Poverty Shall No Longer Knock at Thy Door: The Roadmap to Success

By Bishop Dr. Roy D. Ferguson

A riveting account on one mans journey from poverty to a wealthy place by recounting his life experiences recorded in 3 streams; personal life, spiritual development and career development. The story is framed by a complete definition of poverty as an ugly evil spirit then directly highlights success as a wonderful, powerful experience in life. Once the stage is set for success, a roadmap of success is laid out consisting of salvation, vision, change, praise, faith walk and personal lifelong development.
Follow the author, Bishop Dr. Roy D. Ferguson as he shares his life story of being born into poverty on a small farm in rural Louisiana, dropping out of college after one year then moving to Detroit, Michigan. He embarked upon a career at Ford Motor Company, starting on the ground floor, as a garage attendant and climbing the ladder of success through the Skilled Trades, Engineering and Manufacturing to a corporate executive, reaching to the top 1% of the company.
In addition, enjoy his spiritual journey as encountered a life-changing experience at the age of 17, after which he began to develop his spiritual potential. Shortly after committing his life to Christ, he received the revelation, Poverty Shall No Longer Knock at Thy Door which defines his entire life. Now he is a bishop and world renowned leader in the Christian sector; leading a progressive congregation and fellowship to spiritual renewal and development.
This book is filled with inspiration, personal struggles, wisdom keys, financial principles and answers to lifelong questions of why cant I make it. Once you start reading it, you wont be able to stop until you finish. Poverty Shall No Longer Knock at Thy Door is a book that everyone should have in their personal library.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512737103

Bishop Dr. Roy D. Ferguson

Bishop Dr. Roy D. Ferguson, born in the rural town of Marion, Louisiana matriculated from the harsh realities of poverty into a highly educated and successful businessman and bishop. He began as a garage attendant at Ford Motor Company; pursued opportunities within the company, to become a Manufacturing Engineer, was promoted to Engineering Supervision, then Area Manager and ended up in the top 1% of Ford Motor Company-having traveled to various plants under his supervision throughout the world. Bishop Ferguson then put his corporate career aside as he retired in 2001 to focus on the church he started in 1998 (World Deliverance Temple-Dearborn Heights, MI). Currently he has led 5 pilgrimages to the Holy Land, traveled to Rome Italy and was blessed by the late Pope John Paul, ordained as bishop in 2004, renovated the current World Deliverance Temple facility ($2.4 million project) and continues to impact the community by unveiling the “20/20 Vision” which is a multi-million dollar endeavor that includes a Senior Housing development and educational facility. Bishop Ferguson’s true calling is to impact the world-locally, nationally and globally.

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Copyright © 2016 Bishop Dr. Roy D. Ferguson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Interior images: Rodney Thomas

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-3709-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3710-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016905592

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/18/2016

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Rhema Word – A Personal Testimony

Chapter 2 The Early Years

Chapter 3 The Marriage & Family

Chapter 4 A Wife’s Perspective

Chapter 5 Personal Growth & Development

Chapter 6 Spiritual Growth & Ministerial Development

Chapter 7 What Is Poverty?

Chapter 8 What Is Success?

Chapter 9 The Road Map to Success

Chapter 10 Manifestations

Chapter 11 Hard Work

Chapter 12 Conclusion/Summary

Appendix

Notes

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to take this time to thank everyone that encouraged, assisted and supported me in the development and scripting of this book. This truly has been a journey but I couldn’t have made it without you. Words cannot express how deeply and sincerely grateful I am for all of your input.

First all of my thanks goes to God, who is the head of my life. He planted this seed, nurtured it over my lifetime and truly the harvest has come.

My darling wife Delores and family: Brandon (Erin, Zoe), Lindsey, Jemika (Chris, Chloe, CJ). You have made my life full of happiness. We have travelled this road together and I’m thankful and proud of all of you.

To the memory of Apostle Charles O. Miles who was my spiritual father and introduced me to Christ. He was also my pastor for over 32 years and was the greatest example of a true spiritual leader.

To Apostle Richard Taylor: You are my spiritual mentor and confidant. You have provided pastoral counseling and encouraged me through faith to believe the impossible.

To my cousin Dr. Sandra Lee: You gave me the first inspiration to write this book. Not only did you suggest it but you assisted me through the first draft. It’s been a long time coming but the change has finally come!

To my researchers, Shawn and Maya Thomas, Patricia Johnston and Dr. Marian Davis-Gatewood: not only did you all get the job done but we learned so much together. I trust that you all grew through this experience.

To my graphic artist Rodney Thomas: you took my thoughts and beautifully illustrated them in a way that all could understand.

To my proofreader and organizer Nonna: you are just marvelous. You helped added another dimension to this project. In addition I thank your sons Steve and James for their professional input and direction.

To my supports, Vickie Winans, Larry Denton, the late Apostle Richard Henton, Dr.’s Lascelles Pinnock and Helen Byrd: your input and support was invaluable.

And a special thanks to my daughter Jemika, who helped me finish this project. You came in just at the right time with your touch of class to finish strong. This is just the beginning!

INTRODUCTION

T he title of this book, Poverty Shall No Longer Knock at Thy Door, may suggest that this is another get-rich-quick scheme put in writing; it is not! Instead, it is a synoptic perspective of life-long experiences, biblical principles, analytical research and illumination by the Holy Spirit on the topic of poverty and prosperity. This text is written to provide an inspirational and motivational account of how one can overcome poverty and propel oneself onto the highway of success, filled with bountiful blessings in life.

Life’s journey for me has been rich with growth experiences and challenges, which for a period of time seemed insurmountable. But looking back, I realize the trials and adversity that I encountered, filled with much difficulty and distress, was permitted to come my way, for such a time as this.

I have a personal story to tell based on my life of being born into poverty on a small farm in rural Louisiana, but by discovering my God-given rights, fueled by a rhema word that God gave me-Poverty Shall No Longer Knock at Thy Door- I rose out of poverty to heights far above my wildest dreams both spiritually and naturally. Hopefully, this will motivate and inspire others so they can move to another level in their faith walk with God.

Poverty is an evil spirit, a negative state of mind that seeks to ensnare families and individuals, keeping them in bondage for generations. Nevertheless, I have learned that the application of biblical principles (regarding salvation and prosperity) can destroy the yoke of poverty thereby freeing one to set and attain goals. Successful living then is the end result.

Writing this book fulfills a long held personal desire to free believers in their thinking. Yes, even believers incorrectly assume, poverty relates to the lack of money or material wealth. This assumption often leads to the thought, if I had more money, I would not be poor. This is wrong thinking!

In-depth biblical study and analysis reveals:

1. Poverty is a spirit that wars against God; it affects the mind to only see lack (Psalm 23:1).

2. Poverty robs the mind, leaving one with a sense of helplessness (Proverbs 6:11).

3. Poverty has a thirst that cannot be quenched and an appetite that cannot be satisfied (Proverbs 27:20).

We need not look far to see that the spirit of poverty is a destructive force that can lead to a life of drugs, crime, poor health, depression and breakdown of the family unit.

What follows is a point of view and exploration of popular beliefs about Poverty. I then attempt to define success from a spiritual perspective. This is followed by a conceptual model of an alternate way of thinking, i.e., the Roadmap to Success (Salvation, Vision, Change, Praise, Faith Walk, and Personal Development); which I believe is the outcome of one’s focus on critical Success Principles. At this point, manifestations of your expected outcome as you apply these principles will be evidenced in your life. But we cannot forget hard work which is the common thread of whatever we do in life if we want success.

Diligent study of the Word, combined with prayer for wisdom, insight and understanding, should help the reader learn how stumbling blocks put in one’s path (by the enemy) can be overcome. Staying true to the course that God has ordered will bring one to the reality – Poverty Shall No Longer Knock at Thy Door.

The key point is: when the spirit of poverty (a mindset that brings about a condition or situation) is broken, setting the individual free, having the right perspective (attitude or paradigm shift) and commitment to certain success principles will ensure permanent change, i.e., desired outcomes. A person can transform his or her situation from gloom to glory, darkness to light, the pit to the palace, poverty to prosperity, sadness to success by building on a foundation of faith, hope and perseverance.

Motivation to press on and rise to higher heights may come from many sources. Biographies of famous people encourage some, while hearing stories of achievers and overcomers inspires others. So I have decided to talk about what I know, i.e., share my personal testimony about God’s gift and His prosperity message towards me. I would hope that lives are permanently changed for the better and others come to know, believe, confess and enjoy a different kind of prosperity as a result of this reading – Poverty Shall No Longer Knock at Thy Door.

CHAPTER 1

THE RHEMA WORD – A PERSONAL TESTIMONY

The Lord has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

Isaiah 50:4

There is never an expectant aspiration toward God which does not bring forth a revelation from God.

-Richard Roberts

T here comes a time in every child of God’s life when God sends a rhema, special word for your situation. That time for me came many years ago as I sat in a church in Ecorse, MI (a suburb of Detroit), listening to a sermon delivered by a visiting minister; Evangelist Tommy Anderson. THE WORD in my head started off low, grew louder, and then exploded inside of me: POVERTY SHALL NO LONGER KNOCK AT THY DOOR! I shall never forget the clarity of those thunderous words resonating throughout my being; I immediately understood I had received a personal life-altering message from God.

What a pivotal moment! You see, up until this time, I had been experiencing a void in my life, something was missing. I constantly wrestled with the feeling that God had greater things for me, but there was no vision or revelation. My work didn’t bring me satisfaction either. I had a good job as an assembly-line worker for Ford Motor Company, but never seemed to have enough money to pay the bills. This added to my frustration. My wife, Delores and I struggled to meet financial obligations. But, like so many other young couples, we lived paycheck to paycheck.

Desperation about my situation led me to seek God day and night for a breakthrough. By faith I knew that once I understood God’s purpose in my life, issues about personal fulfillment, finance, and professional achievement would begin to fall in place. The rhema I received that joyous day was God’s answer for my situation! Indeed, poverty would no longer knock at our door! God would supply all our needs and Delores and I would have more than enough. The reality of never again having to live in lack was reason enough to shout and dance before the Lord. Praise God!

Rhema is one of two Greek words in the New Testament that refers to the Word of God. The other is logos. Though the Bible uses the two words interchangeably, in modern theology, rhema is said to be the spoken Word of God, while logos is considered the written Word of God. In today’s ministry, rhema is used for extra biblical revelation, such as words of knowledge or prophecies. I call it a right now word of God that addresses your current need. If you love God, He will always meet you at the point of your need. It’s up to you to accept it.

Looking back, I recall joy and emotion moving me to praise God as never before, even in my giving! Before that day, I only saw financial need and disappointing circumstances; I was convinced I could not worship God by giving more seed offerings. Like many others, I would ask myself, How will you eat lunch the rest of the week if you give this seed offering? Or, How will you get to work if you give your gas money? But this day was different because I knew God had given me a breakthrough in my life and in my thinking. On that beautiful day, I joyfully stood in the offering line to worship God by planting a seed of twenty dollars!

For the preacher, Evangelist Tommy Anderson, had pounded his message into my head that day. The Scriptural text was:

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

Psalm 12:5

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s and He hath set the world upon them.

I Samuel 2:8

As I left the service that night, I began to meditate on all the biblical heroes and present day role models, illustrated in the sermon, who by believing in God’s word and acting by faith, had risen from obscure beginnings to become powerful and successful men and women. I began to ask myself the question, Why not me? God loves me just as much as He loves anyone else. He is not a respecter of persons. If He did it for them, He will do it for me. All I had to do was believe and walk in faith. I, also, recounted one of my dad’s principles let’s call them Leon’s Lessons. As a child he would often tell me, You are just as good as anyone else, and you can do whatever anyone else does. It may take a little longer and it may be a lot harder than the next person, but if you just hang in there, you will make it.

That was powerful thinking, especially when you consider the setting _black, in the South, in the