Sunday, November 15th, I visited MorningStar Fellowship Church in Fort Mill, SC. Pastored by Rick Joyner, a much maligned teacher, author and prophet, I've been curious about this church for some time. MorningStar Fellowship Church is held on the grounds of the old Heritage USA, of which I worked a few years in the height of its popularity. This is the first time I've been on the old PTL grounds since I left many years ago, and I was flooded with memories.

I was first shocked at the change that has taken place. I had expected to drive up to the main entrance, past the guard house, past Billy Graham's childhood home and work my way through the grounds - but all of that has changed now. It is now broken up into subdivisions, and it took me a while to get my bearings. I had to make a U-turn and turn into Regent Drive until finally I crossed the familiar railroad tracks and saw the church (what was once the mall) come into view.

My initial reaction to seeing the grounds was saddness. There, standing unfinished was the Heritage Towers. Bricks falling off the facade, rusted metal beams. I remember so well as it was being built, all the hope and promise that went into the complex. And there it stood, still unfinished after all these years.

As i parked and made my way into the church, I was excited to see that "Main Street" inside the mall, had not changed that much. The 1 hour photo where I worked in the mall had now been opened up into neighboriing stores and is now a large church bookstore. It was easy to visualize the old place in its glory days, buzzing with happy faces, praise and laughter.

Enough reminiscing.

The service . . . was different. Not "different - bad", but "different". I'd classify the atmosphere as relaxed. VERY relaxed. It had the feel of holding worship in the Concord Mills food court. As the band starting playing, and the camera boom moving constantly overhead, it quickly started filling up. Attendees with hands raised would make their way down to the front - some dancing, some just standing, swaying from side-to-side, head back arms lifted up toward heaven- lost in worship. At the same time folks coming from the "mall" or "main street" would walk through the midst of them carrying drinks, cups of Java they just purchased from the Coffee Shop. Others were sitting around tables, drinking coffee, holding conversations and some on laptops.

Like I said - different.

I worked my way down front because I wanted not to just observe - but be an active participant. I came in with no preconceived notions, or an agenda. I wanted to know if this was real - or were these people just "playing church". There were times I asked the Holy Spirit - "what about this? Is this you? Is this okay?"

As I sat, fourth row from the front, the first thing I noticed was Rick Joyner was sitting about 7 feet to my right, at a table working on a laptop. My first reaction was, "wow, THAT'S Rick Joyner!" Then I thought, "What's he doing on a laptop during praise and worship?" I wanted desperately to walk up to him, introduce myself and shake his hand, but thought it might not be appropriate. Plus for whatever reason, I guess I was a bit nervous. So I just sat there and stared.

After a few minutes another man and a lady companion walked up to Pastor Joyner, shook his hand and sat near him. I knew immediately who this man was. His black t-shirt, tattoos and piercings gave him away. This was Todd Bentley, Canadian Evangelist, of the Lakeland Revival. Yes, I stared at him too.

After a while, Rick Joyner took his laptop and went up to the podium and began to speak. It was as though Rick Joyner had been in my personal prayer and devotional time for the past month. Most of what God has been speaking to me - Rick brought out in his sermon. Whether you agree with or even like Rick Joyner, this one thing is certain. Rick Joyner is all about restoration. Rick Joyner and MorningStar Fellowship Church is all about restoring broken lives. Tears welled up in my eyes as he embraced Todd Bentley and made the announcement that Todd was going to start speaking again on a limited basis.

There were many things Rick Joyner said in his sermon that resonated within me. I'll get into that another time. But Rick Joyner demands that Christians, at least in his congregation, not be "lukewarm" but actively involved in ministry in some way. Just a brief glimpse of his website will tell you that the church is actively involved in reaching out to the lost. There are ministries within the church that witness on the corner of Trade and Tryon in Charlotte on Saturday nights - something I use to do many years ago. There's the Oak Initiative, the men's, women's and children's ministries, the home groups the healing teams and the list goes on and on.

To say that this church is not reaching out and ministering the love of Jesus Christ is wrong. Rick Joyner preaches, at least on this Sunday, a balanced message of love, faith AND works. Trust me - you don't get that in a lot of churches.

Will I go back?

Absolutely. I intend to take a few others with me. I think there is more here that I need to learn and I believe this church offers a lot.  Are they perfect? I would say, probably not. But is ANY church operating exactly the way God wants them to? I haven't found one. If you do, let me know.

Until then, come out to MorningStar Fellowhip Church and see for yourself. Come open to the move of the Spirit of God, and allow God to speak to you. I think you'll leave as I did - blessed.