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.