Children and the Supernatural: True Accounts of Kids Unlocking the Power of God through Visions, Healing, and Miracles

Like Jennifer, I have learned through children what Jesus can do. He has chosen the simple, humble, and childlike to reveal His power and love to the world. This book is rich encouragement for all who are hungry to receive impartation from the least of these. The children and youth of today are riding a rising wave of revival that should enrich us all with ever-increasing signs and wonders. Let them teach you about the kingdom!

—HEIDI BAKER, PHD

FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, IRIS GLOBAL

In every generation a cry arises from the very heart of God. Jennifer Toledo is one of those voices who echo the cry of God’s heart! Having raised my own four kids in the supernatural culture, I know what Jennifer teaches in the pages of this book works! I know it is effective. And I know that you can create a culture for the supernatural for your kids too! Empower the children to do the works of Jesus! An army is waiting to be awakened and released!

—JAMES W. GOLL

FOUNDER OF ENCOUNTERS NETWORK AND AUTHOR OF ANGELIC

ENCOUNTERS, THE SEER, AND A RADICAL FAITH

Few things challenge and inspire me like the stories of what God is doing and has done. In Children and the Supernatural Jennifer Toledo does an incredible job of challenging the church to take a second look at how we view children by telling their stories. I even found my own perspective being challenged. But I also found the stories of these children, their faith, and their encounters with God stirred my heart to believe for more in my own life and to press in deeper with Jesus. I should not have been surprised. Every time I encounter the ministry of Jennifer, my heart is alive with faith and I am provoked to my core to believe God for greater things. Without question this book will not only challenge your perspective of children but also call you to believe for more of God in your own life.

—BANNING LIEBSCHER

DIRECTOR, JESUS CULTURE

A child growing up in the world today has no chance unless they know the real Jesus—not the Jesus of religion. This book will make a difference in your child’s future!

—SID ROTH

HOST, IT’S SUPERNATURAL!

I’m in love with Children and the Supernatural. I seriously cried the whole time I read it. This is not just a book; it is a piece of God’s heart that will reach inside of you and transform the way you think. Although, like many people, I had an awareness of the subject, I was wrecked with responsibility to see children empowered and set free to lead. Jennifer Toledo’s work sets a foundation that you may never have fully imagined regarding the global calling on the next generation. This is not a book just for children’s workers; it is an epic story and foundational tool for valuing half of the world’s population, who happen to be young. I have never been so inspired by children. I was given so much hope for what God is doing and wants to do with children when I read this book. This isn’t just inspiration. This book should be required reading for any Christian. It gives a glimpse into the supernatural power of God at work in the earth today and imparts transferable faith.

—SHAWN BOLZ

SENIOR PASTOR OF EXPRESSION58, STUDIO CITY, CALIFORNIA

AUTHOR OF KEYS TO HEAVEN’S ECONOMY, THE THRONE ROOM

COMPANY, AND THE NONRELIGIOUS GUIDE TO DATING

Children and the Supernatural will absolutely touch you to the core, provoke you, build your faith, and cause you to both laugh and cry! The younger generation needs to know God, and they need to know His power. Through Jennifer Toledo’s book you will be refreshed as you discover God’s heart for children today. Jennifer not only writes on this subject, but she also lives it!

—PATRICIA KING

FOUNDER OF XPMEDIA, XPMINISTRIES, AND XPMISSIONS

MARICOPA, ARIZONA

Jennifer Toledo is a champion of children. Her personal commission from God to give children the authentic gospel has revolutionized her life and the lives of all the children she teaches. Children in her ministry have seen AIDS patients healed and demons cast out, and they have experienced the presence of God in overwhelming ways. Jennifer is an outstanding example and teacher. As those who have been advocates for at-risk children for years, we know the underdeveloped potential of children throughout the globe, so it is with joy that we highly commend both Jennifer and this book!

—WESLEY AND STACEY CAMPBELL

FOUNDING PASTORS, NEW LIFE CHURCH

KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Children

and the

Supernatural

JENNIFER TOLEDO

MOST CHARISMA HOUSE BOOK GROUP products are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. For details, write Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone (407) 333-0600.

CHILDREN AND THE SUPERNATURAL by Jennifer Toledo

Published by Charisma House

Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group

600 Rinehart Road

Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked GW are from GOD’S WORD translation of the Bible. Copyright © 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked THE MESSAGE are from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary English, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Copyright © 2012 by Jennifer Toledo

All rights reserved

Visit the author’s website at www.gcmovement.org and www.expression58.org.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Toledo, Jennifer.

Children and the supernatural / Jennifer Toledo. -- 1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

ISBN 978-1-61638-606-1 (trade paper) -- ISBN 978-1-61638-717-4 (e-book) 1. Children--Religious life. 2. Supernatural. I. Title.

BV4571.3.T65 2012

248.2083--dc23

2012010340

I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS BOOK to my own amazing beautiful children, Malaika, Josiah, and Ruah, who are a constant reminder in my life of the beauty and power of being childlike. You each carry such a special piece of God’s heart, and I am absolutely in love with you! Thank you for being so patient with me as I wrote this book. I pray that you each have a lifetime of incredible experiences with our supernatural Father and that you will always be rooted in His love.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS BOOK to the countless men and women who have faithfully, year after year, sown into the lives of children. You are true unsung heroes. Many of you have served when no one else would, believed for things no one else dared to, and took on a ministry that for years has lacked proper honor in the body of Christ. Thank you. Your faith and love have not been in vain.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Bill Johnson

Introduction

Part One: The Back Story

1 The Children of Bungoma

Part Two: Encountered

2 Designed for Encounter

3 A Radical Invitation

4 A Butterfly, a Breakthrough, and Angels

5 A Date With Jesus

6 When God Shows Up

7 Conner’s Encounter

Part Three: Prayers That Change History

8 Prayers That Shift Laws

9 One Million Angels

10 When Prayers Shake Darkness

Part Four: Releasing Children to a Broken World

11 Finding Barb

12 The Children of Colima

13 Saved By Smiley Faces

14 Orange and Banana

15 God Loves You and Your Tattoos!

16 The Perfect Treasure Hunt

17 The Shoe Shiner

Part Five: Healing Hands

18 Malaria Healed

19 When a Baby Releases Healing

20 Healings in Everyday Places

21 The Body Parts Room in Heaven

22 The Newt

23 Esther—the Miracle Worker

Part Six: A Child Shall Lead Them: The Role of Children in Global Revival

24 The Divine Setup

25 From Slave to Royalty

26 Who Are the Masses?

27 Generational Unity—the Key to Global Revival

28 A Tree and a Chainsaw

29 A Recurring Dream

30 The 4/14 Window—the Golden Age of Opportunity

Notes

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

SOMEONE ONCE TOLD me that I should write a book because hardly any women in the their twenties and thirties were writing books and those voices needed to be heard. Although I couldn’t agree more with this person’s comment, I now understand why women my age aren’t writing books—it’s because trying to write a book while having babies is like trying to juggle flaming torches blindfolded. (Trying to write a complete thought with a toddler climbing all over you, a mountain of laundry staring you down, and Barney blaring in the background is no easy feat!)

So many people helped to bring this book to life:

• First of all, Jona—my amazing husband who constantly cheered me on, took three kids to the park a thousand times, and lovingly made me coffee every time I asked (which was a lot). You are a gift and the absolute love of my life.

• My dear friend and Kenyan brother Patrick Siabuta, who lived several of these stories with me and spent countless hours tracking people down for me.

• All of my friends and family who encouraged me to write out these precious stories and to not care whether people believed they were true.

• The incredible fathers and mothers in my life who have believed in me, celebrated me, and encouraged me in this process. Thank you for your endorsements and for your constant support.

• My publishing company (particularly Maureen Eha) for pursuing me and pulling this book out of me.

• All the awesome children who shared their special stories with me (and the awesome parents who allowed me to tell them).

• And most importantly—this book would not exist without these stories, and these stories would not exist without the incredible and powerful love of God interacting with mankind. God is very much alive and very much still on His throne. For that, I am wholeheartedly grateful!

I hope you enjoy the book.

FOREWORD

JENNIFER TOLEDO HAS written an amazing book that just couldn’t be more timely. It is a record of her experiences in seeing the kingdom of God manifested through the hearts, hands, mouths, and lives of children. Her awareness of their gifts and capabilities brings a necessary wake-up call to us as we recognize the need to equip this generation to do the stuff. The stories in this book are provoking as we read about the childlike faith that empties hospitals, brings salvation to the person on the street, and is quick to obey and trust the voice of God.

The world is crying out for a credible witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ—faith that is intensely authentic and effective. And just as God caught the attention of the world through a child in a manger two thousand years ago, so now He speaks of His purposes and plans through children in a way that even adults can understand.

God sees differently than we do. As a result, He constantly uses children as a standard from which grown-ups are measured. We must become like children to receive the kingdom fully. Many years ago my dear friend Dick Joyce told us over and over again, Children don’t get a junior Holy Ghost! I have lived with that conviction and priority ever since. But Jennifer has taken this idea to a level that demands attention. I can no longer just agree with the concept. I must adjust my life to illustrate this priority of heaven. This book is not only contagious; it is also dangerous—dangerous to both the political spirits and the religious spirits that want to keep the power of childlikeness away from the front burner of the church. For if we participate in a breakthrough of that nature, nothing will be impossible for us.

Children and the Supernatural is a simple yet profound record of God’s view of people. Yes, it has fabulous stories about children being used by God in powerful ways. That in itself is mind-boggling. But it’s more than that. This book reveals the child’s heart that is so attractive to God, and it tells why. Whether you are a parent, a person involved in children’s ministry, or just a grown-up who is tired of being so grown up that you miss the kingdom, this book is for you. It’s an invitation to see as God sees and value what God values. This is a personal charge to go higher by going lower. Get ready to be amazed.

I want to see this book in the hands of every parent I pastor and everyone who works with children. But equal in importance to me is to see this book read by adults who don’t have children but have a hunger for the lifestyle of Jesus. I long to see people read this book to discover how to become like the child God favors so much in Scripture. This book has potential to stir and instill hunger in everyone who reads it. It is that provoking. Simplicity in devotion to Christ, practicality in focus and ministry, all come forth from Children and the Supernatural.

—BILL JOHNSON

PASTOR, BETHEL CHURCH, REDDING, CA

AUTHOR, WHEN HEAVEN INVADES EARTH AND ESSENTIAL

GUIDE TO HEALING

INTRODUCTION

WILL YOU TEACH the next generation the undiluted gospel? I heard the Lord speak those words while I was sitting in the dirt with a couple of street children in Kenya, and they forever changed the course of my life. My first response was, Lord, I was raised in America. I’m not sure I know the undiluted gospel." I was overwhelmed by the desperation and desire I heard in His voice. His words felt like electricity in my body.

There have been only a few times