Round back to Standing Stones

Glen, Cameron, Michael, Jim, Freddy, and Wilson with me

"I think I am going to start screening," Nancy said, "Mark and Geoff's calls.  They come up with some crazy things.  This time, the sales pitch was Mark called Geoff with a great opportunity to sing on his own and to lead in worship in Wapato, later tonight. What will they come up with next?" 

Katharine, my wife, would understand.  They may need to be checking notes.

There was another motive in my strategy.  I hoped Nancy would get to know and share with Gail Garton.  It worked!

I was deeply touched in the Lord that Geoff and Nancy would come over to partner with me at my invitation.  I prayed the men would really appreciate their ministries. 

We were privileged to experience a special, genuine, real deal, powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.  It was a gathering of 12 people way out at the end of a gravel road. He left our expectations out in the dust of our gravel road.  We experience Him!

We were blessed at Standing Stones Ministry (SSM) in Wapato  with a concert by Geoff White crowned by a communion service led by Dave Garton Wednesday night. 

I felt prompted to call Geoff in Kent on Wednesday about 9:30 am to ask if he and Nancy would like to come over to present a concert for the men.  Nancy could step into what she is so gifted to do.  After getting the approval from Nancy, we had it nailed down for that very evening at 7 pm.  Their availability and willingness to drive 2 1/2 hours each way to Wapato was testimony to the hand of God and I was running over with thanksgiving as I knew we were all in for a blessing.  they left about 4 pm and got home again at 11:30 pm.

My secondary purpose was to get Geoff and Nancy a real solid look at SSM. Those who get to minister to and listen to the awesome men and then see and hear about the furniture shop directly from Jamie Neault and the men will absolutely want to come back.  Hopefully, Geoff and Nancy will come back themselves and with others.

Dave Garton at communion

Geoff could provide some solid Bible teaching, more awesome concert music, share with Dave, Jamie and the men, and do some pheasant hunting.  He already teaches once a month at the UGM transition ministry at Riverton. Then, like me, the Lord will continue working deeply on their hearts like He is working in me. 

Geoff and Nancy, and the Unchained band completed a 900 mile Prisoners for Christ whirlwind concert and worship tour to Airway Heights Correction Center, the Spokane Union Gospel Mission both in Spokane, the Pasco Union Gospel Mission, and Two Rivers Corrections Center in Umatilla, Oregon on Friday and Saturday.

Michael's changes

Geoff writes all the music for Unchained and has been taking vocal lessons in the last months.  We meet just about every week for encouragement and he shared his heart to bring his guitar and do some things on his own. Geoff shared an ongoing testimony about how the Lord is miraculously working in Ramona, Geoff and Nancy's daughter in California.

Our Wednesday night concert was transformed by the Lord into a celebration of Jesus and worship service.  Dave asked Jim to share his testimony and then was led to bring in a cup of juice and bread after Geoff was done with his major concert selections. Each of us shared where we were when we grasped our need for the saving work of Jesus. 

Unchained at Spokane UG

“If there is one name sweeter than any other in the believer’s ear,  it is the name of Jesus.  Jesus!  His name moves the orchestra of heaven to melody.  Jesus!  It is the life of all our joys.  If there is one name that is more charming, more precious than another, it is this name.  Jesus!   Many of our hymns begin with it and scarcely any that are good for anything, end without it.  The name of Jesus is the sum total of all delights.  The precious name of Jesus is five letter-- is the music with which the bells of heaven ring. He is a song in a word; a matchless oratorio in two syllables; a gathering up of the hallelujahs of eternity in heaven.”  ~Charles H. Spurgeon

Jim's testimony

Dave asked Jim to share his testimony and then preached about considering where we were when we heard Jesus drawing us to Him to get cleaned up from the individual messes each man found themselves in.

As I have done many times, Dave connected with Geoff's "Round back," to proclaim the Greatest Good News we'll ever hear and share with the world. 

"Round back” swings us to where some experienced reality.  It’s a place of fear and deliberate hiding. Regardless of our situations, “Round back” is a place of evil, gloom, and twisted darkness. It’s a fraud, fake cover-up.

Jesus shines His great light on our round back places to draw us to Him. God Himself took away our filthy rags, covered us with His blood, and clothed us in His righteousness.  That's the Great Exchange.  

The men stepped right into it.  Their sharing was worth the whole week over here.

Geoff White

'Round back

by Geoff White 

2009

"'Round back the concretes hard,

Around back talking my front yard,

'Round back even the weeds won't grow,

but Jesus came 'round back and saved my soul.

'Round back midst the garbage and grease,

Around back hard to smell me,

'round back the polite won't go,

but Jesus came round back to save my soul.

He put on my filthy rags; washed my shame away,

clothed me in His righteousness;

now I don't have to stay around back.

'Round back, sometimes I still go

'round back just so you might know

'round back, you don't have to stay

'round back because there's a better way

And He'll put on your filthy rags; wash your shame away

Clothe you in His righteousness; you won't have to stay

You won't have to stay....you won't have to stay....you won't have to stay

You don't want to live.... around back

Jesus came to live around back

No one needs to live around back."