Recommended Reading and Resources for Advancing the Prayer Movement

Posted on May 4, 2012 by admin

When I was in college, I got to a place where I needed and became desperate for more thorough instruction from the Word on enjoyable prayer. Most of my thinking on the Word was zealous but confused. I didn’t know quite where to start. I had studied some historical and systematic theology and revival history, but needed something that was going to give me endurance, joy and confidence in the place of prayer. Hunger kept pushing me to search and wade through several hundred books to get understanding of how to get my heart alive and keep it alive in the place of enjoyable prayer. Overcoming accusation, failure and an inability to sustain my prayer life in my early college days, led me to these below resources. Check them out as you can and as the Lord leads you. I can testify that each one deposited something deep into my heart and spirit. The bible says Jesus gave some “teachers” to equip. We would be foolish in this age of instant access to incredible teaching to not go after all God could impart to us through others. Part of what God has for you in your life and destiny will come through the Body of Christ. There is no such thing as isolated Christianity getting all your downloads of revelation from God alone.

Here is a brief but important list of resources that will strengthen your personal life, and thereby strengthen the Prayer movement in your city and church. Feel free to spread this list and these resources around.

1. After God’s Own Heart by Mike Bickle
2. Rewards of Fasting by Mike Bickle
3. Glory Within by Corey Russell
4. Growing in the Prophetic by Mike Bickle
5. Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
6. Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill
7. Prayer (8 books in 1) by E.M. Bounds
8. Harp & Bowl Handbook by IHOP-KC Missions Base
9. The Apostolic Ministry & The Prophetic Ministry by Rick Joyner
10. Overcoming the Spirit of Poverty by Rick Joyner
11. 7 Longings of the Human Heart by Deborah Hiebert and Mike Bickle
12. Pursuit of the Holy by Corey Russell
13. A Tale of 3 Kings by Gene Edwards
14. Apostolic Foundations by Art Katz
15. The Song of Songs (Study Guide) by Mike Bickle

Further, if you prefer Audio – www.mikebickle.org has almost 30 years of FREE teaching on the knowledge of God, enjoyable prayer, happy holiness, and walking in the power and gifts of the Spirit. What a resource and treasure for the Body of Christ! Check it out…God bless.

Posted in Life Journey | Leave a comment

Vision and Values of IHOP New Orleans

Posted on April 25, 2012 by admin

Values of Harp and Bowl Model – Rev. 5:8
“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

Enjoyable prayer that involves us speaking to God and moving His heart and Him speaking to us and moving our hearts is central to the advancement of the Kingdom of God in our region. We embrace these biblical values as core to our prayer model because we see them as valuable to sustaining long-term prayer. Short-term prayer and vision-less corporate prayer needs no structure, model or leadership – but the God-given mandate upon IHOP New Orleans to establish His house of prayer in New Orleans requires that we develop and mentor others in these values so that Prayer can go forth long-term with Joy and Endurance producing much fruit. Even as we transition leadership over next several months in IHOP New Orleans, we have labored to see these Vision and Values established in a people so that we can have a long-term Joyful prayer movement in our land that won’t “lose heart.”

Value #1 Enjoying Intimacy with the Beautiful God
Value #2 The Necessity of Combining Worship and Intercession
Value #3 Praying in the Spirit & Spontaneous Singing
Value #4 Cultivating a Prophetic Spirit on the Musicians
Value #5 Antiphonal Singing and Team Ministry in Prayer
Value #6 Prayer with Authority and the Joy of Answered Prayer
Value #7 The Joy of Evangelism, Missions & Serving the Poor
Value #8 Path to Fullness: Joy in Loving & Needing the Whole Church
Value #9 God-centered Spiritual Warfare
Value #10 Biblical Prayers Using God’s Language
Value #11 Platform Ministry Style – Exalting Jesus
Value #12 The Necessary of Perseverance – Staying Engaged in Prayer
Value #13 Militant Boldness Against the Works of Darkness
Value #14 Conviction of Coming Revival & the Victorious Church
Value #15 Revelation of the End-Time Judgments of God
Value #16 Structure and Leadership in Prayer Meetings

Further, these are 7 Biblical Reasons Why God is Raising up the House of Prayer around the Globe and in New Orleans.
There will be preaching, sound theology, singing – but primarily His house forever will be identified as “a house of prayer for all peoples.” Basically, He wants this identity eternally for His people – that we would speak and move His heart and He would speak and move ours. The house of prayer, bride of Christ, and His beloved sons are our 3-fold eternal identity as saints. Below, I’ve listed some practical reasons why God is releasing the House of Prayer into the nations.

1. Tabernacle of David globally – the convergence of heaven and earth!

2. House of Prayer is unto global harvest.

3. Isaiah 62:4-7 – For Jerusalem. Bridal paradigm & Watchmen set night and day.

4. Personal Transformation – Lives renewed, inner healing, addictions broken off. Beauty.

5. Family Restoration – marriages healed, renewed. Families doing God together.

6. Justice being released – societal issues, revival, harvest, making wrong things right.

7. Jesus is worthy of night and day exaltation in the nations – worthy of 25-8.

Posted in Life Journey | Leave a comment

Transition – a New Season for IHOP New Orleans and the Castanzas

Posted on April 18, 2012 by admin

We have over the past 6 months thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of launching IHOP New Orleans and strengthening the budding prayer movement in New Orleans and all the wonderful people we’ve been able to meet over this past season. It has been our joy to pray and contend for fullness in the city of New Orleans with you guys over past 6 months.

We over the past month have felt the nudgings, promptings and release of the Holy Spirit to embrace a transition in IHOP New Orleans. Through many prophetic words and confirmations we knew it was “time.” We were both challenged and excited as we know His goodness, yet the challenges that transition sometimes brings. Sometime around mid-late March we began to feel led to go back to Kansas City for a season of ministry and turn the day-to-day leadership of IHOP New Orleans over to Jeff and Michelle Niederstadt and allow them step on board with us as directors to continue to see the growth and depth of the prayer movement in New Orleans. They will take over as directors sometime around June 1st.

Jeff and Michelle Niederstadt are pioneers in their own right, whom God is raising up as a prophetic voice and leaders to our city. They have been missionaries here, Jeff being from Michigan and Michelle from Florida, planting churches and serving an integral role in the churches they have been with. They carry a huge heart for New Orleans and to see God raise up worship and prayer that would touch New Orleans. They have been with us from the early days of IHOP New Orleans hearing the Lord clearly as Jeff says “to Build the House of Prayer in New Orleans.” We are 100% confident in their anointing to take this community to the next level over the next several years. They bring a unique skill, gift mix and leadership anointing that will be intregral to the next stage of IHOP New Orleans’ development.

We have appreciated everything each one of you guys have done for us and been to us and have considered you guys like family to us during these past several months. We know many may not understand the Lord’s dealings with us in sending us down here for 6 months to start it and then have others lead it – but we feel as though we have completed our current assignment to gather the people, start the fires and equip over the past several months on the need, the why and the what of the prayer movement. One man plants, another waters and God will bring the increase for SURE.

We will continue to serve on the Board of IHOP New Orleans and come down to do conferences, seminars and serve the Niederstadt’s in anyway we can to advance the house of prayer in New Orleans. Our leaders are in agreement with us that it’s time to make this transition.

I have full confidence in the Niederstadt’s and the community’s ability to take further ownership and build infrastructure in such a way that Stephanie and I possibly couldn’t have for the season ahead. We believe without a shadow of a doubt that God wants a House of Prayer in New Orleans and will seek to continue to partner with the leadership of the city in whatever way I can to help see the fire set upon the atlar night and day to the glory of Jesus Christ in New Orleans that we might have a breakout of power, intimacy and revival. We believe God has Good things in store and He delights to show mercy to New Orleans.

We definitely feel like the time is “now” for it – even as we transition back to KC. The Niederstadt’s for the time being will continue to raise support and pray to be freed up to be full-time in the house of prayer . They have been feeling the call to build it even for awhile now. Our hearts were to never have people attached to us but to have them connected to what God is doing in the earth. We feel like 6 months from now the prayer movement will have grown significantly and we will see the Wisdom in God’s dealings.

We especially will miss:

– All of the friends and family we have made over this past 6 months
– The Saturday night intercession sets going after fullness in our city
– The prophetic ministry times and body-to-body ministry on Tuesday nights
– Seeing so many filled with hope and find their identity as lovers and His bride
– Being able to teach to such a hungry and courageous people week in and week out
– The seafood and cajun cooking that we all love
– All of our leaders, partners and ministers we’ve been able to connect with
– The Thursday morning prayer gatherings with Janet Soto and the others from the various churches

We love you guys, and will continue to pray for the city of New Orleans even as we transition back to Kansas City. We will be back soon to do some teachings and training, and will continue to ensure that the transition goes smoothly with Jeff and Michelle taking the helm.

Our IHOP New Orleans schedule will change a bit in May, but we know the Lord is adding more prayer sets and worship gatherings in the months ahead.

We continue to believe God for a historic revival in New Orleans that a city would have true encounter with the Living God, Jesus Christ and for demonstrations of power all across this land. Thanks for believing with us and in us and for your faithful support. I trust you guys will grow to love and appreciate Jeff and Michelle as you have us and as we labor together as a Family of Affection to see a prayer and prophetic culture arise in the Church and see the Victorious Bride arise leaning on her Beloved.

Continue to pray for :

– Grace on the transition
– Finance for IHOP New Orleans
– Jeff and Michelle Niederstadt
– A permanent building for IHOP New Orleans

God bless,

Chris, Stephanie and David Castanza

P.S. If you have been blessed by our ministry and would like to sow into this season of transition in ministry feel free to Donate here:


Posted in Life Journey | Leave a comment

My Convictions Concerning Building the House of Prayer in New Orleans

Posted on February 26, 2012 by admin

I wanted to lay out a clear vision as to my convictions on why God is building a house of prayer in New Orleans. IHOP New Orleans is going to be a community of forerunners that operate as friends of the Bridegroom making ready the Bride for the Bridegroom’s return.

When I speak of the house of prayer, my use of the term should be applied appropriately in the biblical terminology sense or our community the International House Of Prayer of New Orleans. We are a missions base that seeks to be a blessing to the whole “city-wide” church of New Orleans, not just 1 denomination or assembly.

Many will be called here in the days to come and be employed in the Lord’s work as full and part-time “intercessory missionaries” that spend a significant chunk of their time in the prayer room and the other time in ministry or departmental work. The prayer room will always be the center of IHOP New Orleans.

My 10 core convictions:

1. Jesus’ prophecy about the Father’s House (Mt. 21/Isaiah 56:7): It will be primarily a place of communion, dialogue and prayer to God. The house of prayer in its fullness will be the place of encounter, Joyfulness and experiencing God’s love and breakthrough.

2. The Father desires a house and place of encounter day and night where people can be trained in the Word and a life in God.

3. God is raising up forerunners to prepare the way of the Lord in our city before the 2nd coming. God is wanting to release enjoyable prayer into the city-wide church of New Orleans, and we seek to partner with Him in building the end of the age prayer movement in New Orleans. The idea of a “pre-tribulational rapture theory” or “secret rapture” or “the doctrine of imminence” hinders long-term strategies in building the church and keeps us focused on width rather than depth and must be replaced in the church of New Orleans with the understanding that Jesus is coming for a pure and spotless Bride, not a weak immature church in the midst of the greatest day in human history and the shakings that encompass the last days. We “comfort” (Isaiah 40) the people when we feed them on the truth of God’s plans and His goodness and joy in His people in the last days.

4. Continual corporate intercessory worship (Joel 2 solemn assemblies) is essential to seeing the release of God’s mercy and grace in our city. We want New Orleans to be a city of hope, a city of refuge in the last days that has understanding of God’s kindness in the midst of the shakings and His mercies to us as a city.

5. God will release the “new song” from the house of prayer as prophetic singers and musicians cultivate intimacy with God and their skills on a daily basis as their assignment from heaven. Prophetic singers, musicians and intercessors will lead and build the house of prayer.

6. Historic revival will not come unless their is continual prayer arising for our city. Luke 18:7-8, Ps. 2:7-8

7. God will raise up prophetic voices in the house of prayer in New Orleans that will declare the beauty of Jesus as a Bridegroom, King and Judge and prepare the people of our city for the “Great and Terrible” day of the Lord. Understanding the times and seasons is key to being a prophetic messenger. The prophetic anointing flows heavily out of places where day and night worship/prayer exists.

8. God will release understanding of the end-times (like he did to Daniel) as we study the Bible in the context to prayer and fasting. We will understand the realities of a “post-tribulational” rapture (meaning the church WILL be here during the tribulation and anti-christ’s attempts to rule the nations) and the need to prepare the church in our city for the shakings that are coming, that we might respond rightly and prevail in the midst of the coming shakings rather than being offended.

9. Much ministry will come out of IHOP New Orleans, but it will flow out of a community focused on prioritizing and putting the 1st commandment back into first place (not in word only but in deeds, time and schedule). 1st love will be prioritized.

10. IHOP New Orleans will always seek to be a place where the Spirit of revelation rests heavily on, a place of comfort and rest, a place from which the intercessory and prophetic anointings have a strong release, a place of end-times revelation, and a place of joy, happy holiness and supernatural provision. We will love the whole church, even in her weakness, and as friends of the Bridegroom contend for her fullness in our city. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Chris Castanza

Posted in Life Journey | Leave a comment

Short Account of Our History Getting to IHOP New Orleans

Posted on February 15, 2012 by admin

Longing for the Bridegroom

I got saved at Victory Fellowship in early 2004. Many from the church in months prior had been praying for and witnessing to me, a hardened and rebellious catholic high school senior.

It was the only church experience I had ever had outside of my catholic faith, and it was drastically different. Getting saved and filled with the Holy Spirit in the renewal atmosphere made me so radically hungry for everything God had for me and for revival in our nation.

I went to USM in Mississippi as a newly converted and on-fire Christian expecting at a mostly protestant campus to be surrounded by like-minded believers. To my disbelief, I found many who had the claim and testimony of being “saved” or “born-again” and yet had no regard for the things of God or the Word of God. Gratefully, I got hooked up with the Baptist Student Union and met several fiery young preachers (along with my beautiful wife) that were a great source of comfort and joy to my hungry, new-born faith.

At the time, as a freshman in college I didn’t take a car to school so I was limited in my off-campus church activites (though was daily involved with on-campus church/ministry) so I went to the internet looking up sermons by men like Leonard Ravenhill, Michael Brown (of the Brownsville Revival) and others. Guys like Nathan Arceneaux and Jeremy Quintini (along with many others) both grads from Christ for the Nations Institute would talk with me regularly during the summer months and pour into me the fire and equipping they had grown in over the years.

Shortly after that, I was connected with IHOP in Kansas City. Mike Bickle’s bible teaching (director of IHOP) imparted a deeper understanding of the Bible to me, as I continued to take course after course and many eschool courses over the years from their ministry. I would give myself to hours of prayer and bible study throughout my college days trying to understand God’s heart for me and how to make an impact on my campus.

From 2005-2007 in South Mississippi, I led weekly bible studies several times a week teaching on passion for Jesus and revival in our land. In early 2007, the Lord ‘benched’ me for a season from preaching and teaching to “draw me away” for a season to intimacy and the 1st commandment being my primary concern (instead of impact). Beginning in 2006 and continuing through the summer of 2009, I led (almost daily) public prayer meetings, sometimes 2-4 hours a day during that season, praying the apostolic prayers and Scriptures over our region in Hattiesburg contending for fullness on our university and region. Stephanie was leading worship several hours a week developing her skills as a prophetic singer and worship leader!

After years of attending conferences and many eschool courses at IHOP over the years, Stephanie and I returned to IHOP in Kansas City full-time for about 8-9 months throughout the year of 2011 to join staff and grow deeper in my calling to intimacy with Jesus and intercession.

While in Kansas City, God began to stir us for my hometown of New Orleans to build a house of prayer, a house of intercessors and prophetic voices that would pray and prophesy over our city. After a 5 year total shutdown to my teaching/preaching ministry, the Lord released me again to give myself to building the house of prayer and equipping the intercessors and prophetic voices in the city of New Orleans.

We are just over 40 days into our journey into building IHOP New Orleans and the response from the people has been a tremendous amount of hunger and passion to go deep in Jesus and intercession for our city. Many are also coming out from years in hiding, to go after all that God has called them to. We welcome you to join us in prayer, finance and time in helping us build the house of prayer in New Orleans as we labor to see historic revival come to our land and strengthen the fabric of the local churches across our city.

We would love for you to be involved with our ministry at IHOP New Orleans. Some are goers and some are senders! Check out our ministry needs as well if you’re inclined to give to specific needs. Consider becoming one of our family’s monthly partners as we serve as directors of IHOP New Orleans. We are believing for 20 more monthly partners right now to advance the worship and prayer movement in New Orleans! If you need a tax-deductible way to give, make a check to New Orleans House of Prayer and send it to 4917 Thrush St. Metairie, LA 70001.

Special Gifts
We understand that not everyone is able to give on a consistent monthly basis. If you would like to support us with a Special gift, or at an interval of your choice, then you may donate below.


Chris, Stephanie and David Castanza

Posted in Life Journey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Intercession: Caring about God’s Heart

Posted on February 10, 2012 by admin

Intercession accomplishes many things for the believer and produces great impact, but primarily it’s major attraction is intimacy with God’s heart.

The intercessor shares a special bond and fellowship with God because he/she takes the time to talk to God about what’s on His heart.

In worship, we adore God and His beauty. In our personal prayer and devotional life, we feed our spirit on His Word about who He is, what He’s doing and who we are to Him. In intercession, we take time to talk to God about the passions of His heart.

We often talk of casting our burdens upon God, but who does God cast His burdens onto?? The Intercessor.

Have you every considered that every prophet in the Bible was an intercessor, who heard God’s heart for the people and began to dialogue with Him about it??

Gratefully, this ministry of intercession is open to any believer. God sends the invitation to those who take time to care.

In our intercession, we must understand that we are not convincing God to show compassion or bring mercies to our city. He is convincing us of that, and we begin to pray and loose His desires and passions into the earth as we decree and ask Him for the things and purposes that He tells us to ask Him for.

Simply put, we tell God what He tells us to tell Him. We take our stand at the very Throne of Grace, on that crystal blue sea that Revelation 4 describes. We begin to look at the God of burning desire and passionate affection and as we see His zeal over our city and churches, we begin to be convinced that He is awaiting for our cry to come before Him that He might show Himself strong in our land.

3 keys to growing in the Spirit of Prayer that Zech 12:10 mentions:

1. Meditation in the Word day and night
2. Praying in the Holy Spirit (try going 20-30 minutes a day)
3. Talking to Holy Spirit (see Jan. 24 notes on TRUST acronym)

Jesus has promised to make us joyful in these days in the House of Prayer. We know that prayer is dialogue, not monologue. We want to see a people arise in New Orleans that operate in the Spirit of prayer. The anointing of John 15 of abiding in Jesus and His Word, and as a result having great authority in prayer, will result in a breaking in of great power in our city!

Join us on Tuesday nights in Metairie at 7pm for our class on Intercession. It is free and all are welcome to join. God bless.

Posted in Bible Teaching, Monthly Updates, Prayer, Prophetic Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Free to be You: Breaking Free from the Fear of Man

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

The fear of man brings a snare (entraps you), but the fear of the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25

You’ve gotta break free from the entrapment of intimidation and the fear of man to begin to remember what it’s like to feel safe again in Abba’s arms. – C. Castanza Paraphrase

This Proverb says so much in so little as they all do, but let’s look deep and see what God is saying through it.

Often times, hunters will set traps to catch their game. This is the word picture that the Proverb brings to us: that the fear of man puts a trap (a snare) on the believer leaving them prey to the enemy. Below is what your soul looks like trapped in the fear of man. The good news is that God tells us the way to be free from the enemy’s traps.

3 things that this Proverb teaches us:

1. It exposes a fear that we all have had at times – the fear of man. We are afraid of men because we wrongly believe they can control or hinder our destiny in God, our position, our finance or even our personal lives.

2. It teaches us the result of this making an idol of man – the entrapment of our souls. When we are ensnared in the fear of man, all kinds of other issues and problems are allowed to foster in our souls like confusion, offense, man-pleasing, controlling others, or looking to man as our god (source).

3. This proverb teaches us the gateway to deliverance. It doesn’t just leave us on the hook. It tells us that the way of deliverance and safety in the fear of the Lord. The way to never be entrapped again is to delight yourself in the fear of the Lord.

The Fear of the Lord is looking to Him as our source, living with a free spirit (being truly who we are) before the audience of one, and being deeply loyal to Jesus and His Word at the cost of popularity, our position in life, or our finance. Simply put, fearing God means we know that He sees, He cares and that He acts in response to the movements of our hearts.

The Fear of the Lord is the safest place in the world because as we trust Him alone He will make sure our finances are taken care of, that we get where we need to be in our calling, and that we truly can experience intimacy without shame with Him and others.

Here is what your soul can look like with a free spirit soaring in the love and fear of God.

We all long to know others and be deeply known, but I call you today to give up forever looking unto man for your source of approval, your source of promotion and your source of approval when they praise you.

Let us look to the Lord alone for all these things and we will truly know the safety of intimacy with Abba, in the shadow of His wings.

I pray even now for every reader that God would fill you with the fear of the Lord and deliverance from the fear of man in Jesus name!

Posted in Life Journey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Building the House of Prayer and Prophecy

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

Building a House of Prayer and Prophecy

A. Developing a Wineskin and Safe Culture for the Prophetic – IHOP New Orleans is a Greenhouse for people to grow in enjoyable prayer and in the prophetic ministry. One of the 3 things David asked for in Ps. 27:4 was that he could “inquire of the Lord” all the days of his life. God is going to release grace for all 3 facets of Ps. 27:4 in our city that we might have a people after God’s own heart.

B. Prov. 14:4 applies to the Prophetic Ministry accurately – “Where no oxen are, the stable is clean; But much increase (abundant harvest) is by the strength of the ox.” In the prophetic ministry, great strength comes to the community and church, but at times it can be necessary to walk through the challenges of building a prophetic culture with weak and broken people.

C. GOD WANTS ALL HIS PEOPLE TO PROPHESY

1. Under the old covenant, before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the office of the prophet and the gift of prophecy were reserved for a small group of individuals that God would rest upon from time to time and for very specific purposes. The gift of prophecy was governed strictly, under penalty of death for false prophecy. However, as early as the days of Moses, a day was anticipated when God would pour out His Spirit on all His people with the result that all God’s people would prophesy.

Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!
(Num. 11:29)

2. Under the new covenant, God answered Moses’ prayer, promising that He would pour out his Spirit on all flesh, with the result that prophecy would be widespread, encompassing both male and female, young and old. No one was to be left out.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, that I will pour out of my spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams, and on my menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18)

The best place to try out and practice your prophetic gifting is not on platform but in a small group context with like-minded friends. Corporate words should be written and emailed to the leadership of the ministry for them to confirm and announce in time.

II. Why and How does God want Prophecy Eagerly Pursued?
It’s His nature to love and He loves to speak to His people. He is not distant or angry at you. Over and over in the Scripture, God declares His affections for His people. He is a Bridegroom and tender Father. He is full of grace. God delights in us even in our weakness as we sign up to obey time and time again. He likes you. He desires you. He has great Pleasure in you (Isaiah 62:4-5). Have you ever thought about that? God likes and takes delight in me (Zeph. 3:17).

He delights in you because o the gift of righteousness, your willing spirit, His own viewpoint, and for eternity you will always be His bride. You are not a hopeless hypocrite. How do we define ourselves? Are we slaves to sin who struggle to love God, or are we lovers of God who struggle with sin?

John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”

The importance of pursuing an enjoyable prayer culture and the prophetic in the church has everything with what God is doing in His bride: He is putting the 1st commandment back into 1st place. The 1st love movement, the bridal identity of the last days church is key so that we don’t put Impact as a higher priority than Intimacy with God. John 15 is clear that as we pursue intimacy with God we will have a much greater impact. Lovers always outwork workers.

III. Further, I want to issue a Ps. 132:4-5 call to my fellow New Orleanians and all those who have a heart for God to touch this city. Consider committing to join us for a regular time of worship and intercession for our city. We would love to have hundreds gathered every Saturday night at our Broad St. (138th N. Broad) location at 6:00 to join our city-wide prayer set or join or fellowship time at our home 4917 Thrush St. in Metairie. God is raising up a people who will give time and resource to building night and day prayer for our city.

Feel free to Contact me above or on Facebook for any questions or details.

Chris Castanza

Posted in Life Journey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2 Cor. 13:14 Fellowshipping with Holy Spirit

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

Here is a brief outline of what we shared at our IHOP New Orleans life group tonight.

Inheritance of the Bride: Communion with the Holy Spirit with you All

A. This is a central and crucial part of the global prayer and worship movement. 2 Cor. 13:14 declares this is our portion. Without dialoguing with Holy Spirit, we are left to our own devices and the wisdom of the world on how to do life in God and how to build the church.

B. Overview of what Communion (Koinonia) with Holy Spirit Is: John 14-16
1. Fellowship: The Holy Spirit is your constant companion. John 14
2. Intimacy: The Holy Spirit desires intimacy with you. James 4:5
3. Close Mutual Association: Doing life together. John 14-16
4. Partnership: The Holy Spirit is your partner. Acts of the Apostles (whole)
5. Sharing Together: The Holy Spirit reveals intimate things. John 16:13

C. Glory of the New Covenant – God within You.
Our person’s are made up into 3 parts. We each have body, soul and spirit.

D. True fellowship includes a two-way dialogue. The Spirit honors our part in the relationship by not forcing us to dialogue with Him if we do not want it. He does not force conversation or friendship with anyone who is not desperate or hungry for it. Love requires a voluntary response. He beckons us to a deeper and more continual conversation.

E. Two ways to focus our mind on seeking God: God on His throne (Rev. 4) and God in our spirit. The Spirit flows from our heart which is sometimes referred to as our “innermost man.” We turn the attention of our mind to the indwelling Spirit (in our spirit) to grow in the deep things of God.

“From his innermost being [belly, KJV] will flow rivers of living water.” (Jn. 7:38 NAS)

F. As we linger in His presence, speak affectionately (intermittently saying to God, “I love You”), speak slowly (not rapid fire), softly (not shouting at the indwelling Spirit), briefly (short phrases, not paragraphs), and minimally (listen much more than you talk), with many pauses, along with gently sighing (Rom. 8:26), and gazing in silence (sometimes briefly and other times longer). Journal: take time to record thoughts and prayers so as to capture the truths He gives us.

For more Practical ways to connect with Holy Spirit see the Teaching Resource notes from January 24, 2012 above.

God bless!

Posted in Life Journey | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

January Update 2012

Posted on January 11, 2012 by admin

What a good year 2011 was for our family!

Enjoyed spending the better part of the year in Kansas City doing an internship and serving on staff at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City.

Towards the end of the year, God began to stir Stephanie and I for something we knew could only be Him. He spoke to us that it was time to build the House of Prayer in New Orleans.

We were both excited and sobered at the calling to do this. Through many confirmations and prophetic words, the Lord confirmed our assignment to launch IHOP-New Orleans.

We moved back to New Orleans right away in mid-November and began to have meetings with many leaders in the city and around town. The Lord granted us such a grace and favor upon us to do this and doors were supernaturally opened to launch the International House of Prayer in New Orleans.

We will be building a prayer room exalting Jesus in worship and having intercession go up persistently for our city. The prayer room will be the center of all of the ministries that will flow of of IHOP-New Orleans. We will be doing internships and taking on intercessory missionaries as staff part-time and full-time each that raise their own support to give themselves to the mission field of New Orleans.

We’ve already had a few of our prayer gatherings and we’ve been so impressed by the hunger and desperation in the people of our city for God and His presence to come to New Orleans. God has been faithful to pour out His grace and Spirit on each meeting in a unique way each time. We’ve had at least 5 or so ministries from the area join us in praying for our city.

We are meeting at our home on
Tuesdays at 7:00-(whenever people have to go) pm and at 138 Broad St. in New Orleans on Saturdays at 6:00-9:00pm.

We will be adding more prayer and worship sets as God increases the laborers and songbirds in our city!

So many have told us that they have been praying for a house of prayer in New Orleans for years.

We appreciate your loving support and covet your prayers as we launch into our new adventure with God as directors of IHOP-New Orleans Mission Base.

Ways you can pray for us:

Pray for laborers – for intercessory missionaries to join us in building the prayer room (singers, musicians, intercessors, and administrative team)

Pray for finances – for God to open the windows of heavens over this ministry so that intercessors can be well funded night and day in the house of prayer of New Orleans.

Thanks and God bless you all,

Chris and Stephanie Castanza

Posted in Monthly Updates | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment