By David & Ashley Helms

GULF SHORES, AL -- Gulfway Church in Gulf Shores is still riveting from the dynamic teaching of Dick Reuben. From the first welcome to the last amen, God’s magnificent presence was felt by all. It was a week that more than stirred our hearts, it changed our lives. As Dick Reuben led us in a phenomenal excavation of the truth of God’s word, and revealed our Jewish roots and God’s ultimate plan for our lives through scripture, we were overwhelmed by the majesty of our God. This past week was no typical revival, it was a time of preparation for the things ahead, a foundation upon which we can build our church and our lives. When the pattern was right, the glory fell.

In the first service, Brother Reuben issued a challenge to our Church body encouraging us to step out of our comfort zones and look past our preconceived expectations. He explained that at Brownsville it had been proven that people can live holy lives before the Lord, and that a deep hunger for the things of God can be foremost in the lives of true believers today. He shared his vision of this nation having celebration centers all over it where the worship and love for our God will be taken to a higher level than ever before. At that moment, the body of believers at Gulfway Church felt the Holy Spirit calling us to be one these churches. The beginning of the transformation in the hearts and lives of the church body was evident, and a wave of excitement swept through the congregation.

On the Sunday night service, we returned with a great expectation for what the Lord was preparing us to do. We quickly were ushered into the presence of God as we began to lift up His matchless name in worship. As people began to pour out their hearts before the Lord, the sweet presence of the spirit became stronger and stronger. Brother Reuben was led by the spirit to begin praying for people instead of sharing his message for the evening. As a result of his obedience to the Spirit, many people were set free from bondage and sickness, while many others felt a renewing of their passion for God. After having felt the presence of God in such a powerful way, we were truly ready to receive great knowledge from the word in the services that were to follow.

If you have never had the pleasure of sitting under the teaching of Dick Reuben, you have missed out. Pastor David Hunt of Gulfway Church described Brother Reuben’s teaching as "One of the most powerful journeys through the word this congregation had ever seen." As Brother Reuben began to reveal the undeniable connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament, many of the scriptures that once seemed vague simply lit up before our eyes. Brother Reuben explained in great detail how the Old Testament is the school master which guides us to understanding of the New Testament scriptures because the patterns of God never change. He explained how the tabernacle and its furnishings, the priestly garments, the offering system, and many other Old Testament icons are the pictures which lead us to understanding the mysteries of God. Judge Walter Chandler, a member of Gulfway Church, said "The vitality, importance, and continuity of the Old and New Testament was reinforced in a new and marvelous way. The conceptualization of being grafted into the vine was brought home by this magnificent messianic teaching." Judge Chandler further explained that "this congregation was blessed and their faith was magnified by their attendance and participation in Dick Reuben’s loving witness to the glory of our savior." It is true that in the short amount of time this Church was blessed by the teaching of Brother Reuben has radically changed our approach to our study of the word of God as we now seek to understand the deep mysteries found in scripture.

This enhanced love for the scriptures and heightened understanding of the promises and patterns of God is now beginning to bear fruit in the lives of our Church body. We have grasped the understanding that we are priests of our Lord, and we have the overwhelming desire to please Him in all that we do, as we flow by the guiding of the Holy Spirit in the never changing patterns God created. Brother Reuben defined revival as the birthing of new believers into the kingdom of God. During the revival week, we were blessed with seeing several people give their hearts to the Lord for the first time. We are believing God will continue to bless us as we reach out to our community and bring new believers into His Kingdom.