On Sunday, December 5, 2004, MorningStar Fellowship Church met for the first time in its newly acquired facilities at Heritage International Ministries (H.I.M.). Local news stations called it “a historic meeting” as the two services broke records for our Sunday attendance, and people had to be turned away at the 11:00 a.m. service, even in these much larger facilities.

We were especially honored to have many former PTL Partners join us in the services, some of which were even shedding tears as they saw life returned to the place in which they had invested so much of their hope and resources.

And there is life in the place again! In a strange way, though many of our members had not even been in the buildings before, over and over remarks were made about how much like home it already felt. Great grace was upon the meetings from the beginning of the early service until long after the second one was over, as crowds continued to linger about. There was such a special feeling there that you did not want to leave, and all over the building small groups could be seen talking and praying with each other. That is our greatest joy, seeing the members of the body ministering to one another.

Bob Jones shared a vision that he had just been given for the new property. The vision was about the story of Lydia from Acts 16 being a parable of the blessing and calling the Lord was giving to us for H.I.M. Lydia was a businesswoman who sold purple fabrics and was a worshiper of God; her name has been variously interpreted as meaning both “prevailing one,” or “Yahweh will see to it.” Purple is the color of royalty and authority, and is made from mixing both red and blue. It will be the mixing of the blue (for revelation), with the red (for sacrifice), that is the source of true spiritual authority. This is the “fabric” that the Lord wants woven in this place.

It was also Lydia who said, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay" (Acts 16:15). That has been our prayer as a church from the beginning, to find the place where the Lord dwells. There are many places that He blesses, and some have experienced true visitations of the Lord, but we have begged Him to show us the place that He does not just bless or visit, but the place of His abiding, manifest presence—the place that He will stay. That is the main quest that we have as a church—seeking His manifest presence.

Of course, we know that He no longer dwells in temples made with hands, but in His people. Heritage International Ministries is a house for us, but we are His house. Even so, we feel we have received a promise from the Lord that He will now abide over this property, and that it will not be rejected again. We have been given Isaiah 54 a number of times for this property, and it was also the Scripture that Jim Bakker had printed on thousands of small metal plates that were mixed in the concrete and put in the foundation of every building on the property. It is truly remarkable how this chapter now fits the history of this property, especially since it was given to Jim in the beginning. I will quote it here for your convenience:

 Isaiah 54

"Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child. Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed. For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman," says the Lord.

"Enlarge the place of your tent. Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your pegs.

"For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess nations, and they will resettle the desolate cities.

"Fear not, for you will not be put to shame. Neither feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced, but you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.

"For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts, and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.

"For the Lord has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even like a wife of one's youth when she is rejected," says your God.

"For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you.

"In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you, "Says the Lord your Redeemer.

"For this is like the days of Noah to Me, when I swore that the waters of Noah should not flood the earth again. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor will I rebuke you.

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken," says the Lord who has compassion on you.

"O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires.

"Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies, and your gates of crystal, and your entire wall of precious stones.

"And all your sons will be taught of the Lord, and the well-being of your sons will be great.

"In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear, and from terror, for it will not come near you.

"If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me. Whoever assails you will fall because of you.

"Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and brings out a weapon for its work, and I have created the destroyer to ruin.

"No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord.

It was also interesting that Bob received this word about H.I.M. being compared to Lydia, who was a businesswoman. I was compelled to share my first message at H.I.M. about how the two pillars of the temple in Jerusalem were named after Jachin, the priest, and Boaz, the businessman (see I Kings 7:20). This was to be a witness that the house the Lord would dwell in would be a foundation built upon both business and ministry. This is because business is basic human transactions, and the Lord wants to be a part of our daily business too. It is for this reason that we have resolved to equip our people in the gifts and ministries of the Spirit, as well as practical management and other leadership skills.

We also want to acknowledge and receive from the authority that the Lord has given to women, which Lydia represents. She prevailed upon the apostles to stay with her, and we believe that the Lord is raising up many “Lydias” in these times who will provide for the apostles once again to have a place to dwell. We do not think it is any coincidence either that the first outside ministry to inquire about holding a conference at H.I.M. was a woman who is a special friend and has a large and growing women’s ministry.

There will be much more that we have to say about these things in the future, but we can say with great encouragement and some relief too, that our first impression of H.I.M. as our new home is even better than we had hoped, and there is a strong sense that it will get much better.

For those who saw the “before” condition of this place, the restoration that has already been accomplished seems almost miraculous. However, we still have a long way to go. As we are seeking to “pay as we go,” we are deeply appreciative of all who have joined with us in this work by making special donations, especially the churches and home groups who have sent special offerings.

For those who would like to join us in this work by making a special contribution to H.I.M., or would like to help in other ways, please see the information below. Thank you again for your friendship and support. I believe that you will see it paying big dividends for the kingdom.

Rick Joyner