ENDORSEMENTS
I believe the message of this book is both timely and prophetic for the days we are living in. It is in the place of intimacy with the Lord where we are changed into His likeness. It is in the place of intimacy that His power and anointing begin to flow through us in the most wonderful ways. I encourage you to live out the message of this book and watch your life be radically transformed.
Carol Arnott
Catch the Fire, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Before we can release Gods love to the world, we must first let Gods love touch us. That is what being a laid-down lover is all about. James and Michal Ann Goll have been a rare breed of a husband-wife team, showing us how to dwell in the secret place of the most high God. Sweet Michal Ann now basks in unfeigned worship directly before the throne while James continues His pilgrimage on this side. But together they touched the lives of many and most importantly, touched the very heart of God Himself.
Heidi Baker
Iris Ministries International, Pemba, Mozambique
I have personally had the honor of knowing James and the late Michal Ann Goll for more than forty years. They served with me in Kansas City for over a decade in various capacities, always demonstrating a lavish love for Jesus. I commend to you these vintage writings in this Women on the Frontlines series of books. The Golls are among those who long to see Jesus receive the rewards for His suffering. I give a hearty amen to Michal Anns lineage and legacy of her ministry and the teachings found in these books.
Mike Bickle
Founder of IHOP-KC, Kansas City, Missouri
Michal Ann Goll has written beautifully, calling us to the secret place. With many anecdotes and examples from both the past and the present from those who made it to the secret place, Michal Ann is calling us to follow in their footsteps. I believe she is articulating the call of the Holy SpiritHe wants all of us to enter into deeper intimacy with God.
Wesley and Stacey Campbell
Be a Hero Ministries, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
This book about women of prayer, A Call to the Secret Place, brings you directly into Gods presence as you come to know the women saints Michal Ann selected to write about. Some lived several hundred years ago; others are contemporary women who have responded to Gods call to the secret place. As you read, follow your own desire to enter Gods quiet sanctuary. You will yearn to open yourself more to His voice, His direction, His love. Abandon yourself to His call.
Quin Sherrer,
Author of many books about prayer
Few people have touched my life like Michal Ann Goll. Her life, her love for God, her ministry, and her writings have left our lovely Saviors impact upon me. For years, James and Michal Ann have been friends of Life Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and of my husband, Charles, and I. Though Michal Ann has graduated to heaven, I continue to read these Women on the Frontlines series books over and over. You will want to also.
Anne Stock
Life Center, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Michal Ann poured out her heart in a vulnerable, even tender way to her fellow sisters in Christ. It is almost as if she is Gods cheerleader for the reader even to this day, exhorting them, Go on, Sister, you can do it! Let love take action in your life and make a difference for Jesus Christs sake!
Cindy Jacobs
Generals International, Red Oak, Texas
BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
Racine, Wisconsin, USA
BroadStreetPublishing.com
A Call to the Secret Place
Pursuing the Prize of Gods Presence
Copyright 2016 James W. Goll
ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5187-3 (softcover)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5188-0 (e-book)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Scriptures marked amp are taken from The Amplified Bible. Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved. Scripture quotation marked cev taken from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright 1995 by American Bible Society. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Cover design by Chris Garborg at www.garborgdesign.com
Interior by Katherine Lloyd at www.theDESKonline.com
Printed in the United States of America
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DEDICATION
We dedicate this book of the Women on the Frontlines series to our mothers and grandmothers, who all walked in the faithour Willard and McCoy and Goll and Burns heritage. These godly women blazed a trail for us, and we have walked in the footsteps of giants. Our desire is that we in turn can blaze a trail for the generations that follow us.
CONTENTS
by Elizabeth Alves
S omeone asked me, Tell me about Michal Ann Goll. What was she like? I closed my eyes and thought back. As the memories flooded in, the tears welled up and I couldnt speak.
Michal Ann Goll. The first time I laid eyes on her, she was preaching at a womens conferencewhile baking bread, no less! She was demonstrating the process of turning raw grain into finished bread; it was an allegory of the Christian walk. As she wiped her flour-covered hands on her backside, I thought to myself, Im gonna love this girl!
And indeed I did. This spunky, sweet Missouri-born mother of four always had a smile on her face. I will always remember her walking around singing and worshipping. I never heard a negative word out of her mouth about anyone. Perhaps that was one reason why the secret place seemed always so near to her. Michal Ann didnt just talk about the secret place; she lived in it.
The first time I visited in the Goll home, they had just moved into a small house with their four children. It was crowded, but the fruit of the Spirit was everywhere. The first night I was in their home, God had a word that He would give them a lovely house on a hill with lots of green grass on its acreage, with horses on it. Michal Ann began to cry, because she said this had always been her dream.
As with most ministries, their finances were never on the high side. When Michal Ann was asked, How will this happen? her answer would be, Ill discuss it with God. Well, she must have done that, because the house and acreage became a beautiful reality. As she would later say, It was birthed in my secret place.
Michal Ann has called me a grandmother of the prayer shield.And indeed I have written books on prayer and intercession. But I have never met a Christian yet who doesnt yearn for that call to the secret place. Some are too afraid to seek it. Some just dont want to take up the challenge. But some are like this deep, passionate, sensitive friend of minethey dont just visit the secret place. They accept the call, walk the walk, and
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