How it started:

- by Bill & Kathy Latocki

Jesus did it. Seriously, He did. Read how:

First – a preliminary to set the stage: A couple of years ago Kathy and I started praising God in the mornings as a way to make a daily re-connection with the Lord. Our objective was to have our days be more fruitful and to become more faithful in dedicating each day to Him. Jesus had told Kathy one night as she was falling to sleep, “My people don’t tell Me that they love Me enough”. Our hearts being touched by such a sweet request, we became determined to praise Him daily so Jesus could hear our love.

We had already been starting each day with at least a half hour of great TV bible teaching, plus prayer and scripture declarations, so adding in live worship was a perfect addition to our morning routine. I played my percussion toys prophetically, along with some verbal ad lib praising, while Kathy cheered and sang praise messages unto the Lord, danced, waived streamers, and even used our home-made scepters to make verbal declarations.

It worked wonders. Our days were ignited with more joy, more power, and more results in all areas of our lives.

God had also shown Kathy that the Body of Christ needs to do more praise as warfare and make more vocal declarations to the atmosphere of the goodness of God, the power of God and the faithfulness of God.

At the time of the Columbine school tragedy, Kathy noticed when she went to prayer gatherings that even the Christians were lifting up and focusing on the evil in our culture instead of declaring the goodness and power of God. This, combined with the media frenzy made us both ask, “where and when is the Truth being proclaimed?”

God showed us that even if it was only Kathy and I, we could still have an effect for good by making positive, faith-filled declarations in the face of the onslaught of evil – if one can chase a thousand, then two can chase ten thousand.

NOW HERE IS HOW GOD STARTED THE WELLSPRING GATHERINGS - a surprise to us.

One night after a Kim Clement Gathering in Detroit a very friendly sister, named Bonny Livernois, approached us. She had learned that we all lived near each other and asked to get together sometime. We invited her over for a visit on her next day off of work – Tuesdays. She visited and somehow she join in our praise time. She came again the very next Tuesday. Then again the next Tuesday. It began to repeat weekly and we all started inviting others. It quickly grew to a house full of very sincere Jesus lovers. God birthed a weekly praise gathering in our home, right under our noses – we never planned it – Jesus just did it!!! He wanted it and He has confirmed it many times in many ways since then.

PURPOSE & HIS MISSION:

The purpose of this Wellspring Praise Center is to join with other believers in declaring, through Holy Spirit improvised song and praise, the goodness, power and faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

HOW IT WORKS:

At the beginning of our meetings we discuss prayer needs, but our focus is mainly on letting God know we love Him and trust Him. The prayer situations in our lives have already been lifted to Him before we gather. Now our purpose is to remind Him of the promises in His Word that pertain to our requests and to declare our reliance on Him to meet our every need. We will write all prayer requests into a journal, date them and then later add the date they are answered.

We then begin our praise session. We have streamers, praise hoops and scepters (the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of the Kingdom). We use whatever praise instruments are at hand, or that you bring, to help bring us into the presence of the Lord and to scatter the enemy.

The music begins and, because we are not all professional musicians, we just let go and flow with the Holy Spirit and expect something fresh and new to be created. Our praise is spontaneous and prophetic. Many times afterwards we hear comments like “that’s the best one ever” or “now that was different!”. As we press into God, He is faithful to unite us as one and many times the sounds become lovely and harmonious and very unified.

We try not to be distracted by anything but focus on Jesus and trust Him to bring harmony and a sweet praise symphony. Most of the music is spontaneous and improvised. Sometimes you may hear a bit of a familar song such as Amazing Grace or Awesome God. There can also be original songs by attendees as God inspires during the meeting or they may bring one to the meeting.

Often a prophetic word will come forth and/or a prophetic sound from one or more instruments which will then be interpreted ( please judge the prophecies but not the prophets ).

Many times, participants will have visions or impressions from the Lord as to what is happening in the spiritual realm during our praise. For this reason we have the laptop digitally recording and captureing all sessions and prophecies and prayers. As time allows, sometimes we transcribe the Word into text. CDs are burned for attendees from time to time (these recordings will never be used for any public broadcast without permission and are made available to attendees).

YOU ARE INVITED:

Bring any instruments or other weapons of spiritual warfare and feel free to express your praise as the Holy Spirit leads you through your individuality and personality. Sit if you can. Dance if you want. If you are not a musician then at least, if led, clap your hands and use your voice. Bring an encouraging word and if you have a prayer request, be sure to have the pertinent Bible promise so that we can stand with you in agreement. Come to praise Him in any way you feel led.

WE’RE GUIDED BY HIS WORD:

We make a joyful noise to the Lord and we enter His gates with thanksgiving and come into His courts with praise. We know He is willing and able to make every grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to us in abundance and that He inhabits the praises of His people. We carefully avoid manipulative prayers and witchcraft. “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done” is always the bottom line.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS:

We believe public praise is a coming move of the Spirit and are looking forward to “throngs of unbelievers” gathering to see what all the commotion is about this “God of Love”. We have heard many similar prophecies to this point, including what God has told us personally. People will be drawn into the Kingdom by the love and joy they see in us. We’re practicing and getting ready for the tidal wave.

In conclusion we quote Francis Frangipane from The Stronghold of God:

“The last great move of God in the earth shall be distinguished by overwhelming love, a baptism of love, poured out from Christ to His people, returned again with our praise, back to Him. For those who truly yearn for Jesus there shall come, in ever-increasing waves, Christ’s deep, fulfilling love. Yes, His cross shall break us; indeed, His holiness shall purify us. But it shall be His love that floods our being with Himself.”
 
WHEN DO WE MEET?

Location and meeting times vary to accommodate people’s time schedules.
So please contact Bill & Kathy Latocki for more information -517-795-3342

HOPE TO PRAISE GOD WITH YOU SOMEDAY SOON.