BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

(John 16:13, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition). What's more, James 1:5 promises us this: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." I'll never forget the first time I ever consciously stopped in the middle of a prayer to listen for God's wisdom. I was in desperate straits. I had moved my family to Tulsa, Okla., so that I could attend Oral Roberts University. But although I knew God had led me there, I had no idea how we were going to get by financially. As a pilot, I could go to the airport and get a job, but then I wouldn't have time to go to school. If I didn't get a job, I'd have time to go to school but wouldn't have any money to pay the bills and take care of my family. Woe is me! I thought. What am I going to do? Actually, that was the wrong question. The right one would have been, What is The LORD going to do? But back then, I didn't know to ask that question. So I did the only thing I could think of: I fell down on the floor and prayed in tongues as fast and hard as I could. Usually, praying in tongues is a good thing to do. But in this case, I wasn't praying in faith, I was praying in fear because I really didn't know what was going to happen. After a while, I thought, I wonder if God would say something to me if I just stopped this and listened. Sure enough, as soon as I got quiet, He said, It's about time! I couldn't get a word in edgewise. Stand up on your feet! I jumped up, and He spoke again. I sent you here and I'll take care of you here. These people can't make a minister out of you. All they can do is train you. I have already made a minister out of you. You're in your ministry now, not after you get out of this school. A Life-Changing Encounter I told Gloria before I had gone in our bedroom to pray that day that I was going to stay in there until I heard from The LORD, even if it took all night long. So when I came walking out of the bedroom less than a half hour later, she looked at me in surprise. "All night long?" she said. "You haven't been in there 20 minutes." "That's all it took, girl!" I replied. "I got my answer!" Then I shared with her what The LORD told me. She smiled at me real big and said, "Well, let's go!" The next day, I had to attend to some business at the ORU Learning Resources Center and, as I was about to leave the building, The LORD stopped me. He literally stuck my feet to the ground. Go up to the sixth floor, He said. At freshman orientation they'd told us that students weren't allowed on that floor because that's where the executive offices were located. "LORD, I can't go up there," I exclaimed. "That's the Vatican!" (I wasn't trying to be funny. That's just what came out.) They work for Me, He replied. So, I went. When I stepped onto the sixth floor, although I didn't know anybody up there, I saw Ruth Rooks, Brother Roberts' executive secretary, sitting behind her desk. Forcing my feet forward like I was walking the last mile to my doom, I walked up to her and just blurted it out: "My name is Kenneth Copeland. I'm a commercially rated pilot. I just enrolled as a freshman here. I know this ministry uses aircraft, and I need all the help I can get. Thank you." Turning to leave, I came face to face with Brother Roberts. He had walked up behind me without my realizing it. Sticking out his hand, he introduced himself. "My name is Oral Roberts," he said. Dumbstruck, all I could do was stutter in response, as he continued. "I understand you're a commercially rated pilot. Two weeks ago, I started to hire a new pilot, and the Spirit of God said, No, I have a student coming that I want to have the job. You're my man!" Think of it: That happened because I listened. Instead of just praying hard, I gave God a chance to speak to me. As a result, He launched this ministry and my relationship with Oral Roberts—a relationship which continued until the day he went home to be with The LORD. Plus, He took care of my financial situation at the same time. For updated event information visit: KCM.ORG/EVENTS EVENTS 2023 Sacramento Victory Campaign March 23-25 North Highlands, Calif. Branson Victory Campaign April 13-15 | Branson, Mo. Chattanooga Victory Campaign June 22-24 | Chattanooga, Tenn. Southwest Believers' Convention July 31-Aug. 5 Fort Worth, Texas St. Louis Victory Campaign Oct. 26-28 | St. Louis, Mo. Omaha Victory Campaign Nov. 9-11 | Omaha, Neb. Kenneth Copeland is also speaking here: Word of His Power Conference Feb. 24-26 North Miami Beach, Fla. wordsoflife.com Word of Faith Convention Aug. 9-11 : Southfield, Mich. Wordoffaith.cc Upper Midwest Faith Explosion Aug. 18 : Brooklyn Park, Minn. lwcc.org Schedule is subject to change without notice. 6 : B V O V

• Cover