Introduction to Bethel and Redding, CA

Well, we are here.  I would normally chronicle our adventures in chronological order but to convey all that we saw and did, just in the journey here, would take more time than I have tonight.  So, we will leave those tales to another time.  As for Redding and Bethel, that is where I will begin since that is the reason that we came.  We drove into Redding around noon on Sunday and went straight to the church.  We met our friend Tim Walls, with whom we had been at Elim 10 years ago.  It was a blessing to have someone here helping us out in small ways.  More so, it was great to walk into the church and see a face that was smiling at us in recognition.  You don't realize how nice that is until you leave everyone and everything that you know.  I listened in to a few minutes of the sermon, which was really great, but we had to leave and check out our new home.  We had only a day and a half until classes started for Justin in which we were to unpack, find used furniture and get the apartment cleaned and in general order.  Of course that didn't happen but we did make a lot of progress.  Now, 4.5 days after arriving and many trips to Walmart, we are mostly set up and settled.  We still have little furniture but we have the essentials, a table and chairs, our beds, a computer table and plastic drawers to use as dressers.  Our little apartment is pretty nice.  Even though it is only 974 sq. ft. we don't feel cramped because we have 2 bedrooms, a full bath and laundry upstairs.  Our main level is a half bath, galley kitchen, and living/dining room combo.  There is a very small patio with a shed (great because we were wondering where the bug encrusted car top carrier would be stored).  Across the street, there is a swimming pool and jacuzzi for the community use but since their summer is technically over (I say technically since it is still over 90 degrees here every day!) we are the only ones ever using the pool.  People have told us that it is unseasonably cold right now.  :)  Gee, we love their "cold" weather.  Saw the weather in Rochester on the internet, sorry guys.  Now, on to Bethel.  I was very surprised to see how small the main sanctuary is.  I would say that it seemed smaller than the new main sanctuary at Bethel in Rochester.  They actually put a lot of their money into the community here.  The church tithes a tenth of all the money that comes in right off the top.  They were recounting how just last month they had no money for the 400 people's salaries that are on staff here.  I think Justin said it was 2.4 million.  They didn't stress, they just waited to see how God would provide and miraculously He did at the last minute.  So, for those of you who are stressed about the monthly bills, be faithful to honor God in your finances and He will be faithful to provide for you.  (And thank God it isn't 2.4 million right?)  Last night, I went to a general meeting for those interested in hearing the vision and heart of the church.  Bill Johnson and Chris Vallenton both spoke.  They also went around the room and had everyone share their name, where they were from and how they heard of Bethel.  It was amazing to hear people from all over the world there, spies they called themselves, here to check out the land before moving here from Australia, Germany, Switzerland.  There was a couple from South Korea that brought their baby here for healing as he is in the last stage of cancer.  Many prayed with them at the end of the meeting.  There were also 2 people from different areas that had been healed at conferences where Bill Johnson had been ministering.  One was healed of stage 4 cancer and one of leukemia.  They came to be a part of the church where such things are common place.  Bethel's heart is that the kingdom culture be the reality for Christians.  One concept in keeping with that I found interesting, they talked of the scripture we quote at Christmas from Isaiah where it says, "and of the increase of His government and His peace there shall be no end".  They said, in their view of eschatology, Christians light and power and influence shall be increasing constantly.  That we should be looking to see Christian government and schools and communities.  That we should be praying and sowing into those arenas earnestly to see not just personal growth in Christians, but the entire culture changed.  In fact, that is the heartbeat of what they do.  To see the culture of a city or a nation change so that the kingdom culture (Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven) is a reality for this generation.  They have said that the miracles and the prophecy are exciting but they are a means to an end, large groups of people (cities or more) who follow after the things of God with all of their might.  

There is much more I could say from just that one meeting but I will leave it at that.  The books they are reading so far, for those who are interested, are these:  When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson (to get a deeper understanding of their heart and vision); and The World Aflame: The Welsh Revival and its lessons for Our Time by Rick Joyner. 

Goodnight all, we miss you all and think of you often.

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you..." 

Jessica