Daniel 7:9-10 "As I looked, thrones were set in place,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.

His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.

Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand

stood before him.

The court was seated, and the books were opened." (NIV)

A Citywide Concert of Prayer and Celebration of Solidarity on Wednesday evening, January 10, marked the culmination of three days of prayer and fasting for our community. We had called it "A Cry for Transformation!" and we met five evenings in a row as well as morning and noon on three consecutive days. I dare not use the term conclusion, for there is no conclusion to the move of God in our Valley and State–but a thrusting forward! We had been drawn into this time of consecration and supplication by His fiery impassioned gaze turned toward us–and as we were captivated by His blazing love -our hearts were likewise set on fire.

Our times together had been energized by the coupling of the analogy of a river of fire which had actually occurred during the early days of the salt making industry in our Valley with the redemptive purpose of God to ignite a spiritual river of fire that would transform our community and flow from here to other communities.

Well, did it happen? Do we have a witness? Let me share the following reports with you.

How is a community transformed? One heart at a time! Three to four hundred people had gathered on Wednesday evening to join in prayer, worship and communion together. This was no crowd–but church for everyone was involved! A light fellowship dinner was served after the service for the breaking of the fast. Another enraptured heart reports below.

At the dinner after prayer Wednesday night, . . . she said to me that in her spirit she got that the revival in this area was not going to be in one church but throughout the entire area. The Spirit rose up in me as a witness. I could see this whole valley ablaze. Not small fires throughout but a total deluge of fire reaching above the mountains. As the fire reaches above the mountains the light and fire can be seen from all around the State and connecting States. I can't get it out of my spiritual vision. There is nothing left in this valley that is not consumed by this fire. I feel the purging in me even as I write. How Marvelous and Mighty our God is!!!!!

We had heard during this time that God will not send his fire unless there is a sacrifice to be consumed! We must be willing to be those living sacrifices that will draw the sanctifying fire of His Presence. On "What Does Revival Look Live?" Francis Frangipane writes, "It is the fire of Christ’s passions flowing like hot lava into the backbone of a once defeated people. It is radiant faces, purified souls and holy lips. It is people becoming like Jesus."

As God is pouring out his passionate love He is at the same time drawing a line of demarcation–some things that have been "winked at" in the past will no longer be tolerated.

Another reports his insight, A couple of things I picked up from the article "River of Fire" (available at and the gathering was that true we live in a state that is small in stature but it wouldn't be the first time God has used the small in stature to bring the salt of healing and restoration to a nation and fire to a people of vision. The unity that I felt at the prayer gathering was intense, Parts of the Body formed much as an embryo forms in the womb. I was delighted to find some carpet with people I had never prayed with . . .

God had brought a travail into our midst during our times of intercession. "Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? [or] shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." (Isaiah 66:8 - KJV) God has birthed a prayer movement in our midst the like of which will push back the darkness and the light will shine into the searching hearts of men and women.

When this season was first announced, one lady who has a heart for evangelism in the marketplace said in her spirit, "Boy, am I going to be busy!" At our Pastors’ Prayer Fellowship this week we heard testimonies to the change that has occurred. Several pastors noted an increase in the anointing during their Sunday services. A pastor who has been planting a church in the highest crime ridden section of our city and had been having terrible opposition for the past two years experienced a transformation. Suddenly the cloud lifted and he was able to identify the power that had been opposing him and he was able to say, "Oh, I know you! You are the one that has been attacking me all of this time. Now, GO! Go away and leave me, my family and my church alone!"

This report was on Tuesday. We received the following E-mail from this same pastor on Wednesday.

"We just got word from a person listening to a police scanner tonight that the police are saying tonight is one of the slowest nights for crime on the west side in a long time. They are talking about the fact that there is nothing for them to do tonight. Praise the Lord."

Jane Hansen, the President of Aglow International, reports on their U.S. Conference held here in 2000, "‘This was one of the easiest conferences in many a year!’ It was not that there weren’t challenges along the way, but once on site there was an ease in the spirit realm that was felt by all. I believe it was because this was a city prepared! For the past several years the pastors and leaders of the greater Charleston area have come together in unity to pray and seek God, laying aside personal agenda in order to see the kingdom of God established in their area. Prior to the start of the conference, a luncheon was held to bless and honor these pastors. This is the first time we have entered a conference city by first meeting with the ‘gate keepers’ of that city. It is something we will not miss doing again!"

We are living in exciting times! Just this past week we have seen a solid tie in with the Women of Faith movement–it is too awesome and extensive to cover here. They will be in our city for a conference on Feb. 23-24. They, too, have found this to be a city that is being prepared in prayer.

We will be convening our Third West Virginia Prayer Summit on February 18-19. God has given the vision that "the summits of our mountains will be bathed in glory like our Prince Emanuel’s land." The strategy is Prayer Centers in every county in our state extending into every community and neighborhood as Lighthouses of Prayer–eventually reaching everyone in our state with the Good News via Prayer Evangelism.

George Otis, Jr.’s Sentinel Group has notified us that our city and state have been chosen as one of the locations for the unveiling of "Transformations II - The Glory Continues . . . " which is a sequel to the Transformations Video. We are simply awed by this opportunity. This instrument is being used in such a powerful way all around the world. The preview and conference will be on June 11-12.

We are also planning to take a team from our city on a field trip to Argentina in July with Ed Silvoso’s Harvest Evangelism to experience first hand a nation that has been in the grip of revival for more than eighteen years. Rev. Silvoso says, "To read about it is like having a date with a mannequin. To go and be a part of it is like a date with the real thing!"

There is so much more that can be said, but let me take a break to share with you some things on a personal note.

Nancy and I have the awareness that we are living out our dream! There are hopes and visions that He placed in our hearts as long as thirty years ago that we are seeing take form before our very eyes. He is bringing so many key people and organizations together for just this time that we can only stand back in amazement and say, "Surely this is a "God-thing!", for no one individual could ever make it happen!"

Thank you so much for your love and prayers especially when we faced a crisis of provision last month. Now we are on a new chapter in this adventure, but we are thankful that He has already written that chapter and the rest of the book for that matter! Please continue to pray for us.

We are being urged by some of the pastors closest to us to accept ministry engagements and that has begun to happen. Nancy and I minister as a team on the subject of "The Present Reality of the Kingdom of God." Nancy is also a lot of fun at Women Meetings. It would be a delight to serve you in any manner possible.

The opening verses and the following speak of His absolute Power and Dominion.

Psalm 97:1-3 The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands be glad. Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Fire goes before Him, And burns up His adversaries round about. (NASB)

His fire is a transforming fire–it both consumes and purifies at the same time. It brings out the treasure hidden within us: (Colossians 1:27) "to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Together with you in this great quest for societal transformation,

Pastor Ron Thaxton
The Church in the City!
20 January 2001