It’s always great to be able to hit the streets and wade into the multitude in need of a Savior and Shepperd. 

Recently, at Mocha Mommas Coffee, Jeff Boyer and special guest Pastor Destaye Crawford, formally from Ethiopia, went out on Nicollet Avenue downtown Minneapolis.  The first person we talked with was a young man from Southern Zimbabwe and he said  Pastor Destaye  reminded him of his mother and grandmother.  He didn’t feel free to share with us his troubles but let us pray for him.  He was open and willing to receive God’s help.

There isn’t a time when we go out that we don’t have someone who is open to receive prayer.  The harvest is truly ripe! 

Jesus commanded the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; Matthew 28:19.  We had the honor and opportunity to do a baptism service for a young lady, Trinity Howard.  We have known Trinity since she was a child and her parents and siblings ministered with us at the winter outreaches.

 On a hot Sunday afternoon family and friends met along with Heidi Seymour, a minister and longtime friend of Forerunner, who co-officiated the baptism.  Once again, we felt God’s call and the hunger from this younger generation wanting to go all in for and with God.  What an honor it was to be a part of this celebration!

 It was a special time recently reuniting for our annual mentor picnic.  As I reflect on some of what God has done with this group, there are three things that come to mind.  There was discipleship (mentoring) that has taken place, a fellowship was formed, and a friendship that has lasted over the years. We got out the guitars and played some songs and closed with prayer over each other after reading Hebrews 12:15 (NLT), “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God.”

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It was great to be with Pastor Destaye Crawford (Every Tongue & Tribe) for a Sunday morning outdoor service at Elliott Park, downtown Minneapolis.

Recently, after returning from a time of evangelism in downtown Minneapolis, I was reflecting on the never-ending harvest fields.  Years ago, we had a team that would go downtown and witness and worship on street corners.  We also hosted three conferences called “Regions Beyond” for equipping for the harvest. 

There came a point in my life where I became tired and frustrated with seeing little fruit.  In prayer one morning, I knelt down and resigned as an evangelist.  Not long after that, the Holy Spirit directed me to Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke…”.

Throughout the following years, it has been a surrendering of my yoke and learning to take His.  Remember the expression, “we need to work smarter, not harder”?

I am saying all this to say that the most recent trip downtown with longtime friend and Forerunner team veteran, Jeff Boyer, was a brief but fruitful and peaceful time at Mocha Momma’s.  During our time on Nicollet Avenue, we encountered four people which we had conversations with and were able to pray with three of them.

 My heart went out to the first young lady, Tianna, who was so frail and strung out on drugs.  Jeff and I prayed and declared deliverance, freedom, and salvation over her.  Time and space can’t express the rest of our time, but it’s all out there; the hurting and broken ones Jesus talked about in Matt. 9:36. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”

Remember friends Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me…”.

Go in the power of His Spirit, taking His yoke and proclaiming His Kingdom and His gospel.

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For some sometime now we have been waiting and working on a time for one of the men we mentor to be baptized.  The day finally came and Forerunner, along with Metro Hope Ministries were able to be a part of baptizing James Taylor, aka Jimbo. 

James is on staff at Metro Hope and we have known him for some time, seeing his growth in his love for the Lord.  This was a big event as he publicly realized what Romans 6:3-5 says, “…being baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus”.  A new day and a new life.

Metro Hope staff member Ross was also baptized.  He has experienced a real growth in his walk with the Lord.  Metro Hope is one of the oldest drug rehab centers in the Twin Cities.  We are humbled and honored to be able to minister there at chapels, cooking meals, and special events.

We had a great time getting together on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon, celebrating our years of being together as the guitar and mentorship group of Forerunner.  We ate, had fellowship, and yes, broke out the guitars for a short time of praise. 

God is so good and so faithful in His keeping power over us through the years.  There was a sense of family.  Thank you, our Forerunner friends and family, who have supported and sown into this group and other endeavors of Forerunner.