God is good and has been good. This whole camp meeting experience has put the pieces of the puzzle of my scrambled past together. Although my past wasn’t the best that I had to offer myself in life, what the enemy intended for evil, the Lord turned around for my good. Some things never made sense to me in any shape, form, or fashion until now. In the 90’s my mother tried her best to have her children around the things of God but unfortunately most churches were dry and needed watering themselves.
The church my mother finally adopted brought you the word of God but lacked the move of the Spirit; and everybody knows that seed can’t grow without water, as well as all water can’t produce seed, but in all actual fact it’s a balance of the two. Well for years I experienced the word of God and no movement of the Spirit of God until 1993 whencame to Lakeland, Florida and demonstrated the power of God with the Word of God hand in hand. I got baptized there in a large pool in the middle of the church when the Spirit of God put me under the water and brought up a new creation.
The problem came about when the revival was over and there was no more water for those dry times in life and no one to explain the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the word of God, or anything that pertained to the things of God so I was spiritually drying up. But then the Lord brought me to this oasis called The River while I was on a journey in this dreadful desert called life without God and for years I struggled with my flesh to answer that altar call, but when I did I was so refreshed, so free that I knew my life would never be the same and I know that everyone that has had a touch from God, that no matter what happens they will fulfill their call even to the point of being a martyr. I’m so thankful and grateful for my Pastor Rodney Howard Browne as well as the staff that work alongside them. –Eric T.
This week during the broadcast was incredible! I was actually unable to make it for one of the nights because I had to work. While leaving work I had the opportunity to lead one of my coworkers to the Lord, and also pray for them to be healed of a cold. When I arrived home I was really fired up so I turned on the broadcast via revival.com and saw Pastor Jennifer talking about going to the next level. Her words were exactly what I needed to hear. I want to press in for more. I immediately changed out of my work clothes and asked my friend to drive to the River so I could work in the call center. Being in the call center is awesome; the people that call in are so hungry for God. I got to pray for salvations, healings, and baptisms in the Holy Ghost. All that stuff is great, but what’s even cooler is when you’re praying for people the presence of God is all over you. I was hungry for God before, now I’m even hungrier! Thank you Jesus!
Being here in the Bible school sometimes feels like being in another planet. Because it is easier to be Christian in this environment. At the same time we are being transformed daily as we grow in the things of God.
As I watch my heart and the motives behind my thoughts, listen to the Holy Spirit, God is pointing things to me. I need to grow more in knowing Him as my Father and let Him Father me.
Today as i was starting to work at the nursery as part of my work study, we watched one of (Rob Bell) Nooma’s d.v.d to start out with devotion. In the d.v.d he was talking about how the bowl in their kitchen table was full of junk such as, little pieces of metal, ball, coins, shoe laces ext. Telling how once he found a little ball in the bowl then asked around the household and nobody in the house knew where that ball came from. Sometimes I pick up things from here and there and then without questioning it for whatever reason, I kind of own them and keep them somewhere in my mind even in my heart. I need to remind myself constantly to think noble, godly and honest things. Also think things that would build others. So that junk thoughts won’t wonder around my thought life. It means to do some cleaning often. The d.v.d was also talking about not hiding our junk from God because He wants us to trust Him and nothing even the worst we could imagine will not make Him love us any less then before. Our God is wonderful….-Hicran M.
At beginning of the GAT I was afraid that it will be too much for me… RBI school , Ministry of helps, and services at every night. Very soon I realized that all we are on this same page. Day after day testimony after testimony, and service after service. I started be more encourage according to the vision that Pastor Rodney has. I am very honest and I believe that in my opinion I am not alone. But what I see right now? I see a new faces in the church, everyday call center is receiving more and more phones.
This is a living testimony how the Holy Spirit is moving in the River Church ,in Tampa, in the USA and all around the world. I believe that it is a global movement of the Holy Ghost power ad God’s presence. Personally I am more hungry and thirsty of the things of God. I deeply believe for breakthrough in my life. To get it I must be more persistent to the things of God, I want attend to services as much as I can and I have a huge expectations of the things that God has for me. I want it all , because I see right now after only a few meetings people’s life changed. He taught me that the touch of God, His presence and people are not this same. They are saved, healed and set free . Can’t wait to see more!-Marek P.
This Great Awakening Tours has been a phenomenal time for my development as a minister of the Gospel. I have been placed in positions where I am utilizing my gifts and talents for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God. One of the greatest things that sticks out to me is that this reminds me of the Book of Acts when it referred to disciples worshipping daily in the temple.The midst of their daily worship, while they were out in their normal day of living, signs and wonders would occur. I think about the lame man at the gate called Beautiful, how he was supernaturally restored and the same thing is taking place here in Tampa, Fl. We are worshipping daily in the Temple of God and going out on the streets and seeing signs and wonders take place. Just yesterday, I was on an outreach in the city in the downtown area together withwhere I met a homeless man, or at least he appeared to be homeless. I shared the Gospel with him along with 6 others; they all said the prayer of salvation. After the prayer the gentleman named “Harold” asked me to prayer for him, because he had been in pain for many years and wanted to be set free. I laid my hand up him and commanded him to be healed in the name of Jesus. I left to witness to someone else and you would have thought that no healing took place. But soon thereafter, “Harold” came running after me in excitement and joy declaring that he was healed by the power of God. He stated that “miracles are real”!-John H.
Pekerol III Just led a cashier at Walmart to the Lord, the whole time she could not get the gift card machine to add money to it from my bank card, the whole time as we prayed the soul winning script, Imagine that she kept on sliding the card many times they all failed and I kept praying then when we were done with praying it worked hallelujah Glory to God!!! – Great Awakening Tours
Debbie Jackson J.
My husband and I re-dedicated our lives and he was baptized in the Holy Spirit during the Sunday night service. I have prayed for him to experience the fire for a long time. Praise God! My 76 yr old Mother was with us and had a blood vessel burst in her eye earlier in the week and the Doctor said it would take 2-3 months to heal. Pastor Rodney Howard Browne prayed and touched Mom and her eye is so much better. We believe for a full healing on Gods time table not Man!!! Plant City, FL – Rodney Howard Brown.
During the great awakening services with him, I felt greatly impacted as I watched many lives get touched by the power of God. Some were being set free from addictions others from oppression. There were even individuals who came to see if the power of God was real and they got touched by the fire and filled with joy. In one of the services I had the opportunity to translate. It was really amazing to watch individuals walk up to the alter still listening to Pastor Evelyn and I translate. As I watch them attentively get touched by the power of God, it became a little difficult to translate. It never occurred to me that I was getting touched as I was watching. I was too busy trying to efficiently translate but my tongue got a little tied. Then Pastor Evelyn and Pastor Rodney Howard Browne came on time to take over (she’s the head of the Spanish ministry Fuego Latino). I came out into the foyer after translating the service and I couldn’t speak right. Some people came up to say hello and I hesitated because I felt I was like getting tongue tied again. Then I though maybe that I am a little drunk in the spirit. It was time to go home. I was trying to leave the parking lot but I missed the exit going out then I started laughing then I said “self I hope nobody saw that” but to my surprise my phone rang. It was my friend hysterically laughing “hahaha I saw that! Do you need to follow me out?” And I replied “yes” and I realized I was really drunk in the spirit. -Martha M.
Peter 1:3-9 KJV, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”
The Greek word “begotten” here is anagennao, which means “to beget anew”. It is translated “begotten again” in 1 Peter 1:3 and “be born again” in 1 Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.“ We, who are washed in the blood of Jesus, have been born more than once – once into our earthly family by our natural birth and the second time into our heavenly family, the family of God! The second birth is a spiritual birth. In John 3:3-8, Jesus told Nicodemus that unless one is born again – with a spiritual birth – he cannot see the kingdom of heaven. Nicodemus did not understand this at the time.The believer is being kept from sin as he walks in the light.
Man was created in harmony and union with God and also in God’s grace and favor. He fell from this position and the only way for him to get back into God’s grace is to be born again.
New Birth facts:
1. The New Birth is not a physical change, but a moral and spiritual one.
2. The New Birth is a change of heart, will, motives, desires, life and conduct.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 NKJV – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
3. We have a change of masters. (See Romans 8:1-4 and Romans 6:11-23)
Romans 6:11 KJV – “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
4.We are adopted from out of the satanic family into the family of God. (See Romans 8:14-16)
Galatians 4:5 KJV – “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
Ephesians 1:5 KJV – “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
5. It is not a coming into existence of the body, soul, or spirit, as in the natural birth, but it is our consecration to serve God and holiness instead of Satan and sin. (See Romans 8:1-13 and Colossians 3:5-10 and Galatians 5:16-26)
Romans 6:16 KJV – “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
Colossians 3:5-7 NKJV – “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.”
Galatians 5:16 KJV – “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
6. We are not begotten by the Holy Spirit exactly like Jesus, who is called the only begotten Son of God – there was only one like Him born into the earth -but it is a renewal in righteousness and true holiness of one who is already in existence.
Ephesians 4:23-24 KJV – “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Colossians 3:10 KJV – “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”
He also reads Psalm 51:10 KJV – “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
7. It is a change of nature, but not the coming into existence of that nature.
Romans 3:24 KJV – “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Titus 3:5 KJV – “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
8. A change of favor, a new standing before God. (See Ephesians 2:1-9 and Titus 2:11-14 and 1 John 3:8-10)
Ephesians 2:1 KJV – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
Romans 5:1-2 KJV – “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Titus 2:11 KJV – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
1 John 3:8 KJV – “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
9. A change of character, state and service. (1 Corinthians 13 and Titus 2:11-14)
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
2 Timothy 2:21 KJV – “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Titus 2:14 KJV – “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
10.It is a matter of choice. You had no control over your natural birth: conception, embryo, growth process, and actual birth. However, the very moment you are grown up enough to recognize that you are a sinner and when you repent and believe the gospel, a moral and spiritual change takes place.
Romans 10:9-10 KJV – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
The Ministers Conference 2010 left it’s mark on me with the testimonies of Overland Missions. The fact that the Lord loves people so much to send missionaries into the jungles and mountains to find them and let them know the love of God is so overwhelming.
These men and women may trek for days or weeks to reach just a few people however it shows the importance of each and every person to a loving God.
The theme song, “No Limits No Boundaries” is still playing in my head every day. I am so thankful that we serve a limitless God, one that can make all things possible to him that believes.
I have just been hungry. I’m so use of getting smacked every time the fire falls, like rolling on the for crying, but it’s like this whole camp meeting was just rest for my mind. It was just like a supernatural energy drink for my soul. It’s so funny because I keep on tell everyone that the bible says that God will give you rest and thats what happen to me. I was also told God, I wanna do AMT.
Not quite sure how I was going to do it. Then God told me to just relaxes and he was going to provide for me. Just to believe in him and he would take me.The it just dropped in to my spirit and it was as if I had to go.. I didn’t have a choice. I had to. When Phil from overland missions was talking about the people on sunday with the monkeys I was just like, God there are so many people out there in the world that want some of you.
And I want to reach them. I don’t care what it takes. It doesn’t matter to me as long as you use me. It was almost as if God was putting that hunger in me again for people over in different nations. I was so happy that I got to go to Ministers Campmeeting. There was really nothing like it! It really was no limits, no boundaries!