Guardians Of The Gate
"They shall be ministers in my sanctuary,
as gatekeepers of the house
and ministers of the house...
And it shall be, whenever they enter
the gates of the inner court,
that they shall put on linen garments...
And they shall teach My people
the difference between the holy and the unholy."
Ezekiel 44:11, 17, 23
" Kingdom Women, Guardians of the Gate"
Within every woman's heart are precious gifts God has placed there. These priceless treasures may lie dormant until someone helps to open the gate and recognize their potential. As "Spiritual Mothers," mentors offer one of the greatest gifts one person can offer another.
GUARDIANS OF THE GATE DEDICATION
Sandra Bontemps, Founder and Executive Director
Although I have been teaching and mentoring women for over thirty years, five years ago God gave me a new vision for a women’s mentoring ministry that has helped so many women awaken to the hope in the Lord and to realize their divine destiny and purpose in Him.
God gave me an awareness of a new movement on the horizon as He was shaking down His Kingdom to earth. There is a great and mighty wave of the Holy Spirit crossing our Nation.
God is calling forth His daughters of destiny to rise up in faith! There is a spiritual hunger and thirst for the supernatural that all Christians simply must have in order to move to the next level of their anointing in Christ. Jesus was and is a supernatural Lord! Our supernatural God made this earth, and He told us that He will invade His creation with supernatural miracles, healing, signs and wonders in these latter days, like we have never seen nor imagined before.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wants to revolutionize our present understanding of His Kingdom and His Presence on this earth. As Christians He lives within us and we in Him!
"For in Him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28. We must learn to have quantum faith without doubts. He wants us to know we have the authority as Daughters of the King’s Spiritual Revolution, to pray as Jesus taught, with His authority through the atonement and covering of His precious blood, "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done. On Earth as it is in Heaven." Matthew 6:9-10. This will revolutionize our lives, as God takes us to new depths of heavenly wonders. He wants you to reach beyond the ordinary and grasp the extraordinary reality of living and experiencing each day the supernatural power and glory Jesus intends for you to have.
Three years ago, I met well-known writer and speaker Ann Platz. She shared the mentoring vision God gave to her and presented me with one of her books, Guardians of the Gate. I will always remember what she said to me when she graciously handed me her book with her beautiful heartwarming smile, and gave me her blessing, "Here, "Mother Mentor." Ann, one of the most charming. loving women I know, also told me, "Sandra, you have a heart for women and a great understanding of true mentoring. It is your divine calling."
Ann has become a spiritual mentor and special friend to me. I would like to lovingly and personally dedicate ASPIRE MENTORING MINISTRY to Ann as she has been such an inspiration and encouragement to me. And I highly recommend her book to you and have used the title "Guardians of the Gate" for this mentoring site. If you would like to know more about Ann’s dynamic and powerful ministry, including other books she has written such as The Best Is Yet To Come book from New Hope Publishers, go to www.AnnPlatz.com. When Ann read this dedication, she sent this message. "Oh my goodness! How lovely...how precious...how timely. 'It is time...' saith the Lord...'the harvest is white...' Thank you for this precious honor...I support all that you two ladies are doing to invest in other women...Kingdom principles!"
God is calling forth the mature "spiritual mothers," women of wisdom and maturity to come forward in the body of Christ. Young women in the faith desire to have mentor-encouragers; a woman of wisdom speaking powerfully into their lives. Like Ann, I have heard the heart- cry of women all over our country, "Where are the Titus 2 women who will teach us?"
What is a mentor you may ask? In her book, Ann has written the best description of a mentor. "The ultimate mentor is a trusted counselor, guide, tutor, coach. She will be filled with so much wisdom, knowledge, truth and grace. A mentor is sent for a season to preside over your spiritual pilgrimage. She offers the greatest gift one person can offer another - an objective view of you, sprinkled with insight humor, wisdom and love. Your mentor is usually older and wiser, a seasoned veteran of life, a warrior woman who knows God intimately and is willing and able to interpret His ways to you. Your relationship is a match made in heaven! She will encourage, uplift, advise and correct you gently. She will help unlock your spirit and stir up the gifts within you and stand guard as you begin to practice the presence of God...A mentoree is one who receives counsel, guidance, instruction and encouragement from a mentor."
Women need mentors, to under-gird them in prayer, to help them to grow spiritually, to spotlight their spiritual gifts, to be healed, to receive the call of God on their lives. To understand their individual divine destiny, their unique design and purpose, to help encourage and take them to their next level of anointing. To be reconcilers, to rejoice and be united with others in the body of Christ, and to be vessels of love and mercy.
Janis Smith, my beautiful spiritual daughter, treasured friend, powerful prayer partner, and co- founder of ASPIRE MINISTRIES joins with me as we begin this women’s mentoring ministry, together with you. We will give you our personal testimonies, and tell you about this joyous journey to the heart of God we have traveled together. God has called us forth personally, to share with you His Word and His supernatural ways. They are inseparable. We are reaching out to each and everyone of you, personally, with the love of God, and pray that through us will flow " Rivers of Living Waters," for healing spiritually, emotionally and physically.
We will be covering "heart issues," all the things that women care about from basking and baking, to babies. We’ll be sharing how we have learned to bask, meditate and soak in God’s Presence, praying and pressing into the things of God. His upward call.
Get Ready! Get Ready! Get Ready!!!!! God wants us to pray for and expect the unexpected! Individually each of us can grow in faith. Together, as we network and share, in corporate faith, in unity and one accord, God wants us to experience this new wave of His Holy Spirit.
Together as Daughters of the King’s Spiritual Revolution, we can revolutionize our homes. Our communities. Our cities. Our Nation. No matter who you are, women, you play a vital part in God’s plan for the earth.
We will share stories, insights and practical suggestions on every aspect of your lives. God wants us to open up our hearts' doors to one another. In this fast paced jet set world we need to stop and take the time listen to and pray for others. It starts with the love of God.
I am convinced that if we answer this call God has on our lives, ladies, that many marriages and lives will be saved. Fewer will need counselors. Homes, businesses and churches will be filled with faithful mighty powerful praying women of God. More children, youth, men and women of all ages will be led to the Lord, with His light and life shining through us, to help further God’s Kingdom for such a time as this.
Faith, prayer and love are the foundations that will launch us together on this powerful journey. Hebrews 11:6 says that "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." We know that God is the great "I AM." We know that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. We will be traveling on a journey, helping you to understand how to release your faith to experience the realms of God’s heavenly glory, ascending to the Throne of God’s Grace, with new power, strength and courage. Jesus said that He will give you the glory that God His Father has given to Him. Psalm 24 "Lift up your heads oh ye gates. Lift up your heads ye everlasting doors. And let the King of Glory come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty." You are the gates! And you are all called as "Guardians of the Gate."
This is a special invitation from our hearts to yours. Would you like to join us on this journey together? Would you like to reclaim your dreams that someone stole from you? Would you like to know God’s will and plan for your lives? Would you like to take back your inheritance that the enemy has stolen from you? You are Daughters of the King! His Brides! He is calling you forth! Awaken! Rise up!!!!! Bring His Glory down to earth! Stand and bask in the Presence of His Glory. Walk it out in faith, believing that with God all things are possible!
It is our prayer that God will use Janis and me as strong, willing, influential vessels, filled to overflowing with God’s grace, mercy and love. It is our desire to ground you in God’s Word, deepen your faith, help you have a more intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And to help you understand the supernatural power and anointing of God’s Holy Spirit. We want you to know the One who knows and loves you with a perfect love.
Blessings, joy, peace, grace and love in Christ,
Sandra Bontemps
GUARDIANS OF THE GATE DEDICATION AND TRIBUTE
Janis Smith, Co- Founder and Associate Director
A year and a half ago, divine destiny knocked once again at my door. God set me apart from ministering and unto Himself so that I might know Him more intimately. After three years of being totally separated unto Him for a deeper walk, He began to show me that He was going to place a Spiritual Mother Mentor in my life, accelerating my walk with Him. This was when I met Sandra Bontemps.
She is not only my spiritual mother mentor, but also a treasured friend, prayer partner and ministry partner. As Ann Platz aptly wrote in her book, Guardians of the Gate, regarding the ultimate mentor, I can testify that Sandra has been that ultimate mentor in my life. Sandra and I have many of the same giftings and mantles. She saw in me potential and giftings that I carried deep within. Sandra has been such a wonderful Godly influence in my life, calling forth those giftings within me which in turn enabled me to be more effective for the kingdom of God. We have been on a journey together deeper into the heart of God, and it has been my great joy and privilege to journey with her.
There are many examples in the Bible of mentors where God placed two people together for mentoring and ministering along side each other. Their friendship deepened as they walked together and in harmony with God. One appropriate example is the relationship of Elijah and Elisha. Elijah mentored Elisha in such a way that each day was a mixture of mentoring and ministering. Elijah was a committed Godly mentor, and Elisha was a committed Godly mentoree going forth in unity to further the kingdom of God. Elisha was called by God and anointed for divine purposes, and Elijah recognized his potential. At the appointed time, Elijah called Elisha forth and they began their journey together. This is what has divinely happened with Sandra and me.
I Praise God for Sandra! She is a mighty woman of God who is called to this great mentoring ministry of Elijah. Sandra has affirmed me in my giftings and imparted into me many many times. She placed her mighty mantles upon my life affirming and strengthening the mantles God gave me and enlarging my tent. Thank you Sandra, I dedicate this ministry to you and praise God for all you are in my life. It is such a joy ministering and mentoring alongside you, my dear Spiritual Mother Mentor, treasured friend, prayer partner and ministry partner.
Spiritual Mother, Mentor and Friend,
How lovely you are
Your beauty is far beyond measure
Deep deep beauty of God
I see your hand go deep into your well
Down to where the spring erupts
And for me you bring up a drink of living water
You see my thirst
Water that has been tested
It has been purified
Power of God that quenches my thirst deep within
Filling the emptiness of my soul
Wisdom flows down your silver locks
Oil of the Holy Spirit drips down to the very ends
God’s glow radiates your endearing face
Released and poured upon me
Sacrifice of your life to bring me forth
Laying down your life as a lamb
Powerful as a lion, strong as an ox,
Soaring high as an eagle, woman of destiny
Bringing forth those things in me that are pure
Hidden treasures that were lost or undiscovered
Jewels that need to be cut and polished
By your tender touch
Calling forth the Lion
The wind beneath my wings
Encouraging the ox
And making whole a woman of destiny
Spiritual Mother, mentor, friend
You see through the eyes of Jesus
Going forth in the love you so freely share
Guiding me to stand, walk, run and soar
Your deep desire is that
I find the destiny and calling God has for me
And that I
Continue passing the mantle
Precious are you held in my heart of hearts woman above women
Only a love that God could ordain from the rivers of his throne
More precious than silver or gold
Spiritual Mother, mentor and friend,
I love you forever
Janis Smith
Blessings and grace, Your Guardians
Sandra Bontemps, Executive Director, Founder
Janis Smith, Associate Director, Co-Founder
