Last Friday Cathy and I ran a Bound 4 Life booth at the Atlanta Jesus Culture Conference. Cathy is the director of the Atlanta Bound 4 Life and a dear friend. Together we are fighting to see the decree of death overturned in our nation and for righteousness to be released. The Jesus Culture conference is put on by Bill Johnson's ministry in Redding, California. They have a school of the supernatural there were hundreds gather to grow in love for Jesus and contend for signs and wonders to break out in our land. They came to Atlanta to impart faith to the youth here. Before the night session of the conference we were sitting at the booth talking to some teens. A boy who was 11 years old or so, named Randall, came up to us and said hi. He had heard about our Think Fast movement and wanted to bring it to his middle school. Think Fast is a movement among high school students to contend for the overturning of Roe V. Wade. Every Friday they fast during lunch and pray for the ending of abortion in their schools. Randall's only in middle school but he came to find out about starting a chapter at his school. After picking up info on Think Fast, he looked at me with confidence and told me that his sister was going to get an abortion but he advised her not to and she changed her mind. That took me by surprise and I asked him to repeat himself and he said, "My sister is 15 and she got pregnant and was going to abort her baby. I told her that if mom aborted her she wouldn't be here today, so she shouldn't abort her child. And she listened and kept her baby." I was taken aback by his courage. Later a young white teenager came up and stood near Randall. Randall hugged him and told me that was his brother. Because they were different races, I assumed he meant "brother" to be a close friend. "He's my brother," Randall explained, "His parents have legal guardianship of me." "Oh," I said, "that's awesome, where are you guys from?" "We live in Birmingham, Alabama," he responded, and immediately I thought of The Call Alabama. Just a few months ago, I joined thousands who gathered in Montgomery for The Call Alabama to pray and fast for the ending of abortion, racial reconciliation, and healing for our nation. Now, here in front of me stood an answer to our prayers. In a state where racism has reared its ugly head, in a nation where the spirit of death has stolen our sons and daughters, and disunity has divided brothers - stands Randall. He is a testimony displaying the mercy of God and His love for this broken generation. Here he stands - a voice for life, a true witness of the spirit of adoption, a son of God. Meeting Randall brought hope to my heart. Knowing there are millions more like him is what fuels me to stand in the gap for our nation. Rescue the children Lord and raise up deliverers!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Meet our newest intern
I would like to take a moment to introduce the world to IHOP ATL's newest intern. Drum roll please...the one, the only, the mother of yours truly..Andrea Theresa Martin. Yes, ladies and gentleman, my dear mother has given herself to a season of prayer and fasting before
the Lord.
How did this happen, you may ask? I believe it was the plan of the Lord, His destiny for her from before she was even born.
My mother has known the Lord for many years and faithfully served and loved him.The majority of her working life was spent in Corporate America. The long hours, the labor, the interpersonal relationships and all they contain had taken quite a toll on her heart. She came to Georgia to visit me for a weekend to attend my graduation ceremony for the ending of my 3 month internship. I had been praying that the Lord would touch her heart while she was here. God did more than I could ever ask for. After a few short days in the house of prayer and this community, she knew she had to return. The Lord awakened her heart to pursue him in a greater way and she was longing to know him more intimately. She went home and in a matter of a month the Lord broke through every barrier and made a way for her to come here. She left her job, her home, and all she knew to travel to a unknown state, join a unfamiliar prayer movement, and learn things about God that she was unaware of.
She's been here for over a month now and the Lord is totally transforming her life. He is truly giving her beauty for ashes, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He is romancing her heart and awakening love in the deepest parts of her. She is literally jumping for joy. He is restoring the years the locust have eaten, and making her new. She is seeing her identity as a bride and basking in the love of the Father. Everyone here loves her, many of the young adults affectionately call her "Momma". I've been in the prayer movement for a little over 2 years now and I never imagined my mom would be joining me in it. It's truly a gift from the Lord for the both of us.
After her season here she plans to move to Europe to continue serving the Lord through missions work. The Lord told her that has set her on a journey and there is no turning back. It was unexpected, not planned, not even imagined. It is a testimony of the Lord's goodness and the truthfulness of his word. Surely, he knows the plans for us, to give us a future and a hope. My mother's hope has been restored and her future is bright and glorious.
the Lord.How did this happen, you may ask? I believe it was the plan of the Lord, His destiny for her from before she was even born.
My mother has known the Lord for many years and faithfully served and loved him.The majority of her working life was spent in Corporate America. The long hours, the labor, the interpersonal relationships and all they contain had taken quite a toll on her heart. She came to Georgia to visit me for a weekend to attend my graduation ceremony for the ending of my 3 month internship. I had been praying that the Lord would touch her heart while she was here. God did more than I could ever ask for. After a few short days in the house of prayer and this community, she knew she had to return. The Lord awakened her heart to pursue him in a greater way and she was longing to know him more intimately. She went home and in a matter of a month the Lord broke through every barrier and made a way for her to come here. She left her job, her home, and all she knew to travel to a unknown state, join a unfamiliar prayer movement, and learn things about God that she was unaware of.
She's been here for over a month now and the Lord is totally transforming her life. He is truly giving her beauty for ashes, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He is romancing her heart and awakening love in the deepest parts of her. She is literally jumping for joy. He is restoring the years the locust have eaten, and making her new. She is seeing her identity as a bride and basking in the love of the Father. Everyone here loves her, many of the young adults affectionately call her "Momma". I've been in the prayer movement for a little over 2 years now and I never imagined my mom would be joining me in it. It's truly a gift from the Lord for the both of us.
After her season here she plans to move to Europe to continue serving the Lord through missions work. The Lord told her that has set her on a journey and there is no turning back. It was unexpected, not planned, not even imagined. It is a testimony of the Lord's goodness and the truthfulness of his word. Surely, he knows the plans for us, to give us a future and a hope. My mother's hope has been restored and her future is bright and glorious.
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