Coast2CoastAblazeTour2008

Joel and Heidi Hitchcock and our four children Anthony (9), Rebekah (7), Timothy (3) and Trey (1) have embarked on a challenging but rewarding tour of the United States, from the East Coast to the West Coast. We are living in our 162 sq ft travel trailer, pulled by our 2004 Expedition. We especially did not arrange any meetings except a few for the latter part of 2008, so that we could be flexible to be sent and used by the Lord.

The following is our chronicles of this tour. We will be updating it as we travel and minister:

I have been praying for a long time about traveling more extensively out of the East Coast. The Lord has been good to us on the East Coast, but I felt very much impressed in my spirit that I had to go out somewhere west and minister as I go. I had very little contacts, but I did feel that I had to obey the Lord in this. It was a very inconvenient time to do this though. Not only were we low on money, but we also had (and still have) a financial need of nearly $25,000 just to break even. But the more I prayed about it, I felt I would go out like Abraham did, who "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeye; and HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING WHITHER HE WENT...For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God..." (Hebrews 11:8-10) He went away from his country and family, to somewhere he didn't even know where to. He was just following the Lord as the Lord led him.

I felt at first that I would rather get all my ducks in a row before I embark on such a trip, especially since gas was so expensive and that we were in a financial need just as is, never mind the expenses that were to be incurred on a trip like this. But as I prayed, I felt that obeying God regardless of the circumstances, would be a great manifestation of faith, and God would bless it, because He always honors big faith. So we prepared ourselves the best we could, and left Delaware...

We left Delaware on July 31, and rushed to San Antonio TX. It seemed that the trip would never end. Texas is way down here! But we made it, and attended the Church of God General Assembly, which was greatly blessed. The Lord chose Dr. Raymond Culpepper to be the new General Overseer. He is a man who has had a very real experience with God and will follow in the footsteps of another great General Overseer, Dr. Dennis McGuire.

On our very first Sunday in Texas the Lord opened a door for me to minister at a church with pastor I had never met. Pastor David Hacker of the Southside Church of God in San Antonio let me preach on that Sunday Night. The service was powerful, and several people were refilled or baptized in the Holy Spirit. Pastor Hacker and his dear wife have been a tremendous blessing to us. He has tried to help us in every way possible. He introduced me to several other pastors, one of which is Pastor Rune Brannstrom of www.transformSA.org. Pastor Rune and his dear wife also opened their hearts to us. We ministered in their church the Sunday following, and about 25 people were refilled or baptized with the Holy Spirit for the first time.

The following Sunday we did not preach, but attended www.treeoflifechurch.org. Pastor Don Duncan is the pastor, and I met him briefly. He was very warm and friendly. I then met a dear brother and his father, who opened their hearts to us and made their property on the highway available to us to hold a tent crusade on. We are working on this and will see how it pans out.

We then traveled to Mineral Wells TX, because of a cheaper camp ground there. (I wanted to be closer to Dallas to visit Evangelist Steve Hill and Kenneth Copeland's ministries--more of this later...) This proved to be a God-led trip. Within the first 5 hours here we ministered in a tent revival that had been going on for four weeks. The evangelist is Pastor Howard Richardson of the Gates of Glory Church in Dallas. He is a veteran tent revivalist, and ministers powerfully in healing, the prophetic and preaching the Word. His message was so good, because it was about Abraham, who heard God, and stepped out in faith--exactly what I had read and encouraged me to step out in faith on this trip. He asked me to testify the first two nights I was there, then wanted me to preach Sunday night and Monday night. I ministered on Mark 16 and ministered in the Spirit to the people. One brother told me that he had never experienced the power of God like he did last night. There were 8 people who made a rededication or first time decision for the Lord. Pastor Richardson has also invited me to his church in Dallas.

At this tent revival, I met an old friend I had not seen for 18 years! He is Brother Jerry McKinney, who played the Hammond organ for Jack Coe Sr. and AA Allen during the height of the Voice of Healing revival. I had met him 18 years ago when my Uncle John was holding a revival in Fort Worth. When I went on a European tour I sent him a postcard, dated May 18, 1992. In it I asked him to continue praying for us. He did so, and has been praying for us every day since 1992. The next night he brought the old postcard to me. I couldn't believe my eyes! He is 79 years old and still plays the organ tremendously! I am not considered myself an "organ man" but the anointing on his organ music has made me an instant convert! Any pastors who would like him to minister at your church, please contact him at 817-584-5577.

(Photo: Jerry McKinney)

We also went to the headquarters of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, to see his building and see how their ministry operates. We were very blessed to see how God had blessed this man of God. I sat in his office chair in his office, and Heidi and I even had a chance to sit in the chairs Kenneth and Gloria use when they teach on their television program in the studio. What God can do for a man when he is in covenant with Him!

(Photo: Joel & Timothy)

(Photo: Joel & Heidi in Kenneth Copeland Studio)

At this point I want to share a tremendous experience I had with the Lord, a man of God and my destiny on August 30. About 5 months ago, I dreamt about Evangelist Steve Hill (www.stevehill.com, the famous evangelist whose revival at the Brownsville Assembly of God continued for nearly four years and drew 4,000,000 people to the revival.) I dreamt he layed hands on me and imparted something into my life. From that day on I felt very strong that I needed to get to where he was and receive an impartation from him. Although I have deeply respected his ministry, and admired him, I have never dwelt on it, or even gone to the Brownsville revival. I had never heard him preach, except for one video I saw of him when I was in Zambia many years ago.

I found out that he was pastoring a church in Irving TX, and I made my way out there. When I arrived, it felt like all was lined up to meet Brother Steve. I was ushered right to his office, where I met him. I could clearly see "the fire" in him. We fellowshiped briefly, during which time he said "Raise your children to love the ministry... Our children are all grown now, and they are not bitter against the ministry..." I told him that we were doing just that. He then invited me that we should pray together after the service. But God had other plans. After the service he asked who needed a fresh touch from Jesus. I went forward immediately, because of the dream I had. Now I have had many wonderful experiences with the Lord, but this is an impartation that will always stand out for me.

Evangelist Steve Hill laid hands on me powerfully. It literally felt as if my body lifted up into the air, and I fell as if it were violently, yet softly on the floor. I felt like I would laugh and cry at the same time, speaking in tongues as I did. He then followed up his laying on of hands by placing his hand on my chest--exactly where he did it in my dream. He spoke things such as "The fire of God! Signs and Wonders!" I think he mentioned "Evangelism!" also. My whole body trembled under the power of the Holy Spirit. Even as I write this, I can feel it coming on me again.

I lay under the power of God, mostly calling on Him in tongues untill long after the service ended. I think it lasted about 45 minutes. I was the first to get to the altar, and the last to leave that night, laying on the floor. I hope to meet him again later to "pray together" but for now, I got what I went there for--an impartation according to the dream I had had 5 months ago.

Check back here for more news on our "Coast to Coast Ablaze Tour 2008..."

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