We want to give an update to all our family and friends of the last couple years. The journey has been glorious, challenging, full of joy and times of great brokenness. The sum total of the experiences over the last several years has driven us into Father’s heart and His Kingdom reality.
We are learning to embrace the simplicity of Christ and shunning the complications of religion. Christ Himself said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
The biggest lesson we are leaning in "the school of brokenness" is daily TRUST in the Father no matter the circumstances. All that really matters in eternity is loving YAHWEH, obeying His commands and loving people.
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
The Move To Southern California
The end of January 2006 we moved to Rialto, California to be with Jeff and Kari Kirschbaum of Believer's Ministry International. Jeff had a vision from the Lord that we were to move from Northern California (where we had spent most of our lives) to Southern California (the ghetto). Apart of the vision was Kari standing with a shofar and blowing it as Pastor Jeff (her husband) was standing over her with a talit covering her. The Lord told my Jeff that she was sounding the alarm (Clarion Call). It was a help call, distress. Jeff and Kari wanted us to come and be the youth pastors. So we packed up everything and moved.
Not only did we pastor the youth I worked in the office as the secretary and Jeff (aka Joshua) did graphic design in the same building as the church to help ends meet. A few month after being in So. Cal. I felt the call of the Lord to act. I stepped out in faith and started commuting to Los Angeles for professional training in the art of acting. I was producing a play about Rahab that was very contemporary, I had instructors and choreographers come on board, we had auditions and started to go with it. As momentum was building we were dealt a great blow. After 5 months been in So. Cal. Believer’s shut down (they had been plowing for 10 years). It was, of course, painful, they were family and the most anointed, out of the box ministry I have ever seen–it was all over. Joshua and I were stuck in the ghetto and the play, needless to say, was struggling even though it did help some of the people from Believer’s to transition.
This began a deeper process of brokenness that was needed for our next phase of life. As the church shut down the grace for our business there left and we started to struggle financially. God is faithful we are still alive and grateful!
Skylar Richardson
Skylar Richardson our spiritual son graduated in July of 2006 from Bible College. We are so proud of Skylar. Skylar came to live with us for 2 years prior to moving to Rialto. Skylar came from Rialto (ghetto) / Believer’s Ministry. When we moved to Rialto Skylar stayed in San Jose. We love you Skylar!
Seeking For the Lord’s Direction at IHOP in Kansas City, Missouri
We received a small settlement August 2006 from the sell of our house so we paid our bills, and took a trip to Kansas City, Missouri. We visited IHOP to pray and worship for the Lord’s heart and directing of our lives. We spent at least 2-4 hours in prayer every day; we kept a journal of what the Lord spoke to us. In summery, we felt like the Lord wanted us to sell everything and get a 5th wheel and a truck for full time traveling. The Lord said to lay everything down and follow Him. When we came back to California we started the process of off-loading the rest of our stuff, unraveling ties and fulfilling obligations. We were waiting for the proper timing to step out, like father Abraham, in faith on this new adventure.
The Way World Outreach in San Bernardino, California
As we were waiting on the Lord, friends of ours (Deborah and Bob) invited us to The Way in San Bernardino. They were a 2-year-old ministry with close to a 1000 people. They were feeding the poor and loving those that most of Christendom forgets about. We enjoyed their ministry and hearts. Deborah set up a time for Joshua and I to meet with the senior pastor, Marco. We slowly began to come and then started a whole dance/mime team at The Way. This was fruitful and the students blossomed into wonderful worshippers who danced with passion. After several months it seemed like the Lord was prompting us that the time to step out in faith to travel was soon at hand.
Jamaica Trip
The end May and June of 2007 we ministered in Jamaica with David Montano and a group from the King’s House. We had been to Jamaica a few times before. Pastor Neville of Love and Faith Ministries in Jamaica ministered many times at the Believer’s Ministry conferences. Neville invited us to come to Jamaica and minister, this time we joined them in a prayer and spiritual warfare conference. Neville brought in Pastor Magduba and Oneichi Daniels from Nigeria, Africa. The purpose of the conference was to pray and break the curse over Jamaica and tear down demonic alters in the spirit. The government, in their 300th year anniversary celebration, brought in witch doctors and shamans to dedication the island afresh to demonic forces and set up ungodly alters. Pastor Magduba and Daniels brought forth the clearest teaching on land redemption, family redemption and warfare prayer that I have ever heard. We ministered through worship in dance (getting the people involved) and through special presentations of the arts. This was all televised and played throughout Jamaica when we left. It was a humbling trip.
Northern California Ministry Trip (San Jose, San Francisco, Sonora, Sacromento, & Nevada)
We drove to San Jose and ministered at Freedom Worship Center (our dear friend Pastor Hoa). It was like a family reunion with all of our good friends who we love tremendously. We then traveled to San Francisco and were apart of their annual evangelism on the streets with Larry Rosenbaum (SOS San Francisco) and our spiritual mom and dad Paul and Noreen Coca. This was a wonderful time of ministry at pier 39, and different parts of San Francisco, as well as, Berkeley (or as we call it Bazerkly). I had been choreographing and teaching Ricca and DJ from Southern California some dance and mime pieces, they ministered with us on the streets. It was wonderful seeing the release of the gift of God in them! We then traveled to Sonora to see our good friends Tony and Chenoa Pellagrino. We ministered in a small gathering preaching the Kingdom of God and the priesthood of all believers! Then we were on to see Bob Humphrey in Sacramento (Family Room Media). It was a refreshing time; Bob is a down to earth guy with tremendous wisdom. The real deal! Then, before leaving to go back to Southern California we went to see Joshua’s dad in Nevada for a few days.
On The Road to Williams, AZ
The 26th of September 2007 we excitingly “launch out into the deep” to begin our travels. In preparation we spent about $4000 to get the truck (“Big Haas”) ready for travel to avoid any problems on the road. Ha ha ha. We had a nest egg of about $8,000 from selling everything we had. After spending $4,000 on the truck we were left with… you do the math.
The big journey, 1st stop, Williams, AZ. Woo hoo! To our surprise, Big Haas didn’t like “El Cajon” (50+ miles of 8% grade uphill), every 10 minutes our truck would over heat. Bummer! An 8 hour trip took us two days. The challenge was severe but God gave us grace as we prayed! We changed more parts then a movie star has face-lifts and the truck still was over heating. We went about 45 min. out of San Bernardino and had to stop in a Walmart parking lot. We were contemplating staying the night. When evening approached Joshua got an unction to get on the road in the cool of night. Praise God, the truck was able to make it for most of the trip. Towards the end we had to keep stopping from over heating and, now, transmission issues. We stopped at a truck stop and spent the night about 1 ½ hours away from Williams, AZ. We went to a mechanic and they said we needed a new transmission along with other things. After a $3500 transmission Big Haas still had an over-heating problem getting the rest of the way to Williams. Praise YAHWEH, eventually we made it with the help of a wonderful brother, Jimmy. After all we are pulling 25,000 lb of combined weight.
When we made it safe to our destination, Joshua went online to a diesel site and received help. A guy suggested a better cooling system for the truck costing another $800 for parts. Having no more money, in faith, Joshua installed the system (never done before), asking for God’s wisdom–saving $1500 in labor. After a few weeks, happy that everything was fixed, suddenly we heard a grinding sound and the truck lost power. O goodness! We discovered the transfer case went out, another $1000 bill. We were flat out of money! Praise the Lord; the good folks of Grace Haven Ministries gave a love offering that covered the expenses. This has been a definite daily walk of dependency on God.
We stayed with our wonderful friends Joyce and Nathan in Williams for about a month. They oversee a couple of home churches and a healing center. We ministered, imparted and conducted some mime/dance workshops for the people. They are such blessings and we thoroughly enjoyed their hospitality.
Off to Albuquerque, NM
As you may understand, we still needed finances to live and keep traveling. When it got really tight, praise God, our truck that we left in California sold for $3000. God is always right on time, hallelujah! We were able to go to our next destination of Albuquerque, NM.
We spent Thanksgiving, 2007 with Jeff and Kari Kirshbaum in New Mexico (this is where they moved to). We had a blessed time; it was like a family reunion. We loved the conversations and times of refreshing.
To Tulsa, OK, Branson MI and Hutchinson, KS
Then we went to Tulsa, OK November 26th, 2007. A friend of ours, Tim Spurek, that we knew from San Jose had moved to Tulsa and bought a ranch. He was so gracious, genuinely caring and hospitable during our stay with him for a few months.
We parked the 5th wheel in Tulsa and went to Branson, Missouri December 8th for a couple of weeks. I tried out for a big Broadway level play, Noah, in Branson. If I got the part we would be willing to move there to fulfill the demands of the theatre. It was a very interesting experience. There were about 75-100 women auditioning at the same time through a formal process. I didn’t get the part but I was able to be strategically placed as an intercessor to pray for them. There was so much warfare, I knew the night before the audition that we were not going to live in Branson, but the Lord wanted us to come for divine connections. We met some wonderful Pastors, Sheila and Aaron from the Glory Barn. There was so much freedom and hospitality. We had a wonderful time. We ministered in mime and dance during their services. The relationships built there were the highlight of that trip.
We came back to Tulsa and visited several ministries. Honestly, there was more religion than fresh fire. All of you who know us understand that we don’t fit in a box very well. We are on a passionate pursuit for the reality of God’s Kingdom not a well-packaged religion. We are on a quest to discover and be a new wine skin! To ignite Kingdom community after the example set forth in Acts. That was free; a little preach for you. Hallelujah!
February 22nd 2008 our pursuit connected us with some wonderful Kingdom brothers and sisters in Hutchinson, KS. John and Mary Steward showed us wonderful hospitality for a couple of weeks in their warm and quaint home. We were able to experience real and engaging body life. We met a lot of passionate people in their small Kingdom fellowship. They really live the life of community like I have never experienced before. We will forever be impacted by seeing and experiencing their love.
We also were blessed to experience some fellowship over lunch with a Mennonite Community, boy can they cook! They are a very family oriented people who display warmth and kindness. We wish there was more fire though! But they have revelation on community that we would be wise to lean from.
We traveled back to Tulsa and stayed for a couple more weeks before we felt the call to move on. As we were contemplating and praying for direction we sensed the Father was sending us to South Carolina but to stop in KC first for a few months. At that time we encountered a set back. Imagine that. A leak in the roof occurred and needed to be repaired along with other preparations before getting on the road. The shop gave us a quote for $3000 to replace the roof. At that time we were living hand to mouth so it was, in the natural, impossible. “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Joshua asked if there was something else we could do? The owner said there is a treatment coating to seal up all the seams for $575. We still didn’t have the money for that. Here’s the praise report, Joshua asked if they need any graphic design work and were able to work out a trade deal for the entire job. Praise the Lord, He provides!
On the road again to Kansas City, MO
In March I heard the Holy Spirit say that Kansas City, Missouri would be the safest place for Joshua and I in the coming months ahead. We waited on the Lord. The Lord soon after the word divinely connected us with a wonderful Pastor friend, Pastor Garry of Servant Ministries Int’l who invited us to minister at a prophetic conference at Independence, MO (next to KC). God is good He will open the doors! On March 24th we got on the road in faith with the “the Mobil chapel” (aka 5th wheel) to the conference without having any long-term plans of where we would stay. The conference was interesting. We pushed in worship and also did some special chorography pieces. The people were blessed and awe-struck. They never saw ministry in movement like what Father gifted us with before. The anointing was powerful, the relational connections rich and the hospitality was wonderful. Father was glorified!
At the conference we met a wonderful couple, who hosted the conference, Paula and David Swayne. They own a 6500 square foot mansion with a chapel and parking lot. We had never met them before the conference, our friend Kristina met them previously and told them about us. Joshua called them up and talked to Paula and God brought a divine connection. Long story short, they allowed us to come and park in their parking lot before having met us. Wow! We later found out they have both come out of the RLDS (Restructured Latter Day Saints). They have a fellowship in their chapel every Saturday and are coming out of a lot of religious mindsets just like all of us. God is moving. Interestingly enough, they ascribe to the Hebraic roots. We later, even, celebrated Pass Over and had a Seder dinner with them and a group of other wonderful folks. It was very informative and symbolic of Messiah.
FYI: They know how we feel about the book of Mormon (Joshua was candid and direct as you know him to be) yet they love us and we love them. Father is moving on who so ever has ears to hear. We are discovering the regeneration of the Holy Spirit crosses many boundaries. He changes us from the inside out; we cannot convince or change anyone its up to Christ.
Camp Meeting Greenville, MO
From that conference Pastor Garry invited us to minister at a camp meeting in Greenville, MO. We left our 5th wheel at the mansion House and left April 10th, 2008. We arrived at a wonderful rustic facility where the meetings were held. We had a great time meeting new people; again, the hospitality was fantastic. The Lord used use to “crack the sky” and liberty in the dance broke out. Some of the folks looked at us like “a cow looking at a new gate.” They didn’t know what to think. It’s different around here from California needless to say. We were thoroughly blessed, really good folks. We were invited to minister in Hustonia, MO the first week of June. We are looking forward to being with the brothers and sisters at Servant Ministries again.
Invitation to minister in Jamaica May 2008
Currently we are back in Independence, MO. We received a call in May from Pastor Neville in Jamaica. We were invited to minister in Jamaica with the ministry of the arts. We are bringing a couple of wonderful brothers, Dennis Hong and John McKracken with us to experience the adventure. We are leaving for Jamaica April 19th, which is exciting. We have great expectancy for the power of the Kingdom of God to be poured out! Keep us in Prayer.
Blessing to all of you, we love you.
Joshua and Alina Yisrael
Acts In Motion Christian Ministries
Things That We Are Learning on Our Trip
1. We have one King, Ya’shua, who reigns in His Kingdom NOW. We are His citizens and son. He is jealous over us and
will share us with no other gods (selfishness, materialism, devils or men kings).
2. Brokenness is good and is the key to intimacy in the Kingdom.
3. The Ex - Mo Mo’s have more character than traditional Christians.
4. Religious boxes need to be completely annihilated.
5. We miss Californians.
6. There is major Religious Devil’s in the heart of America.
7. The Lord wants us to be still so he can create a deeper relationship with Him.
8. The one thing He will ask when we come to heaven is “Did We Learn How to Love?”
9. Are we doing works to be seen by men? Or will we have fruit that remains when he tries our works by fire?
10. Most Christians need to be untangled from the deceitfulness of riches.
11. We are learning that there is a matrix in the religious Christian way of thinking, and most things that we have learned
the Lord is un-teaching us.
