From the desk of Pastor Patrick Ligon

Greetings in the great name of Jesus,

I hope this letter finds you resting in faith and watching God work in your life.  First, let me say thank you for your participation in our REST fast at the beginning of January! Our corporate unity to consecrate ourselves and seek God during this time has produced the faith momentum to receive the rest, revival, and restoration that God has promised us this year.  Over the past few weeks, the Spirit of the Lord led me to teach faith lessons with the goal of restoring our devotion to worshipping God. The act of devotion requires our love, loyalty, and enthusiasm towards Jesus and His causes. The act of worship involves responding with all that is within you to the revelation of all that God is to you. Worship begins with a focused desire to honor God with a fear and reverence that I am unwilling to give to anyone else.  Faithful service in the Kingdom of God requires a motivation and resolve that can only be birthed from our love for Jesus. In the twenty-first chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus reveals the motivation and resolve necessary for faithful Kingdom service. 

John 21:15-16 KJV So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Peter was a fisherman by profession before encountering Jesus’ ministry.  After the resurrection, Peter went back to fishing.  When Jesus asked Peter, “do you love me more than these'', He was asking Peter to re-prioritize his love. Jesus called Peter to a life of prioritized devotion and service.  As believers, we have the same call as Peter.  Our love, loyalty, and enthusiasm towards Jesus and His causes must exceed our devotion to anything else. Remember the words of Jesus.

Luke 10:27 KJV  So he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.”

God is calling us back to a prioritized lifestyle of devotion and worship. The mission of Great Faith Church is to Make Lives Better by Faith. We will accomplish the mission with our continued commitment to Love God, Love People, and Live the Word.

2020 was a faith fight for everyone.  Many remain in the faith fight to restore lost or limited health, relationships, and finances; while others fight to maintain the surplus and abundance their faith has produced.  At all times there are those who are struggling and those who are experiencing surplus.  The message of faith is relevant to both realities.  Those who are struggling need faith to come out of their struggle.  While those who are experiencing surplus need faith to continue in surplus.  In my role as Pastor, it is my responsibility to position myself to hear God's voice for the members and partners of Great Faith Church.  While praying concerning the prophetic word for rest, revival, and restoration this year, I heard God say, “It will happen, because you believe”!  A quick look through the scriptures validates the Rhema Word I heard from the Lord.

Matt 9:27-31 MSG As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, “Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!” When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, “Do you really believe I can do this?” They said, “Why, yes, Master!”  He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.” It happened.

Mark 9:23 KJV - Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 11:23-24 KJV - For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

I declare over your life, “It will happen, because you believe.”  All of the promises of God are to be received by faith. For every promise, prophecy or principle from God there is a faith process to bring it to pass.  I am committed to teaching you faith so that you may receive every promise of God for your life.  This month we launch the “It Will Happen, Because We Believe” Spring Vision Builders campaign. We are releasing our corporate faith to manifest God's promise of rest, revival, and restoration. 

These are our faith goals over the next four months. 

Faith Goals February 4 - May 30, 2021:

• 25 additional volunteers to staff in-person worship services  

• 50 new member families

• 100 committed people praying during Turn Up Prayer

• 30k First Fruit Offering Goal Manifested

Here is how you can partner with me.

First - Supplicate for the Vision.  Join me each Thursday beginning February 4, 2021, @7:30PM at Turn Up Prayer.  Prayer is the launching pad of faith. The scriptures say that we receive what we believe when we pray. 

Mark 11:24 KJV What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Second -  I am asking you to Seek the vision.  Open your heart to God's voice and willingly obey by responding and to the Kingdom call to volunteer at Great Faith Church. God promised a blessing to the faithful. 

Isaiah 1:19 KJV  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

Proverbs 28:20 KJV A faithful man shall abound with blessings:

Third - Make a commitment to Speak the vision. 

Mark 11:23 KJV For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Fourth Sow into the Vision - Prayerfully consider participating in our First Fruit Offering.  We are believing to receive thirty thousand dollars over and above the tithe and general offerings.  The promise of increase, abundance, and overflow is released with a First Fruit Offering.  

Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops then your barns will be filled to overflowing,  and your vats will brim over with new wine. 

There are three things you should expect as you obey God with your faithful commitment in these key areas of the vision:

1. Expect Intimacy with God that empowers recovery and productivity in life.

Matthew 11:28-30 MSG “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  

2. Expect Innovation from God that manifests things beyond your expectations.

Ephesians 3:20 KJV Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. 

3. Expect Intrusive thoughts from God that result in your stability and success.

Proverbs 16:3 AMP Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

The strength of a church is not in the amount of members it has but in the willingness of its members to respond to vision.  I am confident in your willingness to respond to God's vision of rest, revival, and restoration for Great Faith Church in 2021. “It Will Happen, Because We Believe.” 

Rest is not inactivity.  Rest is productivity with the absence of stress, strain, and struggle in life.  As you rest in faith through participation in this vision you will see increased intimacy which causes you to be more productive this year. God's divine innovation will release creativity and wisdom that will take you beyond your expectations.  Finally, in this season you will learn to trust the intrusive thoughts of God resulting in your plans being established and succeeding. 

Thank you for partnering with the vision of Great Faith Church.  I value your commitment and all that you do to help me fulfill the assignment to Love God, Love People, and Live the Word.  Together we are “Making Lives Better by Faith”

Rest in Faith 

Pastor Patrick Ligon

PS I have provided the “It will happen, because we believe” faith confession below.