The Sealed

Houston, Texas
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Dear Intercessors & Partners in the Great Commission,
Up until now our focus in The Elijah Challenge has been to conduct the Basic Training for disciples of the Lord. After being properly trained, the disciples then obey the Lord by going out to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God to the lost as Jesus commanded his disciples in Luke 9 and 10. Although with the Lord’s gracious help we have had some success with the Training, we have fallen short in the area of organizing follow-up opportunities for disciples actually to do what they have been trained to do. It is a formidable challenge for most believers (although certainly not all) to go out all by themselves to a public area and to start preaching the gospel and healing the sick. Since Jesus sent out his disciples two by two in a group of seventy in Luke 10, we also want to organize opportunities where disciples can minister in teams.
We would like to start with our home town of Houston, Texas. We are looking for neighborhood venues where Elijah Challenge-trained disciples can heal the sick and preach the gospel to the lost. Examples are:
“Soup kitchens” and outreaches where food and clothing are distributed to the poor. The sick can be healed by trained disciples at such events.
Another example is a “Community Festival” where people in a neighborhood are invited to attend a Saturday afternoon event where hot dogs, soft drinks, music, and children’s activities are provided. The infirm are also invited to come to be healed. Before the food is served and the activities begin, the gospel is preached and the sick are healed by trained disciples to prove to the lost that the gospel is true. This has been done fruitfully in Houston. Please click on http://www.theelijahchallenge.org/Houston/Sherwood%20Elementary%20School%20Park.htm to read the report.
Another approach we want to try is to hold an outdoor outreach on a Saturday afternoon in an apartment complex. Free food and drinks will draw the people in the apartments to join us outside in a public area. Before serving them, the gospel is preached and the sick are healed by trained disciples.
We held a very fruitful Healing Outreach in a Houston shopping mall which reached out to Asians. It was started several years ago, and today people are still coming to Christ at this mall Outreach. Click on http://www.theelijahchallenge.org/healing_outreaches.htm to read the report.
Some very bold disciples may want to preach the gospel and heal the sick on the streets. Click on http://www.theelijahchallenge.org/Elijah%20Challengers/John%20Ova/John%20Ova%20Index.htm to read what happened in New York after a ministry called Army for God trained with The Elijah Challenge.
Last but certainly not least, please click on http://www.openairseattle.blogspot.com/ to read what a group of radical, no-nonsense disciples are doing in the open air in Seattle. The Elijah Challenge had the honor of conducting the Basic Training for them last January.
If you live in Houston and can help us with finding or developing such opportunities, please let us know.
We are also interested in forming a Houston-based team of Elijah Challenge-trained disciples who want to minister at such community events. Please write us and let us know of your willingness.
Eventually, we hope there will be many such trained teams boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God not only throughout Houston, but also in other cities of the USA. Let’s obey the command of the Lord to “heal the sick, and tell them, the kingdom of God is near you’” (Luke 10:9) Let us work while it is still day, for the night is coming.
Please pray that the Lord will stir the hearts of his disciples to respond favorably to us!
Sincerely in Christ,
William & Lucille
www.TheElijahChallenge.org