April 5 2002 City Reach Prayer Healdsburg

Jim Argue opened the meeting - a prayer for personal cleansing was recited a time of praise & worship time was led by musicians Christian Family Church the April host of City Reach Prayer. Tracy Yeley Pastors Lance's wife created a new banner for City Reach Prayer.

Harry Skandera - Santa Rosa Christian Church
We welcome those present tonight from the towns from Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma.

Acts 17:26 - "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. "God has a particular place for all people to fulfill their destiny.

The city of Healdsburg plays a important part in the development of the County of Sonoma I would like to start with a historical background of the City of Healdsburg tonight.

Fitch family owned original land grant.

Captain Henry D. Fitch was given the 48,000 acre, and he called it Rancho Sotoyome land grant was divided into two parcels, one eight league piece in 1841 and a three league piece in 1844. Fitch looked after trade in San Diego and sent Cyrus Alexander to develop the rancho, promising him 10,000 acres in return. Cyrus picked Alexander Valley as his payment and moved there, at which time management was turned over to Moses Carson, half brother of Kit Carson. After Captain Fitch's death in 1849, his widow, Josefa and her children came from San Diego to live on the Sotoyome Ranch. In 1856, Josefa was forced to auction parts of the land to pay the taxes. Harmon Heald who had been quatting on the Sotoyome Ranch since 1850, purchased 100 acres, at the auction for $200. Later that year Heald purchased 10 more acres from his brother in law, Aquilla B. Aull and another 55 acres from brother in law George T. Espy. Aull and Espy had purchased these lots at the original land auctions and it is on these tracts that the town of Healdsburg was mapped and recorded.

Harmon Heald was an influential man in the design of the city of Healdsburg, which was first known as Stringtown. Heald had established a store with a partner H. M. Wilson, a wealthy and leading citizen. The first buildings were Mr. Heald's residence, a blacksmith shop and saloon. Mr. Heald proceeded to lay out the town in orderly fashion and sold lots for $15.00 each. Due to his vision and organizational skills, a scattering of houses began to be erected upon both ends of the locality; the locals soon dumped the name Stingtown in favor of Heald's Store. As a result of Mr. Heald's further organization the town began to prosper the citizens out of gratitude adopted the name of Healdsburg.

We are here to bless you, but also because we need your help, your gift and calling in the Church of Sonoma County.

There is a sense of CLARITY here. When first County Fair held in 1855, it met with widespread approval. It was decided in 1859 to make a County Fair an annual affair. Those chosen to plan for this met in Healdsburg's Masonic hall to formulate the plans.

We need CLARITY for working out how God wants us to proceed to cause His Church to come together in Oneness.

Many significant people have come from this place (Ellen G. White -prophet to SDA church lived here, did some of her writing in a house on Powell St., near the High School.) Healdsburg is a place where what is TRUE can be seen for what it is; and that which is FALSE can be seen for what it is too.

Healdsburg you have the ability to KEEP A SECRET.
The last lynching in the county was on Dec 10 1920 for the crime of murder of Sheriff James Petray who slain on December 5, 1920. The outpouring of emotion that followed his death resulted in a mob taking over the jail, removing the three perpetrators who were identified as;

George Boyd, Santa Rosa,

Terrence Fitts, Santa Rosa,

Charles Valento, Santa Rosa,

These men were then taken from lawful custody and brought to Franklin Avenue and on top of the hill they were hanged. On his death bed, a man known as "The Last Vigilantly" confessed that it was the group of men from Healdsburg who had actually committed the crime and three innocent where wrongly hanged in there place.

We want to see that the River does not separate us - that we build "bridges" to insure that doesn't happen. We want to ask the Lord to continue to break down walls that separate us. I'm not aware any other big offenses between Healdsburg and other cities.

We Gathered into small Groups and Prayed

1. WALLS BREAK DOWN BETWEEN CHURCHES IN CITY AND IN COUNTY.

2. CLARITY TO PROCEED WITH GOD'S PLANS.

3. APPRECIATE EACH OTHER.

Harry Skandera reminded us that early instances of Revival were preceded by prayer and order. God is ordering His process, and His purposes in the cities.

We call out to Him, and we listen to what is on His heart. We need the LIGHT to shine on the dark places. We have to ask God to do that in us

first in ourselves

our church

our city

our county.

Light exposure is a GOOD THING.

The Catholic Church in this town and our whole area and nation is in a "LIGHT" experience right now.
It is painful, but good.

We gather again to pray for our Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ.

Up next was Pastor J.R. Young - Born in Healdsburg, lives here, was teacher here, and was on the school board for 7 years and stated that there is "More Healdsburg in me than anyone present."

This time was used to hear the special requests of the Pastors and their church bodies JR called forth of Pastors to share and Ken Marshall was the first volunteer.

Ken Marshall - Alexander Valley Community Church

I "Knocked on the door" of church in 1996 - asked the Lord to start a work there. God answered that prayer quickly. The Holy Spirit has lead the church through all the books of the Bible twice since 1996. We have spent years studying in the Gospels and we are currently back at Matthew."We are faithful to stay in the Word - but we don't have many programs. I pray for the people in the valley, and for our church to impact the valley."

We have a great need for someone to volunteer in nursery and Sunday School departments. Our hope and prayer is for someone to come with a servant's heart full of enthusiasm, not looking to take from the church but is willing to openly contribute. To keep the young families in the church we must have these ministries or they will go elsewhere. We need God to lead us to do more for our children and youth.

Dick Williams - Christian Bible Church

Began the work there in Jan. 2002. There was a clear understanding that he was called to the city as well as to the church. When Dick first came to Sonoma County the word of the Lord to him was, "I've set the land before you, go in and possess it." I must admit I did not know how I was going to that, I have been wondering how God would use me. It's going to take the Spirit of God to break this city open. It's going to take the Leaders coming together.

PRAYER NEEDS:

1. Break through in relationship with pastors in the city.
2. Ministry to YOUTH in this city - offer of a building free for 2 years. One church can't do it alone.
3. Break through to young families. Change the spirit in churchgoers - from coming for what they can get,
to a desire to come to give of themselves.
4. See word of God come forth.

Lance Yeley - Christian Family Center

Started as a Youth Pastor and served for 6 years in Gridley. Lance came here with a vision to unite with other pastors, and was filled with Holy Ghost fire. God granted Lance the opportunity to organize through the Pastors Prayer Fellowship, and also gave him Dick Williams as a mentor to create balance. Church fasted and went to mountaintop above high school and prayed over the town of Healdsburg.

After the fast, Lord gave the words "DOUBLE/DOUBLE"
I have the Desire to:
1. Double people
2. Double effectiveness in city
3. Double anointing - in the 5 fold ministries

2 Chronicles: 7:14 Say's "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

As given to the church - God's going to "MESS YOU UP to the point where your stinkin' thinkin' is cleaned up."

Small groups prayed over the list of churches in Healdsburg, each group praying for a specific church.

May, meeting will be at Bethel Baptist Church, in Santa Rosa
June meeting will be at Santa Rosa Christian School, Wright Rd., Santa Rosa
Closing prayer, including prayer for Pastor Sam Tillery and team in Latvia.

Special Thanks to Milderd Hodges who took notes and then typed them up to the web site!