Knitting Hearts Gathering on September 14, 2019
Written by Sue Pellum Sanders
A wave of excitement and the sweet aroma of the Holy Spirit welcomed guests into the fellowship hall at Betheseda Church of God. Guests and friends fellowshipped together and ate the scrumptious brunch prepared and served by the hospitality team. After Joyce Sanders welcomed everyone and prayed, she shared a brief testimony of an encounter she and Linda Campbell had at IHop. They were able to witness to a waitress who then accepted the Lord. The theme for KHM this year is Arise, Shine, As You Go. God blessed them as they followed this pattern of witnessing. The group prayed the scripture declaration together, and Bert Cousar blew the shofar. Taylor Smith led us in praying a Bible confession from Isaiah 55: 8-9. Hadessa Flag Team encouraged us with a flag worship praise dance to the song “Every Tribe.” The song proclaimed that the battle is not man’s, but it belongs to the Lord. It admonished us to get ready because the King is coming.
A mother/daughter worship team, Kristin Williams and Marley Cribb, led us in praise and worship beginning with “Broken Pieces,” a modern-day remake of “Amazing Grace.” This song made declarations that flowed with today’s overall theme. All our broken pieces are mended, and we are made whole. We’ve been set free. We once were lost, but we have been found. We witness the love in His eyes and rejoice that He has set His treasure in earthen vessels. “Great Are You, Lord,” exalted the One who gives hope and restores every heart that is broken. We poured out our praise to the One whose breath is in our lungs. “In Christ Alone” proclaimed Him, the One who took on flesh– as our hope, solid ground, light, cornerstone, our comforter, our all in all–Chris alone.
Carolyn Williams gave examples of recent times when our offerings have blessed others who were grieving or sick; she then prayed the offertory prayer. Pastors Devon & Ramelle Coker, Rev. Steve Scroggs, and their team just recently returned from a mission’s trip to Uganda, a country in East Africa. They each shared how this trip to East Africa impacted and changed their lives.
Devon Coker played a videoclip of components of the Empower Africa Missions 2019. Devon spoke of the monumental way that God led him to begin going to Uganda two years ago. Steve Scroggs invited him to go with him to ordain pastors. Devon went although he did not know exactly why he was going. While Devon was videotaping, the power of God was so strong that one of the guards was overwhelmed and completely perplexed as to what was happening. The power of God broke forth. In the atmosphere of praise, God healed the guard. A lady prophesied over Uganda. Bishop Naboth asked Devon, “Have you not discovered your purpose for being here?” God spoke to Devon declaring that the power of God that he was witnessing there was coming to South Carolina.
The stories shared by the team members reminded me of children who have not lost the wonder of the moment. Louie Salyards was so excited as he shared the amazing story of provision, God providing the $2500 and two weeks of pay for his leave of absence from work. Louie was overwhelmed with the reception of the church in one of the villages in Uganda. One and half miles before arriving to the village, individuals lined the sides of the road waving eucalyptus leaves to welcome them. Louie declared, “Is anything too hard for God?” Louie found out that the individual who gave him the money for the trip was diagnosed with terminal cancer, but recently God has miraculously healed him.
Ramelle Coker recalled that the entire team cried as the church members waved the eucalyptus leaves welcoming them. She told of salvations, words of knowledge, healings, and the miracle of the beautiful rainbow. They prayed for a woman who had been mute for forty years. She uttered some sounds and before the end of the meeting she could speak. Apples will always bring images of joyous children. The children had never seen apples before. The team distributed 1200 apples and also suckers.
Liz Goerski was captivated with the children. Although she prayed for many people and saw healings, she loved ministering to the children and teaching them about power and authority. She saw children’s eyesight being restored and taught the children to pray for others. She used open doors as teaching moments. Most of the Ugandans live in extreme poverty. Liz gave her healing notes to the bishop, and he has testified that healings have occurred. She exclaimed, “They have such a hunger in Uganda to learn. The little bit that we gave them they took it and ran with.” Liz and several other team members also got to speak on the radio station, and there were three million listening. Liz recalled that when she was sixteen, she had a dream that she would one day go to Africa. The children in Uganda celebrated when she told them this story. Liz proclaimed, “They supersede us in their honor for each other.”
Steve Scroggs reminded us of the power of declarations and that we as a group had made two declarations earlier. He explained, “Declarations will set us free.” He, too, recalled the wonder of the moment when he was preaching in Uganda, and the rainbow appeared. It was just reassurance that God was there. Bishop Naboth felt that it was significant to their vision. They now have 400 churches in 7 nations. God is expanding around the world and across the street. The Great Commission from Matthew 28: 19, 20 instructs to go and teach all nations, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” God has given us all authority and commands us to go and make disciples. We must release the anointing. He spoke of people being depressed and the power of praise and said, “We can’t be depressed and praise at the same time. Praise will break the darkness. We must make declarations. We can put up our umbrellas and block the rains from God’s blessings. God’s presence is here. His healing is here for you.” He continued to instruct us with these guidelines: We need to recall stories of faith and tell our stories because they release the anointing. Take down the umbrellas of unbelief, doubt, and unworthiness. Declare. Receive the love of God. Break off the negative mindsets. There is so much more. He is limitless. In our minds’ eyes we must declare ourselves cleansed in the name of Jesus. Our image comes from Him. Receive the healing that Jesus purchased on the cross. Receive rivers of living water. Experience the presence of God. Steve spent the last few moments instructing us in receiving and giving promises and words of knowledge to ourselves and to others. The Uganda team members prayed individually over those who came forward for a greater anointing and for prayer concerns.
Attendees today welcomed and embraced the glory of His presence and celebrated in the astounding stories from the Uganda team members. Some felt the calling of the Lord themselves to go on a mission trip. All were encouraged to be conscious of the Holy Spirit’s open doors of opportunity here, across the street, or across the seas. We are called to make a difference, to share the One who can give hope.
Hearts United Women's Ministry 