Rose... Those...

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Unity. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Out of Hiding

This song has been ministering deeply to me over the past few days... 

https://youtu.be/odh6lyy9Rxg

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis

True Witnesses

“Sanctification, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, made the disciples the incarnation of what they taught. God grant that we might be the same.”

— Oswald Chambers 

Lord, we can only be true witnesses, if/as Your Holy Presence wears us like a garment. Let it be so. -kww

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

A Driving Day — Spying the Land

Today, Saturday, Kim and Lucy rode in the Four Winds RV with me as usual, but in my mind it was a sacred driving day to begin to spy out the land of our Philadelphia District to see and to seek geographic locations where we do not yet have a Church of the Nazarene presence. I find myself this evening praying The Prayer of Jabez.

Here are some images I snapped along the route...

A mourning Dove reminded me that The Holy Spirit is present. 

Autumn colors on a summer day. 

Bicycle florist art

Abandoned building of yesteryear, yet no access today

A bird has made its nest in the Shady Maple Smorgasbord sign. 

Antique Dutch art, a 3-D wonder 

Enlarge my territory for Your glory, Lord. 


Last evening, raindrops on flower petals 

Last evening after sunset, Pennsylvania 

A collage from White Horse Mill Antiques 

An old sheep reminds me of some church folk I’ve know, still know. 😬

Shady spot for our Four Winds RV this evening

God’s Word is powerful and trustworthy. 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Lost Souls

Ever since I was a very young boy, I have known the burden of lost souls. From the moment my own young mother, Lady Melba, found Christ when I was just six-years-old, she has been concerned about those who do not yet know Him as Savior. And so have I. 

In fact, my mom became a true and fervent intercessor in prayer for those who are perishing spiritually. Her friendship with Jesus is largely based on the undeniable burden she shares with Jesus for those who are sinking in sin.

Last evening, Lady Melba, and I, talked on the phone about the plague of lostness in our world today. Though she was in North Carolina at the time and I in Pennsylvania, the concern we both shared for never-dying souls was one in the same.

I served as a local pastor for 24 years in the same wonderful community. The longevity of that glorious assignment allowed me to see penitent tears shed for sin and souls saved. Nevertheless, now that I am an overseer of 50+ churches on the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene, the burden is heavier than ever and my passion is more obvious than ever to see those who are lost finally found.

Please join me in prayer today and day-after-day, partnering with Jesus in sacred intercession for eternal souls that will spend eternity either with Christ or without Him. 

I am reminded of the words written in 2 Peter 3:9, “He is not willing that anyone should perish but that everyone should come to repentance.“ (Another way of understanding repentance is turning around, as in turning from ultimate destruction.)

Thank you for being a partner with me on this blog. Remember the theme of my page: “How Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.“ Yes, Romans 10:15. Let us share the good news tenderly — in both word and deed — with those who do not yet have the hope of eternal life.

My Mom, Lady Melba and me, about the time she was saved and became a burdened intercessor for lost souls. 

Praying angels always remind me of my Mom praying for lost souls. 

Mask art piece created by a rehab patient who went from death to life spiritually.

This was the scene last night from my end as my mom and I anguished over lost souls on our phone conversation.

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Morning Prayer

Precious Lord, this is my morning prayer:

Protect us from the evil one, let us be Your Light, causing us to be dangerous to darkness. 

As we are but pilgrims is this temporary world, give us eternal perspective, make us Your messengers of hope. 

Heal any and all rifts in our relationships, that unity and oneness in Your Spirit might be our reality. 

Cause us to remember You — Your Love, Your Sacrifice, Your Desires.

Help is to be friends to one another, friends that are more like family. 

Enable our hearts, our minds, our souls to be led intimately and intricately by Your abiding Presence. 

Enlarge contentment within us as we live moment-by-moment the plans you have for us, yes, Your plans that include a future and a hope. 

In the Name of Jesus. Amen and Amen. 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Ministry Along The Shore

Our ministry the past few days has been along the Shore of Southern New Jersey and God has been so very present and faithful. There’s a new day dawning for the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene and we are humbled to be able to experience it. 

Last evening I preached at the Erma Holiness Campmeeting. My message was mostly from Acts as I rang the bell as loud and long as I knew how to. Yes, I rang the bell calling for churches to be one in The Spirit, one in The Lord, that waiting lost souls might be reached. 

Here are some images of these past days and nights...

It’s all true. 

Awaiting the Master’s Touch. 

Before the service in the Tabernacle. 

Preaching in the Tabernacle. 

Unity is God’s plan to save souls. 

The fisherman’s family memorial, Cape May. 

Crabs for lunch with my old friend, Mike Sparks. 


Unanimous Unity.


A happy ending.

https://youtu.be/DXDGE_lRI0E (A New Day Dawning)

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Smile of God’s Favor

Nothing can be more wonderful or more humbling than when our lives find the smile of God’s favor. I have come to believe that when we resign from our own preferences for the desires of God’s heart, His undeniable favor finds us right at that sacred place of sweet surrender.

Of late, my prayer life seems to be deepening, changing, even finding a greater foundation. I can only attribute this reality to the fact that I have once again willingly laid down my own present and future wants and in so doing, I have discovered a new confidence that my life has truly been lost in His Life all over again. Perhaps it is akin to Charles Wesley’s words: I am “lost in wonder, love and praise.”

Once you realize you are living the agenda set for your life by The Almighty, when you pray, you pray for what He has already approved of. It’s an amazing journey and I hope I have explained it well enough to add wonder to your own sanctified imagination. 

Cape May, NJ, Lighthouse 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Pastors and The Message of Holiness

I had a delightful conversation this morning at campmeeting breakfast with a 91-year-old lady, a daughter of a pastor, who loves pastors and prays for them daily. 

She said, “1. So many people do not realize how very much pastors need prayer. 2. Life in ministry is not easy. And, 3. we need to pray that pastors will preach the message of Holiness.” 

I couldn’t agree more on all three of these perspectives:. 1. Prayer is needed. 2. Ministry can be hard. And, 3. The message of Holiness cannot be neglected.

Lord, make us hungry for Holiness. We have read in your Word that without Holiness, we will never see You. Show Your Power of Holiness in and through us. Speak The Beauty of Your Holiness through our lives and our lips. 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Happy Birthday in Heaven Daddy/Papa

https://youtu.be/biXZRUqskcs

Presence Matters Most

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Come, South Wind!

It’s a lovely summer morning in rural Pennsylvania. Summer breezes are blowing refreshingly through our Four Winds RV home. 

The invigorating breezes remind me of “the south wind” mentioned in the Song of Solomon. Sometimes God sends the north wind to convict us and to lead us to repentance, but others times He sends the south wind to comfort us, even to melt our hearts into gratitude and sacred joy. 

Let us acknowledge the warm southerly breezes of His great compassion. May the south wind give to us a new sense of His holy presence within our hearts and restore the joy of The Holy Spirit within our souls.

I pray that I would be overpowered, yes, even conquered, by the Amazing Love of my Lord. 

Here are some words and images below of our Tuesday, yesterday. 

Lansdale PA Immanuel Church of the Nazarene 

Beautiful table spread for our lunch at Lansdale. 

The menu.

The plate. 

Royersford PA Church of the Nazarene 

Chapel window colors in silhouette.

What architecture. 

Rev. BW Hambrick and Melanie Cook, my amazing district teammates. 

An afternoon rain shower. 

Lion of Judah painting in Pastor’s Office, Royersford Church.

Ephrata PA sunset.

My God’s colorful pastel clouds of mystery looked like a watercolor painting to me. 

 

Day’s end, Four Winds.

An Amazing Love song link for your inspiration: 

https://youtu.be/SbN_r_6aNq0

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Summer Freshness

One thing I love about summer is visiting a roadside farm stand. How exciting just to see all the summer freshness — the colors, shapes, smells, tastes.

One thing I love about God is the freshness of His mercy everyday. How encouraging to experience spiritual freshness — winter, spring, summer, fall.

Lamentations 3 holds the words of hope guaranteeing that our Lord comes to His people daily with fresh fulfillment — new mercies, new compassions — yes, newness every morning. 

I pray today you will know summer freshness. Yes, maybe some fresh fruit and vegetables from a roadside farm stand, but most especially, a new encounter with Holy God and new life from His moment-by-moment Presence. 

Jesus promised in Revelation: “I am making everything new again!” Yay, Jesus! 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis