You cant have

Hope without Faith

A Tale of a Prophetic Birth

Dwayne & Angel
MERRITT
with Foreword by The Reverend Kenneth James Flowers
and Afterword by Pastor Henry G. Sims, Sr.
 Published By
Resurrected Hearts Ministries
P.O. Box 1043- Sterling Heights, MI 48311
resurrectedhearts@live.com

Copyright 2009 by Dwayne and Angel Merritt

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be

reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic
process, or in the form of any audio recording. No part of this
book is to be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or
otherwise published or copied for private use without written
permission of the authors.

ISBN: 978-0-578-04562-7

Printed in the United States of America

For more information contact:

resurrectedhearts@live.com

Printed in the USA by 48hrbooks.com

Book cover designed by Luciana Porter

Page Design by Shannon Crowley

Treasure Image & Publishing

All scripture references are from the

KING JAMES VERSION of the Bible.
 DEDICATION
This book is dedicated in loving
memory of:
Marie (Mother) Jackson
November 06, 1921-September 25, 2009
A virtuous woman that taught a young man
how to love and respect his elders.
You will never be forgotten.

Lillian Gertrude Sims

August 12, 1914-March 17, 2005
A powerful woman of God
who always put her family first.
Your legacy shall live on.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our deepest appreciation to
First, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Without Him, none of this would have been
possible. We thank Him for giving us strength
when we wanted to give up. And we thank
Him for His Word that has given us hope.
Our daughters, Hope and Faith, for the
many hugs and kisses that they gave us
everyday and encouraged us to keep going.
Pastor Henry and Co-Pastor Cassandria
Sims, who stood by and pulled for us every
step of the way. And has been an instrumental
part of our spiritual growth.
Reverend Kenneth Flowers, for being a
spiritual father and praying for us and the
twins throughout the pregnancy.
Robin Lowery, for being a loving mother,
a great friend, and never giving up on us.
Samuel and Huong Sims, for their love
and support during some of our worse trials
and tribulations.

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 Luciana Porter, for her expertise in
designing the cover and being a wonderful
sister.
Elder Antonio and Nina Sims, for
encouraging words, prayers, and support.
Minister Mary Edwards, for her time,
wisdom, editing of the manuscript and taking
us under her wing. She has been a true
blessing to our ministry and our personal
lives.
All of the twins loving godparents who
have been a tremendous blessing to us. Keith
and Dawn Williams, Toyia and Chaunsay
Jenkins, and Danielle Thompson. We dont
know what we would do without you.
All of the writers who were willing to
share their testimonies in this book.
The entire El-Beth-El Temple church
family for prayers and support.

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 ENDORSEMENT
Seldom am I at a loss for words. But it happened
when I wrote my latest book, Faith: Use It or Lose It.
I couldnt find the right words to explain the
difference between faith and hope. So, I eliminated it
from my manuscript. Soon I discovered why.
Dwayne and Angel Merritt had lived through the
difference. And, as a result, their testimony about
their lovely daughters, Hope and Faith, was included
in my book. They needed to share their story.
Because they did, it has generated great faith in the
lives of many who have read it.
I am so pleased to have served as the editor of this
wonderful, inspirational book, You Cant Have Hope
Without Faith. The Merritts have taken their faith to
a whole new level. So will you, after reading their
exhortation.
To God Be the Glory!
Minister Mary Edwards
Author, Editor, Motivational Speaker
Founder, The Called and Ready Writers

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 FOREWORD
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen,
(Hebrews 11:1).
It is against this backdrop that Dwayne and
Angel Merritt have written this powerful book about
their FAITH and HOPE in the Lord, Jesus Christ,
during a most difficult time in their lives. For when
Angel was 27 weeks pregnant with twins, Satan
decided to attack the womb. Both babies developed
heart problems and the prognosis did not look good.
The doctors told Dwayne and Angel that they
possibly could save one baby, but not both.
Devastated and distraught, Dwayne sent me a text to
inform me of the doctor's grim news and simply
said, "Pastor, we need you to pray!!!"
It was at that time that the Lord spoke clearly to
my heart and said, "They shall not die!!!" Even
though I was in an important meeting and could not
step out at the time, the Lord put in my spirit to use
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the medium of "texting." Never before had I prayed
via text message!!! But the Lord said, "Pray for your
spiritual son Dwayne and Angel NOW to let them
know that everything is gonna be alright!!!" So I was
obedient to the Lord and for the first time in my life,
I prayed for healing via text!!! I told them not to
worry, that God had already told me that the twins
would live. I told him (via text) that God had already
spoken Healing and Deliverance into their lives and
that the babies were going to be healed. I texted him,
"IT IS ALREADY DONE!!! HALLELUJAH!!!
THANK GOD FOR THE VICTORY!!!" Dwayne
said, "I accept and believe, pastor!!!"
Morevover, the following Sunday, Dwayne and
Angel worshipped with us at Greater New Mt.
Moriah Missionary Baptist Church. I anointed
Angel with oil and laid hands on her stomach and
prayed for them to see the manifestation of the
Divine Healing. The congregation was also in
prayer because Dwayne's paternal grandmother,
Deacon Audrey Mahaffey, is a member of our
church, and I had "adopted" him as one of my
"spiritual sons." Deacon Mahaffey is a "praying and
shouting" woman of God, and she also believed that
the babies were healed. After attending their own
church also, Dwayne and Angel returned to the
doctor the following week to hear the miraculous

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news that THE TWINS WERE HEALED!!!
PRAISE GOD!!!
Thus, it is only fitting that Jesus Christ when
the twins were born they were named "FAITH" and
"HOPE," for you cannot have one without the
other. Both babies were born without any
complications and remain quite healthy to this very
day!!!
Therefore, in looking at this book, the reader
will see the miraculous healing power of God and
how this beautiful story mirrors the life of every
believer today: YOU CAN OT HAVE FAITH
WITHOUT HOPE AND YOU CANNOT HAVE
HOPE WITHOUT FAITH!!! THEY GO
TOGETHER!!! Christians must believe in the Lord,
Jesus Christ, and then maintain hope that He will
make a way out of no way!!! This abiding Faith is
needed in the church today, as well as an unwavering
Hope that says, "I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me," (Philippians 4:13) and "My
God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in
glory, (Philippians 4:19). We must believe that God
is Able and can, in fact, move mountains!!! With
Faith and Hope, we must, "Trust in the Lord with all
thine heart and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and
He shall direct thy paths, (Proverbs 3:5-6). Yes, even
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though the enemy tried to steal their joy, Dwayne
and Angel had FAITH and HOPE and said, "No
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and
every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment,
thou shalt condemn, for this is the heritage of the
servants of the Lord," (Isaiah 54:17). Dwayne and
Angel Merritt are servants of the Lord and God
Almighty heard their prayers!!!
So I thank God for FAITH and HOPE...twin
babies who were miraculously healed in the womb,
and twin pillars of our Christian Faith that gives us
Divine Assurance that we shall Behold His Face One
Day!!!
The Reverend Kenneth James Flowers, Pastor
Greater New Mt. Moriah Missionary
Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan

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