God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny. So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. (Romans 8:27-28, TPT)
In August of 2020 while visiting Cane Ridge, the Father gave me the mandate to begin to disciple others as did His Son, and when I asked Him what that looked like He said “It is a transactional relationship (pouring everything the Father has poured into us), which ignites a transformational flame, sparking an inward re-formation which births a Holy conviction to become the image bearer of Jesus that the Father has always desired”.
Shortly after returning to Jacksonville, I stepped into the position of leading the discipleship ministry at Beaches Rescue & Recovery Mission located in Jacksonville Beach. I started implementing what the Father had called me to do.
The presence of the Lord at the mission began to intensify especially after a brother in Christ and I adhered to the will of the Father and started a Saturday Night “Family Gathering”. As these nights started ushering in the realms of Heaven, the attacks of the enemy, showing how displeased he was became ugly. Yes, indeed it was very obvious that Satan wasn’t happy with what was going on.
The attacks of the enemy were manageable up until the fall of 2021 (I had been dealing with the enemy’s displeasure fr several years in ministry).
In November of 2021, my wife, son, and I took a vacation to Maine to spend Thanksgiving with family. This trip included a planned visit to a Revival well in Ocean Park Maine. Back in the early 1880’s revival broke out in this little oceanfront town.
In fact, the fire of God fell with power and to such a degree it ended up catching the attention of one Rev. A.B. Simpson, bringing him down from Canada. A few things which were birthed out of that revival:
- Missionary Alliance was formed under the leadership of Rev. A.B. Simpson
- A ministry school was formed called “The School of Holy Ghost” (Now one thing to be noted about this revival and especially the school which was active in teaching and witnessing the baptism of fire and gifts of the Spirit, attracted a visitor from Spokane Washington named Charles Parham.)
While we were visiting the property, the Lord began giving me a word in regard to re-instituting Biblical teachings which are purposed to return us back to the foundational teaching of our faith. Such teachings as were taught by Jesus, the Apostles as well as the early Church fathers such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch., Polycarp of Smyrna., Papias of Hierapolis as well as Titus Flavius Josephus.
Immediately upon my return, the enemy showed his face in way of my being personally attacked by two of the leaders at the mission. A number of demonic attacks such as slanderous remarks, twisting of my words. uncalled for false accusations of wrongdoing, and for several weeks the list began piling up. These two went so far as attempting to turn the disciples against me.
To be honest, it caught me somewhat off guard. I say somewhat, because during our vaction several of the disciples would call me and sharing some of the nonesense that these two individuals were doing.
However, the Lord gets the Glory, for through this whole ordeal, He used it to show me hidden places of pride in my own life. These battles we taking a toll on me phyically and spiritualy. I waded through attack after attack. Now, coming through these attacks, I felt Holy Spirit directing me to understand that as I crossed into 2022 I needed to be determined not allow the enemy todragged into needless petty battles. That I didn’nt need to defend myself, rather step back and watch what the Father would do.
As I was settling in to obey Holy Spirit as to watching what the Father would do, a very dear friend who operates in the prophetic called me to say “Brother, I don’t know what is going on in your life right now, but I want you to know the Father told me to tell you, He is assigning more warring Angels to surround you -re-inforcement have been dispatched”.
Now, as to not engaging in un-necessary battles wasn’t exactly on the enemy’s schedule. In fact it was quite clear it wasn’t as he persisted in launching a barrage of none stop personal attacks and he even took it to multiple fronts as he began attacking my family.
By this time I decided it was time to go on a fast and seek the Lord for direction. During that time of seeking Him, He said that due to certain aspects (situations and conversations of which I am not free to share publically) I was released from my assignment and my commitment to the mission. The main purpose being that rather than allowing the enemy to discredit the name of His Son before the disciples, I was free to step out of leadership. Yet He did give me a green light to continue teaching a few nights a week.
That lasted for a little short of a month at which point I was approached by the person who is now in authority over the discipleship ministry. He accused me of false teaching and told me he didn’t agree with my teaching (each teaching was recorded and I asked several seasoned pastors to listen to them and they all said I taught the Gospel and truth). One of them who I highly respect having over 50 years of ministry experience reminded me that it was important to remember that the religious spirited individual (those under the influence of the spirit of religion) do not only not accept the truth, they are in darkness regarding it.
Now one thing worth mentioning is that this particular individual has no biblical foundation as to training for ministry especially with regard to such a ministry where discernment and counseling are necessary. He actually claims the title pastor yet he admittingly does not study the Word. After this confrontation, I sought the Lord again to which He clearly said without hesitation “It’s time to shake the dust off your sandals son”.
A secondary note to be mentioned is that during my two years serving in this ministry, I had received several powerful prophetic words about that ministry from seasoned prophets. Taking ministry and especially when dealing with individual lives serious, I wanted a witness as to my decisions of resigning mostly as a precaution to make sure that I heard the Lord clearly. I didn’t wanmt it to be a trick of the enemy causing me to leave prematurely. So I reached out to those who had giving me the prophetic words.
Each of them assured me that I was obeying the Lord and that what I believed I had heard was indeed from the Father. Interestingly, the one who prophesied about a youth revival said that we must understand when dealing with the prophetic, that a Word from the Lord isn’t necessarily a guarantee as to it happening. For a number of situations could be surrounding the word coming to pass. For example, even as the Lord desired to heal everyone in His home town it didn’t happen because many were living in disobedience failing to recognize Him as the Lord.
One thing I want to make clear here, I wouldn’t trade anything that has transpired over the past two years (several years to be honest). For through it all, even while battling Covid, the Father, Son and Spirit showed their faithfulness. In the toughest battles, Holy Spirit taught me some of the greatest Spiritual strategies. I treasure the times where the alter of discipline was provided for death to self and every place that the enemy mistakenly opened the door for the Father to show me the areas in my own life that didn’t resemble the “me” He created me to be, were all worth the attacks of the enemy.
I believe, seeing where the Father has me assigned now, these two plus years were but a birthing ground of preparation for the destiny assignment for not only myself but for my wife and son as well. My wife and I are now blessed to be the doorkeepers with a Heaven-designed opportunity to show a group of people what a Kingdom family truly looks like (Ekklesia) and how a true Kingdom family lives to love even as Christ loves us.
In this hour, it is extremely important to be in tune with the Spirit, to find your tribe, and to let your life be guided by the will of the Father at all times. Ask for an increase in discernment, and remember the warnings of Jesus and His Apostles that not everyone claiming to be a follower of Jesus is in fact one of His followers. We need to be cautious and using Spiritual wisdom understand that some wolves specialize in cross-dressing as sheep. Test ALL things in the Spirit and remember, we have been blessed to be given weapons for this warfare. Thus we are fully equipped to take on whatever the enemy has to throw at us. As well let us remember it is a war between us and the devil, so as to his human spies (flesh puppets), we are also fully authorized to “Judge the fruit”.
In Christ,
Dr. Russ G. Welch, Th.D.
Senior Pastor, Highway To Heaven Church
Radical Disciples - A Remnant Revolution 