History
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
In 1982 I was sitting at my former mother in-laws kitchen table, arguing with God. For months I had been hearing how I needed to get saved. For years I had been searching for the “real” God. And that day, I felt I needed to do something -so I did the only thing I knew…
I picked up the phone and called the pastor of the Charismatic church we had been attending. I said to him, “I think God wants me to get saved.” He responded with “Thats great! I am pretty busy today, but lets schedule something for later in the week.” I said “Ok.” I then hung up the phone, and yelled one last time at God – “Well God, if you want me – its your turn! I have done my part!”
About 30 seconds later the phone rang. It was the pastor. He said God had just talked to him and told him I needed to get saved right now! I was floored. My wife and I went to his house, and he led me thru a “sinners prayer.” When I was finished, the whole room turned a bright golden hue. It was so thick, I swear I could see it… that was the first time I experienced the anointing of God upon my life.
In 1984 my very pregnant wife was babysitting a friends children across the way from our apartment. Upon my return from being excepted into the Philadelphia Electricians Union, I was faced with a man yelling at my wife. As I went to investigate, I saw this man literally cold cock my wife, knocking her against a brick wall. I ran to our apratment and grabbed our pellet gun. My thought was that as real as it looked, it would stop him.
As I faced him – holding the gun point blank to his face – I said “Stop or I am going to shoot you!”. He calmly responded with “Go ahead. Thats what I want anyway.”
Knowing this was only a pellet gun, I shot him. He grabbed his neck and yelled – then as he came towards me, I turned the gun around and hit him with it. As we stumbled out his apartment door, I got him to the ground and started chocking him. Something in me had snapped. He kept saying “I can not breath”, and all I could think of was him hitting my wife and trying to kill her and my unborn son. I answered him with “To bad! You picked on the wrong family!”.
Suddenly the place was crawling with police and I was whisked away to the station. They took my belt, everything I had on me, and put me into a cell. I began to cry out to God. I was afraid – I had done nothing wrong (fortunatly), but the police didn’t know that. As I sat in the cell – physically, emotionally and spiritually drained – the cell itself turned that same golden hue – and I knew – I mean really knew, that everything was going to be ok.
Seconds later a policewoman came in, told me not to worry – they knew what happened. The assistant DA later told me to never use any kind of gun. In Pennsylvania it was a firearm. And they sent me home.. the man was arrested. A few months later I heard he had committed suicide.
In 1987 I was working as an electrician in Philladelphia. While standing on top of an electric lift, I
was overcome with concern for someone close to me. I absolutly ‘knew’ that something was wrong! I
got down from the lift and called my wife to see if she was o.k. and she and our family was. The
remaining time that day was spent wondering what was going on. When I arrived home, my wife
informed me that shortly after I called, a friend called to tell us their son was diagnosed with Spinal
Menengitis! Wow! Now I was really shaken! I began to pace back and forth. I began to say to my
wife: “There must be something I can do. I knew something was wrong!” I said this over and over to
her. BUT each time I said this, I actually heard a voice respond with: “Just pray Bill.” After a few
minutes of this, I began to argue with this voice. Yelling at it (and my wife), that there must be
something I can do. And everytime the voice responded with, “Just pray Bill.”
Finally, I gave in. I told my wife I was going upstairs to pray (she about fell over – me pray?). I walked
to the top of the stairs and began to cry out (I didn’t know this was intercession) to God. I prayed for
the little boy (Joshua Radkiewicz). I asked God to heal him or something. Finally, with tears
streaming from my eyes, I stated, “If it will help God, take my son instead.” Immediatly after I said that I ‘died’ inside. I had just given God my most precious belonging. My son and I were VERY close and I was willing to give him up – how could I!
Then I audibly heard God’s voice. Very calmly He said, “Bill, the little boy is fine, and your son is o.k. to.” The hallway was filled with that same golden hue I saw in the jail cell and when I had gotten saved. All my fears were gone. Immediatly I knew that Joshua would be fine and that my son was also fine. Immediatly I realized that whatever we give God, He gives back to us! I didn’t need to worry about Him doing something to / with me that I really didn’t want in my heart. I then got up, walked downstairs, called Joshua’s father and told him “Joshua will be fine.” He replied, O.K. We talked a little and hung up. Later that week, Joshuas mother called. Joshua was healed. The doctors could find no trace of Spinal Menengitis! It was a miracle!
A few weeks later, I gave up. I gave up my own life. I asked Jesus to forgive me. I asked Him back
into my life and heart. I asked Him to be my saviour AND Lord. And I said, “Jesus, wherever you
want me to go, whatever you want me to do, whatever you want me to say, I will do. I will go. I will say. Just one thing I ask… that you use me to bring people back to you the way you brought me back to you.”
Since that time, I have literally seen Jesus on 4 different occasions. Two of those times as friends. And because He has shown April and I that He loves us, we strive to live everyday for Him. His compassion for others courses through our viens. This is what motivates us – His love for us.
God is not some distant “thing”. He is in fact closer than any friend a man or woman could ever ask for.
Thanks for visiting.
Bill & April Gilligan
For those of you interested, a brief personal history of Bill & April as well as ministerial references are provided below.
- December 2008: PMI closes and Promised Land Living Ministry & Church are born from it along with a renewed and redirected vision and a call to set people free.
- February 2008: Bill & Mike launch the business of Gilligan & Ferneman – putting into practice the truths that have been gleaned from hours spent learning from the Holy Spirit.
- 2006 – 2007: The Lord reveals a new message to Bill and his good friend Michael Ferneman.
- December 2004: Bill and April relocate to Panama City Beach, Florida.
Bill & April and other PMI ministers begin to build the headquarters
and church in fulfillment of God’s call from 1999. - June 2004: Bill and April become members of the ORU Ministers Alliance.
- July 2001: Bill and April relocate to Wellsboro,
PA. Bill launches Gilligan On-Line, a Web Development firm as his ‘tent-making’.
God continues the growth of PMI as Bill & April continue to believe
for release of finances for full-time ministry. - May 2000: Bill is Licensed by the International Charismatic Bible Ministries
(I.C.B.M.) under Oral and Richard Roberts. - November 1999: Bill accepts a new position at a Silicon Valley Web Development
firm. Bill & April and family relocate to Cupertino California. God begins
to expand the vision for the on-line ministry. - January 1999: Bill & April are ordained by Antioch Faith Outreach of
Paris Illinois. - 1998: Bill & April begin to expand Prophetic Ministries International.
- 1998 Encouraged by the Holy Spirit, Bill returns to Oral Roberts University
as the Webmaster To serve and help build the ministry of the only Charismatic
University in the universe! and to continue to increase and expand the Prophetic
ministries. - 1997 – 1998: William & April begin minstering full time on the Internet.
Prophet.org and “The Prophets Search” are launched. - 1997 – 1997: William accepts a position at Destiny Image to oversee the
ReaperNet Web site. Bill and April relocate to Shippensburg, PA. - 1996 – 1997: April and William plant a new church (Open Door Christian
Fellowship) in the Tulsa area. (The Revival Anointing falls.) - 1995 – 1997: William appointed Webmaster of Oral Roberts University.
- 1995 – 1996: William appointed as the first Spiritual Life Commuter Director.
William was the spiritual laison to 1500+ commuter and graduate students
at Oral Roberts University. - 1995 – 1996: April and William plant and oversee a new, University recognized
ministry known as “Point Of Contact”. It is through this ministry that the
Spiritual Life Commuter Director position is birthed. - 1995 – 1997: After leaving good jobs in the Philladelphia Pa. area, April
and Bill relocate to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend Oral Roberts University with
majors in Theology with an emphasis on Pastoral ministry. - 1991 – 1993: William plants a new church (Faith Covenant) in the Wellsboro,
Pa. area. (3 Salvations) - 1991 – 1992: William operates “The Coffee House”, a Christian youth outreach
in Wellsboro, Pa. (many salvations and restorations)
Ministerial References:
- Kim Schwin – Sheltered In HIS Arms/Women
Reaching Out-Simpsonville, SC., KingdomSeeker@faithmania.com - Rev. Kenneth E. Gaines – Pastor; Church Of The Firstborn, Willimington
Delaware. 302-764-9673 - Father Bernie Andracchio – Rector; Christ The King, CEC. Tulleytown
Pennsylvania. 215-945-2886 - Dr. Mukassa – Professor; Oral Roberts University, Tulsa Oklahoma.
918-495-6868 - Dr. James Shelton – Professor; Oral Roberts University, Tulsa
Oklahoma - Dr. Vance – Professor; Oral Roberts University, Tulsa Oklahoma
- Eddie & Sue Hyatt – Evangelists, Hyatt International Ministries,
elhyatt@aol.com - Dr. Fred Wood; Wellsboro Pa. 717-724-6171
- Ordained: Prophetic Ministries International – USA , Licensed:
ICBM – Tulsa, OK., Member: ORU Ministers Alliance,
Ordained: Antioch Faith Outreach - Various credits from Christian International Bible School and Oral Roberts
University