Saturday, April 29, 2006

Newsletter for April 25, 2006

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

Dear Saints,

We serve a very awesome God.  We are truly overwhelmed with what God has been doing, and what we know He is about to do to bring in the harvest and expand His Kingdom.  The past week or so has been totally amazing.  But first a prayer request and announcement or two.

BRENDA'S DAD HIT BY STROKES

This past weekend, about three years after miraculously surviving open heart surgery, Brenda's dad had at least two strokes.  For a short time the left half of his body would not respond.  Now his left arm and leg are working, but the left side of his face is still not functioning.  He also cannot speak or write, although he can understand others and nod yes or no.  Brenda is planning on being in Washington on the weekend of Mothers' Day.  Please pray that God touches him and gives him a little more time.  He is about 85 years old.  Also pray that he has a visitation from the Lord and that he is totally prepared for eternity.

RUSHING WIND, FLAMES OF FIRE CONFERENCE WITH BOBBY CONNER

Our conference starts on Thursday in just two days at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in DeKalb. (visit our website: www.ohmint.org) Brenda and I will minister on Thursday night and Friday afternoon and some on Saturday afternoon.  Bill Myer will minister on Friday morning.  Bobby Conner will speak on Friday night, Saturday morning and evening.  Lisa Bourland of Kentucky will also share on Saturday afternoon.

Chicago HUB will also host a conference the same weekend in Naperville, with Shawn Bolz, Canon Andrew White from Iraq and JoAnne McFatter.  Their conference ends on Sunday afternoon.  Because both conferences will be going on at the same time, we anticipate that ours will be a bit more personal and that more prophetic ministry will be available for those who come to DeKalb.

PERSONAL ITINERARY ADJUSTMENT - A FEW NEW DATES AVAILABLE

In the last week or two we have had a substantial increase in requests for meetings here in Illinois, especially home meetings.  We had planned on heading for Washington State to prepare for our daughter's wedding early in June.  However, we have decided to stay an extra week to try to accomodate some of these requests.  The dates available now are June 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10.  If you were asking for a meeting, please write back asap and claim one of the above dates.  

REVIVAL CONVERGENCE IN PASADENA

Although the major Azusa Street Revival celebration is underway this week, we were at the conference hosted by Che Ahn of Pasadena, California this past weekend.  Heidi and Rolland Baker, Joseph Garlington, John and Carol Arnott and many others representing revivals around the world spoke and ministered a fresh revival anointing to us all.  The theme was, Where History Meets Destiny.  It was an awesome time of refreshing which we really needed.

Many special divine encounters also happened.  These were too numerous to write about, but they provided some quality moments with some of our favorite people and people that God has chosen to shake the earth.  On the last day, I was asked by Che Ahn to stay and attend a round table of international leaders, including some of the speakers and others.  I felt like I was in way over my head, but felt God gave me a few things to contribute before it was over.  A Revival Alliance of networks was established in accordance with a word given by Bob Jones and confirmed by a dream given to Che Ahn.  God is doing awesome things.

KEEP PRAYING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OUR CHICAGO SENDING CENTER.  

The need for rightly prepared missionaries is totally incredible.  We want to expedite the training and equipping of totally sold-out lovers of Jesus to bring His harvest to Him.  Things are developing in Peru, Illinois.  Pray for more miracles and for provision for that ministry to purchase the land that could host our ministry as well as several others.  God is up to something HUGE!!!!

We love you all and thanks for your love and support.  Pray for our planned trip to Mozambique at the end of June.  We need to know God's perfect will for all of us who want to go.

Be blessed in Jesus' arms!!!

Ben and Brenda, Tim and Nathan

Monday, April 17, 2006

Newsletter April 16, 2006

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

Happy Resurrection Day to you all!

We rejoice with all of you who believe that Jesus is alive and well and on the throne in Heaven.  Our family watched The Passion of the Christ today and we recently watched The Chronicles of Narnia as well.  It's good to know that when we go through a death and dying experience for the Lord, there is a resurrection coming.  As we used to hear, "It's Friday, but Sunday's coming."  Many of us are experiencing unusual attacks to get our eyes off what God is doing, but we will not be defeated by these diversions.  God is doing awesome things in spite of these attacks.

We have been blessed with some tremendous meetings since our last newletter.  God is moving on His people to prepare them for all the amazing things that He is about to do.  Almost everyone is hungry for the reality of God's presence.  God has put the hunger in us and those who respond to that hunger are getting fed like never before.  It's harvest time and priorities are changing.  It will never be "church as usual" again.  We are gearing up for the climax of the ages.

EAGLE ROCK CHRISTIAN CENTER, PERU, ILLINOIS

We ministered Tuesday and Wednesday in Peru, although we almost didn't get to speak on Wednesday night, because God was moving on the people.  The worship transitioned into body ministry and the fire of God was on many people as His glory was manifesting in many ways.  In both of the meetings, a strong prophetic anointing fell on the speaking and the altar ministry and we left exhausted but excited about what God had done.

We also continued to discuss the vision of establishing a major Kingdom Coalition ministry training center, very possibly in the Peru area, which is at a crossroads of two main freeways in North Central Illinois.  Things could happen quickly.  Please pray for wisdom and the many miracles that will be needed.  Several have happened already, but many more will be required to make this vision a reality.

EAST CHICAGO - WHEATON AREA

On Friday night we ministered in the home of Dr. Anna Stepanek, English professor at Wheaton College.  She had invited friends and several of her students.  Most of them had never been exposed to prophetic ministry before.  It was a very precious time to share the love of Jesus with them.  After the meeting, several intercessors ministered to Brenda and I and we were encouraged and strengthened by their ministry.

DAUGHTERS OF ZION

Yesterday afternoon and evening we ministered in Zion, Illinois, in the historic home of John Alexander Dowie.  Two adjoining rooms in the old mansion were packed with about 70 people.  Both Brenda and I spoke with a fresh anointing that surprised us as much as anyone else.  Everyone wanted ministry, which we had to adjust for the crowd.  We were there for about 6 hours and came home again exhausted but in awe of what God had done.  

REVIVAL CONVERGENCE IN PASADENA

On Wednesday, April 19, we leave for Pasadena, California, where Che Ahn will be hosting a revival convergence with people from all over the world representing the many revivals of the last century or so.  We are trusting God for more divine encounters like the last ones we had in Pasadena.  Please pray for us as we travel again.

TWO CONFERENCES THE FINAL WEEKEND OF APRIL.

The CHICAGO HUB is hosting another awesome conference in Naperville, IL, on Friday, April 28-Sunday, April 30.  Canon White, Shawn Bolz and JoAnn McFatter will be there.  It should be an awesome time.

Meanwhile, we (not knowing the HUB's schedule early enough) have Bobby Conner coming to DeKalb, IL, for a conference called RUSHING WIND - FLAMES OF FIRE, running Thursday - Saturday.  Bobby is an incredible guy and so easy and fun to listen to.  His prophetic gift is very sharp and he feels strongly that God is preparing for something big in the Chicago region.

He will also be speaking Sunday morning at the DeKalb Vineyard Christian Fellowship, where we will have our conference.  Please visit our website itinerary at www.ohmint.org for more info.  Brenda and I and Bill Myers will be speaking when Bobby is not.  

We are sorry for the fact that both conferences are the same weekend, as we would like to be at the HUB as well.  We trust that many of you will get out to one conference or the other for the awesome meetings we are sure to have.

HEAL YOUR BODY, LORD CONFERENCE - MAY 24 - 27

Please keep these dates open if possible.  We will have James Goll, Georgian Banoff, Che Ahn and Bobby Conner.  It will be totally awesome.  We will be at the Christian Fellowship Church in Crystal Lake, IL.

May God's resurrection life lift you above your circumstances into His presence.

We love you and value your prayers,

Ben and Brenda, Tim and Nathan

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Newsletter April 5th, 2006

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

Dear Friends,

The last week has been a bit of a blur.  We finished our first four days in Kentucky on Wednesday, ministering to a Baptist youth group of 60 - 70 kids and a few adults.   Apparently, it was life-changing for many of them, including the leaders.  For almost all of them it was their first experience with House of Prayer worship and with personal prophetic ministry.

Brenda went after a few wandering teens during the worship time, including at least a couple of gothic kids.  They loved what she shared and stayed for more.  All of our eight kids were involved with the prophetic ministry and took it to a new level.  

From Kentucky, we hurried down to Nashville for a huge prophetic conference hosted by C. Peter Wagner.  Speakers included, Chuck Pierce, Cindy Jacobs, James Goll, Paul Keith Davis, Karen Wheaton, Dutch Sheets and several others.  Several powerful words were released during the conference, including a fresh visitation experienced by Bob Jones, which was related to us by Paul Keith Davis.  

God is up to something big in the USA, as well as the rest of the world.  We will see a lot of changes in the next few years.  Revival fires will break out in numerous places and ultimately, the stadiums will be too small for the revival gatherings that will take place.  I believe we are about to see the greatest Kingdom harvest ever in the world.

We also had several wonderful divine encounters during the conference with some very special people.  We believe many good things will result from these special appointments by God.

We left the conference on Saturday before noon to get to Paris, Kentucky, near Lexington, in time for their evening youth rally.  Our kids led worship and continued to play softly while Brenda and I spoke.  What an anointing we experienced that night.  We both spoke with an unusual authority and I received special revelation that night, speaking of David prophesying over Solomon.  As David spoke to Solomon he prayed, "May the Lord give you wisdom and understanding."  When God appeared to Solomon and asked him what he wanted, Solomon replied, "I need wisdom and understanding to watch over Your people."  

What we prophesy and pray over people is what they will ask for when they encounter God in their own way.  We see again the power of the words we prophesy and the importance in learning to listen to God.  Like David, we want the House of God, made with living stones (us) to be "exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries."  (I Chron. 22:5)  That will require unity - caring more about the Kingdom than being right, loving Jesus more than our own ministry, etc.

COMING UP = FINAL MISSIONS PREP 101 COURSE THIS WEEKEND

We need everyone serious about our July or August Mozambique trips to attend if at all possible.  If not possible, please contact us and let us know your plans so we can communicate vital information to you.

Dr. Bob Paeglow from Albany, NY, will be with us for both practical and spiritual advice.  He has much experience in Africa and has a powerful speaking ministry as well.

Anyone can attend and we'd love to have you there at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship on 4th street in DeKalb, starting Friday at 7 pm and finishing about 4:30 pm on Saturday.  Find more details in our website: www.ohmint.org.  

Don't forget the two conferences coming up in late April and late May.  See our website for that as well.

Finally, our daughter, Andrea, and her fiance, Harvey, are getting married in Spokane, WA, on June 24.  We will be making a westward swing during the month of June and then hurrying back to leave for Africa.  Please pray for us as many different pieces must fall into place for us to go.

We love you all and wish we had more time for each of you.  We are very busy and are thankful for God's grace and your prayers and support.  We couldn't do it without your many expression of love.

Blessings in Jesus,

Ben and Brenda, Tim and Nathan