Declaration, Manifestation, Confirmation, Revelation: Part 1

The following accounts are blips of stories from some of our new found friends while here at ARISE:

She was on her way to Broadway. Seven years of her life had been devoted to training for this. Music lessons, voice lessons, countless hours practicing. This had been her dream since she was a little girl. Her daddy always new she make it big singing. She was going somewhere. Then she met God. Her new knowledge shook up her world. What would become of her dreams? Auditions were making her nervous. She felt a little stuck. She knew too much to give up the new found truth she had. Her lifelong dreams were knocking at her door. The three agents were interested in only her auditions out of her group. Her daddy didn’t understand when she turned them down. Her teachers shook their heads. God, what are You doing in her life? She turned down her dreams. What new dreams will You give her? She’s not sure, she said. But she told me she was sure that You are leading her. She told me she knew You were holding her hand. I can’t wait to see.


His arms were tattoos. His shaved head and goatee and broad thick build made him look tough.  He said he’s been clean and sober for 3 months.  “God’s been working in my life” he told me. His marriage had taken hard hits. His kids had taken hard hits. He told me he had a social worker pray for him. He says he is learning amazing things about You every day, God. He says he’s wants You for good. His wife came and picked him up today. His three boys were there too. He kissed her and picked up his youngest boy and kissed him too. Once he was all packed up and ready to leave he came in to say goodbye to everyone. “Thank you everyone! This has been the most powerful 2 weeks of my life. God bless all of you!” God I would love to meet him again.




Her daughter just had a breakdown. She is 15 and her older sister, 20, called her mom to tell her that her sister was so drunk. Dangerously drunk. She was crying for her to come home to help. Later, the 20 year old daughter was living with her dad when one day he dropped her off at her mom’s house and said that was it, he couldn’t handle this trouble making 20 year old. But her mom had just met God through the last breakdown of her other daughter. She went to a counselor because she was too stressed to deal with her daughters. She found out that she was a lot of the problem. Her counselor asked her what she thought of  God. She believed there was a God, but nothing further.  Then her counselor asked her if she would like to do bible studies.  She started them and her life changed. So when her 20 year old was dropped onto her porch she had some new tools. Now her daughter is involved with the church and health ministries. Her other daughter loves academy and is making amazing friends. God, she told me the last 4 months have just been amazing. She said she can’t believe the transformation in her whole family. She’s so excited God. She is a new mother, a new person. She has new kids. It’s amazing to see.

She grew up in the church. She has an amazing family and went to an amazing school. She’s heard bits and pieces of what she’s “believed” her whole life. She never looked outside of her faith, but she never looked into it very deeply either. She never “fell away” but she wasn’t ever very connected. She is discovering for the first time truths that she should know by heart. She says they are changing her life. She says her faith is finally her own. She has new questions, and she is finding answers. She said she can’t understand why so many people within her church miss it. She is falling in love with Jesus and is more sure about the character of God than ever. She says she has such purpose in life. God, keep leading her.