Normally in this space, we give you a detailed breakdown—reports from the previous week, a look forward at upcoming episodes, discipleship calls, and events. And yes, we could do that. We had two VOR casts last week and two more coming this week. We have our Tuesday Discipleship group gathering, and of course, the huge Base Camp Intensive at the end of the month.

But this week, I feel a strong burden to stop, pause, and put all our emphasis on what happened at Pile of Stones.

Report from Pile of Stones

We shared about the report from Pile of Stones in last weeks newletter, but more details kept coming in after the posting of the newsletter.

If you haven’t seen the reports, two weekends ago Voices of Revival hosted a Revival and Discipleship Intensive focused on prayer, that was hosted at Miamisburg Temple of Praise. It began with a Friday night service, continued with three Saturday sessions during the day, and concluded with a Saturday night service.

During one of the Saturday sessions—on the topic of intercession—an impromptu prayer time broke out. In that moment, a sound from Heaven entered the room. There was no worship team, no singers, no instruments, no music playing, not even the sound system turned on. Yet the room was filled with what was described as the most beautiful altar music ever heard. It was described like a harp and a piano. I believe this was an open-Heaven moment where we heard into the very throne room of God.

Fast forward to Sunday morning at 11:09 AM—24 hours after that session on intercession—an earthquake occurred just 0.3 miles from the church. Essentially right on top of where we had been. If you look at the map, the listed epicenter is basically across the street. And remember, this is Ohio—we don’t have earthquakes.

Speaking with Pastor Shari Helton of Temple of Praise, the details from their Sunday service absolutely blew my mind. She mentioned she felt the quake and almost lost her balance but didn’t think much of it in the moment because, again, this is Ohio. But then she began describing their service, and all I can say is wow.

She told me a young man received the baptism of the Holy Spirit—but before that, he was delivered from suicidal spirits. This is significant because in our Saturday night service, as William Highley was leading worship, he suddenly called the room to intercede specifically for those struggling with spirits of suicide. He did so under the clear leading of the Holy Spirit, even acknowledging that the person we were interceding for may not have been physically present with us that night.

Pastor Shari also shared that many others were deeply touched. People wept in God’s presence. She said His presence was thick and weighty—something we also experienced repeatedly throughout the weekend. She added that in their service, there was even a physical manifestation of the smoke of the Holy Spirit.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I can’t emphasize this enough: when we pray, God hears, and the Heavens open.

A sign from Heaven

This was a sign from Heaven. We didn’t seek it. We didn’t plan it. We didn’t even dream it. But the signs and wonders followed.

Yet here’s my honest struggle: we tasted something supernatural, and it feels like many who weren’t there have responded with, “Oh, that’s cool,” and moved on. For those of us who were there, it almost feels like we’re just supposed to go back to normal.

But I don’t want normal. I want to press in. I want to go deeper into what God has for us.

Don't settle in Haran

Our friend Cotey Hembree and his congregation at Freedom Point Church in Middletown finally got their own building. On Friday night they held a powerful dedication service. The minister who preached shared a message I can’t shake.

He spoke about Terah, the father of Abraham. Scripture says Terah was on his way to Canaan, but he stopped and settled in Haran. He even named one of his sons Haran, and instead of entering into the fullness of God’s plan, he built his life short of the destination.

I believe Pile of Stones was a taste of what God has for us. But may we not settle and build our lives in a place beneath His design. May we not settle for normal.