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I have been getting requests to tell what was going on when revival hit , so I copied a letter I sent out a few months ago for those who missed it. This is my version of where we were when HE came! I am changing the numbers at the end to todays count as an update!

Cathy Wood

Sisterwood@aol.com

I appreciate your letter.. our pastor just finished a book called Feast of Fire which explains everything because so many thousands are asking us the same thing..but briefly..for about 2 years Brownsville Assembly started having prayer and communion on Sunday nights instead of regular services. After a while the Lord gave us banners which represented different topics to rally around the topic on our hearts those nights to pray in one accord. More and more the Revival banner and the Souls banner became the most popular rallying place. We had gotten so hungry for revival by January of 1994 that in some services, people would begin to cry outloud in service. We even removed our shoes in service and humbly asked God to bring revival. Our pastor even said from the pulpit, he didn't want to go to church if God was not there. We did not want Church as usual..we did not want religion. Pastor and just a couple of men would pray in the sanctuary alone on Saturday nights. Then in February they opened the church for ladies to come by during the day to pray for revival.

That's when the Lord touched me as I would begin to pray in the church with only maybe 10 other women spread out thru the sanctuary, (we hold about 2400), when I would sorta disappear and be with the Lord. He started taking me places in my heart that needed healing and we would talk as if we were together. It was strange how close His Presence became. I found out later it was that way for many. Something was causing us to break through! I would get up and go to my car and 2 or 3 hours had passed and it would seem like it was a different day than when I went inside the church. I truly had been with the Lord. As a lady that has been married for 28 years and raised two children (25 and 21) I had many disappointments in life and things had caused me to still love God but I felt estranged from Him until this time. I think I was out in the Spirit those times in prayer now, not even knowing that was possible. He healed me completely but REVIVAL had not come yet.

Our pastor's wife went to Toronto in February or March of 1994, I don't remember when for sure, but when she got back..without even telling of any of the manifestations she had seen..a few started that very Sunday she returned. She came back healed of things too..so changed that Pastor was jealous of the refreshing touch God had given her! Happy but jealous! Then Lindel Cooley became our new worship leader. Our other one was anointed but Lindel brought something more. From his first few services..the worship was different. We seemed to disappear into the throne room in the worship. Our eyes would practically glue shut and our heads lifted to heaven. It was the most glorious thing we had experienced so far. It was some Vineyard worship he sang from the "Touching the Fathers Heart" series. He , too had visited Toronto right before he came to Brownsville. When church would be over..you know how they play music as you exit...well that didn't work now... we would not leave if he would stay and sing. We would try to walk out but we'd get a few pews away and stop again. The worship wouldn't stop so we could go home. Many times Lindel would have to wave his hands at us and say GO HOME!! It would be 10:00 or 11:00 and church started at 6:OO. Wow...I love remembering!

Then on Fathers Day, Steve Hill, a missionary to Argentina with the Assemblies of God, came to give testimony of how God refreshed his life in London at a meeting and after that service..all heaven came down and has remained these 9 months. we went day by day..then week by week..then month by month..now it looks like it will be year by year with the Lord willing. As thousands continue to come we know the Lord is not finished, We are continuously thankful on our faces that God has allowed us to be a part of this..Oh how we thank Him! And we pray that we will not grieve the Holy Spirit and cause Him to leave. Pray for us as this is a hard thing and Pastor needs much wisdom to pastor the revival. Over 1/2 million in combined attendance. Wherever the Lord is, we know the devil is looking in, so we pray for discernment whenever the flesh arrives but at the same time..many of the things we have done in the Spirit now such as shaking, falling, jerking were things we didn't really believe in either.

Now that God has touched us...we don;t know what's next and we don't want to be God police and stop someone who is manifesting a true touch of God. Pastor is very wise and patient and discerning but he wants prayer from everyone to help him. There is, however, not much laughter in the altar calls... Some but not much and we don't have laughter in the preaching of the Word. We believe God wants the lost to hear the Word without distraction so they can be saved. Many thousands have been saved. Over 30 thousand counting the backsliders.We don't call this the jerking revival, the laughing revival or the shaking revival. It is a revival that has a strong call for repentance, holy living and salvation...

I hope I have helped you some.

THERE WAS A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE PRAY BEFORE SERVICE

ANSWER: We have intercessors that meet and pray for 1 1/2 hours before every service and some stay and pray during service.. This is HEAVY WARFARE prayer...not baby prayers!.

Summer crowds are between 3000-5000 nearly every night. Altar responses are at least one thousand counting overflow rooms. People come thinking they are fine and anointing hits and conviction comes...repentance follows.. What an awesome time to be alive!

Cathy Wood

Sisterwood@aol.com