"In Times of Despair"

Praise God for the work taking place in the inner city of Denver, CO. Sometimes I often wonder, should we do something different, should we change service times, what is it that we should do in these times when it seems a little heavy weighted or discouraging. Well, the answer we all know is, "Press toward the goal". Paul the apostle was a great role model when it comes to perseverance and being a great encourager in times like these. You see Timothy was feeling like we do at times and Paul was great at lifting his spirits when it felt like the pressure was upon Timothy to carry out the 'Good News' and message Paul was preaching. It struck me hard as I can actually feel like both Paul and Timothy at times. I am very thankful for God hooking D.J. and I up to start our Hoops N Raps program in his church gym. It has led to great relationships and great impact in our city and hopefully soon the national arena as God allows. I say all this to get to this:

Last Tuesday night at our Hip Hop service a man approached my wife right before I was about to go up and bring a message about 'Faithfulness. As S.I.C. was finishing up their hip hop performance and talking about the Holy Spirit my wife said a man wanted to talk to the Pastor. This man was in his mid to upper 40's. A few of the leaders approached him and asked him, "how can we help you?" The man said, "I only want to talk to the pastor." So, as I was about to go up, I stopped by him and asked, "How can I help you brother?" He said, "I am going to kill someone." I thought to myself this guy has to be way to drunk or high to even know what he is saying. There was something in his voice that made this statement a little more serious than just someone blurting out murder. So I took my hands as we were all around him and began to pray for him. After the prayer I asked, "would you like to stay and hear the message? Maybe this will be the last message you hear from a preacher before you do what you say your going to do tomorrow." So the man said, "yes." Brother Steve, a leader in our church, walked the man up to the third row and sat next to him. As I started preaching from Titus, the man's countenance started changing. I noticed as the Spirit of God through His word was beginning to break this man down. At the end when I offered anyone in the place to come forward and receive the Free Gift of Salvation, this man was the first to jump up and come forward. There was about 17 of our church members who surrounded him with their hands on him praying. As I led this man into the sinners prayer he was breaking as tears were flowing down his face. He excepted Christ in this time of Despair. When it was said and done, the man reached into his pocket and grabbed a knife and handed it to me. As he was hanging out after, ex gang members, drug addicts etc were encouraging him to move forward with Christ in his life. It's amazing to know if we weren't there that Tuesday night he would not have had the opportunity to run to a place of refuge. God showed up and we were blessed to see a man off the streets of the Sun Valley neighborhood come into the place of worship with murder in his heart in a time of Despair and leave with the Spirit of joy, love and peace upon him.

Praise God!!!!