Update

SO WHAT HAVE CHARLES AND BARBARA BEEN DOING?

On Sunday morning, July 20, I was able to visit our New Orleans church. I had an appointment at home in Baton Rouge, so I left quickly when the service ended. Being a little hungry, I stopped at the Food Court and grabbed one slice of Pizza. While sitting at the table, a man walked up to me. He had not been in the church service, but he was in the Mall. He looked at me and exclaimed, “This is a God event.” I had no idea what he meant.  He said to me, “In 1977 I walked into your church for the first time. You were walking across the platform, and you suddenly stopped, pointed at me and began to speak to me.”

He continued, “You told me I was called to preach and that I would preach all over the world to many countries. I was not a member of your church, but I never forgot your words. Since then, I have preached in many countries, just as you said. Thank you!”

In the last seven years, I have heard things like this over and over. I have this man’s name, and perhaps I can get him to send me a testimony I can share with you.

We have been getting together with some friends, in and out of our City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  I want to tell you about some of these people. The first ones are local pastors by the name of DR. JERE and KITTY MELILLI. Dr. Melilli [not only a pastor but a Medical Doctor] has been a friend of ours for almost sixty years—since he was in his young teens.

We have visited most of the Holy Spirit churches in Baton Rouge—they have been out-standing. But Jere Melilli is the one we have known the longest. When he was in Medical School in New Orleans, we picked him up on Sunday mornings and brought him to our little church—we only had about thirty people. Dr. Melilli is an outstanding minister with a great prophetic gift. He preaches to many hundreds on Sunday; I only wish it were tens of thousands. He is that good!  If you are close to Baton Rouge, visit with the Melillis at Christian Life Church on Quail Drive. They also have the most powerful private school—K through 12—anywhere in this wide area.

The next people I want to tell you about is a husband/wife team—DAN and TRISH SCOTT. About four years ago, she had a brain aneurysm that almost took her life. For a time she was paralyzed and had difficulty speaking. But she has been restored in a most miraculous way. Dan Scott has just become the Senior Pastor of the great Christ Church in Nashville with about 6,000 people. He is a rare person, with tremendous intellect, a real scholar and an anointed preacher [a rare combination]. He is the author of a book, Naked and Not Ashamed. It is very plain spoken and some will reject it for that reason, but if I were once again pastoring a church, I would not perform a wedding ceremony for any couple until they first read Dan’s book. [Counseling Pastors please take note]  He has also just released a book that tells the tremendous story of world religions and philosophies. In each chapter, a representative of that group tells what they actually believe, and then Dan comes with an analysis from the Word of God.  It is the best book of its kind I have ever seen.  The book is Faith to Faith. Chapter Nine alone is worth the price of the book. Any book store will sell or order these books for you. Or go to Dan’s website to learn more about him and his writings.  It is <conversantlife.com/danscott>.

The final one is BARBARA JEAN SELF GREEN. She is my wife and my love for over 58 years. In all these years, we have had disagreements and some heated conversations, but we have never even come close to rejecting each other. People often ask me this question, “What is the greatest secret that helped you bring a church from 10 people to 3000 and to see that Church become recognized by people all over the world  as the greatest and most balanced soul winning, Holy Spirit empowered church we have known?” My simple answer, “I had God…and the right wife.”   I have seen Barbara under extreme pressure.  Twenty one years ago she went into a coma and almost died. At that time, my sorrow, pain and tears were beyond description. But God miraculously raised her up. Seven years ago, she had breast cancer. With the help of good doctors and the miracle of God, she has licked that as well. We have traveled the world, sometimes in poverty and physical deprivation. I have never heard her make one complaint about the ministry. I have seen her bloody heel as she walked through the snow in Switzerland. We have slept in attics, eaten all kinds of bad food, traveled day and night without proper rest…and never a negative word from her. However, I would often tell the congregation in New Orleans, “That woman controls me.  She manipulates me.” I told them I did the same to her. One definition of “manipulate” is ‘to manage and use skillfully’. But then another one says to do this ‘with the intent to deceive and dominate’. This, neither of us has ever done. So, I am going to retire the ‘manipulate’ word. She is too precious, too valuable to leave that kind of impression. So Barbara, thank you for putting up with me all these years—for loving me and loving God’s people and being the greatest minister’s wife I know in this world. Without you I would be incomplete, a ship without a sail or rudder. You have often ‘nudged’ me along in the right direction. Many times I have said, “No” to your suggestions and then found myself coming back, having changed my mind. By the way, that is one of my best traits. I am not ashamed to change when it is right to do so. To you Barb—thanks for tolerating me through the years, and ‘thanks for the memories’. I love you dearly and respect you highly. But…let’s keep the ‘nudge’ word.

PRAY FOR US, OUR SCHEDULE AND OUR HEALTH IN THE DAYS AHEAD

As I write these words, I have just returned from the great annual conference at the Cathedral of Faith in Lima, Peru. A Mission-ministry of approximately 350 churches
has flowed out of this Church for over forty years. This tremendous Church and Mission were started by CARLOS and CELIA ESTRADA when they preached on the streets in Lima [starting in 1965]. They brought a few converts to their small apartment to prepare them for the ministry. They sent them out, two-by-two, and today there are hundreds of churches in Peru, plus many others all over Central and South America. Today, ARTURO and SOLEDAD RAMOS pastor this powerful church with over 4,000 people. Please pray for these wonderful pastors and the fabulous people of their congregations. 

In the next few days Barbara and I will be speaking in Picayune, Mississippi at the Church of the Way, pastored by MICHAEL and VALORIE JACKSON. Concerning our home church, Pastors Michael and Linda Green have bought one new location on the North Shore of Lake Ponchartrain; they are now looking for the second location in the Metairie, Louisiana area. Pray that they will be successful in all they should do. We are also looking for an opportunity to visit our Baton Rouge pastors—the Melilli family.

We have been ministering to the world, but now it looks as if THE WORLD IS COMING TO US. Every week, people [often Pastors] are calling to get a time to visit with us. They are coming to fellowship, often asking how we would handle their needs and problems—and for the Laying on of Hands and Blessing, sometimes with prophetic ministry included. We never dreamed that this kind of thing would happen to us, but what a delight to be with God’s wonderful people! FOR THE FUTURE…September, October and November are filled with very little “rest time” for us. We are making plans for a ‘real, no work vacation’ in November. If it happens, we will tell you about it later. We are already filling up our schedule for January through April of 2009. I have also promised to go to India with one of my Sons in the Lord next year. I was in India, Burma and China in WWII, and it would be so exciting to return!

THANK YOU for your continued help and support. We go to these needy places around the world because God’s people help support our Harvest Ministries to the World, which is a tax deductible corporation. We have never had to use one dollar of these funds for our personal needs. We are sending this report so you can keep up with our ministry and pray for us. If you cannot do anything to support the ministry financially, we still want you to feel in this letter our love and concern for you. You know what…we just love God and His wonderful people, and that means YOU!

On Wednesday, July 30, I did one of the most difficult things of my life. I conducted the funeral service for my dear friend, Reverend Garlon L. Pemberton. He went home on July 27, 2008—91 years, 4 months and 10 days of living. What a life he lived and what a glorious friendship he and Marie, Barbara and I have had. Our life won’t be the same without him, but he would want us to keep preaching—and that we will do! Keep all the family—Marie (Honey), Ruth, Beth, Dick and son Garlon in your prayers. In 1950, I married Barbara in February, met Garlon in July, David Schoch in October and Patricia Beall Gruits in December. What a year that was!

We have come through many tests—physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, family—and we have always come out victorious because of God’s Light on our lives and Ministry. This should encourage you to send your prayer requests to us. With Faith and Love for you!
We have glorious “Prophetic Revival News” to share in our next letter.  Don’t miss it!