Raised in the Fire
I learned to sleep on sawdust. My Father is Evangelist CS Upthegrove who has seen God do so much in and through his ministry. As the services would go well past the time for school children to go to bed, my mom would just pull out my packed pillow and a blanket and she would lay me down in the midst of shoutings and miracles. I was used to this, and it didn't stop me from sleeping. This was during the days of what we now call the ladder rain movement in the United States that my Father was apart of. This would not be considered among the usual childhood memories of most kids I suppose, but I remember vividly my father grabbing the goiter on woman's neck and jerking it until it completely disappeared out of his grasp. Another goiter jumped as he simply spoke to it rebuking it in the name of Jesus. Even I was enamored with these displays of Gods glory
and I guess they are always new. Even if you see them over and over.
and I guess they are always new. Even if you see them over and over.
Later when he began pastoring the acclaimed Bro. A A Allen's church in Miracle Valley, AZ I saw the demon possessed move in ways not humanly possible and get miraculously delivered by the Power of God. I saw cancers vomited in buckets, and the deaf regain their hearing after the laying on of hands and the prayer of faith. No, I was not brought up in what might be deemed a normal way, but thank God, as the saying goes, "Once you have lived in the fire, you are never content to live in the smoke."
Closer to the Flame
I was acquainted from a very young age with the God who was alive and moved in the earth today the same as He did in generations past, and as a result I grew up with a hunger to know more of Him. As I got closer to Him I began to know Him as Holy and all together righteous. I began to come to the point where just seeing God move was not enough for me, but I wanted to move deeper into His heart and feel some of what He felt- to rejoice over the things He rejoiced in and be grieved by the things that grieved Him. God gives us glimpses of Himself so we might hunger to know Him more, go deeper into the flame.
I have a conviction that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and He will not change. Not for any man or any system. The gospel was spread in the New Testament and so it must be now. I began missionary work to various countries around the world, visiting over 21 nations- To God be the Glory! And I saw His hand move mightily with the same miracles I saw under my daddy's ministry and that of Bro. A A Allen. The deaf hearing, the blind receiving their sight, demons cast out. God is no respecter of persons, it is our desire in this ministry to put a hunger in others to see and know God for themselves.
The Torch Must be Passed On
When The Lord brought me back to the states I began to pastor for what ended up being 17 years where God raised up co laborers as we taught them in intercession, prayer, evangelism, and ministry. During this time several teams would go with me in missions and evangelizing and we saw God move in so many ways. After a while God began stirring a hunger in my heart, but I wasn't sure what direction He was leading till He spoke to me clearly to move out more and more.
Taking a team with us, my husband and I have since seen God move in the life of young people as they are encouraged to press into God and to pursue a life that is pure before Him. Is it possible that God could raise up another generation that will seek His heart and be willing to abandon everything for His glory? This is our desire and we pray it's yours. May God get what He wants- ALL OF US, every bit of who we are surrendered to Him.