05/30/2026
“A Prophetic Word and a Lifetime of Provision”
When I was 19 years old, the Lord spoke a prophetic word over my life that I have never forgotten.
I was attending a district youth rally with hundreds of other young people. The guest speaker was a youth pastor from Ohio. As he stepped to the podium, the very first words out of his mouth were, "God has given me a prophetic word for a young man who is here tonight."
Then he pointed directly at me.
I was stunned. In fact, I was both shocked and frightened. Looking directly at me, he said, "Young man, the Lord has a prophetic word for you, and I want you to listen carefully."
Then he spoke these words:
"The Lord says that He will do things through you that will amaze and astound even you. He has chosen you for a very special work. Take seriously what I am telling you."
As those words were spoken, the power of God came upon me in a way I had never experienced before. It seemed to pe*****te my very soul. Something significant happened that night. God imparted gifts and abilities that would later be used to bless His work and His people.
One of those gifts was the ability to help secure funding for ministries and community projects. At that time, I had never even heard of grants, foundations, or funding sources. Yet God began opening doors for me to learn the necessary skills and gain the experience needed to use them effectively.
From 1977 until today, the Lord has used those skills to help equip and expand His work. In West Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, North Carolina, Chicago and other places, God has opened remarkable doors of provision. What began as a prophetic word has resulted in more than $22 million flowing into ministries, churches, schools, community programs, and other Kingdom efforts.
During my fifteen years in North Carolina alone, approximately $1.8 million has been secured to support God's work and ministry initiatives. God used Joseph in Egypt with a similar calling.
In addition, the Lord enabled me to write a grant-writing training manual and teach others how to secure funding for their own ministries and organizations. Many have gone on to obtain resources that have helped them fulfill the vision God placed in their hearts.
Looking back, I can say with complete honesty that it was God who spoke the prophetic word. It was God who gave the gifting. It was God who opened the doors. My responsibility was simply to be obedient and use the gift He entrusted to me.
All the glory belongs to Him.
The lesson from my story is simple: when God calls, equips, and directs us, He will provide what is needed to accomplish His purpose. If we are willing to trust Him, obey Him, and make ourselves available, He can do far more through us than we could ever imagine.
God is still calling people. He is still giving gifts. He is still opening doors. And He is still doing things that amaze and astound those who are willing to say, "Yes, Lord."
