WHAT'S HAPPENING WOW?

WOWgroup Global Network Staff Retreat

2010-09-22T14:08:00.001-07:00

WOWgroup Global Network Staff Retreat Team members felt appreciated; had a great sense of team unity and commitment to the common goal. The Inn at Leola Village, PA was a comfortable site away from our normal comfort. We were in a beautiful learning environment that was positive and relaxing. The WOWgroup Global Network Staff formed friendships by having some fun "Social Time".

Some of the activities that the team enjoyed playing was Billiards at the pool room, swimming outdoors and connecting with nature, and playing Dominoes.

Wowgroup Global Network Staff team members enjoyed dining at Restaurant Mazzi ~ a European atmosphere where we were treated to fine Italian Cuisine. At the end of the retreat we were given an assignment by Dr. Sandrie Serrano Smith ~ to write a paragraph or 2 about our reflections or what we learned from the staff retreat.

During the retreat I learned that we need to take a step of faith like Peter did when he walked on water and Jesus met him half way. If we walk with faith Jesus will meet us half way. God wants us to put forth our best effort in order for us to trust in him. We have to realize that God wants
the best for us, but we have to put faith in him. If we step out of the boat Jesus will make sure we don't drown if we trust him. Jesus is our Lord and Savior and He loves and cares for us. We need to make sure to put Jesus first with everything we do. Minister William Merced Jr.

I learned that I have to fix my eyes on Jesus and stay focused on Him and not on personal problems. Listening to Melisa's testimony really touched me and made me realize that many of us go through similar problems, but we can overcome that if we focus on Jesus and help one another. My prayer is that I will do God's will and not lose sight of what He wants for my life. Yolie Rodriguez

Zechariah 13:9 "I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call upon my name and I will answer them. I will say they are my people and they will say the Lord is my God". Although this scripture was not quoted during the retreat it is the one that spoke to me after I went home. God is always in the business of purifying our hearts so that we can be more like Him. Sure the process is painful at times, but when the fire is put to the metal such as silver only the imperfect things come out and the rest stays in tact or gets even better. God wants our journey to get better. How can we be effective at home, communities, ministries or jobs if we do not allow our Father (The Refiner) to make us better ~ why settle for less. When we have been purified made like gold) by our Father's fingers we know without a doubt that we can empower and change others for His glory.
Minister Tanya Merced

Say What God Says

I have always know what God had for me. Well, maybe not fully known or fully understood, but I had a good idea.

I was 8 years old the first time I sang with anointing. I opened my my mouth and God showed up in all His glory and in all His splendor. I remember watching the congregation as God began to move. As tears flowed and arms raised in surrender. I knew it wasn't me. I had been singing since I was old enough to speak. It was the first time I had experienced being used by God. I was hooked! I knew this was why God had put me on this earth. I was here to lead people in worship.

I realize that 8 is very young. But God knew what He was doing. He knew the chaos that would become a part of my world by my 9th birthday. His timing is always perfect.

I have had to remind myself on many occasions that its His timing that is perfect not mine. I have also struggled with believing what God showed me about His plan for my life. I can't and won't tell you the number of times I have been "shut out" from leading worship. When I prayed and hoped to be given the opportunity to lead even one song for a small congregation of 30 people. It was hard, frustrating and if I am being honest irritating! But God was faithful. He was faithful to ease my pain. He was faithful to replace my anger and disappointment with joy and hope. He was faithful to whisper encouragement to my spirit. And He was faithful to keep the seed that He planted alive in me. Even when I could not see any possible way, my spirit knew I must "say what God says".

25 years is along time. That's how long it took before I began to see God's plan unfolding. Four years ago, during Master Builder, a leadership school in Monterrey Mexico, God gave me a vision and a specific word. I saw my self standing on a huge stage leading people in worship. That vision seemed impossible and yet it was so real. My heart and my spirit knew that God had allowed me to have a glimpse of the future He had planned for me. My mind, on the other hand, was having some difficulty processing all this. I wanted to know, "HOW and WHEN". God didn't answer those questions. And yet with no plan of action I knew I must "say what God says".

Two years ago, we moved to a new church. A BIG church, three services, 2500 people. I sat in service and looked at that huge stage and the super talented people who were up there leading worship. Honestly, I did not "say what God says". I said, "No way! Impossible! There is no place for me up there!" God again was faithful to bring people into my life to encourage me to "say what God says".

Saying what God says is a change of thought process, its a reNEWing of the mind. My old mind was limited. God has no limits. He is able to do exceeding above all we can ask or even imagine (my paraphrase of Ephesians 3:20). The truth sets us free (John 8:32) If we want to live God's dream for our life we MUST speak God's word over ourselves and over our circumstances.

Within 6 months I was a part of my churches worship team. Not long after that I was singing lead vocals. And recently, I was asked to be one of their worship leaders! Its God, its all God!!! He is faithful to keep His promises. He opens doors that no man can shut (Revelation 3:7)

I am still overwhelmed. This is an amazing opportunity. I feel so honored that God would trust me to lead his people. I am only the cup, He is the water that quenches so completely that you never thirst again (John 4:14-15) But I gotta say, I LOVE being the cup!!!!

Say what God says and you will never go wrong!!!

Minister Corrine Smith

Get Out of The Boat

2010-08-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

By Evangelist MaryAnn Goolsby

Today's society is providing many awesome challenges for many Christians. We can face our struggles with a perspective of the "Glass Being Half Full." The choice is stimulated, activated, and decided by our faith. What an awesome opportunity in our day and time to expose the "God-Kind-of-Faith," to call those things that you can't see, yet they do exist, until you are able to see them. We can't allow the opportunity of the supernatural to pass us by while we "Sit inside the Boat." As believers, in these days, we are required to do so much more than we have done in the past.

WOWgroup Global Network has helped me to embrace many awesome challenges. I have had the opportunity to go to missions and visit countries such as Egypt, Mexico, Columbia. Although I did not comprehend the spoken language I was able to minister God's goodness, teach the Word, and spend time with the Youth. Throughout this journey I have witnessed that the more I stimulate and activate my own faith the Lord will create many more opportunities for the supernatural to arise.

No longer do we have the luxury of staying in the comfort of our boats, or between the four walls, or just caring for own needs. Get Out of the Boat! God cannot supernaturally intervene on our behalf and on the behalf of others with fear dominating our minds. We must change our minds from fear, responding to what we see, to FAITH, responding to what God has said. What Jesus says will change our mind. A changed mind will produce a change in behavior. A change in the behavior will produce a different life style.

WITH GOD ALL MISSIONS ARE POSSIBLE!

2010-04-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

By Tanya Merced

The Seed
Ever wondered why some dreams seem impossible to achieve and others out of reach? Well that is what WOWGROUP GLOBAL NETWORK accomplished on their mission to Egypt, Cairo. Let me explain how it all began. It all began with a seed that was planted for 40 days. Okay, not a physical seed, but a supernatural seed that first was planted by the Holy Spirit. You know the one that calls out your name and says pray, take action and trust.

Dr. Sandrie S. Smith had a vision that one day she would visit Egypt, however, everyone knows that a vision is only that unless you share it with a team. Dr. Sandrie S. Smith shared her vision with me and we decided to pray for 40 days. Egypt was never mentioned again until the Lord brought it up in October 2008 while I was teaching a lesson about Sand Dunes. At the time I was showing slides from my mission trip to Tecate, Mexico when my assistant who by the way happens to be an Egyptian tells me that the dunes in Mexico remind her of her home. "Yes, you can see the Pyramids of Giza from my rooftop," she said. My response was WOW someday I am going to visit Egypt. Then she said, "When you are ready to go to Egypt let me know so that I can give you the keys to my home?" My eyes began to well up with tears and I began crying in the middle of my class. I was so overwhelmed with joy, because the Lord had answered the seed so quickly and in such a special way. I then called Dr. Sandrie S. Smith and relayed all that God had did. The first part of the mission was accomplished.

Making It Happen
How many of you know that money doesn't fall from the sky onto your lap? One of the hardest things for a Missionary Ministry to get is supporters who believe in the vision. One of the things that I have learned from being a missionary is that people think you are taking monies from supporters and having a grand old time on some Resort and Spa. The truth of the matter is WOWGROUP GLOBAL NETWORK staff members raise their own funds to travel and reach all people groups around the world. Why would a team raise money to do missions? We believe that Jesus has sent us to partner together to build men, women and families so that they will know the heart of the Father. Knowing how difficult it was going to be to raise the funds I decided that fund-raisers would be one way of making this mission trip to Egypt, Cairo happen.

Making Connections
March 26, 2010, A double-look at our agenda and ititernary, Do we have a translator? Do we have transportation? Do we have our assignment? Did we contact everyone we needed to contact? I wish I could say yes to all, but the truth of the matter was that everything was good except for one, Dr. Sandrie S. Smith was not able to speak with her contact in Egypt. We were about to take off when Dr. Sandrie S. Smith received a phone call. You guessed it our contact was on the phone. God was right on time again and He was reminding us that He was the pilot and we were the passengers.

Walking in Favor
Dr. Sandrie S. Smith, Evangelist MaryAnn Goolsby and Minister Tanya Merced experienced the favor of God. During our stay at Cairo, Egypt one of the places we stood at the first night was in a small church in the city of Selam. This church was in the middle of a garbage dump and abandoned buses and it's mission to teach the street-kids about the basic necessities such as hygiene, nutrition, education, and the Good News Jesus Christ. Yes, we have plenty of dumps, ghettos, and dangerous territories in America that do the same thing, but it's even harder when you are in a Muslim country and only 10% of the population are Christians. It's even harder if you are a female living in a Muslim country. In addition, we were able to experience authentic Egyptian cuisine and how Christian Egyptian families find happiness, inspite of their circumstances. The second night, we stood at my assistant's flat, which was spacious and very pretty. My assistant's family were gracious hostess who made us feel so welcomed.

The Future is Ours
The Lord definitely played a major role in making this mission possible, however, God needed individuals who would obey and trust Him to accomplish the impossible. I am so happy and proud to be part of the WOWGROUP GLOBAL NETWORK team. WOWGROUP GLOBAL NETWORK will be returning to Cairo, Egypt in the future and will be partnering with families in need of our resources.

Join Us
We are currently accepting applications for our Cairo, Egypt conference 2011 team. If you are interested in joining a team that cares, please email us at wow@wowgroup.info