"I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter his courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for he has made me glad, glad, glad."
At the suggestion of several friends from my home church, the Greater Allen Cathderal (GAC), I visited Rauch Ministries in Brixton, London. While I had never heard of the church nor its Pastor, Bishop John Francis and Co-Pastor, Rev. Penny Francis, the recommendation came from three people that I not only resp
ect but they are serious about their relationship with God. I found it no coincidence that each person suggested Rauch Ministries on different occasions.
ect but they are serious about their relationship with God. I found it no coincidence that each person suggested Rauch Ministries on different occasions. Being the historian that I am, I immediately began doing research about Brixton, the area that the Rauch Ministries is located. I learned that the community is predominated by poor and working class black people. As with many inner cities with a certain socio-economic framework, Brixton is known for its gun and drug trafficing, crime is very high and there is a long standing tension between the community and the police. Similiar to BedStuy and Harlem, Brixton is also expericing gentrification and current residents are slowing being displaced by the middle class and upper class.
Several people looked at me with concern when I told them that I was going "to attend a church in Brixton." I, however, was not afraid. I knew that I had to exercise the same wisdom that I would while walking the streets of the Bronx, Brooklyn and my old stomping ground Harlem. I was actually looking forwarding to seeing where the "folk" live as well as picking up some hair care products which I so desp
erately need (smile).
erately need (smile). After waking up an hour late, taking one of the two trains that I needed in the wrong direction, missing my stop on the bus and getting caught in a sudden down pour of rain (with no umbrella), I finally arrived to Brixton. It had the look and feel of any inner city in the states. It was quite early in the morning and the streets were not populated but I knew that I was in the "hood" when I saw Kennedy Fried Chicken (who knew they were international).
On my walk towards the church (after missing my bus stop), I stumbled upon two yellow signs. One sign read "They Want Your Pod" and just down the block another said "Beware of theives and pickpockets." I did a quick survey to see what was going on around me yet and still, I was not afraid. Even though the signs did not "scare" me, I thought it best that I stop taking pictures like a mad woman (yall know how I do) and put away the digital camera so that I would blend in just a little bit more.
After getting lost (again), I finally found Rauch Ministries. Because Bishop Francis is featured on TBN, I expected to see a larger ornate building no different from GAC or New Birth which is why I walked by the church a few times. Even though the church building was simple and rather inconspicuous, what was going one inside of the church was truly a mighty move of God. Upon entering, I heard the choir singing a song that I would normally hear at GAC and I felt at peace. I was so much at peace that I immediately started crying like I always do when I am in the unadulterated presence of God and his people.
The service was truly a blessing. It was just what I need after spending a week in a country that was not my own. Throughout the last week, my mind knew that God was with me but during today's service my entire being felt it. The service was so good and the presence of God was so strong that I ended up staying for two services. The praise and worship was amazing (they even had liturgical dancers ministering during praise and worship) and the Word was powerful. It is truly a "teaching" church. They break down the history, context, places, time periods, and the meanining of names and words in various translation, etc. You know the history buff in me gets excited about all this information.
Going to church, fellowshipping with other Christians, learning more about God and being in his presence are truly important to me. Life is SO hard that I have no idea how people get through life without a relationship with God and a church home that provides encouragement and support. I have no doubt in my mind that GAC has helped me to become successful in various facets of my life. While there is no church like your home church, I look forward to attending Rauch Ministries while I am in London. Getting there was a sacrifice but what I gained during service will last a life time.
Being at Rauch was bitter sweet. While I was thankful that God had led me there (through my friends), I was also reminded how much I totally miss GAC. I miss my church mothers who give me hugs and kisses and comforting words of encouragement. I miss the voice of a choir that sounds like angels to my ears. I miss ministering with the dance ministry and being ministered to by them. I miss the revelation from the pastor and the co-pastor. Yet . . . I know that there is an added layer that I am suppose to get from a church in London and I am looking forward to allowing God to add this layer to the foundation that GAC has given me.
Below is an excerpt from today's sermon. It does not even touch a small portion of the revelation that I received during today's service, however I pray that it blesses you as it has blessed me:
"The Circuit Breaker"
The service was truly a blessing. It was just what I need after spending a week in a country that was not my own. Throughout the last week, my mind knew that God was with me but during today's service my entire being felt it. The service was so good and the presence of God was so strong that I ended up staying for two services. The praise and worship was amazing (they even had liturgical dancers ministering during praise and worship) and the Word was powerful. It is truly a "teaching" church. They break down the history, context, places, time periods, and the meanining of names and words in various translation, etc. You know the history buff in me gets excited about all this information.
Going to church, fellowshipping with other Christians, learning more about God and being in his presence are truly important to me. Life is SO hard that I have no idea how people get through life without a relationship with God and a church home that provides encouragement and support. I have no doubt in my mind that GAC has helped me to become successful in various facets of my life. While there is no church like your home church, I look forward to attending Rauch Ministries while I am in London. Getting there was a sacrifice but what I gained during service will last a life time.
Being at Rauch was bitter sweet. While I was thankful that God had led me there (through my friends), I was also reminded how much I totally miss GAC. I miss my church mothers who give me hugs and kisses and comforting words of encouragement. I miss the voice of a choir that sounds like angels to my ears. I miss ministering with the dance ministry and being ministered to by them. I miss the revelation from the pastor and the co-pastor. Yet . . . I know that there is an added layer that I am suppose to get from a church in London and I am looking forward to allowing God to add this layer to the foundation that GAC has given me.
Below is an excerpt from today's sermon. It does not even touch a small portion of the revelation that I received during today's service, however I pray that it blesses you as it has blessed me:
"The Circuit Breaker"
Micah 2:3-13
God intends to break through you and break [things] out of you. God made a covenant with the seed of Abraham that must come to pass. There was a covenant made about you that must come to pass. There was a promise that was made about you that must come to pass. God is in covenant with His Word and this Word concerns you. The desire to be in right standing with God means the willingness to be subject to His judgment. When you said "Abba, My father" when you first gave your life to Christ this mere statement gave Him the authority and the right to judge and correct and chastise you. God is a God of balance. Though His judgment comes by force, His blessings are also prolific. He balances love with judgment and correction with blessings. Watch out for leaders whose wrath bring you down yet fail to lift you up as they are not leading the way God would have them to lead. God is a God who does get angry with you yet His anger has the ability to dissipate instantaneously. This is why there is "no one like God." No human being has the ability to dissipate instantaneously the anger over what you have done, the way that God has. God's entire purpose is that he wants you back. People don't want you back. If you are here, you are here if you are not, you are not. If you are not here, they think "more space for me." But God, wants you back!
You have been in negotiation with sin for too long and sin will pay you back. God will bring down your economy because you have made an agreement with sin. Before you receive a blessing, God is going to disrupt all that is in your like that is not like him -- people, places and things. God is going to break down every spirit of influence in your life that is not like him. He is destroying all that you have aligned yourself with that is contaminating you. He has had people speak to you time and time again about the same things and it's to the point where you are acting like the Word does not apply to you. He refuses to bless you as long as you have so much foolishness going on in your life. He needs to distinguish himself from the witchcraft that is going on in your life. He is not impressed by all of the shouting that you do in church. Half of y'all are shouting because you are trying to get attention. The other half shouts because they are pretending to be in agreement with the Word even though the Word is not reflective in their life. The Bible says "let the priest and the minister weap, wail and howl." That's not what's going on in church because y'all are looking to cute when you are supposed to be worshiping him. You are too worried about your outfit, when you are supposed to be worship him. You are too worried about your hair when you are supposed to be worshipping him.
First comes Judgment, then Repentance, then the Blessing. Most of y'all are not going to make it because you refuse to repent. You want to shout over the blessing but not the judgement and definitely not the repentance. And this is the problem with the 21st century teaching. Learn to accept the correction, learn to repent and you will receive your blessing.
God intends to break through you and break [things] out of you. God made a covenant with the seed of Abraham that must come to pass. There was a covenant made about you that must come to pass. There was a promise that was made about you that must come to pass. God is in covenant with His Word and this Word concerns you. The desire to be in right standing with God means the willingness to be subject to His judgment. When you said "Abba, My father" when you first gave your life to Christ this mere statement gave Him the authority and the right to judge and correct and chastise you. God is a God of balance. Though His judgment comes by force, His blessings are also prolific. He balances love with judgment and correction with blessings. Watch out for leaders whose wrath bring you down yet fail to lift you up as they are not leading the way God would have them to lead. God is a God who does get angry with you yet His anger has the ability to dissipate instantaneously. This is why there is "no one like God." No human being has the ability to dissipate instantaneously the anger over what you have done, the way that God has. God's entire purpose is that he wants you back. People don't want you back. If you are here, you are here if you are not, you are not. If you are not here, they think "more space for me." But God, wants you back!
You have been in negotiation with sin for too long and sin will pay you back. God will bring down your economy because you have made an agreement with sin. Before you receive a blessing, God is going to disrupt all that is in your like that is not like him -- people, places and things. God is going to break down every spirit of influence in your life that is not like him. He is destroying all that you have aligned yourself with that is contaminating you. He has had people speak to you time and time again about the same things and it's to the point where you are acting like the Word does not apply to you. He refuses to bless you as long as you have so much foolishness going on in your life. He needs to distinguish himself from the witchcraft that is going on in your life. He is not impressed by all of the shouting that you do in church. Half of y'all are shouting because you are trying to get attention. The other half shouts because they are pretending to be in agreement with the Word even though the Word is not reflective in their life. The Bible says "let the priest and the minister weap, wail and howl." That's not what's going on in church because y'all are looking to cute when you are supposed to be worshiping him. You are too worried about your outfit, when you are supposed to be worship him. You are too worried about your hair when you are supposed to be worshipping him.
First comes Judgment, then Repentance, then the Blessing. Most of y'all are not going to make it because you refuse to repent. You want to shout over the blessing but not the judgement and definitely not the repentance. And this is the problem with the 21st century teaching. Learn to accept the correction, learn to repent and you will receive your blessing.
Thanks for reading this. If I have time, I will break down the "circuit breaker" concept. Let's just say that I will never look at one of those things the same way.
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