Hi again,
I just had to update you with some new info. I just talked to Shara in Mozambique and she does not have malaria. She actually has pneumonia, which is probably what Brenda had when she came home.
The other piece of good news for us Illinois folk is that Shara and several friends will be with us in Chicago, probably in early September. They could be with us here for the kickoff of our first Chicago Sending Center class, Missions Prep 101, as we may call it.
For friends in Canada, the Southwest USA, the Northeast USA, the South and the Northwest and everywhere else in the world, we would like to visit you all as soon as possible, so we ask you to pray that God directs our paths according to His will.
Our vision is to first establish a model Sending Center in Chicagoland and then plant other Sending Centers in other places like Calgary, Las Vegas, New York State, Four Corners, etc. Sending Centers would work well teamed up with International Houses of Prayer and Healing Rooms. Our goal is to send as many qualified workers to the harvest fields of Iris Ministries, under Heidi and Rolland Baker. We know that is what God wants us doing right now. We will work with pastors and churches that have the vision to send workers where the harvest is incredibly ripe.
The classes and open doors for mission work are for both younger and older folk. They are for both those who have dedicated their lives to "the ministry" and to business people and students, etc., who are also just as called to "the ministry".
Keep us in your prayers as we seek the Lord for wisdom and direction in these important days of history.
Blessings in Jesus' love,
Ben and Brenda
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Greetings Friends,
The drug accusation situation in Mozambique is improving. I will copy a letter I got from Teisa, the gal they threatened to put in jail.
Unfortunately Shara, Heidi's personal assistant apparently has malaria and is in bed, with many things to get done before they come to the USA. Please pray earnestly for her.
Also please pray for our scheduling the rest of the summer and fall. We do have some scheduling conflicts to work out and they are all important events.
Tonight we will be ministering to many young adults along with others in a very full house in Lake Zurich. Please pray for a strong anointing and wisdom for how to minister best to everyone.
We love you all and thank you so much for your love and prayers. God has been answering your prayers. And to those who have felt led to help us with finances, including a couple of anonymous donors, you have no idea what a timely blessing your gift has been.
Ben and Brenda
Here's the letter from Teisa:
Dearest Pastor Ben and Brenda,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! His word has carried me! I am so grateful for your love and support--Jesus spoils me thru awesome lover-warriors like you!
Did you get this update? Just in case....
Dearest Friends and Prayer Warriors,
Greetings from a most blessed Pemba, Mozambique!
Thank you so much for praying for me/Iris Ministries during this intense
time! We are so encouraged by your love, prayers, and partnership in the Kingdom. We are so grateful for the glorious intercession going forth from the Body of Christ around the world. Thank you for your emails and scriptures-what an awesome sources of confirmation and strength. Although the drug allegations are not completely resolved, we know God is turning everything around for His glory. We wanted to testify about the greatness of Jesus and update everyone on the current situation (so you can keep praying!!!!)
Personally, I had total peace until I called the US Embassy last Monday.
The officials told me some horrific stories of foreigners dealing with the
Mozambican justice system..especially Christian foreigners in a Muslim
province. Two different officials encouraged me to leave the country. When I got off the phone, I began to cry out to God with all my "whys and what if" questions. The Holy Spirit brought me to 1 Peter 4:12-15. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trail you are suffering as though something strange was happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." Wow.ya know..this situation (threats, slander, imprisonment) should not be a surprise. This is all part of a normal Christian life! This is why I am in Mozambique-- normal stuff like this.
We continued to make daily trips to the police station. By the grace of
God, our staff was never officially arrested or detained in prison.
Mid-week we experienced an amazing breakthrough in the Spirit. After hours of dark, ominous clouds hovering over Pemba, it suddenly began to rain! Everyone was shocked by the downpour because it never rains in July (winter in Moz). Soon we knew why.our wonderful Father in heaven sent us the most unbelievable double rainbow!!! Most people know the ministry is named after the Portuguese translation of rainbow Arco Iris. Indeed, Jesus wrote His promise to us in the sky (Gen. 9:13). Our children and staff excitedly danced about in the puddles rejoicing in God's covenant. People ran to get their cameras and capture the moment. His magnificent colors filled the sky and His overwhelming love filled our hearts. Nothing is impossible with our
God! Our Jesus is amazing!!!
We are still under "mild suspicion" for drugs. We believe this is due to
the inadequate testing within the Maputo laboratories. When initially
tested, the vitamins failed the test due to a "stimulant." Therefore, the
assumption was made that the stimulant was cocaine or heroin. The vitamins are currently being retested. Please keep praying with us for proof needed to drop the charges completely. Currently the vitamins are in police custody in Maputo.
Please continue to pray:
1. Reversal and complete vindication from all charges and threats from the police.
2. Release of all our vitamins.
3. Abundant blessings over Iris Ministries and Heidi & Rolland Baker.
4. More normal Jesus stuff in my life.
5. Full salvation and transformation of Pemba/Cabo Delgado through the
saving power of Jesus.
God continues to speak "Shalom" over us. Because we have His peace, we press on! Every day we are seeing signs and wonders among the previously unreached Makua and Macondie tribe. Hundreds of people are getting saved weekly. On Sunday, we baptized many new believers (ex-Muslims) in the Indian Ocean. This week, we welcomed twenty new children into our big family. Praise Jesus, lots of normal Kingdom stuff.
Friends, thank you again for standing with us in prayer. Please keep
praying! May God arise and His enemies be scattered.
I love you!!!!
Teisa
The drug accusation situation in Mozambique is improving. I will copy a letter I got from Teisa, the gal they threatened to put in jail.
Unfortunately Shara, Heidi's personal assistant apparently has malaria and is in bed, with many things to get done before they come to the USA. Please pray earnestly for her.
Also please pray for our scheduling the rest of the summer and fall. We do have some scheduling conflicts to work out and they are all important events.
Tonight we will be ministering to many young adults along with others in a very full house in Lake Zurich. Please pray for a strong anointing and wisdom for how to minister best to everyone.
We love you all and thank you so much for your love and prayers. God has been answering your prayers. And to those who have felt led to help us with finances, including a couple of anonymous donors, you have no idea what a timely blessing your gift has been.
Ben and Brenda
Here's the letter from Teisa:
Dearest Pastor Ben and Brenda,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! His word has carried me! I am so grateful for your love and support--Jesus spoils me thru awesome lover-warriors like you!
Did you get this update? Just in case....
Dearest Friends and Prayer Warriors,
Greetings from a most blessed Pemba, Mozambique!
Thank you so much for praying for me/Iris Ministries during this intense
time! We are so encouraged by your love, prayers, and partnership in the Kingdom. We are so grateful for the glorious intercession going forth from the Body of Christ around the world. Thank you for your emails and scriptures-what an awesome sources of confirmation and strength. Although the drug allegations are not completely resolved, we know God is turning everything around for His glory. We wanted to testify about the greatness of Jesus and update everyone on the current situation (so you can keep praying!!!!)
Personally, I had total peace until I called the US Embassy last Monday.
The officials told me some horrific stories of foreigners dealing with the
Mozambican justice system..especially Christian foreigners in a Muslim
province. Two different officials encouraged me to leave the country. When I got off the phone, I began to cry out to God with all my "whys and what if" questions. The Holy Spirit brought me to 1 Peter 4:12-15. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trail you are suffering as though something strange was happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." Wow.ya know..this situation (threats, slander, imprisonment) should not be a surprise. This is all part of a normal Christian life! This is why I am in Mozambique-- normal stuff like this.
We continued to make daily trips to the police station. By the grace of
God, our staff was never officially arrested or detained in prison.
Mid-week we experienced an amazing breakthrough in the Spirit. After hours of dark, ominous clouds hovering over Pemba, it suddenly began to rain! Everyone was shocked by the downpour because it never rains in July (winter in Moz). Soon we knew why.our wonderful Father in heaven sent us the most unbelievable double rainbow!!! Most people know the ministry is named after the Portuguese translation of rainbow Arco Iris. Indeed, Jesus wrote His promise to us in the sky (Gen. 9:13). Our children and staff excitedly danced about in the puddles rejoicing in God's covenant. People ran to get their cameras and capture the moment. His magnificent colors filled the sky and His overwhelming love filled our hearts. Nothing is impossible with our
God! Our Jesus is amazing!!!
We are still under "mild suspicion" for drugs. We believe this is due to
the inadequate testing within the Maputo laboratories. When initially
tested, the vitamins failed the test due to a "stimulant." Therefore, the
assumption was made that the stimulant was cocaine or heroin. The vitamins are currently being retested. Please keep praying with us for proof needed to drop the charges completely. Currently the vitamins are in police custody in Maputo.
Please continue to pray:
1. Reversal and complete vindication from all charges and threats from the police.
2. Release of all our vitamins.
3. Abundant blessings over Iris Ministries and Heidi & Rolland Baker.
4. More normal Jesus stuff in my life.
5. Full salvation and transformation of Pemba/Cabo Delgado through the
saving power of Jesus.
God continues to speak "Shalom" over us. Because we have His peace, we press on! Every day we are seeing signs and wonders among the previously unreached Makua and Macondie tribe. Hundreds of people are getting saved weekly. On Sunday, we baptized many new believers (ex-Muslims) in the Indian Ocean. This week, we welcomed twenty new children into our big family. Praise Jesus, lots of normal Kingdom stuff.
Friends, thank you again for standing with us in prayer. Please keep
praying! May God arise and His enemies be scattered.
I love you!!!!
Teisa
Monday, August 01, 2005
Liz's Testimony I didn't want to go to Africa. It...
Liz's Testimony
I didn’t want to go to Africa. It took me about five days of swaying back and forth between going and not going, until I finally made the decision. However, my heart was not in the right place. For the past couple years I had been wrestling with God. I have grown up going to church and my beliefs were pretty much just handed to me. I struggled to find out what I truly believed in my heart, and not what I believed just because others had told me to. Although I said I was searching to find out what I believed, in my heart I had pretty much become complacent. I just sort of accepted the world and my life the way it was and although I was not happy, did not make much of an effort to change that. I lived my life the way I wanted, made decisions that I shouldn’t have, and for the most part turned my back on God. Little did I know the plan that God would have for me in Africa.
In the beginning of the trip, I wrote in my journal, "God, I want to walk away from this trip changed. I am sick of being complacent. I want to experience you and your love. I want to experience the you that heals the sick and the you that others have seen. Can you do that God? I want passion and fire inside of me." Well, I can truly say that God answered my prayer.
The first night we were in Mozambique, God right away got my attention. It was like he was saying, "Ok, we have no time to waste, let’s get moving". While sitting at dinner with our team, Brenda turned to me and started to prophecy. I had never heard anybody do this before, much less not to me. It was amazing, and I knew the words she was speaking came directly from God. Alright God, you have my attention!
A few days into the trip, our team was invited to the meeting for all the leaders of Iris ministries. Ben and Brenda were going to prophecy over each of them and offer encouragement, and the rest of us were there to pray and encourage with them. All of the leaders were asked to stand up and Ben and Brenda went around to each person individually to prophecy and encourage. The second or third women they were speaking to started to shake with the Holy Spirit as soon as Brenda started speaking. She started to weep and the shaking increased, until it looked to me like she was getting electrocuted she was shaking so much. I was watching her, and all of a sudden I heard a sparking noise and I saw a flame shoot out of her chest like she had just caught on fire. Immediately after I saw this, the women fell to the floor, still weeping and shaking. I looked around me to see if anyone was as shocked and amazed as I was at what my eyes just saw. No one seemed to look as if they had just seen what I saw. I thought to myself, Ok, either what I saw is totally normal and people just aren’t phased by it, or I saw something that others didn’t see. After the meeting ended, I asked several people if they had seen the flame. Nobody I asked had seen anything. Ok God, what’s that all about?!? I still don’t understand exactly why God allowed me to see that, but I know that through seeing that, my faith was increased and I knew that God was real. But God didn’t stop there.
The next night our team was sent on an outreach to a village nearby. After arriving to the village and dancing with the people there, the Jesus film was shown. People were saved and came to Jesus, which was very powerful to see of course. After people were saved, people who needed healing were asked to come up and our team was sent out to pray for them. At first I was hesitant to join in, because I had never been a part of something like this before. However, I wanted so badly to see healings and miracles, so I walked up to where my sister and Kimberly, a woman on our team, were standing. They were praying for a man who was deaf, and after a short prayer, we saw this man get healed. I saw this happen, and I didn’t really no what to do. Of course I was excited, but I just didn’t know where to put this event into my brain. How do you process and store something you have never seen and maybe didn’t even really believe could happen? After the man was healed, Kimberly shared with me that her and my sister had been talking about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. She proceeded to inform me about what this was, because I didn’t have a clue, and then we all prayed together to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was a short prayer and I didn’t really feel changed. After that, another man came up to us who was also deaf. We all prayed for him, and he was healed by God. Wow. A third man came up, he was deaf, we prayed, he was healed. I see a pattern here. A fourth man came up, he was deaf, we prayed, he was healed. We prayed and saw four deaf men in one village be healed that night!!! Oh and along with the four deaf men, we saw a baby who was paralyzed on one side of her body be healed. It was incredible!
After all of the healings, Kimberly said she felt God leading her to take my sister and I away from the crowds and talk to us more about getting baptized by the Holy Spirit. We all stood in a circle and held hands and Kimberly began to pray. She began to pray in tongues, and I started to shake. I had seen this happen to other people throughout the week, but not me. At first I it was just my arms that shook and then my legs began to tremble. Had Kimberly and Sarah not been holding my hands, I would have fallen to the ground because my legs were shaking so much. My sister began to speak in tongues and then later I began to also. I started softly and then my voice grew louder. My heart was crying out to God, and I began weeping, but without tears. I have no idea what I was saying to God, but I know my soul was being transformed by Him. I don’t know how long all of this went on for, but after it was over, I felt different. I knew that from this point on, my life would be different. I could no longer claim that I didn’t know if God was real, because I saw and experienced Him in an amazing and powerful way. I had this fire and passion that burned inside of me after this experience. I knew the Holy Spirit was living inside of me.
The fire and passion has continued to grow since we have been home from the trip. I have had joy and peace like never before. I have had a passion to tell my friends and others about my experience and about what God has done. God is using these conversations that I have had with people for His glory and to bring people closer to Him. I am just the vessel by which He does this. I know that Satan can no longer have the power that he had before over my life, although I know he is going to try. God has changed my heart. All I had to do was fly across the globe to Africa to let Him do it. Haha God.
I didn’t want to go to Africa. It took me about five days of swaying back and forth between going and not going, until I finally made the decision. However, my heart was not in the right place. For the past couple years I had been wrestling with God. I have grown up going to church and my beliefs were pretty much just handed to me. I struggled to find out what I truly believed in my heart, and not what I believed just because others had told me to. Although I said I was searching to find out what I believed, in my heart I had pretty much become complacent. I just sort of accepted the world and my life the way it was and although I was not happy, did not make much of an effort to change that. I lived my life the way I wanted, made decisions that I shouldn’t have, and for the most part turned my back on God. Little did I know the plan that God would have for me in Africa.
In the beginning of the trip, I wrote in my journal, "God, I want to walk away from this trip changed. I am sick of being complacent. I want to experience you and your love. I want to experience the you that heals the sick and the you that others have seen. Can you do that God? I want passion and fire inside of me." Well, I can truly say that God answered my prayer.
The first night we were in Mozambique, God right away got my attention. It was like he was saying, "Ok, we have no time to waste, let’s get moving". While sitting at dinner with our team, Brenda turned to me and started to prophecy. I had never heard anybody do this before, much less not to me. It was amazing, and I knew the words she was speaking came directly from God. Alright God, you have my attention!
A few days into the trip, our team was invited to the meeting for all the leaders of Iris ministries. Ben and Brenda were going to prophecy over each of them and offer encouragement, and the rest of us were there to pray and encourage with them. All of the leaders were asked to stand up and Ben and Brenda went around to each person individually to prophecy and encourage. The second or third women they were speaking to started to shake with the Holy Spirit as soon as Brenda started speaking. She started to weep and the shaking increased, until it looked to me like she was getting electrocuted she was shaking so much. I was watching her, and all of a sudden I heard a sparking noise and I saw a flame shoot out of her chest like she had just caught on fire. Immediately after I saw this, the women fell to the floor, still weeping and shaking. I looked around me to see if anyone was as shocked and amazed as I was at what my eyes just saw. No one seemed to look as if they had just seen what I saw. I thought to myself, Ok, either what I saw is totally normal and people just aren’t phased by it, or I saw something that others didn’t see. After the meeting ended, I asked several people if they had seen the flame. Nobody I asked had seen anything. Ok God, what’s that all about?!? I still don’t understand exactly why God allowed me to see that, but I know that through seeing that, my faith was increased and I knew that God was real. But God didn’t stop there.
The next night our team was sent on an outreach to a village nearby. After arriving to the village and dancing with the people there, the Jesus film was shown. People were saved and came to Jesus, which was very powerful to see of course. After people were saved, people who needed healing were asked to come up and our team was sent out to pray for them. At first I was hesitant to join in, because I had never been a part of something like this before. However, I wanted so badly to see healings and miracles, so I walked up to where my sister and Kimberly, a woman on our team, were standing. They were praying for a man who was deaf, and after a short prayer, we saw this man get healed. I saw this happen, and I didn’t really no what to do. Of course I was excited, but I just didn’t know where to put this event into my brain. How do you process and store something you have never seen and maybe didn’t even really believe could happen? After the man was healed, Kimberly shared with me that her and my sister had been talking about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. She proceeded to inform me about what this was, because I didn’t have a clue, and then we all prayed together to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was a short prayer and I didn’t really feel changed. After that, another man came up to us who was also deaf. We all prayed for him, and he was healed by God. Wow. A third man came up, he was deaf, we prayed, he was healed. I see a pattern here. A fourth man came up, he was deaf, we prayed, he was healed. We prayed and saw four deaf men in one village be healed that night!!! Oh and along with the four deaf men, we saw a baby who was paralyzed on one side of her body be healed. It was incredible!
After all of the healings, Kimberly said she felt God leading her to take my sister and I away from the crowds and talk to us more about getting baptized by the Holy Spirit. We all stood in a circle and held hands and Kimberly began to pray. She began to pray in tongues, and I started to shake. I had seen this happen to other people throughout the week, but not me. At first I it was just my arms that shook and then my legs began to tremble. Had Kimberly and Sarah not been holding my hands, I would have fallen to the ground because my legs were shaking so much. My sister began to speak in tongues and then later I began to also. I started softly and then my voice grew louder. My heart was crying out to God, and I began weeping, but without tears. I have no idea what I was saying to God, but I know my soul was being transformed by Him. I don’t know how long all of this went on for, but after it was over, I felt different. I knew that from this point on, my life would be different. I could no longer claim that I didn’t know if God was real, because I saw and experienced Him in an amazing and powerful way. I had this fire and passion that burned inside of me after this experience. I knew the Holy Spirit was living inside of me.
The fire and passion has continued to grow since we have been home from the trip. I have had joy and peace like never before. I have had a passion to tell my friends and others about my experience and about what God has done. God is using these conversations that I have had with people for His glory and to bring people closer to Him. I am just the vessel by which He does this. I know that Satan can no longer have the power that he had before over my life, although I know he is going to try. God has changed my heart. All I had to do was fly across the globe to Africa to let Him do it. Haha God.
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