In This Month's Report:
* Editorial - Not Your Grandmother's Revival!
* Feedback - Upside "Right"
* May Events - Neil Cavuto and 'G.W.'
* May Ministry - Impacting the Northeast and Beyond
* News and Resources - Drummer Einstein
* Products - Four Exciting Resources (see link below)
* Partnership - Invest in God's Program for the Northeast of America
* God Thoughts - A Dead Messiah

We would love to hear from you; please send us your feedback today. Don’t forget the ever-popular 'GOD THOUGHTS' at the end of this report. Enjoy! JB

INTRODUCTION
I have just returned from Florida, having taken advantage of a small gap in my schedule to be refreshed and to experience firsthand what has been happening there nightly for the past two months. I also wanted be able to credibly respond to the many requests I have had from pastors and leaders asking me if this is real or not!

INTERNATIONALS

Driving down the one lane country road on a hot and dusty day in Lakeland, Florida, there seemed to be little local awareness that just around the corner the so called ‘Florida Outpouring’ is attracting thousands nightly, from many nations, to a tent the size of two football fields at a remote corner of the regional airport.

A sandy field acts as the parking lot while hundreds fight their way through the dust clouds and hot Florida sun to line up from mid-afternoon seven days a week.
 

THE OLD AND THE NEW

Noticeable from the outset is the strong flavor of the southern healing revivals of the fifties, but this isn’t your grandmother’s revival - or tent! This structure can hold 10,000 people, is air-conditioned and with state of the art sound, lighting and video screens.

Also, during my visit this week, out of the 7-8 thousand who came every day, I saw only one suit and tie. What was more common were shorts, T-shirts and tattoos! Noticeably absent was much evidence of the religious spirit, however, in essence this was more like a classic ‘Pentecostal’ revival, smacking of Benny Hinn, Rodney Howard-Brown, Toronto, Pensacola - but on steroids!
 

THE WRAPPING OR THE GIFT?
Some have made the observation that the American Church has been over-feminized in the last 40 years, but there is no evidence of that at this revival. There is almost a grungy, high level of testosterone about Todd Bentley’s ministry style and Roy Field’s worship leading that has determined the flavor of this outpouring, going every night for the last two months and showing no signs of abating.

Spiked hair, tattoos, studs and earrings pepper the crowd that has equal numbers of all generations and all walks of life, from folks in their eighties and nineties to lots of children. Teenagers were everywhere, passionately worshipping the Lord.
 

I can’t recall ever being enamored with the paper in which gifts I have been given were wrapped! But that has not stopped me from receiving the present. This outpouring is packaged in a way that may not appeal to traditionalists, but it is surely attracting a lot of the young generation, which is too often neglected by the vast bulk of churches in the USA.

RESURRECTIONS

A strong sense of the Lord’s presence even comes in the worship team’s rehearsal time an hour before the services begin every night. Hundreds of arms are lifted heavenward in front of the stage and stay there for up to three hours of the most intense worship I have experienced. Television and the Internet have played a major role in the rapid expansion of this revival, but it just does not match being there!

Then Todd takes the microphone and begins to proclaim healing for all kinds of diseases. Those healed testify to seeing from blind eyes, hearing from deaf eyes, loosing tumors and all kinds of diseases. While I was there it was announced that 18 people had been resurrected from the dead, directly or indirectly as a result of this outpouring.

A RISING TIDE

Many reports say that this ‘healing anointing’ has broken out in many other parts of the world and in several cities in the United States including Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, N.C. and other places. This is mostly as a result of those visiting Lakeland and taking the anointing back to their homes, but there have also been some reports of spontaneous breakouts of signs, wonders and miracles in places where no one has been to Florida. This has been the case in my own ministry up to now. We have seen an exponential increase in healings and the supernatural wherever we have ministered since mid-April, before we even heard about what was going on in Lakeland.

Although this ‘outpouring’ clearly revolves around Bentley and his staff, there is no question about where it is centered! While I was there, the focus unmistakably and repeatedly pointed to Christ!

FOR OR AGAINST?

All moves of God have had their passionate proponents and detractors, and this one is no different. Even this early on, there has been major controversy within Christianity with very little middle ground. Some of this has centered around the meaning of a tattoo on Todd’s body. I don’t personally care to have tattoos on my body, but I would rather have souls in the Kingdom with tattoos than on the outside without them!

All I could see was a holy hunger in those who came. It would be difficult to question the sincerity of that hunger, and even harder to think that God would not respond to the high level of passion directed squarely at Him, even if the critics were right and it was misguided!

FOCUS ON HIM

As for me, I did not go to Florida to meet with Todd Bentley, but to meet with God. And I encountered Him with an intensity that I have not experienced for a long time. I know that I can meet with God anywhere because He is everywhere, but if He is doing something special in a particular location, I want to be there. If I am misguided in going to Florida, I will have to trust that God will still honor my sincere desire to seek Him out wherever He may be.

Either way, I am believing that I will see much more fruit in my personal and ministry life. Fruit takes time and time will tell. #

"Jeff, With all the negatives going on in this world, I feel compelled to look up for my redemption is drawing near. In the midst of all this turmoil, the Lord is raising up a remnant that are going to turn this world upside "right". Regardless of the economy, we are in the land of Goshen, and under the protection and provision of our Lord Jesus Christ. I appreciate the tireless work you have been doing here in the northeast, and be assured there will be much fruit abounding to your account. Your Fellow Laborer, Pastor Sam Gerisi, Newark, NJ"

Recently we have been giving our supporters here in the Northeast of America the opportunity to invest in a new vehicle for our ministry. Following is a tremendous praise report from someone who responded:

"Dear Pastor Beacham, I'm writing to encourage you and everyone who hasn't yet donated toward your new vehicle. My vehicle was recently totaled in an accident. Praise God, my 10 year old son, Matthew, was wearing his seat belt and he was in the center of the back seat. I also had my seatbelt on and we felt God's presence all over and around us through the whole ordeal. We were not seriously injured because of God's protection over us.

Right after the accident, I received your email about needing a new vehicle. I know the spiritual principle that you must plant a seed in order to reap a blessing. I needed a new car and I had no money to buy one. I knew that God would provide. Well, praise God I wasn't going to miss out on my blessing. So I sent in a donation toward the purchase of your new vehicle and praise God, the very next day, I received a new car. A Christian friend, who was behind me when I had the accident felt led by the Lord to buy me a new car. It's amazing. It's the same color as my other car (which by the way had over 200,000 miles on it) and it's the same size. God is so awesome!

I just had to write and tell you what happened when I planted a seed into your ministry. It is good ground and those who plant will reap. Praise God! And thanks for making your need known to the body of Christ. We need to take care of one another. I hope this encourages others to give. You are a wonderful man of God. I've heard you preach at Glad Tidings Assembly of God (Pastor Bill Brendel's church) in New Jersey and I've always been blessed.

God bless you, your family, and ministry, and may God provide for your family as He provided for mine! In Christ, Sue & Matthew Mancinelli, Haddonfield, NJ"

What a challenge to trust God more than ever before! Especially in these shaky economic times. You can be one of the 400 we are seeking who will make a donation of at least $50 toward our new vehicle. To make a secure donation Click here.
 

Or send a check to

Firepower Ministries International 
1563 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, NJ 08755 

NJFPC Spring Gala Fundraiser with Neil Cavutto - I am a member of the Clergy Advisory Council for the NJ Family Policy Council, the state's most ardent and effective ministry for family and marriage. We recently attended the Spring Gala Fundraiser. NJFPC President Len Deo sent this report, "A great evening was had by all in attendance for the first Annual Spring Gala at the prestigious Hamilton Farm Golf Club. Close to three hundred attendees were treated to laughs galore as President George W. Bush impersonator (John Morgan) warmed up the crowd with anecdotal stories and reflections on the challenges of being President of the United States. Neil Cavuto (Fox News Business Anchor) capped off the evening with a warm and personal life story, crowned by his family’s adoption of two children. God provided an outstanding evening from a weather standpoint and the evening truly was a blessing and encouragement for those who attended."