Iris Central Coast had the great joy of sending a team of four ILS2 students and a staff leader to Jackson Mississippi to serve at We Will Go Ministries, led by David and Amy Lancaster. The Lancasters are amazing friends of Iris and Everyday Church; we love them and honor their ministry in Mississippi.
Here is an overview of the Mississippi Trip written by one of our amazing ILS2 students, Catherine Taylor!
We had an amazing time serving and learning with the We Will Go Team! The missionaries and interns are a mixed bunch of families and single people, who have been called by God to serve in Jackson and see it transformed. We came up close and personal with the trials and difficulties experienced by some, but also the joys as they partner with Jesus and see the beautiful people in Jackson come to Christ.
The spiritual climate in Mississippi is very different to California, where we attend the Iris Leaders School. It is one of the poorest states in the US and the area where we stayed was very well known for high levels of crime, drug addiction, and prostitution. At least half of the properties around the base are abandoned and derelict with many of them being used as ‘Trap Houses’ - ‘Crack houses’ - a house where drug dealers and or pimps make there profit.
Our heart was to really encourage the missionaries and pray for them, as well as serve wherever we could. It was a really special time and we were all deeply impacted by the reality of how Jesus is transforming Jackson soul-by-soul and bringing derelict houses back into use. The gospel is bearing fruit in that city right now and it is very clear that it will continue until it is completely transformed. The distinction between dark and light was profoundly apparent.
Even though we were only there for 10 days, we were able to learn such a lot about how they run the base. Essentially, a group of around 30 missionaries and interns, all live together in houses that have been restored and renovated for gospel purposes. It is not uncommon for the ‘neighbors’ to be knocking on the door at night asking for ‘snack bags’ and clothes. Everything they do at We Will Go is relational and so, as they distribute food or take people shopping in their clothes shop, time is always made for those who come in on a one to one basis. No one receives food or clothes without having someone pray for him or her, they are absolutely unashamed of the gospel and make it clear, that is the reason they do what they do.
There are also special times of bible study and worship with an open door to any of the neighbors who want to come. They also have a ministry at the strip club. A small group of specially called women enter the club to minister directly to the clients and girls in the club. They are seeing girls come to Christ and leave that lifestyle! The weekend we were there, two of the girls that had left the club were at a Christian conference and experienced deliverance ministry as they moved forward with Jesus. We had the privilege of interceding in the car park as the team went inside the club. That was a precious time and God was really moving and speaking!
The opportunities to pray for people were endless and God was faithful in touching each one. As we prayed, we saw faces soften as they experienced God’s love. One young guy in particular who had been in prison and had a gang/drug related background just lit up after he was prophesied over and began to rap a gospel message. Women involved in a lifestyle of drug addiction and prostitution were prayed for, encouraged, loved on, and we had an amazing time ministering deliverance to a woman in her home who was being demonically harassed. The supernatural peace of God descended as we prayed and bound the spirit. Her countenance changed and she began to speak out Old Testament scriptures she had memorized as a child, we were all weeping because it was so moving.
We all left Jackson knowing that God was working miracles there and having been reminded again by Amy and David that the cost is real, but Jesus is worthy of it all.