America, The Beautiful!

America, The Beautiful!

King David is full of praise for God when he mentioned how blessed he was to belong to a God and to God’s nation: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage” (Psalm 33:12)!

God made a covenant with Israel whereas the founding fathers of America, starting with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson dedicated this nation to God for the freedom endowed by the Creator that they brought forth in the Constitution. America is the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!

This article is a testimony of the goodness of America in my personal life. When I stopped and thought my life last week, I realized all my blessings came from my God when He graciously blessed me in the American soil!

A New Beginning in America!

When I left my home country, I was very busy in the ministry helping one of my relatives who failed in their ministry. God had healed me from ulcers miraculously and filled me with the Holy Spirit. I had ministered in various places with the fresh fire upon my heart with reports of healing and deliverance and salvation of souls. The all-night prayer meetings were well attended by over a thousand people. There was one problem – People started depending more on me than leaning on God. Various people pulled into the driveway of my apartment for prayer in the middle of the night. I was shocked at the place of adoration and worship people did place on me, an ordinary vessel of God, that I started praying: “Lord God, I love You but I am failing in my loyal service to You. The people are looking at me more than You. I have become a stumbling block between You and Your people. Please remove me from this place and take me to a place where I can be free to not draw any attention to myself but be left alone as Your servant to serve You more than pleasing people. Please Lord, please help me. Amen!”

Blessings in America!

God brought me to America where I have received almost all my blessings, which I would like to list:

1)     Entry into America with a postgraduate scholarship at Penn State University in 1979. I did not have the means to come without a scholarship.

2)     On June 15, 1981, I went back to get married to my special treasure, Hema, as God promised that we would be a couple. Hema joined me in September of 1981.

3)     On February 14, 1983, our first treasure, a baby girl, Elizabeth was born in Pennsylvania. She was born with collapsed lungs and on a respirator for 10 days before God heard our cry and healed her.

4)     In October 1983, after ministry in Huntington, PA, God indicated through the prayers of the saints that God would move us down SOUTH within months and plant us down there (here) before He would take us around the world to use us as His servants. In the same prayer meeting, we were told that this would be confirmed by the very first words by our 9-month-old daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s first words in December of 1983 were, “A-ya-yoo-ah (Hallelujah)!”

5)      Miraculously in April 1984, I was invited to interview for an Assistant Professor’s position in Daytona for a job I had never applied to but through the recommendation of a visiting professor from Penn State recommending me on my credentials. I was selected for the job and began working as a faculty member in August 1984.

6)     On April 11, 1987, our second treasure, Rachel, was born in Daytona Beach. We were overjoyed!

7)     From 1984 – 1989, I served in a large local church; ministered to the youth on Tuesday nights; adults in the auditorium class on Wednesday nights; young marrieds on Sunday morning before the main service; organized and conducted prayer meetings on Fridays (monthly) for the restoration pf families and churches; and, served as Elder of that local church.

8)     In 1989, Elizabeth was six years old and Rachel was two years old when we received the call to serve God. Both Hema and I were attending a Wednesday night service at Ormond Beach. At the end of the service, I had the tremendous burden of going to the altars to receive prayer from the speaker, Rev. Judson Carnwall but he dismissed the gathering as soon as he was done speaking. With disappointment, I stood up only to fall on the floor under the power of the Holy Spirit. I saw the bright light before me from which I heard the voice of the Lord, “Son, I need you in My service.” Hema heard the same words at the same time, “Child, I need you in My service.” With a powerful promise from God that He alone would meet all our needs if we served Him in whichever way He would direct us.

9)     With my commitment already to serve as faculty through the end of August of 1990, I offered my resignation immediately after God’s call by giving the university my full term of service. I could recall the words of my Department Chair: “You are coming up on your promotion and tenure. Why would you leave this job?” I replied, “I am going to serve my God.” He fixed his eyes upon me and said, “I have no doubt that you would succeed. I know God is with you!” Our ministry began at our home on September 23, 1989, and fully operational in September 1990.

10)                        Decade of 1990 – 2000: God did not allow us to pastor a church but sent us to the nations. God miraculously supplied all our needs. In this decade also, we brought the churches together for healing of the communities under the banner “A Citywide Call to Prayer,” with several churches and several hundreds of people for great prayer gatherings in the bandshell, stadiums, arenas, here in Daytona Beach but also in Deland, FL, State College, PA, Cartersville, Douglasville, LaFayette, GA, etc.

11)                         The decade of 2000: God opened the door to the Jewish hearts in Daytona Beach (not the messianic Jews but the traditional Jews from the local synagogues) to respond to the first meeting in the early 2001. There were 500 Christians and 400 Jews in the meeting in which we as a whole body of Christians asked for forgiveness to the Jewish people for all the atrocities committed against them all though the history, some even in the name of Christianity. The Jewish people cried on our shoulders and fell in love with us for our sincere love for them. We had several gatherings in the Ocean Center, some with 3,000 people and another with 8,000 people in attendance. We escorted several hundred people, Christians and Jews to Israel on solidarity tours, where the Jewish people came to visit the baptism of believers in the River Jordan, as well as to the Garden Tomb by the side of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified.

12)                        2001: The vision of Global Prayer Center; 2005: Dedication of the land for GPC; 2009: Broke ground to build GPC; 2011; A Break from the action of building because of the shortage of funds; September 2014: GPC was completed debt-free and launched in the heart of Daytona Beach as endowment for the Lord and healing of our communities.

13)                        Ministry since 2014: We have been to Israel with our participants; we have had several meetings of ministers in conferences in East Africa; ministered in Ecuador, completing all the continents of travel in the ministry.

Selfless Americans Made the Mark in My Life!

Throughout our stay and ministry, God brought selfless people to bless us which speaks of the “Goodness of America!” While I could not name all of them, there are some notable ones I would like to mention here:

1)     Bill R. – Boalsburg, PA. Bill’s family was assigned as our host family by the Hospitality Council of the Pennsylvania State University. Bill hosted us and took us under his wings to introduce us to his Bible Study Team that prays for us until today since 1979. We visit them every so often even now.

2)     John B. – Bellefonte, PA. A selfless bachelor and a Catholic, who joined me to take Hema and I to various meetings I was assigned to minister and assist me in all the altar ministry in various places. John taught me driving and was influential in buying my first car, a Pontiac Catalina. John went home to be with the Lord two years ago in his nineties, but prior to that we visited John in his sister’s home when he was battling dementia. He did not know who I was or where I was coming from. I felt the prompting of the Lord to kneel and asked him to pray over me. John caressed my hair and started praying suddenly: “I bless you, John. You have lost all your hair, but God is with you to lead you, guide you and prosper you!” Then, there was silence again. John lost his memory once again, but I thank God for his brief reflection with awareness and blessing on my life!

3)     Robert C. – Daytona Beach, FL. The year was 1991, the very beginning of our ministry. I was given the privilege to minister in a local church by a pastor friend who was going on vacation. It was a church packed with about 400 people. At the end of the morning ministry, several hundred people came to the altars for healing, deliverance and salvation. I kept seeing waves of people, small children, young adults coming after I prayed with those in the sanctuary. I asked who was responsible for bringing in the waves of people. The answer was “Robert C.” When I asked him why, I could never forget what he said: “I saw salvation, healing, and deliverance in one setting. People will go to different places to get God’s touch which was ALL PRESENT here today. I am a businessman; I am benefitted by GREAT DEALS I see come my way. What I saw this morning was a GREAT DEAL. I wanted the young and the children benefited, and that’s why I went to the Sunday schools and pulled the children out to bring them to the altars!” Robert was a pillar until 2014, the launch of GPC. Robert was always my escort waiting at all the stadium meetings and large gatherings to make sure we got into the car safely before he went home!

4)     Richard D. – Port Orange, FL. Richard reminds me of old America where people took their shirts off their back and helped strangers. America is built on selfless people like Richard. I could not have conducted all my meetings, especially in the stadiums and arenas, without the help of Richard. He watched the stage and the people, brought in the dignitaries from the airport, and made sure that everything was in perfect order. Richard is not a talker as much as a doer! His son, Troy, built our sound system at GPC!

5)     Gloria Max, Director of the Jewish Federation, Ormond Beach. Gloria was solely instrumental to bringing in 400 Jewish people to the first “Peace for Israel Festival” in 2001, and since then became a tireless helper for the unity of God’s people of Christians and Jews. Her own husband, Ray, witnessed two powerful healing through prayer, which solidified her faith on God through prayer until the very end of her life a few years ago!

Dedication of My Precious Family!

Several people in the ministry start ablaze but do not finish strong in the Lord. God has been merciful and gracious to me not only because of His covenant promise to me but also due to the selfless dedication of my own family!

·        Hema – My precious wife and my intense prayer partner. I may have had my eyes on a few thousand everywhere God took us in travel, but Hema always had her eyes upon me to preserve me and protect me with fasting and prayer. She is also a righteous woman of truth (with a Law Degree) who always advocated truth in all our ministry. She is not one of the members of our Board (with strict stipulation from the ECFA) but one of my strong counselors of truthful living for God. Hema never asked for palaces and riches but has gladly and joyfully accepted what God has blessed us with. I AM NOTHING WITHOUT MY PRECIOUS HEMA!

·        Elizabeth – Our older daughter, now married to Simon and a mother of two precious treasures, Elijah and Eliana, all who were born in the USA. Elizabeth saved my life with CPR on October 30, 2025, when I suffered cardiac arrest. Elizabeth has kept herself for God and she is a woman of wisdom I listed to alongside of Hema.

·        Rachel – Our youngest daughter who is one of the selfless persons in our life. Rachel has kept herself dedicated to God with integrity, purity and wisdom. While she had many opportunities to work elsewhere in the business community, she offered her service first to a campus ministry as the Director among young college students. She worked a full-time job for half-time pay and was responsible for the graduation of some students with difficulties. Students she had helped are still seeking after her council and friendship long after their graduation for university. Since she joined working at the GPC, she runs the whole operation with diligence and wisdom. Rachel was also responsible for saving my life on October 30, 2025, when she refused to sign a DNR which was strongly recommended by the physicians at ER.

·        Simon – Our son-in-law. I cannot speak enough about Simon who is a leader in his church and in his community. Simon is a great answer to prayer with qualities of righteousness and truth. Simon and Elizabeth are dedicated to bringing their children in godly surroundings with a great church, Bible studies, and scholastic achievements. Simon encouraged and even persuaded Elizabeth to fly in two days before my cardiac arrest. Elizabeth was here at the right time when I needed it the most!

I appreciate the dedication of my whole family. They are an answer to my prayer, “Lord, I do not mind how big or small You will use us in Your service, but Hema and I do not want to lose our children to the world or growing up hating You because of our service to You.” God answered that prayer. Today, we can say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  

Our Dedicated Prayer Partners!

As powerful as Jesus was, He never did the ministry alone but with a group of 12 disciples. From the beginning of the ministry in 1989 till now, there has been a Family of Prayer Partners that we subjected ourselves to in our lives and in the ministry.  

 ·        We were subjected to Bill R’s Bible Study group for accountability from 1979 through 1984. We share prayer requests with Bill even until today.

·        We offered prayer and ministry support to the local church from 1984 through 1989.

·        Since 1989, when we did not start church, we had a prayer team that we were accountable to. Some people of the team have changed over the years, but a team exists until today to gather prayer requests from us and pray for us.

·        When I had the concern how the people are going to help us with GPC just as a parachurch, a group of people called of God joined hands with us while they are being part of their own local church. They are responsible for the powerful ministry that we carried out until today. I am alive because of prayer by people like Ray B. who was alerted by God in the early morning hours of October 21, 2023, when I was at ER in Ecuador, burdening him to pray. The GPC building has been serviced and protected by Gary G. who was an answer to my prayer in February 2014. I prayed in the middle of February 2014: “Lord, please send me a person, I can count on for the maintenance of this great building by the end of this month.” My cell phone rang on February 28, 2014, and this was the call: “Brother John, my name is Gary G. You do not know me, but I would like to offer my services to clean up and protect the Prayer Center if you would allow me.” Gary has been faithful ever since until today!

·        When I suffered cardiac arrest on October 30, 2025, my prayer team with the Board of Directors assembled at the waiting room and prayed for over two full hours. Other prayer warriors from Pennsylvania, Baltimore, New York, Cayman Islands, India and elsewhere joined us. I am alive today because of this faithful family of prayer warriors and I thank God for them.

God Bless America!

Apostle Paul said: “By the grace of God, I am what I am” (I Corinthians 15:10). I am what I am because of my God, my family, and all the wonderful blessings I have received from America. GOD BLESS AMERICA! I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL THAT GOD OPENED THE DOOR TO AMERICA TO BLESS MY FAMILY AND ME!

                                                                        America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

Prayer

“Heavenly Father, I love You and adore You. God shed His grace upon my homeland, America. Please preserve our land by Your grace and mercy to walk worthy of all the sacrifices made by the great people of this land. Please bring a great revival among Your people and a great awakening among this nation. In the Precious and Wonderful Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen! Amen!!”   

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John Jeyaseelan

http://www.globalprayercenter.net