On May 3, during the regional National Day of Prayer at First Baptist Norfolk, that same Anglican priest apologized to a Catholic Deacon, a Presbyterian pastor and a non-denominational pastor for the oppression and persecution by Anglican leaders of all non-Anglican Christians during the 17th century in Tidewater. The Catholic Deacon also asked forgiveness of the Anglican priest for what the Catholic Church had done to precipitate the breach between Catholics and Anglicans in England centuries ago. Heartfelt apologies and prayers of repentance were also expressed to a group of women Christian leaders for the terrible sins against women by colonial men in Tidewater. These two sets of sins may have never before have been addressed so thoroughly in Tidewater before.
Finally, we attempted to repent for the pervasive sin of the love of money in Virginia's founding. It seems to some that the Church needs to embrace repentance for that sin in greater depth in order for its defiling effects to be broken on the Church now. Nevertheless, God must be pleased with the words adn acts of repentance He received in the past week in Virginia Beach, VA. May the the other Christian 400th Anniversary events in Tidewater continue to build on what has already been accomplished. See. www.1607dna.com for more details about those five sins.
Many thanks must be given to the hundreds who have prayed and worked for many months for these events to honor God, repent for sin and rededicate our nation to Him in sincere humility. The safety and future blessings of America depend on that. See why in the next article.
God is Judging America: Pastor Jack Hayford, Bishop Bill Hamon & Alice Smith have now joined the ranks fo many other respected Christian leaders who are warning the American Church that God's judgment is about to increase on America for its increasing decadence and for the passivity of the Church to that sin. Click here to see more details.
Deliverance Ministries Needed: The Virginia Tech massacre may not have happened if more churches had biblical ministries of deliverance from evil spirits! In a small article from the Washington Post cited in our local newspaper today ( Virginian Pilot, May 6, p A17 or see), the mother of mass murderer Seung-Hui Cho told of how she sought help from several Christian congregations in northern Virginia to get her son delivered from evil spirits last year. By the time she found a church that would offer that ministry, her son had to return to Virginia Tech for school.
There is similar to a story I read about another crazed gunman, Larry Ashbrook, who shot and killed 7 people, three of them youth, at a church youth service at a baptist Church in Ft Worth, Texas in September 1999. According to the story I heard ( which I cannot verify), Mr. Ashbrook had gone to another church in Ft. Worth shortly before the shootings and begged for someone to cast demons out of him. Being a typical evangelical church, they said they did not offer that ministry. A few days later, that tormented soul, shouting anti-Christian curses, killed 7 people during a church service and then killed himself.
I believe that story. I believe that many crimes could be avoided if people know they could get set free from destructive impulses even they do not want. Sadly, the Church has largely disowned the ministry of Jesus in casting out demons. It is a wonderful ministry--and one that is greatly needed in our increasingly addicted, violent and abused nation.
Pastors, please consider establishing a credible, supervised and available ministry of deliverance for your congregation and for your community. It can be done and it must be done if God is do "set the captives free" in our region and nation. This ministry can saves the physical lives of others. It could have saved 33 lives at VT.
As one who loves this ministry and who has been involved in it for many years as a pastor in several denominations, I would be glad to talk to any church or ministry that wants to know more about this powerful biblical healing ministry of Jesus. I can also recommend others in Tidewater who are seasoned and effective in this ministry. I welcome your inquiries. ----Bob Fox, Editor.
Freedom's Fortress Celebration May 24: The three ships that first came to Virginia in 1607 stopped at what is now Ft Monroe before heading to Jamestown to plant the colony. On May 24th, from 6-8 PM, Ft. Monroe will commemorate that visit and the unique role Ft. Monroe played in freeing thousands of slaves starting in 1861. The evening ends with cannon salutes to the nation! Despite the federal fort setting, the organizers of this event are fervent Christians who will try to communicate the spiritual values of these two events as much as possible.
