Palm Sunday in Pattoki

Today began by visiting 3 new church starts in Pattoki. These very, very poor churches were birthed from a previous evangelistic campaign and 3 evangelists have taken the pastor roles. In the last 2 churches, we ordained the pastors & also 4 other elders in the church. We started this morning @ 8:30 and just returned back to our hotel now at 8:30 pm...a long day & haven't had our evening meal yet; it will be at 10-12 pm.

The churches today are in Muslim communities, so we were careful not to draw attention to ourselves, but upon entering every church, we proceeded through a welcome line of palm branches & rose petals!
Then we were honored again with the flower leis.2nd Palm Sunday Processional

In the first church this morning was a young man who began reading scripture to begin the service. David later told us this boy had been demon possessed in his last visit & had been delivered. He was now leading in the worship service! Not too many stories like that around Texas.... this was an incredible Palm Sunday! The following 3 video links will give you a glimpse from beginning to end. Pure Worship,
Palm Sunday Processional, Ordination by Night. Thanks to those of you commenting on the blog & remembering us in prayer; it is encouraging to know who is following. Tomorrow begins the second crusade. We are all physically & emotionally spent, but the yearning to see more of what we have already seen takes over daily.

2nd Service

There were approximately 10,000 people in attendance tonight. You can not see the back of the field from the platform, but every chair was full, people were standing on top of the walls & buildings near the field. And again God did what He planned.  I began singing Jesus Messiah, click here then there were testimonies, preaching and another incredible call to Christ.click here  At the end, we had a time to pray for the sick. God still heals! click here

First Service

Words are going to fail me as I try to describe our first crusade service. I am going to attach two YouTube links for you to view a couple of videos that will best explain some of what we saw.  After being escorted into the soccer field with guards & a drum processional, we were led on stage where we were all honored with flower leis & hats of honor. Notice the photos. All the precious Pakistani pastors were called up, old & young to place the leis & hats of honor on our heads....very humbling experience.


After at least 4 hours of exuberant worship, click here where most were standing & then sitting on the ground, the call for salvation was given at the end by David Burk.  No idea how many thousands were in attendance & responded, but it was more than I have ever seen, . click here

All this being done with guards on rooftops with rifles keeping watch!

Keep praying for God to protect us & allow us to be used how He wishes.  Tonight we will continue in the same place & go one more night before changing locations.

In Dubai

The 5 of us have made it to Dubai. Before we left DFW, the other gentlemen's UA flights were cancelled at the last minute & all had to be reticketed on Delta; which is where I was, so we all flew together; so a little bit of last minute panic....typical!
I was told by Nan Graham, a lady from our church, about the new Spirit Rising book by Jim Cymbala. I had been wanting to get this, but just hadn't.  I dowloaded on our Kindle & began to read the first chapter.......the whole chapter is about Pakistan! Coincidence I'm sure.  I will not ruin it for anyone.....just get the book & you will know some more about what God is doing & how to pray for the christian's there & for us. Will try to update later when we arrive in Lahore. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ON PRAYING!

Preparing for Pakistan

For those of you already praying for me & the other four men on our way to Pakistan.....thank you.  We are preparing to leave this coming Monday, March 26 & will arrive in Lahore, Pakistan on Wednesday the 28.  We all covet your prayers & support for this opportunity to see thousands come to Christ.  I will try to update daily for those following us. This is one of the ad posters the local pastors created for the meetings!

Holiday Update 2011 - go to: www.a10s.org

20 years!.........

Honestly, what can be said about what God has done in us, through us & for us since we began this journey on Thanksgiving Day, 1990!? We just celebrated those 20 years with some of our closest friends & family here in Granbury on November 5. We glorify God for what He has done with a family that isn't even close to perfect, but just said "Yes" 20 years ago; and still saying "Yes". So as Dennis Jernigan wrote in one of our favorite songs, "For all that You've done I will thank You; for all that You're going to do...."

And today, we are answering this question from people the same way we did 20 years ago, "How much longer do you think you will be on the road?" The answer is at least 1 more year! So we haven't learned a better answer yet!

Our family has changed, our physical bodies have changed, our music has changed, our travel has changed, but God and our committment have stayed firm. We will begin our 21st year, ironically, at the church we left 20 years ago; First Baptist in Artesia, NM on January 8, 2011. Nothing like going to where we still call home, to begin another decade of itinerant ministry. And they are without a worship pastor presently...there are days when our physical tiredness says sign us up! But until He writes on our wall, just as he did in 1990, we will stay in our place.

God never fails. He has been faithful & we know He can't stop being faithful; it's His character. And He has blessed us with faithful partners along the way. Thank you for remembering us as we live week by week, year by year as a family on the road. Our comrades, fellow family music evangelist's have slowly been leaving the road, so we are at present, one of the only COTBE music families still full-time in the state of Texas. It is a different day, but we still thank God for the incredible opportunities that await us.

For the present we are HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Realizing that this December is precious & will not come again. Brooke is a senior and will be leaving for college next fall. Josh is home for a short period before his schooling resumes. Tammy & I just celebrated 25 years of marriage and a big birthday #!&#$)*(@^$!) A lot to still celebrate & be thankful for. If you are near Dallas/Ft. Worth, come see us! We are actually home!!
Merry Christmas to you all.