Big Daddy Weave Concert

I really am still in awe as I write this, and I only hope I can convey at least some of what God has done to you this morning. Last night was one of the greatest experiences of my life! First of all, to have the opportunity to sell tickets for something as HUGE as Big Daddy Weave/Mikeschair coming to Valdosta as  FUNDRAISER, no less--what a blessing!! I knew God's hand was in this from the very beginning. When we were given the opportunity to do this, we were told we would receive money for the ministry for each and every ticket we sold. We were also told that if we could sell 400 tickets, we would be able to bring 30 of the Arms Wide Open kids in for FREE. So, that was a huge motivation to me--I wanted desperately to be able to share this evening (which I knew was going to be Spirit-filled) with all of my kids. I did all I could to spread the word and to promote the concert and also to encourage people to attend and purchase tickets from me, as a way to bless and help our ministry. New Covenant Church was very gracious (as they always are!) to allow me to reserve the use of both vans for that evening, in the event I met my quota and could take all the kids. However, as the concert approached I began to fear I would not sell the 400 tickets. Although many people in our church body did approach me and purchase their tickets from me (and I thank each one of you for blessing us!!), a couple of days out I had only sold 60 tickets. I was very proud of those 60 tickets because I am not a salesman by nature and I knew it would be difficult for me to reach the goal (I also knew God could perform a miracle, so I wasn't counting anything out). Two days before the concert, though, I called New Covenant and told them that I would only need one van because I was pretty sure those free tickets would not be forthcoming. I had decided that I could use the money raised from the ticket sales to purchase tickets for about 8 Arms Wide Open kids and would have to choose the ones who were most active and most willing to serve others and reward them with this concert experience.

Before that day was up, I received something that does not happen very often--a personal phone call from our Senior Pastor, Randy Stephen!! That in and of itself was a delight! :) But his call was purposeful--he wanted to bless Arms Wide Open by helping ensure that more of our kids would be able to attend. New Covenant Church paid (purchased from me, which was a double blessing) for 13 of our kids to attend the concert! I was moved to tears. I so appreciate my church family (and they are family to me in every sense of the word) and knowing I have their support. I am such a blessed woman to have them behind me! This ministry would not be what it is without their encouragement in the beginning to step out in faith, and their continual encouragement and support along the way. I purchased tickets for myself, my husband, and two of our kids, along with two AWO volunteers and made plans to take a large group of the kids. The next day the director of Christ Out Loud (the ministry behind this entire event), Jimi Ottman, informed me that my husband and I were going to get in free, and that I could bring as many AWO kids as I wanted to in addition to those I had purchased tickets for--at no charge! WOW! In the course of talking to the kids and figuring out who would be able to attend, God led me to do some things a little differently. First of all, we felt led to give our tickets away (the ones I bought for myself and my family) to two of the pastors at our church who we knew really wanted to attend. Secondly, God led us to give the free tickets to all of the AWO kids we could bring and to instead give some of the purchased AWO tickets to their parents. For the first time ever, I was able to bless not just the kids but their parents! Having the parents with us at this concert was a way to open up doors and allow God to move in their hearts in a new way. And, boy, DID HE!!!

During the course of this concert, which was absolutely WONDERFUL, I was Spirit-led to do some other things, not even related to Arms Wide Open, and other forms of ministry very related to Arms Wide Open. So, I was not there just to bless the AWO kids and to be blessed myself--God had other plans for me there as well. I cannot describe for you the experience of the evening, because mere words are just inadequate. We arrived early enough to hear CrossPointe's Band and AfterLife, the kids were able to enjoy some free cookies, and I also had the chance to meet some very interesting people at the merchandise tables. In fact, God had a Divine Appointment waiting for me there (Kenneth Singletary--you will be hearing from me!). The kids and I especially enjoyed AfterLife, as we are already HUGE fans of theirs. They are not only great musicians--with an annointed gift from God for music--but they are just wonderful people. They have blessed me at every encounter. They sang a new song of theirs, Believe, and I was so moved by the power of those words! It is an amazing song, and will be released on CD in 2013--please check it out if you get the chance (you will be glad you did!). Then, in the main auditorium, we stood for the presentation of the colors and also the Star Spangled Banner in honor of our military (a beautiful ceremony that I am so glad my AWO kids were able to witness). Then Mikeschair took the stage and put on an awesome show! I got to hear one of my favorite songs, Someone Worth Dying For, LIVE!! It was an amazing moment for me :). Finally, Mike Weaver and Big Daddy Weave took the stage and worshiped our Messiah with some of the most beautiful Christmas music I have ever heard. I have never experienced anything like it before. They sang many traditional songs, like Silent Night, but also ones they had written. It was beautiful! And they ended the night with the song I had been waiting for, Redeemed. Afterwards, they opened up the stage as an altar and invited people to come down for prayer. They got down from the stage and ministered to the people, which is something I do not see often at concerts, especially ones this large. I could see the heart of God operating in that band! One of my most faithful volunteers, Corlisha, offered to pray with the AWO kids if they were uncomfortable going down to the stage, so she and I and Chris (another faithful volunteer) laid hands on and prayed with several of the kids who were carrying heavy burdens with them last night. What an awesome time to minister! And I will say that some of the boys that came that typically sit through concerts (too "macho" to stand up and sing or dance) were standing and singing Christmas hymns by the end of the night! The kids were affected by our experience there!

And, as if God had not moved enough, Corlisha offered to pray for me, saying she felt led to do so. I don't get many offers for prayer for myself, and I never turn one down! So she held my hands and prayed with me--and God spoke through her and moved through her--I FELT IT! And every thing she prayed was so in season for me at this time--things I have been facing, have been struggling with, and things God has been speaking to me. It was a "God moment"! And what a blessing to me! I am so grateful for people God has sent to lift me up and encourage me and pray for me on my journey, and among those people Corlisha has brought me many, many blessings. I knew the day I met her that God had sent her to me! I saw His light shining through her face, and He has shone through her words and actions ever since.

I must say a special thank you to everyone who helped make this night possible--especially Jimi Ottman and Christ Out Loud, New Covenant Church, Options Now, Future Now, Charles and Julie Shelton, Aleta and Gerald Spell, Dell and Heather Bennett, Rob Barber, and Gary Johnson--and everyone who purchased tickets from us! May He bless you for all you have done to bless us and the kids we serve!