Dick Eastmen, First Love, Rocky's

Ahhhh... the Rocky Mountains. It was good to get some time in the crisp cool air of Colorado. This was our next stop after our hard-to-beat time in Kansas City. We arrived at the York household, and were greeted by Dad, Mom, David and Sonia (David's wife) York... we were blessed beyond belief, and truly felt like royalty - we were overfed and pampered, haha, but it was just what we needed halfway through. That home, what can I say? ...it's a place of rest, joy, and the presence for anyone who spends a length of time there.

We were encouraged to meet with Dick Eastmen, founder of Every Home for Christ (EHC), and author of the recent Purple Pig. He lived in the Springs, and Lou Engle and Bob Hartley encouraged time with him. We got to work right away to see if anything would work out, as he, like the rest of the people we were meeting with, was busy. ...we were on standby for the time being.

We started by meeting with Evan, the business/missions pastor at Jubilee Fellowship Church. He was an amazing, humble man that shared with Chris and I some revelation about Elijah and Elisha that he had received. There need to be more Elisha's who aren't content with the Christian experience so far. Good word. Later that evening we went to the evening service and met up with Kat Hobin and Chris Chun, who have been hanging out in Estes Park with Kat's family. So good to be with more Awaken family for a bit.

The next day we all had the amazing experience of going to Pastor Sun Hui East's church 'First Love Harvest'. Charismatic and fiery, Pastor shared a sermon of returning to holiness. There was definitely a sense of community and love in the environment there, and Pastor even took time to prophesy and speak encouragement over many of the team members. That evening, some went to Estes Park, and I was able to meet with Dan Baumann, who was speaking at the Spring's base. Friends are a blessing.

The next day were were invited to Korean food with pastor and her assistant (who are Korean), and, let's just say, some of us may have experienced a little deliverance through the Pastor's words to us! ...that evening we were invited to go back and share at the First Love Harvest Church service, Andrew gave a word on the importance of waiting on the LORD, and Matt played a couple songs to help usher people into the presence. Pastor gave a word afterward, it was a powerful night. The church gave a VERY generous gift, and we were once again amazed at the LORD's provision on this trip. Korean food after the service at 10 pm as well!

We were able to get a hold of Tanner, Dick's assistant, and he was able to set up a meeting (with lunch!) for us. We made our way up to the Spring's, and arrived at EHC's headquarters at 10:45, we were able to sit in on a staff meeting where Dick gave a word. Immediately after, we were able to meet with him for lunch in one of the conference rooms. It was incredible to hear how his prayers, along with those with him in agreement, helped birth many other movements - Lou Engle and Mike Bickle look to him as one of their spiritual fathers! He shared with us the importance of prayer, to schedule time with the LORD, just like we would any other time. He told of a story of being in DC with other Christian leaders, he told the others he would have to leave at 4 for an appointment. Later in the meeting, the other leaders expressed frustration of being too busy to get much time in prayer. As they each went around and sympathized with each other, it was Dick's turn to share. When he was asked if he also shared in the frustration, while holding back tears, he said "no, that's what my appointment is at 4". Dick has made prayer and the secret place as much (if not more) as ministry or anything else in his day. Amazing!

...but that night was far from over... we decided to surprise the crew by taking them to Casa Bonita, a Colorado-must! (debatable).

We met Sarah-Jane Hobin, Kat's sister, along with the York's and went to the Mexican restaurant that included all the festivities of Mexico! (debatable).

After a night full of authentic Mexican fun! We left, but as we were praying for Kat, Chris (Chun) and Sarah, a couple walked by and asked if we were praying. We said "yes! would you like prayer?", and immediately the man lifted his hands and let us pray for him. The woman with him left as we began to pray over him. Though he was obviously drunk, we knew the LORD wanted to touch him. So Chris and Chun went to get him some food while the rest spent 25-30 minutes speaking the truth in love over him. At one point the man fell to his knees and repented for being an alcoholic and cried out for the LORD to help him. Erica was able to pray over the woman (his wife?) and she was also led to tears. What a day!!
The last day we felt to encounter God in the Rocky Mountains! We went to hanging lake for a hike to a beautiful waterfall... it couldn't have been better. We arrived at the top after 45 minutes of hiking to a light snowfall that set the mood perfectly... after taking it in, and standing in awe. We made our way back down, to the car, and back intoDenver. It was off to Texas the next evening for an all-night drive...

IHOP, Boiler Room, Favor

On May 7, 1999, the International House of Prayer Missions Base was founded by Mike Bickle and twenty full-time “intercessory missionaries” who cried out to God in prayer with worship for thirteen hours each day. Four months later, on September 19, 1999, prayer and worship extended to the full 24/7 schedule. - ihop.org

A gloomy, but warm enough sky set the scene as we drove from Tennessee to Kansas City. We had heard so much about things the LORD was doing in this place, and even tasted of it a little at a conference called Onething last year. More and more though, we've witnessed the missions and prayer movement converge, and in turn seen the release of power like never before. Missionaries, from the place of prayer and intimacy are being fired up to be His hands and feet.

Once again, we were blessed with housing, surrounded not only with walls and a ceiling, but with love and His presence. Christian Gonzales, one of the most intelligent, God-fearing people we've met, set up our housing, and more... he shared with us how God is leading him to some amazing revelation on Jesus as a the reference for truth. Ross and Amanda, currently serving IHOP, put us up and gave us meals... what amazing new friends we have made.

First stop was to meet with Bob Hartley. Jedidiah Hartley, Bob's son, invited us to a prayer time with His dad early morning shortly after arriving. Bob runs several businesses and raises up Hope centers with the intention of seeing cities raised up that love God well. Bob is a prophetic voice in this generation, and had words of accurate encouragement for each one of us. "8-31 man..." he began as he talked to me. At first, there was a little confusion, until I realized

Bob had nailed my birth date on the head. He continued to accurately share with us the testimony of Jesus' hearts to us. While there are still words that we're not sure about (and need to prayerfully consider) we were aware of the Holy Spirit in our midst. After that we went to the Daniel Academy, the IHOP highschool, where the kids prayed powerful prayers, even singing in the Spirit, over us. We went back to the office to join Bob, and many other businessmen in the area for a time of seeking the LORD and thanking Him for His favor. (He does this every weekday morning).

The Boiler Room... another establishment birthed out of a prayer movement, the Boiler Room is a spiritual family, living to see every sphere permeated with the love of the Gospel. We sat down with Adam Cox and his friend Dave to hear about what the LORD was doing. It was so encouraging, and deeply challenging to see a community based around the presence of God living lives, and seeing the art culture reached. 4 floors of glorious community and people of prayer and brotherhood. We were prayed for, and Eli received some awesome words of her prophetic voice being realized.

Erica and the rest of us, had some amazing times of prayer/worship/intercession at the Prayer Room at IHOP. (I mention Erica because she pulled 3 all nighters - epic). The atmosphere was so inviting, we could have stayed much much longer.

We had the privilege of sitting down with Brian Kim, who is one of the leaders at IHOP. He shared with us thoughts on community, and helped us process a bit. Then went on to share about the end times, and how it's important to know where you stand on the issue. If we really are in the end times, how important is it we undertand the season we're in? We want to be like the men of Issachar.

We attended Bob Hartley's Champions of Hope meeting that he has weekly, and shared more prophetic words for our team. Chris Little is now Chris Big, and Matt is called to cities and countries with 'T', while Haley will be a revivalist in Sacramento, so much more...

Just when we thought things couldn't get any better, we get a call from Mrs. Engle (Chris had been in communication with Jonathan, who's currently taking a school in Kona), asking us when we would be able to come over to the house to spend some time with them. Unreal. Matt had a dream earlier that we would meet with Lou. While we were psyched out of our minds, the excitement was replaced with the reality that this was "just" another burning, Jesus-lover. We related with him so much as he asked us our stories and we shared thoughts on the next great awakening, and the moves of the Spirit. He and his wife finished by praying over us, and releasing mantles of prayer and fasting... lookout. What a day. What's crazy is we would have kept hanging out, but we "had" to go to the Hartley's for dinner!

All in all... KC is blowing up - the blazing inferno of God's love is ravishing continuously and systematically through the body. We've received so much from the LORD during our few days there, I pray that we will never forget those moments.

TennesSEE

(Wallace, getting a little Jesus-time in before leaving Memphis)

After encountering Ecclesia and the Father Heart of God in Hamilton, AL with people at the Ramp... we made our way to Nashville. Along the way we've been going deeper in our van conversation/discussion, passing the levels of a superficial community that the enemy would love to hinder us from entering, and engaging hearts. Exposing little things that annoy us, and becoming more and more knit together... we're also picking up some super awesome bumper stickers for Wallace along the way. I guess that's just partof the experience though (Thanks Erica and Little, you keep things...interesting!)

When we got to Nashville, we once again were blessed through the little

relationships via YWAM to get plugged into cozy housing. 3 different houses provided rest for Jesus-nomads... and we are grateful. A girl named Shelly, who years ago was in YWAM, resides in Nashville, and serves her local community and church - she hooked. us. up. Thank you.

I got a text not too long ago from Amy Sollars encouraging me to try to meet up with a pastor/worship leader named Chris Dupree. After texting back and forth, he agreed to meet us over Jason't Deli and enjoy a meal with us. We were truly blessed by his encouragements to us to remember often the nearness of Jesus. He shared his story of an encounter with Jesus smiling at him and holding him close - shattering and simultaneously restoring him to right standing, and how his life has never been the same. He was Mike Bickle's right-hand-man for years, and now helps pastor a church in Toronto, while living in TN. He shared with us how the Kingdom IS at hand. Again reaffirming to us the reality that we don't have to pray from an anxious standpoint, worrying whether or not God will "come". Let's be aware that He has COME.

The rest of our days near Nashville were spent in a hotel in Franklin (thank you anonymous donor for the much needed time at a hotel), where we traveled to Thompson's Station to meet with the Caleb Company. The Caleb Co. is run by Todd Mcdowell and was founded by Don Finto... they carry God's heart for Israel and poured out so much perspective (and what we've really seen as keys) as to how God longs for Israel to be redeemed. Oh! How grateful we are to be grafted into the promise to the Jewish people! We never want to take that for granted. Don proclaimed, by memory and heart, the words of Paul in Romans 11, bringing them to life. How, for so long, had these Scriptures seemed to escape our attention?? While it's safe to say that all of us are wrestling with our thoughts that were stirred within us that day, we definitely are more keenly aware that the redemption of those He originally covenanted through Abraham with is going to be a blessing to the rest of the world! We had some amazing times of laughing and enjoying one another with those at the Caleb Co. and felt immediately "grafted in" to their community... praying and prophesying over one another. What a blessing!

After this, it was time to move on... after praying we felt right about going to Memphis for the day and connecting with Rachel Sumner and Jonathan Brown. Both YWAMers... We found the house in Memphis, and yet, again, were blown away by the hospitality (let's go America!) that received us. A food basket and rooms awaited us, we CHILLED. As we went downtown with the above mentioned, we got to see one of the most beautiful sunsets from one of the coolest places in Memphis - fellowship. Beautiful. It's like God's arms were wrapped around us as He orchestrated a beautiful night (including getting the...most interesting of our bumper stickers yet!). Both Jonathan and Rachel are believing for God to breakthrough in greater ways in Memphis. Yes, LORD.

It's been a blessing connecting with friends and families along the way, Shelly, Marc and many others, both to encourage and BE encouraged. God is moving.

If I could keep going with all that we've learned, it would take the rest of my day, so I'll leave it at that. Continue to pray that the next half of our trip is led by the Spirit and not our flesh. There's many more lessons to be learned, and God knows we need His grace and strength to be able to get all that we're meant to out of this. We also desire to be vessels, anywhere, anytime, Father, we are available.