Marketplace Evangelism Today

Fear Not, For I Am With You!

Scripture taken from Isaiah 41:10:

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

This Scripture gives me great comfort in knowing that our Heavenly Father is with me because I am a child of God through Christ Jesus. Only through Christ Jesus, I find comfort and rest.

One of my favorite prayers is taken from Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul. I take great comfort in knowing that if I place my trust and faith in Christ Jesus, He will comfort me in my time of trouble.

Here are several truths that I know. I know that Jesus is my Shepherd. Jesus gave Himself for me! Jesus will never leave me nor forsake me! All things work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose.

Tomorrow, I go in for a medical procedure at the hospital. This will be under anesthesia and is outpatient. Although I may have some concern, there is nothing that I can actually do about my health or circumstance. I must give all of this to my Heavenly Father.

The Lord IS my Shepherd. I will fear not because I know that Jesus is with me. I know that Jesus will strengthen me and hold me up with His righteous right hand! To God be the glory regardless of the outcome.

When faced with adversity, consider praying this prayer which are Scripture verses. Please join me in praying the following:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help me to not be afraid, for I know that you are with me. Help me to know that you are God, and you will strengthen me. I know that you will help me to overcome my illness or trial. I pray that you will uphold me with your righteous right hand.

I know that the Lord is my Shepherd, and I shall not want. You make me lie down in green pastures. You lead me beside still waters. You restore my soul. You lead me in paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Even if I walk in the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I pray this in Jesus Name,

Amen.

If you prayed that prayer with me, then believe it in your heart. Stay steady in Christ my friends. He will see you through whatever adversity that you may be going through.

I leave you with this taken from Numbers 6:24-26.

“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Reference:

John Piper, “Lessons from a Hospital Bed,” 2016.

What If You Lost Everything?

Scripture taken from Job 1:13-22.

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

As I lay in bed tonight, I started thinking about some insurance agents who are struggling because some insurance companies in have stopped writing business. Some of these companies came into the state like gangbusters and allowed many risks to be written with their company, not taking in account the massive ensuing claims that would follow. These massive claims have affected the profitability of the insurance company. Some companies have pulled out of the state. Other companies have paused writing new insurance for several months. And then some companies have terminated agents and have non-renewed the terminated agents book of business.

These measures may seem extreme for the general public, but they may be necessary to stop the hemorrhage that is occurring where insurance companies are not profitable and may possibly be dipping deep into their reserves. This ultimately leads to higher rates for the consumer.

But let us get back to these insurance agents. Some agents are struggling and panicking. I think the reason why is that they have wrapped everything up into their business that they forgot to include God. God may not be a part of their lives. They may not have a personal relationship with Jesus. When things get tough, they have no where to turn.

As for me, I am a business owner. I am already a survivor. At one point in my life, I lost everything. But God did not forsake me. God brought me out of the ashes and helped me to become successful in my business. It wasn’t easy, but Christ Jesus paved the way. And I give Christ Jesus all the glory and honor.

Look at Job. He lost everything including his sons and daughters. They were killed. But instead of Job screaming at God, he fell down on his knees and worshipped God. Then he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job was definitely a survivor and he knew where his wealth came from. But when God allowed Satan to take everything away from him, Job knew that although he was broke, God still received his praise and adoration.

Later on, we know that Job was restored by God. In our own walk with Christ Jesus, we can easily lose what God has given us. We are to praise Him for all of our circumstances regardless of whether we lose everything. To God be the glory.

My business is not really mine. It belongs to God. I am just the steward of God’s business. If He chooses to take it away, I know that the Lord will take care of our needs. It is my prayer that you too would have a relationship with the Father, where you can say, the Lord gave and the Lord took away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you will help me to make you the center of my life. I give my all to you to do with as you wish. I pray that Jesus will come into my life and I will make Him Lord of my life. Even if you give and take away, help me to say, “Blessed is the name of the Lord.” I place all my trust and faith in you!

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Do You Seek the Things That Are From Above in Your Everyday Life?

Do You Seek the Things That Are From Above in Your Everyday Life?

Scripture taken from Colossians 3:1-2. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

If we continue to read Colossians 3, we would understand that this passage is talking about putting on a new self in Christ Jesus. Everyday, we are barraged with the evils of this world. The generation we are now living in is filled with so many abominations, it is almost as bad if not worse than Sodom and Gomorrah.

What was once considered by society pure and holy is now considered intolerable by this sinful and evil society. What was once considered abominations to God is now celebrated as wonderful and the right to practice sin and glorify it.

When we, as Followers of Christ Jesus are not in Church, what are we filling our minds with? I was recently reading a book that John Piper wrote.

He said that he doesn’t have a television at home because of the “subtle and pervasive dehumanizing banality of most television programming. This is the last thing a person needs when he is standing on the brink of eternity.”

The subtle programming has recently gotten worse since Piper wrote those words. Now, abominations to God are right in your face with every turn you make when watching television or participating in social media. Many social media platforms have allowed nudity and sexual encounters and perversion to be shown on their platforms. Certainly, Sodom and Gomorrah are being repeated right in the United States.

Let’s understand what Paul was writing in Colossians 3:1-2. If believers have been raised with Christ, it means that we have died to self and raised back up with Jesus. We have put off our old selves and have put on our new selves in our daily walk with Jesus. We are living our lives in a manner that is holy and pleasing to Jesus. We are seeking things from above. Our obedience is a response of gratitude of God’s favor which is already bestowed on us as Followers of Christ Jesus.

We are seeking to continue to live our lives holy because Christ Jesus sits on the right hand of God. The phrase “seated at the right hand of God” refers to the authority of Jesus over the world. RC Sproul writes, “The Christian life must be lived with an abiding confidence in and submission to the lordship of Christ.”

When we live our lives the other six days of the week, and we are not in Church, let us not participate in consuming the filth of this evil world. Instead, let us fill our free time with reading God’s Word, listening to Christ centered podcasts or programming. Listen to Christian music. Fill your mind with God and His Words and teachings.

The minute that you say it’s okay to watch a program or movie with cursing and sexuality, you are opening your mind to the evil one. This done over and over will condition your mind to start accepting sin as the norm. Instead, stay steady in Christ. Although we are in the world, we are not to participate in the sin of this evil world.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, If I have sinned against you by watching and listening to sin filled programming, I ask for forgiveness. Please help me to withstand the schemes of Satan through his temptations. Send your Holy Spirit to teach me what you want me to learn and change about myself. I want to live my life in a manner that is pleasing to you. I ask this in the name of Jesus.

Amen

References:

John Piper, “Lessons From a Hospital Bed,” 2016.

R. C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible, 2015.

Do You Pray For Others When You Yourself Are Sick?

Do You Pray For Others When You Yourself Are Sick?

Scripture taken from Luke 21:12-13, “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”

I am currently reading a study that John Piper wrote called “Lessons From a Hospital Bed.” In the book, Piper wrote, “Pray for patients near you, and if possible – without undue offense – see if your roommates will let you pray for them and give them words of hope in Jesus.”

Piper also wrote the above Scripture and inserted additional words. Let me share them with you now. “You will be brought before kings and governors (and doctors and nurses and patients) for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” Can you imagine the impact you can make for the gospel of Christ offering to pray for other patients, pray for doctors and nurses?

His analogy reminds me of when my Dad was in the hospital. He was in suffering from a bleeding stomach ulcer. The doctors had cauterized the ulcer and it had stopped bleeding. The next day, my Dad was brought to a room from the emergency department and his roommate was a man named Mr. Crumpler. My Dad started talking to this man about Jesus. He witnessed to him. Our pastor came to see my Dad and the pastor led Mr. Crumpler to Christ Jesus. That night, my Dad passed into the loving arms of Jesus due to complications from the stomach endoscopy. Even on his last day on this side of eternity, my Dad was instrumental in leading his roommate to Christ Jesus.

My Dad has been an inspiration to me all these years. I come from a family of Christian men and women who were in ministry as well as laypeople in the Church. I cannot stop talking about Jesus and how He has made a difference in my own life.

There is a saying among us who are in ministry. “You are as close to Jesus as you want to be! How close are you truly to Christ Jesus?” If you are a “true” Christian, then it is your responsibility to tell others about your Lord and Savior. It is your responsibility to pray for those who are sick as well as those who are suffering and are in need.

We must bear witness so that others may know the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Jesus said that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. One of the greatest acts of love is to show that you care for people. Do this by praying for them when you see them. If they are in the hospital, offer to pray for them. Give them the encouragement that they need in Christ Jesus. “You never know, you may be the only Bible people will ever read! You may be the only Jesus people will ever see!” – (Unknown)

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Help me to be a witness for you! I am willing to step out on faith and pray for others. Use me for your ministry.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

Reference:

John Piper, Lessons From a Hospital Bed, 2016.

The Digital Fruit of Good and Evil

The technology that we have today is such that would appear to be space age only 57 years ago when Star Trek first aired as a television series. Their commutator looked like a flip phone that was invented only 27 years ago.

Today, we have smartphones that can do everything, from making telephone calls worldwide to FaceTiming with our loved ones on any day of the week. We can also search the internet and find anything we are looking for on this digital fruit. We can find good things as well as evil things.

Many Christians may use their smartphones to read the Bible or other Christian content. There are some though who have addictions to pornography who can find just about anything in this filthy sexually immoral world with just a few search words in a search engine. Then millions of pages of porn will appear at just a few words searched.

These smartphones can be called the “digital fruit of good and evil.” This is why parents should not be giving their children smartphones with internet access. A good parent would not give a child a loaded gun to play with. Why in the world would they allow their children to have access to some of the most vile images on the internet?

Possibly because the parent is naive, they trust their children and want to give them opportunities to be trusted. The problem I see with this is the same analogy of not giving your children loaded guns to play with. Patents need to protect their children so that they eyes and their minds will be protected from the evil of this world.

Even adults can be affected by viewing pornography. I know a man who struggled with pornography early in life. He was delivered from that sin once he fully came to Christ. Later in life, he got a smartphone. One day he was doing a search in a search engine and accidentally stumbled on a porn site. He tried and tried not to view the image but it was like an alcoholic taking a drink after 20 years. His addiction came back and he viewing pornography on a regular basis, but this time, it was so easily accessed on his digital device. It was only through much prayer and reading through the Word of God that he was able to break this addiction through Christ Jesus.

These smartphones are truly a “fruit of good and evil.” Be very careful how you use them. When I think back in Genesis, God gave both Adam and Eve one commandment, do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They may eat of any other tree, but not this tree. In Genesis 2:16-17, it reads, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Unfortunately, Eve disobeyed God at the suggestion of Satan, the snake, and ate of the forbidden fruit. Then she encouraged Adam to do the same. And then they both realized their nakedness, and they made coverings for their private parts and covered themselves because they were ashamed. And God came into the Garden and was looking for them. They hid from Him. When God found them and found out what they did, He banished them from the Garden of Eden.

I find it interesting that a certain digital company has chosen a fruit as their logo. As I was meditating before the Lord, this story came to my mind pertaining to digital fruit. Perhaps we should reconsider how we use digital fruit when we are searching the internet. The fact that evil is just a click away is concerning. Parents, if you truly love your children, wait before giving your child a digital fruit that contains “good and evil.”

I pray that you will consider these words written. These smartphones should only be given to mature older children. Once children see the evil that can be accessed, they cannot be unseen.

Photo Credit: TextArt

Thanksgiving: Giving God Thanks for all Our Blessings

Every year, we have a holiday called Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has many meanings for many different people. As for me and my house, we give thanks to God for all of His provisions and blessings.

Take a look at one of my favorite Bible Scriptures, Psalm 100. I know it by heart and was taught it at a very young age.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Look at verse 4, Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him and bless His name. We are to praise God in all of our circumstances and give thanks for all of His blessings in our lives.

The thing that I am most thankful for is that God sent His Son Jesus into the world to save the world. I believe in Jesus and I know, that I know, that I know, that if I died tonight, I would be with Christ Jesus! This and this alone is my greatest thanksgiving that I could ever experience is knowing the love, sacrifice, and grace of Jesus the Messiah.

What is your greatest thing you are thankful for that has eternal consequences?

God is Love

God is Love (1 John 4:7-12)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.”

Yes friends, God is love. In 1 John 4:7-12, we are instructed that since God is love, we are to love one another. It is implied that those who do not love does not love God, nor do they know Him. The reasoning is that if they knew God, they would know that God is love.

Through God’s love, He made manifest among us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. God did not send His Son into the world because we loved Him, but because God loved us so very much that He sent His Son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins. Therefore, if God loved us this much, we ought to love one another. Since no one who is living now has ever seen God, if we love one another, then that is a sign that God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

The love of our Heavenly Father for His own Son is the source that binds all believers together as a family. By our Heavenly Father who has willfully given us His only Son, He has introduced us to perfect love and eternal life. By Christ Jesus coming into the world, He turned His Father’s righteous anger away from us and Jesus satisfied God’s justice in our place. Jesus did this to fulfill God’s love for us.

We should be comforted that God does love us so very much that He was willing to send His only Son as a living sacrifice for the redemption of our sins. If we say that we love God, then we must love one another as Christ loved us.

One of the most important commandments that Jesus told us was to love God with all our hearts, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (cf. Matthew 22:37-39). And if we have love for our neighbor, then we love God. If we do not have love for our neighbor, then we do not love God.

Once you invite Jesus into your heart, the Helper which is the Holy Spirit will live in you and help you with your faith. He will teach you. Your life will start to change. Your hatred for others will dissipate and through the Holy Spirit, you will have love for those who have hurt you and ridiculed you. You will have the love of Christ Jesus in you. That is how you can love others. I pray that you will find the peace and love of God only found through a relationship with Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I ask that you forgive me of my sins and those who I have sinned against. Please help me to forgive others as I have been forgiven. I ask that you help me to love others as you have loved me. Amen.

Watching Horror Films and other TV Shows Can Open You Up to Demonic Influences

Recently, on Instagram, a man was in a video talking about Demonic influences from watching horror films. He said that sometimes in these horror films, the producers of the film will introduce Satanic rituals, sayings, curses, and witchcraft. He was correct in all that he disclosed.

The same holds true for other films, TV programs, and secular music. For instance, in films that have sex or a lot of cursing, after listening to those words over and over, the demonic forces can infiltrate your mind, and you might be alone one day and start to hear these curse words in your mind. I know of someone this has happened to.

Watching sexual relations on film or TV can allow demonic activity into your home through a Jezebel spirit. You may think that you are mature and think that you can handle this, but there was a reason that Jesus said that looking at another woman and having lustful thoughts is committing adultery. See Matthew 5:28.

Watching these films and TV shows that promote sexual sin, perversion, and opening your mind to satanic rituals and witchcraft on film, is a dangerous endeavor. It can lead to demonic oppression and possession.

The Bible says that we should seek to live holy lives that are pleasing to God. Look at Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” In Ephesians 4:27, we are not to give any opportunity to the devil.

Our Heavenly Father gave us His ways to live by. See Leviticus 19:31, “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.” Opening your mind up to these things are dangerous and will make a person who follows Christ Jesus unclean.

The filmmakers in Hollywood do not have your best interest at heart. They produce some of the most vile things which are abominations to God. We are to stay away from such things. Stop watching filth and evil on your TV’s and devices. By doing do, you are opening your minds up to negative influences which are demonic in nature.

If you have done this or are currently doing it now, stop it! Repent from these things. Ask forgiveness that you have done these things. Renounce them to the Lord and pray that the Holy Spirit will live in you daily.

I am going to tell you that unless you are serious and determined, if you are addicted to watching this stuff, Satan isn’t going to just let you go. He already has been influencing your life through these films and movies. You must plead the Blood of Jesus over yourself. Ask a Bible believing Christian to pray for you and over you.

These influences are of the spiritual world. If you have been taking this stuff in over the years, you may not be able to break away so easily. I know of professing Christians who got addicted to porn and it took a great deal of prayer and counseling for them to finally break away and walk upright and righteous with Jesus.

I will pray for you that you will stop allowing sin in your homes, that you will turn all of your life over to Christ Jesus. Stay away from evil. Don’t allow it in your homes. Repent and turn from this wickedness. Jesus will forgive you if you ask.

Clean Hands, Clean Heart

Yesterday, while washing my hands before eating at a restaurant, a thought came into my mind. As I looked down at my hands, I thought about the work my hands have done throughout my life.

I have not always lived for Jesus. I remembered how my hands were used in my sin nature. No matter how often I washed my hands, the sin nature would always be there. I could not make myself clean.

Then I thought of Pontius Pilate and how he washed his hands after condemning Jesus to be crucified on the cross. See Matthew 27:24, “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”

The fact is Pilate was not innocent as he had no authority to wash his own sins away. Symbolically, he thought he was innocent, but he was the one to order the death of Christ Jesus, and there was nothing to take that stain of sin off his hands.

The same is with us. Without true faith in Christ Jesus, all the sins we have committed are on our own hands. Our dirty rotten sin nature is caused from an evil heart, which is full of vile thoughts and sin.

In order for the heart to be cleansed, and to be made righteous through Christ Jesus, one must turn from their evil ways, believe on the name of the Lord Jesus, and they will be saved. Belief without true life changing works is dead. If one truly comes to the saving grace of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will come into our lives as promised by Jesus. The Holy Spirit will teach us and convict us when we sin again.

If one says they believe, but there is no change in their life, and they continue sinning like the way they have always sinned, then I would say that they are not following Jesus, because when one truly comes into the saving grace of Jesus, there will be evidence that their life is starting to change. They will not desire to continue sinning.

Look at James 2:14-26, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Issac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Once the heart is cleansed through Christ Jesus, then the Holy Spirit seals you. Your heart is cleansed from sin and now your hands are cleaned. You have been washed clean through the blood of Jesus. He died on the cross to save you and me of our sins.

The gift of everlasting life is yours to take as long as you believe in Him. Jesus said in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Look at Romans 10:9-11, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Now look at Revelation 1:5b, “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” It is only through Christ Jesus that all of our sins can be completely washed away. Jesus took all our sin on the cross with Him. In His death, our sins were forgiven. In His resurrection, we have life and have it more abundantly.

If you want clean hands, you must start with a heart cleaning. Faith in Christ Jesus and repentance from your sins will cleanse your heart and then you will have clean hands. You will be washed in the blood of the lamb. I pray that you will turn over your heart and your life to Him today.

Roofing Storm Chasers are Coming!

As many of you know, not only am I involved in ministry, but I also own an independent insurance agency. Our agency sells a lot of homeowners insurance, and we feel confident that we have insured our clients correctly. We made sure that when we sold our clients, they had all the extra endorsements to take care of wind damage in the event of a major storm.

This weekend, a tropical storm will most likely hit the area. The meteorologists are forecasting that this storm will have some significant hail. Hail can cause major damage to your roof. I want to assure you that we will be there when you need us most!

I also want to warn you about out of town roofing storm chasers. Some of these contractors may be legitimate, but there are always certain individuals that do the most ungodly things to people who have major damage to their property.

Unfortunately, what comes after these storms are roofing contractors from out of town. We call these contractors storm chasers. Please beware of Roofing Contractor Storm Chasers who are not located in Virginia or your state. Be careful who you decide to do business with. If they only have a business card but no office or location that you can confirm is legitimate, I suggest that you do not do business with them.

There are many reasons why I issue you this caution. A few years ago, one of my clients used a storm chasing contractor. I had warned her not to use him because I could not verify him through any local companies. The out-of-town contractor took all of the insurance money and then did a sub-par repair to her roof and siding. He left and was unable to be found. Unfortunately, the insurance company is only going to pay once for storm damages per claim. She came back and wanted the insurance company to issue her a new check, but it was too late. The contractor cashed the check that she wrote him, and the money was gone. She was a victim of an unscrupulous contractor. The insurance company will not pay twice.

Don’t become a victim of being scammed. There are several things that you can do to verify these contractors. To avoid problems, I would only use a Virginia Licensed Contractor is who insured and will issue you a Certificate of Insurance proving they have insurance. You may send me a copy of the certificate and I will be more than happy to verify insurance for your contractor on your behalf. A local contractor who has been in business for years would be my recommendation.

Here are the tips to verify a contractor.

Get the Contractors Name and company name. I can call the Commonwealth of Virginia on your behalf to verify if this contractor is in good standing with Virginia. If he or she is not, then I would not use them.
Call the company to verify that the person you are speaking with is with that company. Look the company number up on Google. Look at their Google Reviews. If they have a bad review, stay away.
Obtain a Certificate of Insurance from the Contractor. If he or she hands you a copy of his or her policy, ask for a Certificate of Insurance be sent from their insurance agent to you listing you as a Certificate Holder. (Remember that I will call the insurance company listed on the Certificate on your behalf to make sure they are really insured.) If they hand you a policy and you do not verify that the policy is in force, then you may have a problem as the policy could be cancelled.
Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if said contractor has any complaints. If they do, look at the resolutions done by the contractor. Do not do business with a contractor that has bad reviews with no positive resolutions.
If the contractor cannot be verified as legitimate, then please don’t do business with them. As I mentioned before, I would only do business with a licensed Virginia Contractor who is insured.

By doing these simple checks, they can save yourself much grief in case you hire a bad contractor.

Let’s discuss why you need a Certificate of Insurance. By obtaining a certificate, this is a legal document which a licensed insurance agent will issue. This describes coverages. You want a contractor who carries General Liability with Products and Completed Operations. If that contractor puts a sub-par roof on, you may have recourse against the contractor by filing a claim against his insurance. As I mentioned, I will call the insurance company to verify coverage for you. This is a service that I do for all my clients.

I pray that we will not see any significant damages, but if we do, we will be there when you need us most! I will be praying for all my clients and friends.