Kenya...and life after kenya!

Thank you Jesus!

I am entering this Christmas season with a new thankfulness. After my trip to Kenya I just can't see things the same way. God really did a deep work in me.

I seen dead people left on the side of the road to be burned, and people sleeping on piles of trash. I seen street children drinking sewage water. I saw a man that was over 60 years old walking down a dirt road on his knees because he was so sick that he couldn't stand up. I seen small children sleeping beside the road covered with flies. I seen people who hadn't eaten in days. I seen people living under plastic bags for a roof over their head. I seen children that will never receive an education. I seen people who thought life was hopeless because "witch-doctors" had placed curses on them. I seen small children who call the street their home because they are orphaned due to the HIV disease and they are raped by the older children 3-5 times a day.

I also seen past all of this. I saw people just like me. People who have feelings and dreams. People who are God's creation. People who want a better life. People who desire to know God. People who want better for their children and grand-children. I met pastors with a heart to reach their city. I met pastors with a passion like I have to reach the lost. I met pastors who want to train leaders and raise up warriors. I went all the way across the world and met people just like myself. People who dare to dream despite their circumstances.

The convicting part is this: My circumstances are glorious in comparison to theirs. As an american, I have been so sheltered from the very impoverishment that they have faced since birth. I have the basic things of life that are miracles for them. I take my  bed and clean drinking water for granted. I take my home for granted and even my shoes for granted. I know that when I wake up every morning that I will drink a cup of hot coffee. I know that when I am hungry I will pick up a burger or even a steak if I want it. I am so blessed.

So, this Christmas I just want to take a moment to thank the Lord for the great things that I have been blessed with. I am thankful to be an "AMERICAN". I am thankful for a country that is  blessed. I am thankful for the organization of my society and even the government that runs my country. I am thankful for the men and women who have fought for my freedom. I am thankful for the job that I have and the roof over my head. I am thankful that my son is receiving a great education in a public shcool and even if I was poor he would still receive that education. I am thankful for my religious freedoms and my church family. I am thankful that as an american I have been taught to dream and to dream really big. I am thankful for clean drinking water and good food. I am so thankful!

God has changed Crissy Sanders and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. This was the opportunity of a life time to learn from those who will never have the very things that I have taken for granted. God used the Kenyans to change this american girl.

I am hooked on missions. When I got on that plane to come home, I left a piece of my heart in Kenya. I am committed to take change to Nairobi. I will see revival there. I will make an impact on their lives for the Kingdom of God. How do I know this? I just do......I have to. It is as real to me as anything has ever been. I have been eating, sleeping, breathing, and meditating on it non-stop every since I got home.

Please pray for me. I have a mandate from God that is much bigger than me. God has placed a dream for Nairobi in my heart. I want to send 100 Nairobi children to school in the next five years. I want to financially support three churches right in the heart of the city and in the slum areas. I want to provide sanitary bathroom conditions and school lunches for the orphanage schools where the children aren't fed. I want to provide training through local churches to train parents how to protect their children from very basic diseases.

I am committed to this cause. I will work harder in 2008 than I ever have in my life. God is faithful. He will bring provision. I know that God has got ministry supporters that care about His business.

Thank you to everyone who gave to support this trip. You are a huge part of this amazing success story. God used you to make it happen. I am such a small piece of this big puzzle. You are to be commended for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and being so generous. Thank you to all of the prayer warriors. I only wish I had time to tell you about the prayer breakthroughs!

All I can say this Christmas is WOW! God is so great and I sure love Him.

I look forward with such excitement into 2008. It is gonna be the best yet.

Thank you for believing in me and supporting me.

My church family is the best. You guys rock. You all are "Crazy Christians" and I love you for it.

Thank you to every pastor and church member who supports this ministry. What can I say? Those who know me know that I don't have any special talent or ability. It just proves that there is a God.

I love all of you and thank you for being my friend.

Much love, Crissy!

I Can Do This!

I have been so busy this week preparing to leave for Kenya on Sunday. (It is all good though!)

This has been such a busy time for me. I have been traveling every weekend preaching in different states and churches, which I love. But, I sure do miss Dennis and Josh. I have seen God doing some awesome stuff in the places that He has been taking me. I can't explain the feeling that it gives to me when I see God use this vessel to bring ministry to pastors and churches. It is truly an honor.I have been so blessed to meet some of the greatest people on the planet!

It's My Time was "off the chain!" If you wasn't there then you missed out on a true move of the Holy Spirit. We have received numerous emails and phone calls from individuals whose lives were changed at this one-day only conference. We work so hard to prepare for "It's My Time" and the only purpose is for God's will to be accomplished. When I know that God has His way then I know that it is worth all of the labor! Make sure that you plan to attend next year. The date will be September 13, 2008. It will be at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute.

When I get back from Kenya, I have one more conference to preach at in November and then I am done for the REST OF THE YEAR! I am looking forward to being in my home church with my family...........I miss them so much. I love the crazy praise and all of the hoopin' at THCOG! There is no place like it on the planet.

I feel the pressure of this Kenya trip. Please keep me and our entire team in your prayers. Everyone who knows me knows that I make up words when I preach. Well.....preaching with an interpreter means that I can't do that.

On a more serious note, please keep my family in your prayers while I am gone. I am going to miss Dennis and Josh very much. My heart already aches for them. I love those two so much and I miss them when I am away. Just the thought of being so far away brings added pressure. I know that this is the perfect will of God though!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported this trip through your prayers and financial support. I just found out three months ago that I was going to Kenya and that I would need to raise $10,000 to pay for the trip. Well.....all I can say is that we serve a faithful God and He has provided every dime. Thank you to each pastor and church who has partnered together with us! God uses people, and thank you for allowing Him to use you!

I am leaving tomorrow to preach at a conference tomorrow night and Saturday morning in Bedford, Indiana at the Tabernacle of Praise Church.  I will be home on Saturday afternoon. Then we fly out for Kenya on Sunday!

I love all of you and I thank God for all of my church family and friends! All of the THCOG peeps better keep your praise on.

Much Love, Crissy!

P.S. All of you who know me know that I will miss Roman too......

Call Me Radical!

WOW! I can't believe that we are already well on our way into this new year. It seems like it was just yesterday that Dennis, Josh, and I were putting up our Christmas tree and gearing up for the holidays. Now, the tree is down, 2008 is here, and I am playing "catch-up!"

I have made a commitment to know God in 2008 like I have never known Him before and encounter Him personally every single day. The church (world-wide) is settling for yesterdays' manna and I refuse to eat it. I will go out everyday and get myself some fresh bread!!!

I believe that 2008 will be a year of shifting. God is going to remove leaders and replace them suddenly. It will happen by His hand and man will not be able to stop it!!!

We have got to raise the standard in the Body of Christ. As I look over the face of "christianity" I am appalled by what I see. I do not need to go into details, anyone with their ear to the bosom of the Father, knows what I am talking about.

There is an army that has been in the preparation season and they have been hiding out in the trenches. God is now placing them in the forefront  and they will lead God's Kingdom through the power of the cross. Their flesh has been crucified and they are walking dead men.

I have a goal in 2008 to crucify my flesh every single day. I have been convicted by the Lord for the way that we, as His children, are so "flesh" driven and it has caused a major dissatisfaction in my walk with the Lord. There is a stirring in my spirit. I hear the Father calling........

I will not end this year the way that I entered it. I will know the Father more intimately and I will be a walking dead "woman!" I am going to pick up fresh manna each day and I will not settle for anything less.

I can't change other people. But, I can change Crissy Sanders. I refuse to settle. I am going after God and I will raise the standard starting with myself.

I will praise God like a crazy woman. I will dance like David danced. I will be radical for Jesus in every since of the word. I don't care if I am on the dance floor all by myself; I am only concerned about my audience of one!

I am excited to be living at such a time as this. I anticipate great things in God's Kingdom this year.

Be blessed and keep your praise on.

Crissy!