Don't Stop Believin'!

Last night I went downtown with some girlfriends and just prayed for our city. Most of you are aware that the downtown Clearwater area has been taken over by the Church of $cientology. It's driven away pretty much all the foot traffic and very few businesses thrive that aren't linked to the group. There's a spiritual heaviness to the area that is hard to describe.


You'd think that with this group being so visible, there would be a lot of churches downtown engaging in the spiritual warfare there. But there isn't. I've looked long and hard and even have been in contact with former members who lead an exit group in England. There is no one confronting this in Pinellas County.


That's not to say that there hasn't been in the past. People who have left the group or stood up to them have had their children stalked and threatened or have even been framed for crimes. It's scary what this group can do if they perceive you as a threat. That is intimidating and we've let it daunt us into throwing up our hands and deciding they are too big and too menacing so we just have to walk away. That's just how it is.


And then God started to whisper into hearts of some that it's not hopeless and that He would have all people come to know Him, $cienos included! Of course, initially there is fear and then a feeling of helplessness and then the remembrance that with Him all things are possible. So with love and compassion in our hearts, we take to the streets with the only weapon we have- prayer, petitioning our God to save and restore our city and to open the eyes of the deceived. I don't know beyond that... but I trust that it's a good place to start.


We started with a group of 10 and hope to double that when we walk again in April. If God has also given you a burden for Clearwater, please let me know and I'll make sure you get an email with future walk dates and details.





"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.



"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.



"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...." 

Ephesians 6:10-18

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is great Julia! Something definately needs to be done because they are taking over Clearwater and also moving into other cities too. They even run the Christmas event down there (We went to it last yr., we had no idea it was run by them until we got there) I had a guy approach me with a clipboard and just started talking to me about my son and I felt uncomfortable so I walked away and he followed me, it creeped me out. He was obviously trying to recruit me, but I didn't want to hear anything he had to say. We didn't end up staying very long needless to say.

Rebecca Walsh said...

Wow. I had no idea they were so scary - don't know anything about them, really. I'll pray for your town, too. It reminds me of Peretti's Darkness books, and how the demons wanted/planned/fought for towns.

(Ri)Charmed said...

It reminds me of those books too. I feel like if we could see the area in the spiritual realm, there would just be a huge black fog over this area.

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