Dear RiverLife Family,
The Father declares Himself to be a refuge throughout the Bible. His house is a refuge so we are to become a refuge. Over the past year the Lord has been revealing His desire for us to join the practical with the spiritual through feeding, clothing and praying for those in need. We see this as a way to reach those who don’t yet know Christ and believers who find themselves in a time of need.
What God requires God supplies! We discovered we have person who led a very successful ministry of this type in the past, Barbara Watts. The fire still burns in Barbara’s heart. She is going to oversee this ministry and we anticipate the Holy Spirit doing great things through her and others. Below outlines our dream for the ministry.
Isaiah 58:6-7 states:
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him,
and not hide yourself from your own flesh?”
Isaiah 58:8-10 hold awesome promises to those who are willing to obey the Father in this calling.
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
We believe that God is doing a new thing. He is answering the prayers for the most ungodly of people and we are watching these individuals do a double take. This is a new way of evangelism. A harvest is coming. To begin this journey we feel we need to start meeting the needs of our body and then reach out to our neighboring communities as the vision expands and provision comes. We must first begin by bringing food and clothing into the storehouse since we already have the room and equipment ready and available to put this plan in action. We have watched God’s favor being poured out on those who have been obedient to his word in this matter and we are believing God to pour out a blessing that we won’t have room to contain!
If you would like to participate in this ministry, let Barbara know. Prayers are much needed.
Shalom, Byron