I read "3 KINGS"...

Again this weekend. It only takes about an hour to read (so non-readers this one's for you!). It was better than I remember it being. Both Jeff and I have copies, so we will begin passing them this weekend. This is a must read friends!

A TALE OF 3 KINGS...

For any and all who have ever experienced what we call "church conflict," there is a book called A TALE OF THREE KINGS: A study in brokenness BY Gene Edwards. that must be read. You can get it at www.amazon.com and in one area I found it for less than 3 dollars (http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Three-Kings-Study-Brokenness/dp/1414321759/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219798300&sr=1-2) which is dirt cheap. I wish we could order the whole church copies but for now you can read a chapter by clicking HERE. And here is a quick online plug...

"Many Christians have experienced pain, heartache and loss at the hands of other believers. To those believers, this book offers comfort, healing and hope."

Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns -- August 21, 2008:

Breaking through to a new level of destiny, both spiritual and physical, will require your focused attention. Quiet your mind and emotions so that you can discern My presence and voice that will guide you into this new realm of experience. Do not allow the lies of the devil to get you into fear. You are nearly through this long season of transition, but it will take an inordinate amount of strength and energy to push through. Be strong and resolute as you press on. Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Prayers are starting to pull things together...

To begin:
We've been praying as a church against the strong spiritual attack that has come upon our church. Not all is clear.. yet, but we are beginning to receive confirmation from those with the strong spirit of discernment both in Detroit and here in Ohio. What I am about to write is not just the words of one person, but the echoes of several who have been praying hard over the past week. There is more to come, but here's a beginning.

A year ago:
We moved into our facilities in Morrow. When we moved in, many of us were so excited and blessed to be worshipping there and we felt like we were joining with a great spiritual heritage of worship that had been in that facility for over 100 years. This was very true, but what is also true is that there has been a history of darkness in that facility... a history of sin... and on some level we have partnered with that sin as well. We have partnered with some of that darkness that is in that place and it needs to be beaten in the name of Jesus.

During the past year:
We have lost repeatedly many of our core members of the congregation due to this darkness. Whether they know it or not, they were singled out by the evil one... then they were isolated in some way... they have been taught in their hearts that the Orchard was not the place for them anymore... and slowly they left the church... mentally, spiritually and eventually physically. I say this to point out how satan has targeted servants of the community... these families leaving has broken our hearts.

Fastforward to this week:
As we have prayed, these things have become clear (1)Satan is trying to break relationships and community within the church (2)his major strategy has been to divide and conquer. this has taken place a lot by getting people involved in teaching/leading (especially kids ministry) and isolating their hearts (3)the spirit of confusion is very present in our church (4)the spirit of impending doom is high in the leadership (5) the spirit of loneliness is rampant in our hearts.

On a personal level:
Corrie and I can echo all of these things. We have felt confused and lonely for many months now. Everytime a friend or family of friends has left it has gotten worse and worse with us. We have taken things very, very personally and are heartsick. We have just wanted to pack up and leave town...

I tell you this because we want to be completely honest with you. I tell you this because some of you have felt this way. I tell you this because others on the staff have been praying about the same things. I tell you this because some of you are in the process of leaving OR have begun leaving in your hearts AND some of you have already left.

NOW?
**keep praying friends
**keep persevering
**FIGHT

One strong word we received from a dear one...
"Moses is dead. Now is the time of Joshua. Now is the time to fight."

In the name of Jesus, fight friends.

We need prayer warriors...

Hello friends,
What I'm about to ask for is outside the box of some of you. Open up your hearts on this one and PLEASE join us in the effort. During our "prayer chair" time on August 10th, one of our own felt God telling her to pray for our church building, our leaders and our protection. She took last monday and walked the grounds of our church both inside and out praying over our property. Also last monday, a women's prayer group was meeting in Detroit. A woman there (who has never been to our church) received a vision of the Orchard's building with a large chain wrapped around it from ground to roof. She told my mother-in-law that Satan had a strong hold both on our facility and on Morrow itself. Finally, most of the people who we consider servants/leaders/supporters in the Orchard have been attacked in the past 6 months with one or all of the following: 1)addiction, 2)apathy, 3)burnout, 4)legal attack, 5)job loss, 6)financial irresponsibility, 7)lust, 8)anger/rage and more...

So, what are we asking from you... we want you to replicate our prayers. Whether you are far from us or living right here in our community, we are asking for pray-ERS. We are asking for people to go physically to the building (at least 2 per day...don't have to be together) and pray. If you have a key, pray in every room (even the basement ones) as much as you can. If you don't, walk the parking lot and the grounds around the building. Feel free to do both if able. We'd like to have people praying every up to August 31st. We have begun receiving further clarity on other prophecy that we received today, and we will tell you more when we know.

TO PRAY FOR:
**the bondage of Satan to leave our church building and Morrow
**for protection
**for Adam and Corrie, Matt and Ashley, Jason and Amanda as the staff
**for Jeff (and Rhonda) and Mike (and Dawn) as the rest of the board
**Let us know what else God leads you to/tells you please!

SIGN UP TO GO TO THE BUILDING...
Monday August 18 - Matt and Ashley Johnson, Scott Crouch
Tuesday August 19 -
Wednesday August 20 -
Thursday August 21 -
Friday August 22 - Barb and Al Jennings
Saturday August 23 -
Sunday August 24 -
Monday August 25 -
Tuesday August 26 -
Wednesday August 27 -
Thursday August 28 -
Friday August 29 -
Saturday August 30 -
Sunday August 31 -

We will, of course, take more than 2 per day. Adam is at the building periodically in the afternoons. Also, we welcome prayers both during services and sunday evenings. EMAIL ME BACK ASAP!!!! and forward this on to anyone in your world or anyone that we may have missed. We are going to put a notebook on the front door with a prayer log. Love you...ADAM

Things have to change...

Greetings,
If you consider the Orchard your home in any way, please make a point to be at services on Sunday, August 31, 2008. There will be a short worship service and then a meeting afterwards that will determine the future of our church’s meetings, leadership and location.

Time to pray everyone...

Alright, Corrie and I have found a home that we like. It will be a good investment, a good size for our family and lifestyle, a good location, and more. We will have to do some renovating, but that shouldn't be a problem after the 150 year old church we've been working on :)



SO NOW...

Time to pray hard friends that our home sells quickly and for the right price.

Thanks for your hearts friends.

Adam and Corrie

I feel like NOAH...

building a boat and the whole world is watching and laughing... and not helping.

Pray...