Grady Russell

This morning, Joyce and I walked through our neighborhood and prayed for our neighbors. We know that there are Christians living near us, but there are also folks from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds. We know that there are many who need to hear about our loving Lord. Our church is embarking on a mission to impact our communities with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We felt that it was important to begin this journey with prayer. I am 52 years old and I believe now more than ever in the power of prayer.

As Pentecostal people we are empowered to serve God when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in other tongues. This marvelous experience changed the early disciples in a powerful way. It has powerfully affected believers in every generation. I was reading an article about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that came over 100 years ago. The article on the CBN website said in part, “Right around the first hour of the first day of the new century — January 1st, 1901, Agnes Ozman asked Parham to lay hands on her and pray for this baptism and the gift of tongues. Swiftly, the prayer was answered. Phil Johnson covers the religion beat for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He said, “Agnes Ozman became the first person in this century to speak in tongues and that started the Pentecostal movement as we know it today.” Johnson added, “Agnes Ozman, it was said, spoke in Chinese for three days straight. She couldn’t speak in English at all.” “ You can read the complete article for yourself here. There is another compelling account on the Assemblies of God Enrichment Journal site.

That event began a revival that swept the world. The Holy Spirit broke down barriers that men could not. Men and women of all races and aspects of society were equals in the early days of this movement. There were certain attitudes that characterized the revival; a sincere love for all mankind, fervor for evangelism, and a great commitment to missions. Just over 100 years after that humble beginning, there are tens of millions of Pentecostals in every region of the world.

God poured His Spirit upon that generation just as He did on the first Pentecostal believers. Today we are praying that He will do the same for us. I want to be a part of a church that models the same attitudes as the Azusa Street believers. I believe that God is sending people to us to catch this vision and impact our world for Christ. It must begin in our community.

Would you pray for us? Next week we will start distributing informational packets and meeting our neighbors. Please pray for favor and for the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon our endeavors. We intend to plant seeds of the Gospel and water what others have planted and expect God to provide a bountiful increase. By adding your prayers to ours you will help to multiply our efforts.

Jesus said, in Matthew 9:37-38 (NIV) … “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Would you ask the Lord to send us workers to help us reach our community? Would you also ask your church to pray for us?

I am praying that every believer reading this will pray for miracles for SonPointe Church. I am also praying that you will walk your neighborhood and pray for the lost souls living near you. It is time for the church to get out of our comfortable homes and tell others the Good News about Jesus Christ! He is coming soon!

Stay tuned! Great reports are coming!

We are pleased to announce the grand opening celebration for SonPointe Church which begins Sunday August 26 and continues through October 28. The church is located at 301 S Tubb Street in Oakland Florida. Come relaxed and expecting an encounter with God. You will find that our worship and Bible teaching reflect our belief that church should be exciting and relevant. Join us next Sunday at 10:00 AM for a no obligation opportunity to experience God and the people and ministries of SonPointe Church. We hope you will consider becoming a part of the wonderful atmosphere of refreshing that God is demonstrating among us.

Many of you have been wondering what happened to Grady and Joyce. We have not fallen off of the planet. We have simply been going through a time of change and needed to let our public words be few. That is no longer the case. We want you all to know of the incredible goodness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are now pastoring SonPointe Church which began holding services on March 4, 2007. That incredible day was a culmination of events and miraculous timing that could only be explained as “the favor of God.” Within 24 hours of receiving the mandate for the new work, we found ourselves standing in the location that would become the current home of SonPointe Church. Three days later we were joined by dozens of happy worshippers reveling in the goodness of God.

The inaugural message, “March Forth” was taken from last sentence in Judges 5:21, “March on, my soul; be strong” and the first chapter of the Book of Joshua where God directed Joshua and the children of Israel to march into the Land of Promise. We realize today, more than ever that we are living in the wonderful promises of God.

God gives many directives to those who desire to live within His promises. They are clearly revealed in the Bible. God’s people must respond with, “we will obey your commands” and “we will go where you send us.” These are the core principles of the SonPointe family.

What grand conquests does our magnificent Savior have for us as we follow these ideals? You will have to “stay tuned” to find out!

I have much to say to you all. Can’t think of a better reason to break the silence than by sharing that Joyce and I are going to be granparents. In fact, we have pictures to prove it!

More good news to come – SOON! Enjoy this for now…

So many people seem to be offended by Christmas. How is it possible that a baby born to bring peace to the world and salvation to all believers could also bring such offense? I guess those who reject our “Merry Christmas” are actually rejecting The Christ of Christmas. I suppose that we should expect such behavior from the world. Rejecting Jesus has been a part of culture since He came into the world. The prophet Isaiah foretold this rejection. Isaiah 53:3-6 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (NIV)

So how will I handle those who choose to reject the Christ of Christmas?

I will live in the peace that He brought through the punishment of the cross.

I will love my fellow man; all of them.

I will not choose to love only the loveable. I will love as Christ loves me!

I will express “Merry Christmas” to others, not as a sign of societal revolt but as a heartfelt wish toward everyone.

I will do those things which will bring the joy of Christmas to others. Not just my family and friends, but also to those who are perplexed by my joy.

I will not let the world change me, but through the love brought to us all on the first Christmas morn, I will change my world for Christ. I will live out the decree of the angels to the shepherds, “Peace on earth!” while remembering the words of Christ in Luke 12:51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. (NIV) Until our Lord returns, men will reject Him and those who follow Him. Division will rule in the world and, sadly, in homes and churches. Yet, one day, the True Peacemaker will arrive bringing Heaven’s peace to all of the earth. Until then, I will not go my own way, but go boldly along the way of Christ and His Peace. Peace to all and Merry Christmas!

It is time to get back into the business of ministry. We just completed a very delicious Thanksgiving holiday and are now looking forward to a great Christmas. As you know from an earlier entry, Christmas is my favorite time of year.

Our church will have two outstanding events for Christmas 2006.

We will conduct our 4th annual “Candles, Carols, and Communion” service on Friday, December 22, at 7PM. This is an awe inspiring event that clearly reveals the wonder of the birth of Christ. This year will center around three men and their individual responses to the Christ Child. We will close the service with communion and a candle lighting ceremony.

Our famous cooks are also preparing their excellent Christmas desserts and we will enjoy them following the service. Join us if you can!

Our Christmas Eve service at 10:30 AM is the “King of Kings” Christmas Concert featuring the amazing keyboard skills of Lorne Matthews. His wife, Jimmie Ruth, a truly gifted vocalist, and the entire Matthews family will also sing and perform. If you cannot make it to our church on Christmas Eve, check them out at one of the many other locations they will be ministering this month.

Christmas reminds us all of the wonder of God’s great Gift to all mankind - The baby in the manger, Christ the Lord. He is the reason we give gifts and celebrate. I hope to share with you again before Christmas, but past experience tells me that I should not plan on it, so Merry Christmas to all – and best wishes for your journey!

I am learning to trust God. I am still in the process but making progress. One passage of Scripture that helps me rely completely on God is found in Psalm 37. Here it is in the CEV.

Trust the Lord ?1? Don’t be annoyed by anyone who does wrong, and don’t envy them. ?2? They will soon disappear like grass without rain. ?3? Trust the Lord and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. ?4? Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire. ?5? Let the Lord lead you and trust him to help. ?6? Then it will be as clear as the noonday sun that you were right. ?7? Be patient and trust the Lord. Don’t let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things. ?8? Don’t be angry or furious. Anger can lead to sin. ?9? All sinners will disappear, but if you trust the Lord, the land will be yours. ?10? Sinners will soon disappear, never to be found, ??11? but the poor will take the land and enjoy a big harvest. ?12? Merciless people make plots against good people and snarl like animals, ?13? but the Lord laughs and knows their time is coming soon. ?14? The wicked kill with swords and shoot arrows to murder the poor and the needy and all who do right. ?15? But they will be killed by their own swords, and their arrows will be broken. ?16? It is better to live right and be poor than to be sinful and rich. ?17? The wicked will lose all of their power, but the Lord gives strength to everyone who is good. ?18? Those who obey the Lord are daily in his care, and what he has given them will be theirs forever. ?19? They won’t be in trouble when times are bad, and they will have plenty when food is scarce. ?20? Wicked people are enemies of the Lord and will vanish like smoke from a field on fire. ?21? An evil person borrows and never pays back; a good person is generous and never stops giving. ?22? Everyone the Lord blesses will receive the land; everyone the Lord curses will be destroyed. ?23? If you do what the Lord wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure. ?24? The Lord will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won’t fall. ?25? As long as I can remember, good people have never been left helpless, and their children have never gone begging for food. ?26? They gladly give and lend, and their children turn out good. ?27? If you stop sinning and start doing right, you will keep living and be secure forever. ?28? The Lord loves justice, and he won’t ever desert his faithful people. He always protects them, but destroys the children of the wicked. ?29? God’s people will own the land and live here forever. ?30? Words of wisdom come when good people speak for justice. ?31? They remember God’s teachings, and they never take a wrong step. ?32? The wicked try to trap and kill good people, ?33? but the Lord is on their side, and he will defend them when they are on trial. ?34? Trust the Lord and follow him. He will give you the land, and you will see the wicked destroyed. ?35? I have seen brutal people abuse others and grow strong like trees in rich soil. ?36? Suddenly they disappeared! I looked, but they were gone and no longer there. ?37? Think of the bright future waiting for all the families of honest and innocent and peace-loving people. ?38? But not a trace will be left of the wicked or their families. ?39? The Lord protects his people, and they can come to him in times of trouble. ?40? The Lord helps them and saves them from the wicked because they run to him. [The Contemporary English Version : With Apocrypha. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Ps 37:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.]

Have you lost trust for others? Feel deceived? Cast aside? Trust God! He will never let you down. Six times in this passage, we are instructed to trust the Lord. Read it again. These are not simple requests. They are clear directives from God that carry wonderful promises. His promises to the Psalmist are true for you! Stand firm in your confidence in God to bring you through. He is holding your hand! Obey God and remain in His daily care! God will defend you even if you are on trial! Live right. Be patient. Follow God. These are ways to prove your trust in God. Remain honest, innocent, and peace loving and secure a bright future for you and your family.

I choose to trust God! How about you?

This verse found in Philippians, the Gospel of Joy, is a powerful reminder of my closest friend and ally, Jesus Christ. He has done so much for me. So, I can do what He asks of me. Not on my own, but through Christ. In my own strength, that He supplies. Always enough for the moment. I CAN, and YOU CAN, TOO!

First, of course, is my wife, Joyce. She has been the light of my life for 33 years now (31 as my wife). You can discover much more about her at Joyce’s myspace page. She is the pianist at our church (and many other things, too!) She is currently the favorite caretaker of our newest family member, GiGi the kitten. I had a Damascus Road experience a few weeks ago and went from being a cat-hater to a cat lover! I think Joyce has been secretly praying for this miracle for decades!

Then there is our daughter Jennifer. She is the worship leader at our church. You should hear her sing! What a voice. She became Mrs. Keith Hudson last October. Keith is a wonderful son-in-law. He is a credentialed minister with the Assemblies of God and is a warehousing and supply chain genius. He is truly an anointed man of prayer and power! He is a valuable ministry asset and serves in many positions in our church. I want him on my team full-time! Learn more about them at Jenn’s and Keith’s myspace page.

Our oldest son, David and his wife Missy were married on Valentine’s Day 2004. They reside in Washington, D.C. where David serves as the “digital pastor” at the National Community Church. The church meets at a theatre in Union Station. Check them out at www.theaterchurch.com. David is a gifted musician. He plays lead guitar (like no other!) and leads worship. Missy is also called to ministry. She is a beautiful and precious daughter-in-law and a gifted and godly young lady. She is an anointed altar worker and children’s minister. In fact, David and Missy met and eventually fell in love as Camp Counselors at the Alabama Assemblies of God Camp in Springville. Our family has many wonderful memories there! Discover more about them at www.davidrussell.org and www.missyrussell.com

Our youngest son, Jonathan, is completing college (My alma mater – Troy State University) next year. He is a great pilot. He earned his private pilot certificate at the age of 20! His first instructor called him the “best first hour pilot I have ever seen!” I agree. He is in the Alabama Air National Guard, currently serving as crew chief on the KC135 refueling tanker. When he isn’t flying, he pilots monorails at Disney. How many monorail drivers do you know? He is also an experienced lifeguard and an avid snowskier. Jonathan also plays guitar and is the most excellent bass guitarist and sometimes drummer and worship leader for our church. Check out Jonathan’s myspace page! Enjoy learning about my fabulous family!

I am a man most blessed! Stay tuned!

Check out the story on CBSNews.com for more on the impact of blogging and my son’s quote at the end of the article. Time to blog, my friends!