The last month or so, I’ve been consciously asking the Lord to remind me of men and women who have shaped the way that I think and act. It has created a flood of gratitude within me. One person near the top of that list is John Wimber, founder of The Vineyard movement.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
I’m a fool for Christ. . .who’s fool are you?
How do you spell faith? R-I-S-K
I’m just a fat man trying to get to heaven!
Not long before John died, I had the privilege of spending a half day with him. I could fill the next 10 posts with insights from that day. One of the most significant moments happened when John laid his hands on me and prayed. He prophesied that I would see the spontaneous expansion of the church like the beginnings of Methodism and the early Vineyard movement. After that prayer, he gave me a book by Roland Allen called The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church. He said that next to the Bible, it was the most important book that he read. I read the whole book that night with tears. It has consumed me ever since.
It has been 17 years since John prayed over me. I recently transitioned in ministry so that I can devote myself full-time to seeing the church spontaneously expand through the ministry of The Malachi Network (www.malachinetwork.org). This is a huge step of faith (risk) for Tania and me. We covet your prayer. This next quote from John is once again very real to us:
The economy of the kingdom of God is quite simple. Every new step in the kingdom costs us everything we have gained to date. Every time we cross a new threshold, it costs us everything we now have. Every new step may cost us all the reputation and security we have accumulated up to that point. It costs us our life. A disciple is always ready to take the next step. If there is anything that characterizes Christian maturity, it is the willingness to become a beginner again for Jesus Christ. It is the willingness to put our hand in his hand and say, “I’m scared to death, but I’ll go with you. You’re the Pearl of great price.”
Thank you John for helping us take the next step.
richstevenson.org 
We also saw him at Blood and Fire Ministries in ATL months before he died- before we came to Asbury- what an impact his ministry had on my life, and touched Barry’s as well! Thanks for sharing. We have enjoyed watching that prophecy unfold in your life! Wondering what is 4 hours away from you right now- since you moved to KC, we moved to Iowa -4 hours away. You move to ATL- we move to AL- 4 hours away. 😉 blessings! (good to see Tania and Corrie serendipitously in Kohl’s a few weeks ago!)