Posts Tagged ‘discipleship’

Unshakable Authority: Reclaiming the Church for the Reigning Christ

Posted: December 20, 2025 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, Remnant, Spiritual warfare
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There is a sobering question before us: why are so few shepherds addressing the spiritual threats shaping our generation, especially on advancing threat of Islam in our nation? When voices fall silent, it is often because ears have grown dull to the directives of the Holy Spirit, or because fear of backlash has eclipsed obedience.

Yet Scripture reminds us, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The Remnant must discern the times with courage, refusing to bow to intimidation or cultural pressure.

It has become painfully clear that much of the mainstream Church has redirected its spiritual warfare toward building platforms, gathering crowds, and crafting messages that are palatable and popular. This pursuit of relevance has come at the expense of the true Gospel of the Kingdom being proclaimed and the expansion of Christ’s rule within the cultures of this world.

But the Kingdom does not advance through applause—it advances through truth, obedience, and the bold proclamation of Christ. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) remains the mandate, not the pursuit of influence.

If hesitation is rooted in weak theology, then now is the hour to return to the revelation of the God we serve—the One who sits enthroned above the circle of the earth (Isaiah 40:22), who has no rival, no equal, and no threat to His dominion. Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). The Father watches over His children with fierce tenderness, “like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings” (Matthew 23:37). A people who know their God will never tremble before the schemes of men.

Therefore, Remnant Ecclesia, rise. Shake off the slumber of passive Christianity and stand firm in the courage of the Kingdom. This is the hour to speak truth with love, to war with wisdom, and to shine with unshakable confidence in the supremacy of Christ. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). Let the true sons and daughters take their place.

This is the hour to take back the houses of the Lord—not with anger or fleshly striving, but with the authority of sons and daughters who know the voice of their King.

We have been commissioned to reoccupy what rightfully belongs to Jesus the Messiah, the One to whom “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given” (Matthew 28:18). The enemy has squatted long enough in places meant for truth, holiness, and the uncompromised Gospel of the Kingdom.

Let the Remnant stand firm, clothed in the armor of God, discerning the times, and refusing to yield sacred ground to cultural pressure or spiritual apathy. “Those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32), and this is such a moment. The King is calling His warriors to rise—not in fear, but in faith, reclaiming His territory with humility, boldness, and unwavering allegiance to His Word.

Dr. Russell Welch Co-Founder Remnant Warrior Ministries Warrior’s Discipleship School

Link to Dr. Welch’s books

“A Prophetic Picture of New Creation Ranch – More Than a Dream.”

Posted: December 11, 2025 in disciples life, Prophetic, Remnant
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When I was seventeen, the Lord gave me a dream of a vast farm filled with people clothed as in the days of Jesus, with long hair and beards, ministering to others who were dressed in combat gear. At the time, I did not understand the meaning, nor did I grasp the prophetic nature of what was being shown.

Yet the Word reminds us, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). This dream was a seed planted by the Spirit, waiting for its appointed time to unfold. I would dream this dream again and again over the course of the next 37 years.

Years later, in 2018, I dreamed again, and upon waking, the Holy Spirit began to speak. He revealed that the farm represented a community devoted to bringing in homeless veterans, offering healing, and discipling them into warriors for Christ. I asked why they remained in combat gear, and He said, “Because it was in that season the enemy took them captive.”

Yet I saw disciples tending to them, and the Spirit declared, “These too were once wounded, but now they are healed and restored, and they are dedicated to discipling their fellow veterans.” Truly, this is the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1, “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

In 2019, the dream returned, and this time I was entering the property. At the gate was a sign that read, “New Creation Ranch – A Veteran Restoration Community.” The name itself echoed the promise of 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This was no ordinary farm; it was a prophetic picture of restoration, a place where the broken would be made whole, and where warriors would rise again—not for earthly battles, but for the Kingdom of God.

More recently, the dream shifted to a graduating class. Each disciple who had been healed and trained was being commissioned to go forth and establish house churches. As I awoke, the Spirit reminded me of my long-held conviction for the home fellowship model. In July, a father in the faith prophesied that my wife and I would begin planting house churches, and since then I have heard the Spirit whisper, “Glory Houses – Ecclesia Government Houses.”

This aligns with the promise of Matthew 16:18-19, where Jesus declares, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” The ranch and the house church movement are not separate—they are one prophetic assignment.

Last night I had the dream again, and when I awoke I could literally smell the farm. When I started praying about it, Holy Spirit spoke boldly: “This is the Father’s calling on your life. You and your wife have been commissioned for this assignment.”

As you have sought first His Kingdom and His righteousness, He has matured you through seasons of trials, refining fire and revelation. Now the fullness of the vision is coming forth—land titles are being transferred, checks are being written, and laborers are being called from across the nation: farmers, mechanics, and skilled tradesmen.

The promise of Matthew 6:33 resounds, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The hour is approaching, and as we remain faithful, we shall see the dream manifest before our very eyes.

Let’s pray and decree that this dream will become a reality in 2026. Thousands of veterans are in dire need of assistance, many are taking their own lives, and the government of this world has no answers or solutions. In contrast, the Government of our King and His Kingdom does, and everyone who is called by His name, is granted the authority to legislate His Will.

~Dr. Russell Welch Co-Founder Remnant Warrior Ministries Warrior’s Discipleship School

New Creation Ranch

Mantles by Assignment — Honoring Heaven’s Unapologetic Order

Posted: August 30, 2025 in Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic
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There is a shift in the order of the house, and I feel it burning in my bones. The Chair of the Father is not empty; the scepter has not fallen; the mantle has not lost its weight. Heaven has issued a decree, and I cannot ignore it. I hear the sound clearly in my spirit: the Father is Fathering again in the earth, and I am answering His call.


In 2020, I watched a son seated where a father once stood. The oil did not flow by seniority but by assignment. The mantle searched the house and found the youngest, and Heaven did not apologize. Animosity rose, but rebellion did not prevail. As I witnessed the apostolic order measure the house, I realized this was not a man receiving a chair—it was a generation bowing under the government of fatherhood.


That night, while my wife slept peacefully in our hotel room, I wrestled. In the stillness, the restlessness in me met the gentleness of the Ancient of Days. Then I heard the distinct voice of the Father—different from Holy Spirit and different from the Son, as I have always known it to be. He said to me, “I will father you now, even as I fathered Abraham.” The word did not merely soothe me; it established me. Peace rolled over me like a river and washed away the residue of striving, and a fresh covenant was cut in my heart.


I asked, “What about me, Lord?” and the answer was not explanation but alignment. It became clear that He was calling me to step fully into leadership and to separate from the one under whom I had been raised. The reasons are written in Heaven; I need not publish them on earth. What I do know is this: His order overruled my questions, and His Fathering steadied my feet.


The Father then made His wisdom unmistakable to me: He would father me through many voices. Not through one pedestal or personality, but through several He Himself would appoint. I would recognize them by the way the atmosphere shifts when they enter a room, by the weight of holiness that hushes the mind and steadies the heart, by the fear of the Lord that bends the knees of angels and rattles the bones of demons. I am not chasing fame; I am embracing sonship saturated in glory.


For years I have marveled at men whose very presence changes the temperature of a room—men in their late eighties, nineties, and even beyond a hundred. I wondered who fathered them, or if they had reached a maturity where there was no disruption to the frequencies of Heaven within them. Today I believe it is the latter. There is a maturity where the inner climate remains unbroken by the winds of earth. In that place, one walks with the Host of Heaven while still breathing earthly air. This is the path the Father is leading me to walk.


I also see the contrast with painful clarity. Some have rejected counsel, correction, and direction, and have enthroned themselves on seats that ooze with pride. Their words multiply even as their authority withers. They grow louder in the courts of men while remaining silent in the courts of Heaven. The result is confusion, division, and a loss of holy fear. I renounce those patterns and refuse that seat.


In recent months I have heard seasoned generals speak with one witness: if I will not walk under authority, I will not carry the authority of the Throne. This is not about control; it is about alignment. This is not the silencing of sons; it is the amplification of the Father through sons. I honor authority not to idolize people, but to recognize the King in the order He has established, and to bend before Him when He speaks through those He appoints.


I have learned to honor and to discern. I recognize the voices the Father assigns—not by fame, signatures, or platforms, but by the atmosphere that shifts when they speak, by the fragrance of Heaven that lingers when they depart, by the plumb line that appears within my soul when their words land. When Holy Spirit whispers to me, “Listen—the Father’s voice is coming from that one,” I choose willing submission and joyful obedience.

What I’m about to write is not intended to offend any of the seasoned voices connected to my walk, past or present; I honor each one of you.


Heaven bears witness in my life to vessels through whom the thunder of the Throne is clean: Arthur Burt, Ron McGatlin, and Samuel Brassfield. Rooms changed temperature when they entered; the fear of the Lord rose like incense when they spoke. Arthur now stands among the great cloud, yet his echo continues to instruct me to remain small enough for God to be great. The others remain as living plumb lines before me, proving that age under the anointing is not decay but depth, not retreat but rootedness, not an ending but a finishing well.


This is my charge and my confession: I am a son under governance. The Father is restoring His house with order and tenderness—apostles who truly father, prophets who truly weep, pastors who truly tend, teachers who truly anchor, evangelists who truly burn—all braided under the Headship of Christ. I am being separated, not from love but from misalignment, not from people but from patterns. The reason is written in Heaven, and my answer on earth is obedience without apology.


I step into the place where the frequencies of Heaven run unhindered through a yielded life. I choose to walk with the Host while I breathe earth’s air. I ask for steps that keep time with the Throne, and words that are few yet foundational. I honor the seating of sons even when mantles fall contrary to human order, and I bless those whom Heaven chooses without jealousy or resentment. In this posture of holy submission, I open my mouth to the thunder of the Father and I refuse to let the scepter pass me by.


The Father is thundering again in the earth, and I bow to bear the roar. I will walk under authority to carry authority. I will welcome many fathers that reveal the One Father. And I will remain small in my own eyes that I might become great in the hands of the King.

~Dr. Russell Welch
Elder/ Apostolic Teacher Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.

www.remnantwarrior.org

House Churches and the Early Ecclesia: Echoes of the First-Century Church?

Posted: July 29, 2025 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Remnant
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Examining the Roots and Rationale of the Modern House Church Movement

The landscape of Christian worship has seen a marked shift in recent years, with a growing number of believers drawn to the simplicity, intimacy, and shared responsibility found in house church models. Notably, leaders like Francis Chan—through the “We Are Church” movement—have catalyzed much of this momentum, calling for a return to practices reminiscent of the earliest Christian communities. But how closely does this model align with the ecclesia of the first century? Is the yearning for deeper fellowship, mutual edification, and mission-focused stewardship truly a recapturing of the spirit and practice of the New Testament church?

The Early Church: An Overview

In the earliest decades following Christ’s resurrection, Christians did not gather in grand sanctuaries or dedicated religious spaces. Instead, the ecclesia—literally the “called out ones”—met in the homes of believers, sharing meals, prayers, teaching, and the breaking of bread. These gatherings were intimate, familial, and participatory. The Apostle Paul greets several house churches in his letters (see Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15, Philemon 1:2), and the Book of Acts describes believers meeting “from house to house” (Acts 2:46; 20:20).

The Scale and Spread of House Churches

Scholars estimate that by the early fourth century, just before the conversion of Constantine and the legalization of Christianity, roughly 400,000 house churches may have existed throughout the Roman Empire. Early Christian gatherings were often limited by social and legal constraints—persecution made public worship risky, and believers relied on the hospitality of others to sustain their communal life. The structure of the house church provided protection, fostered strong relational bonds, and encouraged the active participation of all members.

Francis Chan and the “We Are Church” Movement

Francis Chan’s vision for the church echoes this ancient paradigm: small, reproducible communities where every believer is discipled and equipped to disciple others, where giving supports the needs of the poor and the progress of the gospel, rather than maintaining facilities or programs. This model intentionally removes the distance between leadership and laity, emphasizing shared spiritual responsibility and communal discernment. House churches, in Chan’s approach, are designed to multiply rather than accumulate members, keeping gatherings small enough for authentic fellowship and accountability.

Theological and Practical Resonances

The allure of the house church model lies in its resemblance to the early ecclesia in several key ways:

  • Mutual Edification: In smaller gatherings, believers can truly “walk together” in the faith, bearing one another’s burdens and spurring one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25).
  • Shared Leadership: Rather than relying on a single pastor or professional staff, leadership is distributed, echoing the plurality of elders and the priesthood of all believers seen in the New Testament.
  • Simplicity and Stewardship: Without the financial and logistical demands of maintaining a large building, house churches can direct more resources toward mission, mercy, and tangible needs.
  • Intimacy and Accountability: Smaller communities naturally foster deeper relationships and create space for honest confession, mutual encouragement, and genuine discipleship.
  • Missional Flexibility: Like the early church, house fellowships can adapt rapidly, meet in a variety of settings, and more easily multiply as new believers are added.

Challenges and Considerations

Of course, the house church model is not without its challenges. New Testament house churches functioned in a unique historical context—one shaped by persecution and social marginalization. Today, house churches must navigate questions of doctrinal oversight, sustainability, and unity within the broader body of Christ. And while intimacy can flourish, so too can insularity or division if not intentionally guarded against.

Modern Institutional Churches: Strengths and Struggles

Many believers, as mentioned, find connection difficult in larger, “corporate” congregations. While megachurches offer resources, programs, and opportunities for impact, some lament the loss of familial closeness and meaningful participation that marked the earliest gatherings. The yearning for something deeper—a place where everyone is known, needed, and able to contribute—is a legitimate call back to the roots of Christian community.

Chan’s description beautifully echoes the “Starfish” model advocated by Wolfgang Simson, a concept drawn from his influential writings on organic, decentralized church life. In this model, leadership is not centralized or hierarchical but is instead multiplied, much like the regenerative abilities of a starfish—if you cut off one of its arms, it grows another. The focus shifts from building institutions to cultivating people, and from collecting followers to equipping leaders who can, in turn, nurture new communities.

In practice, as this describes, a group of believers gathers in a home and intentionally mentors emerging leaders from within. Once the group reaches a size (for example, 15–20 members) that naturally limits intimacy and active participation, another gathering is launched—often in a nearby neighborhood or adjoining town—under the guidance of one of these mentored leaders. The process repeats, encouraging organic multiplication rather than dependence on a single “mother church.”

Periodically, these house fellowships unite in larger general assemblies—monthly or quarterly times of worship, testimony, celebration, and communal discernment. These gatherings strengthen the shared identity and broader unity of the movement without diminishing the intimacy of each local assembly. New baptisms, shared stories, and collective prayer for healing and mission become the heartbeat of this extended family, echoing the rhythms seen in Acts 2:42–47 and Acts 4:32–35.

Such a model is indeed closely aligned with the patterns described in the Book of Acts, where believers met from house to house, shared resources, and appointed elders in every place. The absence of heavy financial commitments to building maintenance frees up funds for tangible mission—caring for the poor, supporting local and overseas outreach, or responding generously to crises within the network. When a member faces hardship, the entire fellowship can rally support, embodying the mutual care that marked the earliest Christian communities.

In essence, the Starfish model resists institutional inertia by prioritizing mission, discipleship, and adaptability. It embodies the principle that every believer is a priest, that every home can become a hub of the Spirit’s work, and that leadership is a gift to be multiplied, not hoarded. While no model is without challenges—questions of doctrinal soundness, healthy accountability, and sustainable multiplication must all be addressed—this approach offers a compelling, deeply biblical vision for church as a living movement rather than a static organization.

On that note, back in 2004 I had a conversation with my spiritual father about this and he mentioned in India, where house churches have experience expodential growth, the set up the model as follows, when a member has been discipled amd they leave the group the become and elder, and these house are broken down into territories where each house group leader as an elder, walks in unity thte other elders, They wilo generally form thses into groups of twelve house Church. Then one elder is chosen by Holy Spirit, from which each elder gets a witness to, and that elder represent the twelve house Churches in a regional conferanmce of elders.

Ultimately, whether in rented halls, humble homes, or public spaces, what matters most is the living witness of Christ’s body—flexible, generous, Spirit-led, and fiercely devoted to one another and to the world God loves.

Conclusion: Returning to the Roots?

In sum, the contemporary house church movement, and models like Francis Chan’s “We Are Church,” are in many ways an intentional return to the rhythms and relationships of the first-century ecclesia. While not a perfect replication—history cannot be rewound—there is a powerful resonance between the early gatherings of believers and today’s house church fellowships: a longing to know Christ together, to serve one another, and to bear witness to the world in the context of simple, Spirit-empowered community. Whether in homes, sanctuaries, or under open skies, the heart of the church remains unchanged—the people of God, called together, living out the gospel in word and deed.

~Dr. Russell Welch

Elder/ Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.

www.remnantwarrior.org

Holiness, Cultural Adaptation, and the Renewal of the Mind: Reflecting on Romans 12:1-2

Posted: July 23, 2025 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, Prophetic Warning, Remnant, Spiritual warfare
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A Contemplation on Scripture, Church Culture, and the Call to Consecration

Romans 12:1-2, as rendered in the Amplified Bible, offers a powerful summons to believers: to dedicate ourselves wholly to God, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, and refusing conformity to the patterns of this world. Rather, we are urged to pursue continual transformation through the renewal of our minds, testing and approving God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will.

Setting the Scriptural Foundation

At its heart, these verses call for a life of consecration—a holiness not merely of outward form but of inward devotion. The apostle Paul’s words reach across centuries, challenging each generation to discern the difference between what is genuinely God-honoring and what is merely the prevailing current of culture.

Cultural Expressions and the Pursuit of Holiness

Throughout history, the Church has found itself navigating tension between cultural adaptation and sacred distinction. In every era, believers have grappled with questions about clothing, music, adornment, and customs—seeking to understand where adaptation ends and compromise begins.

The example of tattoos among pastors in the modern American Church surfaces as one such point of conversation. For some, tattoos may represent a freedom in Christ, a canvas for testimony and artistic expression; for others, they may symbolize conformity to secular trends or a departure from traditional notions of reverence.

Yet, the deeper question extends beyond tattoos or any particular external marker. It invites each of us to ask: Are we, in our hearts and actions, offering ourselves fully to God? Are we seeking to align every aspect of our being—body, mind, and spirit—with Christ’s likeness? Or are we subtly reshaping the boundaries of holiness for the sake of convenience, acceptance, or personal preference?

The Challenge of Modernization and Scriptural Integrity

As the world shifts, there can be a temptation to reinterpret, dilute, or ignore certain scriptures to better fit the spirit of the age. Paul’s exhortation stands as a gentle but firm warning against this: “Do not be conformed to this world… but be transformed.” The transformation he describes is thorough, inward, and ongoing—a renewal that resists superficiality for the sake of true spiritual depth.

Scripture warns against selective obedience and self-serving reinterpretation. The story of humanity’s first fall, as recounted in Genesis, reminds us of the peril in choosing personal judgment over divine instruction. God’s call to holiness has always been an invitation to trust, surrender, and obedience, even when it stands in contrast to popular opinion.

Clean Hands, Pure Hearts, and Approaching the Holy

To “climb the mountain of the Lord”—to enter His presence—is not a matter of outward ritual alone, but of inward purity and integrity. Psalm 24 declares, “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Those with clean hands and a pure heart.” It is possible, as you note, to misinterpret God’s grace as license for continued rebellion, rather than as the power to walk in newness of life.

Holiness, then, is not about legalism nor about careless liberty; it is about being clothed in the righteousness of Christ, standing in humble awe before God’s consuming fire.

Inviting Self-Examination and Humble Seeking

Rather than passing judgment on others—whether pastors with tattoos or congregants without—it falls to each believer, each community, to prayerfully examine their motives and practices in the light of God’s Word. The altar is a place for honest questions, surrendered hearts, and listening for Heaven’s answer.

Conclusion

The words of Romans 12:1-2 challenge every generation to forsake superficial conformity, to resist the easy path of cultural accommodation, and to instead pursue a life marked by sacrificial worship, radical renewal, and unwavering devotion to God’s perfect will. May we, as the Remnant, respond not with self-righteousness but with humility, seeking clean hands, pure hearts, and the clothing of Christ’s righteousness as we navigate an ever-changing world.

We would love to hear your comments on this topic.

~Dr. Russell Welch

Elder/ Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.

www.remnantwarrior.org

Radical Faith in a Rebellious Age: Forged for the Fire

Posted: July 10, 2025 in Prophetic, Remnant, wilderness
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“For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord; Who say to the seers, ‘You must not see visions’; And to the prophets, ‘You must not prophesy the truth to us. Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.’”
— Isaiah 30:9–10

We live in a time when the prophetic voice is being muted by a culture more concerned with comfort than consecration. A generation is rising that calls evil good and good evil, demanding illusions over truth, entertainment over holiness, and compromise over conviction. The sobering cry of Isaiah echoes now louder than ever.

But God is not silent. He is issuing a challenge—a holy summons to His people:

Will you stand in truth when it costs you favor?
Will you speak what I say even when they threaten to walk away?
Will your faith hold in the fire, or will you bend beneath the pressure of popular religion?

This is the challenge of the Lord. It’s not just a call—it’s a separation. A threshing. A dividing of wheat from chaff. And only those forged in radical faith will emerge as vessels fit for revival.

Faith Formed in the Valley of Testing

Radical faith is not born in atmospheres of ease—it is forged in fire, silence, and sorrow. It’s born when Heaven seems quiet, and Hell seems loud. When prayers hang suspended in the void and the only answer is “trust Me.”

To walk by faith is to believe in the midst of contradiction—to embrace the promise before the evidence appears.

Radical faith refuses to be defined by delay. It isn’t derailed by the absence of manifestation. It walks forward when the path disappears, because it knows the God who parted seas still walks with those who dare to believe.

Warriors Wanted: The Fight for Pure Faith

Paul’s call to “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) is not poetic—it’s a battle command. Because radical faith is warfare. It wars against delay, discouragement, and deception. It slays the idols of predictability and tears down the altars of passivity. And it anchors itself to the Word of the Lord, even when the outcome looks dead.

We are not called to blend into culture—we are called to challenge it. To be voices that will not echo the popular tone but thunder with the cadence of Heaven.

The remnant is rising—not to be liked, but to be loyal.
Not to be safe, but to be surrendered.
Not to comfort the rebellious, but to confront them with love and truth.

The Lord’s Challenge: Will You Risk It All?

Here’s the charge of the hour:

  • Do not dilute the Word.
  • Do not prophesy to please.
  • Do not trade your oil for influence.
  • Do not forsake obedience for applause.

The Lord is looking for those who will speak what He says, even when it costs them position, invitation, and approval. Prophets who won’t prophesy illusions. Seers who won’t turn their gaze away. Watchmen who refuse to sleep.

And warriors whose faith is louder than fear.

Radical Faith is Fragrant to Heaven

Your surrender isn’t invisible. Your pain is not pointless. Your faith is rising like incense before the throne. The Lord sees the valley. And it has not disqualified you—it’s preparing you.

Think of:

  • Abraham, who walked with no map, only a promise.
  • David, who chose worship while being hunted.
  • Hannah, who poured her soul out and still believed.

They didn’t just believe for breakthrough—they became vessels of it.

So will you.

A Prophetic Declaration for the Remnant

Speak this boldly:

I will not trade truth for comfort.
I will not prophesy illusions.
I will speak what the Lord says, even when it’s unpopular.
My radical faith will birth revival.
My valley will be my proving ground.
I will rise—not for recognition, but for righteousness.
The Word of the Lord in my mouth will not return void.

~Dr. Russell Welch
Elder / Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.

A Cry to Return: Reclaiming the Discipleship Model of Jesus

Posted: July 8, 2025 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, Spirit-Wind People
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There is a groan rising from the heart of the Father—a cry echoing through the corridors of time, calling His Church back to the way of the Master. It is not a call to innovation, but to restoration. Not to strategy, but to surrender. Not to programs, but to people.

Jesus didn’t disciple from a pulpit. He discipled from a place of proximity. He didn’t build a brand—He built a brotherhood. He didn’t create consumers—He raised up carriers of the Kingdom. And He did it face to face.

From the twelve He called, He drew four into deeper intimacy—Peter, James, John, and Andrew. With them, He walked, wept, corrected, and commissioned. He poured into them everything the Father had poured into Him. And in turn, they poured into the others. This was not a hierarchy of control—it was a holy rhythm of impartation. It was the divine pattern: from the Father to the Son, from the Son to the disciple, and from the disciple to the world.

This model—relational, intentional, and incarnational—was the foundation of the early Church. For nearly four centuries after Pentecost, this was how the Gospel advanced. Not through cathedrals, but through kitchens. Not through institutions, but through intimacy. Disciples made disciples, and the world was turned upside down.

But then came Rome—and the fire became a form.
Then came Greece—and the mystery became a philosophy.
Then came America—and the mission became a marketplace.

What was once a movement became a monument.
What was once a family became a franchise.
What was once a fire became a formula.

Today, many churches have traded the model of Christ for the methods of culture. Discipleship has been outsourced to programs, seminars, and branded curriculums. Pastors are treated like CEOs. Congregants are treated like customers. And the goal is no longer transformation—it’s retention.

We have built systems that are efficient but not eternal. We have created structures that are scalable but not spiritual. We have trained people to follow a church, a doctrine, a personality—but not a Person. We have made disciples of denominations, not disciples of Jesus.

And the fruit is evident.

We have churches full of attenders but empty of disciples.
We have leaders who are celebrated but not consecrated.
We have believers who know the language of faith but not the life of it.

But Heaven is not silent. The Spirit is not still.
The winds of reformation are blowing again.

The Holy Spirit is re-forming the Church—not around platforms, but around people. Not around programs, but around presence. He is calling us back to the table. Back to the fire. Back to the face-to-face.

This is not a nostalgic longing for the past. It is a prophetic summons for the future. The Church of tomorrow must be built on the foundation of Christ’s model—not man’s machinery. We must return to the way of the Master.

Jesus didn’t say, “Go and build churches.”
He said, “Go and make disciples.”
And He showed us how.

He walked with them.
He lived among them.
He taught them in the streets, in the fields, in the storms.
He corrected them in love.
He empowered them with truth.
And then He sent them with fire.

This is the model we must reclaim.
This is the fire we must rekindle.
This is the blueprint we must rebuild.

Religion builds hierarchy. It demands allegiance to a system. It creates disciples of doctrine, not disciples of Jesus. It elevates the pulpit and forgets the person. It teaches people to worship pastors and defend denominations, rather than to walk with the Lord of all creation.

But the Kingdom is different.
The Kingdom is relational.
The Kingdom is incarnational.
The Kingdom is built on love, not leverage.

So I plead with you, Church—return.
Return to the face-to-face.
Return to the fire.
Return to the way of the Master.

Let us raise up a generation who walk as Jesus walked.
Who disciple as Jesus discipled.
Who love as Jesus loved.

Let us build not with bricks, but with lives.
Not with programs, but with presence.
Not with systems, but with sons and daughters.

📖 “He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out…” — Mark 3:14
📖 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” — Matthew 28:19

Let the Remnant decree:

We, the sons and daughters of the Most High God, stand in the authority of the blood of Jesus,
clothed in righteousness, armed with truth, and awakened by the Spirit of the Living God.

We decree this day:

That the Church shall return to the model of the Master—to the face-to-face, life-on-life, Spirit-led discipleship that Jesus Himself walked in and imparted.

We renounce the counterfeit systems of religion—discipleship built on programs, platforms, and personalities. We break agreement with the spirit of hierarchy, control, and celebrity. We cast down every model that exalts itself above the knowledge of Christ.

We declare:
The days of shallow Christianity are over.
The days of spectatorship are over.
The days of man-made disciples are over.

We call forth a reformation of discipleship—rooted in relationship, fueled by the fire of the Holy Spirit, and patterned after the life of Jesus.

We decree that the Remnant shall rise—
not as passive believers, but as burning ones.
Not as churchgoers, but as Kingdom carriers.
Not as consumers, but as commissioned sons and daughters.

We declare that the war is raging—and the time for preparation is now. We will not send untrained soldiers into battle. We will not raise orphans when Heaven has called us to raise heirs.

We prophesy:
That the wilderness shall become a training ground.
That the secret place shall become the strategy room.
That the table of fellowship shall become the altar of transformation.

We call the Church back to the fire.
Back to the feet of Jesus.
Back to the way of the cross.
Back to the face-to-face.

We decree that every disciple raised in this hour shall walk in the authority of Christ, carry the compassion of Christ, and manifest the character of Christ.

We declare that creation is groaning—not for more sermons, but for sons. Not for more buildings, but for builders. Not for more religion, but for revelation.

And we say:
Let the sons and daughters of Yahweh arise!
Let them be trained, tried, and transformed!
Let them be sent into the harvest fields with fire in their bones
and the Word of the Lord in their mouths!

We decree:
That the Church shall no longer make disciples of denominations, but disciples of the King. That we shall no longer raise up followers of men, but followers of the Lamb.

This is the hour.
This is the call.
This is the decree.

🔥 Return to Christ-like discipleship.
🔥 Prepare the Remnant for war.
🔥 Let the sons and daughters arise.

In the name of Yeshua, the Captain of the Lord’s Host, we seal this decree.

Amen and amen.

The time is now.
The call is clear.
The model is Christ.

Let us return.

~Dr. Russell Welch

Elder / Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare

Danger – Witchcraft operating freely in the Local Church/Ministry

Posted: June 21, 2025 in Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic Warning, Remnant, Spiritual warfare
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The Epistle to the Galatians reveals a disturbing reality: the Galatian church, once vibrant with faith, had fallen prey to spiritual deception, seemingly bewitched away from the core tenets of the Gospel.

Paul, in a moment of raw frustration and disbelief, cries out, “O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1).

This poignant question unveils the depth of their deviation and begs examination of how such a spiritual catastrophe could unfold. Paul’s words underscore the clarity with which the Gospel had been presented.

The image of Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected, was vividly etched in their minds. Yet, despite this profound exposure, the Galatians had wandered astray, embracing teachings that contradicted the foundational message of salvation through faith.

The explanation likely lies in the influence of false teachers, much like the situation Philip encountered in Samaria. These individuals, with their persuasive rhetoric and potentially charismatic personalities, subtly distorted the truth, presenting an alternative gospel that resonated with the Galatians’ desires.

Perhaps they emphasized adherence to the Law over grace, or introduced ritualistic practices that obscured the simplicity of faith in Christ. Furthermore, the Galatians themselves may have been susceptible to this deception.

Their spiritual immaturity could have left them vulnerable to manipulation and unable to discern truth from falsehood. As Paul elucidates in Romans 8:5-8, those who live according to the flesh, focused on earthly desires and self-gratification, are easily swayed.

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit…For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” This carnal mindset, focused on immediate gratification and worldly approval, made the Galatians easy targets for false doctrines that catered to their weaknesses, ultimately leading them away from the true path of spiritual life and peace.

The tragedy of the Galatian church serves as a stark warning: a fervent faith, constantly nurtured by the Spirit, is essential to resist the seductive allure of spiritual deception.

Busyness Is Not Brokenness Healed

When leaders walk with unhealed emotional wounds—especially rooted in rejection or abandonment—they often leave cracks in their spiritual discernment. Witchcraft doesn’t always enter through open rebellion; sometimes it creeps in through tolerated control, manipulation, and a deep need for affirmation.

Some of the loudest ministry feeds are driven not by an overflow of presence, but by a deficit of identity. Exploits get posted. Schedules stay packed. But behind the scenes, spiritual compromise is tolerated and discernment is dulled.

Authenticity isn’t proven by productivity. It’s revealed through alignment, healing, and wholeness.

Don’t mistake motion for maturity – Discern the spirit, not just the activity.

The hidden Wound That Harms the Flock
“Not every scar is visible. Not every battle is fought in the open. And not every leader is as free as they appear.”

One of the most dangerous leaders in the Christian faith is not the wolf in sheep’s clothing—but the shepherd unknowingly shackled by the spirit of rejection.

This spirit doesn’t announce itself with rebellion or heresy. It whispers in the silence, hiding beneath past wounds and childhood trauma, cloaking itself in the language of ministry and masquerading as passion for excellence.

Yet under pressure, it produces insecurity, performance-driven leadership, fear of man, and the constant hunger for validation.

When a leader hasn’t allowed the Holy Spirit to heal the roots of rejection, their call becomes intertwined with their need to be needed.

They preach the Word, but filter it through the lens of pain. They build ministries, but unconsciously craft them around self-worth.

They disciple people—but create codependent followers instead of empowered sons and daughters. The fruit looks good… until you taste it.

The danger is this: wounded leadership creates wounded culture.
It doesn’t matter how anointed they are—if their core identity is shaped by rejection, they may unconsciously replicate the very bondage they were called to break.

And perhaps the most tragic part? These leaders are often celebrated, platformed, and followed. Because rejection doesn’t always manifest as obvious dysfunction.

It can look like tireless service, passionate preaching, and unrelenting vision. But when applause is medicine and criticism is poison, that’s not leadership—that’s a soul crying out for healing.

We as the Body must pray for our leaders. Cover them. Discern well. And where necessary, lovingly confront the places where pain has been spiritualized rather than surrendered.

The Spirit of Rejection Attracts What It Echoes

The spirit of rejection doesn’t just wound—it signals. It becomes a magnet in the spirit, drawing more of what it fears. When unhealed, it can unknowingly pull in relationships, environments, and even spiritual attacks that mirror the pain it carries.

It becomes a vicious cycle: fear of abandonment leads to isolation, which then confirms the lie of being unwanted. The enemy doesn’t need new weapons—just recycled wounds.

Healing breaks the cycle. Identity silences the echo.

Until the lie is uprooted, rejection will keep finding its way back—wearing new faces, but bringing the same pain.

Leaders don’t need to be perfect—but they must be healed.

Let us raise up a generation of shepherds who lead from wholeness, not wounds; from sonship, not survival. Because healed leaders birth healthy churches—and healthy churches transform nations.

~Dr. Russell Welch

Elder/ Apostolic Teacher Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.

A message of Spiritual Course Corrections

Posted: January 30, 2025 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Spirit-Wind People, Spiritual warfare
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The following is a picture into the 20 years of life and ministry which includes set backs, detours, road blocks and many course corrections, written from a humble heart filled with gratefulness to a loving God..

This morning during my walk with Holy Spirt and the SkyBear (my German Shepherd) I was led to look back on my life since 2001.

On December 31 of that year I decided to get a fresh start and moved to Jacksonville for what I thought would be a short stay, as I came here to attend a school to get my CDL.

But Holy Spirit pointed out that it was a path ordained of the Father, for little did I know that it would lead to me attending a Church service where I would repent and rededicate my life to the Lord after 20 some years of living in rebellion.

 I came down to attend a school to my CDL, which I did and started driving for a company based in Jacksonville with plans of driving around the country.

But Holy Spirt showed me that because I was avoiding the call on my life to preach the Gospel, which the Father called me to do when I was just 10 years old while sitting in a Methodist Church in Patten Maine

My plans of driving around the country, however that thought came to an abrupt end when I fell off the top of a load and messed up my right knee. This took place in the spring of 2002 Holy Spirit then showed me that the Father allowed an accident to happen so as to redirect my life to the steps that would lead me to fulfill His calling on my life.

 During my recovery I decided to attend ministry school and met a man of God, Dr. Don Lynch, who became my Spiritual father.

Also during that time, I found myself looking a the Christian Mingle dating website where I happened across this beautiful Filipino, who just happened to be here on a student visa and was attending Brownsville Revival School of Ministry in Pensacola Florida.

We began chatting and during the Thanksgiving break she came to Jacksonville to visit her former pastor and his wife who had pastored a Church in Hong Kong, where she was the Sunday School teacher.

We began dating and I would drive to Pensacola where the school was and attended a number of powerful revival meetings. Then at the beginning of  February (2003) I had a dream where Jesus led me to an ocean beach, He bent down and picked up two small stones and said “One of these stones has been brought here from another nation having flowed with the currents of the ocean, for the Father purposed the time when they would be joined together.

So has He brought Emilie (My wife’s name, for those who know her by her nick name Millette) to be joined with you in marriage. I was overwhelmed and went out a bought an engagement ring and decided to ask her to marry me while I visited her for Valentine’s Day.

Now do to a past of many rejections, I had to muster up all the courage I had and drive over from Jacksonville. When I arrived at the home she was staying in I got down on one knee and proposed to her.

Her answer was, No, followed by I don’t even like you that way. Well let’s just say the wind was taking out of my sails. However I had this inner peace where I knew what the Lord had said, so I simply turned it over to Him.

A couple months later while she was visiting a friend in San Diego, she called me and said she had a dream and the Lord told her she was to marry me. We made plans and she graduated in May of 2003, and we got married on June 14th of 2003.

I had a full-time job while at the same time I continued my schooling. We had some struggles but the Lord always saw us through them. Then on June 6, 2004 we were blessed with a beautiful gift from God. For on that day, my wife gave birth to our son, Joshua Karsten Welch.

The Lord had given me his first name which in Hebrew means “Yahweh is salvation” and He gave my wife his second name, which in Greek means “Anointed”. The Lord shared with me why I was to call him Joshua, for he would be the first in many generation of our family to serve him and not be taking captives to addictions or any other curse that was in our family line.

In fact He said that the anpointing He was going to place on His life, would be like the blast shofars sounding, and the sounds of the people, that saw the walls of Jericho come crumbling down. So would the generational curses be cut of by my son, Joshua obedience to the Lord’s call on his life.

Let me take a moment to share a powerful testimony. I had always suffered with migraine headaches from my childhood all the way into my adulthood. Migraines were a curse which had plagued our family for several generation. When Josh was five years old, there was a day when I was unable to do anything because of a migraine, and he begged me to take him to the park. I said your going to have to ask Jesus to take daddy’s headache away.

He leaned over me, placed his little hand on my forehead and said “Jesus, take this stupid headache off my daddy, and tell it to never return”. That headache went away instantly and I have never had a migraine since that humble, innocent hearted prayer offered up by my son.

After graduating with an associate degree in the fall of 2004, I was ordained in February of 2005 and we were led by Holy Spirit to start a ministry called Mighty Arm Ministries, which at the time primarily focused on the elderly in nursing homes.

The Lord said this is a call to be a Spiritual Gatekeeper, as these are those who are about to enter their eternal destiny. Glory to God, for during that time we witnessed a number of people accepting the Lord. My son at 6 years old played a part, as every Sunday he would go with me, knock on the doors, and say “You wanna come here Jesus”. There was a man named Doc, who every week would say “Not today preacher boy”

Then one Sunday to our surprise, he came down, then came back for several more weeks. Then one Sunday, he asked the Lord Jesus Christ to be His Lord. The very next week, he passed in his sleep, but praise the Lord, we know we will see him again one day.

In the spring of 2005 something happened that caused us to leave the Church we had attended since getting married, and I had attended since 2002. Holy Spirt showed me that the Father had allowed this so that we would start holding a Church service in a local nursing home.

Holy Spirit at the time, showed me that many in that home had the desire to go to church but none would pick them up, so the Lord said “Bring my Church to them”.

In the fall of 2005, my Spiritual father (Dr. Don Lynch) who had also left the Church, invited my wife and into attend a weekly meeting they were hosting in their home under the Ministry name the Father had given him called “Ministry Matrix”. Shortly thereafter the Lord led me to take the position known which is referred to as an “Armor Bearer”. Then in November of 2007, we were ordained as leaders in that ministry.

Thing happened that caused us to leave in the beginning of 2010, which Holy Spirt showed me this morning, that the Father had allowed, even though left due to a spirit of rebellion. We went back into doing Sunday services at the nursing home and then in the fall of that year we were invited to be part of the leadership team to launch a new Church start.

 In the spring of 2013, the Lord called me to leave that Church as He had an assignment for me at a local bikers Church, pastored by Chet “Preacher man” Harden. I became the associate pastor there from 2013 up until the Spring of 2016, shortly after having a powerful life changing encounter with the Lord , which stripped me of all the religious garments I had allowed the spirit of religion to put on me, and to be honest, that encounter literally changed my whole theology.

In December of 2015, we were part of the leadership team that founded the “Riverhouse” ministry. After resigning from Highway to Heaven (On a friendly note) in the fall of 2016, I started leading a Sunday service at the Riverhouse.

In 2018 we launched the North Florida Healing rooms” which my wife and I we co-directors. Then, jumping to the fall of 2019, the enemy had some how caused division between me and the other founding leader which led my wife and I to leave that ministry.

However, again looking back on that situation this morning, Holy Spirit showed me that the Father had allowed this to happen as He had a new assignment for me. Ultimately that ministry shut down after the founder went to be with the Lord after a long battle with cancer(lesson in that for a later date).

That assignment was to become the director of a homeless rescue mission in Jacksonville Beach, which lasted until February of 2022. On August 19, 2020, my son and I visited the place of a powerful nation changing revival, Cane Ridge in Kentucky with my son. That date was actually the 219th year anniversary of that revival. We spent about 2 hours walking around, reading the grave stones, and soaking in the presence of the Lord.

 Holy Spirit spoke to me about 30 minutes after leaving there and said “The Father wants you to go back and start discipling His Children even as Jesus discipled His. I immediately said cool.

But then about an hour later, I said what does that even look like, as I have come to believe the Church as a whole has wander away from Christ-like discipleship.

 He began downloading what that looked like, which started with “Jesus discipled the men who followed Him by pouring into them, everything the Father had poured into Him. So unlike giving discipleship teaching from the pulpit, or even holding weekly discipleship meeting, the style Jesus displayed was relational, interacting with each other pretty much on a daily basis.

I started to implement this at the mission, and witnessed the Lord doing some powerful works in the disciple who were at the mission. But then, in the fall of 2021, a spirit of Jezebel, jealousy, and offense took hold of a few members of the leadership. And they began conspiring again with me in the secret place of darkness.

Now, what was happening at the mission up to that point can only be described in a way that gives Glory to the Father, as a portal of Heaven was opened up there. One lesson I learned during that time was I neglected to gather intercessor for me and the mission as a whole.

 Now, looking back at the time I left Highway to Heaven Church, which I previously mentioned that I  left on good terms. I had actually started preaching back there once a month in 2018, then it transitioned into twice per month in 2021.

 In the fall of that year, pastor Chet approached me and said he was considering retiring and wanted me to take his place. This was troubling to me, as I felt the Lord wanted me at the mission.

However, Holy Spirt showed me that I never actually asked the Father. He then showed me that during a Thanksgiving visit to Maine, He had allowed a coup to take place at the mission. What He had allowed to transpire was do to a door I unknowingly opened a door, as having been in a major spiritual battle over the mission for close to 6 months had taking its toll on me, and I began to respond out of the flesh.

This open door gave access to the spirit of disobedience to take place to where the Father’s call to make disciples as had His Son, was put on a shelf. However, having witnessed to results while the discipleship like Jesus was taking place, Holy Spirit said that it was but a foreshadow of what would be the mark of my wife and my calling.

He then shared with me that the mission was not prepared for what He desired to do there. Now from November of 2021 through January of 2022, the spiritual battle I faced every day got uglier and uglier.

I had previously mentioned my departure from the ministry led by Dr. Don Lynch. Shortly after my encounter with the Lord on March 28, 2016, Holy Spirit opened the door for Dr. Don and I for reconciliation After which I was led to lean into his mentorship more and more while at the same time, having been seated by the Lord in the spring of 2016, under the teachings of Apostle Damon Thompson. Holy Spirit also led me to attend many of the Under the Oaks meetings he has held over the years, which I still attend.

But back to the mission and Dr. Don Lynch. In January of 2022, I had multiple conversations with him regarding what was happening at the mission, then at the start of February I had a dream where the Lord said He was calling me to Shepherd the people at Highway to Heaven Church.

I shared this dream with Dr. Don who not only said he felt a witness to the dream but as he put it in classic Apostle Don Lynch fashion “Son, if God told you he wants you to do that, you’d better do it”. We ended the conversation with a “let’s get together after my heart surgery as I have somethings to share with you that I received while praying for you and your wife.

Needless to say that meeting, as a few days after his surgery, he went to be with the Lord. I took is wise advice, resigned from the mission and accepted the position of Senior Pastor at the Church.

However, I felt a loss in my life, not having a Spiritual father to run things by and on occasions have a heart check. Yes, I am most certainly matured enough to lead a Church, and even though I have spiritual sons myself, I understand and fully grasp the importance of having an Apostolic covering, as it is one of the spiritual guard rails the Lord has equipped the Church with.

Needless to say, if was a powerful meeting with Holy Spirit. If I could draw a map of what has taken place over the past 20 years, it would show my stepping off the ordained path, a series of roadblocks which lead to course corrections. In spite of the many times, in which I rebelled failing to ask the Father His desire, and took hold of the spiritual steering wheel of my life, the grace and mercy of the Father has always brought a course correction which I have to be honest almost always came with a hand of discipline.

Today, having just entered a new year, I have committed to dealing with things on a daily basis, leaving tomorrow in the wise hands of the Father. For did not our Lord say: Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time.  Tomorrow will take care of itself.” (Matthew 6:34, TPT)

One of the early lessons Dr. Don taught me was maintaining the ability of never leave a place with offense, but rather leave with the gold that you received – meaning we are to take the good things (lessons, revelations and Kingdom truths) with us, and  a heart of forgiveness and even repentance, leave the negative things behind.

So with that in mind, I am committed to living my life and all the tomorrows it has, under the governing authority of the One whom the Father sent, to lead us into all Spiritual truths, Holy Spirit.

~Dr. Russell Welch
Elder / Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.

Experiencing Spiritual Metamorphosis: A Journey of Discipleship and Apostolic Leadership

Posted: December 6, 2024 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Remnant, Spiritual warfare
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In August of 2020, amidst the turmoil of the Covid pandemic, a profound spiritual encounter unfolded for my son and me in Cane Ridge, Kentucky. As we stood upon the sacred ground that had played a pivotal role in shaping the spiritual fabric of our nation, we felt an unmistakable presence of the Holy Spirit.

Our visit coincided with the 219th anniversary of the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which only intensified the significance of our pilgrimage. The curator’s warm hospitality allowed us to tour the historic Meeting House, and with each step, we felt the weight of history and divinity converge.

Surrounded by the echoes of passionate worship and fervent prayer, we spent hours reflecting on the past, dreaming of the transformative revival that had taken place there. It was during this sacred time that the Holy Spirit spoke to me, urging me to embrace the calling of discipleship in the same manner that Jesus had mentored His disciples.

This divine mission ignited within me a fervent desire to understand the essence of Christ-like discipleship. What does it truly mean to disciple others as Jesus did? I began to comprehend that discipleship is not merely a transfer of knowledge but a profound, transformational journey where the love and wisdom bestowed upon us by the Father is poured into others.

This process ignites a new birth, birthing a spiritual metamorphosis that ultimately reflects the very character of Christ in those we guide. Returning to Jacksonville, I felt a pressing urgency to delve deeper into the Gospels, highlighting not only Christ’s teachings but also His unique methods of discipleship.

Sadly, I have observed a scarcity of authentic discipleship within the church today, with many leaders operating from a place of fear rather than faith. Jesus, in His wisdom, commissioned the seventy disciples without exhaustive preparation, trusting that they would learn through experience.

This radical approach challenges the norms of contemporary ministry, where leaders often hesitate to empower others, fearing potential mistakes or failures. The conversation around Apostolic Oversight urges us to rethink our understanding of authority and leadership within the church.

Derek Prince’s assertion that true authority reflects the liberty of the Kingdom of God resonates deeply in this discourse. Apostolic leadership should embody the spirit of servant leadership, fostering an environment where grace abounds, and individuals are encouraged to embrace their Kingdom calling without the heavy burdens of legalism.

The contrasting models of leadership paint a stark picture. Those who lead with an iron fist often perpetuate a cycle of fear and condemnation, inhibiting the very transformation they seek in others.

Instead of nurturing spiritual growth, such approaches can suffocate potential, convoluting the essence of what it means to be part of the Body of Christ. The story of Peter, who was restored by Jesus shortly after his denial, serves as a poignant reminder that grace and restoration should be at the forefront of our ministry, not punishment and prolonged penance.

In my years of ministry, I have sought to steer clear of authoritarian tendencies, encouraging those I disciple to trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ministry is inherently imperfect, and mistakes are part of the learning process. Jesus exemplified this understanding, cleaning up the messes of His disciples and transforming their missteps into teachable moments.

This nurturing approach stands in stark contrast to the controlling methods prevalent in some Apostolic circles today. The current landscape of un-kingdom Apostolic ministries demands our attention. The early church fathers birthed a movement that transformed cultures, infusing society with the supernatural power of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today, however, many ministries seem to conform to worldly religious spirited patterns instead of embodying the radical love, grace, and mercy exemplified by Christ. As we reflect on the lessons learned from our encounter in Cane Ridge, we are called to rekindle the spirit of discipleship that Jesus modeled.

By prioritizing love, grace, and empowerment over fear and control, we can cultivate a new generation of Kingdom-minded leaders who are equipped to bring about transformative change in their communities.

We must as a Body, begin to operate in a higher level of spiritual discernment. I am often amazed at those whom I warn to beware of an active spirit of religion, do not recognize it until the damage has been done. The scriptures give multiple warnings about discerning of spiritual entities that are not of the kingdom from false prophets to false apostles.

I believe we are in a time when Holy Spirit is purposely honing the spiritual warrior strategies within the Ecclesia to where He is even establishing a Remnant within the Ecclesia to fill the role of modern-day Watchmen.

Yet until the Church surrenders to His Lordship, they will be left naked and prime prey for the realms of darkness to continue bombard ecclesia congregations through out this nation, hijacking the destines of the sons and daughters of God in this generation.

Let those of us who see this, begin to enter into our prayer closets and start releasing prayer missiles that are purposed to impact the spiritual strongholds, that not only shall they be demolished, but those whom they have taken captive, set free.

2025 (5785) is the year of open doors, the Lord has positioned us in this year with great opportunities so that His Remnant may prevail in doing sever biblical portioned damage to the camps of the enemy, in order for His Ecclesia to take back the territories that the Church has surrendered over the past several decades.

In closing, I know personally for me, my journey from the visit and subsequence conversation with Holy Spirit at Cane Ridge to today serves as a powerful reminder of the divine calling we all share as His Body— to pour out the love and wisdom we have received and to inspire others to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

~Dr. Russell Welch
Elder / Apostolic Teacher: Highway to Heaven Church and Founder and Shepherd of Remnant Warrior Ministries / Remnant Warrior School of Spiritual Warfare.

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