Toledo

Monday night was our first day in Toledo, Ohio! That night we had a prayer and worship time. Laura drew a picture of a butterfly and had the scripture from Ezekiel 36 about the land changing from something ugly to something beautiful; the Lord is going to tear down the old to build something new.
On Tuesday morning the MC’s went to Toledo Christian School to do two chapel services. This was an exciting time for us! The kids were full of life and joy and were so excited to have us there. They were from K-5 through 6th grade. They were our most participating crowd yet! The scripture a teacher spoke to them at the beginning of the service was, “This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Kristen’s prayer for the kids were that after they saw us, that they would have a new perspective of what it looks like to rejoice and to have joy all the time. At the end of the service, there were several kids who told us they would do Master’s Commission when they were old enough to do it. Oh, and anyone want our autograph? We are pretty much famous now! The kids stood in line with Bibles or spare paper having us autograph them as they left!
Tuesday afternoon, the MC’s went to the YMCA to minister to young kids, and also a group of teens from the neighborhood. Genesis got to lead a young girl to the Lord for the first time! You should have seen Gen’s excitement! Kristen and Denica also led a young girl to the Lord! John prophesied over one of the girls that she was beautiful and spoke the Lord’s love over her.
Tuesday night we had a service with the church. Pastor Dwight and his family had lived in Toledo, and Toledo is the church where his brother-in-law pastors! There were at least 12 people including Pastor Dwight related to each other at the service that night! It was a small family reunion! Kendra and Larissa both did prophetic paintings. Kendra painted trees that represented oaks of righteousness from Isaiah 61. Larissa painted an eagle that overshadowed Toledo and had the scripture from Hosea 2—that Toledo would represent a valley of trouble turned into an opportunity for hope! John also had a confirming word after seeing Larissa’s painting that Pastor James and his wife are where they are supposed to be, and that there is hope, and they can bring change to the city. Pastor Dwight also had a word for the Mann’s (Pastor James and Sue). He gave them Jeremiah 29:11 and said that they have felt like exiles, but they are seeking the welfare of this devastated city. Kristen felt the Lord tell her that He is changing the name of the city from Toledo to the City of the Redeemed. These words went along with what Pastor James and other pastors have been crying out for. They have been crying out for restoration. There is a high unemployment rate and a lot of policemen being laid off.
Detroit then Toledo are the top 2 economically oppressed cities; you can feel the oppression and depression, so the words we gave brought hope to Pastor James, and to the congregation.
There were also a few words specific to members in the congregation. Laura gave a picture of a flower to a lady in the church with the scripture, “Those who look to Him are radiant. Their faces are never covered with shame.” (Her husband said he could see light coming out of our team and many young people’s lives being affected from our lives.) Kristen gave a young girl a picture that represented the Lord’s love. She prayed that the girl’s heart would be broken for the Lord. The girl decided to start being discipled now, and has interest in doing MC’s in a year. Genesis prayed in tongues over the congregation, and a lady came to her with an interpretation that sunlight was breaking through, that there would be breakthrough in the city.
After the meeting was over, the youth and young adults came over to The Pastor’s house for pizza. Pastor Dwight talked to an exchange student from Kurgyzstan who is Agnostic. Pastor Dwight got a word of knowledge that he came to America to find the truth and bring it back to his family. He was very impacted by that word.
Wednesday morning we went over to a senior center and did some dances and shared our testimonies with the senior citizens. We had some time to spend talking with them. It was a pleasant time, and they all wanted us to come back again someday.