Sean and Jen hosted an "Appreciation Night" tonight to thank those who have volunteered with Firestarters ministry or supported Firestaters ministry in some way in 2008. Koser Jewelers in Mount Joy generously agreed to let us use their building and we gathered on the second floor to enjoy delicious desserts and hear exciting testimonies and updates about Firestarters. Sean and Jen invited all Core staff members to introduce themselves and gave them each an opportunity to share a favorite memory or testimony from a Firestarters event.
Then the entire Firestarters band led in a time of worship, singing songs written by Jen Achey, Austin Ritz and Lauren Ritz. Following this, we watched a PowerPoint presentation that Lauren put together which showed pictures from various Firestarters events throughout the year of 2008. It was so encouraging to be reminded of the many amazing ways in which God has been working among us!
Finally, Sean gave an overview of where Firestarters has been in the past year and where we hope to go from here. He used the metaphor of building a house, saying that this last year was a time to lay the foundation in order to prepare for increased growth in the coming year. When Sean was done sharing, Jen surprised him by presenting him with a birthday gift of $925 which the Firestarters board members and staff secretly raised for him to use to purchase a laptop for Firestarters ministry. It was fun to be able to surprise and bless Sean in this way! All in all, it was a wonderful night!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Fire Station ~ By Alicia Kanode
The entire Firestarters band led us in worship at the Fire Station last night as a practice session for the Appreciation Night coming up tomorrow. We sang a number of amazing songs written by members of the band. At one point during worship, Jen encouraged us to take time to receive from God. Afterwards, she asked us to share testimonies of what God has been doing in our lives with those around us.
Kim had been prayed for during worship and shared her testimony with all of us. She was in a car accident eight years ago and God brought healing to her back last night so that, for the first time in eight years, she could bend down and touch her toes! Praise the Lord!
That was a wonderful prelude for the movie we saw afterward. We watched portions of the “Finger of God” movie, which gives testimony to many amazing miracles – everywhere from right here in the US to Mozambique and Turkey. After being encouraged by this movie, we then moved into a time of ministry and prayer for healing for various people. We thank God for the many new people that He continues to bring each week!
Kim had been prayed for during worship and shared her testimony with all of us. She was in a car accident eight years ago and God brought healing to her back last night so that, for the first time in eight years, she could bend down and touch her toes! Praise the Lord!
That was a wonderful prelude for the movie we saw afterward. We watched portions of the “Finger of God” movie, which gives testimony to many amazing miracles – everywhere from right here in the US to Mozambique and Turkey. After being encouraged by this movie, we then moved into a time of ministry and prayer for healing for various people. We thank God for the many new people that He continues to bring each week!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Firestarters at the Worship Center ~ By Jen Achey
Thanks to a fun reconnection with a long lost friend, Brian Hock, Firestarters got to help out at the Worship Center tonight. Brian just became the leader of the 30 & older singles ministry there and they needed someone to lead worship on short notice. Since Brian had just visited the Fire Station a few days before he knew about Firestarters and asked if we could come to lead the worship for them. We were glad to come help in this way and we had a meaningful time of worship and hang out together.
At first when the worship night started we were not sure people were engaging in the worship much, but we kept pressing in and by the end of the night, the group had experienced some very special time with God and each other. In response to a word of knowledge, one lady experienced healing in her knees from pain and stiffness caused by athritis, and various people requested prayer and had meaningful experiences with God.
Brian shared from Romans 12:1&2 about finding contentment in God. This was cool because two of our Firestarters staff members who were there had Romans 12:1&2 already come to mind during the worship.
To end we "stayed" in the song called "Word of God Speak" for quite a while. Some of the words of this song are: "Word of God speak. Would You pour down like rain. Washing my eyes to see Your majesty."
God has been bringing up the theme of his "Rhema, breathed, alive" word lately.
At first when the worship night started we were not sure people were engaging in the worship much, but we kept pressing in and by the end of the night, the group had experienced some very special time with God and each other. In response to a word of knowledge, one lady experienced healing in her knees from pain and stiffness caused by athritis, and various people requested prayer and had meaningful experiences with God.
Brian shared from Romans 12:1&2 about finding contentment in God. This was cool because two of our Firestarters staff members who were there had Romans 12:1&2 already come to mind during the worship.
To end we "stayed" in the song called "Word of God Speak" for quite a while. Some of the words of this song are: "Word of God speak. Would You pour down like rain. Washing my eyes to see Your majesty."
God has been bringing up the theme of his "Rhema, breathed, alive" word lately.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Fire Station ~ By Alicia Kanode
The night after New Year’s Day, we gathered for another Fire Station. It was a night of New things and Fresh words from the Lord. Jen, Deanna and Russ led us in worshiping the Word (John 1:1). Jen saw a picture of dancing occurring as we worshiped and asked Bonnie to lead some dancing in the middle of the room. Four of us danced together for a short time, before spreading out around the room again. For me, at least, that was the first “new thing” as I have normally stayed at the back of the room in the past. There was truly a sense of freedom as we worshiped that night!
A couple people then shared words that they felt the Lord had given them. One was that all we truly need to worship is a heart of worship, not a worship band or other outward trappings. With that in mind, we took time to worship on our own, without the band leading us. Another word was then shared that although we don’t need worship leaders to enable us to worship, it edifies us when we hear the testimony of others. That is why it may often be easier to enter into worship as we hear others declare the goodness of the Lord. Although the two words showed two different aspects of worship, both were right on.
Sean then spoke about the two Greek words used for “word” in the Bible. Logos is the word John uses when he is speaking about Jesus in the beginning of the first chapter - “In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God. He was with God in the beginning” (verses 1 & 2). Rhema refers to a literal, spoken, fresh-breathed word from God. This is the Greek word used in Matthew 4:4 – “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every WORD that comes from the mouth of God.”’”
Sean also shared two different versions of the verse that says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” or “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint” (Proverbs 29:18a). The word “vision” or “revelation” in this verse refers to a divine prophetic revelation. Sean said that without God’s revelation, we do whatever we think is right and often miss what God wants us to be doing. Instead, we should be seeking out God’s word for us each day, just as the people of Israel gathered fresh manna each day and as Jesus consistently spent time with God, receiving directions from the Father (John 5:19, 8:38). Finally, he reminded us that we cannot only read the word of God; we must know the God of the word.
We then took time to sit in silence before God and invite Him to speak to us. After a time, people began to share words and pictures that the Lord had given to them. It was a very meaningful time, followed by a time of ministry and prayer for those who desired it.
A couple people then shared words that they felt the Lord had given them. One was that all we truly need to worship is a heart of worship, not a worship band or other outward trappings. With that in mind, we took time to worship on our own, without the band leading us. Another word was then shared that although we don’t need worship leaders to enable us to worship, it edifies us when we hear the testimony of others. That is why it may often be easier to enter into worship as we hear others declare the goodness of the Lord. Although the two words showed two different aspects of worship, both were right on.
Sean then spoke about the two Greek words used for “word” in the Bible. Logos is the word John uses when he is speaking about Jesus in the beginning of the first chapter - “In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God. He was with God in the beginning” (verses 1 & 2). Rhema refers to a literal, spoken, fresh-breathed word from God. This is the Greek word used in Matthew 4:4 – “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every WORD that comes from the mouth of God.”’”
Sean also shared two different versions of the verse that says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” or “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint” (Proverbs 29:18a). The word “vision” or “revelation” in this verse refers to a divine prophetic revelation. Sean said that without God’s revelation, we do whatever we think is right and often miss what God wants us to be doing. Instead, we should be seeking out God’s word for us each day, just as the people of Israel gathered fresh manna each day and as Jesus consistently spent time with God, receiving directions from the Father (John 5:19, 8:38). Finally, he reminded us that we cannot only read the word of God; we must know the God of the word.
We then took time to sit in silence before God and invite Him to speak to us. After a time, people began to share words and pictures that the Lord had given to them. It was a very meaningful time, followed by a time of ministry and prayer for those who desired it.
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