Winning The Lost ... Throw off religious frames of thought!

Remember...
           "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise  (Proverb 11:30)."

     In these last days before Christ Jesus returns, we must do everything necessary to make sure that our partnership with God is strong. Only then will we be able to be truly effective at winning the lost, with God, God's Way.

            In 1987, I had a contemporary band that I put together for ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ through original music and lyrics. The band members and I were invited to a church in Roanoke, Virginia to do a concert for the purpose of reaching out to the lost young people in their city. As the event date drew near, I specifically remember asking God to pack the auditorium with lost teenagers, hundreds of young guys and girls whose hearts and lives we could win for Christ during this upcoming evening. After all, the more people we draw in to a concert event, the more effectively successful the outreach ministry will prove to be. Everybody knows that, right??!!

            We believed that our motives were pure, but our goal to draw the biggest crowd had become a bit too high in our outreach priorities. That popular, misguided, religious frame of thought, "the bigger our crowds, the better our ministry" led us to become too focused on mainly drawing the crowds to our concert rather than preparing to meet the needs of individuals who came. I was unknowingly well-on-my-way to becoming desensitized to the increasing need of the folks coming to the outreach concert ministry. Was I doing a good thing? I surely was, without a doubt! Was I doing the "right" thing? Not nearly as much as I should have been!

            A few days before the concert, after I had been praying for only about 10 minutes, The Lord said something that would forever change my life, especially in the way I would conduct my band outreach ministry from then on. The Lord said to me, "Keith, do you know why I was so successful at reaching the masses during My earthly ministry?" I replied, "Why Lord?" He said, "Because My passion has always been for loving people on a personal one-on-one basis, first! If a crowd assembles to hear you share what I have placed on your heart for them, then that gathering should be held for no other reason than for those in attendance to receive My Word of direction, correction, encouragement, or affirmation. And we make sure to address their individual lives first, then address the group. Always remember, I never call an assembly for entertaining individuals. I will only call individuals to gather together for solemn assemblies."

            In this age when a church's success is largely based on the number of people that are in attendance, or the amount of money that is in its coffers, it is no wonder that much of the body of Christ in America is in the impotent state that it is, especially where winning the lost God's way is concerned. Jesus said, "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer (permit) ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence  (a false show)  make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte  (be converted)  , and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves  (Matthew 23:13-15)."

            I know that this may be a bit hard to swallow, but Christ Jesus could just as well be addressing the vast majority of church organizations in this country today, with that same message. God loves loving people. He hates when His people put anything ahead of loving Him and loving others. Before we can truly become effective at reaching people for the reasons God wants to reach them, we must understand that, contrary to popular belief, God is not at all impressed with our buildings, bank accounts, programs, or any other outward thing that secular society deems is an outward indication of inward spiritual maturity. In fact, secular society operates contrary to the ways of spiritual maturity. Therefore, with a lack of spiritual maturity in the lives of church leaders, the church's function will, in great part, sadly be operating in this all-too-popular religious frame of thought.

            Why have those religious mindsets and secular things become sought-after in churches, even more-so than the will of God for people? In short, it is because the church has allowed popular culture to affect the church more that the church has intentionally affected pop-culture. No matter what growth experts may tell you about buying facilities or adding programs, God's passion is for having an intimate relationship with each one of His individual people, individually. Not that I'm saying money and what it can buy is bad; I am saying that, when the pursuit of these things is hindering our ability to demonstrate God's Love for people, we have, as I like to say, "put the cart before the horse." We have to play a more effective role in winning the lost, as well as encouraging currently-active believers in the church. Millions of dollars are being squandered away on things, like the construction of facilities, the purchase of buses and other equipment, and developing exorbitant programs, that, for the most part, are never fully utilized for the purpose that they were acquired. It's just bad stewardship.

            In Matthew 6:33, Jesus gives us the starting place where it all must begin, "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God  (the Kingdom that IS God), and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

            As you hold on to that thought, Part II "Winning the Lost...We Can Only Give From What We've Got" is coming soon, then Part III, "Winning the Lost...Counting the Cost" after that too. We encourage you to ask the Person of The Holy Spirit to meet with you in the pages of God's written Word where He helps us develop our increasing WANT for oneness with others along with our become One IN God, IN Jesus Christ, and IN Him (The Person of The Holy Spirit). You see, for us to become truly effective at winning the lost in these last days, we must do everything necessary to make sure that our partnership with God is strong first. I once heard a very wise man say, "The best thing we can do to help the poor in this country is to not be one of them." The same thing applies where leading the lost in spiritual things is concerned. Make it your goal to befriend people who are outside of your own circle of friends, and share with them all that The wonderful Holy Spirit brings to light in all those times God has answered your prayers and walked and talked with you in your life. The results will bless both you and them, as your hearts become filled with gratitude that compels you to offer up thanksgiving to Him, for Him, and for everything He IS and does.

            We must always remember Revelation 12:11, "And they overcame him  (the devil)  by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." And, no matter what,  KEEP PRESSIN' IN!.

            Our sincerest hope is that you are encouraged as you take in this blog. We'd like to invite you to take advantage of even more messages of encouragement, for you and your friends and family members, specially available now in one of our most-requested Toward The Mark books entitled, "Letters From The Front." We want to personally invite you to get your copies today.

            Our book  LETTERS FROM THE FRONT is a special collection of 12 of our most-requested teaching titles:

Sin Makes Ya Stewpit	The Cart's Before The Horse;
The Crisis of Eroding Integrity	The Fruit's at the End of the Limb
Too Quick to Compromise	The Rarest of All Breeds
Please...Stop Stinkin'	3 Keys to God-Pleasing Faith
Let It Go!	Understanding the Fear of The Lord
Into The Secret Place	Give to Give!

This collection of twelve teachings, when taken to heart, will help you emerge triumphant over seemingly impossible situations... "LETTERS From The FRONT" available at TowardTheMark online. If you would like to request a special order of this resource or any product from Keith Shealy and Toward The Mark, or if you have questions about our work, resources, or giving tax-deductible donations, please click here to e-mail us.

Would you write and let us know how this message has fanned the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His Ways, and God's Plan for your life?  We welcome you to mail us a letter addressed to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.  If you would like to e-mail your letter to us, please click here to e-mail us.

May you be greatly blessed as God writes this message in your heart. We praise Him, with eternal gratitude, for our loving Toward The Mark Family without whose help and support this work would not be possible!

Your friends and servants in Christ,
         

    

To Show GOD BIG in a world that Sees Him small… 
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc. We are praying that our Father in Heaven is able to encourage and edify your heart and life by the written and recorded products of Toward The Mark, Inc.

We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!
What you have just read is the 1st blog of a 3-part blog message. This blogspot, along with each of our original podcasts, music and video recordings, books, magazines, and other resources in our ministry collection, is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Family of Sponsorship Partners. If you would like to become a part of the TTM Family, your monthly financial support of any amount will help toward fulfilling God's call on our lives to make Holy-Bible-based messages available to the churched and un-churched individuals alike. You are invited to partner with us in working with God to fulfill His desire for everybody to know Christ Jesus as He IS... The Way, The Truth, and The Life... personally. We will remain steadfast to "... press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14)." Would you consider helping us expand our outreach capabilities by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will help toward providing effective, practical outreach tools for ministering the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ.

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Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 

Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the vision and mission God has given to this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

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Gratitude IS Literally The Key!

Remember...
           In Matthew 6:33, Jesus gives us the starting place where it all must begin, "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God (the Kingdom that IS God), and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Remember...
           God gives us, in Psalm 100:4, the KEY to ONEness, saying, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name."Just before Jesus was arrested, here is John's account of what Jesus prayed.... just as we also pray:

           "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be ONE; as Thou, Father, art IN Me, and I IN Thee, that they also may be ONE IN Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gave Me I have given them; that they may be ONE, even as We are ONE: I IN them, and Thou IN Me, that they may be made perfect IN ONE; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My Glory, which Thou has given Me: for Thou loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy Name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be... IN them, and I IN them (John 17:20-26)."

     We cannot enter in-to ONEness with Jesus Christ, as He prayed in the garden just before He was arrested, without first having obtained a heart filled with GRATITUDE to God for who He is more than for what He can do for us. Gratitude is the KEY that unlocks His gates... that provides the way for those who WANT Him to begin their journey toward becoming One IN God, One IN Jesus Christ, and One IN The Person of The Holy Spirit

           We so enjoy watching the lives of truly grateful people. When you are with someone who is exceedingly grateful to God for Who He is, they will also be grateful for those around them. They will have and display a remarkable level of uncommon respect for others. They are quick to speak life. They are selfless and are always looking for ways to help others in any and every way they can. They look to see others through God's eyes, being ready and willing to help others to recognize and call out the gifts that God has placed in them. They fan the flame in the heart of others to complete the work God has wired them to full-fill. And, lastly, people who know and love God wholeheartedly are truly grateful to Him for Who He is and can't help but tell everyone about Him. Everyone can see how they live life being more keenly aware of the times we are living in, willing to do whatever they are called to do for lifting up our Heavenly Father to be glorified in the eyes of as many people as possible. And the work they do and life they live comes from their passion for God, not their need for approval.

           We encourage you to ask the Person of The Holy Spirit to meet with you in the pages of God's written Word. There is where, if we will ask Him, and wait on Him, He will bring to light all of those times when He has answered our prayers along the way, in turn, making it possible for us to recall and reflect on all of the wonder-full things He has done for us throughout our lives. In turn, our hearts will become filled with gratitude that compels us to offer up thanksgiving to Him, for Him and for everything He IS and everything He does. Satan knows full well that, if he can deceive us into critically condemning others with our words, then he can steal our joy that comes with being IN ONEness with our Father, with Jesus Christ, and with the Person of The Holy Spirit in your life.

           "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be ye thankful." Colossians 3:15

           Our sincerest hope is that you have found some encouragement in this blog. We want you to know that there is even more notes to encourage you, and your friends and family members, in our most-requested book of Toward The Mark, "Letters From The Front." We want to personally invite you to get a copy for yourself, just click here to e-mail us.

           The rarest and most fun people in the world have a heart that is filled with gratitude to God for WHO HE IS more than for what He can do for them! You are invited to join us in always remembering to, no matter what, KEEP PRESSIN' IN!

           Consider using our  LETTERS FROM THE FRONT book, a special collection of 12 of our most-requested teaching titles:

Sin Makes Ya Stewpit	The Cart's Before The Horse;
The Crisis of Eroding Integrity	The Fruit's at the End of the Limb
Too Quick to Compromise	The Rarest of All Breeds
Please...Stop Stinkin'	3 Keys to God-Pleasing Faith
Let It Go!	Understanding the Fear of The Lord
Into The Secret Place	Give to Give!

    This collection of twelve teachings, when taken to heart, will help you emerge triumphant over seemingly impossible situations...
"LETTERS From The FRONT" available by request, please click here to e-mail us.

Would you write and let us know how this message has fanned the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His Ways, and for God's Plan for your life? If you would like to request a special order of our book "LETTERS From The FRONT" or any product from Keith Shealy and Toward The Mark, or if you have questions about our work, resources, or giving tax-deductible donations, please click here to e-mail us. We welcome you to also feel free to write us a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

May you be greatly blessed as God writes this message in your heart. We praise Him, with eternal gratitude, for our loving Toward The Mark Family without whose help and support this work would not be possible!

Your friends and servants in Christ,
         

    

To Show GOD BIG in a world that Sees Him small… 
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc. We are praying for you to be encouraged and edified by our written and recorded product accounts from The Gospel that Jesus Christ preached in our written and recorded products.

We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!
The blog message you have just read, along with each of our original podcast, music, and video recordings, CDs, books, magazines, and other resources in our ministry collection is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Family. If you would like to become a part of the TTM Family, your monthly financial support of any amount will help fulfilling God's call on our lives to make Holy-Bible-based messages available to the churched and un-churched alike. You are invited to partner with us in working with God to fulfill His desire for everybody to know Christ Jesus, The Way, The Truth, and The Life...personally. We "... press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14) Would you consider helping us expand our outreach capabilities by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will go toward helping to provide effective, practical outreach tools for ministering the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ.

CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible contribution securely by PayPal.

Every gift is appreciated and helps.

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 

Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the vision and mission God has given to this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

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 see and hear, follow and share, more from Toward The Mark, Inc.:

~  Keith and Brenda "Between The Lines" Podcast on TTM's Libsyn Channel

...BORN TO TRIUMPH!

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~ "Sharing with you the Secrets God Whispers to us" teachings on our website 

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Wisdom Not Just For Wednesday

Where do YOU run, when trials of life come?

As you can see is the basis of many of our posts and podcasts, no matter what trials we are up against, we are NOT gonna let the little devil distract us from the HUGE and LIVING GOD, Who can resolve whatever we go through and even redeem it to our advantage. But, we had to first learn that we must run to Him when those trials of life come.

Our rejecting the lies of the devil and running INto God enables God to do miracles in our lives that are tremendous!  “For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. ” (Psalm 31:13-16)

One of the greatest truths we have learned through our pursuit of walking in oneness with God is, as God's written Word says it best, “Blessed is the man that trusts in The Lord, and whose hope The Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

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..."HE RAN TO GOD WHEN ALL WAS LOST"

We can turn the tide of destruction in the lives of those around us who are listening!  We need to truly understand this!  We must choose to NEVER quit or give up, and decide that the devil can NEVER win in our life's painful and devastating trials, believing the TRUTH is God's Word that is our go-to that ALWAYS trumps the devil's lies! “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Selah!

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Keep PRESSIN' IN!

Your friends and co-laborers in Christ,

    

HEAR this message ... 

 

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Milestone Celebration -- 35 Yrs Ago Today!

Proverbs 20:6, "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?"

It was 35 years ago TODAY!  Celebrating a personal milestone of faith and the life-changing legacy of model leaders in the spirit.  We hope our blog today will help restore and grow your faith in those who are not just saying they love God and people, but are making it easy to clearly see by looking at the fruit their life bears.  As you read, you will witness a demonstration of the most incredible moments on this earth - when two people live their lives to give to and serve God and others... completely and unselfishly!  Knowing how crucial it is to have strong spiritual leaders who stand up as role models, who faithfully help lead us out of our old flesh nature, and who help guide us into the loving arms of God and fulfillment of His purpose for us in His Kingdom, Paul teaches, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
Yours in Christ, Keith (and Brenda)

The term  "One-in-a-Million" best describes the profoundly anointed lives and ministry of Pastors Clay and Dee Davis, true Heroes of the Faith.  In an age where we are seeing an ever-increasing shift away from God's biblical example for the Pastoral ministry, it is beyond refreshing to know these wonderfully successful shepherds of God's flock.  With nearly thirty-eight years in the ministry, since 1977, they have effectively reached thousands of people with the  love of Christ.  Their compassion and selfless sacrifices toward everyone that God has placed in their path has literally been second to none.  I know this to be true; I am one of those people.

In 1979, I was just wrapping up a two-year road tour with the first British Christian rock group to come to America, The Alwyn Wall Band.  As we would travel from city to city, I had the privilege of meeting and working with many pastors and their ministry teams.  As our tour was drawing to a close, I found myself desiring more of a relationship with a solid, steady Church family.  I had visited the Davis's church on the coast of North Carolina just a year or so earlier, and I could tell from the beginning of, and all throughout, my visit that there was something different about them.  They genuinely loved people in a way that I had only witnessed a few times before.  When I stood with them, I felt like I was "at home".

As the result of my working with so many pastors over my years of touring, mixed with my hunger to grow in my knowledge of God's written Word, I began to develop the ability to recognize whether a pastor is truly called of God to be a shepherd over His flock, or not.  In my experience, I have found that, of the countless thousands of those who occupy the role of pastor over a congregation, there are a rare few who have God's heart for His people AND who truly share God's passion to see those in his care raised up to fulfill, with God, the plan and purpose God created in them before the foundation of the earth.  From the very moment when I was privileged to meet this anointed couple, The Holy Spirit revealed that I was indeed in the presence of a pastoral team who was truly ordained and anointed by God to care for His Children.  I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that they truly love God and His people with a tremendous passion!

Just today, as I was reflecting on the new year of 2015 coming tomorrow, it donned on me that, on this New Year's Eve 35 years ago, December 31st, 1979, I stood at a very important crossroads in my life and ministry.  Just weeks prior to this memorable occasion, I received two unique and incredible invitations, simultaneously, offering me opportunities to go out on another Christian rock music tour.  The first offer I received was from Dana Key of the group "DeGarmo and Key", and the other was from Jerry Chamberlain of the group "Daniel Amos".  Both bands were very successful and well-known as contemporary Christian rock groups.  Wow!  I was overjoyed to get just one great offer, but now I had to decide between two great offers, both from really outstanding bands!  What do I do?  

The real dilemma can be summed up with this one question, "Do I take the well-travelled road I was familiar with, and go back out on tour where I know I'm comfortable and enjoy ongoing accolades that come with the rock-and-roll band lifestyle; or do I take a huge leap of faith and believe God to fill my desire to homestead with the NC Church Family?  This time of year for a fresh move to the coast of NC couldn't have been worse for finding, both, a place to live and a 9-to-5 job!  Being the middle of the winter, the coast of NC would be all-but boarded-up until it came summer-time again, bringing resort-goers from local areas and out-of-town.  Truth is, I knew in my heart the way I needed to go - to put down my roots in a good Church family and prepare for an even more fruitful ministry in the coming years.  So, from my hotel room in Charlotte, NC, I called Pastor Clay to ask if he would pray with me concerning this decision I had to make.  He greeted the opportunity with open arms.  I shared with him how I had learned, first-hand, that, without the individual people in the local church bodies becoming engaged in raising up and nurturing newly-committed believers, like those we led to the Lord through our concerts, there was a terrible disservice being done in the lives of those new believers.  Once I finished pouring out my sorrow and concern for the new recruits too often being left to fend for themselves after we led them to Christ, and once I shared with him my new-found options for my next season of ministry, Pastor Clay paused briefly.  Then, with all the love of a gentle Papa, he said, "Brother Keith, come on home!"

At that, I packed up my things, gassed up the car, and drove seven hours to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where Pastors Clay and Dee Davis led a vibrant and steadily growing congregation.  It wouldn't be long until I would discover how the conversation we had that New Year's Eve was going to profoundly change my life and ministry forever!

I didn't waste any time learning all about the spirit-filled Davis couple!  I have to say that their journey in the past, and the journey of each day in our new ministry together, was incredible and curious as only God could work out, being our Source and Supply!

The majority of the Davis's ministry has been in the eastern part of the country.  However, they actually both got their start growing up in the west.  Clay Davis was born in Livingston, Montana and was raised working on his family's ranch.  Dee Oslund was born in Spokane, WA and worked with Civil Defense throughout her high school years.  Clay joined the U. S. Air Force in 1951, taking technical training courses on Aircraft Engine Maintenance at the University of Southern California.  After being on a ground crew for maintaining B-29's in Denver, he transferred to Chanute AFB, IL where he trained airmen on B-29 and B-50 propeller engines.  Further into his 10 years of active duty service, he became a technical school instructor teaching airmen how to maintain jet engines on B-36s and B-52s.

During his active duty tours of service, Clay attended The University of Southern California, University of Illinois, San Jose State College, Wake Forest University and the USAF College Institute.

Airman Clay Davis met Miss Dee Oslund in Spokane, WA in 1953.  He was vacationing at the same area lake resort where she was with her family on vacation at the same time.  This is where it really gets  good!  The way they met is definitely one of the most unique hookups that I've ever heard of!  While Airman Davis was enjoying a swim with his buddies one day, he began to get cramps and lost control of his limbs.  He began to drown.  At the time that this was happening, Dee was sun-bathing on the dock and noticed that Clay went under the water, but did not come back up.  Realizing he was potentially about to drown, she ran to a nearby boat, jumped on board, and quickly made her way out to save him.  She dove into the water after him, searched under water until she found him by grabbing his hair, and pulled him up and out to safety.  She literally saved his life that day.  What a catch!  Little did they know that the events of that day were not only a divine appointment, but also marked the beginning of a long and wonderful relationship.  They were married in September 1954 and haven't looked back since.

In 1961, Clay left the USAF to go to work for IBM in Atlanta, GA.  There he would come to be promoted to Field Manager for the Norfolk, VA office.  Though the IBM office was in Norfolk, Clay and Dee chose to live in Virginia Beach, only a few miles from the Rock Church of Virginia Beach.

While still working a full-time job with IBM, Clay became increasingly involved in the ministry at the Rock Church.  At first, Clay was primarily responsible to oversee the construction program for the church's new state-of-the-art facility being built in the early '70s.  In 1977, after the obvious leading of the Holy Spirit, Clay resigned his position with IBM so he could go to work at the church on a full-time basis as their Business Manager.  Sister Dee soon resigned from her position where she had been working with Virginia National Bank, so she could begin to manage the church's new bookstore.  She soon found herself involved with speaking prophetically into the lives of the store's patrons.  She soon became "Momma" to everyone in the church building.

Recognizing God's obvious touch on both of their lives, their pastor, Bishop John Gimenez, approached them about becoming the pastors of the first satellite Rock Church.

Toward the end of 1977, they moved to Colington, NC where they would accomplish an amazing number of  feats in just four years of serving there.  They started an accredited Bible Institute, a Christian Academy (K-4 through 12th grade), a wonderfully successful clothing and food distribution ministry, built a beautiful new worship center complete with offices and classrooms, built a parsonage, and the list goes on.  Besides their accomplishing all of those things, they did them without ever going into debt.

As great as these accomplishments were, they can't even begin to be compared to the hundreds of lives that God was able to profoundly save and raise up through their ministry.  Sister Dee, while deeply involved with every aspect of their work, somehow found the time to counsel folks on a regular basis, head up the hospitality ministry, serve as the church's secretary, be a model wife, and be a model mother to four very active children.

One Sunday morning after service, I remember the first big miracle that I had ever witnessed taking place in their home.  As was a custom of Sister Dee's, she invited a large number of people from church to come to their home for lunch after Sunday service.  This one particular afternoon, as we arrived at their home, I made my way into the kitchen to offer my help.  Without hesitating, Sister Dee handed me a bowl of vegetables and ask if I would help set the table.  As I looked at the food that she had prepared, I glanced in the dining room at the number of people there that she had invited, and I couldn't help but notice the fact that we were going to have a five loaves and two fishes situation on our hands.  As Sister Dee began serving what was obviously not enough food to feed everyone, I began to notice something remarkable.  The amount of food seemed to mysteriously multiply!  By the time we left that afternoon, not only did every one of us wind up with plenty of food on our plates and have a full tummy, but we noticed that there was, somehow, plenty of food left over as well!  Everyone not only left the Davis home that day with their fill, but was thoroughly amazed at what they saw God do through these precious saints.  The more that I have had the privilege of walking with them as the wonderful, remarkable servants they are, the more obvious it has become that these kinds of things are pretty-much common-place in their lives.

From 1982 to 1985, Pastors Clay and Dee founded Proclaim Christian Center and Haven Home for Girls in Winston-Salem, NC.  While in Winston Salem, Pastor Clay served on the Governor's Task Force to rewrite the maternity laws for NC.

The home for unwed pregnant girls went on to do great things in the lives of many young women!  Under their loving supervision, at last count, 55 beautiful babies were brought into the world through their Haven Home for Girls.

Their endless sacrifice and ministry in Winston-Salem have shaped the lives of many young men and women who serve in both part-time and full-time ministry today.  Through their lives, they produced a Godly heritage that continue to reach many people for Christ.  Pastor Clay would go on to enact vital guidelines for "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" in both NC and VA.  Those guidelines have vastly improved the way those facilities operate.  What a bountiful harvest!

In the spring of 1985, Pastor Clay and Sister Dee were asked by Pastors Arlie and Jerri Whitlow to come and join them, as co-pastors, in their new church plant in Sterling, Virginia.  Pastor Clay and Dee then turned the Winston-Salem work over to Pastors Phil & Kathy Dowdy, moved to Sterling, rolled up their sleeves, and went right to work.  Their dedication and expertise played a key role in the church's reaching, and even exceeding, its goals in much less time that ever expected.  Once again, God flowed through them to impact countless lives.  From those tremendously effective years in Sterling, right through to the present times, these humble servants continually touch many others.  Despite both of their recently mounding physical challenges, Pastor Clay and Sister Dee never cease to gird themselves with the towel of loving service, and carry out assistance to whomever God brings their way.

Pastors Clay & Dee Davis now reside in the northern VA area where they are close to two of their four children.  Although they are retired from full-time pastoral ministry, they continue to regularly have the opportunity to mentor young pastors and other church leaders.

Would that the Church of Jesus Christ have more pastors like Clay & Dee Davis!  Over the past 35 years, these precious servants of God have richly bless my life in a most profound, wonderful way!

With the close of 2014 upon us, would you prayerfully consider including Toward The Mark in your end-of-year giving? Your gifts are tax-deductible, and every gift helps.  Best of all, when you partner with us by regular monthly contributions, you help encourage the 6,220+ people who take part in this ministry's resources every month (on average).  You certainly encourage us by sharing the vision and passion of TTM - to make known the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Gospel that Jesus Christ preached. Thank you in advance for your ongoing or new sponsorship and support!

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For more Scripture-based truths to help as you Press Toward "one-ness" with The Heavenly Father, check what else we have available:

~"Toward The Mark's Wisdom-Packed Wednesdays" Facebook page;
~Keith's "Between The Lines" Podcast channel;
~"Sharing with you the Secrets God Whispers" monthly web messages; and
~"TTMSingingSgt" on Twitter.