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During this Great Awakening broadcasts on CTN, I’ve been able to plug in for maintenance, security, as well as the call center prayer line. There have been amazing testimonies coming in from around the world. I remember just yesterday, praying for a woman in South Carolina who got totally healed on the phones. I have never been used in that realm before and realized that it was all Him and no pressure was on myself to do anything. She felt all the pain leave her back and body and felt the fire of God coming in and healing her through the phone. Seeing the transferable anointing was amazing. I also was graced with the opportunity to pray for the fire of God for another lady in Wisconsin and she started crying and screaming. And another call I picked up, and they wanted to donate $5000 to a ministry of one of our speakers being interviewed.

This month is another opportunity to keep my heart right. The enemy tried to get me down with offenses thrown at me. But I had to forgive and let them go and stay focused on the will and the call of God and the move of God that is taking place. The enemy even tried to have me focused on my own body with pains going on. But I have declared my healing and received it in Jesus’ name!

I am really looking forward to all that God is going to do in the month of January, with the ministry and in America and the rest of the globe, as persons are being set ablaze to bring in the harvest of souls!!! -Tony C

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Ministers’ conference was a very powerful time in my life. I was stretched In about fifty different directions and grew in a ton of different ways, however the time that grew me the most was the last two nights. Pastor Phil Smithers from overland missions was preaching on having that burning within you for the nations, and I could literally feel the fire within’ me begin to grow. I felt like deep within me I was being branded , and it hurt, but it was also amazing, because as we all know, when you get branded, that sign stays and can never come off.

Growing is often painful in the physical body, so spiritual growing can often have a similar effect in my experience, but when the pain is gone, and all that’s left is that burning desire it’s so worth the struggles. The last night I was seeking God intensely, asking Him where I would go, what was going on with my life and what’s going to happen, I was desperate for answers and God simply said this through the Holy Spirit in a very still, small, but clear voice. “You will go to the outermost parts of the earth, and where you go I AM with you, and lives will be changed and there will be such a freedom as you have never known and everywhere you go, which will be many places, will be changed, have peace these things will come to pass”.

I was thoroughly amazed at the wisdom of God, and also very happy that I could clearly and honestly hear his voice. For years I had heard God’s voice through pastors, ministers and preachers, but for one of the first times, it was just Him and I.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

The 2010 Minister’s Conference has been one of the greatest blessings to my life!  As a first year River Bible Institute student I have had to go through severe trials and testings just to get down to Tampa and begin my studies.  The conference was like a right now word from the Holy Ghost to, “Stay focused, trust in the Lord, and hold on to the dreams He’s placed in your heart!”

The presence of the Lord was so strong in every service.  You did not want to miss a single one because of the expectation of hearing what the Lord has in store for our lives individually, and as a nation.  The theme of “no limits, no boundaries” let me know that the Lord has only good in store for His people in both the immediate and distant futures.  This was a very refreshing message at a time when only bad reports are streaming in from all sources of the media.

It seemed like every scripture that I had been studying recently was referenced during the conference, and all the speakers seemed to flow together as if they had collaborated ahead of time.  Knowing that they had not organized their speaking subjects just made it more evident that the Lord is in total control of all of this world’s affairs, and that He is not taken surprise by any of the events that seem to have all of America buzzing.

Coming out of the conference, not only do I have a better understanding of the physical Presence of the Lord, but I am left with a mental peace that lets me know that the Lord is not about to forsake His people in this land.  That no matter how turbulent things make get all around us, there is a secret place that the Lord has for all of those who are willing to take Him at His Word and rest in the fact that He alone is God.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

Internship Testimony

Time moves fast; Jesus will return before we know it. Will I be ready? Will I have finished all that my Lord has called me to do; or will I be full of excuses? These are questions I have asked myself and perhaps you have too.

I’m a third year student at the River Bible Institute which makes me an intern. Once you are accepted as an intern your first and foremost duty is to stomp on your flesh. It wants to puff up, strut around and say, “Look at me, I’m something!” Get down, men and women, and hit your knees; pray and thank Jesus for the wonderful opportunity to serve in His house! Ask Him how He wants you to serve and then be obedient to the calling the Holy Ghost has placed on the inside of you for this season. If your question for now is why, Jesus will give you an answer.

Let me share a story about my own adventure. Back in August of 2008, I came here to attend the River Bible Institute for one year. I know the Lord called me to go to school and it was a very exciting move.  During our first week we were asked to fill out a form for the Ministry of Helps Department. It said to pick three places you would like to serve so I did. 1. Hospitality   2. Usher  3. Cloth Lady.

These areas seemed easy for me. I have always worked in restaurants so hospitality comes easy for me. I’ve seen the ushers at our church back home every Sunday and it seemed like a simple enough job that I felt I could handle; and I figured the cloth lady meant they needed help in the laundry department folding tablecloths, napkins, and etc. Being a mom of two, I thought I had plenty of experience for that. It’s funny when I look back now but who would have known, I sure didn’t. I came from a church where people fell down but courtesy cloths weren’t required.

Never the less, God had a different plan of where I was to serve Him that year. I received a phone call from Tara, the lady who ran the Ministry of Helps program. She said, “Beverly, I know you didn’t request this helps area, but I really feel the Lord is telling me to put you in Production to run a camera.” I first laughed and said, “Sure, ok I’ll try it but it’s something I have never considered or ever done before. Heck, I just got my first cell phone a few months back I’m 49 years old.” We laughed together and she encouraged me and we prayed. That following Sunday I was sitting behind Camera #2 with a man named Fred standing behind me explaining how it works. I ran that camera faithfully for the next 9 months. As school was coming to an end that year, the Lord laid it on my heart that I was to stay and go a second year. Little did I know they would be offering a broadcasting class in January of 2010! At first, I was just excited and wanted to take the class because I wanted a deeper understanding of cameras and how they worked. I got to be a part of some great projects and learned many different aspects of a production studio. We learned how not only to shoot a piece of film, but also to edit, cut, and put it together to show a 30 second spot for broadcasting. The broadcasting class was being offered by invitation only and what an honor to be asked to join the class. I was faced with being puffed up with pride and had to tell myself to “get down you bad flesh” and hit my knees and cried out, “Lord is this what You want me to do? Should I take this class?” The Holy Spirit said yes, so I let Dean Todd know.

I accepted and was a part of the production class. Now it was fun and more involvement in projects that were to be used on the network and internet. I was having fun and the question was being asked of us second year students if the Lord was putting on anyone’s heart for a third year or internship. Gee, I hadn’t even asked, so I started praying about it. Unlike second year, a willingness to do third year came. However there was not an assurance of what to do or how to serve as a third year intern. The Lord once again placed production in my heart. At first of course, I was full of questions and my first step was to ask Buddy, the head of the Production Department if he would like an intern and if so, could I put in to be his intern? Buddy said yes then I asked Dean Todd if interns were allowed to serve in the production area and he smiled and said yes. So with great excitement in my heart I said, “Yes, I would like to apply for internship for the 2010-2011 school year.”

Later it hit me and I started asking, “Lord, why? You called me many years ago to be a missionary. Why have you placed on my heart all this production stuff? Are You changing my calling? What does this mean?” Not only did the Holy Spirit tell me, but He gave me a picture of two hands coming together with the fingers intermingling and said, “I will take you and you will film things others have never seen before.”

So today, August 26, 2010, I am a production intern learning how to flow in the Holy Spirit and capture the anointing on film and send it across the airwaves into your homes. No excuses! I’m doing what the Lord has called me to do right now. He’s coming back soon!

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

The day was a perfect storybook day. Clear, sunny, (not scorching hot), but a great perfectly warmed day with a slight breeze. It was the best day that anyone could have wished for or prayed for. We were obviously not the only one pleased to be sharing our, “more than enough”. When we saw the faces on the parents and kids who participated and received gifts and food, it was apparent that we, on the earth were not the only ones smiling. It took a lot of physical work and co-ordination of many of the churches’ assets to bring about this wonderful celebration. And this was just a pre-curser to what is planned for the upcoming week as we near the Christmas season. All who contributed their efforts were more than rewarded by the laughter and smiles evident every way one turned. More than fun, this was a rewarding experience for those of us who normally are prone to remaining out of the direct action behind our chosen pseudo conservatism. This Sunday was a chance to go all out to make someone happy while sharing in the excitement.

My wife and I are in a somewhat unique, enviable position of volunteering for the Food Ministry where the food is put together. Then we are in the distribution where it is handed out each week. We have also been meeting, encouraging visitors and being a small part of the Bus Ministry where folks are picked up for transport to and from our church. So we are fortunate to watch the progression of folks from on the street without a church to attending our church. The new faces are worth any effort that we could muster.
This Sunday, we were blessed to see so many new faces who had answered our street ministry calls. Some of those came were here for things missing in their lives. Many of the people new to us were from Plant City. We as a church have reached past our immediate vicinity and four walls of the church to touch more people for Christ than ever before. We are sowing into peoples’ lives daily, although we recognize some came as a result of seeds planted by others in whatever near or distant past. In a way, it’s sad that so many people need help, but on the other hand, this is a living ministry and we have the ability to give needed assistance now. Some of our workers were talking to the people, in turn teaching them to sow an item of food into their neighbors’ lives, and sharing their experiences at River Church. That is more than awesome. Our church is showing people how to take what they have and sow no matter what is available to share. We are showing people the Biblical way to move away from lack.

The church volunteers were wearing orange or yellow safety vests which someone remarked made us stand out like worker ants. In fact, when I looked across the parking lot, it really was like watching ants. Everyone was so busy with toy distribution, food ministry, bus ministry, hot dog sales, music, etc. A really great thing was everyone was smiling and friendly and jovial amidst all of the hard work. The pace was a little hectic, but we were having so much fun blessing people.

First time visitors seemed to enjoy being a part of this enormous family enjoying life. Will we see them again? Yes, we will see many of them. And perhaps some of them much later on in the great scheme of things!

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

The past week I’ve gained allot of perspective in matters of the heart. Pastor Adonica really opened up the scriptures to us in the class. I learn that our heart attitude governs out fate and our destiny and that when we talk about our heart we are referring to the center of everything in us. I have been selfish 99.9 percent of my life and God had began to work on my heart these past few weeks and Pastor Adonica’s class couldn’t have come at a better time. Its funny how something so small (your tongue) can be so hard to control, its as though you can hear and feel the wrong words coming up before they do and as they reach the tip of your tongue there’s a choice to be made, and the deciding factor is always our emotions. Our emotions tend to decide what we say, but the word of God says that those lead by the spirit of God are the sons of God, so when that emotion is telling us to say what’s on your mind it’s the power given to us through the Holy Spirit that enables us to bridal our tongues. I’m learning about my pride and arrogance and how I’ve live in a place of selfishness for so long that I have to learn to be unselfish, It’s like teaching a two year old to share. And in this past week the Lord has really been showing me to let people be people and not expect them to be what I want them to be; that love looks for the best in all people and not the worst. I learned that I must give mercy to others as God gives mercy to me. I know that walking in love is a lesson I will be learning daily and something I must put into practice and without the grace of God I can’t do it in my own strength.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

This past Sunday for me was very special in many different ways. I felt a great expectancy in the atmosphere. I have had the privilege to serve and be a member of The River for about 13 years, and have been apart of many outreaches here at the church. But there was something about this past Sunday, I believe that God really changed a lot of lives and the people were really expectant. The love of God was evident in the church and everyone who came in the church felt it. My faith has grown to another level since then to believe for more busses and vehicles to bring people to church. The people are now taking responsibility and accountability for their neighborhoods and their friends and bringing their families with them on the busses now. The change is really becoming evident. I feel that I am in the perfect will of God being apart of this ministry and helping fulfill the vision of my pastors’. I believe that God is about to do something great in Tampa Bay. God has us here for a reason and purpose and it is not just to sit and get blessed. But we are here to reach out of ourselves and to impact a lost and dying world. We have a responsibility to show forth the love of God in everything that we do and say. This past Sunday just showed me not to grow weary in well doing and that in do season we shall reap. The love that we showed to those people as we have gone into their neighborhoods and their homes will not be forgotten by these people. This past Sunday is just the beginning of what God will do with this ministry and this church. I am honored and privileged to be called a member of The River at Tampa Bay. Thank you Pastors’ Rodney and Adonica for instilling the vision into us and speaking it forth and with no shame, and preaching the full counsel of God. You will never know what a difference you have made in mine and my husbands’ life. We pray blessings over you and your family daily. Thank you.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

One of the things that I was really able to understood and get out of the “Matters of the Heart” class was that no matter what happens, what you do or not do, what you say or not say, it always comes back to where was your heart . I always heard the story about how David was chosen to be the anointed one because he was faithful in the little and because of his heart. And that he was a man after God’s own heart, I always thought “wow he must have been super close to God and never sinned” but never really realizing that he failed God in many diff ways and that it was because of his heart that he was always quick to repent and quick to stand back up and keep on with his walk with God. As Pastor Adonica would teach on David’s life my eyes began to open to see how great God is and how He just wants our heart, He wants our hearts to be pure, and clean. It really amazes me to think and to know that God knows my heart, you know to just know that God knows everything about my heart and how He’s so precious towards it and how He wants to fulfill every dream every desire that I hold. It amazes me! Just like David, who messed up and looked where He wasn’t suppose to look, and then committed adultery, and killed someone..I am not perfect either and to just see how God knew David’s heart and knew David for whom he was God is the same to me and to everyone else. My relationship with God has grown so much; it feels good knowing He knows me, everything about me. This class really opened my eyes. Things that I knew and have heard a million times I never really understood it until last week. I am truly blessed!

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Pastor Adonica’s teaching on the heart last week was well to be honest both amazing and painful. So I guess you could say it was amazingly painful.  The class was amazing because of the truth that everything begins and ends with the heart was revealed to me during the sessions and it was painful because she challenged me to examine what is in my own heart. As humans we have a tendency to point out others faults but ignore our own. So instead of thinking how loose some peoples mouths are during this class I  began to see that I have a real problem with my own mouth.  I sometimes have pointless conversations, sometimes I’m just loud, and sometimes I am just completely negative. I didn’t really know how bad it was until this week.  The thing that I realized because of this class is that, my mouth is a direct representation of what is in my heart.  I’ve heard that or something similar to that said hundreds of times but last week it became real to me.  I understand now that I won’t engage in pointless, empty conversations if my heart is right before the Lord. Because rather than being focused on my fleshly desires I will be focused on what Gods desires for me.  Each human being is going to have to give an account for every word that they have ever spoken.  I learned that everything that we do begins with the right heart attitude. I’m struggling with my mouth but if I get the word in my heart then I will be able to control it. If someone has bitterness if they get their heart right then they will not be bitter anymore.  This lesson is one that I am going to take with me for the rest of my life because I know if I can apply this truth to my life I take the limits off of what God can do in and through me.

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I’m the French teacher from Thursday night’s session in Concord. (My friend was the congregational pastor.) My wife (from Sweden), Marie, teaches a class called Praise Guitar for Ministry to kids ages 8 to adult. The culminating activity, according to the curriculum, is to take these budding ministers to a nursing home and let them play the praise and worship songs that they have been learning. Tonight, the first Monday since you all were here, was their night for ministry. She took six kids and a couple parents into a nursing home, and began by saying that they’ve been practicing together, learning to play guitar so that they could tell people that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their lives. Then they played. After the last song, Marie took the script, and just read it. My son counted twenty-four who wanted to pray to receive Jesus. Every child left asking Marie when they could do it again. They’re invited already to come back in August…They can even play the same songs!! As to my congregational pastor friend. I just talked with his wife Shawn today. This Sunday was a day of great rest and peace in their congregation, but most exciting, Pastor David has been able to sleep peacefully, and totally free from anxiety since Thursday night.

Peter M
Pembroke New Hampshire United States