A Boy Named Elijah
By Christina Martin • March 18, 2011 11:34 AM
Elijah is a ten year old boy. He loves to read, likes video games, and has some cool dance moves. His best friend Robby says he's awesome. When they play sports in school they have to be on the same team or "it just doesn't work out."
Elijah's life is a gift to all who know him. But it's a gift that almost wasn't received. His mother Natasha became pregnant at the age of 19. Her then boyfriend was just as scared as she was, and he pressured her to abort. He gave her $ 250.00, (a small price for a life), and told her to go to a clinic.
A older friend tried to talk Tasha out of it, but when that didn't work, she drove to her to the clinic. She stayed in the car praying, while Tasha went inside.
The clinic was in Texas, and during this time they were required to show their patients a video of what the abortion procedure would look like. When Tasha saw the video, she knew she couldn't go through with it. She grabbed her stuff, and ran out the door. Her friend waiting in the car, just had her prayers answered.
Natasha is one of my dear friends. She is a wonderful, devoted mother who raises her son to love and fear the Lord. She told me that having Elijah helped her to mature. In her own words she said, "When I became a mother, I knew I had to do whatever it took to take care of my child. When I got pregnant my first thought was that my life would be over, and I wouldn't be able to do anything. But having my son actually helped me get bigger dreams for my future."
Natasha is a full time intercessor at a House of Prayer near Atlanta. She has a degree in marketing, a eye for fashion and a heart for those in need of justice. She wants to open up clothing boutiques and use the funds to reach the broken. She is a voice for life, and a living testimony of God's ability to restore.
Elijah was named after a man Tasha talked to on the phone one day at work. She was making calls, and the man she spoke to had a name she had never heard before. " Elijah?, she said. I like the sound of that." Since she wasn't a believer at the time, she had no idea it was a biblical name. Nor did she know of the promise of Malachi 4: 5-6:
See , I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents.
Looking back, she believes God chose that name for her son. I think He did it for all of us. To show us that even in the midst of great death, He is saving lives. To tell us that although many are turning away from their children, He is giving grace for precious ones to turn to them. Thank you Natasha. Your brave choice has blessed the world with the gift of a boy named Elijah.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Israel " An Isaiah 6 moment"
February 7, 2011
Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings from Atlanta! I pray that this letter finds you and your family well. I am now on full-time staff as an Intercessory Missionary at IHOP-Atlanta and the Lord has been so faithful to my heart! He is doing wonderful things and I know that He will continue to be faithful to finish the good work He has started in me, especially as I sit before Him daily in prayer.
IHOP Atlanta has embraced Israel and the mandate to support God’s plans and see the Jewish people restored. As I relentlessly pray for the salvation of Israel, God has given me the opportunity to go to Israel with a team from IHOP this spring, not only to gain a better understanding of the Jewish people and their culture, but to join Him and other Jewish believers in His work there in the land. We plan to leave Atlanta on Thursday May 26, 2011 and come back Monday June 6, 2011.
You may wonder why visit Israel? Israel and the Jewish people are one of the main focal points for God’s purposes on the earth and Israel will be the focus of the end-times events prior to Jesus’ return to the earth. When mankind fell in the Garden of Eden, God made a promise to humanity that He would bring a Promised Redeemer who would restore all that was lost in the Garden. About 1900 BC, almost 4000 years ago, God made a covenant with Abraham that he would be the father of many descendants and they would one day inherit a land that came to be known as Israel. Later in history, as God formed the nation of Israel from Abraham’s line, He led them out of Egypt to the Promised Land through Moses and Joshua. God chose Israel and the Jewish people to reveal Himself to the entire earth and to teach the nations about the One, True Living God. Israel was also the nation and people group through which God would bring His Promised Redeemer, the Messiah. The Messiah was prophesied to be a son of King David who would inherit the kingship of Israel, redeem God’s people and who would also reign over the entire earth.
When Jesus came 2000 years ago, “Yeshua”, in Hebrew, fulfilled all of the prophecies spoken by Israel’s prophets about the Promised Redeemer - the Messiah of Israel. As God foreknew, Israel missed the time of their visitation. But the Good News of redemption and the hope of the coming Kingdom of God went out to the whole earth from Yeshua’s disciples as it has done for the last 2000 years. Sadly, the Gospel spread to a world that was largely anti-semitic and had no concern for anything Jewish. That led to the development of Christianity that soon became unaware of its Jewish roots. Many doctrines of the early Church leaders divorced the Church from everything Jewish. And with the last destruction of Jerusalem and dispersion of the Jewish people from their homeland in 70 AD by the Roman Emperor Titus, Israel was mostly forgotten and even thought to have been replaced by the new Church. But God has not forgotten His people or His promises!
Today, 2000 years after Yeshua came, God has reformed the nation of Israel and begun calling His people back to their homeland. God is also awakening the Church to embrace her Jewish roots, and more importantly, embrace His chosen people. Many of God’s prophecies and promises regarding Israel and the Jewish people are yet to be fulfilled. However, when Yeshua returns to the earth, He will restore Israel to glory and bring His people into His kingdom and fulfill all of His promised to Israel.
My trip to Israel will include visiting Biblical, historical sites in and outside of Jerusalem; partnering with local houses of prayer in the country; helping local, Messianic Jewish congregations in humanitarian work to needy families and holocaust survivors; and embracing my rich, Jewish heritage as I gain God’s heart for the land and His people. The cost for the trip is expected to be $2300.
I am excited about the opportunity to serve and to minister, and I ask you to join me in ministry. I am seeking your support and prayers for this mission trip. If you are able to assist with this trip, I would ask that you forward any tax deductible donation to me with the check payable to “International House of Prayer-Atlanta” and for non-tax deductible donations to “Natasha Edwards”. I thank you in advance for your prayers and your financial support. May God bless you richly!
Blessings,
Natasha Edwards

Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings from Atlanta! I pray that this letter finds you and your family well. I am now on full-time staff as an Intercessory Missionary at IHOP-Atlanta and the Lord has been so faithful to my heart! He is doing wonderful things and I know that He will continue to be faithful to finish the good work He has started in me, especially as I sit before Him daily in prayer.
IHOP Atlanta has embraced Israel and the mandate to support God’s plans and see the Jewish people restored. As I relentlessly pray for the salvation of Israel, God has given me the opportunity to go to Israel with a team from IHOP this spring, not only to gain a better understanding of the Jewish people and their culture, but to join Him and other Jewish believers in His work there in the land. We plan to leave Atlanta on Thursday May 26, 2011 and come back Monday June 6, 2011.
You may wonder why visit Israel? Israel and the Jewish people are one of the main focal points for God’s purposes on the earth and Israel will be the focus of the end-times events prior to Jesus’ return to the earth. When mankind fell in the Garden of Eden, God made a promise to humanity that He would bring a Promised Redeemer who would restore all that was lost in the Garden. About 1900 BC, almost 4000 years ago, God made a covenant with Abraham that he would be the father of many descendants and they would one day inherit a land that came to be known as Israel. Later in history, as God formed the nation of Israel from Abraham’s line, He led them out of Egypt to the Promised Land through Moses and Joshua. God chose Israel and the Jewish people to reveal Himself to the entire earth and to teach the nations about the One, True Living God. Israel was also the nation and people group through which God would bring His Promised Redeemer, the Messiah. The Messiah was prophesied to be a son of King David who would inherit the kingship of Israel, redeem God’s people and who would also reign over the entire earth.
When Jesus came 2000 years ago, “Yeshua”, in Hebrew, fulfilled all of the prophecies spoken by Israel’s prophets about the Promised Redeemer - the Messiah of Israel. As God foreknew, Israel missed the time of their visitation. But the Good News of redemption and the hope of the coming Kingdom of God went out to the whole earth from Yeshua’s disciples as it has done for the last 2000 years. Sadly, the Gospel spread to a world that was largely anti-semitic and had no concern for anything Jewish. That led to the development of Christianity that soon became unaware of its Jewish roots. Many doctrines of the early Church leaders divorced the Church from everything Jewish. And with the last destruction of Jerusalem and dispersion of the Jewish people from their homeland in 70 AD by the Roman Emperor Titus, Israel was mostly forgotten and even thought to have been replaced by the new Church. But God has not forgotten His people or His promises!
Today, 2000 years after Yeshua came, God has reformed the nation of Israel and begun calling His people back to their homeland. God is also awakening the Church to embrace her Jewish roots, and more importantly, embrace His chosen people. Many of God’s prophecies and promises regarding Israel and the Jewish people are yet to be fulfilled. However, when Yeshua returns to the earth, He will restore Israel to glory and bring His people into His kingdom and fulfill all of His promised to Israel.
My trip to Israel will include visiting Biblical, historical sites in and outside of Jerusalem; partnering with local houses of prayer in the country; helping local, Messianic Jewish congregations in humanitarian work to needy families and holocaust survivors; and embracing my rich, Jewish heritage as I gain God’s heart for the land and His people. The cost for the trip is expected to be $2300.
I am excited about the opportunity to serve and to minister, and I ask you to join me in ministry. I am seeking your support and prayers for this mission trip. If you are able to assist with this trip, I would ask that you forward any tax deductible donation to me with the check payable to “International House of Prayer-Atlanta” and for non-tax deductible donations to “Natasha Edwards”. I thank you in advance for your prayers and your financial support. May God bless you richly!
Blessings,
Natasha Edwards

Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Missionary Support
Greetings Family and Friends,
I pray that this letter finds you and your family well. This is my second year as a part-time Intercessory Missionary at IHOP-Atlanta! I am excited to be ministering to the Lord and to raise my son in the House Of Prayer, just as Hannah gave Samuel back to the lord and he was raised in the temple. I am thrilled to be serving at IHOP-Atlanta as an Intercessory Missionary! Elijah is attending the Daniel Academy which is a homeschooling/private school partnership on the mission’s base. God is raising up Elijah as a forerunner to prepare the way of the Lord by cultivating a lifestyle of prayer and fasting, prophetic wisdom, and academic excellence.
On February 12, 2006, our dream became a reality, as the International House Of Prayer - Atlanta Prayer Room was expanded to cover 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The prayer meeting that started that day continues to this day, without ceasing. It's astounding to think that there has never been a worship-led prayer meeting that continued unabated for this length of time in our city, until now! Now prayer and worship never cease to arise from our city to our great God (Isaiah 62). Our prayers will release revival in Atlanta and empower the church to love God wholeheartedly and fulfill the Great Commission.
The Lord has called me to be like the prophetess Anna who “never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers...spoke of [the Lord] to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:37-38). Each week I am devoted 6 prayer meetings in the 24/7 Prayer Room and 8 hours in service and outreach. I am also committed to one day of fasting weekly and three days once a month during our Global Bride Groom fast. I pray the New Testament prayers for the church to be strengthened as the vehicle to fulfill the Great Commission and turn our nation back to God.
God is doing wonderful things and I know that He will continue to be faithful to finish the good work He has started in me and Elijah. I serve as an intercessor in the 24/7 prayer room, give encouragement on the Prophecy Teams, and help run the IHOP Office with my administrative and marketing skills. I have obtained my Bachelors degree in Business Administrative/concentration in Sales and Marketing at Devry University. And I plan to use these skills at the International House of Prayer by assisting the Marketing department. I am also actively involved with Bound4Life, a pro-life and pro-adoption ministry. I focus my intercessions on justice issues (Luke 18) and seeing the African American community released into their identity in Christ and their leadership role in the arising prayer and missions movements. I also have a desire to go to the Nations specifically the West Indies Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico and the surrounding Islands. I also have a dream to have a Fashion Boutique, (Virtue 31) that will support Human Traffic Organizations with clothing for their victims.
IHOP-Atlanta is run by a ministry staff of missionaries who raise their own support in order to do the works of the ministry. It is for this reason that I am writing you. I would like to give you an opportunity to join me in this ministry by committing to support me with your encouragement, prayers, and monthly financial support .I will be giving you a call in the next three to seven days to share my heart and ministry further. Please know that your ability or inability to partner with me financially in no way affects my love and affection for you. May God bless you richly!
God Bless,
Natasha Edwards
2910 Buford Dr Apt 226
Buford, GA 30519
Email: Natasha.Edwards@ihop-atlanta.com
Yahoo IM: bay757
Website: www.ihop-atlanta.com
Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tashatiny
I pray that this letter finds you and your family well. This is my second year as a part-time Intercessory Missionary at IHOP-Atlanta! I am excited to be ministering to the Lord and to raise my son in the House Of Prayer, just as Hannah gave Samuel back to the lord and he was raised in the temple. I am thrilled to be serving at IHOP-Atlanta as an Intercessory Missionary! Elijah is attending the Daniel Academy which is a homeschooling/private school partnership on the mission’s base. God is raising up Elijah as a forerunner to prepare the way of the Lord by cultivating a lifestyle of prayer and fasting, prophetic wisdom, and academic excellence.
On February 12, 2006, our dream became a reality, as the International House Of Prayer - Atlanta Prayer Room was expanded to cover 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The prayer meeting that started that day continues to this day, without ceasing. It's astounding to think that there has never been a worship-led prayer meeting that continued unabated for this length of time in our city, until now! Now prayer and worship never cease to arise from our city to our great God (Isaiah 62). Our prayers will release revival in Atlanta and empower the church to love God wholeheartedly and fulfill the Great Commission.
The Lord has called me to be like the prophetess Anna who “never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers...spoke of [the Lord] to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:37-38). Each week I am devoted 6 prayer meetings in the 24/7 Prayer Room and 8 hours in service and outreach. I am also committed to one day of fasting weekly and three days once a month during our Global Bride Groom fast. I pray the New Testament prayers for the church to be strengthened as the vehicle to fulfill the Great Commission and turn our nation back to God.
God is doing wonderful things and I know that He will continue to be faithful to finish the good work He has started in me and Elijah. I serve as an intercessor in the 24/7 prayer room, give encouragement on the Prophecy Teams, and help run the IHOP Office with my administrative and marketing skills. I have obtained my Bachelors degree in Business Administrative/concentration in Sales and Marketing at Devry University. And I plan to use these skills at the International House of Prayer by assisting the Marketing department. I am also actively involved with Bound4Life, a pro-life and pro-adoption ministry. I focus my intercessions on justice issues (Luke 18) and seeing the African American community released into their identity in Christ and their leadership role in the arising prayer and missions movements. I also have a desire to go to the Nations specifically the West Indies Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico and the surrounding Islands. I also have a dream to have a Fashion Boutique, (Virtue 31) that will support Human Traffic Organizations with clothing for their victims.
IHOP-Atlanta is run by a ministry staff of missionaries who raise their own support in order to do the works of the ministry. It is for this reason that I am writing you. I would like to give you an opportunity to join me in this ministry by committing to support me with your encouragement, prayers, and monthly financial support .I will be giving you a call in the next three to seven days to share my heart and ministry further. Please know that your ability or inability to partner with me financially in no way affects my love and affection for you. May God bless you richly!
God Bless,
Natasha Edwards
2910 Buford Dr Apt 226
Buford, GA 30519
Email: Natasha.Edwards@ihop-atlanta.com
Yahoo IM: bay757
Website: www.ihop-atlanta.com
Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tashatiny
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