Stronghold Ministries Update

Berne, IN for Thanksgiving...

2011-11-17T08:07:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we load up the family and head to Berne, IN for an early Thanksgiving trip. It will be very nice to not have to jump on a plane and fly all day to get to Berne. We can actually drive from Nashville!! Being in Berne is such a blessing on so many levels, and we pray that God moves in us and through us as we're there.

Make sure to thank our Mighty God for all of His blessings in our lives - not just on Thanksgiving, but every day!!

Olympia weekend once again...

2011-09-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

Please pray for the Stronghold team as we minister at the Olympia bodybuilding and fitness weekend! We leave for Vegas tomorrow and will be gone through Sunday. Please pray for the Spirit to move in power and that people's lives will be changed by Jesus Christ. Also pray for favor with whomever we speak. Thanks for all yours prayers and support!!

Indiana and Florida trips...

2011-08-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

I and the family had the privilege of traveling to Berne, IN to host Randy LaHaye (grandson of author Tim LaHaye), a film producer from Los Angeles. Randy came to Berne to speak at the annual Swiss Days Unity Service, where he shared about his latest movie project, "The Resurrection." As its title reveals, it is a powerful film about one of the greatest events of our Christian faith - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Please go to the website - trpmovie.com - and ask the Lord how you can prayerfully and financially get behind a film that can bring the message of Jesus Christ to many around the world!

I also just returned from ministering at the Jacksonville Pro bodybuilding and fitness contest in Florida. I drove to the event, and the journey down there was kind of crazy to say the least. Between 2 overturned semis, to a flat tire, to my GPS routing me for 3 hours down country highways, I just had to accept that God was allowing all these things for His purposes. Once I finally got to Jacksonville, the divine appointments were powerful and I was able to both challenge and encourage quite a few people involved in the sport. It was definitely a powerful weekend!

Thank you again for your faithful and continued prayers. Many important decisions lay ahead, and we need wisdom to navigate God's will correctly. Love you all!

Great family vacation!

2011-07-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

The last part of June into the July 4th weekend, Holly, Silas, and I went on our yearly family vacation! It was especially exciting because Holly's brother was married. Holly sang at the ceremony, Silas was the ring-bearer, and I officiated the marriage ceremony. Then a couple days later, we left with my family to go to the lakes for 5 days. It is so relaxing to have hardly any cell phone signal and no TV; just family to spend time with.

What is also exciting is that God is really moving mightily in our hometown of Berne, IN! So many people are really being stirred by the Holy Spirit to grow in their faith and testimony for Jesus Christ. They want to see the town changed!! Please pray that God's will is powerfully done in this town! Thanks!

Flying to Canton, OH...

2011-06-16T03:31:00.000-07:00

I am leaving in a few minutes to go to Canton, OH to perform a wedding for a couple from the bodybuilding industry. This couple has been a real joy to get to know, and I am excited about what God has for their future together.

Things have been very busy, so please continue to pray for strength to do all that God has asked of us - but nothing more. We need wisdom to prioritize in the way that God desires. Holly just relayed again to me last night that we are so privileged to be able to serve the Lord in this city! Your support and prayers make this all possible! Thanks!!

California trip...

2011-05-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

Earlier in May, I took a ministry trip to Los Angeles. One of the main reasons for the trip was to continue to assist in the UNITY work among the churches in Hollywood - a work I've been heavily involved with over the past several years. The trip was nothing short of amazing, as God continues to further the unified work of the Kingdom there, and also grow hearts together as one through the power of the Holy Spirit. Please pray for wisdom for the leadership involved in this unity process, that we will truly hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches of Hollywood (Revelation 3:6).

It was also exciting to see a couple give their lives to Jesus that weekend! It never gets old seeing people give their lives completely over to the One who died to set them free from the sin that bound them! Praise God!

Traveling to Orlando, Florida...

2011-04-25T13:57:00.001-07:00

I am leaving for Orlando, FL on Wednesday morning, and I am driving so I will need your prayers for safety. I will be ministering at the Orlando Europa Pro Show - a bodybuilding and fitness contest. I will also be staying the weekend with a great friend of mine who lives down there. It is always such an encouraging time, and God always works in both of our lives. Please pray that the Holy Spirit goes before me and prepares people's heart to hear about Jesus, understand, and accept Him into their lives as their Lord and Master. Thanks!

Great Bible Study Monday night...

2011-04-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

What a great night Monday night was! Every other Monday night, a Bible Study has started over in Murfreesboro, which is about 30 minutes from our apartment in Franklin. It meets in a couple's home that I know from the bodybuilding and fitness industry. As of now, I will be leading the group and am excited to see so many people from this couple's gym attending to grow in their faith in God and their love for each other. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to move in powerful ways to change each of our hearts! Thanks!

Making connections...

2011-04-04T09:20:00.001-07:00

It feels good to call Nashville home! We finally got all of our boxes upacked and furniture arranged, so it definitely is beginning to FEEL a little more like home. We obviously miss our many friends in LA, but God has blessed us with some awesome new friendships here in Tennessee. On the ministry front, I have been meeting with some people involved with the music industry to see how God desires for us to fit into this new industry. Please pray for wisdom and discernment so that we do not begin to pursue ministry that God has not called us to. We want to do His will and know that His power will work mightily if we follow Him.

Thanks for your many prayers on our behalf!

Relocation to NASHVILLE!!

2011-03-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

I know it's been awhile since I last blogged, but that is because some major changes have taken place over the last few months...we moved to Nashville! It's a long story of how God revealed to us we were to leave Los Angeles and come here; but long story short, He opened some amazing doors and has shown us we are to help affect Nashville for Jesus Christ! Obviously, this place is quite a bit different from Hollywood, but it also has many similarities - especially as it pertains to the entertainment industry. I've already made a couple of connections here in the music industry, so I am excited to see what God does there. We also have a heart to continue the work we began in Los Angeles of unifying the churches here to have a measurable impact for Jesus Christ in the community. I will also continue to lead the Stronghold team as we minister at amateur and professional bodybuilding and fitness shows around the country. In fact, a few awesome couples from the industry live in the Nashville area, so we will be able to grow in our relationships with them.

If you would like to hear more details about the move and do not receive our ministry newsletter, please email me at "michaelw@strongholdministries.com" and I will email you a copy.

Thank you all for your prayers and support in this time of transition!

Eye-opening trip...

2011-01-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

Our family trip to Nashville was nothing short of amazing! We were able to meet with so many people who truly love Jesus! Meishach and Chera Moore and their 4 children were kind enough to open their home for us to stay while we were there. And the amazing part is that there was also another couple there staying for a little while who had another 2 kids. That's 13 people in one house! Their unbelievable love for us was really a practical demonstration of what biblical love is all about - sitting around in the evenings talking, worshiping, and praying together as a "family." We will never forget this tremendous experience.

It was also encouraging to meet with various ministry and entertainment industry leaders who really have a vision for reaching Nashville and raising up "on-fire" Christians. It's hard to express the encouragement you receive from hearing other people's hearts. I know that the relationships formed on this trip will be special from this point forward.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Ministry trip to Nashville, TN...

2011-01-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

On January 12th, Holly, Silas and I will be leaving for a week on a ministry trip to Nashville, TN! Neither Holly nor I have ever been there, so we are excited to find out what Nashville is all about. Please pray for divine appointments as we will be meeting with various pastors and ministry leaders.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we do all we can to further the kingdom of God and His desire to see cities changed for Jesus Christ!

Ceremony last Wednesday in Hollywood...

2010-12-13T14:09:00.001-08:00

Last Wednesday was another indication of how powerfully God is moving in Hollywood. I attended a dedication ceremony of a new permanent housing facility for the chronically homeless in Hollywood. "Michael's House" is an old motel that has been renovated and will take 32 homeless people off the streets and into a place of their own - a place that will provide the physical and mental help that they need. While this in itself is great, what really shows the hand of God in all this is the Christian people who are involved in this at the foundational level. One lady in particular is on the "Hollywood HUB" team of which I am the coordinator - a team composed of ministry leaders from churches and organizations around Hollywood who are committed to work together in UNITY to see Hollywood changed for Jesus Christ. This lady spoke at the ceremony, and afterwards, she and I talked about how Christian volunteers from the Hollywood churches will be the instruments at these kinds of facilities who will really impact the homeless. The city is beginning to realize that Christians must be present and active in these initiatives, because we make up the large pool from which to draw volunteers (in case you haven't heard, California government is broke financially and can't pay for all the help it needs). It reminds me of stories in the Bible like Daniel, where people who honor God are put in places of prominence and given favor to accomplish the purposes of God. And here is this lady who is standing in such a position!

Please pray for our Hollywood HUB meeting coming up this Wednesday (15th), that we as a group would have wisdom to know how to continue to move forward in unifying the churches to impact the city of Hollywood for the Kingdom of God! Thanks!

Indiana for Thanksgiving...

2010-11-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

Holly, Silas and I will be leaving for Indiana this Thursday for Thanksgiving and a few family gatherings. This is always an exciting and welcomed time of seeing family since we only see them twice a year. Please pray for safe travels and for a time of rest. Also, please continue to pray for God's plan to unfold for Stronghold Ministries in 2011! Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

Working together...

2010-11-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

Since 2007, unity among the churches in Hollywood has been a major focus and burden in my heart. And in the last couple of weeks, I am so encouraged by the relationships that continue to develop between pastors and ministry leaders here. And because the relationships are developing, pastors are gathering on their own volition to pray for each other; and because they're praying for each other, trust is developing; and because trust in developing, love is blossoming; and because love is blossoming, the churches are pulling together to do actual work in the community. What excites me is that this is not unity for unity's sake; this is unity in the body of Christ that literally changes the city as the world sees a love for each other that is unmatched with anything they've ever seen. "They will know we are Christians by our love." Thanks for your continued prayers for our discernment of God's direction for this ministry in the coming year!

Olympia a success!

2010-10-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

What a powerful time we had at the 2010 Olympia bodybuilding and fitness weekend in Las Vegas! Stronghold Ministries ended up taking 7 professional bodybuilders and fitness athletes to the Sunrise Children's Hospital to visit those children stricken with sickness or injury. It was such an emotionally moving time for all involved. In fact, some of the athletes were moved to tears. We pray that each of these children receives the help they need to be healed! It is exciting to see people in this industry giving back to those who are less fortunate. We hope to do another event at the 2011 Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH.

The rest of the weekend was an amazing time of praying with athletes, holding a chapel service, visiting hotel rooms to read the Bible with people, and forming new relationship with various athletes, officials, and vendors. Many athletes came up to me that weekend and thanked the Stronghold team for impacting them in such a life-changing way. Hearing things like that encourage us to continue to bring the light of Jesus Christ to the wonderful people of this industry! Thank you for your prayers!

Also, please pray for this Wednesday as we hold another homeless feeding here in North Hollywood. Pray that people show up and are their lives are impacted by the love of Jesus! Thanks!

Mr. Olympia 2010!

2010-09-20T08:43:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe that another Mr. Olympia bodybuilding and fitness competition is upon us! This is the "Super Bowl" of bodybuilding, so everyone in the industry will be there. It is an exciting and exhausting weekend where many prayers are prayed with athletes and officials and many Scriptures passages are read. There are new relationships formed and old ones maintained and furthered. God's power is always at work everywhere we look. It is truly an amazing weekend! This year, Andy & Deby Steiner, Fred Krause and myself will be ministering at the event. Please pray that the Holy Spirit guides each step we take, gives us the exact right words to say to each individual, and that lives are forever changed by the love of Jesus Christ! Thanks!

Amazing Homeless Feeding...

2010-09-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day! Last Wednesday evening was an amazing night of feeding the homeless in the Studio City/North Hollywood area through our new church plant - Community of Hope. I have been spending quite a few hours just sitting and talking with the homeless during the day, developing relationships and just loving on them. So when it came time for our feeding last week, a man named James who is really excited about what we're doing, called together about 17 homeless people to meet in the park. When we pulled up and saw all these people here in one spot, it blew our minds! We got to sit and talk with each of them while they ate, and it was amazing! It really showed me and all of our people that the mission for our church is clear and will be powerful as we trust in God to continue to lead the way. We want to put our faith into action in our community and watch the power of God transform our city! Thanks for your continued prayers!

Church plant continues...

2010-08-27T11:28:00.001-07:00

Back on July 14th, Community of Hope church began, with myself and Pastor Scott Blacquiere as pastors and Holly as worship leader. I've never planted a church from scratch, so I definitely feel overwhelmed at times, but I trust that God's will is going to be done. As with anything worthwhile, there are highs and lows, so I pray that God continues to encourage us as we remain faithful to Him. We desperately covet your prayers as the spiritual battle here is intense. We are confident that if God has called this church to be here in LA, then He will bring the fruit. We remain open to whatever His will is for our lives. Thanks for your support in this time!

Progress in Unity...

2010-08-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I spend quite a few hours working on bringing unity among the churches here in Los Angeles - Hollywood, Studio City, and North Hollywood specifically. There have been some amazing developments over the last couple of months which definitely encourage me to keep going strong in this area.

The "Hollywood HUB" is a team of 6 individuals representing various churches and organizations which serves the Hollywood churches as a sort of "steering committee" for the unity work that is taking place. I am on this team, serving as its coordinator. The area we have been uniting the church around is the issue of homelessness and how we can bring true life transformation through the power of Jesus Christ. Throughout this entire summer, we have been meeting as the HUB in order to form a firm structure for this committee, inviting key people on board who really have a heart for this area. It is our hope that this HUB is a vehicle that can serve the Hollywood community for many years to come. Please pray for wisdom as we continue to plan for this upcoming year....thanks!

2 Incredible Trips!

2010-08-06T05:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I haven't posted in awhile, but I've been busy traveling 2 out of the last 3 weekends...and on top of that, we have now completed the first month of our new church plant in North Hollywood called "Community of Hope"!! I am just amazed at God's goodness - that He has blessed us with the privilege of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ around this country.

The Tampa Pro bodybuilding show was tremendous as it always is! I'm telling you, God has begun a revival among the local athletes in Tampa!! It has been one of the greatest blessings getting to know the believers there over the past year, seeing them step up in their faith and begin to minister to other athletes. In fact, some of them are actually coming to the Mr. Olympia in Vegas, not to compete, but to minister for Jesus! How cool!

This past weekend, Fred Krause and I ministered at the USA's (a top level amateur show). Once again, God moved in power - so much so that a woman even gave her life to Jesus! The prayer service we had the opening night was powerful as a number of athletes gathered just to hear the Word of God and pray for this industry. I could have never imagined back in 2002 when Andy Steiner and I started this ministry to the bodybuilding industry that God would be doing these amazing things in 2010!!

And last but certainly not least, the church plant is really taking root in this community. Each week, either Scott (the other pastor) or myself have been casting the vision that God has given us for this weekly gathering of believers to worship God. People have expressed alot of excitement as to what God wants to do through us in the North Hollywood/Studio City area. If you live in this area, please come join us every Wednesday evening at 7:30pm. The address is 11020 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Heading to Tampa, FL...

2010-07-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

I am heading tonight on a red-eye flight to Tampa, FL to minister at the Tampa Pro Bodybuilding show. My good friend Tim Gardner is the promoter, so it will be a blessing to see him and his wife Brande again. There are also a wonderful group of believers in that community that I've had the privilege of getting to know over the last year. This will be a very encouraging trip and I'm really looking forward to what God does.

Pray for tonight here in Hollywood. Before I leave, I will be attending an AWESOME unity Prayer event at Hollywood Presbyterian Church. It's the first night of 2 nights dedicated to the churches coming together and crying out for our city to be changed for Jesus Christ! It is nothing short of a miracle that things like this are beginning to happen here. God is answering our prayers and drawing the church in Hollywood together in UNITY!! Praise God!!

Family vacation...YEAH!!

2010-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

I am so looking forward to going back "home" to Indiana to visit both my family and Holly's family!! Most of them haven't seen our son Silas yet, so I'm sure he'll get kissed, pinched, and squeezed more than he ever has! It will be a good break from the daily stresses here, as Holly and I both need some R&R.

I will be speaking at First Mennonite Church in Berne, IN on Wednesday, June 30th, at 7:00pm. If you live in the area, I would love to see you and for you to hear about what God doing through Stronghold.

Also, pray for Silas to have a good flight home. We've never traveled with him yet, so we pray that he is content the whole time.

Talk to you when I return! Thanks for your prayers....

Heading to Texas...

2010-06-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

I'm heading to Texas this week to spend some time discipling an individual from the bodybuilding industry. He is going through alot right now but really has changed his life completely over the last few weeks, growing close to the Lord. Please pray that I am able to encourage him in the Lord and help strengthen his walk with Jesus. Also pray for safety for Holly and Silas while I'm gone...thanks!

Serving the Homeless in Studio City!

2010-05-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, our Thursday evening Bible Study group came together for our monthly "community serve" event, which this month consisted of feeding the homeless in our area (Studio City/North Hollywood). We were able to assemble and pass out 38 sack lunches and pray with numerous individuals. Each time we do these outreaches, we learn more about how to effectively reach the people in our neighborhood because we are out there physically seeing the needs. There is nothing quite like putting our faith into action!

Please continue to pray for me and Holly as we lead our group - wanting to challenge, encourage, and equip them in their faith. We always want to keep moving forward! Thanks...

Big faith-based meeting in LA...

2010-05-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, an amazing Faith-based collaborative meeting took place in down-town Los Angeles concerning the issue of homelessness in our city. Many city and national leaders came (including the keynote speaker from the Obama administration), and the call went out to the church to help the government with this growing problem in our nation's cities. Los Angeles is the homeless capital of the United States, so it was encouraging to see over 200 people from 50 organizations attend the event. I learned alot about homeless solutions, so it will be very beneficial information for me to put to use in leading the Hollywood homeless outreach that the Hollywood churches are pursuing right now. It is definitely exciting to see that God is moving in many believer's hearts on this issue. It will take all of us to help correct this problem...

Also pray this Saturday night for a meeting with a few people from our Bible Study. We will be discussing the direction that God has for our small group - whether it is to develop into something more formal or not. We desperately need God's direction in this.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support!

Orlando great! Big prayer request...

2010-04-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

The Orlando, FL trip was so powerful as God seemed to bring about divine encounter after divine encounter. I was able to have some really deep conversations about Jesus with a number of people, challenging them to grow in their faith. It was also great to spend time with my friend Jeff and his family. They are very dear to my heart, so being able to have quality time furthering our relationship was such an encouragement to me.

A big prayer request for Stronghold Ministries is that we are looking for a small office space/warehouse that can serve as a "hub" from which we can serve the community where God has placed us. Our Thursday evening Bible Study group really has a heart for reaching out to the poor and needy to help meet both their physical needs and their need for Jesus. To put it simply, our desire is to put our faith into action in our community. This office space would not only allow me to move my office out of our of apartment to an adequate space, but also provide storage space for food and clothing donations that can be dispersed to those in need. Please be praying that God shows us the right space at a price that we can afford. We are definitely stepping out in faith, but it is a step that God has commanded us to take. Thanks for your continued prayers!

In Orlando, FL this week...

2010-04-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

I will be traveling to Orlando, FL this week - Tuesday through Sunday - to both speak at a men's luncheon and minister at the Europa Pro Bodybuilding Show. I will also be spending alot of time with my good friend Jeff (above). It will be my first trip away from home since our son Silas was born. It will be so hard to leave Holly and Silas, so pray not only for them as I'm gone, but also for me! May God move mightily in and through me this week! Thanks for your prayers...

Bible Study resumes tonight!

2010-04-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

After a month of break due to the birth of our son, we are again resuming Bible Study at our apartment here in Studio City. It has been exciting to watch the Bible Study grow in the weeks leading up to our break. Please pray for tonight, that God's Spirit would lead us and change our hearts to become more like the Jesus whom we serve. Thanks!

Hollywood Homeless Forum...

2010-03-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

Over a week ago, there was what I believe to be a monumental meeting in Hollywood. It was a meeting which showed me that God has plans for His Church in Hollywood to be united together as one. For those of you who have followed Stronghold Ministries over the past couple of years, you know that God laid it on my heart to begin to gather Hollywood pastors and ministry leaders together each month for prayer. As we have done this, God has shown us how He wants us to begin to pursue this unity we all desire: by reaching out and meeting the needs of the poor and homeless in the community. So we developed a Hollywood Homeless Forum which brought together close to 50 people from 20 different churches, ministries, or organizations. It was exciting to be in the room and see everyone's passion to carry out the mission TOGETHER! How powerful it will be for the city of Hollywood to see the Body of Christ living out their faith in Jesus outside the walls of a building! Please be in prayer for God's plan to be carried out...thanks!

Awesome Arnold...

2010-03-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for your prayers regarding the time of ministry at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic bodybuilding show in Columbus, OH. Andy & Deby Steiner and Fred Krause were used mightily of the Lord, and many people were moved by the Lord, even to tears. There were several stories of individuals who deepened their personal relationship with Jesus as well as some new seeds that were planted. One of the most exciting things was hearing that some of the Christian athletes are really taking a stand for Jesus in front of their peers. This is really an important step for believers to take in the industry, because it forces them to live a life worthy of the proclamation they are making. And when I made it known that I wasn't able to attend the event due to the birth of Silas, these athletes stepped up. They partnered with Andy, Deby, and Fred to make the weekend a resounding success. A big thank you goes out to the Steiners and Fred who not only represented Stronghold well, but more importantly, Jesus Christ!

Baby Silas!

2010-03-11T10:27:00.000-08:00

I am proud to announce that Silas Christian entered the world on February 26th at 12:10pm. He weighed 6 lbs 14 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Needless to say, the last couple of weeks have been a big time of adapting to a totally new life! But we really enjoy this new season and are excited to watch our son grow up into the man that God has called him to be. Please pray for wisdom, strength, patience, and love on our behalf as parents. We learn new things every day and greatly covet your prayers for us. Truly children are a gift from God!

Arnold Classic...

2010-02-23T15:17:00.001-08:00

Next weekend (March 4-7) is the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic bodybuilding show in Columbus, OH, and we (Stronghold Ministries) will be sending 3 team members to minister at the show: Andy and Deby Steiner and Fred Krause. I will not be attending the event due to a circumstance that will require all of my focus, attention, and love: the birth of our baby boy on or around March 4th! The Arnold is the largest bodybuilding and fitness show in the world, as nearly 300,000-400,000 people will attend the events and expo over that weekend. Please pray for Andy, Deby, and Fred to be led by the Lord and to show the love of Jesus to all they come across. Pray for open doors to share the good news about Jesus with athletes and officials. Also pray for favor with whomever they speak. Holly and I anxiously await their stories of what God does in Columbus...

Baby is close!

2010-02-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

The arrival of our little baby boy is getting close! Anytime in the next 2-3 weeks, he should be here...Of course, Holly is a little bit uncomfortable at this point in the pregnancy to say the least. We are both so excited that the time will be soon and we will have our first child to bring up in this world! Please pray for a healthy baby and good delivery.

Yesterday was such an encouraging day from a ministry standpoint. I went with one of the ministry leaders that I know from the city to a homeless ministry up in Ventura county. The amazing thing about this ministry is the way that the churches in the city have come together. 18 different churches have pulled together in the name of Jesus to build a transitional housing facility to help poor and needy individuals get back on their feet and also develop a close personal relationship with Jesus. I have never seen anything like this, where churches have pulled together - not just for an event - but on a day-to-day basis. And the community has noticed! City officials are calling them asking how they can be of assistance! Truly, these believers are living out their faith in a very powerful way. I believe that LA churches are called to be in that kind of unity here. Please pray that God gives me and all who have this heart the strength and wisdom to make this vision a reality. We know it will only happen by the grace and power of our mighty God!

Community Trash Clean-up!

2010-02-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

Members of our Bible Study have a heart for reaching out to our community and making a difference for Jesus Christ. They really desire to put their faith into action in a tangible way. So last Saturday, those who could make it embarked on picking up trash in a local park and underneath an freeway overpass. Policeman driving by were looking at us and various people stopped to thank us. It was amazing how something so small was noticed in such a big way. I know it encouraged all of us to be more active in serving those around us and doing it through the power of Jesus Christ who lives in us. And on top of all this, there's 9 less bags of trash laying around our streets!

Music Tour ministry...

2010-01-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

Please pray for me as I travel on a small music tour with an artist who is a good friend of mine. I will be riding on the tour bus, so pray for divine opportunities to talk about Jesus and pray with individuals from the band. We leave Sunday for the first city and will be done Thursday evening.

Also pray today for our Hollywood Pastor's Unity Prayer meeting at 12 Noon PST. I have really been working hard with a few of the other pastors to begin working together in very practical and impactful ways to reach the Hollywood community. Pray that the Holy Spirit continues to lead us and that we don't get ahead of Him.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support!

A new year!!

2010-01-11T11:20:00.000-08:00

A NEW YEAR is upon us, and we are really excited about what lies ahead for our family and ministry. We resumed meeting again at our apartment for our Thursday evening Bible Study after a brief break for the holidays. This group is really an encouragement, as these young people are eager to play their part in reaching this city for Christ. As the leaders, pray that Holly and I are filled with the Holy Spirit and power to equip these believers in a way that makes the most of their individual giftings.

Also, our little baby will be coming the first part of March, and yesterday we spent 6 hours at a lamaze class! I guess there's a lot to learn about having a baby! The reality of having a child is really sinking in...I never thought 9 months could travel so fast!

With this coming new year, I want to thank all of you in advance for your continued prayers and support. Please pray for breakthrough with several projects that we are bringing before the Lord. Thanks!

Video of our Thanksgiving project...

2009-12-28T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here's something a little new for everyone to check out...a video! I just learned how to put a video together on the computer, and this is the finished product. It shows how a few from our weekly Bible Study who didn't go home for Thanksgiving or have family in the area to celebrate with came together to feed 32 different homeless people right in our little suburb of Studio City. A big thanks to Scott and Tara Blacquiere for heading up the project!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Ministering in Orlando, FL...

2009-12-14T20:21:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow morning I leave for Orlando to speak at a Bible Study luncheon run by my friend Jeff. I've spoken there a number of times and always look forward to it. This evening has been a little unusual as I am writing this from a friend's house because Holly and I can't get to our apartment! The street has been totally blocked off because some man on our block has a gun and is threatening to kill himself. It's all over the news and it's only 2 buildings from ours...welcome to Los Angeles!

Please pray that the Holy Spirit empowers me and speaks through me to the hearts of these people...thanks!

Traveling to Tucson, AZ...

2009-12-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

Please pray for me as today I leave for Tucson, AZ to visit a couple from the bodybuilding industry. Please pray for safety and wonderful time of fellowship and encouragement....thanks!

Thanksgiving project...

2009-12-01T09:03:00.000-08:00

Even though Holly and I were not able to travel to Indiana to see family this Thanksgiving, we had a wonderful time here in LA helping with a project headed up by a couple from our Bible Study group. Both Scott and Tara have a heart for the homeless and have participated for a number of years in homeless ministry. So for those of us from the Bible study who didn't have family to celebrate with, we came alongside and helped in whatever way we could. It was such an awesome experience as we were able to bring a great Thanksgiving meal to 32 people in our little suburb of Studio City! In addition to giving them food, we also asked if we could pray for them. Many said yes and were greatly blessed by it. One person came up to us who was homeless, but looked very clean and mentally sound. But he had a drug habit that was ruining his life and his family's life. When we asked him if we could pray about anything in particular, he opened up and revealed everything to us. I knew that Jesus wanted to set him free, so I prayed for him and then had him pray out loud, asking Jesus to forgive him, cleanse him, free him, and take his life to use for His glory. It was a powerful time and all of us were pretty emotional experiencing the power of God in that way.

My knee is HEALED!!

2009-11-24T16:30:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord!! I went to have my MRI today, and when the doctor looked at the results, he found no damage to my knee! It was such a miracle and such a faith-stretching experience for me. Sometimes it's easier to believe God for someone else's healing than it is for your own. But these experiences make our faith stronger. I want to personally thank everyone who lifted me up in prayer! Your prayers were powerful and effective!! I thank God that He is a gracious and loving God who longs to give good gifts (like healing!) to His children....what a mighty God we serve!

Knee MRI tomorrow...and new opportunities!

2009-11-23T14:04:00.001-08:00

Thanks so much for all of your prayers concerning my knee. It continues to feel better each day and we are praying that God will heal it completely. Tomorrow is my MRI, so please pray that the doctor finds the knee healed when he looks at the MRI results. I will let all of you know the results when I get them.

Some exciting opportunities are beginning to pop up for the coming year in the entertainment industry. I can't be specific at this time because I want to make sure that these possibilities become realities. There have been so many opportunities through my years here in Hollywood that God has closed the door on, so having patience and waiting on the open door is a must. However, these doors are the most significant that have ever surfaced for ministry here. We are praying that God's will is done, and we would greatly appreciate your prayers for the same thing...

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! God has been so good to us all...

knee injury...

2009-11-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

Well, the news I have isn't great news - it looks like I'm going to need knee surgery. I've already had 2 knee surgeries on my left knee, and a few weeks ago, I twisted it. The orthopedic surgeon diagnosed it yesterday as a torn lateral miniscus. Please pray for me during this time. It was kind of disheartening to hear that diagnosis, as it will mean 6 weeks on crutches after surgery and no hard lateral movements for 6 months. And then the financial strain of a surgery that will cost thousands of dollars is difficult to swallow as well. Just alot going on in my heart and mind today. I want my life to be a blessing to others and give God glory. I pray that He uses this seemingly unfortunate and trying circumstance to bring Himself glory. And may He give Holly and I the strength and provision to make it through.

We greatly appreciate your prayers and support in this time...

Pray for protection!

2009-11-04T08:33:00.000-08:00

When God is moving powerfully and opening up new avenues of ministry, one can usually expect something to happen: our enemy will attack. And that is exactly what has been happening over the last 3 weeks for Holly and myself. A string of obvious attacks have occurred, but the awesome thing is that God has sent encouragement and confirmation throughout the attacks that we are on the right path. We have to realize that when you are in a war (like all Christians are), our enemy the devil "comes to steal, kill, and destroy." Or in modern combat terms, he shoots not to wound, but to kill. That is why it seems that when an serious attack comes, it's not just one thing, but thing after thing after thing that tries to take you out. Here in LA, Satan doesn't even try to mask his tactics, he just comes at you with a full frontal assault. That is why Holly and I need all of you to pray (especially considering Holly is pregnant) for protection over us and our home in the name of Jesus. We know that we have nothing to fear, but Jesus - when asked by the disciples how to pray - said that we are to pray for protection and deliverance from the evil one. We are thankful that God has given us many people to be our covering in this time, and we need you all to be faithful in prayer on our behalf.

Will you take time this week to lift us up?

Encouraging gathering...

2009-10-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday was a very encouraging prayer gathering with the Hollywood pastors! More and more churches here in LA are hearing the voice of God calling them to restructure their entire system to focus upon small group communities. These groups go beyond just having another Bible study to actually working on living out the gospel in the community in which you are planted. We as Christians have heard so many sermons over our lifetime, and many of them are simply forgotten once we walk out the church doors. But what if we taught people with not only an emphasis on putting what they've learned into practice, but also an opportunity to do it? As one pastor recently revealed to me, "We as small group leaders don't move on to our next lesson until all of us in the group are putting the previous lesson into practice in our everyday lives."

What makes this so exciting for Los Angeles is that this city lacks "community" among believers. People go to church to get something for themselves and then leave. But what most of us who have ministered in this city for awhile have found is that "community" is exactly the thing that most people here long for. What if the church became that place where individuals found community -- all through the love, forgiveness, and grace of Jesus Christ? What if we became like the Church in the book of Acts and actually took care of one another's physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs? I am thankful that God is not only putting these very things on me and my wife's heart, but also upon the hearts of others in our area. May God guide us as we work His will out for His Body....

Great weekend in San Diego...

2009-10-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

It was a blessing in many different ways this past weekend at Jon Lindsay's Border States bodybuilding competition. Having all of the Stronghold team members there was so encouraging to me. We had an incredible team meeting while we were there, discussing the future of Stronghold and what God wants us to accomplish. I love and respect everyone on this team and pray that God continues to use us in this industry in an increasing manner for His honor and glory.

Fred Krause (one of our team members) competed in the competition and received a 2nd place in his class. He represented the Lord well, performing his routine to a song that revealed his love for Jesus. Way to go Fred!!

It was also a growing time for me as a leader of this ministry. I feel that at the Olympia and this show, God allowed me to learn so much and overcome some obstacles at the events. Please pray that God gives me the wisdom to do HIS will with Stronghold Ministries. I know I have alot to learn, but I also know that God will be faithful to teach me everything I need to know. Praise God!

San Diego this coming weekend...

2009-10-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

This coming weekend, the entire Stronghold team will be ministering at the Border States bodybuilding show in San Diego promoted by Jon Lindsay (www.musclecontest.com). Jon is not only one of the top bodybuilding show promoters in the country but also has been very supportive of all that we do at Stronghold. A big thanks to Jon for his kindness...

We are also blessed to be supporting one of our team-members Fred Krause as he actually competes in the contest. It should be a great weekend! Please pray for God to move in people's hearts and guide our steps as we minister. Also pray for God to give Fred the strength he needs to compete.

Then on the Sunday morning after the contest, we will be having a bodybuilding team meeting to strategize and pray for the 2010 bodybuilding season. Please pray that God gives us His heart concerning the needs for this industry. Thank you!!

Olympia 2009!

2009-10-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

What an amazing Olympia this year! Not only were the competitions the closest they had ever been, but more importantly, God moved in mighty ways! It was an exciting year for Stronghold because we had all six of our team members ministering for the entire weekend, which challenged me to grow in my leadership and administration skills with them team. I desire to use each individual in the greatest way possible, allowing them to use the gifts that God has uniquely given them to reach people. Yet when the team is that large, not everyone can go to the same hotel room and pray for an athlete. I had to learn to delegate responsibilities evenly, and hopefully I did!

It was also interesting in terms of spiritual warfare. I thought for some reason that this year, more so than years past, had some intense times of attack. I'm not sure why this was the case, but regardless, we had to really rely on the Lord the first couple of days because we couldn't afford to be discouraged. But then after two days of struggle, the doors seemed to open and people's hearts were really open to Jesus. I think Galatians 6:9 was really important to me over the weekend: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." God was faithful to His promise!

Please continue to pray for Holly and the baby that is coming in March of 2010! Pray also for me, that I would be a good and supporting husband throughout the duration of this pregnancy.

Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Unity work continues & Mr. Olympia in Vegas!

2009-09-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

Thursday was a great day! In the morning, I met with various ministry leaders representing 6 major parts of the city to worship together. This may not sound that profound, but the purpose of these meetings is to begin "Altars of Worship" all around Los Angeles - meaning worship nights bringing all the churches in an area together to lift up the name of Jesus. How powerful will this be when God's people assemble together to worship?! Please pray for continued wisdom to know how to proceed with these events...

Then Thursday afternoon, the Hollywood pastors gathered together for prayer for the Hollywood area. We have now been meeting for over 2 years in prayer, and pastors are more connected than ever. But we must continue to press for greater unity. Please pray that even more pastors join us in prayer for this influential city...

Friday I was ministering on the movie set of Rough Hustle. It was a really good day...

This coming Wednesday through Sunday, Holly, myself and the entire Stronghold team will be heading to Las Vegas to minister at the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding and fitness contest. We are all excited, but we really need your prayers for favor and the power of Holy Spirit to move through us. We pray that many hearts are opened to Jesus and that lives are changed. May we have wisdom from God to speak only His words...thank you for your prayers!

Monica Brant FEM Camp...

2009-09-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

Every year at about this time, fitness athlete Monica Brant and her friend Lynda Thoresen put on one of several FEM Camps for women who either desire to compete in the fitness industry or simply want to become more fit themselves. And every year, Monica and Lynda are kind enough to invite me to come and speak to all of the women about their faith in God. Psalm 139 mentions that all of us are fearfully and wonderfully made by God - knit together perfectly according to His will for us. We are a beautiful creation to Him, even though the world may say we aren't what we should be. However, to see ourselves as God sees us, we must have a personal relationship with Jesus. We must give our lives totally to the One who "knows all of our days before one of them comes to be." I pray that God spoke to these women's hearts and that they truly think about their relationship with God.

It's been a very busy week and kind of stressful. Please pray for strength to tackle the tasks that are ahead of us this week...thanks!

Prayers answered!!

2009-09-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you all so much for your prayers for my leg. God totally healed it without the use of oral antibiotics! It was so amazing! I praise the Lord for his healing power.

It was an exciting week as one of the people I had been ministering to from a movie set I was on decided to accept Jesus as his Savior! Please pray that this individual is able to get plugged into a good church and grows in his faith. Being in the entertainment industry can be a difficult place to live as a young follower of Christ because so much spiritual attack can happen. May God protect him and bless him with strength and passion for Jesus!

Need some prayer...

2009-08-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Back in March, I had an interesting trip to Columbus, OH for a bodybuilding show that ended in the ER at the Ohio State University hospital. There was an abscess on my leg that turned into staff infection. Thank the Lord that we caught it early enough that no major damage was done. After some heavy antibiotic, it was gone. Well a couple days ago, I noticed another spot on my leg that kind of looks the same as the other abscess did at the beginning stages of its growth. Sometimes, staff infection will lie dormant in your body and then rear its ugly head. Please pray that God heals the spot and that it isn't staff infection. Thank you so much for your prayers!

Birthday!!

2009-08-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, August 18th, was my birthday! It's hard to believe that I am 33 years old. And for those of you who do not know, I will be a father in my 33rd year on this earth - Holly is pregnant! Words can't express how excited we are to bring a child into this world. We need much prayer for wisdom and strength to raise this child in the ways of the Lord. What a blessing that God has bestowed upon us.

Please pray for our Hollywood Pastor's Unity Prayer we have tomorrow noon. Pray that God would reveal to us how we should pray for not only this city, but also for our hearts - that God would change us pastors to be more like Him. Without HIS perspective and His power, we will never see a change. God, please let the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ be released in Los Angeles!

Powerful weekend....

2009-08-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Tampa Pro Bodybuilding Show was definitely one to remember! God afforded Stronghold Ministries new opportunities that we have never had. First off, I want to thank contest promoter Tim Gardner (in the top photo) for allowing us to have a booth at the show where Stronghold Ministries handed out free waters to athletes, fans, and officials. It was a huge success and many people who didn't know about Stronghold became aware. Not only that but Tim also allowed me to stand up at the Saturday night show and speak to the crowd about Stronghold and its mission. Tim, thanks so much.

Also a huge thank you goes out to Tom Toy, who put together a visit to the Tampa Bay Boys and Girls home with some of the athletes. It was a big success as well, as the video from that outing was played in front of all the fans at the Saturday evening show. The video can be viewed on you-tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTk5cMaMVMk

Tom also was the one who organized and purchased all the waters for the event and had Stronghold Ministries labels made for each individual water that we handed out. Not only that, but he also had members of his small group fellowship help work the booth, all wearing Stronghold Ministries t-shirts. It was absolutely amazing! Tom, may God bless you for all your hard work. It is so much appreciated!

And on top of all that, God worked in new ways in so many people's lives! In fact, I only got a couple hours of sleep on Friday and Saturday night because of all the people that God had us minister to. Keith Jones (in the bottom photo) was ministering with me for the weekend, and God used him to touch many as well. Keith is such a blessing for Stronghold, and every weekend he ministers with us, it becomes more evident. Thanks for being such a blessing in my life Keith!

And a big thank-you to everyone who prayed for this weekend. Your prayers were powerful and effective!

Leaving for Tampa...

2009-08-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

Please pray for me as I'm heading out the door for the airport to fly to Tampa, FL. There is the Tampa Pro bodybuilding show that Stronghold will be ministering at as well as speaking to the Tampa Boys and Girls Club on Thursday afternoon. Please pray for a powerful weekend where the Holy Spirit moves mightily and changes many lives! Thanks!

Exciting times in Vegas...

2009-07-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

I love it when God surprises us! And that is exactly what happened in Vegas over the weekend when Stronghold ministered at the USA bodybuilding championships. Our outreach in the bodybuilding industry focuses mainly on the professional athletes, so at an amateur event like this, we meet with the pros who come to watch or work for their supplement companies to sign autographs. However, with the economy, many of the supplement companies are choosing not to spend the money to fly their athletes to the events if they aren't competing; instead, they use locals to work their booths.

Well the first night we were there, we were able to minister to a few of the industry people we knew, but overall, it was a relatively quiet night. Naturally, I thought Saturday would be the same, but it was totally different! God just started sending people our way - some that we knew, but also some that we didn't! From noon Saturday until 11pm that night, I don't think Fred Krause (a Stronghold team member) and I stopped talking! It was simply amazing how God showed up and allowed us the opportunity to speak into so many people's lives. God is definitely alive and moving in the bodybuilding industry!

And on another note, today was the first meeting of local pastors in the San Fernando Valley (northern LA) to pray, and it was such a joy to be a part of it! Now there have been prayer meetings and gatherings started in 3 major areas of LA - the West Side, Hollywood (the one I organize), and the Valley. Unity is a very difficult path, but God is proving faithful to move powerfully if we unite and begin to act like the unified body of Christ. Please continue to pray for direction and more pastors to join together...

Heading to Vegas...

2009-07-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

Please pray for me and Fred Krause as we head to Las Vegas for the USA bodybuilding championships. It is the largest amateur bodybuilding and fitness show in the U.S. We will be there Friday and Saturday praying with the athletes, reading the Bible with them, encouraging and counseling them, and simply showing them love. Please pray for the love of Christ to be evident in us and that we would have the exact right words to speak to everyone we come across. As always, thanks for your prayers!

Back to LA...

2009-07-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

It was a great time of being home in Indiana, spending time with family and friends. It always encourages me so much when I hear of all the people who are praying for us and this ministry! It truly is what gives us the strength to press on, knowing that we are not alone in this journey.

One of the highlights of the time was being able to perform the wedding of my best friend Andy Steiner. His wife Deby is from Bern, Switzerland, and she is such a blessing to Andy. I pray that God gives them many wonderful years together in serving Him.

While I was home, I made a brief trip to Tampa, FL to speak to Team BodyTech. It was amazing to see and hear the responses of the athletes as I talked about Jesus our Savior who washes away our sins and gives us Life! I believe that God changed, encouraged, and strengthened many lives that night. Praise God!

Please pray for me and Holly as we jump right back into work here. We ask for wisdom for our tasks and power from our God to carry them out. Thanks!

Family Vacation!!

2009-06-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

Holly and I are so excited to be heading back to Indiana to see our families! Every year over the 4th of July, we go home and celebrate with loved ones. Thanks for your prayers for safety and rest...Los Angeles is a great place, but there's no place like home!

Please pray for me as I do have a little work on vacation (I know, you're not supposed to do that!). I will be flying down to Tampa, FL on July 8-9 to speak and then returning to Indiana to finish our vacation. I am excited to see what God does while I'm there...

This will be the last post until I return from vacation....love you all

Back from Austin, TX...

2009-06-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Austin, TX on Monday evening after spending a weekend with a dear friend from there. Not only was I blessed by spending time with my friend, but the church that he and his wife attend named "River in the Hills" was simply amazing. A missionary from China shared, and to hear his stories not only about amazing successes but also about times of frustration and weariness really hit home in my heart. A quote that I will always keep with me: "If you hit a rock long enough and hard enough, it will eventually break." Sometimes the work here in LA seems really frustrating and hard, but this weekend made me really think about Galatians 6:9 = "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." I know God is working right now in this city and that foundations for great things are being laid. We can't be discouraged in laying foundations, because the stronger the foundation, the higher the building can go.

A prayer request for healing would be much appreciated. I have a sinus infection and feel wiped out right now...thanks!

Our 3rd Anniversary!

2009-06-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

Holly and I just got back from having an awesome day together for our 3rd anniversary! It's hard to believe that we've been married for that long already...A big thank-you to all you who pray for us and our marriage! Ministry can be very difficult on a marriage, but God has blessed us in so many ways and continues to guide and protect us. I look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with the love of my life...

Please pray for the Hollywood Pastor's Unity Prayer meeting we are having on Thursday @ noon. So much has happened over the last 6 months in regards to unity among ministry leaders in this city. But we must keep the momentum going, and summer can be difficult for that. Pray that men show up and that the Spirit leads us in how we should pray...thanks!

Indian Wells, CA....

2009-06-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

Holly and I just returned last night from a weekend in Indian Wells, CA (right next to Palm Springs). Monica Brant-Peckham and her friend Lynda run FEMCamps (fitness camps) all over the country, and they will occasionally ask me to speak if I'm available. So Holly and I had a wonderful night at the resort and then spoke Sunday noon to the girls at the camp. God moved in a number of the girls' hearts in powerful ways! In fact, one of the ladies called me afterwards and said that she had bitterness in her heart towards her husband, but God helped her to forgive him completely! Thank you Lord for touching people's lives with your love and healing...

In FLEX magazine...

2009-06-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

There was a message left on my phone to check out the latest FLEX magazine, so I stopped by the newsstand to look at it. On page 40 in the editor's column, there is a picture with me, the editor, and bodybuilder Silvio Samuel! A big thanks to Editor-in-Chief Allan Donnelly for the inclusion...

Also, please be in prayer for a particular movie that is close to getting the money needed to begin shooting. It will be a powerful movie that helps proclaim the message of Christ to the world. Pray that the investor who desires to fund the film goes through with it.

Thanks!

Film set wraps...

2009-06-02T13:49:00.000-07:00

The movie set that I ministered on the past couple of weeks officially finished shooting production and now will enter post-production. It was a great set with great people who were very kind and loving towards me. I was able to talk to a few people about their relationship with God and was very encouraged by their openness with me. It was also great to meet a married couple who came onto the set the first day I was there. They are both Christians who have been in the industry awhile but just got saved last November. They are so excited about living for Jesus in this industry!! I pray that God continues to build them up and give them strength to be an example of Christ right where He's put them.

Please pray for a movie whose producer I met with this morning. It looks very positive that the money needed to shoot his movie could be coming in this month. He's trusting God and His timing.

LA Pastor's Prayer Summit today...

2009-05-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Today is exciting because there will be pastors from all over the city praying today at the Life Connections International Pastors Prayer Summit in Malibu. Pastors will be praying together today for God to change people's hearts in their territories, this city, and this nation. It will also be a great time of unity among the spiritual leaders of Los Angeles. Please pray that we are able to discern God's will and plan as we seek Him with all of our hearts. God is continuing to do great things in LA...

On a film set tomorrow...

2009-05-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

Please pray for me as I am on a new film set tomorrow shooting in downtown Los Angeles. Please pray that God guides me and leads me to people who need a touch from Him. Also pray that I have the words to say in any and every situation. May God fill me with His Holy Spirit and may lives be changed!

Thanks!

Family in town...

2009-05-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Holly and I are excited to have her brother and girlfriend here in LA for a week visit. It is always fun to take people to see the different sites and enjoy the many beaches here. It is such a switch from the slow-paced atmosphere of Indiana which they come from! May God keep us safe as we travel...thanks, as always, for your prayers!

Preaching tonight at our church...

2009-05-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

Please pray for me as I preach, that God would fill me with His Spirit and give me the words to say. It will actually be more of a teaching message dealing with hard questions that people may ask us about our faith. Questions such as, "Don't all religions lead to God?" and "Is the Allah of Islam the same God that we as Christians worship?" or "How do we know that the Bible is Divine rather than human in origin?" and even "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?"

These are important questions that we as believers need to have an answer for, not only for the person who asks, but also for ourselves. Doubt about our faith can creep into our hearts when someone asks a difficult question which makes our Christian faith seem like every other religion. Not that we can or would ever want to argue anyone into believing in Jesus, but there are ligitimate questions that people seeking the truth need to have answered. Hopefully, there will be believers who will walk away tonight encouraged to talk to others about their faith in Jesus!

Better reaching an industry...

2009-04-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

An exciting idea has popped up in better ministering to the bodybuilding industry! One of the challenges not only for us who minister in the bodybuilding industry but also in the church at large is to properly disciple and mature believers in their faith. In bodybuilding, many of the athletes travel extensively on the weekends, so making it to a church on a regular basis can be difficult. Furthermore, the athletes don't live in one central location; they live all over the country! But recently, a couple of dear Christian brothers from the Tampa, FL area brought up an idea which would help reach and disciple these athletes all over the country in a close, personal, and intimate setting. Please pray for Stronghold Ministries as we prayerfully consider what part we are to play in the implementation of this strategy.

Jesus told His disciples to go and make other disciples - not simply converts. We have to create a way to better meet people's individual spiritual needs and grow them up. And hopefully, this method can be part of this taking place...

back from Florida...

2009-04-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

Orlando turned out to be a great trip! I really got to further many relationships in the bodybuilding industry as well as create some new ones. It is so neat to be able to help answer some of the questions that a new Christian asks or even someone who doesn't know the Lord may ask. In their hearts and minds, finding answers to these questions is vital to whether they pursue God and a deepening relationship with Him or not.

I also got to spend time with my friend Jeff, who was in the hospital. He's been through alot over the past 2 years that I've known him, and yet his faith continues to grow. Please pray that Jeff's body is healed and that the desires God has placed in his heart would come to pass.

And lastly, I'd like to thank Scott and Monica Brant-Peckham for just being an unbelievable blessing in my life. They have been so kind to me and my wife since we first met them. Seeing them this past weekend and spending some time with them greatly encouraged my heart. The bodybuilding and fitness industry is definitely a better place because of their presence in it!

Leaving for Orlando, FL...

2009-04-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

Today, I will be leaving for Orlando, FL to speak tomorrow at a men's Bible Study/luncheon put on by my friend Jeff McCarrell. I will then be staying there through the weekend as there is a pro bodybuilding and fitness contest at which I will be ministering. Please pray for God to move through the power of His Holy Spirit in the lives of everyone I meet. May God give me His words, and may I trust completely in Him for everything this week.

Also pray for Holly as she is not coming with me. She has to work everyday this week, so pray for strength; but also pray for peace as she will be alone. May our Almighty God protect her in all her ways while I'm gone.

Thanks for your prayers and support...

God is moving....

2009-04-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

It has been an amazing week! God is really stirring in alot of people's hearts out here, especially among the spiritual leaders in LA. God is showing all of us that it won't be one minister or one ministry that will bring about God's will for LA; it will be as God's people unify and work together that many people will repent and give their lives to Jesus Christ! I have had a number of encouraging conversations with people who now understand this and want to begin to take action on this God-given idea. Please pray that God gives wisdom and insight into what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and who is of the same heart and mind. Thanks!

Also, praise the Lord that He miraculously met a big need for us this week! God is good!!

Obedience...

2009-04-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

Why is it that sometimes we are more excited about being obedient in "bigger" things and less concerned with obedience in the "small" things? So quickly we forget Jesus' commentary about such flawed thinking: if we cannot be faithful with little, then we will not be entrusted with much.

This truth has really hit home in my heart the past couple of weeks. I have been procrastinating on finishing up a devotional I started writing 1 1/2 years ago. I'm 1/3 of the way done but have just let it sit for a long time now. It's gotten to the point where every time I pray for God's leading, He gently leads me back to this. The only thing left to do is to repent of my procrastination and simply be obedient. If I truly desire God's blessing in my life, the least I can do is be obedient - even in the "little" things. So next time you see me, ask me how the devotional writing is going =)

Thanks for your prayers!

In With The New...

2009-03-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

This is an exciting weekend for 2 reasons! In 1 hour, we leave to pick up Holly's father who is coming to town for a few day visit. Living 2200 miles from home means you don't get to see family very often; so when they do come, it is very exciting and encouraging. Pray that Holly's father is also encouraged and strengthened as he sees what God is doing here in Hollywood.

Secondly, our church is moving into its new home this weekend!! After almost 3 years of sharing our current location, we are finally spreading our wings and having a place of our own! It is a beautiful building and is only 8 minutes from our old church. On Saturday, we have a work day, and many people are coming to help clean, load heavy things, paint, or just lend a helping hand wherever needed. Praise the Lord for this new season we are about to begin as the local body of Jesus Christ!

Artists in Christian Testimony...

2009-03-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you who wonder why you send your donations to Artists in Christian Testimony and not to me out here in LA, I want to clarify. Artists in Christian Testimony is the missions-sending agency that Stronghold Ministries is under. Byron Spradlin is the founder and president of the organization, which focuses on sending out "ministers of Jesus Christ" who desire to serve God outside of the traditional avenues of ministry. Just as artists are creative, so are the creative callings of those under the banner of ACT. I have been with ACT since 2003, and were it not for them, I would probably have not even come to Hollywood! They have been such a God-send to Stronghold, providing us with not only our tax-exempt status, but also book-keeping, accountability, and encouragement.

Yesterday, Holly and I literally spent the whole day with Byron and other ACT ministries from the LA area (10am-9pm). It was an encouragement to hear what God is doing through other people and callings. We thank God for ACT and all it is doing for the kingdom of God. Please visit their website to learn more about this wonderful organization: http://www.actinternational.org/

Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic...

2009-03-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

(Sorry to everyone for not posting this before I actually went to Columbus, OH to minister at the Arnold Classic.)

Wow! What a week it's been! I left Tuesday, March 3rd for Columbus. But first on Wednesday, I officiated the wedding ceremony of my best friend Andy Steiner and Deby Tonini in Indiana. Andy has ministered with me at Stronghold from its inception in 2002. I am happy for both of them and pray God's richest blessings on them in the days to come.

Then on Thursday, Andy, Deby, and I drove the 179 miles to Columbus to meet up with Keith Jones, another minister who helps with Stronghold. The weekend was amazing as God gave us divine words to speak into people's hearts. I would literally walk through the athlete's hotel room door and God would put a certain scripture passage in my mind. And sure enough, God's word would penetrate their heart, giving them new insight and encouragement to live their lives for Jesus.

On Saturday night, I had an unexpected trip to the Emergency Room. An ingrown hair on my leg over the period of 1 week had progressed into an absess and staff infection. Praise the Lord for Dr. Dave Ryan who helped guide me through what I needed to do. Dr. Ryan is an awesome man of God who helps so many in our industry. Now my leg is healing fine thanks to the healing power of Jesus Christ!

Then on Sunday, Andy, Deby, and I drove back to Indiana where we spoke at a church concerning what God is doing through Stronghold Ministries. It was a great encouragement to hear about all of the people who are praying daily for this ministry. May God richly bless you all for your constant prayers and support!

God answers our prayers...

2009-02-25T14:28:00.000-08:00

Your prayers for us have been so powerful and effective! We have been praying about various ministry opportunities within the entertainment industry, and God has been revealing His will to us!

With regard to one of the films, the actor who was my connection to get on the set was suddenly let go just 3 days before rehearsals started! That's almost unheard of, but it was a clear sign that this movie was not where I was supposed to be. The Lord clearly let His will be known!

Another film had an unexpected development. I was talking with the director and he told me that the film planned to shoot in the fall and that he and the producer wanted me to be on location with them. But not only that, he also said that they want to put me into the budget of the film and pay me for ministering there!! Thank you Jesus!

And with regard to a music tour we were praying about, God clearly showed me and Holly (as well as some other people) that I was not to go. But not to worry, because there is now another tour that might be a possibility and I think would be a much better fit. Please keep praying!

I hope that these things really encourage everyone to keep praying. It's exciting to see God work on behalf of His kids!

Hollywood Pastors Unity Prayer...

2009-02-18T09:46:00.001-08:00

Every month for the past year and a half, I have gathered together pastors from around the Hollywood area for prayer. When we first started, I wasn't sure how people would receive it. Would they take time out of their busy schedules to come? I was pleasantly surprised at the feedback that came from those who did attend. But after a little more than a year of meeting together, I sensed we needed to take the next step in the unity process.

What would it look like for the Hollywood area if we went beyond just praying together to actually working together? What if when we prayed, we fervently asked for the Holy Spirit to raise up a powerful, unified army in Los Angeles that went beyond a single man or a single church? Over the past few months, we as the spiritual leaders in Hollywood have started down that path.

I would humbly ask you to pray that as we meet this Thursday at 12pm PST, that we would hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the church at large in Hollywood. May God be glorified as His Church finally begins to work as ONE...

Contacts...

2009-02-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

One of the more difficult things about when I first moved to Los Angeles was thinking that every person I met was a contact that was going to lead somewhere. And then, when nothing would happen with that particular person, I would be discouraged and wonder why God didn't do anything. But over the years (and hopefully through maturing in the Lord), I've learned that my job is not to worry about "contacts" as much as it is just being obedient in every relationship He presents. I try not to set expectations regarding any relationship - I just try to love and serve the person as the Lord teaches me.

Well, this past weekend I attended a seminar where I met some very interesting, passionate, and in one case, powerful people involved in the entertainment industry. My prayer is that God would teach me to be obedient in these relationships, leaving the rest up to Him.

God, please give Holly and I pure hearts in all that we do....

Speaking in Orlando, FL...

2009-02-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

I will be leaving tomorrow to speak at a men's Bible Study/luncheon in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday. My good friend Jeff has graciously invited me to come and encourage these men who really want to grow in the Lord. Please pray that God gives me His words to speak, and that the Holy Spirit moves the hearts of all of us there! Thanks!

Ironman report...

2009-01-29T09:50:00.000-08:00

What an unbelievable weekend at the Ironman Pro bodybuilding Competition! God brought a number of divine encounters across me and Fred's path throughout the weekend. One of the greatest moves of God came with an athlete that needed to be free of some things that had entangled them. They desperately needed the deliverance and freedom that can only come through falling before Jesus and accepting His amazing grace. And when this person did that, it was nothing short of a miracle the transformation that came over them!! All the weight was lifted off of their shoulders and the Holy Spirit came upon them! I will never forget the power of God in that moment...

This encounter began the process of 3 more people experiencing deliverance from sin over the next 4 days! Jesus is setting people free just as He promised He would (John 8:36)! Please continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to continue moving in people's hearts. We love and thank you all...

Ironman Bodybuilding Show in LA...

2009-01-23T11:28:00.000-08:00

Today through Sunday is the first professional men's bodybuilding show of the year, and the great thing is, I don't have to travel far...it's in Los Angeles! This is always an exciting time as many of us in the industry haven't seen one another since the Olympia last September. Please pray for me and ministry partner Fred Krause as we reconnect with the athletes and officials. Pray that God's Spirit goes before us and gives us favor with whomever we speak. What a great way to start the 2009 bodybuilding season!

Grandfather passes away...

2009-01-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

Early Wednesday morning, my grandpa Adam Liechty went to be with his maker. He was 90 years young, but had dealt with cancer over the past few years. Holly and I will be leaving for Indiana to attend his viewing and funeral. Your prayers are much appreciated...

Bible Study beginning again...

2009-01-12T11:34:00.000-08:00

Holly and I are beginning our home Bible Study again on Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm. After having a month and a half break for the holidays, we are ready to charge ahead in 2009. Please pray that God brings people to this study who need to hear His voice. We also pray for new people to come, and that our group can grow close like a family. Many individuals here in LA feel alone, and I believe that Christ's love can change their lives!

Thank you so much for your prayers for Stronghold Ministries in 2009. I feel like God has already begun to do so much...

Christmas and New Year's...

2009-01-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas is always my favorite time of year. But it is also a super busy time as well! I always think we're going to have tons of quiet time alone at home, but we end up running to many Christmas parties and spend time with many friends. But I love it!!

This year was special because we got to the privilege of having Holly's mother out for Christmas. Family is very important to us, and since we are both from Indiana but live in California, seeing family can be a rare experience. So we ended up taking my mother-in-law all around the city and showing her some of our favorite spots and friends. It was a good time had by all.

New Year's was spent recovering from the Christmas exhaustion - literally! Holly and I were both sick and are just now back at full strength. This is the first year since I can remember that I didn't see the New Year in! I think we went to bed at 10 pm...

Please pray for me as I preach at our church tomorrow night...thanks and God bless!

God Answers Prayer...

2008-12-19T09:31:00.000-08:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Your prayers have been so powerful over the last three days! We cannot thank you enough for remembering to lift our requests to God. Here are just a few of the answers that have already come to us (and we know more will be revealed in the coming days):

One of the film projects that you all were praying for might have the funding it needs to begin filming! I called the producer on Wednesday and he gave me the great news. What's even more exciting about this project is that it has the potential to reach many people around the world with the clear message of salvation through Jesus Christ! We will continue to pray that the money actually ends up in the bank!

God really revealed to us that HE will give us total and complete certainty concerning each of the ministry opportunities that have surfaced. This will certainty will come because HE will open the doors and place the ones He wants us to do in our laps. In Hollywood, things usually happen for those who rapidly pursue after opportunities, but God is asking us to simply trust Him. He will bring these things to us as we wait on Him. Praise God!

This may sound really simple, but our computer that had a virus on Monday is now miraculously fixed! I just prayed over it yesterday before I gave it "one more shot" at working, and it worked! A big thank-you to whoever else was praying that our computer would work...

Obedience will be the word for this coming year - simply being obedient to everyday do what God has asked us to do. If we accomplish this - seeking first God and His kingdom everyday - then everything else will be taken care of. We thank God for the PEACE that He has given to us in this fast. How comforting to know that the God of the Universe is battling and going before us to prepare a way!!

Again, we thank you all for your support in this vital time. God has and will continue to answer our prayers. And as He does, I will be sure to give you the report. May God bless you all richly for your kindness to us...

Michael and Holly

Day Three Prayer...

2008-12-18T05:54:00.000-08:00

Day Three: Yesterday was an exciting day as God revealed some specific things to us! Let's keep going! On this third and last day, please pray for these areas of ministry:

Bodybuilding - Many great strides have happened over the last year in the bodybuilding sector of our ministry. God has given us much favor, and thus, we need to know if He is asking us to attend more contests. We've seen salvations this year within the industry, so naturally, we want to keep pressing forward.

Church Involvement - We praise God for our church family here in LA! They have been invaluable to us, and we have grown so much by simply being faithful to plug in there. Pray that we follow God in being all that He's asked us to be within that body of believers.

Thursday Evening Bible Study - We are praying for direction with this Study that meets every week in our apartment. The response has been amazing over the last year and a half, but we are asking God to show us how we can improve it to better meet people's needs.

Finances - Over the past few months, Stronghold has been hit pretty hard due to the economy. And for all of the opportunities that possibly lie ahead in 2009, we are definitely going to need the help of individuals who feel led to give. Please ask the Lord if you are to partner with us in reaching the sports and entertainment industry for Jesus Christ. Truly, Stronghold Ministries has a unique approach that God continues to guide and bless. Will you join us?

Thanks so much for your faithful prayers! Tomorrow I will relay some of the answers to prayer God has given...

Day Two Prayer...

2008-12-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much for praying on day one for Holly and myself! I've received a number of emails/calls letting us know that you're praying for us. What an encouragement!

Day TWO: Please pray about some opportunities that have possibly opened up in the area of our entertainment ministry in 2009. We need God's guidance to know if these are avenues we should pursue or simply let go.

1 Music Tour - The person leading this tour is someone I've prayed for a number of years now. However, this may or may not be God's timing to minister to them. Pray for certainty in our decision.

4 Film sets - There could possibly be 4 movie sets that would be open for us to minister. Again, these are seemingly great opportunities, but we want to walk by faith - not by what seems to make sense.

It has been so exciting to see all the seeds that have been planted in people's lives on film sets over the past year! Individuals have expressed to me how their lives have changed due to God's presence through Stronghold Ministries. Pray that if it's God's will, more lives could be impacted on film sets and band tours in 2009! Thank you for your prayers and support...

Day One Prayer...

2008-12-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

Well, it's pretty obvious on our end that Satan doesn't want all of us to be fasting and praying these three days. Last night, our computer for no reason came up with a virus. But praise God, we are going to keep pressing through by the power of the Holy Spirit. The verse that God keeps showing me in this time is Revelation 3:7-8 = "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."

The common prayer for all 3 days and all our areas of prayer is that God would truly only let us go through the doors that He is opening, and not even let us go through the doors that He's closed - no matter how much we may desire to do the latter. Our lives are His, and we ask that only HIS WILL be done. And if something is His will, we know that all hell could not close a door that God has opened!

The first area of prayer is my relationship with Holly, and in turn, our relationship with God. This is where it all begins. We pray that what God has called us to do would only drive us closer together, not further apart. We pray that God would speak to us as one flesh - that He by His Spirit would speak the same things to both of us. We pray that we both would be able to live out the giftings God has given to us in perfect UNITY. We also pray that every day that goes by, we would love each other more and more with the love of Jesus Christ.

In terms of our relationship with God, we pray that our eyes would be opened every day to see more and more of who God is. And as He reveals this to us, we pray our hearts would overflow in love, praise, and thanksgiving to God for His indescribable blessings! We also pray that we would be disciplined to spend time in His word and prayer - not just out of mechanical routine, but out of a true desire to know Him more! We pray that we would see and hear God as clearly as we see and hear each other. And finally, we pray that the blessings God shows to us, we might in turn extend those blessings to others with hearts that long to give.

And with each of these next three days, please pray for protection from the enemy and his attacks in the name of Jesus! Thank you all for your prayers in these days...We're excited to see what God does!

A time for prayer...

2008-12-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

The last couple of weeks since returning from Thanksgiving have been a time of getting back to my regular discipleship meetings with individuals, as well as meeting with other Christians to discuss what needs to happen in the next year to follow where God is leading.

Now is an urgent time of prayer for Stronghold Ministries. There are a number of opportunities that have presented themselves for 2009, but we don't know which are God and which are not. These doors that God is potentially opening are literally doors that people around the world have been praying about for years! But God has shown us that this is a serious time, because Satan desires for us to go after what seems to make sense - and really those opportunities will lead to great harm. We greatly desire wisdom and spiritual sensitivity, and we know that God will give them to us (James 1:5).

Please consider joining us December 16-18 for a time of fasting and prayer for these decisions that need to be made. I will blog on those days for specific requests. Thank you for your prayers. We love you all...

Thanksgiving in Berne, IN...

2008-12-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was such a blessing because Holly and I got to spend it with our wonderful families in Indiana. And the amazing thing is that our parents only live 4 miles from one another!

In addition to family, many of you who support Stronghold Ministries live in the Berne, IN area, so we were priviledged to say "Hi" to some of you. We are truly thankful for all of the blessings in our life, and all of you who pray for and support us are some of our biggest blessings! Without you, our life and ministry in California would not be possible.

All praise, honor, and glory go to God for His indescribable goodness...

Photos from the Rough Hustle set...

2008-11-19T17:40:00.000-08:00

Just got back from Mesquite, NV and ministering on the film set of "Rough Hustle." Here's a few pictures to enjoy! God did amazing works in many of the people on the set. I praise Him for His faithfulness!

Tomorrow Holly and I leave for our hometown of Berne, IN to celebrate Thanksgiving & Christmas with both of our families.

Thanks for keeping Stronghold Ministries in your prayers...

Stronghold on location...

2008-11-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

Please pray for me as I minister in Mesquite, NV tomorrow (Nov 15) thru Wednesday. The "Rough Hustle" movie set will finish filming there. Pray for God to break some specific strongholds in people's lives as well as heal those who have been through alot emotionally lately. Thanks everyone!

Stronghold in FLEX magazine...

2008-11-11T05:57:00.000-08:00

Make sure you pick up the December 2008 edition of FLEX magazine. On page 204 you will read the mention of "Pastor Mike" praying with Phil Heath. And then on page 363, you will see a picture of me with the other FLEX Achievement Award winners. Praise God for his favor upon this ministry!

The above picture was taken at the Olympia Victory Gala where the industry awards were handed out. I received the "Steve Stone Memorial Award" given in memory of Steve, who passed away tragically just one day before this picture was taken.

Ministering on a film set...

2008-11-03T14:56:00.000-08:00

On Friday October 31st, I began working as a chaplain on the film set of a movie called "Rough Hustle." I will be on the movie shoot until November 20th. I am excited because God has already been working in a number of people on the set. It never ceases to amaze me how people in Hollywood want to talk about their faith, God, and the life of Jesus. Please pray that God uses me to show Christ's love and servanthood to those in need of it...Thanks!

Changes...

2008-10-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Yep, I'm trying something new! New is good, right?!

It is my desire to keep everyone more up to date with what is happening with Stronghold Ministries. God continues to move in mighty ways, and you guys need to know about it! News, pictures, testimonials, and events will be placed here for you to check out.

Exciting times are ahead for Stronghold Ministries, and I pray that you will partner along with us in the journey. We greatly desire your prayers and support! Your prayers can open up the doors of opportunity, bring God's blessing and protection, and also encourage us in our mission. This ministry is funded strictly by donations, so the more that is received, the more lives God can impact through Stronghold! Every donation you make is tax-deductible. Just click on the "Donate Now" icon on the blog side-bar and follow the instructions. Thanks!

To get more info on the ministry, please log-on to http://www.strongholdministries.com/

Check back here often and I hope to talk to ya' soon!