Appendix C: Ministry Conversations
Two real conversations with Apostle Delmar, transcribed and lightly edited for clarity. Names have been changed to protect privacy.
Conversation 1: Deliverance from Fear
A young man calls in, struggling with anxiety and harassing spirits.
Apostle: How are you doing?
Marcus: I'm... okay. No, that's not truthful. I'm very riddled with anxiety right now.
Apostle: Okay. So why are you anxious? Well, I know why, but what's coming is the spirit of fear. So that's normal. That's what's happening. Whenever we are thinking wrong thoughts, we're not allowing the promises of God. We're busy doing other things and not attending to His word. Those thoughts seem real. That's the devil's scheme. There's a spirit of harassing spirits.
I can tell you've been dealing with harassing spirits. I can hear it.
Marcus: Yes.
Apostle: And they are spirits. They're spirits of darkness. Their mission is to kill, steal, and destroy. That's what they want to do.
Now, one of the things you have to do: when you got delivered, when you came here, you got delivered. So how do they come back on you? If you don't keep eating and feeding on the Word of God, you allow the devil back in. You gotta keep eating. Never stop. The devil's attached otherwise. You keep feeding on the Word of God. You keep doing that. Because if you don't, you get weak. And when you get weak, the enemy comes and takes back his place.
You gotta trust in God. But you can't trust Him if you don't know Him. It's like you asking me for my bank account number. Do you trust me?
Marcus: No, I don't know you like that.
Apostle: Exactly. You don't know me like that because we haven't spent time together. So when you start to spend time in the presence of God, all that fear, all that anxiety, everything dark: it's gotta go. It's not compatible with God. So then you see the devil doesn't have a right to you.
I'm offended when the enemy tries to attack my friends, people I know. I'm not okay with it. You have a will, and your will is very powerful. God made everybody free-willed agents. Whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it. You can accept Jesus, you can go to hell. God won't make you. He's not a dictator. He gives you the opportunity because love will allow others to make the decision.
So, man, you gotta stay in the Word, especially when the devil had a stronghold before.
Marcus: You're right. I gotta lock in.
Apostle: You gotta lock in. You gotta go to church. You gotta be in service.
Marcus: I'm gonna be in service online. I'm gonna bring my mother, my father, gonna make them join me.
Apostle: God wants to keep you. And that's what the Holy Spirit does. When the Spirit comes upon you, it can drive you to do things.
Now, why are you afraid? What are you afraid of? Men can't kill you. The devil cannot kill you. Are you born again?
Marcus: Yes.
Apostle: Okay. So that's a big deal. You belong to God. When you belong to God, the devil cannot kill you. See, little dogs will huff and puff and try to bluff even much larger dogs because they don't know they're small. Well, you can't allow that. You're literally, in the spirit, greater than the devil. You're greater than anything the enemy can throw at you.
But if you're not hearing that, and then the devil comes to you—all he does is lie. "What if this happened? What if that happened?" It's a horrible thing to go through. You shouldn't allow that. But if you haven't been eating and strengthening your spirit, then you will allow it, because you believe based on your feelings. You can't do that.
God bless you, Marcus. The devil is trying to kill you but he can't kill us. He's been trying for thousands of years. Still can't. We belong to the Kingdom. He is just a liar. So I'm not talking to him anymore.
I break it in the name of Jesus. I say you go, you harassing spirit. I loose you from Marcus in the name of Jesus.
(Apostle begins praying in the Spirit)
The name of Jesus. You are completely free. Completely.
Say this: "In the name of Jesus, I am strong."
Marcus: In the name of Jesus, I am strong.
Apostle: "I am supernaturally protected."
Marcus: I am supernaturally protected.
Apostle: "I'm not going anywhere. I'm reserved for the coming of Jesus."
Marcus: I'm not going anywhere. I'm reserved for the coming of Jesus.
Apostle: In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Marcus: Thank you so much.
Apostle: Never, never forget. No matter the tricks, no matter what the devil throws at you. Sometimes the devil goes after people especially if they're gonna be powerful against him.
Marcus: Right.
Apostle: All right. God bless you.
Marcus: Thank you so much for your time.
Conversation 2: Healing the Broken Heart
A young woman shares about leaving a toxic work environment after serving in the military.
Apostle: Tell me your situation.
Naomi: So, I was in the military for 13 years, and I got out for numerous reasons. The first time around, it was the vaccine mandate. My grandfather's a pastor, and he told everybody to pray about it for themselves. When they asked me why I didn't want to take it, I said, "Because God told me not to."
They put me in rooms for seven hours every day, questioning me. "How do I talk to God?" They questioned my religion. They tried to give me pork to see if I would eat it, testing if I was really Christian. It was crazy.
When the Navy SEALs sued, they overturned it so they couldn't kick anybody out for practicing their religious beliefs. I kept thinking of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, some elevated person demanding everybody bow down. I was like, "I'm not doing that."
At that point, I was in for nine years, so they told me, "You're gonna lose your retirement, you're gonna lose everything." I said, "Whatever God allows you to take, you'll be able to take. And whatever He doesn't, you won't."
Now I work at a school district. To me, it feels like the same thing. The superintendent controls everything. We had a two-hour meeting where everyone thanked him for things you'd thank God for—"If it wasn't for Dr. G, I wouldn't be eating. If it wasn't for Dr. G, I wouldn't have food on my table."
Since I'm an outsider from the military, when I gave an honest analysis of the environment (protocols, safety procedures), I told him, "It's chaotic and disorganized." He got so offended. He said, "No woman's ever talked to me like that in 30 years." Then he started making it difficult, taking away opportunities, belittling me, embarrassing me in front of others.
Every time I walk into that place, it's spiritually dead. A coworker who's also Christian told me, "It's not just you. You can feel the spiritual attacks. They're personal."
Part of me wanted to stay, be a light in a dark place. But I told Gary, if you stay in a dark place too long, it overcomes you. Why struggle purposely if God is telling you not to be there?
Today, I told the superintendent I was quitting. I think I made the right choice, but I have no idea what's next. That's the frustration: there's no end goal here. It's a power game. And what am I supposed to do? He controls everything in that domain.
Apostle: Okay. Let me tell you a story.
When Jesus got baptized by John the Baptist and came up out of the water, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. The wilderness, in the original language, means an uncultivated place. He fasted for 40 days. The devil came with three temptations, and Jesus quoted the Word and overcame that devil. Now it wasn't an uncultivated place anymore. It became an oasis. Angels were there. He drove the darkness out.
We're not supposed to be a thermometer. We're supposed to be a thermostat.
Naomi: What do you mean?
Apostle: A thermometer just checks the temperature. A thermostat changes it. We're not led by pressure. If you feel pressure and that's why you quit, then God didn't lead you—pressure did.
Here's another example. I worked for 33 years at my job. Friday evenings, my coworkers would go to a pool hall called Slick Willie's. They'd ask me to go. I'd say, "Y'all know I'm not going. I don't go to places like that."
One day, a guy named Al kept asking. Finally I said yes. Called my wife, told her I was going to Slick Willie's to drink my Coca-Cola and play pool. When I got there, they were drinking, smoking, talking. I started getting nauseated: the darkness, the smoke. After 45 minutes, I left. Got in my car with the windows down trying to air out. I got beat down inside that pool hall. Spiritually, I took a hit.
Two weeks later, Al asked again. I said, "Man, last time I was sick." He said, "Come on back." I thought about it. Why am I going alone? Why don't I bring my Partner to work with me?
So I went back. When I stepped through the door, I said loud enough for everyone to hear: "Hey! I am in the house! And I declare in the name of Jesus Christ—I own this! I am here!"
I was the loudest thing in that pool hall. Quoting Scripture after Scripture. The champion pool player, Al, challenged me to a game. He said, "What do we bet?" I said, "You know I don't bet." He said, "Buy each other lunch." I said, "If you win, I'll take you wherever you want. If I win, you come to church with me."
He agreed because he's the champion. I can't play pool.
We get down to the eight ball. It's my shot. Al says I have to bank it. I look at him and say, "Al, I walk by faith and not by sight."
I hit that ball. It bounced off the bank, rolled down, and dropped in the corner pocket.
He threw his stick down: "Man, that's crazy!"
He came to my church and got born again.
I wasn't a thermometer that night. I was a thermostat. You wanna bring your darkness against me? I'm gonna light you up. When you feel that darkness, flip the switch. You are full of light.
Now—when you quit that job, the devil stole from you.
Naomi: I didn't think of it that way.
Apostle: From what you told me, the devil drove you to quit. You frustrated because you didn't fight. You didn't fight with faith.
Naomi: I also felt like the job I signed up for wasn't the job I was doing. They had me sitting in a room for eight hours doing nothing—supposedly to punish me. From a life standpoint, I don't believe in wasting time. Our time here isn't unlimited.
Apostle: Okay, let me give you this. Number one: the devil owes you. There's a thing called sevenfold return. Whatever that salary was, he stole it. You get seven times back everything the devil stole.
Naomi: That's crazy you're saying that. During the hardships I've gone through, there have been multiple men in positions of power who have stolen literal money from me. Real estate agents, during my divorce. I didn't sue or lash out. I truly believe God saw it and it will be returned sevenfold.
Apostle: If the devil keeps finding a soft spot, he's gonna manipulate it every time. You gotta get rid of that button.
Naomi: I'm not soft. Don't let my meekness make you think it's weakness.
Apostle: Right. I'm meek, but I'll rip your head off.
It's like that game, Whack-a-Mole. They pop up, you whack them. Whack them with the Word of God, declare Scripture over them, and keep moving. Your angels take care of the rest.
You're owed sevenfold. Declare it in the name of Jesus. Everything in the heavenly realm works by declaration.
And there's recompense. When you've been unjustly treated, I don't have to go to a lawyer to get recompense. I can declare recompense and my God will make it happen.
The example in the Bible: when the children of Israel left Egypt, God told the women to go borrow gold from the Egyptians. They spoiled Egypt—took all the gold, all the treasure, plus their freedom. Not a single feeble person among them.
That's recompense.
So all that pressure, all that unjust treatment—declare recompense in the name of Jesus. The Bible says, "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord." He's a just God.
Now there's more here. Your heart's been broken too. More than just the job. The military. And a guy.
Naomi: Yeah.
Apostle: Those are the three things I see. God wants to put your heart back together. Isaiah 61 says: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel... and to restore the brokenhearted."
You can't be in faith with a broken heart. James says a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. The word "double-minded" in the original language literally means "two hearts"—two opinions.
When your heart is broken, you're easily distracted, easily entangled, easily discouraged. That's a broken heart. God wants to put it back together.
When you quit, say the words "I forgive." When someone hurts you and you don't say those words, you're still connected to them and they're still hurting you.
Naomi: Whoa.
Apostle: It's called quantum entanglement. That's why Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." When you forgive (snap) the chain is broken. They can't hurt you anymore.
Naomi: That's why you said "entanglements"—quantum entanglements.
Apostle: Yes. That's why Jesus said forgive seventy times seven. Don't hold onto it. Forgiveness isn't a feeling. It's a decision.
I'm gonna pray for you now. Your heart's gonna be healed. And then, girl, you're gonna go to whacking. You're gonna flip the switch on the devil. You're gonna stop letting him push you around. You're gonna get sevenfold, everything that was stolen and recompense for the rest.
Say this: "Father..."
Naomi: Father.
Apostle: "I come to You in the name of Jesus."
Naomi: I come to You in the name of Jesus.
Apostle: "You know my heart is broken."
Naomi: You know my heart is broken.
Apostle: "So I'm asking You to put my heart back together again."
Naomi: So I'm asking You to put my heart back together again.
Apostle: "To restore life unto me again."
Naomi: To restore life unto me again.
Apostle: "I forgive him."
Naomi: I forgive him.
Apostle: "I forgive him right now. I let him go."
Naomi: I forgive him right now. I let him go.
Apostle: "And the people that hurt me on the job."
Naomi: And the people that hurt me on the job.
Apostle: "In the military."
Naomi: In the military.
Apostle: "And everything that the enemy has used to break my heart, I forgive them all."
Naomi: And everything that the enemy has used to break my heart, I forgive them all.
Apostle: "Thank You, Father. I receive healing in my heart."
Naomi: Thank You, Father. I receive healing in my heart.
Apostle: "And I declare in the name of Jesus—First John 1:9—Your Word says if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness."
Naomi: (repeats)
Apostle: "Lord, You know I've missed it. I've been on the wrong road. And Father, I'm asking You to forgive me. And to restore unto me the joy of my salvation."
Naomi: (repeats)
Apostle: "I am righteous right now. I believe and I receive it now."
Naomi: I believe and I receive it now.
Apostle: "Jesus, You are my peace. Prince of Peace. So I receive peace now."
Naomi: So I receive peace now.
Apostle: "Thank You, Father. In the name of Jesus."
(Apostle prays over her)
Father, in the name of Jesus, I also see a harassing spirit that's been harassing her. You harassing spirit—shut your mouth and go in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I release the fire. I plead the blood of Jesus. She is completely free of all bonds, all attachments. The chain has been snapped. There'll be no more quantum entanglement, no attachment to the negative.
Father God, I sense a freedom and peace coming on her right now—greater than she's had in a long time.
Thank You, Jesus, for restoring my sister. Thank You for lifting her up. Now she can fly. She couldn't move before, but now she can go. The chains are broken.
I declare you free in the mighty name of Jesus!
Say: "I receive it."
Naomi: I receive it.
Apostle: "I take it now."
Naomi: I take it now.
Apostle: "It's mine now."
Naomi: It's mine now.
Apostle: "In Jesus' mighty name."
Naomi: In Jesus' mighty name.
Apostle: Amen.
Naomi: Amen.
Apostle: Love you.
Naomi: Love you, Apostle.
These conversations are unscripted moments of ministry as they happen at Encounter Church. This is how the fire spreads—one conversation at a time.