It was the first of May that the Holy Spirit spoke to our hearts and led us to be back in New York, May 27-31, 2002. We had no idea at the time that a service commemorating the last load of debris (actually a large steel beam) being hauled away from Ground Zero would take place on May 30. The recovery efforts had progressed so quickly and the need for closure for the families so great, that the decision was made to bring the recovery efforts to an end. We were, by God’s grace, privileged to be there for this somber and yet powerful occasion. None of us could imagine what God was about to do.

We went to New York armed with 1000 Ezekiel Sticks which God had provided by moving on the hearts of His people. At the last hour, God moved on a pastor’s heart to write a check for $2400 to help meet our goal of 1000 sticks. He is so wonderfully faithful!

The first two days of our ministry in New York proved fruitful and souls were profoundly affected for His Kingdom. We purposely held back several hundred sticks in hopes that God would make a way for us to somehow minister to the firemen, the recovery team and their families at ground zero.

Through a series of divinely ordered encounters we ended up on a corner where the "recovery" processional would pass directly in front of us. First an assistant to the mayor (who had received an Ezekiel Stick and was deeply moved by the message) told us to go to a certain corner and speak with the police chief. Once we found the chief he gave us what he called "secret information" and told us to go across the street and there we would have the closest possible chance of seeing the surviving family members of 9-11. Then, once across the street God gave us great favor with the head police officer overseeing the area. She was touched by the sticks and said she would do what she could to help us.

The procession of firemen, family members, police officers, construction workers, and others came marching in our direction led by the bagpipers playing God Bless America. They marched deliberately down the center of the road as if not to be distracted. It was truly a somber and solemn experience as the grief was still thick in the atmosphere. Their loss had been incalculable.

As the procession came toward us our hearts were stirred and yet we realized without a miracle of God we would not be able to get an Ezekiel Stick into their hands. We had the sticks at our side ready to deliver; however, we could see no way that the march could break with their rank and file to come to the side of the street to get their sticks. We did not want to interrupt or break the silence of this meaningful time. We could only trust God for a miracle. And then it happened. Marching down the street was one of the men who worked in the demolition and recovery efforts wearing his bib overalls and hard hat and carrying his own Ezekiel Stick in his hand. When he saw us he raised his stick as if signaling the troops and then turned in our direction and shouted.

Fire ignited! With that simple gesture the place ignited just as if someone had poured gasoline on the street and set a match to it. Survivors--mom’s, dad’s, husband’s, wives, children, firemen, police officers and others poured in our direction. Like an archer pulling arrows from his quiver Ezekiel Sticks were flying out into the hands of these dear people as fast as we could pass them out. The faces we saw were faces of desperation, faces that did not want to be forgotten, or want their loved ones forgotten. There was grief and sadness, tears and suffering at such a level it will forever be branded into our spirits. Their hearts seemed to cry out in desperation for some kind of help, something to hang on to. In that moment of reaching out the Ezekiel Stick was put in their hand. The stick, was a simple means to communicate the message that "God will make you fruitful in the land of your suffering." I believe that God was giving them a hope and a future through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. For a brief moment we were in the fire of God’s Presence like we had never known before. Even the onlookers, some of them previous sceptics, got caught away in the glory of the moment and raised up shouts of healing and encouragement together with us. We had been anointed for this moment of sorrow and the presence of Christ was filling desperate hearts.

Once the survivors broke loose and came in our direction those who had previously been in the front of the procession came back for their sticks as well. Mayor Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki, governor of New York, each sent back to receive a stick for themselves. And the story goes on...

Since coming home we have had several calls from New Yorkers wanting to know when we might return. They wanted to know not so they could receive a stick, but rather so they could join with us in giving them out.

I spoke with a fireman just yesterday who didn’t receive a stick and called to see how he could get his. He simply said, "This is powerful" and ordered a stick from us. No, there is nothing magical about the stick, but we have seen it used to bring the love of Christ to suffering people. One man said, "Please come back." Another man said, "We need about a million of these sticks." Where people are hurting and in pain these sticks are sharing a message that is making a difference.

We are presently trusting God about when to return and take Ezekiel Sticks to others who are suffering. We will be sending out a complete newsletter in days to come but wanted to get this testimony to you while it is still fresh. Because of your giving and prayers there are over 2000 stories of lives being affected for the kingdom of God. Thank you for your love and support. May the mercies of Christ be with you!