The History, Purpose & Vision . . .
THE CALL
February 1983
At the time of my salvation, I promised God that I would spend the rest of my life bringing people to know Him. . . if He would prove to me that He was real. . . which He did.
Then He spoke. This was the first time I ever heard the voice of God.
"I did what you said, now you do what you said. "
He did what I had asked him to do. And, by telling me to do what I had promised He was giving me a direct and clear call to a ministry of Evangelism.
By the next evening I was filled with the Holy Spirit and God had given me two gospel songs. That same week I began ministering in jails and prisons around the state of Oklahoma.
John Swanger
THE APPOINTING
May 1983
While attending a Holy Spirit seminar in Tulsa, Oklahoma and after hearing several well known Teachers and Evangelists, I watched as T .L. Osborn took the pulpit. He waited for complete silence, then simply said,
''For God so loves YOU, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that if YOU believe on Him, YOU will not
perish but have everlasting life".
Hundreds of people came forward and accepted Jesus. Then God said,
"I have people teaching my arms, legs, ears and.
eyes, but I want you to teach them my heart."
By this the Lord was telling me, that if I would simply show the "Love of God" to the lost, they would believe.
This was the second time I heard the Voice of God.
"Love never fails."
John Swanger
THE ANOINTING
July 1983
Within six months of my salvation, I had moved to Denver to start a church with the man that led me to the Lord. I became the worship leader.
Although I felt the anointing right from the start, I knew that every time I played my guitar and sang,
especially the songs that God had given me, the anointing would grow even stronger.
I also knew that I wasn't a worship leader but rather a worshiper. I simply worshipped and others followed.
I knew that this was not a permanent position, but rather a place of training.
John Swanger
THE CONFIRMATION
Although God gives the call, he always sends confirmation of His will in our lives. Sometimes this is through dreams or visions, at other times through direct prophecy, a word, a scripture or simply through the wisdom of fellow ministers.
The following are some of the events that either confirmed the call on my life or helped shape the way I minister the Gospel.
Prophecy: Pastor John Webb, 1987
"As you proclaim the gospel, you fulfill the call the Lord has given you".
Quote: Evangelist Jack Flanagain, 1983
"It's my job to introduce you to Jesus. It's His job to change your life".
Quote: Prophet Smith Wigglesworth, early 1900's
"The Gospel is so simple, it has taken man 2000 years to complicate it".
SCRIPTURAL CONFIRMATION
I received this scripture as a directive from The Lord in the spring of 1988:
2 Timothy 4
Preach the Word
1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselvesteachers in accordance to their own desires,
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
~
Then I read this scripture in the summer of 1990:
Isaiah 58:9-10
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you
spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
This was when I knew God was calling me to a life of service to
The Hungry, Hurting & Homeless.
ORDINATIONS
While ministering at The International Church,
in Seattle, Washington, the prophet Max Granfield
prophesied over me,
"Today is the day of your ordination. Today you are ordained to do the things
I have called you to do."
This Prophecy was witnessed by:
Pastor: Wayne Anderson and
The Evangelist: Jerry Brandt.
~
ORDINATIONS:
The Ministerial Fellowship of The U.S.A. and The International Church
"Minister of the Gospel"
May 14th 1994
~
The Ministerial Services of Cross & Clef Ministries
"Evangelist"
April 19th 1996
~
The Alliance for Renewal Churches
"Pastor"
September 18th 2005
THE PURPOSE
The purpose of Cross & Clef Ministriesis:
To fulfill the Great Commission given by Jesus Christ our Lord, by promoting the gospel, by preaching the Word of God by any and all means and in all places.
To propagate the true knowledge of what genuine Christianity is.
To spread the Faith of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Music, Service, Testimony & Evangelism to all persons who may be reached through these efforts; to the end that all may know Him and have the blessings derived from the knowledge of faith in Jesus Christ.
To rely on God's provision through offerings, donations, tithing, or any other legitimate funding, to be used for any and all things necessary and proper for the developing and carrying out of the work of this ministry.
John Swanger
THE VISION
Cross & Clef Ministries is a ministry of varied means and venues, leading to the Evangelization of the Lost and the nurturing of the followers of Christ.
The various means range from concerts, preaching, witnessing, personal testimony, music videos and recordings. To any and all other means which The Lord might lead.
The varied venues range from churches, parking lots, prisons, jails, parks, food banks, coffeehouses, restaurants, and street corners. To any and all other venues which The Lord might lead.
John Swanger