Overwhelmed! That’s the word that comes to mind when I think back on my Israel trip in February of 2017.  My name is Micah Smith, I am a worship pastor for StoneWater Church, and my life will never be the same after visiting Israel.

The presence of the Holy Spirit was overwhelming!  So many times throughout the trip, I found myself humbled in the presence of God. I truly feel like I clearly heard God speaking vision and direction into my life in many different areas.  God also gave me visions like I have never had before.  Visions about my children and even future generations in my family.   I also had the privilege of leading our group in a time of worship in St Ann’s Cathedral.  The moment I started singing, I was in awe of the sound I was hearing.  An inexplicable sound that can only be created by the voices of God’s children worshiping Him.  God’s presence was so real and tangible! It was an incredible moment with the group. I was overwhelmed by the reality of who God really is.  I constantly found myself in awe of the preciseness of God.  It was amazing to see that everything God has done, is doing, and is going to do is exact, precise and His perfect plan. I could physically see how God created things, placed things, planned His creation and His people, and it was all for a perfect and precise purpose. It was so fascinating to take the knowledge I had of the Bible, and then see the physical locations where these events took place.  Until I physically stood in these places, I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of what God was doing in those moments, and how it impacted His people.   I was overwhelmed by the group of people I was with and the leaders of the trip.  Moshe took us to amazing places and the information he presented us with left me in awe.  This is a journey you have to take to accurately understand the people, places and events that took place in the Bible.  John and Roxie were incredible hosts! I loved being able to ask John questions that brought a lot of clarity to my biblical understanding.  I was also blessed with an amazing group of people that attended the trip with me.  We created great memories together, and it was a blast to experience all of this with them.  I can truly say that this journey to Israel was life changing for my family and I.  God is continuing to use the experiences I had in Israel to teach me, and grow me into who He wants me to be.  Thank you to everyone who makes these trips possible. I cannot wait to go back!

Check out Micah leading worship in St Anne’s cathedral here!

April 6, 2009 Dear Byron, John, and Father’s House, Thank you so much for sending me to Israel.  I have tried to wait to write a thank you until I had time to process more of what we saw, heard, and experienced.  The truth is, I am still in something of a state of awe at the wonder of God manifest by the whole trip. It has been a long-standing desire of mine to go to Israel and see the places where biblical events took place.  I could never have imagined the impact that being there would have on my understanding and perspective on the Word of God.  There is a deep, spiritual stirring in my soul that is like a revival meeting but much deeper and longer-lasting in its influence.  There is new fire in my preaching and new depth in my teaching.  People here at First Baptist have commented about the difference they hear and see in me. The things I have learned and believed for years have been re-formatted by the trip.  I know them in a way I could not have known them before.  It is in a small way like what our transition from hope to sight will be when Jesus comes: We hold to the reality, but we have not experienced it in its completeness.  I know that I have yet to experience the fullness of Who God is and what redemption is, but there is a greater appreciation for the revelation of God in His Word and in His Son that makes the present reality so much sweeter! Thank you, thank you, thank you for answering God’s call to send pastors to Israel.  John, thank you for being with us and making the trip more wonderful with your songs and your servant heart.  Byron, thank you for your heart to help move us toward revival through the experience of biblical places in Israel.  You have blessed my life and enriched my ministry more than I can express. I am encouraging every believer to go to Israel and experience the wonder of the land of Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and the disciples.  We are praying and working on details to try to take a group back in 2010 because the excitement of the group that went has taken hold of the church!

HAPPY NEW YEAR HAPPY NEW YOU! Year may change but the God we are serving is the same yesterday, today & forever. He is our Immanuel year in and year out. December 2011 @ ROLFC The last month of the year was a year to gather the Harvest of Souls to His fold. The different Campuses had their Christmas Celebration but it was not just it was a Gathering of people whose lives has be connected to God through the effort done by each leaders & members. New faces, happy faces, expectant faces our hearts rejoice when we saw all who came and join. We group the different Campus or Outreach into Cluster: One cluster attendance was 598 (Ruel & Fretzel Yu (Church Leader/couple) William Sasam(youth leader)& Jay Torno(youth). They prepared the programme, Christmas giveaways, food. God is good! Cluster 2- Felix and wife Leng Chagas together with some leaders, gathered 350. Cluster 3 – Albert & Melody Laga together with some leaders gathered 230. Cluster 4 Ian Cayunda & company 100 ( due to heavy rain when the event was held). January 13-15 it will start tonite, Friday we will have our new believers retreat. Expected delegates is more or less 50 people. Please uphold us in your prayers. January 15 Sunday is Nelrose and our son William Victor will be celebrating their birthday. Our firstborn son was born on my wife’s birthday.  He is God’s gift to us. Say a special blessing/declaration – prayer for them. Thank you. January 29 Releaser of Life Family Church (ROLFC) will celebrate our 9th year Anniversary-Thanksgiving. On this day’s part of the program will be we will be presenting to the LORD everyone who have been connected to God/ saved last year 2011. Souls who have been ushered to His Kingdom. Fruit of the labor of God’s children. Thank you for your prayers and support for the year 2011 Praying our partnership to continue this 2012 to the Praise of His glory. Indeed our labor is not in vain in the Lord the road may sometimes be bumpy but we never lost focus on our destination, finances may sometimes test us but God supplies and we are rest assured God is with us and you are with us. Your prayers and financial support are much appreciated. Blessings to everyone in 2012.