WELCOME TO THE ARK

In November of 1994 Connie and I went on a Life changing trip to Israel with John Hagee Ministries. Upon debarking the El Al flight to Israel there was the sense I had just arrived home. While the entire trip was illuminating touching a Wall that touches you greatly impacted me. I was blessed to spend several hours at the Western Wall experiencing HIS presence at the place of prayer. The place of prayer has been a central part of my Life as a result of this Life changing encounter with the presence of GOD!

The Western wall is the last remnant of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed in 70 CE by Titus and the Roman legions. At the Western Wall Jews and visitors from around the world pray facing the wall, often in tears which is why some refer to the wall as the “Wailing Wall.” In fact, the wall is an ancient praying site for Jews since the Middle Ages and the sheer longevity of “The Wall” is phenomenal. This Wall is Holy and has been blessed by GOD.

A side note no one knows where the Ark of the Covenant is located, but in my humble opinion it must be leaning against the Western Wall.

After returning to San Antonio, Connie and I sought out a way to freely give what we had received through ministry. In the Spring and Summer of 1995, we attended Home Ministry Leadership Classes at Cornerstone Church. In August of 1995, Connie and I opened our Home to a six-week Care Center program that birthed our Home Ministry. We offered prayer, fellowship, a meal, worship, and the Word to whosoever GOD would bring to our Home. Connie and I sill offer prayer, fellowship, a meal, worship, and the Word to whosoever GOD would bring to Ark Revival Church in Blanco, Texas.

In September of 1995 in a prayer with GOD Connie heard a 3 Words from the LORD that has determined our Ministry to this day. Preach-Teach- &-Cook.

In June of 1997 after studying and sharing the Word of GOD every week for two years I was led to Chase GOD to The Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida. A Miraculous Life changing encounter with GOD!

Then Connie and I Chased GOD to Catch the Fire Ministries for one week training school for Soaking Prayer Centers: Monday – Saturday, March 1-6, 2004, including the “Show Me Your Glory” Conference. A Life changing encounter with HOLY SPIRIT.

Then May 3-8, 2004, I was invited back to Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship to attend “The Healing Life’s Hurts” Conference with John and Paula Sanford and Jack Frost. Reattending the Soaking Prayer School. A Life changing encounter with GOD the FATHER, HIS SON JESUS, & HOLY SPIRIT.

After Chasing GOD around the world, I have come to realize GOD is looking for people who are hot after HIS heart. GOD wants a Church of David’s who are after HIS own heart (not just HIS hand). We can seek for HIS blessing and play with HIS toys, or we can say, “No, Daddy, we don’t just want the blessings; we want YOU. We want YOU to come close. We want YOU to touch our eyes, touch our heart, touch our ears, and change us, LORD. We are tired of the way we are, because if we can change, then Blanco and our region can change too.

Vision

Ark Revival Ministries aka “The Ark”, “Ark Revival Church”, “Ark Church”, or “Ark” was birthed out of home ministry and a Christian Bookstore “The Ark Christian Bookstore.” After moving from Bulverde to Blanco Texas answering the call of “The Miracle on 281” we purchased and remodeled the old Theatre on the Square. We lived in the back of the theatre and moved the Ark Christian Bookstore in the front.

After, restarting our weekly Cornerstone Home Ministry in the Theatre and growing to over 100 in attendance we were asked to start a local Church. Connie and I had a meeting with Pastor Hagee and Steve Sorenson at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio May of 1999. It was decided that on the first Sunday in June of 1999 Ark Revival Ministries would hold its first Church Service.

There are countless miracle stories to tell of all that GOD has done to get us on a debt free three acres with two Sanctuaries. We sold the theatre, moved the Ark to the Courthouse, then moved to the marketplace converting Bill’s Dollar Store into the Ark, then we moved into John and Cheri Lightfoot’s Home before GOD provided for our first Sanctuary on the three acres. We have just started services in the Newly built Ark Sanctuary. All that GOD has done confirms HIS hand and presence on this ministry.

We have a vision of being a place GOD manifest HIS presence being a part of the needed Revival and Great Awakening our Nation must have to survive. We are in the process of repentance needed for a revival. We are believing the Heaven is pregnant with the largest move of GOD in the history of mankind.

Our vision is in the name of our ministry Ark Revival Ministries:

The Ark is golden box filled with the Word, Provision, and Power of GOD covered in Mercy. The Mercy Seat on the Ark was a symbolic foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice for all sin—the blood of CHRIST shed on the Cross for the remission of sins. The Apostle Paul, a former Pharisee and one familiar with the Old Testament, knew this concept quite well when he wrote about CHRISTT being our covering for sin in Romans 3:24-25: “…and are justified by HIS grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS, whom GOD put forward as a propitiation by HIS blood, to be received by faith.” Just as there was only one place for atonement of sins in the Old Testament—the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant—so there is also only one place for atonement in the New Testament and current times—the Cross of JESUS CHRIST. As Christians, we no longer look to the Ark but to the LORD JESUS HIMSELF as the propitiation and atonement for our sins. JESUS is our ARK!

Revival refers to a Spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the Life of a believer. It encompasses the resurfacing of a Love for GOD, an appreciation of GOD’S holiness, a passion for HIS Word and HIS church, a convicting awareness of personal and corporate sin, a Spirit of humility, and a desire for repentance and growth in righteousness. Revival invigorates and sometimes deepens a believer’s faith, opening our eyes to the truth in a fresh, New Way. It generally involves the connotation of a fresh start with a clean slate, marking a New beginning of a Life lived in obedience to GOD. Revival breaks the charm and power of the world, which blinds the eyes of men and woman, and generates both the will and power to live in the world but not of the world.

“Ministry” is from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning “to serve” or douleuo, meaning “to serve as a slave.” In the New Testament, ministry is seen as service to GOD and to other people in HIS Name. JESUS provided the pattern for Christian ministry—HE came, not to receive service, but to give it.

The Christian should minister by meeting people’s needs with Love and humility on CHRIST’S behalf. Christians are to minister to others out of their devotion to JESUS and their Love for others, whether the other people are believers or unbelievers. Ministry to others should be impartial and unconditional, always seeking to help others as JESUS would.

Preach-Teach-&-Cook the call is the vision!

– Pastor Phil Thompson