Today is May 25th 2023, we have been on the Drove now for a little over two years. As I was spending some time this morning preparing for a weekend trip (my God daughter is graduating), I have found myself in a fairly reflective space. Today is also the birthday of one of our youth group kiddos. Yesterday we celebrated with him by fixing a birthday dinner and having cake and such for him and a couple friends. This morning we had a french toast birthday breakfast before he and I and another of our young men headed up to the barn to give the new baby goats their first round of shots. The reason I share these things is to give you a glimpse into what life on the Drove is looking like. Why?, because I want those of you who have followed the journey to recognize the many things that God prophetically spoke to us as now taking place in real time. Dunamis Drove has truly become (as our vision states) a spiritually empowered safe haven that is built on the fundamental pillars of authentic community and spiritual wellness.

We have young people on property everyday and are living life side by side with them, their families, and our community; we are a family of God’s children journeying through life together. As a result, teenagers in our community are surrendering their hearts and lives to Jesus. In fact, we are planning our first family day which will include baptisms. We currently have 10 young folks ready to publicly profess their faith. They are learning what it means to walk with Him and talk with Him, to turn to Him with their praise and their burdens. They are growing in love for Jesus and they are growing in love for one another. They encourage each other daily with scripture and they turn to each other with requests for prayer and then pray over one another. I am frequently reminded of Act chapter 2 verses 42 - 47, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by them. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Ya’ll, that basically sums up our lives. It is not a stretch to say that the Holy Spirit is moving in that same way and He is using (once again) those the world would deem unlikely.

These teenagers are coming to spend time together in a safe environment enjoying creation and fellowship, but they are also coming to hear the word of God and to learn and grow in the Spirit, and they are coming of their own desire led by the Father as He draws on their hearts. No one is forcing them to gather around the word, they are hungry and thirsty and Jesus is filling them just as He promised that He would. There are so many people that He is calling here to our community to fulfill His work and bring about salvation and abundant life in the hearts of many. We stand in complete awe and humble gratitude every single day. I sit here now with tears stinging my eyes, because there are no real words. Monday night we were part of a gathering of nearly one hundred in our community for a youth led worship night; 75% of those were teenagers. I know that you recognize how significant that is; especially since we began with 6 youth 7 months ago.

Don’t misunderstand, we are all still just fallible human beings trying day by day to navigate this broken world in a manner that is more and more pleasing to our Father in heaven, but just as we vaccinated those babies this morning in order that they might become strong enough to withstand disease, we are vaccinating young hearts and minds with the love and word of God that is doing just the same for them as they learn to view life through the lens of a Kingdom perspective. Spring in the country is a time full of newness and life, and as we begin our first summer with the ministry in full bloom, I feel deep in my spirit that the latter rain, which is beginning to fall, will bring forth a great harvest. Acts chapter 2 verses 17 -21, “In the last days God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days [...] and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you have some time this summer, stop by and see us on the farm! Until next time...