March 21, 2009

Dear Friends:

Even though this is a season that God is moving us out of old comfortable places, His intention is not destruction but instead to take us into the new -- new places of faith, breaking unbelief off our lives. This statement from Chuck Pierce that was just released from Glory of Zion is so true for this season: "Things are changing around us very rapidly. The enemy could convince you that calamity is on its way, have you retreat instead of advance, and stop you from contending for a greater field. I do not see some overwhelming calamity that changes the course of the way we process life! Therefore, tell dread that could lead you to poverty to leave your sphere. However, I do see a "greater captivity" if we shrink back from contending for the promises for the next season." In all the adjustments that we have to make, pray that as the "ecclesia" of Louisiana we will continue to break out of old places of fear, that we will secure our personal and geographical boundaries, and that we will see ourselves and our territory the way God sees us. Declare that we will contend for our field in Louisiana!

This seems to be a year where a portion of the focus will definitely be on boundaries, borders, and land and water issues. We will be sharing some things concerning this in this update and in the days to come. Pray that the corporate sound will be released out of Louisiana that will continue to bring God's change in spite of what we see with our natural eyes. We will forward you the word that Chuck released today—it was very encouraging!

Mississippi Mercy

On March 9th through 10th we met with James Nesbit, Jim Chosa, and other state leaders in Corinth, Mississippi for a prayer and strategy meeting prior to a major prayer initiative that will be launched on May 11th called Mississippi Mercy. We spent those two days taking time to hear what the Lord is releasing in each state and how we could come alongside one another to release the sound of the Lord in the Heartland of the United States. We have included the communication (you can click on the link at the end of this section) from James Nesbit and Prepare the Way Ministries along with the itinerary so you can see the vision behind this initiative and the location of all the worship gatherings. It will be from the day after Mother's Day until Memorial Day Weekend -- "12 Days between Life and Death." Worship will be released on the banks of the Mississippi River in ten states through which the river of the Holy Spirit flows. Chuck Pierce had released this word: "Apostolic prophetic border teams, border worship teams are now being formed. I AM going to cause leviathan who has held captive boundaries that have resisted My kingdom plan…I say you will worship until leviathan rolls over and is defeated at the border." Notice we are not coming against leviathan—this is a worship assignment!

Below are listed several strategic "strikes" being done all along the River and Mississippi Mercy will help prepare the way.

June 6 - D-Day
Dutch Sheets
Normandy, Missouri

July 7-11
End-Time Handmaidens World Convention
St. Louis, Missouri

July 17
Joe White & Rodney Howard Brown with "Men at the Cross"
initiatives in the Heartland.

Rock the River with Franklin Graham:
July 18 Baton Rouge
August 2 St. Louis
August 8 Quad Cities
August 16 Minneapolis/St. Paul

It is important that we worship not just as the team is traveling through our state but also worship and intercede for the other states as well throughout the twelve days. It might be that some of you can gather with us at the two locations in Louisiana or if this is not possible you might consider some other type of worship or intercessory gathering in your region. Please contact us and let us know if and how you will be participating. (Click here to view the itinerary.)

Governmental Prayer

Louisiana is the governmental mantle state. God wants to use all levels of government in Louisiana (church and civil) to release righteousness to the nation. Therefore, we need to keep this area covered in prayer. In regard to civil government, we need to be sure we are praying for our governmental officials and for the governmental process in our state. Remember that our legislative session begins on April 27th. You might consider scheduling a day to pray at the capitol during the session or bring a group from your region of the state to pray onsite. This has great impact in the spirit, increases authority, and definitely impacts our governmental leaders. If you're not aware of it, there is a governmental arm of intercession in Louisiana called Intercessors for Louisiana. They meet for prayer at the state capitol on the second Tuesday night of the month and also hold regional meetings. For more information you can contact Carolyn Hatcher at chatcher2@pray4govt.org or Todd Trahan at ttrahan@pray4govt.org.

 

Mark Your Calendars!

Global Harvest Ministries will be hosting a conference June 11th through 13th at Word of Grace Church in Pineville, Louisiana with Pastors Russell & Cindy Cobb. It is entitled "Producing Freedom for Your Future". Confirmed conference speakers are Peter & Doris Wagner, Chuck Pierce, and Bill Sudduth. This will be a great opportunity for Louisiana. You can go to the Global Harvest website to register: www.globalharvest.org

Cindy Jacobs and Generals International are hosting Convergence '09, Raising Up An Army, April 16-18 in Dallas, Texas. This is an urgent gathering for the believers of America to rise up as a prayer army to both awaken and reform this nation. Speakers include: David Barton, Dutch Sheets, Lance Wallnau, Chuck Pierce, Harry Jackson, Jr., Cheryl Sacks, Jim Hennesy, Jim Garlow, Cindy Jacobs, Mike Jacobs, and Klaus Kuehn. You can go to the Generals International website to register for the conference: www.generals.org.

In Conclusion

We would like to highly recommend a book authored by our good friends, David & Jonathan Shibley of Global Advance, a missions ministry that we have networked prayer for since 1998.  Here is the review we posted on several websites:

Yes, The Marketplace is the Mission Place!

Finally a book that helps marketplace people move beyond seeing themselves primarily as financial providers for the church and into seeing themselves as part of an army of Great Commission minded business leaders impacting others and the nations for Jesus Christ. In these turbulent economic times, Marketplace Memos by David and Jonathan Shibley presents a biblical economic worldview and provides sound biblical counsel and insight to help business people prosper and become a powerful force to transform and disciple nations. Marketplace Memos has answers for today's Christian entrepreneurs. It destroys the myth of the division between sacred and secular and business being separate and apart from ministry. This book is truly a work of excellence and can help unleash and maximize the impact of Christian businesspersons in the marketplace. With its breakthrough revelation, we feel it will also be a powerful tool to affect and transform the "business mountain" for the kingdom of God.

(To order the book go to the Global Advance website: www.globaladvance.org )

Also, our daughter, Sherry, is scheduled for surgery at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas on Thursday, April 2nd. We covet your prayers for her and her daughter and for our entire family. We are keeping friends and family updated on the Caring Bridge website: www.caringbridge.org/visit/sherrylou

Please continue to pray for the kingdom of God to arise in Louisiana. Pray that every kingdom minded, apostolic person would seek God's alignment this year. If we can continue to move forward in our state, we can be a witness to the entire nation. If we move forward together to unravel the demonic structure here, God can use us to change the government of this land. Chuck said in December of '07 that the Lord would show us key, small secrets in our own bloodlines and that these small assignments that each of us have would be very important in changing the course of a nation.

As you obediently take up your assignment, you are "preparing His way" in Louisiana!

Blessings,

Roger & Charlotte Merschbrock
Coordinators, Louisiana Apostolic Prayer Network