Carpenter’s Tools - In the Mouth of the Port!….

By Pastor Wallace Phillips - July 28th, 2006

That’s right! I’m writing to you from the mouth of the busy port off the Atlantic coast near the Elizabeth and the James – Portsmouth, Virginia. I’m preaching a tent meeting for Pastor Ron Thompson of Mount Sinai United Holy Church in the inner city of Portsmouth. He has a heart to reach the people that God has assigned to his hands in this impoverish urban area of the Tidewater.

I feel like I am in a hamlet in India again -- A tent for a church, the homeless in all directions, extreme heat, and a gathering of hungry souls that await the presence of God. Tent revivals are not the most popular ministry venues, but they are in order in some places. After the first night of swatting insects, waving fans, and drinking water, I can assuredly say, I’m in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.

Prior to the beginning of the service I wandered down streets lined with the homeless and the poor. I invited them to come out to hear the message of God’s love. It seemed strange to have this white man walking around an all-black community with a smile on his face extending an invitation for them to join, but my efforts paid off as we had as many outside the tent as we had under it. There was anticipation to this series of meetings.

I preached in the Virginia twilight. Many made their way to listen to us proclaim the message of faith in God from the life of Abraham. Genesis 12 records the story. God asked this man to leave the comforts of his father’s provision and step out into a land that he didn’t even know. God would show him, but he had to have the willingness to leave first. “God is asking you to “leave” a life of sin and embrace a life of righteousness and following Christ,” I said. “God is asking some of you to leave an environment that you know is not right,” I continued.

The altar was filled with folk broken to tears; each having their own issue that they would pray about. I saw the power of God move sweetly on the lives of all who gathered there. He is faithful.

On this evening and the next two, God asked Joy and I to leave the comforts of our ministry base in Ahoskie; to leave the air conditioned sanctuary and all that comes with that provision, and share the love of God with the poor of this community. I’m glad we left when God posed this question to us. He showed up in spirit and in power and the tent was not an issue. The heat was not an issue. The crime-filled streets were not an issue. There was joy in heaven because we shared the love of Father God with the poor of this city.

What is God asking you to leave? Don’t be selfish. Don’t be afraid. When you “leave” you will find that you receive all that Abraham did. You get direction, you get promises, you get strength…to do all that God ask of you for that season. He is faithful.

Pray for the inner city of Portsmouth today. Pray for the inner city of where you live. Pray for His love to abound and for the people to feel His wonderful spirit.

Please visit us on the web at http://www.cscministries.com/ or http://www.wallacephillips.org/