The Transformative Power of Prayer and Soul-Winning: Testimonies and a Call to Active Evangelism

Javier Tor recounted his experience facing multiple lawsuits involving his home, inheritance, and bank accounts. He described a period of intense doubt, during which he found solace and strength in videos of Pastor Jonathan's preaching.

Tor credits Pastor Jonathan's guidance and prayer for the resolution of his situation, emphasizing that his legal case was dismissed rather than merely settled. He views his survival of this ordeal as a profound testament to the power of Jesus Christ, giving all glory to the Lord for his victory. "The case was dismissed. Not settled. The case was dismissed. Each time that I doubted, I would look at my video. Pastor Jonathan preached to me and um it lifted me up. I I can't explain it, but it it kept me going. When I finally got my victory, I give all the glory to the Lord Jesus Christ."

The church's mission extends to cultivating families in Pittsburgh and Texas who not only 'know about God' but personally 'know God' through direct experience of His power. Pastor Jonathan articulates a vision for a congregation that actively handles and sees God's power flow through them.

He explicitly rejects a church model that relies solely on passive engagement through television and YouTube, underscoring a commitment to fostering a deeply interactive and empowered community. "We're raising up a family in Texas that don't just know about God. They know God. They've handled his power. They've seen his power flow through them."

Pastor Jonathan criticizes churches that prioritize entertainment to attract members, asserting that this approach deviates from the true purpose of ministry. He emphasizes that while modern amenities are acceptable, the core mission must remain focused on active evangelism.

The ministry's goal is to engage directly with the community to win gang members and drug dealers to Christ, restore broken homes, and unequivocally proclaim that "JESUS SAVES." He advocates for 'proper crusades' over smaller, less effective park gatherings, aiming for impactful and widespread outreach. "We're going to have all that, but we're also going to go out and win gang members to Christ and win drug dealers to Christ and get people off of drugs and fix broken homes and go and tell PEOPLE JESUS SAVES."

Pastor Jonathan highlighted the impressive volunteer turnout in Houston, where 550 individuals responded to an eight-day notice to work, not just to attend a service. He contrasts this high engagement with 'seeker-sensitive' churches that often struggle to involve their members in ministry work.

He warns against the long-term spiritual stagnation that results from a church model heavily reliant on entertainment, such as providing popcorn and movies, instead of fostering active participation in the gospel. "550 people in uh Houston, Texas showed up on 8 days notice to work, not to preach. This is a church full of gospel workers."

Pastors are challenged to develop their skills to effectively preach to the lost, particularly in public settings like stadiums. Pastor Jonathan contends that many churches struggle with outreach because they lack a clear, compelling message for those outside the faith.

The core message that needs to be emphasized, he states, is God's unconditional love for the sinner. He argues that the ability to articulate this message is crucial for successful evangelism and for fulfilling the pastoral duty to reach the unsaved. "So it it'll develop your pastoral skills to be able to preach to the lost. I think the reason a lot of churches don't do outreach, they won't even know what to say to a a stadium full of sinners."

Pastor Jonathan criticizes churches that avoid low-income communities, citing cost as a prohibitive factor. He challenges the rationale of valuing financial stockpiling over the spiritual needs and salvation of individuals.

He argues that such a money-centric approach to ministry will inevitably lead to spiritual decline, stating that God will allow those who operate this way to "spiral on their own." "Ministry is about stockpiling money. Forget the people. Why spend money to go reach the lost? Let them go to hell. We need money. We need to have other things. And when YOU OPERATE LIKE THAT, GOD will let you spiral on your own."

Pastor Jonathan strongly emphasizes the biblical mandate to bring the gospel to the poor, stating that true ministry requires a divine anointing rather than mere financial resources or self-improvement teachings. He criticizes large churches for charging fees to hear the gospel, suggesting that such practices indicate a lack of genuine anointing for ministry.

He asserts that one cannot effectively minister in places like Venezuela, provide plane loads of food, or preach to earthquake victims without this anointing, contrasting it with churches that offer superficial advice. "The spirit of the Lord has anointed me TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. CUZ YOU CAN'T GO TO Venezuela without an anointing. You can't pay for plain loads of food. You can't preach to people that are earthquake victims AND YOU END UP IN A BIG CHURCH CHARGING $100 a person to come hear the GOSPEL BECAUSE YOU CAN'T YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANOINTING to preach."

Pastor Jonathan argues that many modern Western churches, including those in Canada, America, and Europe, have shifted their focus to cater primarily to individuals who are already prospering. He contends that these churches offer superficial self-help tips, such as advice on dating one's spouse, rather than addressing deeper societal issues.

He highlights a severe lack of ministry resources and support for highly vulnerable populations, including heroin addicts, alcoholics, and terminally ill patients. The pastor suggests that God is currently raising a new generation of leaders specifically to minister to these hurting and marginalized groups. "That's what Canadian church and American church has turned into and European church. Collect people that are already doing good. Give them some tips like make sure to date your spouse... THERE'S NOTHING YOU HAVE FOR HEROIN ADDICTS. THERE'S NOTHING YOU HAVE FOR ALCOHOLICS."

Pastor Jonathan references Luke 6:35, emphasizing that offering help only to those who can reciprocate yields an immediate, worldly reward. He contrasts this with the profound spiritual and material rewards promised by God to those who intentionally assist individuals who cannot repay them.

He asserts that by seeking out and helping the unreachable and needy, believers position themselves to receive the abundant support and favor that everyone desires. "If you only help people who you know can pay you back, you have your reward. But if you intentionally try to help people who you know can't pay you back, your father in heaven will pay you back."

Pastor Jonathan shared a personal anecdote about his consideration of switching to commercial flights to reduce ministry expenses. However, on the very day he contemplated this, he received a phone call from a man named Patrick who offered to cover all of his overseas ventures.

This generous donation amounted to $500,000, which Pastor Jonathan interpreted as a clear divine signal to continue his current ministry path without cutting corners. "I was thinking two weeks ago, maybe I could cut expense by taking commercial aircraft. You know, it's not a big deal. And right when I was considering it, a guy called Patrick and said, I want to pay for all of Jonathan's overseas ventures... and send a check for $500,000."

Cheryl Balan shared her harrowing battle with a rare nerve pain disease, which she described as the highest pain known to humanity. This condition left her feeling helpless and engulfed in despair, leading her down a path of seeking alternative, non-traditional remedies.

She recounted undergoing numerous failed medical treatments, relying heavily on opiates, and even being induced into mini-comas to manage the pain. In her desperate search for relief, Balan explored various spiritual practices, including witchcraft, crystals, Reiki healing, energy healing, meditations, and yoga, before ultimately finding solace and healing through faith.

"I was diagnosed with a very rare nerve pain disease. This nerve pain disease is the highest pain known to man. I felt helpless with so much despair... That's where I got introduced to witchcraft. I got into some crystals. I was introduced to Reiki healing, energy healing, meditations, yoga."

Cheryl Balan recounted her struggle with a disease that doctors labeled as 'forever,' indicating its chronic and incurable nature. She described a process of actively 'resetting her brain' and creating new neuropathways to overcome the constant fear that had dominated her life due to her illness.

Through faith-based teachings and a determined effort, she successfully transitioned off her medications, achieving a recovery that baffled medical professionals. Balan then shared her powerful testimony at a chronic pain conference in Toronto, detailing her journey of healing through faith.

"I started to reset my brain. Like I I started to uh there was something that we were um I was showing from my nurse to create new neuropathways in your brain and to get away from the fear because I was living in constant fear."

Cheryl Balan proudly shared her testimony with the medical community, including doctors and nurses, detailing her journey to recovery. She explicitly attributed her complete healing to Jesus, emphasizing that while medical interventions played a role, divine intervention was the ultimate factor in her restoration.

"I had to brag about Jesus. So, I was able to tell the the medical community that everything they did for me, it ended up being Jesus in the end that completely healed me."

The speaker asserts that actively engaging in soul-winning is a powerful antidote to depression within ministry. Citing Luke 15:7, they highlight the profound joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, surpassing the joy over ninety-nine righteous persons.

This verse is presented as evidence that the act of bringing others to faith generates a spiritual satisfaction and emotional well-being that counteracts feelings of sadness or weariness. The speaker likens the impact of soul-winning on spiritual refreshment to the rejuvenation experienced during sabbaticals, suggesting it prevents spiritual dryness and promotes sustained joy. "Number one, soul winners can't be depressed. Luke 15:7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than 99 just persons that need more repentance."

They proclaim that God will curse anyone who curses a soul winner without their permission, referencing biblical promises.

Drawing from Mark 16:15-18, the speaker interprets the promise that believers will "tread on serpents and scorpions" and that "nothing shall by any means harm you" as a direct assurance of divine protection for those dedicated to winning souls. "Soulwinning engenders protection from all the power of the devil. God will curse anyone who curses you without your permission. Mark 16 15 to18, you'll tread on serpents and scorpions. Nothing shall by any means harm you."

They cite Proverbs 11:30, which declares, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise."

This passage is reinforced by Proverbs 3:35, stating that the wise will inherit glory. Furthermore, Daniel 12:3 is referenced, promising that those who turn many to righteousness will "shine like the stars forever and ever," underscoring the eternal rewards and recognition associated with soul-winning. "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise."

The speaker points to Billy Graham's remarkable longevity as an example of God's sustained grace for soul-winners. They assert that Graham, despite feeling his mission was accomplished, lived for an additional 11 years, suggesting a divine purpose behind his extended life.

The speaker argues that God actively sustains the lives of those who remain essential to His work on Earth, implying that their continued presence serves a critical role in the advancement of His kingdom. This perspective suggests that active engagement in soul-winning can lead to a prolonged and impactful life, divinely preserved for spiritual objectives. "He was trying to die and couldn't because he's a soul winner."

The speaker acknowledges that hardships are an inevitable part of life, regardless of one's faith. However, they promise that for those who prioritize winning the lost, a distinct turning point will arrive where these challenges and difficulties begin to dissipate.

This perspective suggests that dedicating oneself to evangelism leads to a spiritual trajectory of continuous rise, implying that divine intervention will cause obstacles to melt away as one remains committed to the work of soul-winning. "There comes a point where the hardships dissipate and the challenges melt away and you continue to rise and rise."