Howdy, Folks -- this is your friendly reporter, Virginia Lane, commenting on four fantastic days at the Outreach for America Conference in Hominy, Oklahoma.

Several weeks ago, my husband Mark asked Dave Hinton, founder of Outreach for America (OFA), what the conference was to be about?  The response was "It will be a time of Revival."  I came to realize that the topic was to be chosen by the Holy Spirit (HS).  And how exciting it was to see how the HS worked over the six sessions.  As I told a friend on Thursday, the theme was Grace and Righteousness.  The speakers kept us in stitches (and sometimes tears) with stories of their lives and experiences--but stories that made a point and showed us the Grace of God.  We were encouraged to understand our identity in Christ by learning how to rest in His Righteousness.  (I will type up some of the notes I jotted down and will put them below.)

Eighty-one people (13 and over) registered over the four days.   There were a few who didn't register but I believe the majority did.   There were also a number of children who participated in Children's Ministry taught by Ireana Walls, Catrina Hinton and Michelle Horton.  Probably a third of the attendees were our local Gathering Place people.  If that's true, 50 something people was pretty good for a conference that wasn't well advertised.  The best aspect of a small gathering was that the group was small enough for socialization and valuable relationships were built.

The amazing thing was how well the group of dedicated volunteers pulled it together.  In less than four weeks, they turned a barn into a beautiful sanctuary--and a dilapidated office building into a usable business office, temporary bedrooms (upstairs) and a cafe area.  Plumbing was repaired, hot water heaters installed, walls painted, doors hung, lights fixed, carpet laid, paneling installed, walls built, etc.  Poncho and Lefty (stuffed steer heads) were moved from the lobby into the sanctuary.  Two raccoons were trapped and dispatched to animal control.  Four kittens were rescued; two were placed in homes and we hope the other two will grow up to become mousers for the Lord here at the OFA building.

Jerry and Shelly Cook of Hominy oversaw the Gathering Place Fellowship Hall.  Coffee, beverages and snacks were available prior to morning services and after the evening service. Attendees were encouraged to patronize local restaurants during the afternoon break.  

John and Linda Maxwell of Alma, CO came early with willing hearts; they built shelves for the Book and Music Store and continued to serve in overseeing the Store.  Speaker Dave Duell brought materials from Faith Ministries; Dave Hinton had his supply of tapes, CDs and books.  PS 40, the Praise & Worship team from Calvary Cathedral International of Fort Worth also brought their CD to add to the bookstore.

Thursday evening was the dedication of the ministry and building.  I gathered that in the years Dave and Cindy had been working with Outreach for America, they had never had a service dedicating the ministry to God and recognizing the workers.  The evening was fun with several skits, songs and testimonies.  The most outstanding was the one where different people (thug, burglar, mad scientist, etc) were asked how they were going to get to Heaven.  They were going to beat, sneak or use a formula to get in.  At the end, Dave called one of the children up.  Caitlin Horton gave a great answer--summing it up that we must believe in Christ.

Each service contained music and ministry by Glen Tidwell of PS 40; Dave Hinton also sang and testified.  While Dave Duell and Dave Hinton were the primary speakers, others participated in the activities.  Don Flynn sang several songs.  Mark Ramshaw of Saskatchewan, Canada spoke about his  India Outreach; he is readying to take another trip to India in January.  Dave Hinton recognized special people in his life: his foster mother, Bertha Littleton and friend Sam Morrison. Another conference-goer, Jan Moshier, had been on mission trips with the Hintons.  Jan gave me her personal testimony about meeting Dave in Times Square.  Out of a crowd of hundreds, he walked up to her and gave her a Word from God that confirmed the message she herself had received but was questioning.  At the end of each service, the speakers gave what are generically known as altar calls plus offered to pray for anyone wanting intercession for any need.  Many responded and saw healing, both internally and externally.  

I can't even begin to repeat all the miracles that I heard were actually taking place.  Some we had to go by faith that the manifestation will happen.  Others we could see or hear of at that time.  I saw Gerald Minor on the front porch after the service.  He told me that he was hearing sounds that he hadn't heard in years due to hearing loss.  Chris Pritchard said the pain in his shoulders was gone.  I can testify that I feel like a change has taken place in my heart.

Rather than outline each speaker's message, session by session, I will take each speaker and write down the nuggets that I gleaned.  Please check back; we hope to be able to put the audio of the sessions online at a later date.

Dave Duell:

A unbelievable inheritance is what is coming.

How you live life is your choice.  You can be a sourpuss or full of joy.

Warfare is two undefeated foes fighting each other.  The devil is under our feet. If you need the spirit of might; it's there.  What you need is inside of you.  Be yourself.  Heb 1:9

How to listen to God?  God speaks in the spirit.  Usually not audible.  It's like intuition.  Voice doesn't say heart problem, you just know.  So what if you are wrong.  If you speak with the word of knowledge, it starts building faith in them.

Practice in the Holy Ghost each day.

Dave recommends a book called New Wine is Better by Robert Thom. (This book can be purchased through Amazon.  You may click on the Amazon link at the bottom of the right hand bar of this page.)

Prophetic words birth ministries.  Meditate on what God says; it births the image inside you till it becomes part of you.  You'll get there.

You have to be hungry; you have to go for it.  When somebody prays, don't ask if you got it?  you have to act like you know you got it.

If you can see Jesus doing it?  Go ahead and do it.  Jesus did things to release their faith.  God wants action.  God can use anyone who makes himself available.  If you can't have adventure with the HS, you're dead.

Over there (Russia, etc), it's raw faith.  It ruins you to come back to average Christianity.   There is so much unbelief over here.

1.  Get loaded
2.  Release the power
3.  It can come out of hand (throw like a ball), breath, eyes.

Dave Hinton:

When you pray, believe with all your heart to receive.
Judge His righteousness.
Sarah judged God faithful.
Quit trying to figure out what to do--just do it.

Story of Dave's beginning preaching.  God taught him how to pray. How are you going to know his voice if you don't spend time in his presence.  Jesus spent time with God--you need to withdraw as he did.

"To know him is eternal life."  Enter his courts with praise and thanksgiving--then get quiet and let God talk.

We often abort just at the point of breakthrough.  Don't be more afraid of man that you are afraid of stirring things up.

You aren't going to have a story if you aren't willing to step out--be a fool for Christ.
God makes a way.  Keep walking by faith; God will do something.

When you think God isn't aware, praise him.  God wants us to enjoy the trip.  Be stressed somewhere else.

Keep practicing faith.  If there wasn't anything to overcome, why would we need to be overcomers.  Faith determines what will happen tomorrow, next week.

Submit and don't complain, God will bless you.
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The weekend ended with a Saturday morning Praise and Worship Service with PS 40.  

PS:  I want to recognize other volunteers not mentioned above without whom the "weekend" would not have been possible. Each person mentioned in this review wore many hats and went above and beyond the call of duty.  If I have left anyone out, it was unintentional and I do apologize.

David Randall Hinton of Hominy, OK
Falecia Hinton of Hominy, OK
Rachel Hinton of Hominy, OK
Gregg and Sarah Grobe of Pueblo, CO
Justin Linley of Cleveland, OK
Wayne Joy of Colorado Springs, CO
Larry Romero of Simpsonville, SC
Howard and Betty Bryant of Hominy, OK
Chris and Jamie Prichard of Cleveland, OK
Margaret Haney of Cleveland, OK
Forrest and Margaret Petitt of Hominy, OK
Terry and Sandra Grier of Hominy, OK
Chris Cross of Osage, OK
Randy Sorrell of Dewey, OK
Joseph and Gayle Victory of Hominy, OK
Doug and Michelle Horton of Osage, OK
Mark and Virginia Bolzern of Livingston, TX
Tony Walls of Osage, OK