Today was another phenomenal day of ministry and watching God move in dynamic ways. We prayer walked again in the morning. We visited the gypsy camp where Ivan Benedyk is the pastor. We saw the progress on the shower house project that was started last spring. We talked about the condition of the village and the church and such. We ministered once again at the gypsy church in Uzgherod. God is moving in that church in powerful ways. With the help of the people here and the mighty grace of God, we were able to secure a place for the new church plant. God is so good. We were able to secure it for half the asking price. Please pray for the woman in this picture. She is a mother of 6. Her husband is currently serving a 7 year prison sentence. She is raising the six children in a house that is about 12 ft. x 14 ft. The house is at the bottom of the hill so the dirt floor is beginning to wash out and erode away. It looks like we are going to be able to secure her and her children a new house in the village that is 2 to 3 times the size of her current house. It is at the top of the hill right next to the shower house and a water supply. She will also have a stove to heat the house in the winter. God is so good. He is teaching me to be His most grateful child.

Ukraine day 2

Today we prayer walked in a city that is being considered for a church plant. There is a small group of people that meet there right now. We also looked at a possible location that the gypsy church could move to since they are exploding at the seams. The spiritual atmosphere here is unreal. The church services are powerful times in God's presence. After the preaching when the altars are opened, everyone in the church comes forward to be prayed for. God is moving in powerful ways in people's lives in the services that we have been a part of. God is using everyone on our team in a deep prophetic ministry. God is confirming the words that are going forth! God is so good.

It is so refreshing to see people that have nothing have such a deep love for Jesus.

It is so refreshing to see people that have so little in this world have so much appreciation for what they do have.

I am learning so much.

Traveling

Well our travels have finally brought us to our final destination - Ukraine. In talking with people in the states, I get the sense that this is somewhat of a forgotten country. As I told people that I was coming to Ukraine, the question was usually raised, "why are you going to Ukraine?" That is a good question. I am not sure that most people could point out the location of Ukraine on a map - I'm not sure that I could 6 months ago. But it is amazing how God can take forgotten unknown people and change the world. The country of Ukraine is very depressed. It is economically depressed. For so long it lived under the crushing communist regimes and you can quickly look around and see the affects of that time. But it is not a spiritually depressed nation. I keep hearing that God is on the move in Ukraine. I'm not sure what God is doing in this country or in me, but as we crossed the border late last night I was impressed with two things.

1) This feels really far away from home.

2) The spiritual atmosphere here is very 'light.'

I am convinced that God takes the 'least of these' and does the 'most of this!'

In Christ!

The following is a blog post of a testimony that we recieved immediately after leaving France. Carlos is a man that we prayed for on Sunday afternoon at the retreat. God dramatically set him free. This is his story.

The day I was born again
by Carlos H. Figueroa

There was nothing particularly special about that Sunday morning. Except for the fact that the church service would be held at a little place up in the Alsatian mountainside. So, without any expectations my wife and I hit the road. After an hour-drive, we had finally arrived and the setting was beautiful. Plus, the weather was especially nice that day.My friend John had mentioned that a group of American pastors (who were on their way to the Ukraine) would be sharing that day. I did not know what God had in store for me that day.The service took place: people shared, prayed, worshipped. You know the usual Sunday morning service that you would have on weekly basis. We even had communion, and to be honest, I was not even there. Physically I was but, my mind was elsewhere. So, after the service was over and once we were done with formalities, we sort of spaced out for a while, and waited for lunch-time. And it was then that John introduced me to his friends (some of whom I was supposed to have met a couple of days before but, had not), and after getting acquainted, they said that they wanted to pray for Violette and I. And then, BOOM!Ever since I was a kid, I had seen people being touched by the Holy Spirit in various ways: people speaking in different tongues, laughing, falling flat on the floor, prophesying, having visions and so on and so forth (Acts 2:2-4). But nothing I knew, nothing I had already seen, could have prepared me for what I was about to experience. As soon as the group of pastors laid hands on me (2 Timothy: 6), something surreal happened. I had never experienced God like that. I knew that I had a relationship with him but, I had never fully enabled His Holy Spirit to fill me up, shake me and turn me upside down. I had never experienced the power, strength and authority with which God's Holy Spirit pours down His grace upon us, and cleanses us from the inside. It came and it blew inside me, a new and refreshing wind of hope and peace. A power that knows no flaw. A power that comes with authority and takes no prisoners. A power that comes and wipes out everything which stands between Jesus and us. A mighty power which strikes so precisely that today, the armies of the enemy tremble in fear for they know that their time is near (Revelation 12:10).I could go on and on about what I went through, and what I experienced. And I am truly grateful for what God has shown me, and also, done in me. But I am not different from anybody else on this planet. I am a regular guy who pays taxes and has just realized that God has caught up with him. I do not deserve any more than you, or anybody else. I just choose to believe that God is real, that His relationship with us is real, and most of all: I believe that He can live in us and live through us.I feel that God is calling us to believe and get ready to see people being empowered by His Holy Spirit and become vessels of His will. We will see wonders and miracles being accomplished everywhere. And we can choose to just believe it, and that is fine. But, I believe that Jesus is compelling us to believe and live our relationship with Him.Let His Holy Spirit into your life, your heart, your soul and your mind. Let us become one with Him. Let us stop just being believers, and let us become living vessels of His love, power and authority on this earth.I want in, do you?In Jesus.

France pt. 2

Today is an off day after ministering at the retreat for Jon and Gloria Tressel's church. We went to the mountains in the French countryside. It was absolutely beautiful. There were 3 sessions with the adults where Pastor Tom preached on unity. On Saturday, we had 2 sessions with the teenagers where I preached on what being a disciple of Christ means. On Saturday night, there was ministry in both the adult and teenage services. These were both powerful times in God's presence. After the session on Sunday morning, we took communion together with the church. You could see the church becoming unified as all the women and all the men sat at tables at lunch and sang songs together. One women in particular remarked to me later that she has never been a part of anything like that. We hung out and fellowshipped with the church in the afternoon. I tried my hand at bocci ball and to the dismay of our wonderful hosts - I tore it up!!!! Please don't tell them that this was the first time that I had ever played! This picture is in the center town of Mulhouse. It is the old city hall. What you cannot see is that off to the right is a massive cathedral that is still in use today. Centuries ago, the church leaders would lead the church services and then go across to the city hall to conduct the business of the city.

France pt. 1

We have been in France since early Thursday morning. Things have been somewhat of a whirlwind, but they have been very good none the less. On Friday night we ministered at a wonderful French speaking African church. I had the opportunity to preach for the first time through an interpreter. God is so good. After the preaching of the Word we prayed for and ministered to everyone in the church. At the end we gathered the entire church around and prayed for the pastor and his wife. The Holy Spirit really moved during that time and did some fabulous things in their lives. Personally, I am learning to trust God and His voice in new areas of ministry. I am learning a new level of tuning in to God's voice while I am here.

Choices

I'm standing in line at Taco Bell last night.

There is a man leaning against the wall waiting for his order to come up.

Two gentlemen walk in who have obviously just been on the golf course. Honestly, I took a second look because one of the guys bore an uncanny resemblance to Tiger.

It wasn't long before conversation starts between, man leaning against the wall and hungry golfers. What follows is the part of the conversation that I overhead.

Man leaning against the wall - "Well you never know the whole story."

Hungry golfers - head nodding.

Man leaning against the wall - "Maybe she was not taking care of things at home."

Hungry golfers - shrugs of the shoulders.

My reaction?
What is this guy talking about?
Somehow a man's infidelity is his wife's fault?

FAST FORWARD - Monday morning

Fox News Channel - conversation about Jim Carrey's recent tweet regarding Tiger.
The paraphrase of the tweet - you never know the whole story, maybe she was not taking care of things at home.

My reaction again?
What is this guy talking about?
Somehow a man's infidelity is his wife's fault?

Since when did our choices become someone else's responsibility?
Isn't a husband or wife responsible for their own marital fidelity?

Every morning in the Moraghan house we have a simple prayer; "Lord help us make good decisions today."

Thoughts on Easter

Maybe I haven't paid attention in the past.
Maybe something has really changed.

Whatever the case - I am noticing something about Easter this year.

It seems to me that 'the church' has really ramped up its efforts to draw the crowd this Easter. I have seen numerous ads and gimmicks that invite people to spend Easter at a particular church this Easter.

Easter bunny.
Easter egg hunts.
Pancake breakfast.
Newspaper ads.

It appears that we are sending a clear message - you are welcome in our building this Easter.

But the question arises for me - are 'they' - the non-followers of Christ and unchurched - welcome in our buildings the other 51 Sundays of the year?

Do we have a broken heart for those that don't know Jesus 365 days a year?

May the point of Easter - Christ died for us when we were the most undeserving - drive our efforts throughout the entire year.

May the point of Easter - Christ died for them just as much as He died for us - drive our efforts to make a felt impact in our communities.