Richard Maisenbacher
Dear Covenant Center Family,
Just an update for everyone. I know the closing was abrupt as we are also witnessing businesses, restaurants, even educational institutions and other churches closing. These are unprecedented times, and I know for many of you it has been difficult and some of you have shared the depth of your grief in the closing of our gathering place. We identify with you. This has been tough! However, God has built us all to be overcomers. He has imparted in each of us the ability to endure and persevere in difficult times.
During prayer, the Lord has been reminding me today of Moses in the desert with a vision of the Israelites circling round and round, only getting mana waiting on the Lord’s direction. As they hoped to get guidance and direction, they looked to Moses asking what are we doing out here? Holy spirit spoke to me, “Little did they know through their stress and uncertainty, I was teaching them to not look to man nor look to food or drink or clothing but to look to Me.” This is a deep to deep moment.
As a prophetic community it’s not unusual for God to use the experiences we walk through as a message to others who can see and hear His messages. I think it’s important to learn from our forefathers during this time of waiting for the Lord, to be careful of what we speak or think. Even this morning Becky came to me and shared that the Lord opened her ears to hear the demons and what they were saying.
In this uncertain time of transition, not only for us, but also for the world, they are strategizing to entice the Body of Christ to become critical, judgmental, fearful, disillusioned with one another, to cause us to open the door to the destroyers. This is a serious thing.
1 Corinthians 10:10 – “Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.” Verse 11, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
In uncertain times, in our humanity, it is easy to become fearful, critical, judgmental, even murmur or complain. This is an important scripture that I have referred to in our meetings, because I do not want you or myself to be destroyed. We know from our training that these choices open the door for the enemy to attack. We’ve come too far individually and as a community. We know too much of his ways to engage in fear, murmuring, or disillusionment.
So, I encourage you to hold fast to what is set before you. We need to be looking to the Lord and listening for His direction. He has actually given us all time to slow down, take time to be with Him and hear from Him as we prepare for the new year. In the coming days things will become clearer. But for now, as the Lord has spoken to me before in prayer, “Do what you know to do until I give you specific directions.”
We have been busy these past 3 weeks, organizing, storing, purging, packing, materials and closing out our building location. We received unexpected, specific contributions to pay for our monthly storage units and a contribution to help pay for the moving expenses. These were God gifts. Thank you and thank you Lord for all contributions.
For those who feel led to continue to contribute to Covenant Outreach Ministries, Inc. we appreciate it very much! We still will maintain our website with news, message posts, and Covenant U classes to help those licensed and ordained ministers and others to move out in whatever ministry God has led them to at this time. Or you may want to take a class to simply enjoy and grow in understanding of topics that may interest you. To have technology is to invest in technicians and we are thankful for ours. As much as our technicians generously give of their time, this is also their business. This will still take time and finances to continue our communication and training. Thank you all for your continued giving and investing in future kingdom builders!
LIdy and Susan will continue overseeing administrative communication, like info@thecovenantcenter.com, emails, prayer, counseling, accounting and finances. I will continue engaging with our Covenant U students, other ministry consultations, home groups and of course prayer.
I am personally waiting for specific directions for Covenant Outreach Ministries, Inc. We know retirement is not in God’s vocabulary, so we will be refreshed by this break, and even though transition is messy, we look forward to this New Year and His continued guidance and provision.
I thank God for you! Your love, support and dedication to His kingdom continues to be a great gift. Shana Tova and a sweet Rosh Hashanah to you and family!
Richard
info@thecovenantcenter.com