By now, you have probably heard that my dear 93-year-old father and founder of this ministry, Gerald Derstine, went to be with Jesus a few days ago, February 12. He had been healthy and active before going into the hospital several weeks prior with an infection in his feet. While this is a huge loss to our family and the body of Christ, we are rejoicing, knowing Dad has joined that great cloud of witnesses and reaping the rewards of a lifetime of service in the Kingdom. As someone has said, he is wearing a heavy crown!

We are overwhelmed with the tributes and outpouring of love from those who were impacted by Dad’s ministry over the past 70 years…a rich legacy that has touched millions of lives. Thank you for your comforting words and memories of a remarkable, yet humble, man who was passionate for God!

I have served in the ministry with my father for my entire life, and he has well prepared and equipped me and our family to carry the baton. We are upheld by highly-respected leaders and friends who have stood with us for many years, and we are excited about what the future holds. Indeed, we are already training the next generation of leaders so the Gospel will continue being preached and disciples raised up through our many outreaches.

Our Winter Conference season is going strong, and lives continue to be changed, healed and restored here on these holy grounds.   “Fan the Flame” is our theme this year, taken from II Timothy 1:6, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you...” Revival fires are still burning! Prophet Jonathan Cahn, author of “The Harbinger,” was with us this week and other great speakers are scheduled, including Gary & Drenda Keesee, David & Nicole Binion and Jesse Duplantis. Paul Wilbur will be with us April 18 for a Seder Dinner.

In addition to our own conferences, many other groups are returning to our beautiful Christian Retreat facility on the Manatee River, where they are surrounded by the presence of God. We are thrilled to offer them our newly-renovated rooms where they can relax and be refreshed. Our deepest gratitude to many of you, our friends and partners, who helped make this happen! YOU share in the reward of the ministry that happens here. We still have a few rooms left to sponsor for a $10,000 donation; if you act quickly, a plaque with your name, along with a Scripture, will be placed on the room’s entrance as part of your legacy that will continue into future generations.

here at home and in other lands...…Haiti, Israel, Honduras, India and many other nations. Thank you for enabling us to reach out to those who need it most, especially during these uncertain times. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

...our dear friends and partners, for standing with us. Your prayers and support mean more than you know. As we adjust to the loss of a great general of the faith, we will run with the Vision and example my father set before us, preaching the Kingdom of God and making disciples. What a joy to know that we will spend eternity together! If you care to sow a seed, your memorial gift will go towards the IOM Gerald Derstine Scholarship Fund and will enable us to continue the great work he founded. 

Following the fire,

Pastor Phil Derstine