Rise Up Worship with Chad DeGonia, Cassie Skiles, and Kelli Carter - 9

What if an evening of worship could transcend denominational lines and breathe new life into weary souls? On this episode of "It's Time to Rise Up," we promise an exploration of faith, music, and the power of genuine worship. Join us this week as we guide you through the heartfelt journeys of the Rise Up 2025 Worship Night team. Kelly Carter reveals how a divine musical awakening transformed her life. Alongside Kelly, you'll meet Cassie Skiles and Chad Degonia, Rise Up worship leaders whose stories of healing and redemption are set to inspire as they prepare for Revival Night 2025.

Witness the anointing of God through Cassie and Chad as they share their experiences of divine favor and transformation. Cassie's gradual healing journey and Chad's story of redemption after overcoming personal struggles showcase how worship can lead to profound personal change. With references to Psalm 100 and 2 Chronicles 7:14, we dive into the essence of revival—a yearning for God's undeniable presence to spark joy, thanksgiving, and unity. Our conversation underscores the collective vision for a divine encounter that revitalizes dreams and renews hope.

As we gear up for Revival Night in Joplin, Missouri, on February 1st, 2025, the importance of prayer and divine guidance cannot be overstated. We emphasize preparing our hearts and minds, silencing the noise of doubt, and inviting the Holy Spirit's transformative presence. This episode is not just about anticipation but a declaration of faith in God's power to bring redemption, restoration, and salvation. Join us in this spiritual journey, and connect with us for more updates and inspiration as we celebrate the power of worship to change lives.

Chapters

• 0:09 Rise Up 2025 Worship Team Introduction
• 14:03 Anointing and Expectation for Revival
• 23:26 Healing and Worship
• 31:35 Journey of Redemption and Worship
• 38:48 Prayer and Preparation for Revival Night
• 44:21 Prayer for Revival and Awakening

Transcript

Kim McIntire: 0:09

Welcome to the it's Time to Rise Up podcast. I'm your host, kim McIntyre. We want to thank you for joining us this week and if you're not familiar with our show, we would ask you to check us out on our website at itstimetoriseuporg. There you will find our social media links and for our podcast platforms. You'll find us on YouTube, apple Podcasts, spotify and anywhere else you find your podcast. We would humbly ask you to subscribe, leave a comment, give us a thumbs up or, even better, leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you again for joining this episode. Today, I have in the studio the worship team for Rise Up 2025 Worship Night. It's entitled Revival Night. I'm so excited to have Cassie Skiles, kelly Carter and Chad Degonia in the studio. Thanks, guys, for being here. Good to be here. Well, I'm excited to have you all. Kelly, we'll start with you. You are on the lead team for Rise Up and your primary role is to oversee worship for this team, and so why don't you just tell us how you landed in this role? Just?

Kelli Carter: 1:24

tell us how you landed in this role. Well, I can tell you that I've always had a love for music. I can remember when my brother and I were young, my mom would make a makeshift drum set for my brother. She would strap like this belt around his neck and then she would use one of our pots from her pots and pans and then she would give him the wooden sticks like the spatula, and he would use those as his drumsticks. So we would march up and down the street acting like you know. We were in the marching band.

Kelli Carter: 2:00

I would sing, I would twirl, I would dance and as we got older, my brother, he continued to play the drums. I played the clarinet, my dad played the guitar. So you know, we've always just been in music. I love it. But I can tell you that once I gave my life to the Lord and he radically changed my life, worship music became something totally different than I'd ever experienced with secular music. I have some of the best God times when I'm worshiping Him. So when Holly asked me to take over the team, I knew it was an instant.

Kim McIntire: 2:36

Yes, Absolutely, and it's been a great fit for you as well. It's funny because I was like I had wondered, like I wonder if Kelly has like musical background that I'm not aware of, and obviously you do, because, hey, that's a perfect example of childhood. I love for music growing in kids.

Kelli Carter: 2:54

We had a lot of fun.

Kim McIntire: 2:56

Oh, that's amazing. That's awesome. So, kelly, tell us what's new regarding the Rise Up Worship Team for 2025. What's new regarding the Rise Up worship team for 2025?

Kelli Carter: 3:05

Well, we have a lot of new things for 2025. We have two new worship leaders, cassie Skiles and Chad Degonia. We have three new people on the team who have never served with Rise Up. We have Charity Degonia, who will be on vocal, josh Cote he will be a vocal and also doing the acoustic guitar. Last, we have Micah Johnson and he will be doing the electric guitar, and the big news that we have established our very own worship team. That's awesome. We are very excited about this and you will be seeing our team of 10 at all the events going forward, and we just could not be more excited with the team that we have.

Kim McIntire: 3:46

That's so exciting. Well, I know that, Chad, you were part of the worship team beginning last January at our worship night at the Roxy downtown.

Chad DeGonia: 3:59

Yes.

Kim McIntire: 4:00

So but and Cassie, you jumped in at the prayer conference in August of this year, 2024. So you guys were kind of new and now you're officially our lead and co-lead, so that's super exciting. So, Cassie, let's just talk about your heart for worship.

Cassie Skiles: 4:18

Yeah, I really, from a young age, have always known that I've had a I don't know a special intimacy in my time of worship with the Lord and I grew up in a home that was, you know, god-loving. And you know, my grandparents were missionaries to Guatemala for 25 years. They pastored a church when they came back, on my mom's side we're very musical, you know, and on my mom's side we're very musical, you know. And so I've always been around worship and you know church environments and those things and I've really always had a very tender heart toward worship and to the Lord. But really, from a very young age I knew that that time that I spent in worship was different than maybe what most people experience as far as the intimacy that you have in those moments.

Cassie Skiles: 5:10

So I don't know, I feel like it was something that's just kind of that the Lord has placed in me and I don't know, I think from a young age, my grandma, who always listened to Southern gospel music, she would play that just loud as can be. I would sing along and she called my mom in there and she's like, hey, listen to her. She would play that just, you know, loud as can be. I would sing along and she called my mom in there and she's like, hey, listen to her, she's singing harmony. And I wasn't knowing I was singing harmony, I was just singing what sounded good to me. So the Lord just kind of gave that to me. I know it is something that was just given to me and I've never had to struggle to, you know, hear the different parts of music and things like that. So I don't know, it's just something that I've never really not known. I've never really not thought about being musical as far as worship is concerned. It's just always been a part of who I am.

Kim McIntire: 5:54

That's so good. That's so good. I remember the first time I heard you sing. We were visiting a church and you were on the worship team and I just remember thinking, oh my word, that girl is like got the voice of an angel.

Chad DeGonia: 6:07

I literally.

Kim McIntire: 6:08

So there's talent and gifting and ability, and then there's anointing. And, cassie, it's undeniable when you sing, there is a heavy anointing. I had no idea in that moment that someday we would be good friends, but it's really worked out that way, so that's awesome. We're excited for you to be on the team. I'm excited to be on it. Yeah, it's going to be amazing, I know so. Chad, you, like I said, became part of the team last January at the worship night at the Roxy in downtown Joplin and now you're co-lead. Would you tell us about your heart for worship and how the Lord's grown you in that journey?

Chad DeGonia: 6:46

Yeah, first of all that January was really really cold. Oh, my word it was so bad, but it was a great night of worship and, of course, life-changing for me, as I came in contact with my now wife who was there that evening.

Kim McIntire: 7:03

So it's been a wonderful year. Did you guys actually meet at worship night, like officially meet?

Chad DeGonia: 7:09

Yes, yes, that was the first time we've talked. Yes Was that evening in January. It was a text message for me to possibly join as piano player for the youth worship team, which I happily actually rejected her in that offer but. I did say but if you want to talk at dinner, we can talk more about this and the rest is history.

Kim McIntire: 7:30

I love it. God was doing so much at worship night last January. Yes, yes, he was even making love connections.

Chad DeGonia: 7:37

Who knows what you will expect and receive at a worship event through Bide. But anyways, I love to hear Kelly's testimony because I also grew up. I have a family, huge aunts and uncles there was nine of them very musically talented, all by ear. I did do band in school, but for the most part all by ear in that, and we had recorded as young kids. I remember us as little kids and my dads and aunts and uncles all gathering around the piano where we had hit record on a cassette tape and just record whatever happened and you would hear us in the background also playing the pots and pans along with everything.

Chad DeGonia: 8:18

And to do that. But I started leading worship when I was in fact it wasn't even worship, in fact. Some things I was thinking about is in sixth grade, first Assembly of God in Webb City, missouri. I was the song leader and piano player at sixth grade that's how desperate I say they were when they had me do that but later grew to realize there's a huge difference between song leading and leading worship.

Chad DeGonia: 8:44

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh for sure, but I am forever thankful for Brother and Sister Moore, who are still very much, you know, a supportive role in the ministry and stuff. Other pastors, like Larry Griffin at Faith Assembly of God and others who along the way have just spoken into me, mentored me to the place I am today and very thankful for that. Leading worship is, you know, just something that has always been there and just been a passion to do. I once said that I will never preach. I was, you know, always was sometimes too abrasive with my words of honesty and probably wouldn't be a great spot in pastoring. But then God just changed that and I ended up doing a whole lot more pastoring than worshiping, yeah. And after life events, here I am back doing more worshiping, yeah.

Kim McIntire: 9:43

Full circle Full circle.

Chad DeGonia: 9:46

Am back doing more worshiping Full circle, Full circle, and just honored to be a part of the team with Cassie Kelly and the whole worship team together.

Kim McIntire: 9:50

It's an amazing team. We're so blessed, and when I think about the individuals that comprise the Rise Up worship team, it's undeniable that God handpicked everyone.

Kelli Carter: 10:00

Absolutely.

Kim McIntire: 10:01

I mean. And so for those who have not been to a worship night or a rise up event, we just want to formally invite you to this event that will be at the Cornell complex on February 1st at 6 PM. It's going to be an amazing night of worship, prayer, crying out to God. A great speaker that I know has an anointed word to bring, so I just want to plug that in there too. We are excited for what God's going to do. So you know, worship and praise are the pathways to entering God's presence, and he's chosen each of you to lead Rise Up in this area. So, as you're preparing for Revival Night in February, what truths are you keeping at the forefront of your thoughts, cassie? Let's start with you.

Cassie Skiles: 10:47

Yeah, I thought about, you know, this question and really one of the things that kind of stands out to me is that we come together and we think it's easy for somebody who's musical to think worship as being I'm singing or I'm playing or I'm, you know, in that moment, and it is, it absolutely is, and you know the Psalms that David wrote, David was musical, and so obviously this is a way for us to worship the Lord. But our worship is also in other things, like in other ways, is also in other things, like in other ways, and so I don't want to confine myself to thinking, well, I'm only worshiping the Lord when I'm listening to music or singing music or playing music. Worship is, you know, the fact that I get up and I, you know, am teaching my children the ways of the Lord. That's worship, Just the things that we do that point our life toward Him. It's worship Absolutely, and so I think that's one of the things that, as do that point our life toward him.

Cassie Skiles: 11:44

It's worship Absolutely, and so I think that's one of the things that, as we come into the night, it's easy to only think of. You know, when we come in, this is the moment that we're going to do worship, and then we're going to go into the message and it's going to be something else, and then we're all going to go to our lives and we're going to go to work and those things. But worship is in every moment of our life and you know, every time that we make a choice to again turn ourselves toward him and away from the things that the enemy would want to do to try to steal us away from him. And it's a form of worship.

Kim McIntire: 12:17

That's so well said and something I think that we don't always think about that worship is part of everyday life. It's not what happens in the walls of a church, it's not what happens in our prayer closet. I mean, it does happen in our prayer closet, it does happen in the walls of the church, but it's not confined to just those spaces and for the listeners. If it's confined to those spaces, then pursue a heart of worship that flows throughout every part of your day, because that's the sweet, sweet spot with God for sure. Chad, how about you? What thoughts are you keeping at the forefront of your mind as you're preparing for Revival Night?

Chad DeGonia: 12:51

Well, I think, personally just preparing my own heart, keeping my own heart, you know, set on a mind of Christ, keeping it open to what God wants to do Mm-hmm, not what Cassie or Chad wants to do in leading the group, but what is God really wanting to do? And prepare us for that.

Kim McIntire: 13:11

Absolutely.

Chad DeGonia: 13:12

You know, I want to be a vessel that God can just flow through and just be a part of, and a place where God's glory and presence can be so strong and revealed. In that, in the Cornell Center. There Everything is said and done. It has to be about Him, and that is really what God is just preparing in my heart to do. If it's not about Him, there's no point of us even gathering on February the 1st and so making sure that my mindset is not look what Chad is not even so much of. I get to be a perfectionist at some points and not even doing that, as much as we're here to honor God, and if we do that, then it'll be one of the best nights that we have.

Kim McIntire: 14:02

I have to. I have to tell you this because I don't think I ever have, but I referenced hearing Cassie sing for the first time and just sensing in my spirit that heavy anointing on her voice. And I remember when we were at the Keter Center in August and the worship team was practicing, you were on the keys. I'd actually I had heard you in January, but something had shifted from January to August Chad, at least in my observation. So you're up there and we had another leader in place at that time. Melissa, she did an amazing job, but you were on the keys and you took the lead on a song. And it was the same exact sense I had when I heard Cassie sing. I was like this is more than a gift, this is more than talent, this is more than ability, but it's a heavy anointing of God and so the fact that he's teamed both of you up, I just feel like the Lord has just showered favor upon the Rise Up movement, because we cannot produce this.

Cassie Skiles: 15:08

It's the.

Kim McIntire: 15:08

Lord and praise God that it is because he does such a better job than we do. You know, because we kind of can get in our mind people we want to choose because we know them or we're in relationship with them, or we know that, oh, they would enjoy that or it would be a good fit, and those things aren't wrong. But when it comes to who God picks, you can't miss, and I love it when you can't miss because he picked, and I feel that way just from the bottom of my heart when I think about Cassie you, cassie, and you, chad, and also the rest of the team that comprises that worship team. It's just such a blessing. I'm so grateful for both of you.

Kim McIntire: 15:48

I actually want to read a scripture. I try to include a scripture with each interview and this is the one that the Lord asked me to share. It's from Psalm 100. And it's a pretty familiar psalm. You referenced David, cassie, when you were talking about your heart for worship, and so this is what it says Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God.

Kim McIntire: 16:16

It is he who made us and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name, for the Lord is good and his love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations. I just love that psalm. It's kind of familiar. I mean, there's a song, there are songs that have been written out of that psalm, so I wanted to just include that in this interview as just I feel like that's what we're seeking to have happen that night that there are shouts. You know that there are glad hearts that people are entering with hearts of thanksgiving. You talked about heart preparation. If we come with hearts prepared, with thanksgiving and praise, the Lord is going to meet with us. He promises that because he inhabits the praise of his people. So, in regard to Revival Night 2025, what are some specific things that you are asking and believing the Lord to do? This is a question for any of you, whoever wants to jump in.

Chad DeGonia: 17:29

I had been thinking about you know, what does God want to do? And even while in preparing for coming and recording this podcast, I was listening to some worship songs and stuff coming down here and I just really would love to see, as this is a non-denominational event, Right.

Chad DeGonia: 17:51

And where people from every church in our community there will be a lot of different representations of churches and faiths in this event, and that's what we want. But at the end of the day, I don't want them to look at the praise team and say, look, how good that praise team did. What I want them to say is man, I can't explain this. There was something undeniable that happened in that place that night. What would be even phenomenal, as I was thinking about this today is if the praise team eventually completely stopped and all you begin to hear was the weeping of tears from people where the praise team was not even involved anymore. But God's presence and his Shekinah glory fell so strong that night that that is what, to me, I want.

Chad DeGonia: 18:37

Yeah, I want it to be a place where man, the praise team, just completely bows out. We're on our faces and God is doing a new thing, as in Revelation he talks about a 21. And in Isaiah, man. That's what I am seeking is God to just do a new thing, a new season. We've not seen it. We don't know what's going to happen. It's going to be undeniable, but we know it was.

Kim McIntire: 18:59

God, amen, amen. To that I agree. Anyone else?

Cassie Skiles: 19:05

I feel like there's going to be people who are coming in weary and the Lord's going to refresh and restore and bring back to life some things that have that.

Cassie Skiles: 19:17

They maybe some dreams and some things that they thought were dead and, you know, gone. I really do. I believe that the Lord's going to breathe on some things and breathe life into things that have seemed lifeless to a lot of people, and so that's kind of a directive of prayer that I have is that the Lord would bring those people in who are needing that and prepare us to be able to pick the right moment in the song, in the you know the exhortation, the things in the word that's going to be shared and the prayers that we're going to be lifting up, that those things would all culminate to really minister to those moments and the people who are coming in with that burden and those things that he desires to breathe life into. And you know the seasons that we've all been in lately. I think there's, you know, a lot of people have maybe experienced the you know financial stress or the. You know just the things that go on with daily life.

Kelli Carter: 20:16

And.

Cassie Skiles: 20:16

I think the Lord's wanting to you know, as a kingdom. Just bring His kingdom to a place of really breathing life into those things for all of us.

Kim McIntire: 20:25

Absolutely yeah, kelly, did you have anything you wanted to add?

Kelli Carter: 20:30

Yeah, I would just like to really see lives radically change that night. I know that we're going to have people in there that comes in and they're not used to the kind of worship that we'll have, and I'm just so excited to see the walls come down. People can dance before the Lord. They'll have a supernatural joy. They're going to leave different than the way that they walked in. We're going to have salvations, rededications. We're going to have just people that are in bondage, that it's going to be set free. So I'm just really asking the Lord just to radically change lives that night.

Kim McIntire: 21:16

Lord, just to radically change lives that night. I have to say in response to that, I met with someone in this past week, one-on-one, and they're not ready to share their testimony yet, but they were delivered from a 10-year addiction at the last event that we had.

Chad DeGonia: 21:31

Wow, praise God.

Kim McIntire: 21:33

And they aren't ready to share because it's very shameful, and they're a person that a lot of people know and respect. And I said but I know the day's coming, that's right when you're going to be able to say this is my testimony and I am unashamed.

Kelli Carter: 21:51

Yes.

Kim McIntire: 21:52

You know and she's unashamed. You know and she's unashamed, she said, I don't feel so much like I'm in shame, I just feel like when it's the season to share the testimony of what God set me free from, which was a heavy, heavy load of sin, she said I know, I'll know and I'll have that freedom to share it. But just really, what all of you have said culminates into that, because when the Shekinah glory falls, when people come seeking, like you're saying, and then the Lord does a transformative, radical work, people leave with the chains broken. Amen.

Chad DeGonia: 22:26

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Kim McIntire: 22:30

Yes, and we're just believing for that. I feel so strongly that with each event that we've had and we're only a two-year-old ministry each time the presence of the Lord is stronger and the Spirit is sweeter and the testimonies increase. And so I believe that's the trajectory that we're on, that the Lord's just going to do more every time because we believe, we know and believe the coverage of prayer that's happening leading up to February 1st, over you guys as a team, and just every aspect, the people who attend, the people who are on prayer team, the people who will be speaking. So I'm excited on so many levels. Let it be Lord, let it be. He's so good, he's so good. We know prayer.

Kim McIntire: 23:24

I just mentioned prayer, the prayer team. We know that's part of God sending revival to his people. He says so in 2 Chronicles 7, 14. If my people who are called by my name will turn from evil, seek my face, he says, I will hear, I will heal, I will forgive, and so that's what we're going for, and I know I did not directly quote that, but that's the heart of it. With that in mind, how do we believe worship is connected to God, sending revival to not just the city of Joplin and the surrounding area, but our nation.

Kelli Carter: 23:58

I feel that you know, essentially, when people wholeheartedly worship and focus on God, it opens the door for him to move powerfully and it brings about revival. You know, it acts as a key component in creating an atmosphere where God's presence can be powerfully experienced, which leads to transformation, which leads to transformation in individuals, and then they take that out into their communities. That's right. So I really believe that if we just seek Him and focus on him, we're going to see a movement.

Kim McIntire: 24:36

I agree.

Chad DeGonia: 24:37

Yeah, absolutely. I think it's extremely time that, as we are in these days, these last days, that we are in that, this whole and I mentioned it a little bit ago but the whole denomination of walls, I just see them dropping.

Kim McIntire: 24:53

Yeah.

Chad DeGonia: 24:54

And it's something that can happen in worship. In fact, one of the great things about Cassie and I's style of worship is, if you come to this Abide worship, you're going to hear songs that will range from Bill Gaither's side in Time of Music, even hymns a lot earlier than that.

Chad DeGonia: 25:12

It's an elevation worship, in whatever it is. You're going to experience a blended set of worship and I fully believe that it is that style and that kind of worship that is going to tear down walls of denominations. It's going to bring people together and we're going to see some great things as we just worship in the spirit of unity.

Kim McIntire: 25:32

Yes, let it be so, lord, let it be so. I'm actually going to read the scripture that I did not directly quote. If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven. I will forgive their sin. I will forgive their sin, I will heal their land. There's a lot of will there. I will, I will, I will, and so we're doing our part with expectancy that God is going to do his part as well. So I don't know, chad and Cassie, I'm just going to open this up to opportunity that, if you guys feel that your testimony ties in with this interview, if you feel like your testimony ties into your role in worship right now, that I would just like to open up the opportunity for you guys to share. If you want to, yeah, go ahead, cassie.

Cassie Skiles: 26:28

Well, I know a lot of people would come in and have, you know, a testimony of, well, I was backslid and I was lost and I came back to the Lord. My testimony is not necessarily that. My testimony is kind of what I talked about at the beginning of the interview of you know, I grew up in a home that I've always gone to church. I've always known the Lord. I've always, you know, been in that environment. I would say that, probably since being married and I've been married for 20 years to a wonderful husband, hi Jeremiah but since really being married, we together have grown in our relationship with the Lord together and it's just—my testimony, I would say, is that the Lord continues to I don't know grow me more and more and there's things along the way that we go through that, if anything, for me it's been a physical. I've had some physical things that have gone on in my life and it's been a physical. I've had some physical things that have gone on in my life and it's been a part of my life since I was very young and it kind of all kind of came to a head recently. In fact, it was at the worship night that I, or the conference that I was at in August that I had a really bad physical attack that came over me and I was not really able to participate in the way that I know that the Lord's given me that gift to participate. It was interrupted and so really for me it's not a testimony necessarily of I was lost and found, but it's more of there's been struggles in my life that are different, that are for me it's been physical struggles and I'll say for the first time honestly in my life, the Lord is leading me in a path of not necessarily an instant healing, because that's been my prayer, but I'm finding that the Lord is bringing a gradual healing to me and it's coming through knowledge of other things that maybe I didn't know before, you know, and putting me in the right places with the right doctors or the right care team or the right medicines and the right things that I need. And those physical things are starting to be healed and for the first time in my life, really, that I'm starting to have some normalcy in my physical, the areas that I struggle physically with. So I'm praising the Lord for the healing that I know is already started and is continuing to be.

Cassie Skiles: 28:55

And so sorry, that was kind of like all over the place answer, but you know, a testimony again, I don't have like a typical you know I was here and now I'm there. It's more of a you know Progression. Yes, the Lord is progressively taking care of the things that have always been kind of over me and I feel like it's been something that the enemy has had, you know, over me my whole life and this is something that is really being cleared up and I believe the Lord is preparing me for stepping into this role cleared up, and I believe the Lord is preparing me for stepping into this role and for the things that he has, you know, for the promises that I know that he's spoken over me, over my husband, over both of us, and things that we know are in our future, that he's preparing my body in a way to be able to step into those things.

Kim McIntire: 29:42

That's right. Well, one thing that I have just admired so much and it's been an encouragement to me spiritually, cassie is I know that, just as I've seen your journey of worship I know there have been many times you've been leading worship or part of a musical event or production and despite illness, despite feeling exhausted, you're praising the Lord and I don't know, friend, that there could be a better testimony than that, because when we can praise God when we're suffering, that's true praise, that's the sacrifice of praise. You know it's easy to praise and thank God when everything's great. You know I can sing all day long, but boy, put me down on my back, for a few days I'm having to work for it. You know, like, okay, I'm for a few days, I'm having to work for it. You know, like okay, I'm going to praise God, I'm going to thank God.

Kim McIntire: 30:31

No matter what I'm feeling or thinking or experiencing, he's worthy of it all. And, friend, you've walked that out.

Cassie Skiles: 30:38

And that's why I love Psalms and I love I'm going to go back to David. I always come back to David but you read in the Psalms and he will really just pour out his heart and say you know I'm struggling here and you know here's why. But then you always find him coming back around to saying but I tell—I praise the Lord. I tell myself, I love it when he says that over and over. Praise the Lord, I tell myself, because I'm like, yes, sometimes we have to do that. Sometimes we have to say, okay, this may not be an easy day, this may not be an easy situation right now, but I can't let this keep me from really worshiping Him and praising Him in spite of these things.

Kim McIntire: 31:18

That's right. Yeah Well, I'm so excited for what's next, cassie, I'm so excited. I would agree with you. I believe that part of this progressive healing has to do with preparing you for what's next in the realm of worship and leading others in worship. Thank you so much for sharing that. Chad would you like to share some of your testimony with us?

Chad DeGonia: 31:49

raised in a home, my parents did not really go to church until later on in life, but I was taken to church by my grandparents and the way my grandfather drove it caused us to pray every time we went to church, so you know, that's just how it was. But no, I do want to say we have a testimony the fact that God kept us from experiencing things that others don't.

Chad DeGonia: 32:10

God kept me from experiencing what the effects of drugs and alcohol and other things that are life-controlling issues and I haven't been perfect. But I was called into ministry at a young age, went into full-time worship ministry in the early 2000s and have been serving the Lord ever since and was called into ministry to pastor, become a lead pastor. God called us to plant a church, which was just an exciting time, scary time, faith-building time, all of that but God was good to us. In 2020, my family packed up from Webb City, missouri, and moved to a little town called Dewey, oklahoma. I had lived in Bartlesville prior because that was my first full-time ministry position, so I was familiar with the area and but COVID was going on.

Chad DeGonia: 33:09

The church was a revitalization, which I've always been told is 100 times harder than a church plant and would completely agree with that.

Chad DeGonia: 33:18

But in that, the church was in debt and had some things going on that needed to get handled and in the process of handling that, unfortunately, ministry got the best of me and it allowed. I ain't going to say it allowed, but anger and stress and all of those things arised and ended up getting a divorce in that time and one of the things that I've had to fight ever since and God has graciously worked through this and I'm not in the same place, but I just remember going through some counseling in that time and the counselor was this Christian counselor and he was an artist and he actually had this Jesus exhibit Out of all things, it was a traveling exhibit and he had this picture of Jesus sitting in his office and that day it's been there ever since. You know all this time that I was seeing him and this was in Oklahoma several months ago Well, it's been a couple years ago now and I just remember looking at that picture and just starting to bawl one day and thinking how ashamed God must be of me.

Kim McIntire: 34:33

Wow.

Chad DeGonia: 34:34

And that was the thought. And here I am a minister or was a minister of the gospel and would preach the opposite to everybody else. But here I am, my own self thinking how much I've shamed God in my behavior and all this, how much I've shamed God in my behavior and all this, and it took about a year and a half for me to realize that you know God is not ashamed of me.

Kim McIntire: 34:57

That's right.

Chad DeGonia: 34:58

And when I went to the Lord and asked for forgiveness of my behavior, it was forgiven. Yeah, and you know, I don't know that I'll ever pastor again. God would really really have to, you know, put that bluntly before me to do that. Sure, but if that was to happen, I would say yes, God.

Kim McIntire: 35:19

Right.

Chad DeGonia: 35:20

Yes, lord, now he's calling me to worship, but in this season of worship again. But there was a long time in that process that I, as a piano player, could not even put myself to the piano and play and it was tough. It was a real tough period in my life and I would sit down and I would be on there for maybe two or three minutes and I'd have to give it up. I was like it just was not there. But I was reminded that David, in the stressful times he would constantly call for the harpist to come and play and I eventually would just set myself down and just play out, maybe nothing just play chords.

Chad DeGonia: 36:08

Then there would be times that God would give me lyrics and I would start writing songs, and some of them were just for God and myself.

Kim McIntire: 36:16

Right.

Chad DeGonia: 36:17

And I'm thankful that today I don't live in that same place of shame. Amen, and you don't either. Whoever's listening to this. You don't have to live in that place of shame.

Kim McIntire: 36:30

That's right.

Chad DeGonia: 36:31

And God has called you, just as he's called me and others, to be here to a place of victory.

Kim McIntire: 36:36

That's right.

Chad DeGonia: 36:37

And the shame comes from the enemy. Yes, that feeling of shame comes, and it's purposeful, because you have greater things that God wants you to be a part of, that are in store for you, no matter how old or how young or where you're at in life. You don't need to walk that place of shame that's right.

Chad DeGonia: 36:56

And I just I'm excited for what God has in store. My wife and I, charity we have been doing some worship events at Precious Moments, some worship events at Precious Moments, and her little girls, my step-girls, are six and nine and they've come along and be part of a family again, of serving God, and so I'm just thankful for where God has me. Thankful, so thankful to be a part of Abide and to live with Cassie.

Kim McIntire: 37:23

Rise up, Rise up worship.

Chad DeGonia: 37:25

Yes, in the ministry of Abide, yes and so yeah, so good.

Kim McIntire: 37:29

It's a redemption story, amen, amen. I think every interview has had the word redemption or redeemed, because he's a redeeming God and it's just the thread that continually runs through. So I'm so thankful. Yeah, yeah, your wife is one of our lead teachers for Abide. Yes, and I'm so excited for that. She launches a class in January, so we're anticipating God to do really good things through the discipleship piece as well.

Kelli Carter: 38:01

So any other thoughts about Revival Night? Before we wrap this interview, I would just like to add that, just listening to everyone how we're in unity, that God's already placed on every one of our hearts, because he placed Psalm 104 on mine and you speak of David. You read Psalm 100. Yeah, and he read your yes, and so it's. I already see the hand of God on this night already.

Kelli Carter: 38:27

I already see the hand of God on this night already, yes, and so I'm just so excited and I just can't wait to see what's going to happen and just for the freedom that's going to come.

Kim McIntire: 38:38

Yeah, it's going to be so amazing. I'm very excited about it and we're going to conclude with prayer. But what would be something on your heart, your hearts, that you would love for the listeners? I know we have a lot of prayer warriors that listen, so I'm not going to miss an opportunity to put prayer requests out there. So what do we want our listeners to be praying for leading up to Revival Night?

Cassie Skiles: 39:07

I would say, to pray that the Lord would really speak clearly to us as we're preparing, you know, the songs for the evening and praying over those that are going to be bringing either a word or a testimony or leading a moment of prayer. Just praying for his voice to be clear and that we would be able to lean in and hear what he wants for that night. Just and Chad referenced that earlier that we don't want what we want to plan, we want to be prepared, but we don't want it to ultimately be something that we have made happen. It needs to be his hand of anointing that has led and guided and directed every moment of it. So I would say you know anointing and that we'd hear, you know exactly what it is that he's wanting for that night.

Kim McIntire: 39:56

Absolutely.

Chad DeGonia: 39:58

Yeah, and I would say, as any time you begin to embark heaven and embard heaven, but it really embarded territory that the enemy is not so happy with.

Chad DeGonia: 40:12

There's going to be spiritual strongholds that are going to come against anybody that's about to break down walls, and I believe that there's not going to be just walls kind of broken here and there, but when the walls are broken, god's going to break them where there's nothing left to be built upon. And I want that in the praise team's life, I want that in those who are going to be attending there.

Chad DeGonia: 40:36

But, I want to pray that there would be just that hedge of protection around our praise team. You know around Cassie, and you know our voices, our hands, our instruments, the sound equipment, all of that because we're just rebuking any work of the enemy to grab any a hold of that and to get any attention at all quite honestly, so I would say yeah, just praying that you know the health and the mindset of the praise team would be clear.

Kim McIntire: 41:10

Amen, amen. Yeah, that clarity is so important. Kelly, is there anything else on your heart?

Kelli Carter: 41:18

No, I just you know, want all of us just to keep our eyes focused on God and just kind of echo what Chad said, that we silence the enemy. Yes, that any spiritual, physical attack that he would try to bring up on anyone. That is a part of that night. That we just rebuke him in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Kim McIntire: 41:37

Yeah, we plead the blood over Revival Night in advance, the blood of Jesus over the entire team, and just declare victory in advance.

Chad DeGonia: 41:47

Amen.

Kim McIntire: 41:48

And we know it's going to be amazing. So the thing is like everything that we're desiring and everything that we have on our minds and in our hearts for Revival Night, for our community, it's aligned with the Father. He wants to redeem and restore, revive, refresh, heal, set the captives free. That's what he's all about and he's so gracious and merciful to do it isn't he yes?

Kim McIntire: 42:16

So we're going to close in prayer and if anyone feels led, you're welcome to pray out on the mic. But I'm going to lead out and I'll pause a little bit, but if not, then I'll close this out. Okay, amen, all right, father, god, we come to you. Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus and through the power of your Holy Spirit, we thank you that you have given us the honor of hosting this Revival Night event in Joplin, missouri, on February 1st. God, we are praying for clarity in the minds and hearts of our worship team and the leadership of this team. God, we are praying a protective hedge over each one their bodies, minds, spirits, their families. God, their ministry, their workplaces, their communities and the people and places they're connected to. We plead the blood of Jesus that speaks a better word and we just declare victory.

Kim McIntire: 43:12

God, we believe stronghold walls are coming down on February 1st. We believe people are going to be refreshed and restored and renewed. Rededicated God to you. We believe there are going to be lost souls saved in Jesus' name. We are not just asking God, we're declaring it and we're believing it. We are believing, god, that lives are going to be radically transformed and, lord, I pray that Shekinah.

Kim McIntire: 43:41

Glory falls at the Cornell Complex in Jesus' name. Lord, we pray that your Holy Spirit is welcome in that place. Lord Jesus, that you fall A fresh wind and a fresh fire would fall on every individual. Lord, may people come with ready hearts to receive what you have. Lord, we're trusting and relying on you because we can't produce anything apart from you. God, we seek you, we humble ourselves and we trust that this night is going to be a night that marks people for your glory.

Kim McIntire: 44:21

And God, we ask send a revival, god, send a great awakening to the city of Joplin, the surrounding areas, our nation and our world. We are desperate for you, god, to move. God, we need you, we love you. Lord, we give you praise and honor and glory. You are worthy of it all. I thank you for this team and, lord, I bless them in your holy name, in the mighty name of Jesus, amen, amen, amen. Thank you for listening. Be sure to check us out on our website at itstimetoriseuporg, our Facebook page or Instagram at the underscore official underscore rise, underscore up. May God's grace and peace be with you in Jesus' mighty name.