Northern Michigan Revival Report

Continued from the home page ...

The meetings at the Cold Spring Christian Fellowship (formally Mennonite) with Pastor Brent Bontrager, was an absolute blessing.  The first time this church has ever had extended meetings i.e. Sun - Friday.  Pastor Brent had no idea how many would attend, but was blessed to see the crowds each night.  The church located out in the country about 10 miles from the nearest town was almost full most nights.  We saw God's glory descend each night and the joy of the Lord was very present. 

This is a church that 16 years ago began to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  At that time they would never have been interested in revival and in fact had heard about our meetings in the area in the mid 90's and would absolutely not attend.  But now they are so hungry for revival that many of the Mennonites were traveling long distances to be in our revival meetings in other cities.  

A sun. through wed. at New Hope Church, Prudenville, Mi, was quite an experience.  We saw many get refreshed and touched by the power of God.  The Lord healed a man from heart problems. He was due to receive heart catheterization on Tuesday but the Doctor could not find the blockage.  The Holy Spirit filled him with joy the night before and felt he had been healed then.  At least 3 or 4 people testified that God had set them free from depression. 

Our follow-up week in Grayling was an amazing blessing and many again were touched and blessed.  A lady received a healing from a suspected malignant thyroid.  The huge lump on her neck that had an ugly black mass showing on the ultrasound, just seemed to melt away. She went to the Doctor the next week and he could not find the lump.  She began to laugh and the joy spread to the other three people in the consulting room, including the doctor. 

He rubbed novacaine on her neck and inserted a needle into the place where the lump should have been to withdraw some liquid for testing.  She laughed even harder.  He could not understand why nova-caine would make her laugh as if she had received nitrous-oxide.   

I extended my stay a further week to accommodate the invitations of two more pastors who attended the meetings in the Mennonite church.  It was such a blessing to meet Pastor Rod and Nancy Wood in Mackinaw City. I did a Sat, Sun and Mon mini revival.  God poured out His glory each meeting and touched hearts.  A Jamaican man came sun morning and had an amazing encounter with God.  He lay on the floor for a long time weeping and laughing and trembling under the power of God.  

God touched 12 year old girl and filled with joy.  A few days later, she discovered her horse with a high fever and lying down in a field.  She started to pray for the horse and then fell on top of it and then the laughter hit her. A while later, she sat up and began to wave her hand at the horse and kept saying "have some more"   The horse finally got up totally healed.   (Now I know what some skeptics are thinking ... but here was a little girls faith in action to see her horse healed.  Jesus is the healer of sick bodies including horse bodies)

The other church, Bethel Church in Reed City pastored by Pastor Ed Wanner, an ex Amish man and his wife was an incredible experience.  He received the baptism of the Holy Spirit about 16 years ago and was shunned by family and friends.  He started his own church and they met in a little stone church for about 13 years.  

About 14 months ago, they moved into a 17,000 sq ft facility and the church has doubled since then.  God moved mightily each meeting and there were a number of rededications and salvations.  We were only supposed to be there for Tues and Wed night but the pastor felt to extend them to Sunday.  The Sunday night meeting was the highlight.  About 175 people came (on memorial weekend) and the rain of heaven fell.  The joy fell on people all over the auditorium. 

There were many re-dedications to Christ and two young unsaved and un-churched men came to the altar to receive Jesus.  It was an amazing meeting in 90 degree heat and high humidity, but people stayed through the four hour meeting.  This was a night to remember in the presence of God. I will be going back to Bethel Church the first week of July. 

This has truly been an amazing adventure. I am so reluctant to book to far in advance, as I am seeing the Lord take me where He wants me to be.  I  believe we are seeing an outpouring of God's presence in ways we have never seen before.  This is fresh and new and I believe the next wave of revival has started.  We have to be ready and willing to be sensitive to the voice of God and throw away our plans and allow the Spirit of God to lead us all the way. 

My plans and schedule are un-important.  It is time for a Holy Spirit led revival.   I encourage you to come and see what God is doing in this area.  Check back soon to see our next revival meetings. 

Audio from these meetings will be available soon.