Signs & Wonders Blog

Over the years, I’ve become more selective regarding the kinds of churches I visit . No fellowship is perfect, and I’m careful not to adopt a critical spirit. However, I don’t want to sit through meetings void of the presence of God. I endured enough boring services at the religious institution I attended as a boy. Certainly, I won’t attend churches that affirm lifestyles that go against God’s word . I also shun fellowships that take potshots against the “ prosperity gospe l” and don’t have altar calls for salvation.  Another turnoff to me is churches giving out bulletins listing an “order of service.” It’s one thing for a pastor to have a plan of action. Many churches have a format of worship, announcements, offering, sermon, and an altar call. Some will add communion and baptisms at varying levels of frequency. However, if the pastor insists on sticking to a set schedule and doesn’t allow for sudden moves of the Holy Spirt, then it can become a dead religious meeting.  Du...

During my childhood, I was frequently bullied by classmates. By the time I became a Christian at the age of 27, I had largely forgotten those painful experiences, but I still needed inner healing. Over the next few years, the Holy Spirit worked on my soul as I verbally forgave those who had hurt me. It can be deeply hurtful when we encounter wrongdoing from fellow Christians, particularly preachers. Recently, a renowned pastor named Robert Morris was released from jail after serving six months for old child sex abuse charges. Morris had engaged in multiple sexual encounters with an underage girl in Oklahoma during the 1980s while he was a young traveling evangelist. After Cindy Clemishire told her parents about it, Morris left the ministry for two years and received counseling. He later founded Gateway Church in the Dallas area. I wasn’t familiar with Robert Morris before his past sins made national headlines (I’ve since listened to a sermon of his on evangelism that was really goo...

This past Tuesday night after a church dinner a friend invited me to, I heard a sermon titled “Church Hurt.” The minister, using pseudonyms, shared real-life examples of individuals who were abused by clergy and congregation members. It reminded me of this quote from Brennan Manning: “The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”  On her website, a Christian therapist named Dr. Alison Cook listed these examples of church hurt: A single mom whose church promised to stand by her, then disappeared after she got a divorce from her abusive husband A kind-hearted woman who was told that she would “burn in hell” if she made friends with the “wrong” kind of people A young couple forced out of their church after they stood up to a narcissistic pastor A man who opened up about his struggles only to be told his...

Last Sunday, Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota had their morning service interrupted because one of the pastors is also an ICE agent. Protesters came in chanting Renee Good ’s name and using foul language . One of them claimed their disruption was something Jesus would have done. Chauntyll Allen compared it to the Lord chasing the money changers out of the temple. I doubt Allen even knows Him. She is the leader of Black Lives Matter Twin Cities and “married” to a woman. Allen and two other protesters were later arrested but have since been released. Cities Church issued this statement: “Invading a church service to disrupt the worship of Jesus - or any other act of worship - is protected by neither the Christian Scriptures nor the laws of this nation.” Still, their situation had me thinking about other meetings where preachers faced opposition from the congregation. Even if one disagrees with what’s said from the pulpit, it’s rude to interrupt the speaker. One can choose to keep q...

This past week I did some evangelistic outreaches with a friend originally from Cuba. Milco regularly attends services at the missionary house I reside at when in Tampa, Florida. The two of us went to a couple of Home Depots. Many Hispanics gather by the store’s parking lot in hopes of finding work. Previously, I’ve witnessed at the Home Depot closest to the missionary house. Since Milco has a car, I requested going to different locations for a change of scenery.  Milco’s translating resulted in us leading many Hispanics to Jesus. However, one man we approached was very critical of churches. He specifically complained about a fellowship that wouldn’t let him attend a toy giveaway because he didn’t have an ID. I figured he was talking about The River at Tampa Bay Church. Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne started requiring IDs after receiving death threats for keeping his church open during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Some may think needing identification to get into a church is a bit ex...

During my youth, I was a chronic complainer. I frequently griped about things such as annoying TV commercials and overplayed songs on the radio. When I later became a Christian and learned that our words have power (as mentioned in Proverbs 18:21), I became more mindful of what I said. One dictionary defines complain as “express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.” Sometimes I’ll rant about things on social media, but when possible, I'll also offer a solution. Constant complaining grieves the Lord. The children of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness because of that. Some of them experienced an early death because of their moaning and groaning. Numbers 11:1 says,  “Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.” Occasionally, I’ve caught myself complaining about traffic, but I soon thank God when I have a car to driv...

Growing up Lutheran, I was unfamiliar with what Catholics believe until committing my life to Christ years later. I was 14 when two popes died within 33 days of each other in 1978. I hated it when their funerals preempted some of my favorite TV programs. I remember saying in frustration to my mother, “The Pope is a dope.” Since becoming a street evangelist, I’ve learned how to compassionately minister the gospel to Catholics. Instead of criticizing tenets of Catholicism that conflict with Scripture , I aim to find common ground with them, such as their belief that Jesus is the Son of God and He died on the cross for our sins. I recall only one witnessing incident when the Pope was brought up. I had lunch with an aunt and uncle, who professed to be Christians despite going to church only on Easter and Christmas. Although my aunt isn’t Catholic, I was surprised to hear her suddenly defend the Pope as a great person.  I believe it’s okay to honor the Pope as a politician since he...

During my thirty-plus years of street ministry, I’ve had to be discerning when handling panhandlers . Because some are persistent, I tell them upfront, “I don’t have any money for you.” However, I always carry extra snacks to give to hungry beggars. That opens their heart more for me to share the gospel with them. Last weekend, I took a train to New Orleans. Because hotel rates were too high downtown, I opted to get a room at a motel in the northern part of the city. Instead of using Uber or Lyft, I took a bus from the train station to save money. I had to walk a few blocks from the bus stop with three pieces of luggage plus a backpack.  As I was getting close to the motel, a woman offered to help move one of my bags. I accepted her offer and perceived she was homeless. It was past midnight, and the lobby was closed. Therefore, I had to talk to the desk clerk through a glass window. Meanwhile, “Becky” (not her real name) stood nearby while I used my debit card to pay for m...

Like many God-fearing Americans, I was grateful to see Donald Trump return to the White House last Monday. I watched the inauguration at Rodney Howard-Browne ’s church (which played on the video screens during their Winter Campmeeting). I was happy to hear the president declare, “We will not forget our God.” However, some clergy aren’t happy about this. Among them is Episcopal bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who oversees 86 churches across D.C., and Maryland, with 38,000 members. She previously made critical remarks about the president during his first term in office. On the day after Trump's second inauguration, Budde delivered the homily at an interfaith prayer service held at the Washington National Cathedral. The final part of her sermon was directed at President Trump who sat in the front row. Here are portions of what she said:  “Millions have put their trust in you. And as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our ...