When I think of New York City I think of Divine appointments. I think of many who have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ in the past twenty years through an outreach in the subway system. Because of a burden from Evangelist Bill Rice III, a small group of men came to Manhattan just months after the 9/11 attacks. That burden has continued in my own heart. I am excited to share with you the incredible divine appointments we have experienced recently.
God met with us in our meeting at Madison Baptist Church and began to knit my heart with Pastor Mike Weiss who has a tremendous burden for revival. We had a family of three respond in the invitation to trust Christ during the friend night.
On the last night as I was preaching on divine appointments, I said, “You are not here by accident.” At that very moment a lady walked in late. In the invitation she responded with tears to trust Christ. Afterward, I asked, “Who invited you?” She said, “No one. I have been driving by this church for months and I knew I needed God in my life.” She explained that she never sees cars on a Friday night at the church but she needed to stop. The Lord had her come at the exact moment that I was giving the gospel. What a clear divine appointment!
It was great to be with our friend Pastor Ken Shaver in Owensboro, KY at Greater Vision Baptist Church. We are thankful for one being saved and another getting assurance. It is exciting to see this church grow.
Originally I was supposed to be there in Owensboro for the whole week but it was of the Lord’s providence that my schedule changed where I could preach at Martinsville Baptist Tabernacle where we saw several respond for assurance, salvation and surrender. During this time I had the privilege to preach with Dr. R.B. Ouellette for the Revival Fire Prayer Meeting for pastors. God is certainly stirring many pastors throughout Indiana to pray for revival.
I was privileged to be at Calvary Baptist Church in Urbana, IL for the first time. Throughout the week a couple had attended every service but was still not saved. I asked if they would like to set an appointment for the next day to talk about it. They both readily accepted Christ as their Savior.
It was good to return to Grace Baptist Church in Eaton Rapids, MI where God worked in the hearts of believers. For one guest who came, it was the first time they attended a church service in their life, please pray for this searching soul.
I have a great burden for more evangelists in our country. So it was a privilege to teach twelve men at Indiana Baptist College about the work of the evangelist.
I started the week at Capital City Baptist Church preaching on God’s grace from Ephesians 2:8-9 when in walked a man during my message. Although he did not have a Bible he listened attentively. He along with another person raised their hand indicating they needed to be saved. He came forward in the invitation and trusted Christ. Afterward, we asked him, “Who invited you?” He said, “No one. I saw the church online and I just knew God wanted me to come here. After he was saved, he said, “I had it all backward. I thought I had to try to be good enough to go to Heaven, but today I trusted Christ and not myself.” It was a divine appointment.
He came back that night, as well as the young lady who raised her hand in the morning service. She along with another lady responded to be saved. It ended up they were mother and daughter. The next night they invited some more family members and two more were saved. The neat thing is that a man who was saved a few years ago in our meetings helped lead one of them to Christ! Also, that man’s mom also trusted Christ on the last night.
That same night, a 12-year-old boy took his mother by her hand, almost dragging her, and led her up to the front because he wanted to be saved.
I am currently in New York City at the 9/11 Memorial filming another salvation video about the story of the marine who rescued the last two survivors from the twin towers. It is entitled Rescued 9/11. It truly is a story of God’s power to save and of Divine appointments.
Divine appointments are scheduled by God for those who are willing to surrender their agenda to His. Will you make yourself available to God and allow the Holy Spirit to bring people along your path to whom you witness? Will you be a channel in which God can use?