Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

Nothing brings greater joy to my heart then to see smiles on children’s faces. And there was plenty of that on Sunday at the River Church during the Operation Raven Christmas Outreach. I am fortunate to help coordinate the bus ministry every Sunday and that means I was heavily involved with all of the planning and preparation that went into this event.

Sunday morning was grand as people from the community filled our buses in great anticipation of the days activities. I helped stack, count and prepare the toys for the giveaway so I knew first -hand what the children had in store. During service Bus Captains and their team pulled toys to make ready for those children that were on their bus. As the children approached their bus after service you could see their faces light up as the toys were handed out. Little girls were handed dolls, stuffed animals, Barbie’s and dress up kits little boys received toy trucks, fire engines, cars and balls. Our Bus Captains made sure not one child was disappointed with the toy they received. Everything we do in the bus ministry revolves around the people we serve and we serve them with gladness. I know for a fact that every person that boards one of our buses on Sunday feels welcome, valued and loved.

I am so blessed to be part of a ministry that pours so much into the local community and the world. Pastor Rodney is burdened with the eternal condition of those we serve and in turn I am burdened. In over 20 years of serving the Lord I have never labored so much to see the hearts of man made ready for Christ’s return. Before coming to The River I was not a candidate to receive the soul-winners crown in heaven but not anymore. In less than 2 years I have lead 100’s of people to the Lord and if God keeps track of assists like the Major League Baseball (and I believe he does), then I have 1000’s upon 1000’s held in my account.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

The River church in Tampa lead by Pastor Rodney-Browne has been making tremendous impacts in its surrounding communities. Pastor Howard-Browne, a man chasing after God, has put into play various programs to penetrate the communities of Tampa. Some of these programs are the weekly food drives, the bus ministry that started out with a couple of vans, which currently running almost a half-dozen charter buses, the toy drive for the holiday season , and the daily gospel outreach. The reason that these programs have been so successful is because Pastor Rodney and everyone else in the church has seen and grasp how important it is to reach the people of Tampa. They have see how God has impacted and changed their lives, and want to share it, they understand that we as followers of Christ, have to get out into the streets and share the love of Christ. This is why the altars on Sunday morning are being filled. The people of Tampa are seeing people who actually care about them and their salvation.

This past week Pastor Rodney hosted Operation Raven at his church. The turnout was amazing. Family upon family showed together on Sunday morning to take part in this massive outreach. Food and toys were given out, but most of all, over three hundred and forty men, women and children gave there hearts to the lord. This is what is at the center of every event at the River. It’s to see people come to know the love of Christ and build a relationship with him. Currently the river has seen over seventy-three thousand decisions for Christ in the past year. That is why the River at Tampa bay is making a difference. They keep true to what works when it comes to reaching people, love.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

This truly was the day that the Lord had made. From the early morning high level of expectancy was vibrating in the air as well as in the hearts of the whole congregation. This really was fulfilling of statement „ No man left behind „ Everybody in the church did the part to get the whole work done. That was like a total mobilization in the local branch of Gods army! And most important that anyone got mobilized absolutely voluntarily-no one was forced to fight on Jesus side…this was the day of fighting against opression and depression. Though the outcame of this battle was foreknown -it`s a great pleasure to recall things that happened on this Sunday. First of all hunderads of people got saved , delivered from Satans domain and brought into the Kingdom of God. Holy transition directed by the Lord Jesus himself and accomplished through His body – The church ! What an awsome privilege and great experience it is to be in His will, respond to His call and be a part of what He is doing. What a sight it is to see little children along with their parents happily coming for toys and impatiently unripping them. Smiles, joy , laughter heard everyvhere …almost heavenly atmosphere. No fear, no depression- really a piece of heaven brought down to the earth in just an ordinary day…Somebody may say: „Wait ! you`re wrong ! It`s not just an ordinary day –it`s a Sunday in the church ! „

It is an ordinary day in a sense that anybody has ability to create such a day full of joy , happiness and presence of The Lord . All we need is to strech out our hands and our hearts to the others and Jesus himself will bless our touch and make any day like a gift that is more wonderful than we even could imagine.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

When the Word of God is spoken, under the anointing, it is then that lives are changed. Pastor Adonica doesn’t fill in her teaching with a bunch of words, but every word carries weight and meaning and is pure and from God’s heart. I received deep conviction to my heart in areas that I had an inkling were possibly wrong heart attitudes, but until I heard the Word on those areas I was justifying why I was thinking a certain way. Her teaching with the Word cut me to the core, and divided the truth so that I could no longer justify myself in any area. If I was questioning or had confusion in any area, it is now gone. I am so thankful for Pastor Adonica and her integrity as a teacher, and how she turns us to Jesus and the Word and not to herself. By the way she teaches it is obvious that she lives to please just the father, which gives so much integrity to what she says. I was able to receive from God through the teaching, but I was also very blessed by observing the way she speaks and carries herself as a woman of God, in boldness and gentleness. I am able to look up to her as having qualities I myself would like to have in order to represent Christ better through my life and way of being. There were times I was listening, and because of how Pastor Adonica was so hidden in God, and because of the power and purity she carries, it seemed as though I was hearing straight from the mouth of God, not a person.

I am a changed person after this teaching. I thought I did well at humbling myself and putting off pride before, but there was light shed on pride in my life that I didn’t know was there. I now have a deeper reality of my works being tried by the fire, and eternity. Standing before God seems closer than ever before. I don’t want to be ashamed on that day. I have a better understanding and ability to go to God by my Spirit and stop trying to grasp him and understand with my mind. It’s as if I can choose to go to my Spirit and get out of my head in order to receive the Word of God, his ways, and even perceive life from his view. It’s not that I won’t use my thinking, but that my Spirit is in control and tells my brain what to think instead of the other way around. I have a sense of being safer and in the father’s arms, protected from Satan, because the Word was used in such a way as to expose how he was trying to hurt me. I became aware of areas he was trying to gain access into my life. Things I didn’t necessarily know were from him I now know originate with Satan and I don’t have to receive them. Overall I am much more hungry for God and more desperate for him and his presence. I am thankful to have been reminded to not worry about what people think, but to care only for what God thinks. I am encouraged to consider only God and his thoughts towards me, which are based in his perfect love for me. I know I am in the process of being set free in this area. The stronger desire and ability I have gained, to walk in mercy and grace with no judgment, and taking no offense towards others is so freeing. I know not to take offense, but after last week it’s as if I don’t even consider or see things that would’ve possibly offended me before. After having Pastor Adonica teach us, I was able to get to know her better and I am so thankful to have Pastors who truly care about people and who really live, to simply please God.