It seems that in life the things which we seem to enjoy the most last for but a fleeting moment, and so it was with our just completed odessy in Vanadzor, Armenia. Vanadzor, just a few short years ago the name had no meaning for me, but now after seven trips to Burning Bush Church, I can picture in my mind almost every mountain, valley, farm, and village on the journey from the airport in Yerevan up the mountain to the Glory that is Burning Bush Church.
Vanadzor, is not the ultimate location for a romantic getaway, nor is it the ultimate spot for tourism and fancy free living. But the city, ravaged by its Soviet occupiers several decades ago, nearly destroyed at the same time by a severe earthquake that some believe cost over 100,000 lives, and now shackled by 80% unemployment is the very location that the Holy Spirit chose for History MAKER II to take place. And why God chose this particular location, where 120 youth from 8 different nations assembled, will only be known in the months and years to come.
We came seeking "Fresh Fire" for our nations and for our own lives. We came with a desperation to meet God, experience revival in our hearts, and take it back to our own churches.
The vision for HMII, like most visions, shifted and grew as it developed, but one thing for sure didn't change, and that being our desire to seek the heart of God.
If you were to talk to each of the US delegates, you would probably get 19 different responses as to what the Holy Spirit did. If you were to survey the international delegates from Georgia, Latvia, Sweden, Holland, Jordan, Israel, and of course Armenia, you would get the same response. But let me try to delineate, from a pastor's perspective what I saw and experienced.
There was a re-establishment of hunger to worship God and not just go through the motions; thanks to our Armenian worship team, Dimitri Sparatel, Jeff and our international worship team. There was a renewed reverence for the authority of God's word and a hunger to experience it in a deeper way.One young man on our team was saved, baptised, and now headed for YWAM. Another young man surrendered his heart and bondages were broken, and he was gloriously filled. There was deliverance, healing, miracles in various situations and generational bondages broken. There was a powerful move of holiness and purity that swept one morning session as Margaret Shlabach spoke to the women and Dimitri to the men. All of these things plus too many more to mention added up to one thing: we came asking God to meet us in the least likely of all locations, and as the Holy Spirit always does, in the midst of our weaknesses He showed up in power and strength!
We knew, as a team, on the first leg of our journey, when we were grounded in Washington, DC with NO HOPE of flying to Europe let alone Armenia, because of a missed international flight that something special was happening. As we prayed all night and waited for the next morning to try ticketing again, we had no doubt that we were going to leave for our destination and destiny. When 18 tickets seemed to appear out of nowhere, we stood in awe of His majesty and knew that we were going to truly make history.
Yes, as the testimonies begin to filter in during the days, weeks, months and even years to come, what is not clear now will become vibrant in color and clarity as the mountain is from the plain. We drew a line in the sand in Vanadzor, letting the whole world know that Jesus is Lord over Armenia and that the "BURNING BUSH" which blazed for just a few short days in our midst , as we assembled together, will illuminate the lives and countries of those who were there and participated in shaping History for years to come.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
History Maker 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Remembering Wanda Wolfe
Thursday's funeral for Wanda was a very hard day for me personally, as well as for many who are part of High Mill. It is hard to say good bye to someone who so faithfully gave her life to serve so many. Wanda was an extraordinary young lady who, for approximately 20 years, was as she put it, "My Armor Bearer." Simply, whenever I was in need of prayer and support, Wanda always seemed to know. With that big smile and outstretched arms, she always seemed to make things better.
Wanda was not without her own pain and struggles, but they never superseded her desire to put someone else first. Somehow, seeing her occupy her favorite seat in church, always seemed to make me more assured that church was going to be great that particular Sunday, because Wanda was there, praying and always playing her tambourine.
As I think back over the years and all the people and experiences that have added to my life, none are more memorable than those which have shaped my destiny and have made me the person that I am today. Wanda was one of those people, and I would not be the person that I am today, if Wanda had not been praying for me.
How can one define "friendship?" For me , I have to go no father than what was modeled to me through Wanda's example of "servant love." The words which come to mind are loyalty, unconditional love, commitment, faithfulness, and encouragement. My office is filled with cards, scriptures, poems, pictures, and other "labors of love," which Wanda blessed me with; often when I needed them the most.
Proverbs 18:24 sums up what a true friend looks like with these words, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Wanda's love for me and you far superseded what this earthly life could offer, because her love came straight from the throne of God.
Seasons of time will come and go, and soon for most people, Wanda's name will be left for the ages and soon forgotten. But for those of us whose lives were touched, for one brief moment in time by her giving heart and spirit, we will never forget, because we have been forever changed.