Getting back on track

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Carl

Last Wednesday and Thursday were difficult days for me. I could not escape negative thoughts. I felt overwhelmed by everything, and as much as I want to see things through, I found myself wanting to give up at the same time. I knew I was struggling, so I entered Thursday evening’s prayer time empty and open. As we began to pray, the prayers began to focus on me and my lack of strength. Before long a new voice joined us and I heard someone praying in tongues as I was praying. All of the sudden I found myself out of words, but our guest simply picked up where I had left off. As our prayer time went on, the group laid hands on me, anointed my head, lips, ears and hands with oil and helped me recommit myself to the battle for this city.

As we entered into Friday, I had a new outlook and a fresh wind in my sails. Before the day was over, God had answered Carol’s prayer for the provision of school supplies. A friend had called burdened that she and her husband were to provide our children’s school supplies. Carol had not even mentioned the need to them.

Over the last few weeks, several who have been praying for me from all of the world, had been speaking a word to me that dealt with trust and not abandoning my call. Carol also began sharing with me, that the Lord was leading her to pray for the shutting of all of the potential doors of employment. In light of our current financial situation, it seemed suicidal to pray that way, but I was wrestling with the same question. Sunday, the Lord gave me the clarity I had been asking for…in the form of loving correction. The Lord rebuked Carol and I through my primary prayer intercessor. The issue came down to trust, I had given up on trusting God and have been trying to make my own way through this job search. The Lord reminded me that He conquered death and hell, raised Lazarus from the dead and multiplied loaves and fishes; yet, our actions were denying that very power in our own life and circumstance.

Carol reminded me that Paul’s tentmaking went with him everywhere he went. She pointed out that all of the businesses the Lord has entrusted me with go around the world with me. I have done work from Asia and Africa when I have been before. She also acknowledged that we had tried to make these businesses work in our own wisdom and it simply had not worked. We both realized that we needed to repent…for grieving God and walking in our own understanding. We repented together and asked the Lord to shut the doors He never intended for us to open.

We realize that God has to be our all. He can’t be our #1 priority, the top of our list or any other position…He must be everything. We have to rely on Him for everything. He reminded me of something I’ve often said from the pulpit: “How can you trust God with your eternal salvation, if you can’t trust Him with the smallest details of everyday life?” How true this is…how can I teach the stories of Abraham, Noah, Moses, Elijah, David, Peter & Paul while not trusting in the same God who was there every step of the way for them, to be there every step of the way for me?

The icing on the cake for the weekend came last night. As we were coming home from the baseball game, we were discussing our prayer time on Thursday evening. Carol and I got to discussing the praying in tongues that our guest was doing. Collin, interrupted and asked when she was praying in tongues, because he only heard her speaking English the whole time. I quizzed him about some specific times that she was praying and he again indicated he had heard the whole thing in English. Carol and I both find ourselves amazed at what God has been doing in him already at such an early age.

Shut down in two languages

Posted on August 5, 2009 by Carl

Last night’s prayer time was just the coolest thing I’ve seen since we launched Simplicity on South Staples. I forgot to get my keys from Carol before I left (it was her turn to watch the kiddos) and Mike didn’t have his with him either. So Mike, Kim, Patsy and I sat out on the sidewalk in front of the building and had our Tuesday night prayer time.

While we were prayer we watched a man, woman and young girl walk by on the other side of the street. The woman glanced over, but they kept walking. A little while later this same group came back by, none of them looking our way. All of the sudden the woman turned back towards us and began crossing the street. As she started towards us the man began to berate her that she didn’t need to….and then he could not finish his sentence. So he tried again, this time in Spanish and wouldn’t you know it…he couldn’t finish his sentence. This woman, never even looked back at him, she just kept coming across. She asked if she had missed the prayer time and we told her no. She asked if she could go in and we told her we were locked out, but to feel free to join us. I asked how we could pray for her and she said that she just wanted to sit and pray. Over the next 15 minutes she sat and wept and prayed. When she was done, I asked if I could pray for her. The Lord prompted me to pray for peace in her life. As she left, we thanked God for silencing the enemies voice in her life and asked to see more of that in the days to come.

Over the past few weeks, we have seen a local bar close down and a tarot card reader move out of the neighborhood; however, last night I finally connected why the spiritual battle seems so intense where we are. Across the street from the church is a large structure that looks like a house with the letters “HD” on the building. Last night, I realized that this was a bar that another pastor had told me about a year ago or so. This bar is not just any bar, but one of the central meeting places for men looking for other men in the area.

On the job and income front, I have a 3rd interview with a local company next week, but God has been directing Carol and I to pray over our businesses as “loaves and fishes” in Jesus hand. He has firmly focused us on the meager resources that were used to feed multitudes of 4000 and 5000

Testimonies, tempering and trust

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Carl

I want to start this round of rambling and mental sponge squeezing with the following set of emails from Africa. These emails came in over the past 3 days from Bishop Cleophas Makona, Rev. Sabila Adams (who leads the East Africa ministries for Simplicity) and John Juma (my driver in Uganda). These emails give a brief glimpse in the rear view mirror and also point to the destination for my work, they are filled with prayers, promises, passion and prompting:

Our beloved friend willis,

In II Corinthians 11:23-29, Paul the apostle demonstrated his commitment to Jesus Christ by listing a number of the hardships he have suffered . If nothing else, such ongoing mistreatment and deprivation revealed Paul’s perseverance. Let us seek to imitate Paul and his faithful commitment to Christ.

Jesus Christ in (John 7:2-9) experienced ridicule and rejection from his family . His brothers did not understand what God was doing in or through him. Therefore Jesus obeyed the will of his father in heaven instead of bowing to the pressure of those in his family. Like Jesus, we need to make sure that we are following God’s plan for our lives rather than following the dictates of people who do not know that God has planned for us. We must know God’s word and have a close relationship with God, nurtured by prayer and Bible study. Staying lose to God and remaining focused on his purpose for our lives will help us make good decisions and preserve our spiritual growth.

The enemy knows what you are doing for God, so stay focused on your calling , Jesus will never forsake you. Even at times your really own can not understand what calling you have.

God knows it, persevere dear, remember Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego and finally Daniel. They risked their lives in obedience to God’s will to them to die was better than to live with the quilt and shame of disobeying God. Like these three friends, we must determine to stand up against those who tempt us to turn from God’s will. To them to die was better than to live with the quilt and shame of disobeying God. Like these three friends , we must determine to stand up against those who tempt us to turn from God’s plan. We must follow God – no matter what cost.

In (Daniel 3:1-30) , we face situations in which we are tempted to do things that are wrong . Sometimes there are consequences for not going along with the crowd. This fact is clearly illustrated in the story of the fiery finance. The penalty for not following the crowd was death – a horrible death of being burned alive. When we stand for what is right and refuse to yield to peer pressure , we may suffer persecution, but we must stand firm in our faith. God will reward those who remain faithful to Him.

The enemy is after you, many in east Africa are being saved and rejoining the kingdom of God,AS YOU SAID THE WISE WINS SOULS. Many unreached souls have been reached and the neglected and unloved in the community have hope now through your regular support you are sowing to this mission . God is about opening bigger doors of provision through you for His work in Africa, just wait upon His timing and be sensitive in hearing His small voice and obeying every direction He leads you, He has a PURPOSE AND PLAN for your life on earth.

This can be one of the church’s finest hours in all history if we respond correctly. The Bible tells us that “ all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28)”

That includes uncertain times like these. Christians simply must not miss this opportunity to tell those who are looking for answers that JESUS IS THE ANSWER.

In fact, if we falter, I believe God will hold us responsible.

This is divine moment. Today , we can reach multitudes that we could only dream about a few years ago.As a mission we are intensifying our efforts to reach as many souls for the Lord as possible. I have asked our staff to pray more than they have ever prayed before, and I am asking you to join us and do the same. Through you, I’am asking you to sow the best seed you can to help us reach these multitudes who are looking for the Lord. You are the backbone of this mission and millions of lives are depending on your continued obedience during these great days of opportunity.

Every gift you sow into this mission is used carefully has stewards of God and wisely to help reach a growing multitude of souls all over the globe. Thank you for making a difference.

This are August prayer requests:-

i) Pray that God will provide for this two meetings to hire PA system and transport . August 13^th to 17^th ,09 – Kisumu and August 19^th to 23rd ,09 – Kuria on the border of Kenya and Tanzania.

ii) Pray for the feeding programme for orphans and widows that God will provide , for us to buy beans.Psalms 145;1-21,146:5-9. Thank you for now till next , God bless you dear servant of the most high God.

You are loved and appreciated.

All the Best.

Brother Cleophas

Dear Rev Carl and Simplicity Church

Greetings in the name of our lord Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful bright day here in Africa and the lord has wakened us up again well.

We bless the lord for what He is doing and what is a bout to do. We had a wonderful church service yesterday at our church in Kitale and the lord did move in a mighty way. The lord led me to share a bout healing the wounded spirit; I was so moved when I saw people moving a head to the altar in tears seeking God to heal their hurts. I saw this woman rolling down in tears and her mouth moving up and down but she could not speak out. When she spoke she said loudly I forgive you JOHN for hurting me and breaking my heart!

I called her latter to see me before she goes to her home. In our face to face talk she told me that she had been separated with her husband for four years a go and she left with two Sons which she is taking care. She had loved her husband so much and when the incident happened she could not believe. She was also rejected by her relatives and she decided to move to town to work as a maid.

She told me that as I was ministering it was like I knew everything which she had gone through in life. She said a heavy load was lifted out from her chest and she felt free and light than never before.

I saw such a radiance of Gods Glory in her face as she shouted a gain Hallelujah to God and saying I have forgiven you JOHN my husband, I don’t hold you any more in my heart. I let go of the past hurts and receive Gods healing Oil on my wounds.

Rev Carl, I thank God for allowing us to touch lives here. My prayer has been to God to do things that are beyond humanity and beyond Imaginations of men so that men may see it and says this is the lord!

Pray for me, I am on fire than never before, I have a heart to disciple nations and share my live testimony to the nations of the world. I believe God to pave and provide ways for me to contact leadership conferences, seminars and crusades for God and Simplicity starting next year 2010 across East and central Africa. I have already set up plans and many pastors are waiting for my first move to step out in the name of the lord. We want to plan churches as the lord leads ALL FOR HIS GLORY.

I feel the wave of Gods revival in my heart. Last night I was before the lord seeking His face over the work he has placed under my care and the Simplicity Church Network.

In my personal devotions in the book of Mathew and the feeding of the four and five thousands (chapter 14&15), I heard Holy Spirit say this to me: “Place a supernatural demand on Jesus”

We all know the story of Jesus feeding the thousands in Mathew 14:13-21 and Mathew 15:32-39.

This seems to be God’s perfect timing to send His word out, to all who are moving forth in kingdom advancement in these days and our team at Simplicity. The need is plentiful and our God has storehouses to fund His work through His people, through supernatural means, etc. in other words, He is the God who meets all our needs that we need to prosper and do the work of the kingdom. So all we need to do is to listen to our Lord and obediently follow in faith. When He leads us out, as He did to the thousands who came to hear His voice, He will not fail to supply our needs. When evening came, the disciples and Jesus came to a deserted place, without adequate supply to meet the natural demand for food. The disciples answers was to look at the natural supply and simply acknowledge that the need was too great and the people should simply be sent away to go into the villages to buy the necessary food. But our answer is found in Christ Jesus so when He talks, we immediately listen and obey. Jesus is quick to say in Mathew 14; 16: “They do not go away. You give them something to eat”. Again in Mathew 15, Jesus commands the multitudes to sit down on the ground, and proceeded to seek heaven to multiply a natural supply with a supernatural demand of faith and obedience by the one in need. There was a divine connection of multiplication when earth aligned with heaven’s supply through faith and obedience. For many this will be a test of faith, for we are looking at a natural lack and can’t see beyond it to see that God will take what is lacking in the natural and multiply it with a supernatural anointing from heaven. How else did they receive all that needed to eat? Mathew 15:37 says: “So they all ate and were filled and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.” Mathew 14:20 says:

“So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained”.

I heard the lord peak to me loudly, Adams my Son! Heaven is ready to supply through supernatural means adequately and to satisfy your natural need. Now please understand my son, when I say ‘demand’ that surely implies that the desire has been initiated in my heart to supply what I desire to activate here on earth.

Thank you father I have heard you.

Stepping out in extraordinary ways in advancing my kingdom requires faith to see me work miracles to supply all that I am requiring all of you to do in these kingdom days. As you follow me obediently, expect heaven to back up what I have initiated in the heavenly realm for you. My son, fear not I love you so much that is why I chose you from your tribe (Sebei Tribe) to serve me. Before you were born, you were in my mind. Trust me Son, I will not fail you.

Thank you dad! I am ready to obey you are hear your voice. Amen

Simplicity, Let us wait on God, He is faithful He will perfect what He has began in us.

God bless you all.

Your humble servant and Son

Apostle Adams Sabila

For

Simplicity Church Network

Dear Rev,

Greetings once more.

I am glad to inform you that the lord has expanded our ministry greatly.We have planted three churches in My Elgon last three weeks.

I wanted to confirm first before letting you know a bout this move.I recieved a call from Pastor Charles from Elgon who informed me that they successful planted three churches in three weeks.

Every church has 50 church members and a bove.

I have been invitated to go on 15th August 2009.Please pray for the provissions of this trip.

I also wanted to ask you if there is a way we can get funds to help us here in Africa,God is opening great doors and weed funds.Like if I can get proposal asking grands in your nation.Can it be possible.if have friends or ministries that can help.

We need to meet the need of our colleges both in kenya and Uganda.

God bless,

Hope to hear from you soon.

Apostel adams

Pastor Carl,

I am so happy again for this open hearted email you have sent.It makes me encouraged and strong and strong in faith,it has encouraged me to be sure that once our plans and imaginations have been committed to God through prayer,He is faithful to grant us the desires of our heart.

I want you to know that your last email really pushed me to seek the lord,because of you and the Simplicity ministry,I joined our church intercessors to fast and pray and we have heard the lord confirming to us that the plans and vision He has for you concerning many Nations Africa being one of them,he will protect and provide for you.Place be sure that you have dear once in Kenya Kitale.

The anointing service you held in Uganda,renewed my spiritual life,our church is now over three hundred members and we give all the glory back to God.

Yours faithfully in Christ,

John.

If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I have been wrestling with the challenges of what seems prudent and what is beyond the wisdom of man. God has been using emails like these to continue to relay a message of “trust Me” that has been spoken into my life for sometime now. I take great comfort in emails like these, because they remind me that my work is not in vain. They also give me hope for my work going forward. The waiting and trusting in my case are in the realms of finances. Many who could choose to walk beside me in a financial sense, simply have not felt God’s prompting to do so. Carol and I become more and more convinced each day that the Lord’s direction for me is not to spend my time and energies in corporate America as I have been seeking, but that shortly we will see the Divine enter into the dimension of mortality, creating unseen pathways of provision. I truly believe the Lord has already put the ingredients in hand (5 loaves and 2 fish), it is now the time when Jesus does His work and multiplies that which is already present.

The second point of expectation is here in Corpus Christi, Texas and the nation. I have been to India and Africa and seen the types of things these men describe in their emails. I believe in the not to distant future we will see God moving in the hearts of people here in a similar way. A prime example occurred yesteray during our worship time. I was teaching and a watched a man walking by outside. He continued to gaze at the building, smiled, looked up at the sign and passed by. Within a few moments, he had turned around, made the sign of the cross and entered the door. His name is Charlie, he wanted us to pray for his mother Sue, she had nearly died yesterday morning. As we prayed, Kim and I placed our hands on Charlie, he had already gone to his knees. In the name of Jesus we prayed for his mom, his pain and his trust. Just as quickly as he entered, he left, smiling and saying “God bless you” as he exited.

Trust is an interesting concept. The Lord has been showing me lately that He is faithful, but not according to our time table. This week, He placed two passages of Scripture before me, to remind me of what He is doing in my life:

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NASB)
2 Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.
3 “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.

Psalm 145:15 (NASB)
15 The eyes of all look to Thee, And Thou dost give them their food in due time.

The Latest

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Carl

Last week I was so excited about the young man who had returned. I took him to Alice to see family and he returned to Corpus Christi with me that afternoon, because he knew it was in his best interest. Unfortunately, I learned a day later that he had already been kicked out of the mission and was back on the streets. I continue to pray for the Lord’s powerful touch on the lives of the people here.

Saturday, while we were at the bus transfer station, the Lord allowed us to have another great conversation with someone there. Mike was able to speak at length with a woman who had attended church with he and Kim several years back. This woman was no longer in church, but hungry to have fellowship once again. We were blessed on Sunday to have her with us. We also had another man with us on Sunday whom we had met a few weeks ago as he was seeking shelter. We are thankful that the people of the area are beginning to search us out. This was reaffirmed today as a woman who had attended our opening Sunday asked if we were still meeting and indicated her desire to come again with her grandson.

On the job front I have had 2 interviews already this week and have another scheduled tomorrow. The positions require a number of interviews and testing, but I am starting to get a considerable ways into the process with each one. The Lord has also helped me rule out the things that have not been a good fit. I will be glad to see this process finish out so I can get focused on firming up our financial foundation.

Tom Blackaby and I have been working on our travel plans for October and I am so excited about our time together in India. I look forward to seeing Pastor Paul once again and finally spending face to face time with Pastor Santhosh.

Yesterday was my talk radio interview on Embracing God’s Best. I did not receive a call in number before the broadcast, so we were scrambling to get connected on the front end. The interview went so quickly, that we didn’t even get into the ministry of Simplicity; however, it was exactly what God wanted spoken.

Challenges, victories and other miscellaneous ramblings

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Carl

This weekend was a wonderful weekend in our ministry. Carol and Kim spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday at a women’s conference that was life changing for both of them in a number of ways. From my observation, both of them came back with less baggage and greater freedom.

Saturday was our second week of passing out water at the bus transfer station. Within an hour we had distributed over 200 bottles of cold water. I had a conversation with Norberta, who wanted me to have some copies of her Watchtower and Awake magazines. She explained to me that she didn’t understand the Bible, so she used those magazines for her Biblical teaching. Several times she stated to me: “I work as hard as I can in hopes that God will give me His Spirit.” As much as she would allow me to, I spoke to her about God’s grace that is all sufficient. In the end she allowed me to pray for her. She then went and offered her magazines to another man, who simply said, “I would rather have a Bible.” One of the things I need to quickly locate is a very inexpensive way to load up on some pocket sized Bibles. My other notable encounter was with a woman, who said my son looked like Beelzebub. She went on to tell me about the possessed rat that lived under the refrigerator. She questioned Mike about the demonic spirit in the water we were offering, insisting that only Nestle was pure. I asked the Lord to set her free.

During the weekend, Kim and Carol met Bernice and they both agreed that she and her husband may be the first of many people of peace we have been praying for. Mark and Bernice were called by the Lord to come to Corpus Christi from Syracuse, NY last year. Saturday night Mark called and asked where the church was and yesterday they spent the day with us. This couple is amazingly gifted and their own personal stories of deliverance were powerful. I am looking forward to watching how God uses them in this city.

Saturday afternoon, Carol had an hour long talk with our neighbor. Next Sunday she, her family and a best friend are going to join us. We have been praying for the Lord to give us this opportunity.

The highlight of my weekend was late yesterday afternoon. We had set up a canopy in front of the church and cooked hot dogs. As per usual we cooked more than enough for anyone who just happened to come by. Yesterday, no one was coming by until a young man walked up…a young man we had last seen nearly 6 months ago. His countenance had changed, there was humility in his words…God has used 6 months of wandering to soften his heart. We all rejoiced and loved on him. Tomorrow I will be taking him to Alice, TX to see his mother…she hasn’t seen him since he left home a few years ago. We are praying for great healing to take place.

A new challenge (seems like an old challenge) has surfaced in our lives. The landlord dropped by Saturday to inform us that she was going to put the house on the market beginning August 1st. This has already happened to us 2 other times since arriving in Corpus Christi in January of 2007. So here we are with only Carol’s part time income, struggling to make ends meet, possibly needing to move; however, through it all we have a confidence that God’s answer will be beyond our wildest dreams.

On the income front, I had two interviews last Thursday that may lead to more interviews in the coming weeks. I find myself tired…I either want to enter into my new professional role and get on with it or see the Lord provide in a way that keeps me on the course He set me on. This in between, not knowing, not able to pay the bills period is weighing on my spirit…I daily give it over to Him, but I get reminded very strongly of my circumstance quite regularly. I know that He is molding and shaping me into the vessel He’s had in mind for all of eternity…so I trust even when I don’t want to.

Friday thoughts

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Carl

I finally had two job interviews yesterday. The process for both positions will take some time, so we’ll see where the Lord leads. I continue to ask Him to clearly show me His direction for my life and the ministry of Simplicity. Carol and I both believe that this time is more about the process of searching out the heart of God and less about the end result. We both sense that the answer will once again be something that at this point is out of view and not on our radar screen. Time will tell.

Carol and Kim attended a woman’s conference last night at Corpus Christi Christian Fellowship, so Mike and I had Organic Group with our kids. The conversation was not as free flowing as it is when Kim and Carol are with us, but it was still good none the less. We had studied Mark 13:14-23 on Sunday, so we were discussing these passages on the tribulation. It was great getting to help my kids better understand a passage that is difficult for adults much less a 7 and 11 year old.

After Organic Group, we went back to Mike’s house and he played a documentary movie for me called The Heart of Texas. This is one of the most powerful stories I have ever heard. The movie profiles a community tragedy that displayed God’s love in a powerful way through the response of the family affected. I don’t tend to get overly emotional, but this was a very emotional movie for me to watch, especially with my two youngest children near by. To see God’s power moving in a circumstance that few of us could ever imagine.

This weekend we will be handing out water at the central bus terminal again and having our monthly cookout on the parking lot at Simplicity.

What’s whirling around my mind today

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Carl

This past Saturday we started our joint ministry venture with Summit Church. Each Saturday we are going to the central bus transfer station across from City Hall to hand out cold bottles of water. Handing out cold water has become the simplest, yet single most powerful action we do.

This past Saturday was no exception. A group of believers ranging in age from 4 months to over 40 handing out cold water with a smile and a simple word of love. It was beautiful to watch the disbelieving smiles as hot hands grasped ice cold bottles of water. My favorite was a blind man, who grinned from ear to ear as I touched the back of his hand with the cold bottle I was going to give him.

Kim got to put her ASL skills to use as she ministered to a woman she had met through the deaf center a few years ago. This woman showed us her severely injured leg, and with Kim interpreting, we laid hands on her and prayed for her healing.

Mike got to speak with another man that he has built a relationship with through the years. Speaking words of affirmation and encouragement. It truly was joy for us…our minds filled with ideas for hot coffee in the winter and other ways to make this better.

I will be sending out a request for people to help us with the purchase of bottled water and I hope some will choose to come and join us.

Finances are still a great burden right now, but the Lord has also brought forth some unexpected provisions. I’ve not been getting any calls for temp work and the Simplicity Solutions businesses are slow at the moment. I have two interviews on Thursday for a F/T management position for an optical lab and retailer and a P/T position with a government contractor. I have mixed emotions about both and wonder how these things will further/hinder the ministry in days to come if they come about at all.

I hope to have some clearer direction in the near future as I am getting to the place of needing to get my preparations in order for my upcoming trip to India.

I am simply asking the Lord to give me what I need to faithfully become the man I am called to be.

Pastor Adams gave me a report on the launching of the church in Moi’s Bridge. I thought I would share it with you:

Greetings.Thank you for your prayers for our students.We had a very successful mission and church planting.Many got saved and gave their lives.We have officially planted the church in Moi’s bridge.I will send you the full report this week.
20 students came from Uganda and other church members from Uganda joined them.We saw the mighty hand of God.
God bless.Pass my regards to all.

Thank God for overseers

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Carl

One of the most important things I did when starting Simplicity was enlisting three pastors I trust to be overseers of my ministry. After God revealed who these men needed to be, I asked these men to watch me, my actions and my ministry for things that would harm the testimony of Christ or my work in His kingdom. I have even given these three men permission to fire me from my own ministry if they ever deem it necessary, that is how much trust I place in these men.

Each month we gather together and I give them the ministry financial records, my personal finances and I discuss the joys, triumphs, defeats and struggles. This month I found myself barraged by many doubts, worries and counsel from other sources that left a stain on my soul. As I have shared these things with these men today and over the past few days, I found the Lord speaking words of life through them. These men also helped me evaluate counsel and disgard that which was not of the Lord. Clarity began emerging through the fog and the Lord helped me to see with a fresh set of eyes.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet Daniel. Daniel came into the church while I was doing some work on our door lettering. Daniel was weathered and worn, having been on the streets for some time. Daniel shared with me that he had not eaten for a few days, and that he was having trouble sleeping at nights, because the mosquitoes were biting him.

I took Daniel to Dollar General to buy him some food and insect repellent. Daniel immediately headed to the cooler, grabbed a quart of milk and drank it as he walked through the store. Needless to say the employees were not real thrilled with that and asked him if he was going to pay. I told them I would take care of it and we continued shopping. I purchased a can of Off, 5 cans of Vienna Sausages, another quart of milk and a soft drink for Daniel. In the parking lot, he allowed me to pray for him and then he sat down on a bus stop to enjoy his meal.

The Lord has allowed us to get names of each person we have assisted. We continue to pray for them, that His love would penetrate the darkness in their lives and break their bondage to the streets.

Pressing On

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Carl

Uncertainty…that is a good word to describe my thoughts these days. I am certain of a few things:

the ministry of Simplicity
my role in the body of Christ

My point of clarity is in my call, most everything else seems up in the air.

As we finish out the month of June, we have only been able to pay a few household bills and are past due on the rest. We are $25 short of having the rent on our church space paid for. The businesses are only producing a few dollars here and there. I have been trying to find work, but not finding anything other than commission only positions that seem to want to nibble.

I have a unique situation, basic manual labor jobs won’t hire me because I’m overqualified or don’t have experience with that particular manual labor. White collar jobs think I’ve been away from the corporate world too long. I find myself unsure of what my steps should be.

God’s timing is interesting. As I was writing this I was called by a staffing company to come in for an interview tomorrow morning.

Yesterday was another kingdom encounter on South Staples. As we were getting ready to leave after the morning service, I heard someone shouting from across the street. A woman came over and asked if we could help her with groceries until her disability check arrived later this week. I could smell the alcohol on her breath, so I told her we would take her to the store and pick up a few staples if she would like. She agreed and off to the store we went.

I spoke to her about the alcohol on her breath and expressed my concern that it was 11AM. I asked her to be honest with me about her situation. I learned that she had just moved back to Corpus from Austin, and that she was originally from New York. She has been exposed to church and actually knows she needs to be in fellowship somewhere. Her mother is in frail health back in New York, but her relationship with her father is strained and it prevents her from going to see her mother. Her brother just finished a 15 year prison sentence, but came out a changed man after encountering Jesus in prison.

When we were done, we took her home…across the street from the church. We have been praying for a person of peace in the neighborhood, and in this woman we found the greatest receptivity to the touch of God that we have encountered since starting Simplicity. It is my hope that she will be our first person of peace in this troubled neighborhood.

The View from the Street

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Carl

I haven’t been staying too up to date on the blog lately. My mind has been pre-occupied with the concerns and burdens of life. When I returned from Africa, I was greeted a few days later with the news that the small salary I was receiving would no longer be offered. Right now our only income is Carol’s and what few donations we get. I have begun sending resume’s to employers around the area and answering help wanted ads, but so far with no success. I have enough left from cashing out my retirement savings in April to pay our rent for the next 2-3 months, but there is no money for anything else. Carol and I are currently praying about which things we let go of. I find myself telling God that my trust is fickle. I trust Him with eternity, but for some reason I struggle to trust Him with our well being. Bare cupboards and empty gas tanks have a way of revealing what is really inside of you.

The past 4 Junes have been very painful times for me. In June of 2006, I informed my church leaders that I felt the Lord was telling me it was time to move on. They received this news with an offer of their own….cutting my salary in half. In June of 2007, I was working to bring a Hispanic house church group into a partnership with the church I pastored. I spent most of June being called many unkind things and being accused of giving away “our church.” In June of 2008, the Lord called me to a week of silence, really a modern day equivalent of sack cloth and ashes. Daniel chapter 9 was the focal point of the week and by the time the week was over the Lord had me deliver the most devastating call to repentance I have ever spoken or heard. Now we come to this year…I gave up on making ends meet several months ago. I’m just asking the Lord to give me some guidance and to arrest the fear within me.

On the streets near Simplicity things are beginning to happen. Normally the things I described above are directly proportional to God’s activity somewhere else in my life and this period of life is no exception.

4 weeks ago we began an open prayer time on Tuesday nights. We placed two bright posterboard signs on our front windows with the simple question: “How can we pray for you?” 3 weeks ago as we were preparing for Sunday morning worship, a man ran across the street from the auto repair shop. He pointed at the sign and said “I need to find an apartment today.” We prayed over this man, Eddie was his name, and just as quickly as he entered, he departed.

2 weeks ago we found an envelope in our mailbox, addressed to the Simplicity Prayer Group. In this prayer request a woman cried out for deliverance for her husband from physical, emotional and financial strain.

This past Thursday as we were having our Organic Group, a disheveled man walked in off of the street. He smelled of alcohol and his request was the common request for the area…money. I spoke to him for a few minutes and offered to feed him, but I asked to pray for him first. The Lord led me to place a hand on his should and one on his chest. As I prayed over the pain in his life, the tears began to flow. The Lord began to release the pain in Kevin’s life. Kevin is still out on the streets, but he has been stirred by the touch of the Lord.

On Sundays we set out 5 gallon cooler of ice water and some donuts or other snacks for people to freely take. This last Sunday I watched as a woman walked up and took the whole box of donuts and all of the snacks, leaving none for anyone else. She stuffed them into her trash bag and talking out loud as she went immediately walked across the street. A few moments later, I saw her headed the other direction, the trash bag was now gone, but she was carrying “her box of donuts.”

We are seeing the effects of spiritual walls that permeate this neighborhood. It is our prayer that the walls come down, the eyes come open and Holy Spirit rains down.

Journey To Simplicity