Sharp Dressed Mon

Written by Kermit Harpold; missionary to Jamaica, pastor of Destiny Church and Ministries, and Keeli's father.  Kermit writes about a powerful, transforming encounter one demon possessed man had with Jesus Christ at Lemon Hall Church in Jamaica. Before church one night, I noticed a man sitting alone in the center of a pew.  I walked back to shake his hand and, as I did, I was overwhelmed by the mixture of body odor and alcohol as well as the sight of bugs crawling in his long dreads.  As I held his hand, he shared that his sister said if he went to church that I would be able to cast a demon out of him.  He shared that he had not been sober in over 15 years and that he wanted to be normal and work again. I shared the love of God with him and took authority over the spirits that had wrecked his life.  He received Jesus as his Lord, was baptized in the Holy Spirit, began to speak in tongues and, for the first time in 15 years, was instantly sober.

The next night, there was a man sitting in the same place this man had been sitting the night before.  He was dressed very sharp and I thought he may be a preacher from one of the local churches who had come to visit.  As I stepped forward to welcome him, I realized it was the man from the night before.  God had not only done a miracle in his spirit, he had done a miracle in his physical body.

That night, he was healed of many ailments in his body, including diabetes and Hepatitis C.  He ministered with me, seeing many healed as he laid hands on people in Jesus’ name.  God, definitely, is good!

Kermit Harpold

Fun

It was the beginning of a new semester and every campus ministry is going all out to make sure students get plugged in.  Since meeting rooms on campus couldn’t be scheduled until classes began, Immersion Church needed a meeting space that was close to campus.  Our friend, a local television personality, offered his television studio for the first couple of Sundays.  This was a huge blessing – one we will never forget. Our friend unlocked the studio for us early one Sunday morning.  As we were setting up the sound equipment, he began to tell me that he hurt his leg in a skateboarding accident.  When I first met our friend, he was showing me photos of himself skateboarding.  In person, he always looked very professional.  In the photos, he was wearing a helmet, shorts and knee pads.  It didn’t seem feasible and I wasn’t sure if he was pulling my leg.  It wasn’t until later, I saw a video featuring him skateboarding.  Mind blown.  Now, his leg was injured and he expressed his fear that he may never be able to skateboard again.

I asked if I could pray for his leg to be healed.  We prayed and continued setting up the sound equipment.  This meeting, along with the others held in the studio, were phenomenal.  Our friend Staci ministered one Sunday and, at the end of another, a student was born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit.

The following week, he unlocked the studio and began telling me that he skateboarded that week and pulled some big tricks. “It’s really kind of a miracle,” I remember him saying.  His leg was healed!  Sometimes, we can blame the pain on our fun.  But Jesus wants us to have fun and do things we enjoy.  We don’t have to earn the healing, strive for the healing, or beg and plead.  There’s so much more we want to do to pay our friend back for his kindness in helping us launch another year of ministry at Appalachian State.  I believe one day we will.  Generosity like he had shown us is rare and made a lasting impression.  Had he not opened his studio for our use, I may not have had the chance to pray for his leg and maybe skateboarding would have become a thing of the past – nothing more than a fond memory.  But God…

Jonathan Fawcett

Turn-or-Burn Birthday

It was a beautiful autumn day and happened to be my 23^rd birthday.  What better way to start the day than going onto campus, shouting at students, picketing, and telling them they are all going to hell?  Well, that wasn’t how I started my birthday.  However, there was a group of turn-or-burn preachers occupying Sanford Mall outside of the Student Union.  Each time they come to ASU, they make a scene, start fights, stir dissension, and exchange heated words with students.  There was an absence of love, joy, and peace in their message and salvation was determined by good behavior rather than our righteousness being obtained by the finished work of Jesus on the cross.  While many believe it is their holy duty to change the minds of these hellfire and brimstone preachers, my friends and I decided to take another approach. Rarely will you ever change someone’s mind.  I like to let Jesus do that Himself.  How?  His goodness draws men to repentance.  His power yields fruit bearing witness of His goodness.  We leveraged the message these men were presenting as conversation starters with students.  We also didn’t “steal” from their audience.  Those who were engaged in the heated exchange were hot-tempered and looking for a fight.  Those outside of the ring were more approachable.  The Lord told me he had given us the angel of Victory as we went out.  Here’s what happened:

A couple of ladies on Appalachian State's female rugby team were passing out leaflets, advertising an event or game they were having.  One of them had a brace on their wrist.  My friend, Aaron, asked what happened to her wrist.  It had been sprained.  Aaron lightly touched it and simply said, “Wrist, be healed in Jesus’ name,” and removed his hand.  Almost immediately, she took the brace off and began turning her wrist to and fro.  Without us asking, her teammate confirmed that her wrist was unable to do that.  Just as a camera was being mounted on a tripod to capture footage of the preachers, Aaron grabbed the attention of the cameraman and told him that the real Jesus was doing miracles.  He glanced at us and the rugby players without saying a word and turned back around to complete the task he had started.

(If local or mainstream media don’t pick up on the stories, it could be, like this cameraman, they do not want to.  That’s why I encourage you to capture the healing on your phone or camera.  Document what The Lord is doing and give the world some good news!)

We later approached a student who broke his toe on a slack line (imagine a tightrope a few feet off the ground, tied between two trees).  This young man was not a believer.  We told him about the miracles we saw earlier that day and he let us pray for him.  His broken toe improved drastically and he was very shocked.  It may be hard to comprehend why some don’t receive all of Jesus right there on the spot, but sometimes we plant seeds and let the Holy Spirit take over.

Our other friend, Brennen, along with Aaron, saw someone on crutches and shot towards her to ask how they could pray.  This student was a runner and had ongoing issues with her knee.  They prayed for her and she hobbled off on the crutches.  Some would pose the question: Why didn’t God heal her?  The next time Brennen saw her, she was off the crutches and told him that there had been no pain since the day he and Aaron prayed for her.  Even if we didn’t see her throw her crutches down and cut cartwheels immediately, the truth remains: Jesus healed her!

The day ended with some mysterious aviator sunglasses (A birthday gift from Jesus?) lying on the top of my car, followed by a surprise party and a delicious cookie cake created by my amazing girlfriend at the time (Her name is Keeli... Maybe you’ve heard of her!).  The cake represented a revelation I had at the time: God’s love and power is like a train on its tracks.  Love is the way but without God's power you don't have a vehicle to get you there.  The power of God working through us is only effective through love.  I’ll never forget that birthday.

Jonathan Fawcett

Landmark

Friends,We are excited to announce an event taking place Friday, March 1 from 7pm-9pm in the Whitewater Lounge of the Student Union on Appalachian State's campus.  Campus ministers, local pastors, current students, alum, and residents who have been praying for revival and transformation to come to ASU are invited to pray as we worship with our friends, BJ and Lisa Sullivan.  Watch the video to learn more about Landmark: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGoqyMUgAO0?rel=0]

We will see you Friday, March 1st as we launch into 40 days of prayer and fasting.  Until then, Instagram this photo, tweet it, post it as your Facebook profile picture and help spread the word...

We love you and look forward to making a scene with you for the Kingdom of God.

Jonathan & Keeli Fawcett

Heart for Harvard - Part 2

I returned to Boone, NC from the Yale Institute with a fire burning on the inside of me that had been ignited by others with a similar passion for revival on college campuses.  At the Institute, I had met the President of Campus Renewal Ministries, Jeremy Story.  It was because of his message that my dreams were awakened.  I heard him share testimonies of what he had seen at the University of Texas and I wanted to see those same things at ASU.  When I heard him minister, it felt like my heart was going to explode with love and compassion for the college campuses.  In that moment, I knew my specific calling.  After hearing Jeremy, my passion to reach the nations through the universities and colleges became my purpose in life.  My life has never been the same since the first time I heard him speak. I was also captivated by the story of Gipsy Smith.  For the next several months I spent three to five hours everyday worshiping Jesus in my bathroom.  Why the bathroom?  Because Smith drew a circle around himself with chalk and asked God to fill the circle with revival and, in my apartment, the bathroom was the smallest room.  I asked God to fill that area with revival so it would pour out onto the entire campus and into the nations.  Worship music would play from the speakers I placed in the bathroom as I read my Bible and spent time with Jesus in the bathroom.  In those moments, I became confident in knowing that what God had spoken would come into being.

These are some of the words Jesus spoke to me in the summer of 2006:

“The Mountain Mission Movement coming out of Appalachian State University is greater than the Student Volunteer Mission Movement of the 1800s.” 

“Appalachian State will be known on the map for their football.  It will be a gateway for media coverage as my Spirit expands on the campus.” (ASU beat Michigan in 2007 and were back to back to back national champions).

On October 25^th, 2006, I met the man of my dreams at a prayer meeting I hosted in ASU’s Student Union.  After that meeting, several of us went out to eat at Dos Amigos.  That night at dinner my dad discovered Jonathan’s heart to host a meeting on campus to teach students on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  My dad encouraged Jonathan to meet up with me to plan the gathering, which we later called Presence: Out of Apathy…Into Power.  Jonathan and I began meeting the next week in the Student Union to plan Presence.  We would read over and add to the blue notebook Jonathan had written his dreams, ideas, and goals in.  It took several months of rejection until we finally had a time and place approved for the meeting: March 27, 2007.  In the meantime, we began Holy Spirit Parties that we intended to lead for only 3 weeks.  However, they continue to this day.

In the midst of continuing to plan Presence and hosting Holy Spirit Parties, we met several other friends who had the same heart for prayer and revival.  We truly lived a lifestyle of prayer and fasting.  Every week, I fasted with no food and only liquids from Sunday to Wednesday evening and again all day Thursday until after the Holy Spirit Party.  From that semester to now, we have seen thousands come to know Jesus and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Many miracles, including physical and emotional healing have also taken place.

We continue to share what Jesus is doing at ASU because testimonies spread the goodness of Jesus!  An individual prayer for revival at Harvard expanded into a vision for the nations and generations to know Jesus.  What may seem like small beginnings are such sweet memories that set you up to change the nations!

Indulge in how good God is!

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.      -Psalm 34:8

Keeli Fawcett

Heart for Harvard - Part 1

As a junior in college, I found myself praying for revival in the Ivy League schools.  I spent a night immersed in the presence of God, full of hope, that God’s presence would be known on Harvard’s campus.  After praying I began to think about how “strange” it was for me to have a heart for Harvard when I did not attend an Ivy League school. The next morning, I decided to research the connection between revival and the Ivy League campuses.  When I sat down to the computer, I searched Google for “Ivy League Revival”.  The very first link that came up took me directly to the registration page for the Yale Institute of Campus Revival and Awakening.  Although the website for the institute clearly explained that they were looking for campus ministers and professors with a heart for the universities, I knew God had ordered my steps and that I was to attend this gathering.  I completed my registration not knowing what the person on the other end was going to think when they saw I was a college student.  After applying, I told God that I expected for him to cover all of my finances to attend what I had just applied for.

A few days later, I received a phone call from an unknown number.  It was Dave Warn from Collegiate Impact who was planning and hosting the institute.  Dave shared how they appreciated my interest, but at that time they were not accepting college students.  If they changed their mind they would let me know.  After the conversation ended, I told God that I knew I was supposed to be there and I would go ahead and raise the financial support to go.  I wrote a letter and began sending it out to friends, explaining what the Lord had placed on my heart.

About a month before the institute began, I received my second phone call from Dave.  He let me know that they had decided to let me come if I could get my finances together in such a short period of time.  Little did he know at that time that I was already working on the money!  I told him the money wouldn’t be a problem.

A man from church offered to buy my plane ticket and I continued making plans to be somewhere that would reveal my heart’s desires.  It was amazing to see how God took care of every little detail including my two professors who allowed me to miss the last full week of summer school.

On my way to Yale, I had a layover in Hartford, CT and changed to a much smaller plane for the last flight into New Haven.  When I boarded the plane, a man in front of me named Gary Stratton asked if I was going to the institute and I told him I was!  He explained that when we were waiting at the terminal God spoke to him and told him there were specific young people God was raising up to lead His next move and when he closed his laptop to board the plane he saw me and God said, “She is one of them.”

That week, Gary was my dad away from home!  I have had the privilege of meeting part of his beautiful family and they are such a blessing!  I was in awe of how God not only takes care of our finances but also provides family and relationships everywhere we go with God!

Through that week I heard so many incredible ministers.  I met men of God who have had hundreds of angelic visitations in their home and took their time to pour into me that week.  There are men and women of God who have radically laid their lives down to see the fullness of God’s heart known to all men and nations.

On the last night of the institute, the President of Life Action Ministries, Byron Paulus, spoke after our dinner.  He shared the story of a man named Gipsy Smith who would take a piece of chalk and draw a circle around himself.  Smith would ask God to fill that circle with revival.  He knew if he was overflowing with God the presence of Jesus would pour out of him everywhere he went.  Revival begins with you!

That was a life changing message in my life!  From that night my heart has been to be so full of Jesus that I leak Him everywhere I go.  I want to radically love Jesus in such a way that every person I come in contact with knows Him.  Although I am blessed with an incredible family and friends, it was my passion from that night forward to know that my destiny, provision and happiness depended on God alone.  I knew that, even if it was just me and Jesus, we would see transformation together in the entire world.

Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. -Psalm 2:8

Keeli Fawcett

Jesus vs Virus

Unbeatable.  Incurable.  Fatal.  Untouchable.  Rejection.  These may be a few words that come to mind when you hear the word that has infected millions around the world: AIDS.  Many around the world have contracted this deadly virus and, in return, have been shunned by their communities as they await their inevitable, lonesome defeat, laid waste in rejection and decay.  As believers, we were mandated to turn these scenarios around. A friend, Joshua, and his father took a mission trip to Kenya in 2012.  While there, his father, full of the Holy Spirit, had the opportunity to pray for someone with AIDS.  A couple of days passed and the person returned, having since been tested for the virus, declared the good news that they had been healed.  AIDS died at the name of Jesus Christ.

Upon hearing this testimony, it reminded me of an account that I had the honor of playing a role in.  How?  By praying.

The details were a little fuzzy so I asked my friend, Kelly, for a recap.  Her family had the connection with the girl described in the following testimony.  Kelly writes:

The little girl in Brazil (Carol) was sold by her grandmother as a sex slave when she was 3 or 4 years old. I don't know when, but somehow she got herself to the orphanage where my father visited in 2007 - She was 12 years old then. As a result of her years as a sex slave, she suffered from digestive problems. I'm not sure when or how many times, but at least once (I could have sworn it was twice) she was tested positive for AIDS and because of this, the doctors in Brazil could not provide her with surgery she needed. We prayed and she was given another test for AIDS which came out negative. She then got the surgery she needed as all seemed well.

Please continue to send Carol (and the other children) your long distance prayers.

I want to focus on two words in her description: We prayed.

This was a girl I've never met in a country I have not yet visited.  The only background I had on the situation came from Kelly.  I don't know how many people were praying for Carol, but we declared that she was healed by the stripes of Jesus.  I remember receiving the news that there was no sign of AIDS in her body.  Sometimes, as believers, we tend to deduce the power of God to our proximity to the situation.  His love isn't just released when you lay hands on someone or see them face to face.  The five fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12) does not include intercessors.  Why?  Because we are all called to be intercessors!

Be encouraged and know that your prayers, intercession, and declarations over peoples, cities, and nations are powerful and effective because you are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.

Jonathan Fawcett - Like Something More on Facebook

Presence

October 25, 2006 is an important date.  That was the day Keeli and I first met.  She invited me to a prayer meeting being held in the Student Union on Appalachian State's campus the next night.  It was that night I saw passion in students I never saw up until that time.  The big shocker was that students were praying in tongues.  Being baptized in the Holy Spirit as a junior in high school, I had never been around a group of students this large that were desperate to see transformation on their campus.  After the prayer meeting, we went to a restaurant called Dos Amigos.  Ironically enough, a friendship was formed between two people. Sitting at the dinner table, I shared with Keeli's father, Kermit, about my vision to host a conference on campus telling others about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Why?  Because I had been raised in a Christian home, went to church all of my life, surrounded myself with friends that love Jesus, but never even heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit until my junior year of high school.  How many others were out there like me?  How many have been robbed of receiving the greatest gift a believer could receive because they never heard of it (like the believers in Acts 19:1-7)?

When I shared my vision with Kermit, he announced it to the entire table.  I remember making eye contact with Keeli.  We didn't wink at each other or make eyes at one another, but I remember noticing that this had her attention.  Kermit encouraged me to meet with her to plan this out and see it through.  It also helped that everyone else at the table was counting on action being taken.  Accountability at its finest.

From October to March, we planned, prepped, fasted, prayed, and advertised.  We called the conference "Presence: Out of Apathy... Into Power".  It was a different time.  Back then, everyone pitched in.  Their efforts to ensure this conference was a success has not been overlooked or forgotten.  Everyone did their part, from the worship team and video/sound crew to the prayer group from Asheville and graphic designer who created the posters and fliers students distributed.  It was the Body of Christ in its purest form.

200 were in attendance, including students from twelve different campus ministries.  That night, eight students were baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for the first time.  The eight that received the baptism of the Holy Spirit were significant, but what happened afterwards was beautiful.  Hundreds of people have since been baptized in the Holy Spirit.  Not just at conferences or church meetings, but in everyday life.  If we went to lunch with someone, we would lead them in the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  If we carpooled with someone or gave them a ride, they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.  If we hung out in dorms or apartments, people would get baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Never deduce what is meant for everyday life to a church meeting.  Don't always expect a preacher, pastor or Bible study leader to do it for you.  You have influence.  When you live a life of testimonies that point to Jesus, you can easily have people's attention, stir their hunger, and lead them to receive the Lord, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and do so simplistically.  The Spirit of God is not on break during your life outside of a church meeting.  He is alive, ready for others - everybody - to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  As I like to say, being baptized in the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with your salvation, but it could have everything to do with someone else's.  This baptism makes heaven tangible on earth for you and those around you.  This baptism empowers you, the believer, to do the works that Jesus did and greater.

Jonathan Fawcett

Healing in the Home

Family is the greatest ministry.  Our daughter, Anneli, before she turns one year old, has been immersed in an atmosphere of worship, the Father’s love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.  There isn’t a day that passes without Keeli and I sharing what Jesus is speaking to us.  It’s a home of love.  Like the church, we’re not confined to a building.  Wherever our family is, home is there too. As I reflect on this past year with Anneli, I give thanks to God for her health.  She has never been sick.  The more she laughs, the healthier she gets.  In turn, we keep her laughing. “A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing” (Proverbs 17:22, AMP).

When music is playing, Anneli dances.  When we are gathered with believers and worship is in session, she jumps and bounces.  She has been wrapped around our necks or carried in her car seat as we have prayed for people and they were healed.  She has been a great companion on treasure hunts.

On Monday, January 21, 2013, the eve of the 40^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade (the case that legalized abortion in the United States), I was healed at the touch of my daughter.  Weeks prior, Keeli’s mother shared that there was something special about Anneli’s hands, that she had healing hands.  That Monday night, we saw it.

I was playing with Anneli, and when I sat her down, my left hand and wrist were very sore.  I had a similar sensation to having my hand shaken with a loose grip while the other squeezed with all their might.  Whenever my wrist hurts, it is an indicator that my arms are different lengths.  As I stretched my arms above my head, touched my palms together and brought my arms straight down in front of me, Keeli and I saw that my left arm was, indeed, shorter than the other.*

We were in our living room and Anneli was sitting in her highchair.  I repeated the process of measuring my arms and pointed them in front of Anneli.  Without hesitation, she stopped eating her Cheerios, clasped her little hands over mine and my left arm sprang out (about an inch).  We started laughing and thanking God.  Anneli just smiled, batted her blue eyes as she looked at me, and began clapping in her highchair.  The pain was completely gone!

On the eve of a terrible anniversary, we celebrated our daughter, remembering that everyone has a purpose, a call of God on their life, and a destiny.  So many destinies are being aborted.  At eleven months, she is already laying hands on the sick and hurting and seeing them recover!  Some things will simply mess with your formulas and theology.  Without a word, I was healed with a simple touch.

*For a video that may give you a better understanding of what happened, click here: http://youtu.be/yhxSkau72Lw

Jonathan Fawcett

Trust Him

It has been almost one year since Anneli was born and it has been the fastest year of my life!  Anneli brings us unexplainable joy!  Since the moment we found out we were pregnant, it has been my prayer for Jesus to take care of every need we would face.  Through the pregnancy, God took care of every situation from providing insurance, a larger home and protection during a car accident when I was five months pregnant. It has always been the desire of my heart to be with my children and take them with me to do ministry.  In the natural, it was impossible for us to live on only one salary.  However, after having Anneli, Jonathan and I both had such a peace that I should step out of my job at the community college.  Things we had been praying for over the past five years were coming into fruition in just a matter of time.  We still had no way to cover our bills but we knew, in the long run, we would be better off to go with the peace of Jesus.  As soon as I found out I was pregnant, we began saving money as though that was our actual job!  We also began selling anything and everything that we did not use around the home.  It was amazing how much “stuff” we had to get rid of.

As the first months passed by after Anneli’s birth, I watched our savings account dwindle away while knowing that it would eventually be empty.  For days, I would wake up in the morning asking God what He wanted me to do and presenting him with different job options but He would say, “Trust me.  You can go for that job but I have much better.  Trust me.”  Week after week, all I could tell Jonathan was that Jesus said to trust Him.  I have no clue how He is going to take care of us but I just know that I need to wait on Him and trust Him.  Waiting can be one of the hardest things to do in life.  It seems so much easier to take matters into our own hands and create a solution.  However, I have learned that, over the long haul and even in the present moment, we are always better off to stand on God’s word.  Jesus always has our best interest in mind and He is always working in our favor.  God knows what He is talking about.

As our savings account decreased and it became harder to find items to sell, there did not seem to be any sign of financial increase except God’s promise.  In November, I woke up in the middle night and went to the living room where I could hear and see rain pouring.  In that moment, the Lord said, “This month, financial provision will be poured into your home.”  In that same month, I was contacted by a friend who asked if they could connect me with a lady who was looking for someone to keep her little girl a few days each week.  It ended up that the family lives off the same road we do and I keep the little girl at home with Anneli!  God knew all along what He had planned.  I could have gone out on my own, looked for a job where I couldn’t keep Anneli and found a job that would have possibly hindered the ministry we do on campus and kept us from our ministry travels on the weekend but the hours of my new job and location of the family are perfect.  God is so good, always on time and is better that we could ever imagine.  No matter what we are believing for or trying to figure out, God has the answer and He will always come through on your behalf.  Trust Him!

Keeli Fawcett

Simple

The moment every believer waits for. If we screw up, we could blow it for all eternity… for the other person. That’s right. I’m talking about the pressure many endure. I'm talking about sharing your faith. Let me give you a scenario that plays through the mind of many Christians who have ever contemplated sharing their faith with others:

First, it begins with learning someone is not a follower of Jesus. When in their presence, it’s like walking on eggshells to be the best clean-joking Christian they’ve ever met. It is not expedient to share with them just yet because we are building the relationship, even if they aren’t that enjoyable to be around. It becomes exhausting and drains the life out of you. Then, the opportunity knocks. It’s time to rise to the occasion and fulfill our call to duty. But instead of simply sharing, the conversation turns to convincing, most likely with hours upon hours of discussion, debate, disagreement, and busting out the greatest apologetic hits. Flex your knowledge, admire the size of your brain, and stand in awe of the knowledge you retained from your preacher. After a heated debate about sin, Pygmies, and smoking, a cell phone call interrupts and time has been spent.

If you’re “successful” then you made it through without losing a friend or burning a bridge. If you’re really good, then you spoke the entire time with their full attention, ending with you leading them in a prayer to receive Christ. Worst case scenario, you may have destroyed any possibility of future (awkward) discussion but feel like a real soldier for Christ because you “planted seeds.” In all of the talking, topics like the power of the Holy Spirit, signs, wonders, healing and miracles do not make their debut for fear it may "weird them out" to hear about the supernatural power of God. Perfect love casts out all fear. If we do this out of religious obligation and not because of love we're missing the mark. Love is fearless.

When we anticipate an event like this, we think about every possible turn it could take, and imagine every ill-occurrence that is possible.

Let me give you another scenario. This one is true.

At a former summer job on campus, I became friends with one of my coworkers. We shared common ground with music, had similar taste in bands, and recorded a few songs. We always had fun, laughed a lot, and jammed when the opportunity presented itself. Keywords: friends and fun. Often, we try to force ourselves into situations with people who we can’t stand to be around. This was not the case.

One night, we were hanging out with some other coworkers. It was the weekend and I was the only sober person in the group. The topic of God was brought up (That tends to happen when people drink). I didn’t bring up God. They did. In their denial, I simply claimed that I had seen the supernatural power of Jesus heal the sick and I had witnessed His Spirit perform signs, wonders, and miracles because of His love and the finished work of the cross. The night ended, the friendship continued and we finished our summer with eight coworkers receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. My friend, however, was not counted among them. No hard feelings. No dispute. No hours of long discussion.

Towards the end of the Spring semester, I received a call from my friend. He wanted to grab lunch. I met him in the Student Union. He began by apologizing to me. He continued to explain that he gave up drinking for Lent (Coming from someone who never gave up anything for Lent, it was funny how unbelievers can still be religious). In his forty days of sobriety, he began to like himself more and more. He began reading the Bible and began praying. He received salvation in Jesus and the Holy Ghost took up residence in him!

Now, my friend knows Jesus. Without a heated debate, a long discussion, and without bringing out the big guns of apologetics. I didn’t even pray with him to receive Christ. The goodness of God draws men to repentance. I am not the Holy Spirit. I only stood by Jesus because He has shown me His power. This is why testimonies are important. The lines are being drawn. The real Jesus is being revealed through the power of His Spirit working through His bride while the masquerade of religion, its performance, and grueling boredom is being exposed.

I don’t have to convince people that I’m right or that they’re wrong. That is the beauty of sharing the Gospel. When the Gospel is truly preached, signs and wonders follow. Jesus confirms His Word with signs following (Mark 16:15-20). It’s only in through the power of the Spirit, through signs and wonders that we as believers can fully proclaim the Gospel (Romans 15:18-19). The Gospel is the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (I Corinthians 4:20). Talk is cheap. Power was purchased at the cross and its reward is awaiting all who will receive.

Be encouraged and love a friend to Jesus.

Jonathan Fawcett

Perfect Conditions

The conditions we put on our love towards people is founded on their appearance and their actions.  I tend to think Jesus always set a better example.  He examined the heart.  If people were inevitably bound to their demons with no hope of redemption then how could any of us be eligible for a Savior?  The “unsaved” are never “unsavable”. Neither Keeli nor I have ever had a beer.  (Beer battered fish, however, is another story… So good!) You could say that we live in a dry home.  It is a personal choice to not drink.  We don’t judge others if they do or think that we are higher than others because we don’t.  We have chosen not to play with other people’s fire.  Some lack control.  Some get consumed.  Some hurt themselves or others.  One man named Carl knew the monster of alcoholism.  But one night, he had an encounter with the fire of God.

I played guitar for a band during my college years with my friends, Ben, Matthew and Colby (all very talented musicians).  We were in downtown Asheville.  We strolled away from the coffee shop and made our way to my vehicle.  For some reason, we stopped to pray for each other.  Before we know it, a man comes stumbling towards us.

“I love Jesus,” he said.  This man was clearly drunk.  He started begging for money and told us he didn’t have a vehicle.  Two sentences later he pointed to a van claiming that it was his.  So let’s assess the situation.  A lying, begging, homeless drunk is raving about Jesus.  Sometimes, believers who distance themselves from certain things can have a tendency to also distance themselves from the people who are consumed by those things.  When that occurs, opportunities are missed!  On this night, conditions were perfect for God to move!

We asked Carl if we could pray with him.  He accepted.  We asked him what we could pray for.  He stretched out his hands and said he had arthritis.  It literally looked like golf balls were tucked under his skin around the middle knuckle on each hand.  Ben grabbed his hand and I placed my hand on top of Carl’s.  Ben prayed.  When we looked at his hands, the “golf balls” shrunk tremendously!  He began moving his hands like he couldn’t before.  One miracle happened.  Why not another?

I asked him if he had back pain.  He did.  He sat down on a curb and stretched out his legs.  One leg was about an inch shorter than the other.  We commanded his leg to grow in the name of Jesus and it shot out perfectly even with his other.

We gave him some cash and thanked him for letting us pray with him.  You never know who you’ll encounter or if you will ever see or hear from them again.  That’s why it’s important to reveal the love of God to all we encounter.  When certain people seem unlovable, let God’s grace and love take the lead.

Jonathan Fawcett

Honor

A bride and groom are to be wed.  The wedding date is set and they are ready to begin their life together, start a family, and live happily ever after.  But the wedding date has been changed.  It was expedient for the wedding to happen as soon as possible because the bride’s mother has cancer.  She was not given long to live.  In fact, she was not given enough time for the original date of the wedding. Hopeless.   Depressing.  Disheartening.  Just a few words that come to mind.  This dire situation proved bleak in a time that should be joyful.  How many times have we heard similar stories, look at the ground and solemnly shake our heads with a sad countenance?  The moments of silence should be ruptured by radical faith.

This scenario is true.  The wedding took place and the mother, consumed with cancer, attended.  Thankfully, one of the guests had radical faith.  He was standing in the corner, praying in the Spirit and heard the voice of God say, “Ask her [the mother of the bride] if she honored her father and mother.  Her answer will mean life or death.”

The mother of the bride was surrounded by a crowd.  As the guest began his approach, the crowd regrouped elsewhere to have their picture made.  She was left alone as the guest asked her the question.

After acknowledging that she did, indeed, honor her father and mother, the guest proceeded to tell her that this was the only commandment with a promise: long life on the earth.  He then prayed with her and commanded the cancer to leave her body in the name of Jesus.  It wasn’t a long prayer.  Thirty seconds at the most.  The reception continued and the bride and groom went on their honeymoon.

Upon their return from the honeymoon, the groom called the guest who prayed for his wife’s mother.  Upon asking how she was doing, he quickly put his bride on the phone.

“She went in for a scan.  They scanned her.  Then they scanned her again,” she explained.

Waiting for clarification, the guest asked, “What does that mean?”

The bride’s mother was cancer free!  It could not be found!  This has been over a decade ago and the mother is still alive and healthy.

So, who was the guest who boldly asked the cancer patient about honoring her parents?  It was my wife’s father, my father-in-law: Kermit Harpold.  Kermit taught me how to lead a supernatural life empowered by the Holy Spirit.  He demonstrated the Father’s love, the power of faith, and unhinged freedom of God’s grace.  The Gospel he preaches always yields fruit, maintains its simplicity, and yet it continues to confound me with its depth.  The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

In honor of a great father, father in the faith, and a man who shows honor and love to all he encounters, Kermit Harpold has been used by God to disciple leaders that will change the world.  With him, our vision is stirred and our passion is fueled as we seek to multiply God’s kingdom on earth.

Jonathan Fawcett

Jesus Loves Babies

When I was a student at ASU, a friend of a friend made an appearance all the way from New Jersey to initiate a pro-life group on campus to stand for the rights of the unborn.  She was bold and passionate about the issue and the people involved.  Her conviction was driven by love for the women who had abortions, the babies who had been aborted, and the unborn children whose lives hung in the balance of a decision. Years later, she was married, moved to Arizona, and had her first child, Karen Ann.

When Karen Ann was 14 months old, she was just diagnosed with cerebral palsy.  There was something wrong with her gross motor skills.  She had the ability of about an eight month old.  Although it was hard for her, she was mentally ready to do so much more than she was physically capable of.  She couldn’t seem to get her legs to function correctly.  It was difficult for her to put weight on them.  At this stage, she was getting around by army crawling.

Little did we know, Karen Ann’s mother had been reading the testimonies posted on this blog.  She asked if we would pray for her daughter.  We shared the testimony of a friend who was healed of cerebral palsy to stir faith for her daughter’s healing.  Then, we emailed a prayer of healing and restoration for her to read every day over her daughter.

Two months passed and we heard the report:

Hey Jonathan and Keeli, I wanted you both to know that Karen has been in physical therapy for two months now and has improved so drastically we're all amazed. She's 16 months old and crawling now really well! Her balance is better and she's pulling herself up on furniture, and walking while holding on to chairs and couches. Thank you for your prayers! A few months ago we didn't know if she'd ever crawl or walk!

Karen Ann’s improvements have been really dramatic.  At 17 months old, she is crawling on all fours with her knees underneath her.  She is no longer dragging her legs behind her.  As her muscle tone develops, we continue to believe that she will be walking soon without assistance.  Agree with us in prayer as we continue to believe for Karen Ann’s healing.  She is a happy, joyful girl and the Lord has great plans for her!

Update, February 11, 2013: Keeli played a video for me on Facebook of Karen Ann walking all by herself.  She didn't trip, stumble, wobble, or fall.  Her mother declared her a "full time walker" and, as you can imagine, we were elated.  We replayed the video over and over and over, each time sensing the overwhelming goodness and love of God!

This testimony has shown how the Lord uses this blog to reach people across the nation.  If you ever need prayer, agreement for breakthrough, or a miracle, we would be honored to stand with you.  Email us at somethingmoreinc@gmail.com.

Jonathan Fawcett

Wounded Knee

When you have a nine month old baby who rides in a car seat, you get used to the routine of taking them in and out of the car seat. One day, we were in Keeli's parents' car. I took her out and WHAM! I turned the wrong way and busted my knee. I wasn't sore to the point of limping but I certainly could feel the pain. For the next few days at work, I anticipated the pain when I went to the water cooler. I would crouch in front of it, fill up my cup, and slowly stand back up. Each time, my knee would get sore. The same was true when I would bend my knees to put Anneli in and out of her car seat. On a Wednesday night at Immersion, Keeli spoke to my knee and commanded it to be well in the name of Jesus.

You may be thinking, "Why didn't you heal your own knee?" or, "Didn't you ask someone to pray for it already." Oddly enough, I did not.  Why?  Honestly, I have no idea.  I guess I figured that it would just heal on its own.  The pain was in short spurts when I was crouched down for minute tasks.  An absent minded decision on my part to neglect the love and healing set aside for me.

The day after Keeli prayed for my knee, I was at work.  In my attempt to quench my thirst, I slowly crouched at the water cooler, anticipating the oncoming pain... except the pain never came.  I stood up again, crouched down and, again, the pain was gone!  My knee didn't hurt since!

The Lord wants to heal everything because He took a beating and died to heal every sickness, disease, infirmity, cancer, cold, hurt knee - EVERYTHING!  Never do what I did and allow pain to become a part of your life.  Allow Jesus to heal.  Don't delay!  Act now!

Jonathan Fawcett

Ascension

Video Blog: Jonathan gives an overview of the testimonies from their time in Raleigh, NC followed by the Word Keeli ministered that preceded the miracles and healing. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVTaEWqaPQw?rel=0&w=640&h=360]

Feather and Fedora

Fall In Love 2012 was a weekend conference in Boone, NC focused on power evangelism.  It certainly was that and more.  Friends traveled from around the country to gain experience in “doing the stuff” that believers were commissioned to carry out. This conference was unlike any I’ve ever experienced.  It wasn’t masses of people coming to listen, take notes, break for lunch, and return for the nightly sessions.  Instead, it was a small group of strangers that connected through their appetite for the supernatural and left as friends.

Rich Brink, a friend we met in Boston, flew from Maine for the weekend.  Rich stirred us with testimonies and shared from John 4 (where Jesus encounters the woman at the well).  He taught practical ways of sharing the Gospel simply and powerfully.

Upon finishing, we were ready to begin the treasure hunt.  This is where we pray in the Spirit and write down every impression we hear from God.  Then, we compare notes, break into teams, and search for the people - the treasures - that the Lord wants to show us.  Often, people get healed, encouraged, or saved.  It was homecoming weekend at Appalachian State so “black and gold” were obvious clues.  We prayed in the Spirit, wrote down our clues and began sharing and connecting the dots.

BJ and Lisa Sullivan, worship leaders and friends from Charlotte, were present.  BJ, sitting down at the front says, “All I saw was a fedora with a feather in it.”

Lisa, standing by the door points out the window and says, “There he goes!” On a skateboard, a man wearing a fedora with a feather in it, shoots by in a blur.  BJ and Richard (our friend and former intern with Immersion Church) try to chase him down but he was too fast.  With many thousands of ASU fans, parents, and students, we knew he would be found again.

We divided into groups of three and began to follow the clues.  I am almost certain that every person with crutches, a cast, or boot was ministered to, prayed for, and some said they began to feel better.  I was with Rich Brink and Josh from Alabama.  Josh attended Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry for two years.  He gave an accurate prophetic word to a friend who serves on the custodial staff.

We then start making our way to the stadium.  Josh and Rich speak a moment to someone on crutches and return right as the fedora and feather walks a few feet right in front of us.  Rich and I catch up with him.  He tells us that he was already found once but was willing to receive anything we had to give him.  We pulled off from the moving crowd and began prophesying to him, encouraging him, and praying for him.  I asked him to stretch out his hands to feel the glory of God.  His arms began to sink under the tangible weight of God’s goodness.

We returned to see that it only took a short time to cover ASU’s campus with a handful of believers.

Jonathan Fawcett

New Endeavors

This is a blog but it is comprised of testimonies of the Lord's power at work.  Why?  Because this generation, like every other before it, needs the tangible power of God to believe.  Joshua 24:31 says: Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.

What happened during the days of Moses and Joshua?  Signs and wonders.  When we forget what the Lord has done, human nature has proven to revert to filling the natural hunger for God with idols.  This is why David said in Psalm 77:11-12:

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.

God has called us to accomplish many tasks and we are rising to the occasion.  Our desire is to be instantly obedient to what the Lord has called us to do.  In the midst of it all, we ask for and welcome your prayers - the prayers of faith!

What can you be praying for?

Fall In Love 2012 - This beautiful autumn weekend in Boone, NC will be an event filled with students and passionate believers from around the country learning the fundamentals of power evangelism.  Hands on training (including treasure hunts and prophetic evangelism) will be included.  Pray that all who attend get stirred with boldness and confidence to lead others to Jesus through the demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power.  Pray also for those who will be encountered in our outreaches.

Immersion ASU and UNCG - Students at Appalachian State are learning about and experiencing the Holy Spirit, grace and the kingdom of God.  As we pastor Immersion Church on ASU's campus, pray for the students we minister to.  Pray that they would daily be aware of the opportunities for them to be missionaries on their campus.  As our good friend and former intern, Richard Lambert, continues to network and meet students on UNC Greensboro's campus, pray for abundant favor with students, faculty and staff as he establishes an Immersion plant on the campus of UNCG.

Something More School of Ministry - As SMSOM launches, pray for the students.  Pray they would see an increase in the supernatural power of God in all they do and that many lives would be transformed because they are hungry for more.  Pray for us as we teach the classes.

Experience - Appalachian State has been the home of miracles on campus for the simple reason that we have purposed to be laborers in the harvest field rather than only praying.  Our desire is to host students from around the nation to train and reveal the nature of Christ when encountering unbelievers outside the four walls of comfort (much like "Fall In Love" but more frequently).  The Holy Spirit is the Comforter... probably because we will be in uncomfortable situations.  As believers, we must return to the basics of the Great Commission.  When we go into the world, signs and wonders confirm the message we bring (Mark 16:20).  Many are hungry and the Lord has prepared a feast before us but many don't realize how to indulge in what He has prepared.  Our desire is to give experience to those who are hungry so that, everywhere they go, they will know how to live full and bring guests to the table!  As details come together, we ask that you pray for hunger to stir in the students who want nothing less than transformation on their campuses... and that they find us!

Thank you for your agreement, prayers and support.  You are a blessing to us.

The Fawcetts

Blue Nails

When the seventy two disciples returned to Jesus, He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.” The only time a geographical principality falls over a region is when disciples go into the world to preach the Kingdom of God with signs and wonders confirming their message (Luke 10:17-20).  When followers of Jesus devote more time to shutting themselves away from the world to pray, fast, cry out, repent, and beg for an outpouring of revival, nothing will change.  Fellowship with God is wonderful, but transformation will never come when believers are begging Him for a solution He has already given.  His Holy Spirit has come and is poured out on believers to be radical dead raisers like Jesus.  While heartbreaking to both of us, we purpose to respond with faith in action.  We must open our eyes to the mission field in our sphere of influence and stop letting the awkward barrier stand in your way.  You are a house of prayer.  You are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  You are the church. I recall Keeli’s testimony of praying, “Jesus, if it’s just you and me, we’ll see this campus transformed.” So on the night of September 13, 2012, Jesus, Anneli, Keeli and I went on a treasure hunt date.  We took a couple of minutes to listen, wrote our clues in the notes app on our iPhones, wrote them on the chalkboard and began to make connections.

We concluded to go to the cafeteria, Green Briar Theater, and Domino's.  As we took off, we immediately saw our first clue: A boot on the left foot of a girl with brown hair.  We followed her just a short distance to Cascades, the dining area of the Student Union.  We began asking her questions about her injury.  She, and her two friends, were very friendly and were believers in Jesus.  She let us pray for her foot, rib, and for direction as she made decisions for her future.  We believe she has a tremendous call on her life.

We then make our way to Green Briar Theater.  Surprisingly, through the doors comes our friend, Ieesha.  She was ready to join the hunt!  She told us the movie was not playing at Green Briar but at IG Greer.  We go there and wait.  We had some time to kill before the movie was over so we headed to the cafeteria.  As I strolled Anneli, some young ladies held the door open for Anneli and me.  Immediately I noticed our second clue: Blue fingernail polish!

I began asking all these questions pertaining to other clues.  Nothing was lining up.  Then Keeli says, “Look!  Roses!” The other student had a shirt with roses (one of Keeli’s clues) on it.  I explained what happened earlier in Cascades.  Then I showed them the list of clues on my iPhone.  They were stunned!  When strangers approach to tell you Jesus sent them specifically for you, your day can’t help but get better!  They were also followers of Jesus and let us pray for them.

We went back to IG Greer as the movie let out.  No matching clues.  Sometimes a location can be used to kill time so you meet the person God intended.  As we walk away we meet a friend on the path who is going to the next showing.  We briefly say hello and continue.  Wait a minute!  She’s going to the movies (clue #1), was drinking out of a green soda bottle (clue #2), was wearing yellow (clue #3) and was going to the movie (clue #4).  We totally had a Dumb and Dumber moment!  We turned around, found her, and explained that she matched our clues.  She has a ministry to China and needed funds to return this summer.  She also had an important interview.  Ieesha prayed for favor, provision, and grace to abound in her life.

After this encounter we went to Domino’s Pizza.  I have been craving BBQ pizza all week and we got one for 40% off.  I like when Jesus blesses us with good deals on good food!

Sometimes, Jesus sends us to unbelievers.  That night, we were sent to believers.  We can never get enough encouragement.  The love of God can never be reinforced enough because it is His love that makes the supernatural life effective.

*UPDATE The next day, I had lunch with a friend.  He begins telling me about his desire to write his friend who is currently in prison (clue 1) and explaining how life can be different for him when he is free (clue 2).  Go Jesus!  Two more clues the day after!

*UPDATE # 2 The Wednesday following our Thursday night treasure hunt, the student with brown hair and a boot on her left foot came to Immersion.  She shared that the broken bone in her foot would have required surgery.  However, after an MRI, the doctor said that the bone had moved back into place!  Another reason to not be discouraged if a healing isn't immediate.

Breathe

Another day in the office, except this day was filled with coughs from the corner.  I overheard a coworker voice her concerns about breathing problems she had been experiencing.  She was constantly getting choked, coughing horrendously and told a fellow employee that she was scared.  Fear and faith do not coexist.  Neither does sickness and the Kingdom of God.  I approached her desk and asked if I could pray with her.  Her eyes were watery from the constant choking.  As she caught her breath in between coughs, she agreed. As I spoke the Word of God over her life, released the Kingdom of God and His promises of healing, the only sound behind the prayer was the sound of deep breaths.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Inhale.  Exhale.  For the first time that week, all coughing ceased.

As coworkers checked on her throughout the day I overheard her tell people, “Jonathan prayed for me and now I am healed!” I may have prayed, but the stripes of Jesus paid the price for her healing, yours and mine (I Peter 2:24).  When we speak the Word of God, the mind is renewed and faith is activated (Romans 12:2, 10:17).   In doing so, we align ourselves to receive the promises of God.  Simply, we believe.

Paul was greatly annoyed by a demon possessed girl and cast the demon out (Acts 16:17-18).  The question is how long do we let the works of the enemy annoy us until we put an end to it?  The difference between sympathy and compassion: sympathy sits on its hands and feels sorry for the person.  Compassion demands action.

The enemy came to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).  Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8).  In this world, we are like Jesus (I John 4:17) which means it's not only okay for you to put an end to the devil’s abuse, but it's expected.

Jonathan Fawcett