Newsletter March 28th, 2006

OPEN HEART MINISTRIES
www.ohmint.org
15648 Bombay Blvd
South Beloit, IL 61080

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Henderson, Tennessee!  Since our last letter we have been in a flurry of meetings and travel.  I believe much has been accomplished for the Kingdom as so many people have been exercising their gifts and taking them to new levels.  We have seen some excellent teamwork as a number of friends have joined us and helped us in so many ways in the past few days.

ELGIN LADIES RETREAT

Brenda was very busy this past weekend, starting on Friday night speaking for the ladies of Manifold Mercies Christian Center in Elgin, Illinois.  She loves to speak to this inter-racial group.  They always steal her heart and she enjoys ministering to them immensely.  She spoke again to them on Saturday afternoon to conclude their retreat. Of course they all went home with a personal word on cassette.  Thanks to Val and Carol for their most valuable assistance and support on that retreat.

PROPHETIC MINISTRY AND THE HARVEST CONFERENCE

Brenda also spoke on Saturday morning, assisting me in teaching the "Prophetic Ministry and the Harvest" conference at the Myers in Genoa.  This was the second time we have done this conference there and again it was packed out with about 50 people in attendance.  The conference ended about 9:30 pm, after some activation time, and included about six hours of teaching after Brenda finished her morning time.  The response to the teaching was gratifying and we believe that those who attended will never be the same.  We were excited to have our new book ready for the conference.  The title of our new book is Prophetic Ministry – Strategic Key to the Harvest.

MINISTRY IN KENTUCKY

After an exhausting weekend, we left early Sunday morning with the motor home and a three car caravan for Kentucky.  We are here with five adults (Gene and Mary Ferguson, Val Coltman, Brenda and Ben) and eight teens who have joined us to share the love of Jesus in several different cities and ministries in Kentucky.  Brenda ministered on Sunday night until she was totally exhausted, but saw many things while she ministered, inculding a couple of major deliverances through the prophetic words and prayer.  

Last night we finished our second and final service in Owensboro.  These meetings were held in a roller skating rink that is owned by this Worship Center ministry.  They still rent it out for roller skating parties and put up chairs for services.  It is a huge facility.

It was our first visit to Owensboro, but we knew several of the people already and we saw God move in very special ways.  Dozens of children and young people were touched with special words and prayers over them.  Kentucky has the sweetest children we've ever met.  I must have given at least thirty quick words and prayers the first night to the pre-teen children in the crowd.  

The kids names were really amazing to me, because I had just preached on Elijah, Elisha and Jehu from II Kings 9 as my main text.  Would you believe there was an Elijah, and an Elisha in the group.  Then I prayed for a toddler whose name was Jehu, a very uncommon name.   But his mother’s name was Elisha (pronounced El-ee-sha).  The message was about sending out the children and youth with a flask of oil (anointing) to call out many whom God has chosen to be His Kings and warriors to root out the enemy in our land.  

I love the revelation that God is giving to His people in these days.  It is truly amazing how the prophecy of Daniel is being fulfilled that people will run to and fro (missions trips, etc.) and that knowledge would increase – not just scientific knowledge but knowledge of God and His ways.  It is almost impossible to take in or keep up with the incredible wealth of revelation that God is releasing in the prophetic movement today.  The books I have written are just a tiny fraction of the big picture.  

Many are traveling to and fro to Heaven and back, and also to other parts of the world on special assignments from God.  It’s like Jacob’s ladder is available and not just the angels are ascending and descending, but many yielded vessels, including very young children have been enjoying special times in Heaven, some on a regular basis.  We personally know (or know of) several of these, both adults and children.

The second night in Owensboro was their youth night, but many adults showed up as well and everyone wanted a word.  We had three ministry teams, using the adults and teens, and everyone was edified.  We also had testimonies of miraculous fulfillment of prophetic words from previous visits to Kentucky, including a miraculous pregnancy.

CALLING ALL INTERCESSORS

The down side is that the enemy is not happy with what he sees coming and he has been working hard to keep people discouraged, sick and exhausted.  We have seen and felt attacks from many sides in the past week or so and we feel the need for even greater prayer support.  Lisa Bourland, our friend and host here in Kentucky, has been flat on her back with back muscle spasms and has not been able to get out of bed without help.  Please pray for her as she is starting to see some improvement and wants to be part of what is happening here.  We are so grateful for all those who are already praying.  Without you we would not see the results we are seeing.  

Thanks to all who pray and support us in other ways.  Your love and encouragement mean so much to us.  You all have a share in the rewards.

Tonight we minister at The Father's House in Henderson and tomorrow night we minister to a large Baptist youth group.  There could be about eighty teens.  Please pray especially hard for that meeting for breakthroughs.  Much of what we do will be new to them.

Loving you in Jesus,

Ben and Brenda and family and team.