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The
story of Tent Meetings
in Crescent City, CA, 2008
Dear
Friend,
Thank you
for your part in the Heartbeat of Jesus Ministries, whether it is through
prayer, financial support, or just simple love for our family and belief
in the destiny the Lord has called us to complete! Over the past half
century, our culture seems to have shifted into a more worldly focus, away
from the Christian values upon which our country was founded. Alas, the
end of the good ole days is at hand….. Or is it, really?
Please
allow me to tell you a story:
It begins
in the small coastal town of Crescent City, California…
Many
Christians are proclaiming that the state of California doesn't deserve to
be united with the rest of the United States of America on account of the
carnality for which it is so well known. These well meaning people somehow
forget that this beautiful state provides much of the vegetables, fruits,
and nuts that satisfy the hunger of our country.
A plea
for California; countless believers are spreading abroad His love in this
sunny state and there is a spiritual hunger here that is crying out in
intercession for satisfaction! Friend, we need to be careful of the words
we speak over California.
Back to
the story:
Over the
years, we've been up and down the west coast on Highway 101 and close
inland to many cities. In reality, the Pacific Coast is our "home" land.
Our circuit seems to be narrowing to the proximity of the sound of the
crashing Pacific waves. We set up the tent in Crescent City for the first
time in February 2007. "Did it rain?" you ask. A bit…. quite a bit….. Does
it rain on the Northern California coast in the winter? You betcha!
Our
family never would have dreamed, but the Lord has given us a passion for
this state in the last few years. We did not understand this drawing in
the Spirit until we heard Lou Engle speaking about his passion for
California.
The enemy
thinks he holds the territory in his hand, but
The Call is coming to San Diego on Nov 1, 2008 with the 40 days of
fasting and prayer of hundreds. California will never be the same. God is
moving in behalf of all His prayer warriors crying out for yokes and
bondages to be broken off those with the wrong agendas. He was faithful to
the cries of Moses against His destruction of His people twice during
their journey; He is faithful still to answer our call.
We stayed
in the Gold Beach – Crescent City area, and felt the Lord leading us to
set up in Del Norte County. While doing ministry at various other
locations throughout the county, we scouted for 3 months for a suitable
tent site. Each time one was found, it was blocked for various reasons.
Finally, our search proved profitable; the site was found on private
commercial property right at the Northern gate to the city. What a
location! Last year we needed no permit from the county to set up, so we
assumed we were ready to go.
Being
filled with excitement of what the Lord was going to do for Crescent City,
we erected the tent with the faithful help of Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Allen hired a professional electrician who was able to obtain power from
the billboard on the property, which the owner had given his permission to
use.
The fire
marshal approved the setup, so we began the meetings. As soon as Theron
strummed the first chord on his guitar, we heard an air horn blowing
across the street. This was to be our guest entertainment for several
days. We discovered that the hornblower was a disgruntled 70+ year old man
who lived across the street with much emotional pain and hatred of God. He
was instrumental in the investigation, as he was constantly reporting on
us.
On day 2,
the county code inspector appeared and stated that the electricity was
improperly wired. The electrician countered and said it was done according
to the county code. He was then told by the inspector to remove it. The
electrician removed the power and promptly asked us for his payment. Then
the inspector, who was intimidating in appearance and countenance, slapped
a Cease and Desist order on the pole and demanded that we apply for
a permit at the cost of $460! We had just completed an eight day stint in
a fire works booth for Daily Bread that required no permit, but suddenly
the laws were changing…
Next to
visit was the county health inspector, who ordered that we could serve no
meals for the hungry from the Daily Bread Hot Dog cart and it had to be
immediately removed from the premises. Further, we were in violation of
code by serving coffee with sugar and cream without a permit; but after
some deliberation, he allowed us to continue.
So we
started the generator, plugged in and began worship. During one of the
first nights, an extremely kind female police officer was sent to ask us
to turn off the generator, the one that our neighbor forced us to use!
A few
days into the meetings, the code enforcer appeared again saying that we
had to immediately apply for the permit or be shut down. He took
considerable time to explain in detail how to fill out the lengthy
papers. Actually, they were requiring us to apply for a building permit,
even with environmental tests required. The tent is a temporary, portable
structure.
So Allen
completed it, took it along with the $460 check to the county office, as
required, and was refused. We were then immediately served with a
Notice of Public Nuisance and threatened with fines and / or jail time
if we continued the meetings! Further it was stated that the Walz family
could not have ANY meetings anywhere in the county. Oops! They just
infringed on our right of freedom of speech.
Being
shaken, we suspended the meeting, but the people came, stayed, and
supported us throughout the entire ordeal. Theron and Calvin began to play
unplugged guitars outside the tent and the group began to worship God.
The
wonderful man who did sound for us told his daughter about the situation,
she called an attorney, and he appeared at the tent later in the evening.
He asked Allen if he would be prepared to go to jail for this, he said he
would, then the attorney agreed to represent us pro bono. That
brought hope into the picture, and the whole group began the most
incredible worship to the King. We were all standing in a circle,
worshipping the Lord with no amplification; we truly felt like the church
of Acts!
This was
our first taste of real persecution by secular authorities; we have
received plenty from the churches. But, it was so surprising; here in
America, aren't we supposed to be free???
Some
groups are free to display their sin and filth and lies and murder, and
other ungodly vices, but those of us who desire to follow our Lord in His
loving and productive ways, and to openly worship the Creator of the
universe as a group outside of the church walls, are being shut down to be
shut up! Is this real freedom?
Slowly
and insidiously, the enemy of our soul is prowling around seeking whom he
may devour. Understand this!!!! If we would have bowed to their
unconstitutional orders, we would have lost…… AND THE BODY OF CHRIST COULD
HAVE LOST THE PRIVILEGE TO GATHER TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH BUILDING
TO WORSHIP GOD IN CRESCENT
CITY!!!!!!
You might
say, "That's just California for ya!" Did you ever here the phrase, "As
California goes, so goes the United States?" Did you realize that the
major weather patterns move from west to east; the storms usually blow
from the west coast across the US to the east, bringing rains, winds,
snow, lightning, etc. So, we are all in this country together as believers
in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, we
must unite in our prayer for OUR Golden state. There are 10,000 different
religions in the world, but in CHRISTianity there are 38,000 different
denominations. No wonder we have no united voice! Now is the time to join
our hearts and voices together and plead for mercy for the United States
of America.
We would
like to make a simple proclamation:
WAKE UP AMERICA! WAKE UP CHRISTIAN AMERICA!!
We may
plead we were unaware, but let's be truthful to ourselves. "The Lord
will choose our leaders; not to worry"…. Lukewarm.............perhaps...?
Our enemy never sleeps!
The Good
News is, Jehovah never sleeps! and with the assurance of
His profound love for us, we may step out in confidence and REpresent the
gospel of Jesus Christ to our fellow countrymen.
1 John
4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We can
surely be confident in His love for us and our love for Him. It is
eternal.
Matt.
10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill
the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body
in hell.
Our
Father in heaven is our source of life itself . We freely give it back to
Him for His purposes. Why fear what man will say? Our rewards are in
heaven, not here on earth. I would rather receive treasures in heaven than
a temporary reputation of the world's values.
Luke
12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to
give you the kingdom.
Being in
His presence, hearing His voice, and doing His will is our desire for this
life He has given us. Taking this land for Him…… after all, it is His
pleasure to give. By spreading the gospel of His never-ending love,
exhibiting His victoriously complete salvation, and delivering His eternal
word across this land, we say,
Thy
kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!
Once
again; Back to the story:
The
attorney presented the facts to the county: they were in violation of our
rights, we were not leaving our post, and he intended to file a
restraining order against the county for us! They were appalled that
someone would actually take a stand and not abide by their
unconstitutional orders. The entire group of believers gathered in the
tent and was prepared to go to jail with us, that's faithfulness to the
truth of the gospel!
Little
did the authorities know that the Lord had given Allen this scripture the
day before:
Eccl.
10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your
post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.
Although
it is our carnal way to ostracize the person, we understood that it was
the spirit behind the rulers, not the people themselves. Eph. 6:10 Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of
his might. Eph. 6:12 says: For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places. Eph. 6:14 Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness;
The war
is on. We must be immovable and unshakable in our allegiance to our God.
Do you care to join us as we go forth in battle to fight the good fight of
faith?? The Lord has called all of His children to engage: in prayer, in
financial support of those who GO, and in obeying His voice by going when
He directs.
The Lord
is the Author of truth and He is for His children as they implement His
truths. There is no reason to fear, for as Paul said,
"For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain!"
Love and Blessings from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
The Walz Family of The Heartbeat of Jesus Ministries
by Cheryl |
