This is Ramarcus...a remarkable young man I have been visiting (along with others) for over 2 years at a hospital in the Oklahoma City metro area...I became acquainted with him through his mother...She had sent me a message asking me if I could get Kevin Durant to visit her son for what she & doctors believed may be his last birthday...I remember reading her request and thinking, that is a big req...uest, and the only response I could give is, "I'll try my best..." So immediately I got on the phone & called the Oklahoma City Thunder GM, and explained what I was trying to do...The GM told me to fax Kevin the request & details & that he would read the fax, as he does every morning...24 hours later Kevin was there with Ramarcus to celebrate his 15th birthday! What a great guy! He gave Ramarcus shoes, his Jersey, and autographed memorabilia... & Kevin even gave his mother court side seats for a game (she offered one to me, but I declined as I didn't want it to appear I did it for any reward or profit)...I have not watched TV in over 13 years so I did not know that this story made national and even as I found out on the other side of the world in the south pacific island of Rarotonga, it made international news...and even though it happened over two years ago, they still remembered Kevin Durant's kindness in coming to see Ramarcus... So, just a few weeks ago as I was ministering in a island prison on the other side of the world, the 1st guy I saw was wearing a Oklahoma City Thunder jersey with Kevin Durant's name & number! So, of course I told them the story of how I asked Kevin Durant to come to a 15 year old teen boys potential last birthday, and how 24 hours later Kevin was there & gave the boy his jerseys, shoes, autographs, pictures together...& court side tickets for the mother & her son! A great guy, & a great christian...Through the meetings all the inmates came to Christ & many participated with the group interactive counseling...Also while staying on the island at a Backpackers Hostel, I met wonderful people from all over the world who remembered the story...I was even told by my best bud Rem, a kiwi, that the Oklahoma City Thunder is big in New Zealand because of a NZ player on the team...So they remembered the story very well... If you ever saw a cartoon called Family Circus, my daily life is like the little boy in that cartoon...as he is supposed to simply go from point A to point B, but manages to fit many detours into that journey...I call those detours, "God interruptions..." As He guides us it is a adventure...an adventure that leads from one person & adventure to another...a tapestry woven action by action...Who would have thought that, that one mamma's request for her son would have anything to do with a trip God told me ten years ago that I would be taking to Rarotonga...but it did...Amazing to ponder isn't it! God is good! Amen! Jesus is Lord! Rev. Bill Lowder Bill Lowder Ministries 918-955-4074 ...read more

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. --Psalms 127:3 (KJ) The young woman learned that she was pregnant. Her fiancée was upset as he knew that he was not the father; and so he wanted to break off the engagement. It was not what Mary and Joseph had planned for their lives. It was not the normal pattern of existence. But this unplanned pregnancy became the greatest single birth in the history of the world, the birth of the Redeemer of all mankind. In fact, it was not really so unplanned, was it? From the human perspective it was, yes, but from God's perspective it had been planned before the foundation of the world. It is a lie from Satan that every pregnancy needs to be planned by the parents in order to be good. God is the one who opens the womb, and every child, no matter the parents' circumstances, is a blessing and a heritage from the Lord. Let us remember that message at this time and rejoice. ...read more

The Lord Jesus Christ I believe in the deity of Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God.  I believe in His substitutionary death for all men, His resurrection, and His eventual return to judge the world. Salvation I believe all men are born with a sinful nature and that the work of the Cross was to redeem man from the power of sin.  I believe that this salvation is available to all who will receive it. The Holy Spirit I believe in the existence of the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity and in His interaction with man.  I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as manifested by the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit. The Sacred Scripture I believe in the scripture as the inspired Word of God and that it is the complete revelation of God's will for mankind.  I believe in the absolute authority of the scripture to govern the affairs of men. Stewardship I believe that every man is the steward of his life and resources which ultimately belong to God.  I believe that tithing is a measure of obedience to the scriptural principles of stewardship. The Church I believe in the Church as the eternal and universal Body of Christ consisting of all those who have accepted the work of the atonement. I believe in the need for a local assembly of believers for the purpose of evangelism and edification. Prayer and Praise I believe in the worship of the Lord through singing, clapping, and the lifting of hands. I believe in the authority of the believer to ask freely of the Lord for his needs. Body Ministry I believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Church body through the anointing of oil by the elders of the church. Evangelism I believe that evangelism is the obligation of every follower of Jesus Christ. The Lord commands us to go out and make disciples of all the earth. I believe that each person is first responsible to evangelism in their own family as the Holy Spirit leads them and gives them the ability. Water Baptism I believe in the ordinance of water baptism by immersion in obedience to the Word of God. All those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior should be baptized in water as a public profession of their faith in Christ and to experience what the Bible calls the "circumcision of the Spirit." Our Commitment to Israel I believe in the promise of Genesis 12:3 regarding the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. I believe that this is an eternal covenant between God and the seed of Abraham to which God is faithful. The Priesthood of the Believer I believe that every believer has a unique relationship to the Lord. As His children, every Christian has immediate access to the throne of Grace and the ability to manifest the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in ministry. ...read more