The Cave, the Stronghold, and the Forest-Part V ( A Series by brother Joel)

(Continues from the last time)
Does the fear to fail hold us captive in our strongholds and are so afraid to venture out? This kind of fear may seem very reasonable and logical but it is lethal. You see, in Psalms it says that even though a righteous falls six times, he or she raises seven times.It is human to fail. That means it doesn't matter if a possibility of a failure is a part of the move we feel in our spirits compelled to make. If we never failed then we cease to be flesh and blood. Who knows you are going to succeed at the first move or not?! Many others have and so are those who failed. It is a known fact that many things that we enjoy their usefulness in today's world resulted from people who succeeded to invent them after multiple failures; some after 100 attempts, others after two attempts. What if the person who succeeded at the 100th attempt had quit at the 99th failure? We wouldn't have automobiles today! Telephones as well! I understand , we, Pentecostals, paint failing at something as a weakness but that is not Scriptural. We have given the enemy a tool to use against us.( I wish i had much time to get into details regarding this topic at this moment ; i pray i will some day be able to). What i have learned from many 'failures' i have experienced is that, i was never the same after the experience. I was a better person not because of my failure but rather my courage to do what i attempted to accomplish. There are no promises that a child of God will never fail at something but there are many promises that God will be with those who obey Him. This planet of full of people who have great ideas and opinions as to how things should be done but never made an attempt to act on them. God help us not to be in that lot!
God never fails but we do fail and He is well aware of that. We are so proud and try so hard to be sub-humans whom we're not.It is encouraged to walk, talk and think like people who are perfect but down deep inside we know we are not.It is all a facade! The New Testament never intended to imply that 'we should be PERFECT as our Father in heaven is' but rather 'we should walk in maturity as Christ did'. I will never forget an old man who has been used by God to heal many people, he said he has no recollection at what point people started to get healed after he prayed for them. He believes it must be after he prayed for more than 100 people and none of them experienced any healing. He kept obeying the word of God in Mk. 16.Thank God he did not give up! One time i was invited to preach in a certain small church and in after much preparation to my disappointment the service was canceled after my arrival at the church. I was really discouraged; not in anyone, but my self. I asked God what is wrong with me that i was completely clueless that i was not going to preach that day.I told myself if i was spiritual enough i should have discerned in spirit and would have known ahead of time that it was going to be canceled. I felt like a failure.However, one day it down on me that i am a spiritual being who is still housed in this house made of flesh and blood. I am not Mr. Omniscient. I am limited and feeble.I am not all-knowing. God is though and that is enough. I can trust Him. Time will come that we will be freed from this body but while still in this world we are limited and failure at some times is an avoidable. There is no need to stay in the stronghold because of fear to fail.We must learn quick from our failures and forget them. This is the only 'good amnesia'.
To be continued next week...

Thus says the Lord...for real?-From the Teaching Ministry of Bro. Timothy Kyara, in UK

“…Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world…” © 1 John 4:1, NIV, italics and emphasis mine

An 1872 experiment by Heinzmann (later corroborated in 1875 by Fratscher) demonstrated that when a normal frog is placed in a cold water and temperature suddenly raised, the frog would leap out. But when the water is very gradually raised the frog would not attempt to escape. One source from 1897 says, "…when water temperature was raised at a rate of 0.002°C/s, the frog was found dead at the end of 2½ hours without having moved” (Sedgwick, William, July, 1888)

It is said the most dangerous kind of false teaching (or heresy) is that which comes from your trusted everyday spiritual leaders, gradually moving away from the truth…the reason is simple, you don’t see it coming as it comes from the spiritual authority you have learnt to trust, and it comes so gradual you don’t realize, question or doubt until it is too little too late. My point is, no matter who speaks to your life, learn to measure it against the word and the Holy Spirit inside you.

JUWAKWATA REVIVAL MISSIONS ( jrmissions.com)

We would like to inform you that we have developed another site, namely, jrmissions.com in order to meet other needs. Please take a moment to check it out. Thanks. Continue to be blessed!!

The Cave, the Stronghold, and the Forest-Part IV ( A Series by brother Joel)

Unless the Lord builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat-
for He grants sleep to those He loves.
The Psalm 127:1,2(N.I.V).

(....continues from last week - The Stronghold)
Since then, we never saw the gang do that any more. I wonder if they were still hanging around the same place they used to some of them could have been killed together with the guy who was gunned down. Only God knows!!
But for me, i am left with a bitter -sweet feeling. The reason is, after the incident with those kids my anger was replaced with compassion. Those kids seemed to be wondering around just like sheep without a shepherd. It is very possible most of their parents are busy chasing after the dollar while they are left clueless of what their kids are doing in their absence. No adult is willing to step out and give them direction in life. The youth are wolverine and taken by every wind. They don't know how to live,thus, are manner-less, devoid of understanding, no regard to human life. They can kill without hesitation. It really moved me and i and my wife begun to pray for them. We still do today.
However, God prompted my heart to go out there and share with them the Gospel. I kept procrastinate until the murder happened. I am left wondering if i did obey the Holy Spirit if this guy could have been still alive today?! His picture still burns so strongly in my heart. I am intending to make u to it next year when winter ends and the kids frequent the outside.
But why didn't obey? Because i didn't want my step out of my place of safety. My stronghold. David didn't want to leave his stronghold.It took God to send a prophet to go and rebuke David to leave the place ( V.5).
Are we so satisfied with what we have and where we are at in such a way we don't hear God's voice for us to make a change? Are we afraid of the known so we would rather stay where we are and do what we do than obeying God? My friend as we read above anything we put our trust in besides God and His word is prone to fail us. It may not seem so at the moment but trust me time will come that we will. What is it that we need to change but are scared. Does His Holy Spirit prompt your heart to go to mission field and serve him full time but are worried about provision? Is it new business but we intimidated by the unfamiliarity? Or is He telling you to speak with someone about Jesus but are worried how he or she will respond? Are we afraid of giving to God's work or according to His leading because our savings provide us the security we need? We doubt God as the result!! We don't want to leave our stronghold!
.....to be continued next week

The Cave, the Stronghold, and the Forest-Part III ( A Series by brother Joel)

The Stronghold.

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab,"Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until i learn what God will d for me?"So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the STRONGHOLD.
BUT the prophet Gad said to David," DO NOT STAY IN THE STRONGHOLD.Go into the land of Judah.( 1 S 22;3-5a)
Stronghold is a place of safety. Two strongholds come to my mind, the city of Jerusalem and coastal fortifications of the Germans during the WWII. The strongholds provide protection from attacks and are usually built consisting of elements that are either natural or man made or both in many cases. The original city of Jerusalem is naturally fortified because it is built up high on a hill.It was so safe there in such a way the Jebusites, who were the natives, mocked David's troops who were surrounding them, believing that it was not humanly possible for any one to conquer the city.( 2 S 5:6-16). Fast forward to 20th century, the Germans had fortified the coasts of Normandy and others to the point they had no doubt no military on earth could penetrate them, the Wikipedia put it this way," Omaha was also the most heavily fortified beach, with high bluffs defended by funneled mortars, machine guns, and artillery, and the pre-landing aerial and naval bombardment of the bunkers proved to be ineffective." One thing to keep in mind is the fact that besides people putting their 100% trust in the strongholds, eventually, the stronghold gave way to foreign invasions. David's garrisons did take over Jerusalem and the Jebusites were brought to submission. So did the German strongholds failed to seal them from attacks from the Allied Forces who, despite heavy causalities, conquered Normandy and thus set off a series of events which resulted in the loss of war by the Germany.

From the above examples, one can easily see that while man-made strongholds can provide security for people temporarily, a 100% trust in them is an illusion. No one is safe in this world. No place is safe either. It is true that there are places that are less volatile than other but still not 100% safe. We can spend years and lots of money, sacrifice our time for our family and fellowship with other believers in order to build strongholds in our lives which we believe will guarantee security and still end up as vulnerable as a sheep before its slaughters.
In 1 S 22, David had found a stronghold in Moab which he could live and also keep his family and followers safe.We, believers, do have our own strongholds which provide cover for us. It could be a job, a family, a network of friends, money, a place or even a church. These things give us reason to feel comfortable, secured and free from harm. I have been leaving in an area where there have not been a homicide in about a decade. A good reason to feel no fear for murder. However, a few weeks past a 21 years old guy was gunned down- gangsta style. Currently, there is still a make shift memorial for the guy. I believe i have seen the guy about twice while driving. I for sure know one of his friends who told me he was with the guy just two hours before he was gunned down just few feet from his residence by a road. When this happened all sense of security in the neighborhood flew out of the window. No body trust anyone because the murderer(s) are not yet known and the motive behind the homicide is unknown. My neighborhood is no longer my stronghold!
It was just few months a go before this incidence while driving with my friend in the Lord, reverend Jonathan Senkipen from Liberia, i had a confrontation with a group of youth who had taken over the main road in such a way drivers were forced to via the opposite side in order to pass through. This happened just yards away from were the guy was gunned down. I took my stand and asked nicely the youth to clear the road but my request got them so mad,they refused to move and surrounded my car insulting us and challenging us to step out of the car in order to fight us.I refused to back off and called police immediately because tension was escalating. The kids did not budge either so i told them we are not leaving until the police come. I couldn't tell if they were not carrying any weapons but i knew in my heart i was doing the right thing, regardless of the threat. Slowly the gang started to clear off, i presume in fear of facing the police.
..............To be continued next week.

Prayers for Final Exams and Service

Please remember in your prayers the students in Tanzania who are currently taking Final Exams. We need to pray for their good health, sound mind, great memory and peace of mind. Also, keep mentioning this year final service that will be held on the 27th of this month of November.

From the Teaching Ministry of Bro. Timothy Kyara, in UK - Now Visiting U.S.A)

The Disease to Please!
“…am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ…” © Gal 1:10, NIV italics and emphasis mine

Dr Harriet Braiker (2001) wrote the New York best seller titled ‘The Disease to Please’ in which she shows how and why people with disease to please are manipulated (used) and abused…Little do we realize the ‘price’ we pay to stay on the ‘good side’ of everybody, not wanting to ‘upset’ anyone.

Paul, in the above scripture, says if he were to please people he would not be a servant of God. If one is ridden with the disease to please, one is never free to be and do what God created one to be. This doesn‘t mean you are reckless with people, but it means God’s approval takes priority over and above all.

The Cave, the Stronghold, and the Forest ( A Series by brother Joel)

Continues from last week...

God Cave:
God put people in a cave.. Yes, you are reading right that God can have something to do with a Christian, washed in the blood of Jesus to be in a cave. When reading to the previous chapters before chapter 22, it was God who sent Samuel to anoint David to be a replacement to the renegade king Saul. Some God let them be thrown into a den of lions (Daniel 6), another one banished to a rocky island of Patmos (Revelations 1) and others lost everything (Job).
A child of God must pray and be discerning enough to understand what is the nature of his or her cave. If it is purely RAP- rulers,authorities, principalities, behind the situation, he/she has to exercise his/her authority over them( please read brother Timothy's article on the authority of the believer in his blog light2mypath.blogspot.com).

Since the cave experience is not comfortable in most cases, a desire for an instant change is naturally expected and understandably so. However, when God allows His children to be in a cave, the child of God has to keep in mind three important truths.First, God loves His children so much that it is only when it is for the benefit of His child (specifically) or of the Bride of Christ-the Church as whole (generally/the big picture) that He allows the cave experience (Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11). Secondly, God is pure and holy and so are His motives. He can never do bad, harm us or reject His children. As a parent i know i will never harm,hurt, think evil over my children or let anything hurt them. Now, if i, in a fallen state, can not do these things, how much more is God?!! Thirdly, He is there present in everything we are going through even if our emotions, feelings and mind suggests the contrary.
Two factors which moves God to allow or even orchestrate for His child to go through the cave experience are:
1. Character building- to become more like Jesus.
2. Preparation - for a specific mission God has for someone( Moses in the wilderness for 40 years in order to free the Israelite from slavery,
-a major event/calamity ( Joseph in order to counter famine- Gen 37-50)

It is worthy to go back to the life of David, a man with the promise of ascension to the throne from God Himself. Let us observe few things . Why did God allow David to go through the cave experience?
1. David formed a group of people who remained royal to him for the rest of his life. His relationships were filtered( not everyone in our life is important for us to fulfill the call that God has for us. Many are times that we maintain these harmful relationships even without our knowledge because of our natural limitations-'cause we don't see what is in the hearts of men or simply ignorance or stubbornness. In the cave we get to know people who are real royal or they have other agendas and are self seeking. Therefore God does it for us, removing those people out of our life. You don't need parasites, doubters and foes whenever possible) Also, David's older brothers finally accepted his leadership.
2. David was humbled enough in his heart that he was ready to accept the outcast, and outlaws people who were very instrumental in his quest for kingship. David answers were disguised in people that he never expected. (Are we missing God's answers to our prayer? Is it disguised in people we esteem not, the lowly, places we despise? What about the uneducated preacher? Denomination not our own? People of the other race,color, class, religion)
Can we accept the people, things or situations that though they seem insignificant to us, but accept them because that is what pleases God to use? Are we still proud? Are some tasks beneath us? Do we love everyone the way God does? Do we accept all people? Are tribes, races, nationalities, political affiliations, religions, careers the bases on how we treat others? Remember the world treat people on such factors but believers shouldn't. We are not of the world! I made up my mind here in America never again to treat people as the world does, i train my self to see people in God eyes, His One Creation. There is no superior group of people. Never! In every group you find all kinds of people; gifted, limited,rich, poor,goofy and all are short of God's requirements thus is a desperate need of a Savior(Jesus , the Christ). It just pleased God to create people in diversity. Nothing more nothing less.
I grew up hating the Germans and the white people simply because of the history of my country, also were indoctrinated to hate the Westerners even the Jews(it is funny because my mother father was 100% Jewish). Then i had a great professor while in attending Bible school who was from Germany. I liked everything about him but the major problem was his nationality. I resented him for no reason. I thank God, He put me through a cave experience in such a way all my prejudices were off my shoulders, my eyes were opened and was able to learn to love and accept all people.
David accepted learned to love people God's way in the cave. We all need the cave!
3.He had an opportunity to polish his leadership skills by being a leader of an army of 600 people before God put him as a steward of the whole nation of Israel therefore avoiding catastrophic mistakes in the future.
4.Please feel free to add your own,i am sure the above are just few of many benefits...
( to be continued next week)

From the Teaching Ministry of Bro. Timothy Kyara, in UK.

If God doesn't touch you
“…Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years…She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touchHis clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction…” © Mark 5:25-29, NKJV, italics and emphasis mine

Many of us Christians take a passive role when it comes to receiving what we are looking for from the Lord. The song, “pass me not oh gentle saviour…while on others thou' art calling, do not pass me by” is all to familiar. We wait on God to touch us, to minister to us and to respond to our needs. No no no my friend there is another way, if God does not touch you, you can touch Him…If God does not come to you, you can go to Him. Forget the old passive gospel of waiting on the Lord, you can follow Him where He is and touch Him to move on your behalf.

This woman (above scripture) became pro-active in pursuit of her desire and she got what she wanted. You can touch God like her byextending your faith into action to manifest your desires. You can also touch God by fighting and contending with Him like Jacob (Israel—Gen 32:22-30) or like the Canaanite woman pleading and interceding (Matthew 15:22-28) until you get your heart’s desire...by any means necessary, If God doesn't touch you YOU CAN TOUCH HIM RIGHT NOW!

The Cave, the Stronghold, and the Forest ( A Series by brother Joel)

Our topics will be drawn from the book of 1 Samuel 22:1-5.
" David left Gath and escaped to the CAVE of Adullam. When his brothers and his mother's house hold heard about it,they went down to him there...four hundred men were with him...they stayed with him as long as David was in the STRONGHOLD...but the prophet of Gad said to David,"Do not stay in the STRONGHOLD.Go to the land of Judah.So David left and went to the FOREST of Hereth. (3) major places, namely, a cave, a stronghold, and a forest." (NIV)
Many lessons can be learned from these above verses, however, i will limit my self to the lessons i have learned from three major places which David moved to and from, namely,
the cave of Adullam,
the stronghold in Moab, and
the Forest of Hereth.
I believe anyone reading this article is experiencing the cave experience or stronghold experience if not the forest experience.

The Cave. 1 Samuel 22:1-2

We all know even by the living standard of the time of David, living in caves was not desirable and in most cases very unpleasant . Beasts and bandits embedded themselves there, and humans found shelter only in times of calamities. According to Wikipedia the soldiers in rebellion regrouped or plotted,usually after defeat, their attacks to topple the reigning king. One thing was common to all people was the fact that other pressures beyond their abilities left them with no choice but to live in caves. In case of David it was king Saul who had put a price on his head.
It is common for us to find ourselves in a cave. It can be anything, a job, a school, a hospital,a home, a region, a state of luck etc. People (family, employer, spouse, enemies, governments) can cause one to end up in a cave. Sickness also do confine one to a hospital bed, poverty will make people live in a neighborhood,school, city, county even country they do not like. The common feeling there is the feeling of being trapped.
The Caves of our own making:
Addictions to prescription drugs,illicit drugs, alcohol, lust for -money,women/men (pornography),power, gambling to mention a few can leave us in a cave.
Demonic. It was the forces of evil that possessed, controlled and tormented the man/men of Gerasenes (Mark 5;1-5) as the result tombs and a grave yard became his/their cave.

Have you been in a cave? Are you in a cave right now? Do you feel cornered and no way out? I have been there multiple times. I have been hopelessly trapped with alcohol and ensnared by sin!! I had to do something.I asked for help from God and the brethren and i was set free. I got out of my cave. You may need just to fast, ask for prayer help from other brethren, attend meetings( support groups - i find Cerebrate Recovery most helpful), men or women groups getting a person who will hold you accountable in the area of your weakness, joining a Spirit filled church, getting more information and deeper understanding in regard to your situation, and last but not least financial faithfulness to God- tithing and giving will most likely help you get out of your cave. Do not carry your struggles alone. Find help and don't even procrastinate to the next minute, God loves you and cares for you, just trust Him and swallow your pride and seek for help.
It has to be stressed that God never use sin to teach His children. He has the Bible which is more than enough to make us wise and righteous. However, He makes miracles out of the worst life, sin, mistake, fall, or whatever it may be as long as one turns that life to Him. You will be surprised as to how God will use that which kept you in the cave, of our own making, to do His will and to the your own advantage. He is a good God!


God Cave:
While the above samples of caves are important, and will cover them in detail in the right time and place, i would like for us turn our attention to the cave that is ordained by God. This is where i would like to spend more time because a believer can not do anything in order to get himself out of this cave. He/she has to stay there until God comes down to move him out...(to be continued next week)

Gabriel Swaggart- Contending for The Youth of This Generation for Christ

Gabriel Swaggart is ordained by God to reach the youth of this nation and around the world. He knows Satan has marked this generation for destruction, but he also knows that the Lord Jesus Christ is going to raise up this generation in these last days as powerful witnesses unto Him and His Cross.

Gabriel preaches the uncompromising Message of the Cross under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, just like his grandfather Reverend Jimmy Swaggart, and his father Reverend Donnie Swaggart. Gabriel's deepest desire is to not only see the unsaved saved, but to see them baptized with the Holy Spirit, healed, delivered from bondage and walking in total victory!

In 2003 Gabriel became the Youth Pastor at Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He heads up the youth group Crossfire and also leads and organizes the International Youth Camp held annually in July at Family Worship Center. The camp, which draws young from all over, hungry for the presence of God, is described by many to be inexpressibly life- changing. The camp is 4 day adventure filled with worship teaching, and high octane fun where youth can meet other like-minded teens and renew their zeal and commitment to Christ. There is no denying that lives are changed and courses charted at these meetings, it is truly difficult to leave unchanged.

Aside from Crossfire Youth Ministry and the International Youth Camp, Gabriel hosts a popular once weekly TV show for youth, seen literally across the nation and around the world. Crossfire with Gabriel Swaggart is seen on SBN on Saturday's at 11 am and is an hour long program in a panel type format that discusses topics of particular interest to youth. You can view it live here.

Gabriel Swaggart is married and has two beautiful daughters . Gabriel's beautiful wife Jill plays an integral role in Crossfire Youth Ministry as the worship leader. Pastor Gabriel and Jill were married December 4, 2004 and gave birth their first child Samantha Gabrielle in November 2006. Samantha Gabrielle was the first great grand-child to Jimmy and Frances Swaggart! On February 1st, 2010 their second daughter Abby Jill, was born.

Kyara Dee (JUWAKWATA Alumnus) and others-reaching out to the youth in America on the 23rd of October.

From the Teaching Ministry of Bro. Timothy Kyara, in UK.

“...behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you...” (c) Luke 10:19, AMP (italics and emphasis mine)

The traffic officer may not have physical powers (strength) to stop a 16 wheeler truck; but when he lifts his hand to motion the truck to stop, it does. You see, the traffic officer has the authority to stop the truck AND the power of the government (or crown for UK) stands behind him and as long as he is enlisted, he is trusted with this authority to do good.

As Christians, and ministers of the Gospel, we have the authority in the name of Jesus Christ (and the power of the Almighty God behind, beside and in-front of us); all we have to do is ‘speak’ to the circumstance in the name of Jesus. So the next time you face a situation, remember you have the authority (and the power of God) at your disposal—use it.
For more teaching of bro. Tim please visit :www.light2mypath.blogspot.com

Matt Pitt - Scarred service

Meet Matt Pitt -Winning The Youth Back To Christ.

guest bio

Matt Pitt: Good Times at The Basement

By Terri Simmons
The 700 Club

CBN.com – ROAD TO THE BASEMENT

Matt Pitt's journey to “the basement” began almost six years ago.

“I was a problem child in Birmingham, Alabama. I was in and out of a lot of the schools there. I was just real hyperactive,” Matt said. “By the time I was a senior, I got involved running with some guys that were really strong into selling drugs and doing them. In this area, not only did I do a lot of drugs, I was selling them, too.”

After high school, Matt attended the University of Alabama. And instead of concentrating on his school workload, he continued consuming and selling drugs, mainly cocaine. One day, Matt's parents came to attend the university football game and to visit him. During the game, Matt had a drug overdose and was rushed to the hospital.

“When my mom and dad came to the school, they were more or less just checking up on me,” he said. “When they saw their son had a drug problem, they were crushed.”

Matt's parents took him out of school, and he went home to live with them in Birmingham after his drug overdose at the University of Alabama.

“When I got there, I was in and out of the hospital because of what the drugs did to my brain. I formed another addiction which was methadone,” he said. “I got really strong on methadone to numb out a lot of the pain, a lot of the depression and a lot of the stuff I was going through.”

Matt's father began giving him random drug tests until the time he failed one. His father, a former alcohol addict, knew where Matt was headed and was forced to make a tough decision. He sat Matt down in the basement of their home and gave him the option to get his life right or be homeless. His parents made the decision to no longer help support his addiction.

“My mom and dad said, 'Matt we love you. We love you with all our heart, but today, you've got to go. We're not going to tolerate this addiction any longer. We're tired of it destroying our family and your life,’” he said. “The only option I had was to be homeless. It's kind of like that prodigal son moment; all my friends had left me at that point. I had nobody. I squandered everything I had been given, and I knew I had to make a decision.” That night, in his basement, Matt's father led him to the Lord, and he had an encounter with God like never before.

WELCOME TO THE BASEMENT

After that night with his parents in their basement, Matt's life was completely changed. He immediately started grabbing his friends and inviting them to come experience God in his basement.

“It started this massive awakening and revival in our city because in my basement I got so radical on fire,” he said. “I told everyone I came in contact with, and everyone I sold drugs to. I wanted to get them all to come to my basement to do something big and extra for God.”

What began with four guys worshiping, quickly multiplied until the basement had reached its capacity – overflowing Matt's basement, house and neighborhood.

“We moved into a small church, then a bigger church and then a bigger church,” he said. “Through this process, God was developing me into an evangelist and developing our ministry into a high intense evangelism ministry.”

The Basement moved to and through a series of local churches and gyms, quickly pushing fire codes and outgrowing each. In April of 2007, the Basement moved to its current location, Cathedral of the Cross, where now Matt speaks to thousands of young people.

“We feel our main focus is from May to August, because the kids are out of school. The majority of our church is youth and college-age, but we have adults and some middle school. The Basement reaches everybody,” he said.

WHOSOEVER WILL COME

“Our ministry is Whosoever Ministries, which means whosoever wants to be a part. Billy Graham once said that ninety percent of kids after the age of 18 are leaving church. So, we made it our mission to break that statistic,” he said. “If people are leaving church after the age of 18, we want to get them.” M

Pastor Steven now.

Pastor Steven Mtiro preaching back in the days

JUWAKWATA FORM FOUR GRADUATION 2010

JUWAKWATA FORM FOUR GRADUATION 2010

JUWAKWATA FORM FOUR GRADUATION 2010