Joplin, MO

Of all the cities we are scheduled to visit on the SOZO Tour 2014, Joplin, MO is the one I am most eager to reach. Last year, my friend, Alita, gathered  a group of women together to hear God's Word from us. Since we left, she has been pleading with us to come back.

Once again, Alita is gathering a group of women into her new home, which is located in Joplin. They want to hear about SOZO healing body, soul and spirit. I will be introducing The Elephant in the Room class for them, which will be augmented by the rest of the team.

 

Joplin has an interesting history. She was established by a Methodist preacher on one side of the valley. Another man established a city on the other side of the valley. They joined together in Union City but was this was determined to be an illegal merger. The two cities merged again later and was named Joplin City. Lead and zinc were discovered in Joplin around the Civil War time and became quite prosperous mining them. Mines still litter the landscape. Joplin has a large waterfall and has 1000 acre park, and multiple streams.

Joplin was hit by a EF-5 tornado in 2011 and 1/3 of the town was destroyed, including the high school and a major hospital, which was knocked 8 inches off its foundation. Joplin's name means The Afflicted based off the meaning "son of Job." If you know the story, Job was a very wealthy man who loved God and hated evil. He sacrificed continually before God just in case his kids were sinning. Job lost everything, including his children in a series of afflictions that was initiated by his own fear.  God allowed the adversary to tempt him. But through all the loss, Job never once cursed God. In the end, when Job prayed for his friends, his affliction turned and God restored double to Job everything he lost, with the exception of his children. And his subsequently born daughters inherited a share of their father's estate after he died which was normally only given to male children.

I am praying for the restoration of Joplin, instead of the afflictions, I pray inheritance. I pray for the people of Joplin to receive an inheritance in Christ. I pray for the people to dig deep, to mine the treasure of God's Word. I speak restoration, rebuilding and inheritance in the Lord. I speak wholeness over Joplin's people. I pray that her foundation of salvation in Christ would be rock solid, unshakable, unmovable and abounding. I pray the center of the Four State Area would light the way for the same kind of restoration in the states surrounding her. I decree and declare Joplin a unified city, a strong city founded upon the Rock, Christ Jesus and her people free, whole and prosperous in His name.

I pray for the women that Alita is gathering together will be forever changed and transformed by what God will do through us in Joplin. I pray for SOZO wholeness for each one.

Love ya,

Carol