- NEW INSPIRATION EACH WEEK -
My name is Dumas A. Harshaw, Jr., Ph.D., founder and executive director of
My name is 
I have been in the pastoral ministry and a professor of theology for more than 30 years, serving churches and seminaries in California, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. My passion is to grow as a prayer warrior and to encourage others to experience the power of prayer in their lives, vocations and ministries. If you’d like to know more about me, click here.
“Waiting Together”
Acts 2:1-12
We find a glowing picture of the spiritual intimacy of the New Testament church in the second chapter of the book of Acts. Living on the edge of the crucifixion and the resurrection, they were now living in concert with the instructions from the risen Christ. The command was to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father. There was no turning back for them, instead, they were moving into a new future they could hardly imagine. For the Holy Spirit was coming upon them.
It was the designated time for a historic harvest celebration. It was the day of Pentecost. It is a religious festival deeply rooted in the history of God’s dealing with the people of the covenant for their spiritual enhancement. This enhancement was different from anything that had happened before in the biblical history of God’s work of salvation. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.”
What a marvelous unity was displayed in this gracious act of God! They were all together in one place. This served as a miraculous act. It became a place of unity, a time of reminiscing, and a season of hoping for a renewed faith walk in a divine adventure that would change the world. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” The early church community changed, each disciple who received the Holy Spirit changed, and we can give witness that the world has changed due to this empowering exhibition of the power of God’s Spirit. May the Spirit of God move upon us today.
Pastor Dumas A. Harshaw, Jr.
Call To Action Dumas Alexander Harshaw, Jr.
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Today America is at a crossroads, the question is, will we be a united nation with diversity, reflecting the “Beloved Community”, where everyone is valued, or we will be a broken, divided, resentful, and exclusive nation standing at the threshold of a “civil war”, in which case there will be no wholesome survivors.
As an Apostle of prayer and encouragement, sent and divinely prepared for such a time as this, I propose for people of faith and goodwill, to engage in a life of serious prayer and reflection. This is a time for dedicated spiritual warriors and anointed intercessors to heed the call of God in 2 Chronicles 7:14. This kind of spiritual warfare is intentional and entails significant action in doing good and performing the works of righteousness. This might be called pragmatic spirituality, engaged contemplation or simply following the example of Jesus Christ. We need people who are armed with the armor of God to take a stand for what is right. The contemplative life is more than simply praying about the challenges of our times, the life of contemplation is focus on prayer that ends in involvement with the world around for the cause of Christ.
The second aspect of my proposal is the commitment to take the role of an encourager. This is over and against negativity, hopelessness, despair, defamation of character or even the conditions that surround us. It means to speak with words of faith, affirmation, peace, positivity, uplift. It does however include speaking the truth in love and standing on principles, values and ethical standards that may confront the status quo.
These are not easy times that we live in, but they are critical times filled with the promise of victory, fulfillment, breakthrough and transformation.
Will you join me and see what the end will be?
“Nor by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of hosts.”
Zechariah 4:6
Dumas Alexander Harshaw, Jr.
Apostle of Prayer and Encouragement