other as ourselves and not our roles we normally play. I get to be a fun mom and not “rule” mom for a change! Ryleigh: Disney World! Carolina: Going to Disney World of course. Going to sliding rock was a lot of fun because we went down the rock together holding hands and the water was super cold. Walker: Going to the beach. And my favorite thing at the beach is playing in the ocean and the pool and I like the hotel.

OM: How would you describe this season in your family’s life? CH: This season is exciting and challenging watching our girls get older and become teenagers. It’s new conversations; more serious conversations we have to have as parents. As a father, it’s exciting to watch them become young women and grow into who God’s created them to be. That can also be difficult to experience because I realize they aren’t my babies anymore. But, it’s also wonderful being able to raise a son and still have those young childhood moments with him. I’m loving spending father-son time together and building a different kind of relationship than the one I have with my girls. HH: I feel that this season is one of transitions. We are watching our kids transition in big ways right now - as we get ready to send one into kindergarten and another into high school. I’m learning that my daughters are growing into independent people that I enjoy spending time with. I also think we are ready and willing to see God open new doors for us in this season. We’ve been in a posture of prayer about our next steps in ministry and our callings. It’s an exciting time of possibilities and building our faith, together and individually.

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OM: How has your faith been foundational in your family’s life? CH: How has it not? I remember my family spending time at the altar when I was a child. I can remember my dad standing with his hands lifted in the air and people gathered around him praying. I was raised to have a strong faith. But I’ve learned about trusting through the unknowing. Finding strength when my strength was gone. Knowing that through the good and the bad, if I kept my faith in God and His Word - no matter what circumstance I was in - my future was in His hands and I have nothing to worry about. HH: Corey and I both have rich heritages of faith. I can remember nights as a young girl my grandmother and I laying in identical twin beds, silently and simultaneously reading the Bible. I remember hearing my grandfather pray in the Holy Spirit and cry out to God with so much passion and fervor it felt like it shook the walls. They made sure that I knew that God was first, always. I think ultimately those moments shaped me into running after God for myself. I cannot form a picture of my life without my faith or my devotion to God’s Word and to prayer. I’ve made it my utmost pursuit for as long as I can remember and it’s made me who I am. I’ve clung to it when life felt shattered and I’ve basked in it when things were blessed. OM: What have been some difficult moments for your family and how has God helped you through them? CH: We’ve seen God through loss and heartache. We didn’t always know how we would heal from that but God sustained us and kept us. We look back and it’s like, wow! He was always there. Even though the enemy wanted and tried to shatter our family, God brought strength for forgiveness and love and restoration. HH: We’ve definitely endured hard seasons that taught us about God’s faithfulness. There was a time when we could’ve lost our marriage if not for God. I look back and I can see that my own relentless prayers during that season as exhausting as it felt at the time - they

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held me up. I know Corey would agree that our difficult times have helped us mature as individuals and together. We have learned through our own failures how to extend forgiveness, how to offer grace, and how to do the hard work of growth. It can be unpleasant and painful! But we continue to do the hard work. It’s a choice we make everyday - to stay committed to each other and to God. When we suffered through the seasons of my sickness, and the losses and miscarriages especially, I think the Lord helped us to cling to Him and to each other. We saw that God was faithful and that He had a great plan for us even when it seemed bleak. We’ve been blessed to see God’s restoration. I know not everyone gets that beautiful picture. We don’t take it lightly that God has been so amazingly faithful to us. OM: Talk about serving in ministry and why that is important to your family. CH: I believe it’s an important lesson that Christ wanted us to learn. He served and so we need to have a servant’s heart. It keeps us compassionate towards other’s needs and it keeps us humble. It helps to keep us from putting ourselves first. What better way to be selfless than to follow the example of our Lord. I believe that serving in ministry is important because you’re serving the body of Christ with what God gave you. It stretches you to let God use your talents and gifts and time because it can be a sacrifice.

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HH: Well, this is huge for me. I may be one of the most passionate people I know about serving in ministry. Corey would say that I should say “no” more (laughs)! Not really, but it is so important to me that I use every ounce of what I have to reach people for Jesus. I have learned over the years how to keep myself from being stretched too thin, because that’s so easy to do. One thing I recognize is that sometimes we have this ideal of what ministry looks like; boxing it in with guidelines. I know I’ve been guilty of that myself. But really, we are all called to minister with what God has put within us. It’s so important to me that my kids know that ministry is something that happens around us everyday if we are sensitive to notice it. God wants us to be His hands and feet wherever we are and in whatever corner of influence He’s given us. I agree with Corey that ministry is about serving. It’s very important to both of us that we serve our church and its members and that we instill those values into our kids. We encourage them to put their personal discipleship first and then to reach beyond themselves to serve. For our family, this looks like a variety of things. Sometimes it’s kids ministry, sometimes preschool, sometimes music and arts. Often it’s leading, teaching, writing, or speaking. But sometimes it’s just showing compassion or love or forgiveness. We are open to allow God to use us however He desires. OM: In what ways are you teaching your children to love God, keep Him first and love others? CH: Like I answered [in] the previous question, having a servant’s heart and being compassionate to think of other’s needs is what I want to see them do. HH: I try hard to get God’s Word into them as much as I can! They’ll probably look back and think that I was constantly reciting verses at them or saying, “let’s pray about it,” or “let me get my oil out!” (laughs). But I want them to know that God’s Word will never fail them and that prayer is our lifeline to God. I am always

telling them to let others see Jesus in them. If people see Him, you can’t go wrong. OM: And lastly, what are your hopes, prayers and dreams for your children, for their future? CH: That they will always love and trust God. That they put Him first in everything they do. I was taught this by my own family growing up and it stayed with me. I pray their love for God will not get complacent but that it will grow the older they get. I want them to always stay in God’s Word and make Him the first priority in their lives. I hope that they will always believe in themselves and stand up for what they believe in. I want them to always work hard at whatever they do. HH: Exactly what Corey said. If they keep God first I feel like we will have succeeded at being the parents we hope to be. I pray that they all grow to be successful and healthy adults. I hope they can be people who stand out from the crowd and show compassion, love, and kindness even when it’s hard. I pray that they will always serve God with everything they have. That the light of Jesus will shine brightly from within. I pray that they can be world changers to whatever corner of the world God puts them in. -OM

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as “a preacher of righteousness.” Living to please God and obeying His instructions was his passion despite what others thought. God used Noah’s passion to bring forth a deliverance so unique, the earth has not seen one like it ever again. He was able to do what no man had ever done - to build a massive ark large enough for two of every kind of creature on the earth! He experienced a fulfillment like by Danielle Eni none other by fulfilling his purpose for not only God and his family, but for the entire A life without purpose is an human race. unfulfilled life indeed. Purpose is one So, how can Christians have both of the greatest motivators we have purpose and passion to serve the Lord? that causes us to do what we do. It is Our purpose is to love the Lord our God greater than money and outweighs fame with all our heart and with all our soul and glory. When everything around us and with all our mind; and to love our crumbles, purpose keeps us going. Your purpose must be your own, not neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39). Are we living out our purpose? And are we someone else’s. It’s one thing that cannot passionately serving Him, engrossed and be faked or it will fade. You cannot expect someone to give you purpose; it is unique dedicated in doing our part as members of His body? to the individual. Others may encourage For Christians, our intense desire you in one direction or another to start you to love and please God should come down the road to your purpose. before everything and everyone else, even Further, your purpose is often fueled ourselves. And our passion should be by passion. There are things that we do that we enjoy, but they may not necessarily our delight in serving the Lord. He is our singular focus. Galatians 5:24 NKJV says, be our passion. One person may love “And those who are Christ’s have crucified intramural flag football, but another the flesh with its passions and desires.” If pursues a career in the NFL. What is the our passions are crucified, then we have difference between these two people? room for the Lord to be our passion. We The person on the intramural team does cannot be full of our own agendas and not make the sport their singular focus, God’s too or our fleshly passions will come nor does their life revolve around playing. The one pursuing the career in the NFL has a disciplined diet, lifts weights, and trains daily because it is their passion - it is what they are living for. Our purpose and our passion are part of us. Sometimes our purpose can feel overwhelming. And oftentimes, it is our passion that makes us feel compelled to act. Genesis introduces us to a man of God named Noah. Even in the face of doubt and opposition, he walked out the purpose that God placed in his heart. His passion was his faithfulness to God even in the face of ridicule from others. 2 Peter 2:5 NIV refers to him

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a client and use her as His mouthpiece so that the person’s heart is changed and bent towards God! Psalm 73:25-26 declares “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Let the desire for God lead to both your purpose and your passion!

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Danielle L. Eni currently resides in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area where she is a pastor’s wife and homeschooling mother of five children. She graduated from Oral Roberts University with a degree in Organizational/ Interpersonal Communications. Danielle and her husband founded a non-profit organization, Gibraltar, in the year 2000 that is designed to preach the gospel and minister to the needs of academically struggling kids in the Tulsa area. She loves leading the praise and worship team at her church where she plays the drums, acoustic guitar, and bass.

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When we are walking in and committed to that purpose, we become an unstoppable force for the kingdom of God!

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in conflict with His. Remember, our passion is what leads us into our purpose. When we are walking in and committed to that purpose, we become an unstoppable force for the kingdom of God! Psalm 84:10 NKJV says, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” 1 Chronicles 13 talks about a man named Obed-Edom who was a faithful doorkeeper for the ark of God. What an honor from the Lord to be chosen for such an assignment! Obed-Edom was committed to the job that he was doing for God, and the Lord blessed his house and all that he had. Some of us may find this task menial, thinking “God, haven’t you called me to do something great and mighty for you?” But we have to remind ourselves, that when God is our passion, even the most seemingly menial of tasks is a great thing in the eyes of our Father. Find your passion and your purpose! What is it that God placed in you that you can use for His kingdom? It does not have to be something difficult or something that puts you in the spotlight. My mom is a Christian psychotherapist whose purpose and passion is helping people work through their problems so that they can be functioning, mentally healthy individuals. But more than this, her passion is for the Lord. Her passion is prayer! Her passion is reading the Word of God! Her passion is seeing the Lord come into a session with

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T.E.A.C.H. the Youth By Keyonia Wright When I think of church, I instinctively think of the word family. Church and family to me are synonymous. The church when I was younger was the place not only to worship, but to learn and build bonds, many that are still intact today. The church guided me. It’s where I was supported in all my endeavors, be it church-related or not. Church is where my self-esteem was molded and nurtured. If it weren’t for the church mothers and church aunts, if it weren’t for the deacons and deaconesses - who knows what my life or the foundation from which I view life from would even be. I say all of this to say that the church is a powerhouse for the community. The church was where my personal relationship with God was ignited and cultivated. I learned the books of the Bible; the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection; the many ways God used unworthy people to do the most amazing things; parables with morals that still ring true today; and so much more. I learned to keep Him first and to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me every day. Church is also where I had my first public speaking experience and where I took my first overnight trip. It’s where I learned how to work with a group or team to complete a project; build friendships; budget my allowance; what a safe space looks like;

and found support from people that weren’t family. Some, if not all, of these examples may resonate with you. These “life skills,” in addition to the “spiritual skills” learned, helped me become who I am today. These wonderful experiences all happened in my youth. And I believe that the church must continue to reach today’s youth. In the final portion of her last will and testament, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune grandly points out that “the world around us really belongs to youth for youth will take over its future management.” If the church isn’t lovingly guiding and building up our youth, then we are knowingly aiding in the suppression of our youth in the church. It seems the church has shifted its view of how to engage the youth. I have spent many years centering ministry on youth and family connections in and outside of the church and have been around long enough to see the shift. For every generalization or rule there are always exceptions; however, there are churches that are killing the game when it comes to youth and there are others that are still missing the mark. I believe there are five main areas the church can help our youth - through the acronym of T.E.A.C.H.: 1. 2. 3. 4.

What the church is teaching our youth How they are engaging our youth How they are advising our youth. How they show our youth how to be courageous in their faith 5. How to show our youth to lead with their heart

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Keyonia has 10+ years of service in education. Her contributions include, but are not limited to: SelfContained Pre-K Teacher, 4th Grade Teacher, Pre-K Inclusion Teacher, and Hearing Impaired Teacher. She also has her own Tutoring business, Podcast, and Blog, whose focus is on empowering not only students with Melanin but also Teachers, Parents, and other adults that work with these students. She holds a BS in Early Childhood & Deaf Education from UNCG, a MA in Elementary Education from NC A&T, and a Post Master Certificate in School Administration from UNCC. Ms. Wright was recently accepted into the UNCC Curriculum & Instruction Urban Education Doctoral program.

Advise: Proverbs 11:14 ESV states, “where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Who would be better to create this safety and guide our youth than those in the church. The church is meant to be a place of worship, learning, growth, and service. We are equipping our youth with the tools to share the gospel. As they learn, they need spaces to make mistakes and learn from them, and not be scarred by them.

Heart: Love is in the first two commandments stated here in Matthew 22:37-40 ESV, “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” It is not a coincidence that the first two commandments are about loving. We should always start with love. God starts with love with us and grants His grace and mercy upon us each and everyday. So who are we to think that we shouldn’t extend that same love and grace to others. It is our job to love on and to teach our youth how to love God, themselves and God’s people. So as you are gearing up to T.E.A.C.H., know that the church is that foundational piece to building the future of our youth and community.

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Engaging: Engagement, unlike involvement, means to work as a team to create. Are we just preaching at the youth or are we opening up real dialogue with them and allowing them to participate in the teaching and learning process? Have open discussions about the topics you plan to teach. Let them be a part of the planning process. Have opportunities for them to teach. They say if someone can explain it to another person then they have grasped the concept. In 1 Peter 5:3 ESV it says to “not be domineering over those in your charge but [be] examples to the flock.” We have been tasked to make sure that our youth have an active walk with God.

Courageous: 1 Corinthians 16:13 CEB says to “stay awake, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong.” Living in a world where it’s easy to mute yourself and mute what you stand for, we have to be like Jesus and be courageous in our faith with all that we do, so as to allow His love and light to be seen and felt through us. Out in the world there are times when it would be easier to go along with the crowd. As leaders we must lead by example. Showing our youth that although it may not be easy, it is what is right to be strong and steadfast in our faith and in what we know to be true.

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Teaching: The church has done a phenomenal job of taking biblical text written long ago and making it relevant to this interesting and captivating world; but what is lacking is how to reach the youth. The youth I have encountered understand the basic biblical principles - such as God is our only God; loving one another; serving; sharing God’s Word, etc. However, the issue arises with day to day application and problem solving. James 1:22-25 NIV warns, “do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” Once we teach the biblical principle, are we digging deep to make sure our youth are able to apply it to their lives once they leave the church house?

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us when the landlord said yes to a brand new warehouse building, that was completely empty, with concrete floors, no heating and air, etc. We upfitted the place and it cost us well over $100,000. And then we got to the end of the process, when the contractor had completed [the upfitting], and we were about $30,000 short. We went to the contractor on a Friday, told them we were short and that we would get the money to them as soon as possible. The contractor was worried and we figured that in a month’s time, we would have all the money. And we knew we couldn’t occupy the building until [it was paid]. But here was when we saw the faithfulness of God working on our behalf, which is the reason this was a high point. Over the weekend, a church in Jacksonville, Florida wires us $35,000 so we could pay the balance and have something left over. We had always prayed and knew God answered prayer, and saw what He had done for so many people and what He had done in our lives. This was an occasion that expanded our faith and those that were around us. At that point we had about 15 to 25 members, OM: That’s wonderful! How long have you but it just increased everyone’s faith to see been at your new location? what God had done. It was just a blessing to Carolyn Spellman: We came into the us, from people we did not know - but who building December 19th, 2019. It’s been a knew a member in our church. And the Lord long fight. We had the land for seven years. placed it on their heart to bless the church We thought we were financially strong to in that way. And we’ve never forgotten that build but kept getting so much opposition. and knew that God was behind what we were We had to go through so much to get the trying to do. project off the ground. But it’s finally built, A third point would be in 2019 when off of Arrowood Rd., right beside Lowe’s and we finally completed the construction on the Walmart. We are just so grateful to God. He facility where we are now, on Arrowood Rd. was so faithful through the whole process. It was a long journey. Pastor Carolyn had mentioned earlier that we had purchased the OM: You are celebrating 20 years of land seven years before and the banker we ministry, congratulations! Talk about some were talking to felt like we could purchase of the highs of pastoral ministry and how the land and build the church [at the same God has been faithful throughout the time]. Little did we know that there were so years. many hurdles to get over - we were told our KS: When we answered the call to become ministry hadn’t been around long enough; pastors, at our first service we were a little you don’t have enough members; you don’t apprehensive, not knowing what the Lord have enough money, etc. Each time we would would do. But our first service was amazing meet certain requirements, we’d be given - we had 75 to 100 people there. So that was another excuse. But during that time God definitely a “high,” but it didn’t last (laughs). was building our faith. And He’s continued A few weeks later we found ourselves with to be faithful, for after a lot of opposition, we seven or eight people and we stayed that way are here. The church is built and it’s a lovely for quite a while. But I will say that the initial facility. And we just think God for it, because start was a high in the fact that we saw what there is no way we could have done this on God could do; we saw the Word go forth with our own. power and we saw people get touched by the Spirit of God. CS: And throughout the entire process, Another high was in 2003 when we the people kept believing. I think it was the found a place of worship on Westinghouse greatest explosion of faith, because what the Blvd. We had been looking and looking and Lord says He is faithful to perform (1 Thess. at that time the market was really good. 5:24). It didn’t matter the delays; we had to So business centers and office complexes make a decision: are we going to trust God or wouldn’t even consider letting a church believe what others said? Most people were worship there. And now you see churches all telling us, you’ve got prime real estate; sell it to a CVS and be out of it. But this is a house over these areas. It was kind of a big deal to

Outpour Magazine: Tell us a little bit about yourselves and your ministry. Keith Spellman: Pastor Carolyn and myself grew up in New Bern, NC on the coast. We were high school sweethearts and have been married for over 35 years. I grew up Baptist and she grew up Catholic. And we had some years in between where we didn’t live [any denomination]. And then Pastor C got saved around 1994 and I got saved around 2000. In 2000 was when we started the ministry - we had bible study in the bookstore, the Blood of the Lamb Christian gifts and bookstore. The bookstore has since closed but we started our first church service in February of 2001. We started out in a hotel on Tyvola Blvd then we moved into another church’s building [where] we worshipped after their service was done. And then we moved to a location on Westinghouse where we had the church for 16 years. Now we are in our new building off Arrowood Rd. (Charlotte). That’s pretty much the story and we’ve been pastoring ever since. And the Lord has been faithful all throughout that time.

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of the Lord. The Lord will build His house. And He did, step by step. Like Pastor Keith said, there is too much to tell. And where we are, in our development, you have to do things the way the property owners association mandates. And even some of the buildings that we were trying to model our building after, those plans were rejected. We ended up putting in a lot more funds into upgrading than we would’ve done, but it really wasn’t our building anyways; it was the Lord’s. He wanted the upgrades and He provided for them. Honestly, God has been so amazing. OM: What about the lows of doing ministry? CS: We’ve had other churches come to us and tell us that we make [ministry] look too easy. But it’s not easy; we are depending on the strength of the Lord. A “low” for us is always when people walk away from Christ. It’s a heart wrenching thing. It’s like seeing your children go astray. That’s one thing that we like to share as we develop and train other pastors - prepare your heart because not everyone that comes to Christ stays. And sometimes people lose their way. But it’s our job to never forget about them and to continue to pray for them, and believe in faith that one day they will find their way back to Christ. OM: Share a little about your current sermon series “Any Given Sunday.” CS: We were having an evangelism meeting and our evangelism leader is just so on fire. You know, if you are not called to the office of evangelism, by the time you are done with him, you’ll want to be an evangelist (laughs). So we were sitting down talking about what’s going to be the road map, what are we going to do to keep the gospel moving, especially during Covid, and not slow up on what we’re doing. We were planning our next event at UNC Charlotte, where we go out and pass out masks and gift cards to the students, to show the love of Christ. And our [evangelism leader] was saying at that meeting, “you know it’s so important that we get on those campuses during this time because any given Sunday, they could turn on the television [to tune into church], even though they can’t walk into the building and their life could change.” And everyone looked around. And before you knew it, everyone was telling their “any given Sunday” stories. They were talking about “I remember when I first walked into BOLD Church® and that Sunday this happened or that happened…” And we said “that’s it, that’s the theme.” It just resonated with our heart. It’s so true - your life can

change on “any given Sunday.” And not just one time but repeatedly. Even as we continued to lay out the plan [for the sermon series], we made sure to stick rigidly to the Word of God. So when we get ready to evangelize or to do a series, it’s done with fasting and prayer. [Our team] puts so much prayer into asking God to open the hearts of people and draw them near, to witness Christ. [We’re also] asking God to cultivate people’s hearts to be ready to receive. And this is paramount for any of us; we all don’t come to Christ just ready to receive. Somebody put some time in praying for us, so that our hearts are ready, supple and pliable. And we know the Holy Spirit can use anybody. We know that it’s the foolishness of preaching that men are saved (1 Cor. 1:18, Rom. 1:16-17). But it’s also those touches from individual people at the appointed time to give a word of encouragement that opens one’s heart to the gospel. And this is our model in the church - when we get ready to do something, it’s fueled in prayer before we ever actually do it, so that it’s all God. KS: One of the biggest things about that is

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for me personally, most of the difficult, heart wrenching things in my life did not begin to move until I began to pray fervently and fast. Because there are some things that will not go away without prayer and fasting. Some of the things that we need to release; some of the things that need to be broken; some of the healings that need to occur - Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. Why wouldn’t He expect us to sacrifice? Why wouldn’t it be an expectation of our faith? I knew years ago that I was called by God to write this book, because it’s been a long journey of fasting for the both of us. But OM: Pastor Carolyn, you recently published writing this book was nothing like I thought a new book entitled “The Chosen Fast”. it would be. I thought it was going to be Please tell our more informational; but that’s not how God readers more designed it. The Lord said don’t tell people about your about fasting; invite them to fast. Give them book and the a revelation of what “The Chosen Fast” really importance of means, so that it could connect with their fasting as an heart. And then let them do the work day by act of faith. day. Because there’s no way to catch up but CS: We’ve to start running. So that was what the Lord heard people was showing me, that we were behind and say that fasting we had to put some action to catching up. It is totally is a 30-day fast until noon. You have to decide voluntary - and if you are ready for this journey. And each day maybe it is. there’s a different outcome or reason of why But we believe we fast, how we fast and what it should look that fasting is like. It’s more like a fasting devotional. a discipline of I was so nervous writing it. I know it our faith. We was the Holy Spirit, because when you are believe that writing something - it’s forever (laughs). So the Lord fully you want it to be accurate. And my prayer intended for was “God let it resonate with their hearts.” us to fast. We Let it touch them in places and let every day believe that the that they open up this book, be exactly what Bible is very clear on the fact that Jesus said they need to hear from You. It is amazing when the bridegroom was here they didn’t to hear what people have said [about the have to fast; but now the bridegroom is gone book]. One person said “I had the greatest and we will have to fast (see Mark 2:19-20). decision to make in my life, and I just really Also scripture interprets scripture; and if didn’t know. I waited on this book so that I you look throughout the 66 books, you see could fast before the Lord and do it the right that the people who believed God the most way.” When they got to the point where they consecrated [themselves] and fasted to tell felt like they made the right decision, they Him that all of my trust, faith and confidence opened up the page for that morning and the is in You. They approached no difficult life chapter was “Backed by God.” And they said situations without presenting their bodies they knew that the Holy Spirit was speaking as a living sacrifice. Fasting feels like having to them. “some skin in the game.” I’m showing God So every day is an opportunity to hear that I am just as serious about what He’s said from the Spirit of God, in a different way for and that I believe what He’s said. Even when their lives. As well as some practical and it looks like everything is coming against His important things you need to know about Word, His Word stands forever (Mark 13:31). fasting. But it’s a journey. I’m on day 16 now I feel like fasting, which is a tenet of - I had to go back and do it myself (laughs). our faith by the Spirit of God, is a lost tenet. He’s still ministering to me. We’re not really practicing, advocating or OM: Talk a bit about prayer. Why is prayer teaching people about fasting. And I don’t still essential in the life of every believer? take anything away from grace; Lord knows KS: It’s just like Pastor Carolyn mentioned I understand the difference between grace about fasting - we believe it’s a mandate and and works. But what I am saying is that sometimes our fast is a way of demonstrating part of our faith. In the Bible, it doesn’t say if you pray or if you decide to pray; it says when our faith towards the Lord. And I believe, we always pray and teach people that we don’t want them to think they are hearing from Pastor Keith or Pastor Carolyn. We want them to get into the Word of God and start to hear the Holy Spirit for themselves. That’s the point where we see lives really change. They’re hearing on their own that the Lord is speaking, that the Holy Spirit is speaking to them. It changes their behavior and transforms their lives and mindsets. That’s what we expect from God when we pray to Him and ask Him to make this [series] a move of the Spirit.

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you pray. So we know that we are expected to pray. That’s the way we move the heart of God. God knows everything; but if you look throughout the Word of God and all the prayers that the men and women of God prayed back to Him, they gave Him back His Word. And that is what we believe - we pray the Word of God back to Him. There’s no getting around [prayer]. I believe the Word of God that says if we ask anything and we believe we receive, we can have it (Mark 11:24). We’ve seen God answer so many prayers, that we don’t know any other way to reach God but through prayer. That’s His chosen form of His people communicating with Him. And because of that we feel that it is absolutely necessary, absolutely essential, that every believer must learn how to pray. When we say we want people to hear from the Holy Spirit themselves, [we tell them] you need to talk to God. You need to communicate with God. And that’s what we teach people. We teach prayer classes on how to pray. We teach them how to pray the scriptures back to the Lord. It is such an important part of the church, an important part of our ministry. Apart from prayer, our faith, dependence on Him and believing His Word - what else do we have to offer God? That’s why we feel that prayer is essential. We don’t do any moves without starting with prayer. There’s a lot of prayer before everything that we do - every conference we have, every ministry event. Because we are depending on God and trusting God, for everything. CS: Pastor Keith says that a lot of times “people don’t pray because they don’t believe.” He’ll use himself as an example and say that when he had no prayer life, it was really because he had no faith and no belief in God. But when his faith grew, his prayer life grew. The bible says when Jesus returns, will He find faith in the earth (Luke 18:8)? And it also says that men should always pray and never faint (Luke 18:1). Prayer is not just about getting what we need from God; it’s about relationship. It’s about intimacy. You don’t have a deep intimate relationship with someone you don’t spend time talking with. And we like for people to understand that there’s all forms of prayer: adoration, repentance, praise, etc. There’s nine different types of prayer. There’s not just one model. So everybody can find how to communicate with God and how to grow their relationship. But you can’t do it if you don’t talk to Him. I can’t imagine not talking to God everyday, not giving Him reverence and adoration and telling Him thank you. And making sure my heart is right before Him. [Prayer] is a relationship builder. And then it morphs into having confidence in Him, that there is

nothing you will need that He will not provide. OM: And lastly, what is the role of the church and the pastor in today’s society? KS: Something that I believe in my heart and hope people don’t get away from is the role of the church. It hasn’t changed. It is to reach the lost. And the role of the pastor hasn’t changed. Jesus said feed my sheep. Are there things to contend with in this age? Absolutely. However, I don’t believe that God ever changed His mind. He wanted the church to go out and save the lost and bring the lost into the kingdom of God. And the role of the pastor continues to be feed the sheep so that they can have relationship with God themselves. Jesus ripped the veil and since the veil has been torn, everyone has access to the Lord. As shepherds we must feed the sheep so now the sheep can walk on their own, so they can now depend on the Good Shepherd. And our goal [as pastors] is to please the Lord, by saving souls and feeding His sheep. And this has never changed. Things we contend with might change; how we reach people might change; but the role of the church and the pastor has never changed. God wants us all saved; He doesn’t want to lose one. We are never happy when there are people living below the standards of God. But our prayer is that they will keep coming and that we will keep feeding the sheep, knowing that any given Sunday, somebody’s life is going to change. And for the Holy Spirit to grab them in a way that they’ve never been touched before. CS: As the church we are to be the “ecclesia” the called out, the chosen, the city on a hill, salt and light. We [must] continue in these roles consistently - no matter the opposition we may have. We only have one business here and that is to conform to Christ. Christ in us is the hope of glory. -OM

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The Importance of the Word of God

as the spiritual inheritance given to all of His holy ones.” Jesus said in John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The Word of God is revelation knowledge. It is knowledge By Ronald Obie that is greater than, and superior to, sense The Word of God is critical to true life knowledge and our own reasoning. and to faith’s growth and development in our We can develop or grow in faith by lives. Note Matthew 4:4, that says “...Man shall feeding upon (hearing), and exercising not live by bread alone, but by every word (acting upon), the Word of God. Let’s look that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” at 2 Thessalonians 1:3 KJV: “We are bound Additionally, Deuteronomy 8:3 states “...that to thank God always for you, brethren, as [the Lord thy God] might make thee know that it is meet, because that your faith groweth man doth not live by bread only, but by every exceedingly, and the charity of every one of word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the you all toward each other aboundeth...”. And LORD doth man live.” Romans 10:17 KJV: “So then faith cometh by The Word of God is the revelation of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” God. The Word of God is the revealed mind God reveals His will in His Word, then and will of God into the earth; the Word of He encourages us to pray His will be done. God is God speaking to man His divine will, Further, He encourages us to speak His Word. plan, and purpose. It is the Word of God that We have not really successfully prayed unless builds up; all of God’s blessings are revealed we have prayed on the basis of God’s Word, and provided in His Word. It is His Word that because we cannot have faith beyond our provides an inheritance among those who knowledge of the Word. God’s Word must love the Lord. Listen to Acts 20:32 Passion therefore be in us to proceed out from us. Translation: “And so now, I entrust you into John 15:7-8 KJV states that “if ye abide in Me, God’s hands and the message of His grace, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what which is all that you need to become strong. ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is All of God’s blessings are imparted through my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so the message of His grace, which He provides shall ye be my disciples.”

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If we abide – remain, dwell, in Christ, and His words abide (remain, dwell) in us – we shall ask what we will. This is an amazing statement and indicates that our receipt of the blessing is more dependent upon us than it is on God. Or put another way, God has blessed us; the blessing is ours; it is up to us to possess the blessing, and we possess it by believing according to that which is spoken (that is, the Word of God); speaking or declaring the blessing as already attained, not considering our natural senses or natural reasoning faculties, and acting upon that word, giving glory to God. John 15:7 Jesus said, “and my words abide in you” – if my rhema abide in you – that is, there is light associated with the word; your spirit has been activated by that word; it has moved beyond your reasoning faculties to a place that you know that that word is true in your case and that it will not fail. You stay with and stand on that word; you hold on to the confession of that word; and you do not let sense knowledge push you off it. If it is not real to you yet, meditate on it, and stay with the word regarding your case. God says in Jeremiah 1:12 ASV: “Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my Word to perform it.” And in Luke 1:37 ASV, “... no word from God shall be void of power.” I cannot over emphasize how important the Word of God is to prayer, to faith, to our spiritual growth, and to our lives. Remember, the Word of God is critical to true life and to faith’s growth and development in our lives.

“We can develop or grow in faith by feeding upon (hearing), and exercising (acting upon), the Word of God.”

Ronald Obie is a native of Roxboro, NC and currently resides in High Point, NC. He is an Associate Minister at Prospect Hill Missionary Baptist Church serving under Pastor George Harris, Jr. and is ordained in the Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Association. He and his wife Vanessa have been married 40 years and are the parents of three adult children and five grandchildren. He is Founder and CEO of Wood Coatings Research Group, Inc., an independent research and development materials science laboratory.

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