NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IS ON FIRE

BY Rev. Jerrell H. Miller/Editor & Publisher

SACRAMENTO, CA—It started when Richard Oliver fell off a ladder while putting in a light bulb in his office. As he laid in a bed recovering from a broken arm and the fall, Pastor Jim Carmichael of the Foothill Community Church brought him a video tape from the Brownsville Revival. Carmichael had been to the revival and was deeply touched. He brought back the Ward Sisters’ Testimony. That was more than two years ago and the results could be seen on the front page of The Sacramento Bee newspaper on Sunday morning.

Looking at the little publication published by the church, the Jewish reporter from The Bee was impressed at the unity of the group. Questioning several pastors and members of the congregations that were listed on the back of the publication, it became apparent to the reporter that this was a genuine move of God. On August 15, on the front page of The Sacramento Bee, a large picture of people with their hands in the air worshipping spoke of the growing unity among the network of churches in the River revival in northern California.

Pastor Richard Oliver understands one thing; the unity of the Holy Spirit brings renewal and revival. Oliver is a servant who continually calls other pastors and encourages them to get into the River of the renewal. For the last three years his church has held services on Thursday nights for hungry believers. At Family Christian Center people are filled with the power of God as the church has become a strategic watering hole for the flow of God’s move in the Sacramento area. For Richard Oliver, renewal has become contagious and it all started with the spark that was ignited by the Brownsville fire in Pensacola. Oliver had a desire to go to revival in Pensacola, Florida. Taking board members and staff, he found God in a big way. Oliver became a magnet pastor for revival. Now two other major leaders in the northern California area are involved as the network of pastors has grown to a size of tremendous proportion.

THE PROPHETS SPEAK

Pastor Bill Johnson of Bethel Assembly of God in Redding joined with Richard Oliver to seek God in a deeper way. Johnson’s church is experiencing the supernatural as several healings have taken place. Johnson has established a prophetic church in Redding that also feeds surrounding churches. Johnson has taken hold of the church where major healings and supernatural signs and wonders are occurring. One thing that is very apparent in these churches is the worship. In Bethel Church young women dress up in costume and men toss giant flags in the air to signal their love for the Savior. It’s not your normal Assembly of God, but what is these days? A school of ministry has been established under Bill Johnson. Pastor Richard Oliver will open a branch of that school in his sanctuary at Orangevale Christian Center. Another great move of God in northern California is in Vaca Valley Christian Life Center where Dave Crone is pastor. It has also become a place of renewal that has grown in strength as another place people can come and be refreshed in the River of God.

The Fire On The Horizon Conference, held at the Sacramento Convention Center in downtown Sacramento was not just another conference. It was a meeting place of all who are involved in this new move of God in the northern California area. For three days, more than 1,000 people celebrated a time of renewal as visiting ministers came and shared their visions of what God is doing now in the Body of Christ. Pastor Bill Johnson, Bethel Assembly of God, Redding California; Pastor Dave Crone of Vaca Valley Christian Life Center; and Pastor Richard Oliver, Orangevale Family Christian Center Assembly of God, have all worked tirelessly to bring pastors to this current move of God.

They came together to celebrate in the Third Annual Fire On The Horizon Conference. Four of the most outstanding prophets of today participated: Jim Goll, Lou Engle, Marc Dupont and Mickey Robinson. They did not come specifically to give direction to the event, but they did speak out on several subjects including the current move of God among the youth of America.

On Thursday night Lou Engle spoke of the coming revival among the young people of America. Engle has visited several men of God in America today and has a prophetic vision of taking 1,000,000 young people to the mall in Washington, D.C for a time of intercession. Engle was recently in Baltimore, Maryland where he met with Pastor Bart Pierce to start mobilizing the move of God. The Rock Church in Baltimore has been in revival for the last year. Evangelist Tommy Tenney has led the people there to seek the face of God.

Lou’s message was delivered under a heavy anointing as he spoke of the DNA of fathers of the land. Through the windows of computers and televisions, sin has corrupted the true gatekeepers of the land. He referred to the pornography being brought into the homes of America through the Internet and television. He spoke about the tragedy at Columbine High School in the Denver area, and spoke about the loneliness of the young people. "They will be the one who lead the next revival. We must pour ourselves into them because if we lose them, we will lose the next generation of Christianity in our land." As Engle spoke at the pulpit, he began rocking forward and backward under the anointing of God. Deliverance was in the air as he called forth the sins of the fathers of the land. The powerful persuasion of Engle’s message could be felt on the first night of the conference. As the altars were opened, many came forth to repent of their sins and make peace with God.

This was just the first night in what would prove to be an awesome entrance of the Holy Spirit on this conference.

MARC DUPONT

On Friday night Mickey Robinson began to introduce the next speaker, Marc Dupont, but before he introduced him, Mickey stirred the crowd by taking a large sword and saying, "We need another American Revolution and this one is not against the English. We need to take our land back from the stronghold of Satan and return it to God."

Marc Dupont addressed the gathering by speaking about the prophetic word that was spoken over the city of Toronto in 1992. Dupont said that he saw the vision of Niagara Falls that fell upon the city of Toronto. Today four million people have visited the Toronto blessing and have been renewed in their spirit. Dupont worked and traveled out of the renewal for the first few years but has now returned to his home base in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He spoke of a new vision and in that vision he said that he saw molten lava fall upon the earth from the throne room of God. He said that whoever touches this river will not just be renewed, but will be consumed.

Dupont commented on the great move of God that was put forth by Bill Bright as he called for fasting and prayer for a sustained period of time. Commenting on Bright’s book, "The Coming Revival," Dupont said he was in agreement with Bright by saying that God was calling America to repent, fast, pray, and turn back to the God of our fathers. "Our nation is in a moral free-fall and the Church, for the most part, is spiritually impotent." Dupont read the scripture found in Isaiah 56:7, "My House shall be called a house of prayer." Dupont went on to say the next move of God will not be centered on a personality because God is not going to share His Glory with any man. He went on to explain that every tribe of Israel received an inheritance of land except the tribe of Levi. The tribe of Levi represented the priesthood and their inheritance would be the glory of God. He spoke about the angels that surround the throne of God. The cherubim surround the throne of God but the seraphim fly around the throne of God and are the messengers of fire to reflect the glory of God. It was this type of angel that laid the coal of fire upon the lips of Isaiah. It will be these angels that bring the power of God and the fire toward the earth. Dupont said that services will change and that the main emphasis will be bringing in the presence of God through the worship in the sanctuary. Satan hates worship leaders because they reflect the glory of God. People will enter into a new realm where they will worship in Spirit and in Truth. Dupont made several observations about the priesthood and the men of God seeking the presence of God. John the Baptist was the greatest prophet in all the Bible. He was a Levite; he was the forerunner of Jesus. His father was a priest who was burning incense in the Temple when it was announced to him that he would have a son. The sweet smell of revival can often be found at the feet of Jesus. It is most important to spend time in fellowship with Jesus at this time. It was Mary Magdalene who poured the ointment on the feet of Jesus. She was always seeking His company—she had a need to be in His presence. Jesus wants to be intimate with us. He wants us to love Him more than the work we are involved in for Him.

JIM GOLL

Jim Goll was the next speaker. He went back in history to challenge the minds of the present. Goll, the author of "The Lost Art of Intercession," gave a challenging message on returning to the places of the former glory. Goll and his wife Michal Ann have just returned from England where he traveled and visited some of the places of revival in Wales. He had the opportunity to visit with Samuel Howells, the only living son of late Reese Howells who was a tremendous intercessor for England during World War II. Howells spoke of his father and his power of intercession. One question that Goll asked Samuel Howells over and over was why did his father have such a touch and an insight with God during World War II. Reese Howells was used in tremendous intercession during a time when the German army was about to invade Great Britain. After asking this question over and over, finally Samuel Howells looked at Goll and said, "The Lord’s servant was possessed by God."

Goll went back to the history of the Hebrides revival in the islands just above Scotland. Two older ladies were led in prayer to intercede for the Hebrides Islands. Peggy was 84 years old when she started to pray with her prayer partner Christina, 82. The two were great intercessors as they reminded God of His promises in the Word of God. In Isaiah 44:3 it says, "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring" This was the verse that Peggy and Christina prayed back to God before revival came to the outer islands of Scotland.

Goll also spoke about seven young boys who were meeting in an old barn and were praying for revival. God began to move through them in tremendous intercession. In Isaiah 64:1 the boys found the verse that said, "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence," and they also used the scripture found in Isaiah 62:6-7 that said, "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, And give him not rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth ." The young men called upon God while they prayed and fasted, reminding God of His promises to His people in the Word of God.

One night Peggy had a vision of God coming. She called her vicar and told him. "He’s coming; He’s coming; He’s already here; you had better send for the evangelist." Peggy was completely blind in both eyes but could see God coming in the spirit. At that time the vicar sent for an unemployed evangelist by the name of Duncan Campbell. People were finding God in the fields and all around the Hebrides Islands as the Spirit of Repentance fell on people of all walks of life, without even a church service.

Goll spoke about searching the history of revival from past days. In recent days he has visited several places in Europe. One place where he had a divine encounter with God was at Herrnhut in eastern Germany. Many years ago the Moravian refugees in tiny Herrnhut committed themselves to restore the "Watch of the Lord" through 24-hours-of-unbroken-prayer a day and intercession that continued for more than 100 years.

It was that same spirit of intercession that captured a young Anglican minister by the name of John Wesley. The Moravians interceded for John Wesley until he felt a strange warm feeling inside of his soul.

Jim Goll painted a picture of intercession and said this is the season for us to mount the walls with prayer and praise to restore the church in fullness and glory that belongs to her. He encouraged the people to visit the places of revival history to unlock the doors of revival for the future. Peggy and Christina prayed for the future generations and God answered them in a tremendous way. Goll traced God’s moves in revival and just speaking of the history of revival brought the spirit of hope to the California churches that were represented in the conference.

In the Saturday afternoon session a collection was taken for the Jewish synagogues that were burned in Sacramento in the last six months. More than $11,400 was given by those in attendance. In a week that saw violence in Los Angeles against a Jewish day care center, the Body of Christ in Sacramento showed their concern over the growing anti-Jewish atmosphere in the state of California. Each dollar given in the conference made a profound statement against those who have tried to persecute God’s chosen people.

On the last night of the conference some of the women spoke. What started out to be just a few words turned into a move of God upon the women. Michal Ann Goll called the women forth for prayer. Each woman who had a leading roll in the conference grabbed a sword and laid them on all the women who came forward that night, to anoint them for service. An hour and a half later the final speaker, Mickey Robinson, came forward to end the meeting.

MICKEY ROBINSON

Mickey Robinson has an unusual testimony of healing. As a young man he was trapped in an airplane that crashed. He was burned over one third of his body. Mickey spoke directly to people about healing their hurts. "The revelation of who Jesus Christ is is the most important prophetic reality that there is, and this is the time of the great divide. It is going to get down to exalting the name of Jesus Christ."

After reading a verse of scripture found in John 16:7-13, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come he, will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come," Mickey Robinson began to speak about the gift of prophecy in the church today.

"The prophetic is not a trend; it’s not a fad; it’s not for just a season; it is foundational until the end of the season of time." Robinson began to speak about the current move of God and the revival that has gone forth throughout the land. In Isaiah 40:3 it says, "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." This is a statement that says create a place for Him to come. If I might use my knowledge of aviation, this means clear a place like a landing strip for Him to come down and land. In Isaiah 40:4-5 it says, "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." This statement of scripture has not occurred yet but we live in a day and an hour when it can. We can watch televised wars as they begin. We know things instantly in the Christian world through the Internet and we can’t even keep track. We keep hearing about God breaking out here and breaking out there. We are on the increase for revival.

From the beginning of Genesis in the Bible it is recorded that the only thing that God ever breathed life into was man. Faith is one of the things that has been in transition this year. We are moving into a prophetic realm, into an apostolic realm of grace. In the late 1980s God generously poured out his prophetic grace on the body of Christ. In 1987 when I first met these men (Marc Dupont, Jim Goll, Mickey Robinson, Lou Engle), the Lord gave us a word that He was going to remove the reproach from the prophetic ministry and give us a platform and a season of popularity to announce a greater move of God that was to come. This is our 12th year together. Twelve is an apostolic number and in this year of completion, there is transition. In our 12th conference something was happening in the spirit realm and it was a time of release of the apostolic. This apostolic grace is not to create a string of churches—this is not a spiritual Amway with a down line, but a time for God to breathe on the Body of Christ to call forth more prophets in the land. The revelation of who Jesus Christ is is the most important prophetic reality that there is today. We are going to get down to exalting Jesus—the person and the personality of who He is.

The move of God in northern California is tied very closely to the prophetic voice of the prophets. Marc Dupont, Mickey Robinson, Jim Goll and Lou Engle have played a major role in the church as we know it in North America. Their voices have called forth evangelists and great moves of God in the last five years. The prophetic is being spoken of in these Assembly of God churches in northern California and the growth of Vaca Valley Christian Life Center, Bethel in Redding and Orangevale Christian Center has been tremendous. These churches, along with several other churches, have united to hear God’s voice and to serve one another.

Richard Oliver took a fall and Jim Carmichael introduced him to revival by giving him the Ward Sisters’ video tape. In just three short years his fellowship has doubled and there are now over 150 churches in the River of revival in northern California. Look what the Lord has done!