Though it’s been 19 years of founding and pastoring Gateway City Church, it’s been 30 years of pastoring and ministering New York City and abroad. Throughout all those years, the Lord has instilled in me a city vision primarily and for the nations and we’ve worked towards that end.
    We’ve been through many seasons of war as the enemy has tried desperately to force my wife and myself out of ministry to this city.  For over the last twenty years we have battled in war with only a reprieve for a couple of years in between to regain strength because another war was just around the corner.
    We’ve warred for unity of churches and pastors, for the manifest presence of God to come to this city, to have an open heaven, signs, wonders, miracles, the apostolic and prophetic to go forth and be re-established and transformation and reformation of society.  Believe me at every turn there was a battle.
    God by His mercy has placed a greater mantle on this church and my wife and I, His servants.  A number of you have received this call and have come under the mantle the Lord placed on us and have partaken in the city vision and have understood Gateway City Church has an apostolic call on it to this city, this nation and the nations.  We have said that and worked toward it for many years.
    However I must say all has been done while pastoring, loving, teaching and praying for the people God has sent to us.  We love you, our family.  You are bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh. 1 Chronicles 11:1-3
    At this point I am a church father in this church and city and my wife is a church mother to this church and city.  We’ve laid our lives down with great sacrifice and burden; more than any of you know.  The Lord has kept us and sustained us.
    At this point after years of leading warfare and breaking strongholds to fashion an open heaven along with our fellow ministers and leaders in this city, we believe we are coming into our greatest season ever.  Pastor Teresa and I look forward to running with the might and strength of the Lord to the finish line.
    Last week Rev. Ed Silvoso who has had a great influence on our lives addressed this congregation and then the leadership of this church at our house after the services.  He reiterated much of what he has taught us in the past but certainly with a new fire and perspective.  Though over the years and even in more recent months I have taught on Transformation.  A new light and fire is ignited.  This is God’s hour and God’s season to show Himself great and mighty to the nations.  When there is famine, God miraculously provides.  He causes manna to fall from heaven.  When there is a drought, the Lord provides hope and rain and we see a cloud in the sky the size of a man’s fist.  (1 Kings 18:44)  The rain of God’s Spirit is for the harvest to come in, for the saints to be refreshed and for the Church of Jesus Christ at large to be washed and baptized anew in His love, grace, mercy and power.  What a season we’re in!  Praise God!!! 
    We have been in the past and presently but now with even more intent to be an apostolic church in this city thrusting forth the message, method and goal of transformation in the seven mountains that form culture (government, religion, education, the arts, media, business and finance and family).  The Great Commission is not to disciple one on one only but to disciple nations.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matt. 26:19.
    Rev. Ed Silvoso pointed out a very significant Scripture in Rev. 21:24 “and the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.”  The nations and their political leaders should be the ones walking in the light in the kingdom of heaven.  Ed Silvoso further warned that the bride must be ready to disciple nations so the political leaders will be ready.  The church is not to stand still and wait for Jesus to take them away before, during, or after the rapture but to get out and work.  He went further to say the Lord is looking for a point of inception in our jobs, schools, and neighborhoods.  You are that point of inception.  Prayer walk your office, schools, and neighborhoods.  Love the world enough to bring the love of God to it.
    The Bride is to be victorious and the Lord’s marriage to her will be public.  She will be the one who will bring dominion of the kingdom of God to the kingdom of earth as I preached recently from Gen. 1:28.  For the church, it is not a time for gloom and doom; it’s a time of showing God’s love and mercy and taking dominion in the spirit realm.  This whole church must be apostolic in its outlook not just Pastor Teresa and myself and a few leaders.  The Lord has recently spoken the word “REALIGNMENT” to me.  I have taken that word and assignment from the Lord to realign my relationships with ministers in this city and nationally and to be very strategic with those relationships and the work we do together for the kingdom.   
    Pastor Ed Silvoso challenged the leadership at our house to do something in the next 24 hours with this message because “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17.)  The leadership took the challenge as he spoke into us that though many others may be more qualified, God has chosen each one of us and each one of you.  Remember the greater message is not our faith in God but God’s faith in us.
    The following was done by the leaders of this church in a 24 hour period.  We prayed in the industries of inception God has given us.
•    Pastor Teresa and I drove to all five boroughs and prayed at all the government offices and municipal buildings.  As apostles in this city representing the kingdom of God and its government we prayed governmentally over the leaders and politicians of this city.  We declared the Lord’s kingdom laws be in effect, the righteous to lead us and for them to hear and follow in the Lord’s ways as He whispers in their ears.  We toppled over false idols and strongholds in each borough and spoke the laws and statutes of God to fill and take its place.
•    N.T. – Vice president in a bank prayed over the banks on the right side of the building of where she works and some on the left.  She declared over them that the Lord would stabilize the banking financial sector and that He would bring honest  God fearing CEO’s and CFO’s who will in turn extend moral values to those who are involved in the decision making processes.  Once the banking system is stabilized that all honor and glory be given to the Lord and that people will be treated fairly and according to their works.  N.T. also anointed the entrance to her work building and every cubicle of the employees that report to her.
•    M.P. – I began to pray over those two gateways of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge and asked God to use those gateways to remove what needs to be removed and to bring in His presence, His truth, His Kingdom.  As I walked the Lord showed me how at the foot/foundation of these gateways lies demonic strong holds.  Many of the Artist and Businesses that are here are owned/run by Buddhist, Muslim and homosexuals so I prayed that God would tear down those strong holds that are at the foot/foundations of these gateways. When I arrived to my office, I anointed the seats of my current boss and prayed blessings and healing for her body.  I then anointed the Shawl of my new boss and prayed that as she wears that shawl that God would reveal truth to her and bless her and her family.  You see, she is Jewish and her husband also works here and he is one of the big bosses of the company.  So I just pray that God will use me in any way to bring change to my Jerusalem/workplace.
•    E.P. – prayed at the top of the Empire State Building for the whole city.  He also prayed and made declarations in Times Square where so much of the media comes from and forms culture.  May God redeem the media to influence culture for Him.
•    J.B. - On Monday morning I traveled to the Local Schools in Bay Ridge.  (The Ones that I knew where to find: Telecommunications, Xaverian, Fort Hamilton and I prayed for them on site.  I called the Youth into the kingdom of God.  Later that day I took the Monday night crew to the top of 257 and had them pray over the homes, schools.  The Academy, Youth and Church.  Just praying life and asking God for Heaven to touch earth and to open doors for them to walk through to help advance.
•    J.G. and S. G. – J.G. is a construction manager and S.G. a baker – their points of inception.  The building and housing industry must come up again to stimulate the economy.  I drove down 4th Ave and prayed at all the construction sites that I saw.  I prayed that the Holy Spirit would inhabit all these places, that the workers and developers would look to God.  That those who live and work in these buildings would feel the presence of God as His Spirit inhabits the buildings.  I felt led to pray on 4th Ave as it is the gateway that leads from the water to the city.  S.G. prayed into the food industry.
•    B.Y. – Director of CHN – wife and widow of an injured and decorated World War II veterans.  I went to the army base today, and rode up and down the area while braking down strongholds of greed and corruption.  Made declarations for salvation and integrity from the President, Vice president, down to the senate, congress, House of Representatives, our governor, mayor, borough presidents on down. Declared that our country and our city is under God first, then under godly leaders. Prayed for protection on the army base, all the soldiers and those in combat in Iraq.  Prayed for our border, for safety in the water, that no enemy can come near it.  Prayed for a mighty move of God, for salvations for everyone on the base, for a revival to begin there and spread to government.  I walked all around too, and prayed, the PX was surprisingly open, so I prayed in there for God to touch every life, all the workers and shoppers.  I pictured God’s warring angels keeping guard over the Fort and all that it entails.  Prayed that those in authority will see God’s hand upon our country and state, and that they will be open to receive what God has to give, that they will give Him glory when good things happen like the miracle on the Hudson where no one mentioned His Name.  I broke the strong holds of Masonry casting it out in Jesus Name, and declared that His Name will be lifted up, and He rules and reigns! Declared that bondages are broken and our God is in charge!  It was a powerful time for me personally, a Divine appointment with God with my assignment.  I am looking forward to hearing what He is going to do all across our city and country. Glory!
•    H.M. and S.M. – I have prayed for an open door of sharing the Gospel not only in retail furniture but also to the industry.  Most of the sales reps in the NY area are Jewish.  The furniture business has been hit very badly in these poor economic times.  However the store where I work is a unique exception.  When the sales reps come in, I am now able to share with them that it is The Lord Jesus who has prospered this business and He deserves all the glory.  Their response for the most part has been positive.  I believe bringing change to the industries of this nation thru prayer and bold sharing will help change the climate of our city and nation for the Lord. P.S. S.M. and I have made a commitment to prayer walk our neighborhood weekly.
•    D.C. and C.C. – Traveled and prayed over the Verrazano Bridge and the gateway for our city to come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and declared it legally belongs to Him.  They prayed protection against principalities who have assignments against this city.  D.C. and C.C. prayed for a canopy of glory to fall and especially for the pastors to receive reward for their labor.  They prayed for greater vision of church leaders and to know what the Lord is doing in our midst.  At the end they saw signs on trucks and license plates confirming their prayers and declarations (Van that said Lordship Blvd: a license plate that said Cross fire; A truck with a picture of an eagle and said the spirit of freedom; and another truck that said “Covenant Transport) It was significant to see all four within a couple of minutes of prayer.
•    P.H. - Went out after the gathering at Pastor’s house and prayed for the development where they live and he went further to the mall and prayed for all the commerce, stores banks, etc..
•    J.L.  and N.L. – As musicians, vocalists and worship leaders, they declared over the fine arts and media in the city.  Our destinations were Lincoln Center but as providence would have it, we went up 57th Street from the FDR Drive and passed Carnegie Hall and began there.  We stopped across the street and prayed and declared that the Kingdom would come, hunger would be stirred for righteousness, leadership would shift and dominion would fall to the Church.  We continued up 57th Street and passed the Art League and declared over the fine arts.  When we turned on Broadway, we stopped in front of the ASCAP building and prayed for music publishers and declared righteousness and favor the Church.  We prayed for the television industry as we passed the ABC studios for righteous programming and Christian leadership to move into places of influence.  We declared truth to reign in high places and the righteous model of the family to be proclaimed.  We prayed for the stirring of hunger for truth in all the places we went.  I walked around the accessible areas between the Met, Avery Fisher and the NYS Theater and affirmed that the Lord’s Spirit would come in might and power to these places.  Then J.L. picked me up and we drove home via Broadway thought the Theatre district, praying and declaring the Kingdom and praying for the homosexuals to know that the Lord in love and truth and binding Jezebel.
•    L.D. and J. D. – Pastor Roger - Our life will not be the same and you have opened the door for us and the congregation and more so, this city for great Transformation.  Pastor Roger we embrace this purpose and we dream and war with you over this city.  We are bringing the message of transformation to Trinidad as we are going there to minister at Pastor Baloosing’s church and pastoral network.  Let’s disciple nations as the Word says. 
•    D.R. and D. R. – D.R. and I at lunch went down to the 69th street pier.  We prayed for the import/export business, cruise liners, boats, harbor traffic all of the ins and out of the harbor.  We also prayer for the Verrazano Bridge for its safety cause if anything happened to that bridge it would halt all commerce to the city.  Also we prayed for the Statue of liberty and what it stood for Freedom.  D.R. began to prayer walk our block and I do drive by prayer.