Part 2 - CITY BREAKTHROUGH: FROM BUILDING AN ALTAR, TO APOSTOLIC STRATEGY

Cont’d from “City Breakthrough: Pastor Makes Himself Homeless and Builds an Altar”

“…somehow, under the weight of the day-to-day management of church issues, locked inside our church building, the real issues where lost people lived, was at a distance.”

One of the most significant things I noticed while praying and walking over those 3 days of homelessness, was that suddenly it felt like my eyes were open to the issues in our city surrounding me around every corner.

I noticed prostitution taking place I had not seen before. I saw the issue of drug addiction, alcoholism, idolatry and hopelessness hovering like a cloud over the land. Why hadn’t I seen these things before? After all, I wasn’t completely oblivious to our city’s challenges, having lived here all my life and pastored for nearly a decade at this point. But somehow, under the weight of the day-to-day management of church issues, locked inside our church building, the real issues where lost people lived, was at a distance.

At our church we preached and prayed about the issues, but seldom went beyond the church walls far enough to actually confront them in a way that would bring change.

One thing became clear during those three days of prayer in the city. Pastors must not lose heart when confronted by the issues of ministry in a region. You as a pastor, leader, or participant, probably have a great church. Do not fall into the trap of thinking your church is weak or small. Reality is the needs and issues within your city are great. Take heart! You are effective. Keep going.

As I was led in significant deep times of intercession and travail for the sins of our city over those three days, the list of issues to pray about grew larger and larger. I didn’t realize that God was using me to build an altar of prayer that would produce fruit shortly. However, I can truthfully say, there did come a point when I felt a release and returned home. This meant I could make it in time for our church’s All-Night Prayer meeting and share all I experienced. I could equip those present in a greater strategy of prayer for our city.

Dealing with the Strongman

Those three days on the streets of our city led to an incredible season of equipping our church in prayer strategy. We as a church started practicing our discernment in how to repent, and what to repent about in intercession. Only when we felt the burden of repentance lift on an issue, did we shift to rebuking, binding and loosing. Once the sins of the land have been repented of by key gatekeepers or a critical mass with authority like the Church, the Strongman’s armor “on which he relied” is stripped from him, making him completely vulnerable to the powerful spears and arrows prayed by the people.

Using this prayer strategy we easily removed the grip of the Strongman, finger by finger, until he lost his grip. Once a Strongman or principality is displaced from a region, it’s time to send the saints into the territory in a practical way. Then we take back the ground once held by the enemy, start ministries, reach the lost, occupy key leadership positions of influence and establish the Kingdom.

After this strategic season in our church of targeted prayer and intercession, a movement of training and equipping was launched. We began frequently holding three-day trainings called “History Makers Trainings.” In a relatively short time, not only did we see many of our church members radically transformed, but we saw tremendous fruit and influence multiply in their lives.

Reaching 250,000 people through apostolic strategy.

Due to the unusual fruit we were seeing from the trainings, we organized a collective group of equipped individuals into what we call “Society Small Groups.” We then began mobilizing them for city impact. These small groups became active in our community from the base of our local church. Through them, we watched God use what looked “small” greatly impact our city. These individuals saw amazing doors opening to them for the purpose of Kingdom influence in society.

It was a tremendous strategy to use small groups to bridge the gap between “the big church on Sunday” and our city communities during the week. Through this model, we reached close to 250,000 people both in our city and globally in just under two years. These strategic small groups of no more than twelve to fifteen trained people were considered the “Navy SEALs” for societal influence. These leaders went on to establish social programs and ministries in the community. Some pursued government grants and worked towards becoming major influencers in their sphere of influence and calling!

One woman started a program called, “Little Mister and Miss Tea Party.” Parents and their children came together for a tea party and were simultaneously taught etiquette, Christian values, and character skills. As the group grew, she was given the use of a building in the city free of rent. Eventually she was even given an office in the building, completely rent free.  

Aisha Francis created an incredible ministry impacting families in our community. Once her community project was taking shape, she invited the city councilmen, mayor, representatives from the local university, and many other key people to present her ministry “Project Restore FIBI”. The program helps rehabilitate families impacted by incarceration. Both secular and Christian leaders attended the event. Aisha successfully gave a strategic presentation that was like an unveiling to the community. Her program is now recognized because of this initial event. Aisha isn’t only having extraordinary influence in the community, but her development has reached global proportions. She has spoken from many stages and has had influence even beyond her initial project.

Patrick Flontek began giving leadership in two “senior’s churches” and started a program called “Budding with Seniors.” In this program the young generations meet with senior citizens to give them hope. Before starting the program, he mentioned he had not led a single person to Christ in the twenty years he’d been saved and attending our church. After starting the program, he led people to Christ almost weekly.

Donna Loback started attending City Council meetings, taking others with her. She often said, “Did you know we can have influence in laws that are passed? We just have to show up.” She started showing up with other church members and launched a ministry called “Project City Revitalization.” Since the Mayor approved it, she began chairing meetings with the Mayor and City Councilors and had the nativity scene brought back into the city.

City wide recognition.

I won’t soon forget the look on John Henry’s face, the City Mayor at the time of the launch of our strategy, when he found out there were only thirteen leaders from our church (at that time), making so much impact. The effects of those thirteen well-trained individuals had such incredible influence in the community that people thought we numbered in the hundreds. The city Mayor presented us with an award for our transformative work in the community.

One by one a domino effect began in our city. Our own church and ministries were not the only ones swept up in the wave of all God was doing. Other churches and other leaders began taking ground in our city for Jesus as well and many new ministries and ministry breakthroughs have happened.

From the media to becoming the Mayor.

There was a man named Dan Carter who ran a city-wide television program called Chex TV. One day while driving down the main road our church is on, he felt prompted to turn into the church parking lot. He got out of the car and walked into the church office. When he came in, he requested to speak with my father, who was the Lead pastor, and said, “I am here because I believe it is the right time now for our city.”

My father had the great privilege of leading Dan to the Lord in his office. Not long after God began using Dan Carter in remarkable ways! He started attending our church regularly and helped support the various ministries taking place in the community. Dan Carter went on to become a City Councilor and eventually the Mayor of our city!  

Our story is a real case study for the power of strategic prayer and intercession coupled with organized action once the Heavens are opened over a city. Here are just a few of the powerful testimonies that came out of this great work.

When demonic powers are dethroned, the Kingdom of God comes and expresses itself through ordinary individuals.

Lidia Hristova developed a system to help patients with her medical equipment for the early diagnosis of diabetes. She applied the system and has now helped hundreds prevent the development of diabetes and serious heart conditions.

“I sat in church inactive for years waiting for my release into my calling. Since being equipped through History Makers Training, I created a curriculum for families that is now in over 36 countries and counting.”

- Marguerite McLeod-Fleming

“I created an athletics program teaching underprivileged youth character, and Biblical principles through basketball.”

- Dane Lai Cheong

“I launched a sports ministry reaching athletes, started a business, and became an ordained minister. My wife hardly recognized me and our marriage flourished!”

- Rohan Stoby

“I launched a platform called LE SEMEUR to help people redesign their life purpose. My wife started a program in Africa helping orphans find Christian families.”

- Jude Gbekou

“Our group initiates and organizes public meetings and peaceful protests against gender ideology deception and social justice issues in our country.”

- Emilia D.

“Our group created biblically based textbooks now used in the school system in our country. This is a miracle of reformation in the education sphere.”

- Maria Jambazova

“I started a project called TR3:Art Program, a program designed to reach and equip children through art. The response from the community has been amazing!”

- Jackie Henry

“We started a ‘Cowboy Church’ and launched a yearly evangelistic event called Awaken in Pennsylvania USA. We are now reaching our community and seeing the lost saved!”

- Josh and Ashley Shedden

“I received the tools of how to systematically create a curriculum to equip children. I created 72 lessons in just 4 months!”

- Pastor Judy Crummer

“Our Society Group founded a total rehabilitation program for Gypsy people, and I published my first book!”

- Pastor Encho Hristov

“I started an Addiction Recovery Center where addicts are being set free and becoming leaders!”

- Dima Karpov

“I started my own kingdom business!”

- Crystal Courtney - Elliott

“I launched a program for single women and single mothers, educating them in Kingdom principles.”

- Kate Hudson

“I founded ‘Church in the park.’ A unity outdoor evangelistic event that gathers hundreds to worship together publicly in our city. We plan to establish these in other cities.”

- Bruce Richardson

The gospel we have been given is a result-oriented gospel. We have authority from Heaven and prayer mixed with strategy changes things.