Our History - Arthur Burke / Ron Thaxton

I am forwarding our USSPN Weekly State Prayer Focus for WEST VIRGINIA (September 5 - 11, 2004). Ron and Nancy Thaxton, our Apostolic Coordinators for West Virginia (praywv@churchinthecity.com), submitted the following focus and history that can be shared with your networks. Blessings, Chuck D. Pierce **************** 

The State of West Virginia United States Strategic Prayer Network 2004 Focus 

West Virginia Prophetic Highlights: Arthur Burke/ Prophet -Ron Thaxton PrayWV 

While this state officially parted with Virginia during the Civil War, the roots of the division were ancient. Typical of a Ruler society, Virginia's landed aristocracy blatantly discriminated against the small farmers of the remote part of the state. 

Typical of a Prophet society, the West Virginians resented anything that even resembled injustice or control. The state sent thousands into both armies during the Civil War, leaving deep wounds in the family spirit in the state. 

Subsequent labor and political battles have been deep, bitter, violent and wounding. The state was made to die for ideology. (West Virginia typically sends a greater proportion of her sons and daughters into our nation's wars than any other state.) When they are able to commit to seeing the Kingdom of Light and Life triumph over the Kingdom of Darkness and Death, they will have an influence vastly greater than their size. 

They have a long tradition of gorilla warfare and could easily provide some of the most skilled, creative and intrepid warriors the church has ever seen.

Bill LaMachia: During worship I saw myself blowing a shofar in West Virginia. As I did, fire in the shape and with the action of a tornado shot from the end of the horn. The hilltop and mountaintops erupted into flame and then the rivers and creeks between the mountains began flowing with fire. I heard Him say "You will light the mountains, rivers and the hearts of men with My fire. Sound my call!" "Mountaineer Spirit" - 

Reflections on the 2004 Gator Bowl Pastor Ron Thaxton - PrayWestVirginia The Mountaineer Marching Band - "The Pride of West Virginia" - had just left the field at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida by forming an outline of our state and then collapsing it into the sidelines. They had sounded out excerpts from "Take Me Home Country Roads" and our state song "West Virginia Hills." 

Silently a small convertible appeared in one corner of the field and slowly made its way toward the center. Seated on the back seat in typical beauty queen fashion was a slight figure with long blond hair. As she gently waved to the gathering I turned to Nancy and said, "That must be the Gator Bowl Queen; wouldn't it be wonderful if Jessica Lynch was here?" The next words out of the mouth of the announcer were: "A twenty-year-old supply clerk from Palestine, West Virginia . . . " The remainder of his words were lost as the Mountaineer faithful erupted in recognition and appreciation of our "Favorite Daughter" former Army PFC and Iraqi POW Jessica Lynch of Mayberry Run, Wirt County. 

As a young boy my bare feet flew through the green summertime fields just a couple of hollows over from Mayberry Run. Jessica's relatives were my classmates and friends at Palestine Elementary A lump arose in my throat and I had to fight back the tears that threatened to gush from my eyes while quelling the accompanying gasp. My thoughts were, "This is not right, I shouldn't have such an emotional reaction to something that is outside the Kingdom of God." But now I want to ask you to consider something with me: were my reactions and the reactions of tens of thousands of West Virginians, both resident and expatriate, outside the Kingdom of God or were they a latent recognition of our Lord's redemptive purposes for the people of our state? I have come to believe it is the latter. 

West Virginia is waiting for a voice, a native, indigenous, apostolic voice that will point it in the direction it is to go - toward its determined place in the destiny and providence of God. Mrs. Ellen King, the author of our state song "West Virginia Hills," discerned God's immutable purposes for our land when she wrote: "Oh, the West Virginia hills! How unchanged they seem to stand, With their summits pointed skyward To the Great Almighty's Land! Many changes I can see, which my heart with sadness fills; But no changes can be noticed in those West Virginia hills." 

This missive is my inploration to you, my fellow citizens of West Virginia (and those who will join in agreement with us), first of all who have their vision set on a better country, a heavenly one, and subsequently who cannot let go of a hope, a dream, a vision that the realities of the Kingdom of God would be fully birthed in the land in which the Lord has placed us. 

My travels have taken me to the other side of the globe on several occasions and I have left part of my heart in those foreign lands, yet the purpose that possesses my soul goes back to one early morning many years ago as I sat on the edge of my bed and suddenly "saw" the state of West Virginia in gold (glory) and "heard" the words, "This is your ministry!" 

And I know that I am not alone. We have met you, and you, and you, who have received a similar commission from the Lord and it continues to pursue you. This is what I mean by "Mountaineer Spirit" - the redemptive purposes of God for our land. Destiny is defined by values or redemptive gifts. Purpose is fulfilled by the pursuit of those values. 

When I meet Christian leaders from other areas, I find they have a similar hope for their region. However, West Virginia is where I am and we must be diligent to grasp the vision that has grasped us. It won't just happen! We have a sound that is to be heard. '

It is our sound, unique and special to the people of our land. Our sons and daughters recognize it. They just don't understand what it is. The star of the ABC-TV series "Alias," Jennifer Garner, is a native of Charleston, WV. She was recently home for the Christmas holiday season and she said, "I spend all year waiting to come home." She continued, "I was raised by the community. I still feel very loved. It's so comforting to be home. I feel like I could come home and sit in a hundred different laps and be taken care of." 

Unknowingly she is describing a redemptive gift of her native land. One of our strengths is community. Jessica Lynch personifies the virtues of the people of our state and maybe even its topography. After her ordeal first became known, we thought she had fiercely fought her captors and that would not be out of linekind with our ancestry. After all, some of the greatest warriors of our nation have their roots in the West Virginia hills, men such as Generals Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and George S. Patton, Jr. We always lead the nation in sending our sons and daughters to serve in times of national emergency. However, in declaring her the West Virginian of the Year for 2003 the Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail wrote: "But Lynch