One of the most fulfilling moments in my life is commissioning men to fulfill the "Great Commission" to "Go make disciples...." Mt 28:19 amp. There is one aspect of commissioning that exceeds the ceremony & even the testimonies from wives and children. That moment took place several years ago & 2was repeated last Sunday, Oct 9th .
One year I was afforded the opportunity to commission men with Ken Madden at Phoenix First Assembly. That year two men flew from Connecticut to Arizona to be commissioned. On Fri before the commissioning one man decided to climb one of the small mountains outside Phoenix and got dehydrated & had to be life flighted to the hospital and missed his commissioning. But as word got around to the other commissioned men we decided to grab half dozem men and swords & head to the hospital to commission him. it was an impressive sight with 7 men in black suits & ties ans swords, coming across the parking lot, into the lobby and up the elevator. We were oblivious to the security guard who had notified the local police. As the elevator door opened we were greeted by two uniformed officers with guns. After stammering & studdering trying to explain our swords, purpose, etc. a little 4'10" RN stepped between the two policemen and announced, "they're okay, they are with me. The policemen stepped back and she led us to our brothers room. She was the head charge on the floor where brother was, just "happened " to be the wife of another commissioned at the church & when he heard we were headed to her hospital he called to see if she could help us find him. Yep, he was on HER FLOOR! That's our God! Well I don't have describe the moment when we entered the room. It's always glorious when God pulls a deal together!
The same situation came up last weekend in Tampa. One man missing, in hospital in Gainesville, Fl. You guessed it, "no man was going to be left behind!" This 10 commissioned men and some wives caravaned the 2 hour drive & took video & pictures of the men unloading in the parking lot, gathering in the lobby & marching down his floor two by two with sheathed swords. We played the "Lions Roar " song as is done in every commissioning. His eye lit up and countenance changed as his mentor, the men's leader walked in, along with his other commissioned brothers. There is something about it when "lay down our lives for our friends." Jn 15:13 No greater love! It speaks volumes to that person that satan is trying to steal, kill & destroy. It speaks volumes to the world! You should have seen the faces of people in the lobby, the visitors area onthe 5th floor and especially the staff and nurses on that floor. They were like, "who are these men?" It was like King Saul when David slew Goliath and asked him, "Whose Son are you?"
The world is looking to the church for answers, they must see a difference.
Thank you faithful men around the world! Be sure and catch all 51 pictures on Facebook of James Commissioning!

Just click on the FB icon at bottom of my home page, www.fm318.com