by Garris Elkins | Dec 1, 2014 | Apostle, Change, Destiny, Future, Kingdom, Resurrection, Tranistion, Vision.
Years ago, when Jan and I ventured out to start our first church, those who sent us described church planters like us as people who would “pioneer a new church”. That phrase is not used very much in church planting circles today, but remains accurate in...
by Garris Elkins | Nov 27, 2014 | Family, Giving, Joy, Thankfulness
Over the years, Jan and I have found ourselves serving the Lord in several unique locations. One of those places was our assignment in the West Indies when our base of operation was out of Kingston, Jamaica. Thanksgiving time in Jamaica did not have the...
by Garris Elkins | Nov 26, 2014 | Culture, Death, Faith, Forgivenss, Freedom, Honor, Kingdom, Leadership, Reconciliation, Restoration, Truth
(This morning one of my former students posted a question on my Facebook wall. I normally answer these kinds of questions with a personal email, but felt this one was important to answer publicly because the response of the church to these culturally charged...
by Garris Elkins | Nov 26, 2014 | Destiny, Dreams, Faith, Fathers, Favor, Gifts, Holy Spirit, Identity, Wisdom
My grandfather, like his father before him, made violins. They called these violins fiddles. From the forest that surrounded the family home near Quitman, Texas they would cut and cure hardwoods that would someday become beautiful fiddles. As they walked through a...
by Garris Elkins | Nov 22, 2014 | Change, Courage, Destiny, Dreams, Faith, Favor, Fear, Freedom, Joy, Promise, Provision, Redemption, Trust
For every ending – the end of a relationship, the death of a ministry or the collapse of a dream – there exists a new beginning. These unexpected new beginnings can be forced upon us by a circumstance of life or by our own poor choices. God will use these...