Pastor Greg,

 I just wanted to say Thank you for your obedience and the Word that you are giving to the Church.  Personally everything that you are saying and everything that Chuch Pierce is saying is right on with all that is happening in my life.  Even to the exact day!  The timing is amazing!   I don’t want to be long winded, but I was told 4 days ago that I will be deploying to Iraq this upcoming fall for about 6 months with 2 months of training begining in July.  I will be leading a team to support medical operations. That is about all the detail I can give.

But I am ready for it and I know I am supposed to go.  Two years ago when I graduated  from the Air Force Academy  (USAFA)I could not have said that and meant it.  I was a little bitter towards the military (probably because I didn’t really enjoy life as a Cadet).  God has been changing me since the day I left USAFA.  I never
 thought I’d be a person who would love the military.  But I have learnd that there is more to it than discipline, tests, politics, challenges,  competiveness etc..like I experienced at the Academy.   Through Skyway’s continued support of the military and people like John and Karen , Cloe, Jeanie , Charlie and Loraine , and many others…

I have learned the importance of the military in ways I would have never imagined.  I have learned that the “military life” is one of the most selfless lives a person
 can live.  Always being ready to fight, ready to move, ready to take on tasks that are far above your preparation/experience.  This is what a
 ”Troop” really is.  Someone who can do it all, do it very well, and keep a good attitude throughout.  God has definately made me into a Troop!  He has blessed me so much the past 15 months I have been at Luke AFB.  Huge tasks, programs, experiences, that
 are far beyond what I could have ever imagined.  I have had the privelage to travel many places, meet many people, work on Awesome projects, and I have
 been given many big responsibilities.  Through it all I have found success even at the National level (only by the grace of God).   Through it all I
 have learned to I love the military.  I love the challenges, the constant change, the fast tempo lifestyle, the people, the leadership experiences,
 and the responsibility.  

 Peace and grace
-Megan

Pastor Greg,
I just wanted your guidance and opinion on something. I attended Chuck Pierce’s service Friday night and I loved it.  It was the first time I have been able to attend something like that and it was great. 

Well, in the middle of Friday night I kept hearing the word “bechorah”.  It kept waking me up and I would repeat it and then think to myself that I would look it up in the morning.  I must have woken up about 5 times before morning, each time repeating the word.  When I woke up in the morning it was the first thing I thought of and I was very confused.  I started to think maybe it did not mean anything.  I also started to get a little angry because how was I to look up a word when I did not even know what language it was or how to spell it?  Well, I shared this with a friend and she was incredulous that I wouldn’t at least try to look it up.  She found the word Bechorath in the Hitchcock Bible Name Dictionary and it means “first fruits”.  It is actually a name found in 1 Samuel 9:1.  It also can mean “firstborn” or the “one who receives the inheritance.”

What I thought I heard was bechorah with an ah sound at the end.  We were talking about it today and we wondered if in Hebrew there is masculine and feminine forms of words? Do you know someone that speaks Hebrew?  I am so curious.  I have never had this happen to me before. 

-Amey

Pastor Greg,

Thank you again for being obedient to the Spirit. I don’t often get to come to the service but I did last Sunday. I find God amazing that He can talk to so many different people about the same things. If I may give you some background as to why I am saying this… 

Recently, I started making declarations; from Cindy Trimm’s book, from Pastor Marie, from Hope Hoffman and some others and I have started receiving those confirmations and blessings. I have been given the Word that God is changing our business and He has been changing me. I feel led to increase my service to the Lord. 

We recently filed bankruptcy, have given up a car and our home will be foreclosed on within the next 3 months. Finances are very much on my mind.Your word on Sunday about finances was so useful to me this week because I found a house to rent that was 2300+ sq ft, in a great location, and only $1050/month. Had I not been where I am right now I would have probably given in to the temptation to take our First Fruits money for the down payment and tried to do things myself, again(incidentally, that’s how we got in this mess to begin with). When the thoughts of giving away God’s money came into my head, they sounded  foreign to me,when before I would have embraced them, do you understand? Anyhow, I rebuked those thoughts because I need to give God his money and He will bless me. So, had I not made it into the service I may not have been equipped to deal with that situation.

So, thank you so much. 

Betty

Dear Pastor Greg,
I have been watching last Sundays service over and over.  I am in awe of what God is doing in our church and how much is rapidly changing.  It is awesome to see!  Each time I watch the service the Holy Spirit comes upon me in a different way, in a new place or time of the service.  I keep getting new revelation! I want you to know how truly honored, humbled and incredibly blessed I feel to have my family be partakers in this wonderful movement of the Lord.  I thank you and Pastor Dawn for being open vessels of His mighty spirit and passing the annointing on to your congregation.  I want to YAWP from the rooftops how thankful I am to my Lord, how much I love Him and how grateful I am to be part of what He is doing among us.  

Many thanks,

Kristen

Dear Pastor Greg,

I came back to Arizona 4 months ago and I have seen God’s favor and his mercy in my life.

I had no money, no job, I owed 6 months of mortgage and 6 months on my equity line and 6 months on Home Owner’s Association fee.  I knew that I was coming back to try to take back what I allow the enemy to steal due to my ignorance, mistake and responsibility.

I was broken in spirit, I came like the prodigal son.  I struggled with worry, anxiety, doubt, fear, insecurity, failure, reasoning, asking God why? all this was going on.

When I arrived, I felt that I had a divine appointment with God and that I would fall at His feet and repent for my disobedience for not trusting in Him.

My neighbors who I have known for many years helped providing some furnishings, accessories, and food to get me started because I was going to start my Childcare business.

When I came to Skyway, you had just challenged the congregation and you pointed the finger and said, “YOU! come to this altar if you need a miracle.” That’s when I opened the door and I walked quickly to the altar.

In March the Lord directed me to Sister Charlotte to pray specifically for my marriage, business, and my house which was in foreclosure.

For the first time, I agreed with her in prayer as she challenged God and said, this time tomorrow, Lord may you provide an increase in Janet’s business and she would not lose her home.  I just kept on saying that I believe because I was struggling so much and I asked the Lord to help my unbelief.  Well, the next day came and I received to new clients and an employer called me for an interview.

I was a little child again, I was broken in spirit and I had enter into a state of beginning again and finding my first love.  I started fasting and praying and the Lord put in my heart to double in my tithes.  I told the Lord everything I have is yours anyway.  I begain to double in my tithes and God began to prosper. 

You began to teach on first fruits and you mentioned about the woman that gave one cent.  I gave that day the best tithe that I could give and God began to pour out his favor.  Meanwhile, to me as I gave it was definitely a worship to God because I was deeply moved with a broken heart and the tears would come down my cheek knowing that I gave everything.

Anyway, a week ago I was looking for an advocate to help get my home back and the person was very negative.  The communication was cut off and then my lender called letting me know that I qualified for a new loan Home Saving Advantage.  If I would agree to this it would spare my home and they would pull it out from foreclosure. 

This was the greatest miracle.  This is why I came to take back what the enemy stolen and let God restore me.  Just yesterday I rec’d the papers and everything is under way.
I praise God for Skyway because here is where I found the love, mercy and grace again from the Lord.
I took Deut. 28 to heart because that was the scripture that God gave me in 2005.
It pays to be obedient to God.

God bless you richly,

Pastor Greg

Janet

Dear Pastor Sam,

 You may have already heard the news:  Joan (membership class) accepted Jesus as Savior at the end of the second service yesterday.  It was real and intense — and so exciting!  I was privileged to hear her confession since I was standing right next to her — what a holy experience!  She knew exactly what she decided and is eager to follow-up with you next Sunday in the baptism class.   Gayle gave her all the paperwork, as well as the DVD, and she’s going to make a list of questions for you next week.  I just wanted to share the wonderful news. Have a blessed week . . . and thank you for fielding all our questions and diversions in the membership class for the last 3 weeks.  You are definitely in the place where God is shining favor on your labor. 

 In Christ,

Leslie

Dear Pastor Loraine,

Anyway here’s some news:

1. I was invited to serve on the editing team for the new Healing Manual that is being developed by Chris and Rahnella Adsit for spouses of troops with PTSD, called a Secondary PTSD Healing Manual.  They are working on it now and will be sending out a chapter at a time for input from the editing team.  I felt that was a real honor and am looking forward to itJ

2.  John spoke at a men’s breakfast last Thursday in Scottsdale. He was invited by the Discipleship Director of Phoenix First Assembly to speak at a Men’s Leadership meeting where several churches were represented. He was given 50 minutes for his presentation and was allowed to sell books afterward.  We served in ministry with the guy, Andy Glenn, at our previous church.  He heard about our ministry from a mutual friend on a mission trip in Mexico.

a.  Only 2 of the 30 or so men had ever heard of PTSD.  They were touched by his testimony and he tied everything in to the new classes and the Healing Manual and the current troops.

b.  He just talked to Andy and was invited to speak at a group of over 200 men soon.  The director of the men’s ministry said he was very touched and Andy could have John speak whenever there was an opening for him.  No one mentioned Point Man at all.

3.  He also attended a Military Order for the Purple Hearts meeting where he was allowed to sell books.  The fellow in charge already had one of his original books that was given to him by a friend.

4.  And he spoke to the owner of the Christian Book Store by Kohl’s and got permission to have a book signing and put books on her shelves to sell by consignment.

5.  Jean Mulquin put a plug in for us at the Chamber of Commerce meeting last Friday.  They wear red to support the troops on Fridays and we’re going to make one of those meetings as soon as we can and talk about the classes and the book.  She is office manager at the Church at  Litchfield Park and talked to the pastor about linking our website with theirs.

6.  Art’s schedule has been changed.  He and John will be meeting every other week on Tuesday afternoons.  Art will still be able to do the Saturday morning class and is really excited about it.

7. Chloe found some excellent materials for parents to use to help their children cope with their parent’s deployment and with traumatic events.  She will be leading the next few weeks with that material.

8.  Lastly, could we possibly get the box of books that Ron gave you guys in Houston, and also the Bridges to Healing Video?  I e-mailed the folks in Sierra Vista but haven’t received a response.  Maybe they are traveling.

Love you,

Karen and John

Pastor Greg,  

Good morning,   My name is Devon, and I have been meaning to write you for a couple of months now.  About a year ago I became involved with an organization called TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More).   Team was built on Christian principles and emphazises traits of leadership like INTEGRETY, CHARACTER AND SERVICE. When I started, they had a leadership training program that was geared to team building and leadership to build teams in connection with Quixstar (the internet arm of Amway).  The Quixstar connection is no more. Team then concentrated on Leadership and fine tuned the leadership program.   The program consisted of a book of the month, CD’s of the month and simenars and meetings were you can associate with other people wanting to improve themselves.  The book of the month’s topic varies, from styles of Leadership, Personalities, Financial advice, and relationships, everything needed to better understand yourself and others and how to lead. The CD’s are made at the TEAM meetings and are about points of leadership, finances or releationships. One main point is that nothing is possible without GOD.  It had been a long time since I had been outside of church where every meeting is opened with prayer and the Pledge of Aligence.  I began going to church again.  Just about every sermone since the beging of the year has reenforced what I ahve been learning.  Sometimes it was like you were in my mailbox, reading what I was reading before me.  Even the mighty men of god has been reenforcing my learning. 

  The founders of TEAM wrote a book called “Leading a Leadership Revolution:  Mastering the Five Levels on Influence”.  This book is sweeping the business world.  This book is much more than a business leadership book.  It says in the bible, and in the book, that you can’t lead your house if you can’t lead yourself. I took this leadership book and applied it to me and between it and God have been changing, you can ask mom.  I have a friend that is also involved.  He is a big harry biker.  He has had a troubled life and is what some people would call very mean.  But with this program he is working on his preceived faults.  We are still working on getting him to God, but I can still see a change the my friend of 20 years.  We can all change with a little help and guidance. 

Thank you and God Bless. 
Devon  

Dear Pastor Greg, 

Here’s a short recap of a great deed that the Lord accomplished re: my finances.   

Soon after I started attending Skyway Church, the Lord began to talk to me about tithing on my gross income instead of my net.  Your sermons affirmed what I was already hearing and I began to pray about it.  I’m a widow and I’m cautious not to react to emotional appeals, but God is faithful, slow to take offense, and teaches me precisely. Now I’ve always tithed and know that God supplies my needs, but when I sat down to figure the difference, the enemy moved in, took a seat next to me at the table and began whispering that there was no way I could squeeze the additional money out of my budget. 

 Would God want you to ruin your credit?  God knows you’re the sole provider for your income and He doesn’t expect you to live on nothing.  What are you thinking anyway?  Those people at Skyway don’t know you, and they don’t need your money. But those were lies.  I am not the sole provider for my income – God is.  And if the government calculates their portion from my gross income, God is worthy to have the same consideration.  And the believers at Skyway don’t know me –yet — but that is not the issue here.  I slowly sorted out the lies and decided to obey.  It’s not my place to make it work.  It’s my place to obey.  So not knowing how it was going to turn out, in March I began tithing correctly.   

But that’s not the end of the story.  How could it be with our great God? There’s an interesting subplot.  As a healthy single person with few deductions, I usually have to pay income tax – sometimes around $3,000 a year — so this year I was especially worried.  This new “sacrificial thinking” was going to be my ruin. But no.  That is never the last word from the Lord.  2 Kings 3:18, “And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord.”  This year — miraculously — I’m receiving such a large tax refund that I’m able to pay off 2 small credit card debts.  The monthly payments on those debts is exactly  – you guessed it — the same amount as the difference between tithing on my gross instead of my net.   So the money shifted to benefit the Kingdom. 

 What a mind-boggling miracle!  And it’s exactly what you talked about, Pastor Greg — the money shifting.  Now instead of paying Chase and Citi Bank each month, I put God’s money in the tithing pot at Skyway, and those debts are gone. Only our God could think of such a simple and awesome answer. That reminds me of the scene in front of Lazarus’ tomb when Jesus turned to Martha and told her to have the stone removed.  She was aghast!  Lazarus had been dead 4 days and he would stink!  People would think she was crazy!  But Jesus quietly told her that unless she obeyed she wouldn’t see the glory of the Lord.  (my paraphrase)  How many more wonders and miraculous deeds have we missed because we forget that “it’s a simple matter in the sight of the Lord?”   

Thank you for teaching us faithfully.

Thank you for letting me share my wonderful miracle. Have a blessed afternoon. 

In Christ,

Leslie Williams

P.S. And I’ve made many wonderful friends at Skyway! 

Pastor Greg

I think about 10 days ago, the thought just popped into my head that I should go to an African American in our church, and ask forgiveness for Apartheid, and for taking part in it. Well, I just brushed off the idea, not thinking it was from God. But every now and again that thought would come back, and every time, I would weep. Sunday morning, as I was getting ready for church, it came back again, and I wept again. This was when I “got a clue”. I started planning the whole thing: I would make an appointment to see you, to find out if you thought it was God. Then you would the right person to do it with, as I did not want to offend anybody…..it would all be well worked out, and orderly… 

At church I did not even think about it again.I was not even emotional, just enjoyed your sermon, and the humor.When you started saying about different things that could be blocking the blessing, I had a few other things in mind…but when you said: “you might even have to go to someone and apologise”, it was like a ton of bricks hit me, and I started weeping again.I went forward, and started sobbing so hard, I thought I was going to collapse. My whole body was trembling and shaking, and I knew God was breaking something off. Strangely, I would never have  thought that raccism could be a problem. I always thought I was Ok with that issue. 

Even in this state, I was still trying to work out everything in my mind. I thought I would just go up to you afterwards, and tell you what I had to do, and we would do it another day, in privacy.But something made me look over my right shoulder, and there was this sweet grey haired gentleman. I did not think it possible, but I sobbed even harder. I knew he was the one. After you had prayed, he had left to go back to his seat, but a boldness (that I do not normally have) just came over me, and I followed him and asked him if he would mind coming with me to you.He was so sweet , and took my hand without asking why.So..it turned out not at all like I planned…Instead of orderly and controlled and private, it was messy and tearfull and not  all that private.

That`s why I know it is God,  too. I am sure we will see the outflow of this in the near future. IT IS SO EXCITING TO SERVE GOD!!!!!

Suzanne