Are You Comfortable With God?

Dear Friends,

For much of my life, I thought I understood how much God loved me. My relationship with God was comfortable and safe. I called on Him when I needed something, He didn’t put too many demands on me and I did those things I felt were required to stay on His good side. My relationship with God had become as comfortable as the place that many of our relationships end up when we take each other for granted and fall into our comfortable and familiar patterns of behavior. Somewhere along the way the passion and fire of our “first love” is reduced to a pile of barely smoldering embers. We are lulled into such a place of comfort that we don’t even realize what has happened. As I continue in my walk with the Lord I’ve come to understand why it is so significant not to get too comfortable.

For instance, it was life-changing for me to discover what it means to live by grace and not performance. I knew and understood that He loved me because I was doing things for Him. But I did not understand that He also loved me when I was not doing anything for Him. When I was hiding my sin, running from Him, and playing the impostor. I had it all together on the outside but was a mess on the inside. To simply come to the place of living in His grace, (defined as a state of being protected by God), helped me to see that there was much more about Him that I did not know. I heard Jack Taylor say, “If you claim to know what you don’t know, you will never know what you do know.”

If you had asked me, do you know God? I would have answered, “Of course, I know God. I’ve been a believer since I was twelve years old!” As I later discovered I was claiming something I really didn’t know and it was keeping me from fully knowing how little of God I did know. If I had stayed in that place of comfort claiming that I did know God, I would never have come to the place of wanting to know Him more. When I understood how infinite His love for me is I began to grasp the verses in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s incredible!

You might ask, how did this happen, that you came to a place that you wanted to know God better? It came when I made a conscious decision to spend more time in His presence. Brennan Manning wrote in his book, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, “The longer you spend in the presence of Jesus the more accustomed you grow to His face, the less adulation you will need because you will have discovered for yourself that He is enough. And in the Presence, you will delight in the discovery of what it means to live by grace and not by performance.”

What incredible freedom this brought to me. Not only did my life not need to revolve around the acceptance and approval of others, but also if my Father God was pleased with me, everything else was of little consequence. At first reading this statement may sound a bit arrogant but think about this. If I am living a life that is pleasing to Him, I will be living out His love for others and treating them with the same love and grace that is being extended to me by God.

If you were to ask me today, do you know God? I would say, “Yes and no.” Yes, I know Him as much as I can at this point in my life, but no I do not know Him as well as I will a year from now. My quest is now to know what I don’t know which will help me to better understand what I do know. My question for you is, do you know how much God loves you, how valued you are? Do you understand that He wants to have a passionate, fully alive relationship with you, much like that fire that burns in you when you first fall totally in love with someone? Or are you comfortable where you are?

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT MY NEW BOOK!

Riding Shotgun With God, Evans, FrontRIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD: A JOURNEY WITH GOD ON THE ROAD OF HEALING AND MIRACLES

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

For some time now people have been encouraging me to share stories of my nearly 30-year journey in the Christian healing ministry. This book is a collection of the miraculous things I’ve seen God do. My daughter thought I should also share a bit of my life story so that you can see that I’m a normal person who was ambushed by God and did not see this journey coming.

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK, Riding Shotgun With God

Thank you for your generous and faithful support of our worldwide ministry.

God bless,

Mike

BOOK AN IN-PERSON MINISTRY SESSION
We have found these ministry sessions with people to be invaluable in healing them from wounds from their past. In some cases after two or three sessions, they experience freedom! If you need deep-level healing prayer or know someone who could benefit from this, here is how to start the process. Send an email to mevans@wholeness.org or call 661-833-2920 to schedule an appointment. On our website, simply follow the instructions under Personal Ministry.

One Step Closer To Heaven!!

Mike-P1020072-200Dear Friends,

“Every day I live means one less day remaining in my lifespan on earth. But because I belong to Jesus, at the end of each day, I’m mindful of being one step closer to heaven.”

I read this quote in “Jesus Listens” by Sarah Young. I started thinking about my journey here and that at 80 years of age how much time is left before I step into heaven.

I also thought about what I have done thus far and how best to utilize what remains of my days here. We often hear of friends retiring and/or at least slowing down their hectic schedules. My personal feeling is that when one is called by God into a life dedicated to full-time ministry, somehow retiring doesn’t seem to be in the picture. I can see myself slowing down a bit but not retiring completely.

I think back to a couple of my mentors that God placed in my life when I moved from the world of business into full-time ministry. The first of these, Dr. John Allen Lavender was both a dear friend and a spiritual Father. I observed that when he retired from full-time ministry at our local church he nevertheless continued to be available to God in whatever ways God wanted to use him. In fact, in some ways, he was just as active in pursuing ministry through a series he developed to facilitate evangelism in the local church and in our everyday lives.

My second mentor, Dr. Francis MacNutt was also a dear friend and spiritual father. He continued to work tirelessly in the organization Christian Healing Ministries that he and his wife Judith established in Jacksonville, Florida. He left this earth in January of 2020 and stepped into heaven. Even though he was 95 years old and was slowing down it did not diminish his enthusiasm and fervor to spread the healing message of God whenever and wherever he could.

All of us that are believers in Jesus are called to proclaim and demonstrate the Good News of God’s transforming, healing power. Whether you are in full-time ministry or not you are to be an example to those around you of this transforming power of God working daily through you. Admittedly it is not always easy to do and in fact, can be quite challenging. The only way I know to do this is to daily spend time with Him who continually reminds us that whatever comes our way, both the good and the bad, He will use it to mold us into the man or woman of God that He destined us to be.

Remember To Check Out My New Book!

Riding Shotgun With God, Evans, FrontRIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD: A JOURNEY WITH GOD ON THE ROAD OF HEALING AND MIRACLES

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

For some time now people have been encouraging me to share stories of my nearly 30-year journey in the Christian healing ministry. This book is a collection of the miraculous things I’ve seen God do. My daughter thought I should also share a bit of my life story so that you can see that I’m a normal person who was ambushed by God and did not see this journey coming.

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK, Riding Shotgun With God

Thank you for your generous and faithful support of our worldwide ministry.

God bless,

Mike

BOOK AN IN-PERSON MINISTRY SESSION
We have found these ministry sessions with people to be invaluable in healing them from wounds from their past. In some cases after two or three sessions, they experience freedom! If you need deep-level healing prayer or know someone who could benefit from this, here is how to start the process. Send an email to mevans@wholeness.org or call 661-833-2920 to schedule an appointment. On our website, simply follow the instructions under Personal Ministry.

You Came through with $4,000 for Ukraine!

Dear Friends,

Last month I reported on what we could do to help Adam Balogh deal with the crisis that is happening in Ukraine. You came through with gifts totaling $4,000! That has all been sent to Adam who is using every penny towards aid for the refugees. Here are some excerpts from his recent letter:

“We have been making trips to western Ukraine to deliver aid and assess the situation. Refugees from the east are constantly pouring into western Ukraine. The towns and villages of western Ukraine are doubled in population – virtually all public buildings are full of refugees and most resident families are taking another family in their home. You can still buy food and everything else but people are running out of money. Lots of jobs are gone and generally men are away – either in war or went abroad. So home supplies are running out.

“Our last trip was a week ago on Thursday which was a long and very fruitful trip. We started at 4 am Thursday morning and got back at 4 am Friday morning. We took a vanload of aid that consisted of sustainable food, canned food, potatoes, hygiene products for ladies and children, diapers, immune boosters, vitamins, matresses, blankets and some medicine.

“In terms of humanitarian aid we want to see the items delivered actually reach the needy. Many times in the Ukraine humanitarian aid gets swallowed by the officials and never reaches the intended hands – which complicates the otherwise difficult situation. So we have been working to establish trustworthy contacts through whom we can reach the refugees.

“There are three areas we are working in right now:

1. There is a reformed pastor we have known for a few years that ministers in the towns and villages around Beregovo. We’ve been taking supplies to him to give directly to the people.

2. In Uzhgorod there are many refugees from evangelical and charismatic churches that came from the east. We made contact with a military chaplain that is one of them and works extensively among the refugees. He and his team not only bring essential supplies to the families but preach the gospel to them as well. We are working on a way to bring aid to him regularly.

3. We are working with a team from Beregovo that takes aid to places like Irpin and Bucha that have been under Russian occupation. Two members of this team are working out of Poltava. There is a church there that is evacuating people from the war zone. They have vans that drive daily to the front lines (about 5-6 hour drive) and bring in 50-70 people. The refugees stay in their church building for a night and then put on trains heading to western Ukraine. It is a dangerous and heartbreaking operation. The stories they told us are too difficult to handle. Just one instance of the many – the children that are being evacuated don’t cry… they are totally frozen – no cry, no laugh, no talk. Very sad.

We are working on ways to help this operation. A vanload of supply has already been delivered to Poltava. We are establishing a way to bring refugees from Poltava to Hungary. So this is where we are right now. Please keep on praying for us.”

It’s Finally Here – My New Book!

Riding Shotgun With God, Evans, FrontRIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD: A JOURNEY WITH GOD ON THE ROAD OF HEALING AND MIRACLES

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

For some time now people have been encouraging me to share stories of my nearly 30-year journey in the Christian healing ministry. This book is a collection of the miraculous things I’ve seen God do. My daughter thought I should also share a bit of my life story so that you can see that I’m a normal person who was ambushed by God and did not see this journey coming.

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK, Riding Shotgun With God

Thank you for your generous and faithful support of our worldwide ministry.

God bless,

Mike

BOOK AN IN-PERSON MINISTRY SESSION
We have found these ministry sessions with people to be invaluable in healing them from wounds from their past. In some cases after two or three sessions, they experience freedom! If you need deep-level healing prayer or know someone who could benefit from this, here is how to start the process. Send an email to mevans@wholeness.org or call 661-833-2920 to schedule an appointment. On our website, simply follow the instructions under Personal Ministry.

Adam Balogh is getting slammed in Hungary!

Mike-P1020072-200Dear Friends,

As many of you know, Adam Balogh is a missionary in Hungary we have been helping to support many years. I sent an email to him asking if the war in Ukraine or the refugees from Ukraine have affected what he is doing in Hungary. He replied with a long letter that I will summarize below.

“On the third day of the war waking up from the initial shock of what was happening we scrambled to help the refugees. We went to the border with a big bus and brought back 45 refugees (31 of them were small children) the rest were young mothers (3 of them pregnant). The following days the numbers grew quickly to 80 and then 109. Later one of the pregnant ladies gave birth so we became 110. They were initially put in university dormitories in three locations in Budapest but they could only stay there for a few days. So we had a constant pressure of finding accommodations for them in addition to taking care of their food and medical needs. Those initial days were pretty hectic as the refugees kept coming in. They’ve been having multiple immediate challenges in addition to the inconveniences of many of them living together in one room, children crying, no sleep: wifes do not know what is happening with their husbands, they left behind everything they had and sure it will be looted, etc.

“Arranging lodging for the refugees has been the most challenging task but we were able to handle it so far. We would be moving them to different locations in Budapest (families offered to take them in their own house or we put them into other kinds of lodgings). In addition to feeding them and taking care of their medicine and medical needs we have been ministering to them spiritually – sharing the gospel with them, counseling them and praying for them. So it has been a very demanding time and I feel a bit weary now….

“On Tuesday this week we went to Ukraine to see the situation there and how we can help. The situation is much worse there than in Budapest. There are so many refugees in western Ukraine that the population of cities and villages doubled. So we are creating ways to bring food and other necessities across the border.

“We are partnering with a charity organization called Eastern European Missions. I’ve known them for decades and they are most trustworthy. We have also made good contacts with pastors and ministers in Ukraine. We will provide aid through them to the people. The situation is very dire in western Ukraine. Many people have lost their jobs, many men were taken to war, money is running out and they are starting to see lack in every area. They are running out of resources and on the top of that refugees keep coming from the east. So there are lots to do in terms of charity work. We visited a hospital in Beregovo and discussed with the staff what they needed. We are trying to organize huge amounts of bed sheets, a used ambulance car, and a van load of insulin to take to Kiev…. While we were talking with the hospital director the air raid sirens went off. I thought that was just a drill… but it turned out to be real so we went down to the basement with all the patients and staff of the hospital. Fortunately the rocket targeted something else…

“So as you can see our otherwise busy schedule has become almost unbearable. We are OK and hanging onto the Lord dearly. He has been with us and provided the necessary wisdom, strength, time and resources. We think the Lord is preparing something more than we can see and this war with all it brings is just the dress rehearsal.

Please keep praying for us! Sorry this report may be a bit messy but I am exhausted…”

The most beneficial way we can help is to send money to help with the cost of helping these refugees. If you have a desire to help over and above what you generously give to support Wholeness Ministries send monies to us designated UKRAINE and we will get it to Adam who will apply it where it is most needed. If you are like me it breaks your heart to see the reports of these attacks and loss and unimaginable suffering especially when see and hear that over 2 million of the refugees are children, many whom do not understand what is happening.

I have also made contact with Eduard and Ibi Rudolph whom we help support as they minister mainly to the gypsies in Romania. I have not heard back from them yet but expect to soon and will give you an update then.

It’s Finally Here – My New Book!

Riding Shotgun With God, Evans, FrontRIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD: A JOURNEY WITH GOD ON THE ROAD OF HEALING AND MIRACLES

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

For some time now people have been encouraging me to share stories of my nearly 30-year journey in the Christian healing ministry. This book is a collection of the miraculous things I’ve seen God do. My daughter thought I should also share a bit of my life story so that you can see that I’m a normal person who was ambushed by God and did not see this journey coming.

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK, Riding Shotgun With God

Thank you for your generous and faithful support of our worldwide ministry.

God bless,

Mike

BOOK AN IN-PERSON MINISTRY SESSION
We have found these ministry sessions with people to be invaluable in healing them from wounds from their past. In some cases after two or three sessions, they experience freedom! If you need deep-level healing prayer or know someone who could benefit from this, here is how to start the process. Send an email to mevans@wholeness.org or call 661-833-2920 to schedule an appointment. On our website, simply follow the instructions under Personal Ministry.

It’s Finally Here – My New Book!

Dear Friends,

After months of writing and editing and patiently waiting (which is not my strong point), my latest book RIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD has arrived! The first balanced and healthy introduction to the healing ministry for me was in 1984. This happened when Dr. John Lavender and I attended a week long healing conference in Anaheim CA. Through the teaching of John Wimber I was fascinated by what I was seeing and hearing. His teaching was a laid-back conversational style that was appealing. I was amazed that it was so matter of fact and simple. From 1984 until 1994 I was instrumental in establishing the healing ministry at First Baptist Church here in Bakersfield, CA.

Riding Shotgun With God, Evans, FrontIn 1994 a new chapter began in my life and ministry. The Lord directed me to take Wholeness Ministries far beyond the local church. So began the journey that has taken me over the world into churches of varying denominations in both the Catholic and Protestant traditions. I also taught and held healing services at numerous independent non-denominational churches.

In Quoting from the book…
“Beginning in 1994 I wrote a newsletter each month in which I detailed what I had experienced in this journey God has had me on for over 26 years. In 2020 I felt God prompting me to compile these stories so others can read about what God is still doing today. That is the genesis of this book. I have dated these stories as they happened so you can see the progression of how God shows His love to us and the variety of ways in which He heals. I trust that they will be encouraging and exciting to see that God is still moving powerfully in our world today. I’m just a normal guy riding along with God. Come join me as we ride along with God on this journey.”

Riding Shotgun With God, Evans, BackI’M RIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD – THIS IS MY STORY
Also as a part of this book my daughter Jenny urged me to tell you a little of history about my journey and myself. What follows is a bit of my story.

“I was born May 25, 1942 in Bakersfield, CA. I was raised in a Christian home and knew from an early age that I was loved. It seems to me that we were regularly at church for one reason or another. From the time I was a toddler until my teen years, church attendance and church activities were just what we did. I didn’t know any different. My parents were good people and I had what I would consider to be a pretty normal childhood…”

Riding Shotgun With God is available at THIS LINK.

Thank you for your continued and faithful support.

God bless,

Mike

BOOK AN IN-PERSON MINISTRY SESSION
We have found these ministry sessions with people to be invaluable in healing them from wounds from their past. In some cases after two or three sessions, they experience freedom! If you need deep-level healing prayer or know someone who could benefit from this, here is how to start the process. Send an email to mevans@wholeness.org or call 661-833-2920 to schedule an appointment. On our website, simply follow the instructions under Personal Ministry.