by Ron & Nancy Thaxton
“Everyone gets to play... Everyone gets to do the ‘stuff’” -John Wimber
“The Church in the City" now The Church of West Virginia is an organic concept birthed locally in the hearts more than 40+ years ago. Partly it originated out of a simple
reading of Paul's letters and also the letters to the churches in the book
of The Revelation. It seemed that these letters were addressed to
citywide church and not just to local churches (assemblies). This concept was
later crystallized by Francis Frangipane's writings on the House of the Lord,
especially the statement,
This concept in no way violates the integrity of the local church or expression, rather it brilliantly enhances the effectiveness of each local church as we in humility unite with our churches in our community under the banner of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
We believe that God has given us, together, a ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) and if we live in an unreconciled state our message is invalidated.
A watching world is looking for a tangible expression of the love of Jesus Christ as exemplified by our oneness in Him.
This love for one another began among pastors as we entered into a relational trust with one another - - sharing openly our victories and our defeats, praying for one another, the local expression of the church we served and the community in which we live.
This love will spill over into the churches and from the churches to
the streets. Thus presenting such a powerful witness to the love of Christ
that no man, woman or child will be able to deny His reality.
The Church In The State, WV Story...Remember & Rehearse for the Generations to Come
This love has spilt over into the churches and from the churches to the streets; our families, the marketplace, the government, businesses, schools, colleges,media presenting such a powerful witness to the love of Christ that no man, woman or child could deny His reality..
Soon came the story when the Word of the Lord came and said to our State
7 7 7 7 ...Go to the 7 regions of the state (WV), Go counter clockwise, to the 7 Gates, in 7 days and pray 7 hours with the Divine purpose to ...
"Reverse the Curse and Release the Blessing".
Then an engraved pewter KEY, with words from Isaiah 22:22, arrived at our door (a surprised gift sent to us by Chuck Pierce) .
The key of the house of David, I will lay on his shoulder; -sign of authority, indicating access to the king; Rev. 3:7
What He shall open, and no man shall shut;
And He shall shut, and no man shall open.
The Key was hand delivered to each region preparing the way of the Word Of The Lord to us.... The Key traveled from Region to Region affirming the reigning Lordship over West Virginia. Every region drew hundreds of intercessors. Seven continual hours of Prayer seemed like a minute in eternal destiny. Our State received the seal and mandate.... “Holy Unto The Lord"
The Story continues...to this day 2019 and beyond
This Is That.... June 20, West Virginia Day
This Is That!
With the first strum of the guitar the packed room erupted in a thunderous sound of high praise. There was no one voice that stood out among the rest - the rhythmic sound was one of perfect harmony.
A fresh wind is blowing - the reeds of His chosen instruments are reverberating in response. A new sound is echoing among these hills and hollows. For He who was seated on the throne - our Grand Conductor - said, "I am making everything new!"
“This Is That!”
The scene was Conference Room B of the Days Inn Conference Center in Flatwoods, WV. The occasion was the 20th Annual PrayWestVirginia Summit - June 20, 2018 - the 155th Birthday of our statehood.
Anticipation had been gathering as clouds in the eastern sky - laden with the rich bounty of “latter rain.” Many have since reported the expectation they experienced as they neared our gathering place.
We witnessed a mini-Pentecost. When I stood up to speak I felt a bit like Peter when he said,
“This is that!”
The “that” is the sound of a wind blowing through the tops of the mulberry trees - the advancing army of the Lord of Hosts.
“This Is That!”
In 1970 we walked into our pastor’s office and asked if he would give us something to help us understand the Bible. I can so yet distinctly see him turn around and take a small blue book from his shelf and hand it to us. It was a commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Church at Philippi. The following passage leaped from its pages and indelibly inscribed itself in the flesh of our hearts - the stylus none other than the finger of God.
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” Philippians 1:27
The great apostle was saying to this beloved church, “I may never get to visit with you again - to taste of the sweet honey of our fellowship. If I do not this is the sound that I want to reach my yearning ears; the sound of blessed harmony whose notes are capable of spanning great distance.” For they ascend as a lasting testimony of true worship before our Eternal God and are reflected back to earth in the Person of His Own Chosen Preeminent One.
And he never did get to see them again - the ones that he had commended as their father in the Lord: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Our hope must be anchored in no other confidence than this - the Father’s pledge to bring to completion that which He has begun.
“This Is That!”
Our native son, Bishop T.D. Jakes, thundered from the Charleston Civic Center: “A sound will be heard from these hills and hollows that will be heard around the world.”
Now we echo the sentiment of the hymn-writer Augustus Toplady:
"I can only spread the sail; Thou! Thou! must breathe the auspicious gale."
And come into agreement with the Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon:
“O for Pentecostal outpourings and Pentecostal labours. Only be sure you have the sail up. Do not miss the gale for want of preparation for it.”
Now we have come down from the Summit - but not to go our own separate ways. We have now been bound together with strong chords of love which can never be broken. Our song is the Song of the Lamb:
"Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!”
“This Is That!”
“in no way alarmed by your opponents-- which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.” Philippians 1:28
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