The Path to Indy

Touch of Life Church is really a convergence of lives and paths crossing through the years. Beginning with John Reid being called to Warsaw to start The Gospel Tabernacle in 1955 to me moving from Ft. Worth ,Texas to there in 1979, to Matthew Manigat moving to Fishers in 2010, God had a plan for there to be a TLC church in Fishers. I have worn many hats in ministry through the years leading up to this time of destiny. As Youth Pastor,  Principal of New Life Christian Academy, and Senior Pastor , God has trained me for this moment. At the same time God took Matthew Manigat from being an orphan in Haiti to an Elder in Warsaw to being on staff at Morning Star in North Carolina to full circle back in Indiana. There has remained a deep respect and covenant relationship between Matthew and me ,throughout the years that miles and time could not alter. Along with Matthew, God is putting together a team of great ministers that excel in music, drama, youth, children’s ministry, evangelism, prayer, portering, discipleship and many other areas to help the church in Fishers to be built on a strong foundation.

The fire that compels and propels this new work originated from an initial love for the city God placed in my heart and also a vision I experienced many years ago. I vividly saw an amazing scene that unfolded before my eyes as I was in prayer and worship, while driving back from a revival meeting I preached in Walker, Louisiana. I saw myself pulling off  a major road in Indy, and driving into a very extensive parking lot filled  with cars. The building resembled a huge bowling ally that had been converted into a modern- looking church facility. Valet parking attendants pointed the way to my parking spot and as I exited the car I was greeted by a very anointed and excited man, and remember thinking, “If the parking lot guys are this zealous I can only imagine what it’s like inside. Two gentlemen opened the doors, again with great anointing and enthusiasm and I found myself in a huge foyer area leading me to doors that opened into large auditorium full of exuberant worshippers in a very electrically charged atmosphere. I remember thinking ” This is the coolest church I have ever seen”. The lighting on the stage was incredible, and the band was phenomenal! But what was so captivating and moving was the feeling of joy and power that saturated the air! I had a real sense of this being a place with people from all walks of life, but all of them in a spirit of unity, love and thankfulness. I felt more anointing than I had ever felt in a church and immediately wanted this to be my home church. I was moving down the aisle of this great place when I realized I was going to the front row. Up to this moment I felt like a visitor, but then I realized everyone had been saying something to me and it was not registering – they were all addressing me as “Pastor” . I was humbled at the thought of me being the founder of this work and I started to cry and fall to my knees and suddenly I was out of the vision. Then for the next few hours God began to show me concepts, plans and  ministries I had never seen before. From that time of this vision I have never doubted that there would be a church like the one I saw and somehow the Lord would help me at least initiate it. I know things take time to develop and I want to move in God’s timing, but I also have a feeling this will be an accelerated work because of the hour we live in today.

Once again, paths and lives are merging to form a new place of restoration, hope and purpose … a place called Touch of Life Church.