Testimony: By Harry Fox

Hello Friends,

This week, we have the privilege of seeing the fruit of our labor first hand.  I trust and pray that Harry's testimony will not only encourage you, but also motivate you to pursue your God given destiny with passion and zeal!

Before you read Harry's testimony, I'd like to explain something.  Harry was willing to drive from Richmond to Norfolk (2 hrs) to help a man who was hurting, for the sake of seeing him restored.  As you all know, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, so what you are about to read is an exhortation, not a condemning act.  However, there is a difference between condemnation and conviction. "Blessed are those who are not easily offended"  I'm going to be real with you, again not to condemn, but to motivate some of you to get off your couch, get away from your TV, quit spending your weekends indulging in yourselves.  For the sake of God's Kingdom and for the one who paid a high price to establish this Kingdom, GO!  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 

There is a dying, hurting, dead generation that needs restoration.  I'm zealous about this, as I see men and women wasting away and I see those who claim to be regenerated going about their cozy, pretty little lives, talking about and doing things that have no value. 

Last night, I had about 4 people downtown approach me about going to Richmond to The ROC.  On my way home it hit me and I looked at Aaron and said, "Why in the world with all of these Churches in Hampton Roads, especially Norfolk, do we have to take these men and women to Richmond, VA.  What are we doing?  Where are the soldiers of God?  We have all of these Church buildings and there are people sleeping on the curb, hungry and hurting?  What is the army of God doing?  Are we really an army who is fighting a battle or are we using the Lord to establish status quo, find a soul mate, establish our social network, etc?  The Lord reminded me of Jeremiah 2.  I would encourage you to read it if you have time.

For those of you who have sent cloths, money, food, spent time praying, or who have even went with us to the city, below you will see the fruit of your labor.  The below story of hope is only possible because of you.  There are men and women's lives being restored and you are a part of it.  I have so much to share, but for the sake of length will do so at another time.  Below is a story of hope!  You may need to refer back to the last BLOG to understand all of this, but check it out.  Arise and shine, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Brian is a young man, who was on the streets and we took him to Richmond two weeks ago, to get him into a discipleship home.  He was broken, hurting, hungry, dirty, ashamed and unloved.  Now, he's in the hands of the Lord, hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and being restored.  Here's his story!

By Harry Fox:

I made my journey to Norfolk on Thursday to pick up Brian with excitement and anticipation. As I sat in traffic for about hour & ½ at a dead stand still (5 minutes before the Hampton Roads tunnel due to an accident), I thought to myself, “Satan doesn’t want this to happen and wants me to get discouraged and turn around and head back to Richmond!” Have you had moments like that? Well, unfortunately for the devil, he’s used this scheme enough that I recognize it well and he didn’t have his way! I picked up Brian, however unfortunately we were unable to locate the other gentleman, and later learned that he had been in the hospital for several days that week. Brian and I headed back to Richmond and for 2 full hours, we shared the gospel and all God had in store for him! I’m surely no biblical scholar, but the Lord was imparting words like, “love,” “my son,” “encouragement,” “relationship,” “forgiveness,” “spiritual gifts,” “sacrifices,” “a new start,” “sin,” etc.

We arrived at The Roc for the Thursday night Bible Study, and heard another great message from Pastor G. on God’s amazing promises! Brian went forward for prayer after the message and then I took him to the Discipleship Home Intake once again to finalize the commitment that was about to take him on a voyage that God has ordained from the very beginning of his life. WOW! It is awesome to know that our lives are scripted from the beginning of time as we are formed in the womb by an all knowing, loving heavenly father! With Brian, it’s apparent that even after 42 years, God has a big plan for his life and to watch it unfold was extremely emotional for me! This should encourage all; it could be 42 years, 99 years or today, but God has a plan for each and every one of His children!

Brian asked me to get his belongings from my car as he finished his intake paperwork. I did, to find one plastic bag of miscellaneous items and 2 coats tied together! At that point (and even now as I reflect on it to write), I was absolutely wrecked! I was convicted about how selfish, irresponsible, and ungrateful I can often be with ALL that God has provided for me and my family!

After a few minutes, I composed myself, which was really quite impossible to do entirely, but I did so enough to carry Brian’s belongings back through the church to intake department. I handed Brian his things, gave him an emotional hug and watched him load the van that would transport him with the other men to the Hanover Discipleship Home.

I called Jimmy on my way home and was just overwhelmed with emotion at this first experience with something as huge as this, that we could be used as just a small instrument in what the Lord was doing in changing a life. If you’ll recall, this all transpired by all human accounts from a seemingly unplanned conversation just overheard from Brian, between Jimmy and the other men about traveling to Richmond the Saturday prior! God hears the smallest whisper among us and great things happen.

Well, fast forward 2 weeks; my family has the privilege to see and catch up with Brian about his new journey each and every Thursday and Saturday night at church service. My wife and children are often serving in other capacities so I typically save a seat for Brian to sit with me during service and he’s just sort of become a friend and brother to me. This week, we got to visit with Brian an extra time this past Friday night, as The Roc utilized their big screens and sound system they’ve been blessed with to host a Family Movie Night, transporting men and women from each of their Discipleship Homes, as well as men, women, children, and families in from the inner city to treat them to an experience at the “Movies,” something most from these neighborhoods can’t afford to do. Several hundred men, women, and children were ministered to and encouraged as we watched the movie “Courageous,” on the big screens with the experience of popcorn, soda, candy, and full concessions as children and families sat around bonding on blankets and sleeping bags or in seats throughout the auditorium bonding the way friends and families ought to be bonding, rather than the alternative on a Friday night! We love on and encourage Brian as part of the family, and he knows we’re there for him and that he is not alone on this journey. We will always be there for him and others as God calls us to the poor and broken! 

Here’s the latest Brian has shared and I’ve asked his permission to share on Jimmy’s blog for the purpose of encouraging others: Entering a Discipleship Home has not been an easy transition compared to the life he had become accustomed to living without structure and hard work. The men at this particular ranch get up early each morning at 5am have breakfast and prayer and then ride in a van to The ROC for their daily assignment which includes at least 10 hours per day working within various ministries of the church. There is no TV or idol time and he spends a significant amount of time reading, studying, and being renewed, healed, and cleansed by scripture and has writing assignments due each week based on what he is studying. Brian has been assigned to work The Roc Love Of Jesus Thrift Store for the most part and enjoys the other part of his assignment which is to share the gospel with all he comes into contact with at the thrift store or various other ministries he is assigned to each day. Additionally, twice a week, Brian and others go “soulwinning” in various Richmond communities which is a vital part of the program and The Roc’s mission. This church knows how to win souls to Christ and is teaching these disciples to do the same! Brian shared with me last night that he shared the gospel with 4 young kids this week and those kids came to church Saturday morning as part of the Whosoever Bus Kids Ministry. Today Brian and others in the Discipleship Homes are serving on a team in an event called “Roc On The Road,” as a team of hundreds involved with The Roc head to Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA to team up with that church in community outreach and Pastor G. preaches during their morning service.

Brian’s facial expression and countenance has changed over the past week. Last week, my wife and I were a bit concerned that he may not stick with the program as the transition seemed to be somewhat overwhelming to him. We prayed with him and for him and encouraged him to stick with it and persevere and that it would get easier as he adjusted to a complete 360 turnabout in his life almost overnight! You can tell that the Holy Spirit is working in his life, he is being cleansed and renewed by being saturated by the Word of God and it’s really neat to witness the transformation and new found joy in his life. It is abundantly clear that God has big plans for Brian!

 In closing, I would ask all to pray for Brian as he walks through this journey the next 5 & ½  months at the Hanover Ranch and God’s future plan for him. God has big plans for all, and I am excited to be just a small part of what He is doing here on Earth as we learn to walk as disciples and followers of Christ. I would ask, as you read this blog to let the holy spirit through prayer saturate and convict you, as we all ask ourselves, “Are we really doing enough?!” This is just one example of how God can transform the course and direction of a person’s life if we will truly follow him sacrificially and do what He calls us to do. This man, whose future was otherwise hopeless, now is full of hope and joy and life! How would God be wanting to use YOU?!