Thursday, November 29, 2007

News from Mokpo, South Korea
Ben Peters
Nov 28, 2007

Greetings Saints and Prayer Partners,

God's hand is on us for good and we thank you all for praying. We had a safe trip and arrival in Korea with all our luggage, etc. We have some effects of jet-lag, but are doing fine. The first flight was thirteen hours from Chicago to Tokyo. The total time was about 24 hours from start to finish before we got to lay down.

Our first conference is almost over. We have experienced wonderful favor in a large Church of God congregation. The pastor loves our ministry and wants us to come back and speak to a lot of city pastors and Brenda to speak to large gatherings of ladies. In the evening services we lay hands on about 700 people and pray over them a blessing and the fire of God. These people are more reserved and traditional than many congregations in Korea, but they are very hungry and responsive. We have shared on the power of listening to God and having His Word in our mouths.

Our schedule is busy but we get some breaks - like now - Wednesday afternoon. Our hotel is on the coast of Korea overlooking a beautiful harbor. Yesterday we took a walk along the shore and bought a few little goodies in a small shop.

Our friend, Ingela Larsson, was asked to speak in the 4 A M morning prayer meeting. We thought there would be just a few people there, but the place was packed. Almost everyone comes to early morning prayer before going to work or starting their normal day. The people loved her stories and she has blessed a lot of people here.

Tomorrow we travel back to Seoul where we will do two services after we arrive in a smaller church. Then we minister in one larger church in Seoul, before heading south again to Kwangju where we have been twice before. Then we fly to Taiwan to meet with Joshua and Haydee Chang to minister to their friends and at least one church.

I need to go now, but wanted to give you the first report. We believe that God is laying a great foundation for powerful revival in Korea. It will be another major wave that will impact the world. Pray with us to that end.

God bless you all with His presence and Power,

Ben and Brenda

Friday, November 23, 2007

A Word from the Lord through Chuck Pierce, Glory of Zion International (www.gloryofzion.org) for each of us today:

The Lord is saying: I AM the WayMaker. I will open the new gate for you. Ask Me to forgive you for not turning MY blessings back into praise. Ask ME to cleanse and restore your mind and heart and bring you into a new purity of expression. Do not allow critical and judgmental spirits to overtake you. I will break forth your WAY. At noon time you will begin to see Breakthrough. My Light will cause darkness to not triumph. Send Me before you and allow Me to contend with the darkness that is set to rob you of MY blessings. Honor My Spirit! I will send the wind! I will send the wind! I WILL SEND MY WIND! I will send the wind to comfort your woundings of the past. Holy Spirit will convict you of allowing your past hurts keep you from coming near to Me.

My Presence is already waiting for you to get to your "there". When you walked through the fire, MY presence was there. When you walked through the flood, the waters did not overtake you because MY Presence was already there with you. I AM Jehovah Shammah. I AM already there. Recognize Me in your midst.

Do not rush in. Do not rush into your decisions this hour. Take one step back and you will see the decisions I am making on your behalf. If you will take that one step back you will see that I am already there to help you decide and realign your will.

I am already Your redeemer at the gate, to open up and unlock the Way for you. I am your redeemer at the gate. When you are ready to move back into the position I have for you, you will see that I AM already there and have unlocked the gate of your prison. See the NEW GATE into the field that I have for you. I AM your redeemer at the gate. I AM present to buy you back from the hand of the enemy. I AM present to establish you and cause you to reign. I AM present to raise you up and bring you back into the fullness of your planned destiny!

Blessings to you this Thanksgiving!

OPEN HEART MINISTRIES
Ron & Valerie Coltman
Ministry Representatives
Office/Home/Fax: 847-428-0623
openheartminintl@sbcglobal.net
WE ARE FOR SIGNS AND WONDERS
benrpeters@juno.com
Nov 21, 2007

Greetings Saints,

IOWA REPORT

Brenda and I spent three days in Iowa this past weekend. Mary Ferguson and six young people joined us for the first two days in the Iowa City region. One of the highlights was observing these kids using their gifts to encourage scores of people. It was really amazing. One sang over people several times. Another drew prophetic pictures for everyone we ministered to. It was powerful.

We ministered to many different people, sharing the fact that God wants to put His words in our mouths if we learn to listen to His voice. We saw many people moved to tears and heard many testimonies of lives changed from our previous visit. Our last meeting was an Aglow meeting in Bettendorf, Iowa. We had a full house and an enthusiastic audience. Both Brenda and I felt an amazing anointing in response to their hunger. It was an awesome night and many people were radically touched.

FRESH VISION: WE ARE FOR SIGNS AND WONDERS

I can't give all the details here, but God has been clearly speaking. This weekend really motivated us to seek the Lord about our internship program. God spoke to us through Shawn Bolz earlier to begin to build. Now God is speaking about our youth and the internship program which informally began this fall.

God showed me that not only our natural children but others that God is bringing to us are for signs and wonders. When our conference platform is filled with children and teens bringing the presence of God to hundreds of conferencees, they are a sign and wonder. They are a sign that God has begun an amazing youth prayer and worship movement which will lead the way into the harvest, together with us older folk who are willing to become childlike again.

With the help of our wonderful team, we will soon be taking in more young adults into an internship program. They will live with us, work with us and sometimes travel with us and our teams. They will be involved in Houses of Prayer and much prayer and worship. They will grow quickly into their destiny and be sent into the harvest fields of the earth.

Pray for us for the development of this ministry. We know this is what God has called us to do and we know that He will provide what is needed. If you are young and wanting to be an intern, let us know.

KOREA AND TAIWAN

We are just three days away from our trip to Korea and Taiwan. Please, please pray for us and those who join us on this trip. We will be ministering non-stop for three weeks and need God's strength. We also have family and responsibilites at home which are hard to leave behind.

We will be two weeks in Korea and one in Taiwan. We will be ministering to a lot of pastors and leaders and then in Taiwan to political and educational leaders in the nation, including the ambassador from the USA to Taiwan. Please pray that God will put His words in our mouth as never before. We really need Him and we really need you to pray for us.

We have been severely tested in the last few months and God is taking us through but your partnership with us is so indispensible to us and this ministry. If we didn't have the amazing team we have, I don't know where we would be right now.

May God richly bless you with His love, and have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Much love,

Ben, Brenda, family and team

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Iowa - Thanksgiving - South Korea - Taiwan
Ben Peters
Nov 17, 2007

Greetings Saints,

Hopefully, just a quick chat, as we need to get on the road to Iowa. We will do two meetings near Iowa City on Saturday and Sunday and then the Monday night Aglow meeting in Bettendorf, IA. We ask for your prayers for these opportunities to bring prophetic ministry and Holy Spirit implanted hope into the lives of scores of people. We will have a small team for at least part of the weekend. Pray that all will experience the powerful presence of God. And pray for the healing power of God to be released again. We have an awesome testimony from a long-time asthma sufferer who was healed two weeks ago at the Lutheran Ladies retreat.

Two days after Thanksgiving we fly to South Korea for two weeks followed by a week in Taiwan. Please pray for special anointing and strength for a very intense schedule. We will have no days off for almost three weeks, with two meetings per day plus extra ministry. We're not quite as young as we used to be and we need God's strength.

A NOTE ABOUT POLITICS

With the withdrawal of Sam Brownback, there's a bit of confusion in the air for many Christians. Mike Huckabee is rising in Iowa and other states. He would be my first choice. But Christian leaders are far from united on who to support. Also, Kim Clement has prophesied the election of Juliani as our next president. He says he will have a major heart change after entering office and will surprise many with the good things that he does. Pat Robertson has also endorsed him.

For those living in early causus or primary states, I would support the best candidate available who would stand for righteousness, life and wise leadership. Strong support early could make a big difference. It could also influence a vise-presidential choice. Above all, pray and then vote the first chance you get while you still have a choice.

SUPPORT THE MOVIE "BELLA"

Lou Engles and others are asking us to support this pro-life movie this weekend. Many of us have seen it and appreciated its message. It would be great if all Christians supported it and sent a message to Hollywood and politicians alike. This might be the last weekend it's on if we don't support it.

God bless you all,

Ben, Brenda, family and team

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Where's the Baby?
Ben Peters
Nov 7, 2007

Greetings Saints,

Our dear friend and conference speaker Paula Benne shared that prophetically we are in the time of getting ready for the final push for our baby (our promises from God) to be birthed. We hang on to that word. Transition is tough and we all experience it frequently, but God has proven Himself over and over again. Meanwhile, we need to stand with each other and coach one another through that final push.

We have many exciting things that appear to be developing in the next few months. We anticipate great victories from Heaven and provision to do brand new things in the Kingdom. We have great excitement in our spirit. And we know that He IS with us and will never leave us. His promises are yes and amen in Him. But, like you, we could sure use some prayer for right now!

LUTHERAN LADIES RETREAT A GREAT SUCCESS

Brenda often gets hit with major attacks before a speaking event such as last weekend. It happened again. It usually indicates that there will be a major breakthrough. And yes, it happened again. Many lives were transformed, including the suicidal and the skeptical. Physical healing also happened and only God knows the impact on His Kingdom. Thank-you Jesus.

BRENDA IN WASHINGTON STATE

Yesterday Brenda flew to Seattle and drove her brother's car to her mom and dad's house in Soap Lake, WA. where she will be for just under a week. I had a clear word from God before she left that this was a divine appointment for her. Please pray that all of God's purposes would be fulfilled. This is a challenging time for her. Her dad continues to survive and sometimes shows real improvement. Almost a year ago, we thought he would not make it to Christmas. God has had mercy on him and the family and kept him alive. Brenda's mom is 85 and still strong but needs a lot of encouragement. Thanks for your prayers.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to get some important paper work done and spend time seeking the Lord. Pleaes pray that I hear more clearly and make whatever adjustments God is asking for. I feel very inadequate to lead this ministry into the vision God has given us. I'm very thankful for our team. We couldn't do it without them.

AND NOW ABIDES FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

During the last conference, I was given a quick revelation, which I will share here briefly.

FAITH: A few decades ago the "Faith Movement" began and continues to this day. This movement had its abuses and extremes and I did not embrace it but God was stirring up the church to understand how much He loves us and how important it is to Him that we stir up the faith that He has given us.

HOPE: A couple of decades later the "Prophetic Movement" began. Prophets began to arise and be recognized as such. Many responded to the teaching of Paul to "Desire earnestly to prophesy." This prophetic movement has brought hope to thousands. As you know, we certainly embraced and were embraced by this movement. Since about 1997 we have seen tens of thousands of people given hope through personal prophetic words and public prophetic words. The armies of God are coming together waiting for their orders. Like the faith movement, the prophetic movement continues today.

LOVE: The present movement is the "Apostolic Movement". The unfortunate thing about this movement is that many Christians see the focus of this movement on authority and power. People want to be recognized as apostles so that others will listen to and obey them. This is not the reason God sends out His apostles.

Yes, apostles do demonstrate authority in God and reveal His power, but they are sent with a much higher purpose than that. Apostle means "sent one". Who sends the dicsiples? The answer is Jesus. He declared in John 20:21, "As the Father has sent me, so send I you." John 3:16 reminds us that "God so LOVED the world that He sent His only Son." Jesus was sent to LOVE the world. NOW HE SENDS US TO LOVE THE WORLD.

As Heidi Baker says, "We've got the apostolic upside down." That's what God told her. Philipppians 2 makes it clear that Jesus came as a servant. That's how He was sent by His Father. Now, that's how He sends us. He sends us to serve His children with His love. He wants us clothed like He was in the mantle of humility and servanthood.

True apostles are those sent by Jesus, not by man. They must first be discipled, before they can be "apostled". They were first WITH Jesus before they were sent BY Jesus. They learned His ways, His Heart, and His thoughts. They could think like he thought, feel like He felt and do and say what He did and said."

Love is the greatest tool for the harvest. Power is definitely needed, but power comes through faith and faith works by love. (Galatians 5:6) Let's go after more of the source of our power - His love, which flows from His presence, for as we know, GOD IS LOVE.

Let's spend time getting to know Him and being discipled by Him. If you want to be an apostle, first be the disciple. Sit at his feet. Follow wherever He leads you, including the places you said you would never go. Absorb everything you can from Him. Learn, read, listen, pray. Contend for the manifestation of His ever-abiding presence. Serve Him every way that you can. Remember what He said about serving the least of these, etc.

When you have His heart, and are filled with His love and His thoughts, He can "apostle" you into your calling. Then you can expect to lay down your life like He did. If you don't die as a martyr, you can did to all your selfish ambition instead. The rewards will be mostly out of this world, but you will have the thrill of experiencing His mighty power flowing through you and transforming the world around you. You won't be sorry, but you will have to pay a price for the apostolic anointing.

It's interesting that the one disciple that they couldn't kill, who lived into his 90's and authored the last written books of the Bible was the Apostle of Love - John the Beloved. His epistles preach a powerful message of love, love and more love.

AND NOW ABIDES FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE, BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.

God bless you all,

Ben, Brenda, family and team