My Ministry Travels

7. "Celebration Ephesus" in Turkey

Message from Jesus Christ
to Ephesus

"I know your deeds and your toil and perseverence, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverence and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent.

(Rev. 2:3-5)

The Library at Ephesus

Marble residential street with underground sewage system. Incredible engineering for back then.

As we began to gather in the coleseum for the "Celebration Ephesus", a prayer and worship assignment given by the Lord to Peter Wagner, the Founder and President of The World Prayer Center in Colorado Springs, you could see The Marble Road that led to the Grand Theater or the coleseum where we would all worship and celebrate together.

The Grand Theater

carved out of the side of the hill.

The Celebration begins. Flags from every country were being waved. Worshipers and lovers of God gathered together to lift up the name of Jesus and worship the Lord God for four hours, declaring victory over the enemy and the root of idolatry in the Church.

Beautiful banners and dancers contributed to the awesome display of God's glory. It was an incredible time in the Spirit.

A 100 piece Korean choir singing as banners were carried in honor of the Lord

Peter Wagner & Chuck Pierce speaking and declaring the Word of the Lord.

Morris Cerullo on the microphone and Peter Wagner beside him. Chuck Pierce, Ted Haggard and Cindy Jacobs in the background, each taking their turn to pray and declare God's Word and the defeat of the stronghold and root of idolatry in the Church.

Dancing and rejoicing

Victory in Jesus!

Dancers of all types from all countries doing prophetic dances
declaring God's goodness and victory.

Dancers around the banner of Jesus

All hail to the King of kings!

5000 worshipers lifting up holy hands to Jesus
the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Glory!!

Several others from

our church flew in
just for this
celebration and to
experience and be
a part of this great
work of the Spirit.

This was such an honor and privilege to be a part of this great work of the Spirit in this God-moment in time. Only heaven really knows what all was accomplished during that year of prayer and that gathering together of over 5000 worshipers in this coliseum to declare that Jesus is Lord!

Thank you Jesus, and thank you team for a wonderful experience and growing time in the Lord. It was a landmark time for me in God.
I will never forget it, and will never be the same.

Love you all.

From the Beginning

Our story. How this trip began.

6. Philadelphia & Laodicia

Message from Jesus Christ
to Philadelphia

"I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverence, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth."

(Rev. 3:8-10)

The ruins of the church of Philidelphia

Believe it or not, this was a group toilet.

I don't think so! Can't do that one.

Carol stands amongst a group of school children that were passing by as we toured the ruins of the church of Philidelphia. They were a sign of God's life and blessing upon the church. A new generation of lovers of God. He was so faithful to show Himself all along the way.
He IS Life!

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Message from Jesus Christ
to Laodicea

"Because you say, 'I am rich, and I have become wealthy, and I have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and pour and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

(Rev. 3:17-20)

Group picture in the ruins of Laodicea.

It was a treck across some large fields to get to these ruins.

A shephard leading his sheep, just like Jesus does with us.
"The Lord is my shephard, I shall not want." (Psalm 23)
God is SO good.

Next - "Celebration Ephesus"

5. Sardis & Thyatira

Message from Jesus Christ
to Sardis

"I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up. I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.

(Rev. 3:1-3)

The ruins and remains of Sardis.

In the background appears a large hill.

It was used as a fortress and lookout to protect the city from the enemy.

Fortress around the city.

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

My God my rock in whom I take refuge;

My shield and the horn of my salvation and stronghold."

Psalm 8:2

As we were visiting the site of Sardis we crossed paths with Peter Wagner who was also touring the different church sites. He ministered to us and prayed for us.

What a privilege to personally meet

Peter Wagner, one of God's apostles and mighty men of prayer in this hour.

Peter Wagner

Founder and President of The World Prayer Center
Colorado Springs, CO

The library

Carol and I swallowed up by the mammoth size of the walls and pillars of this library.

This was some ruins of a church in Sardis.

As a team we planted the Word of God in the ground, had communion and prayed over the land.

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Message from Jesus Christ
to Thyatira

'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

(Rev. 2:19-23)

These ruins of Thyatira were right in the center of modern town.

Sharry and Cathy walking the ruins of Thyatira

Katherine and Patty
prayer walking
the walls of the ruins.

Lyle and Richard claiming the land

Next - Philidelphia & Laodicea

4. Pergamum & Colossia

Message from Jesus Christ
to Pergamum

'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells, but I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sanctified to idols, and to commit acts of immorality. Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

(Rev. 2:3-16)

Remains of the library.

It contained over 250,000 books at that time.

Pergamum Theater

One of the steepest in the world. It had 80 rows of seats
and has the capasity to include 15,000 people.
Built in the 3rd Century.

Collossia

"Paul, and apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae; Grace to you and peace from God our Father."

Colossians 1:1

Colossia was yet to be uncovered.

All was still underground but a mound of rocks that we gathered around for a group picture with our tour group.

Carol sits by the drying grapes laid out on the land by the farmers.

Carol discovered a stream of water coming out of the rocks of this desert land. It was a great sign to us of God's life giving water that flows out of the rock of Jesus Christ. He was showing us that He was very much alive there.

A farmer greeted and shared his produce with us.
Connie, Carol & Katherine.

We prayed an abundant crop for him, his land and for his family.

Ester with an armfull of fresh fruit.
What a blessing this man was to us. We shared the love of Jesus with him.

Patty shows the prize. Great fruit from the land!

God's abundance!

Next - Sardis & Thyatira

3. Hieropolis & St. Sophia

Hieropolis Theater

The Hierapolis Theater

It was huge!

The Hieropolis theater was built against a hillside after an earthquake in 60 AD.
It had the capacity to seat 15,000 spectators with
45 rows of seats originally. 30 rows have been preserved.
It was made mostly out of marble and contains the best examples of
Roman theater decoration.