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

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

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

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

THRONE ROOM COMPANY II HAS POWERFUL IMPACT
Ben Peters
Oct 28, 2007

Dear Saints,

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

First of all I want to say a huge thanks to Val and Ron Coltman, Mary Zell, Mary and Gene Ferguson and the host of others who helped us so much to make this conference so successful. We have a truly amazing team that give incredibly of themselves for hours before, during and after the conference. Our love goes to all of you, although I can only mention a few.

We've never experienced such an awesome flow of prophetic revelation and God's glory in our midst right here in Illinois. With the same team of speakers as we had last year, plus our son, Ken, from Spokane, there was an awesome unity with true humility and heart-warming humor that flowed throughout the conference. While the adults were getting challenged by the speakers, the children were also getting trained to hear from God and there were some wonderful breakthroughs there.

Our team from Los Angeles included Shawn Bolz, Paula Benne and Jonathan and Jennifer Toledo. Gary and Sarah Morgan, who were originally from Wales and New Zealand repectively are now living in Idaho.

Paula provided a lot of humor and heart-touching stories of trails and miraculous answers to prayer, Her word from Jesus that we are getting ready for the last big push was a tremendous encouragement. She also shared how God is opening so many doors to minister in Holywood, right in the studios with movie makers who are hungry for reality. When they experience ttrue prophetic ministry which reveals their hearts, they respond with even greater hunger.

Shawn's message on impacting every area of society with Kingdom authority, grace and love was very challenging to us all. He brought not only good ideas but a strong anointing and heavily impacted members of our own family in a transformational way. We experienced some great miracles and major answers to prayer.

Jennifer and Jonathan Toledo shared the most incredible stories of how God is using very young children and teen-agers to do prophetic evangelism and taking them on some amazing adventures with wonderul results. We heard of powerful healing miracles and the rescue of children who have been sold as sex slaves in what is known as human trafficing. It's hard to be the same after hearing those messages.

Gary and Sarah Morgan released timely prophetic words, declaring the time was NOW and not in the future for harvest and breakthrough, etc. Gary shared that plowing and sowing were no longer options. We must bring in the harvest before it is lost. Almost every speaker talked about how ripe the harvest really is.

Our son,Ken, shared on the power of obedience and the importance of entering into the Kingdom of Heaven now. Using Narnia as a prophetic picture, he compared the house to the comfortable place in the church, but the realm of Naria was like the Kingdom which sometimes suffers violence. Becoming like a little child is the key to entering the Kingdom. It was the youngest child who found it first and totally believed without fear or doubt.

Brenda shared about getting healed for the harvest. She focused again on the importance of letting God put you through the fire to prepare you for the ride in the chariots of fire into the realm of God's glory. I also shared a session on the Transfer of Wealth and opened my heart a bit concerning our own financial journey and our need to call on our true master to redeem us when we have become a slave to debt.

Every service built momentum from the first one to the last. I almost forgot to mention that our worship teams were 90% teen-agers and almost all of them had served in the Elgin House of Prayer. They were so anointed and brought an incredible atmosphere to the whole conference.

We also finally had a CD demo to offer to our crowd. It included several original songs and lasts about 30 minutes. Our youth have worked incredibly hard on this project. If you are interested, we can ship you a copy for a donation of $10.00 or more. You can email us your order at benrpeters@juno.com and pay on our website as a donation - www.ohmint.org. All profit will go toward the purchase of more sound and music equipment. These youth have received some truly amazing prophetic words from prophetic leaders and we believe you will be touched by their anointing.

COMING EVENTS

This weekend, Brenda will minister at a Lutheran ladies retreat. They have no openings left - sorry ladies! I may be gone on another assignment.

We will have some ministry in Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa the middle weekend in November and will head for Korea on the 24th, right after Thanksgiving.

This weekend, there will be another Encounter in the Geneva, Illinois, area with John Crowder, Richard Hanson and Theresa Forkins/Phillips. Check www.Daysmanpress.com for more information. Some of our youth will be leading worship for this event also.

REPORT ON ROLLAND BAKER

Many of you heard that Rolland Baker had been very sick and lost 40 pounds. His heart was not functioning right, but after much care and prayer, he is doing much better. We just got the good report. But he is being required to take a sabbatical and rest for three months in the USA. Heidi will also take most of December off from regular ministry. They have been needing a break for some time. Please pray that all the needs of the ministry would be met while they enter into the rest they so need and deserve.

Please keep praying for us. We have seen some miracles but are still in great need of others. May God also provide the miracles that you and your families need.

Many thanks to all our supporters who come to our conferences and bless us.

God bless you all,

Ben, Brenda, family and team

Pre-Conference Update
Ben Peters
Oct 22, 2007

Greetings Saints,

We have been experiencing some intense and incredible blessings, both in our own meetings and in some conference meetings we attended. Amazing things are happening. No time to give details now.

But we have also experienced some major intense attacks in the last number of days, and we are asking for your prayer coverage as we get ready to host the THRONE ROOM COMPANY II Conference. There is no doubt in any of our minds that this conference will blow us out of the water, so to speak. Actually, I think it will blow us into the water - the river of God. If you can make any of the meetings at all you will be tremendously blessed, without a doubt.

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST

Please pray for our family. All five of our children will be here this week at the conference. But our daughter, Barbie, and her husband, Caleb, need prayer for guidance. Caleb has been here less than two weeks. He got a job quickly as a welder, but the work conditions and requirements were so extreme that he couldn't stay on that job. He is being invited to go to Wyoming where the benefits are so much greater. It would mean uprooting his family again. We feel they are called to head up our missions evangelism in Mexico and Latin America before too long, and that we are to send them with support. Please pray that they find God's perfect will.

CONFERENCE UPDATE

We kick off on Wednesday night with Paula Benne. She is one of the most amazing people we know with a unique and special ministry that touches the heart to the core. Jennifer and Jonatan will do Thursday morning, Ken Peters will do Thursday afternoon and Shawn Bolz will speak on Thursday night. We'll have Gary and Sarah Morgan on Friday morning and we will announce the second round as the conference progresses.

One thing coming strong on my mind is new revelation on the transfer of wealth and freedom from debt. I will find a little time during the conference to share what God is speaking. I believe it will be life-changing.

Remember our website is www.ohmint.org. You can get more info there. Also, remember there is no charge or registration, so whoever gets there first gets the best seats, with one exception. We are saving some of the best seats for the youth. We want them to get everything God has for them without distractions. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding on that issue.

We love you all and appreciate your kindness to us and your support of the Kingdom of God.

Be blessed in the love of Jesus,

Ben, Brenda, family and team

Heads Up
benrpeters@juno.com
Oct 12, 2007

Greetings Saints,

I thought I'd give you all a heads up and then I realized what full meaning there is in that phrase. It's time to pick our heads up and stop looking at the dirt. Look up to Jesus! He is getting closer and revealing Himself more and more. And He wants "eye contact" with each of us, so He can guide us with His eye.

The key announcements are regarding conferences coming up very quickly. Before our big conference in Crystal Lake with Shawn, Paula, Jennifer and Jonatan, Gary and Sarah, Ken, Ben and Brenda, there is another conference coming up next weekend where our dear friend Vance Murphy will be speaking. Hosted by Damen Stuart, who will also lead worship, it will be an all day Friday and Saturday event, called KINGDOM WARRIOR CONFERENCE at Northwest Assembly of God in Mount Prospect. Details are below:

Conference Speakers:
Worship Evangelist, Damon Stuart
Pastor/Evangelist, Vance Murphy
Pastor V.O. Stuart
Rev. Jim Thomas

Conference Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 19th - Saturday, Oct 20th
Morning Session -- 10:00am
Afternoon Session -- 2:00pm
Evening Session -- 7:00pm

Conference Location:
Northwest Assembly of God
900 North Wolf Road
Mt Prospect, IL 60056
847-299-2400

No Registration Fee's!
Love Offerings will be taken.

*Child care will be provided for the evening services only! For
children 6 mo. to 12 yrs.
(Registration required for free child care services)

For others farther north there is a conference in Nenah, Wisconsin, with Jeff Janzen, Bob Jones, etc, I believe it runs next Wednesday through Saturday.

Then please don't forget to plan on our THRONE ROOM COMPANY II CONFERENCE in Crystal Lake, Illinois, October 24 - 27. You can get details on our website: www.ohmint.org.

We look forward to seeing many of you then. It looks like for at least part of the conference all five of our children will be with us at the same time. That will be an exciting time for us and a rather rare occasion.

God bless you all,

Ben, Brenda, family and team

WEALTH TRANSFER - DIVINE STRATEGY

Ben Peters
Oct 7, 2007

Greetings Friends,
I want to share a message God has been giving me. Actually it's a condensed version of several insights and revelations coming in the last few months. But first let me share a couple of requests.

PRAYER REQUESTS
1. Pray for Brenda and Jessie as they head home after some very great meetings in New York State. Also continue to pray for our family and team. We need wisdom, vision and grace for the challenges of the present and future.
2. We have a young friend in Calgary, Alberta, who has cancer. She has already had surgery and is now taking chemotherapy, but the doctors don't have much hope for her. Her family is desperate for a miracle. Her name is Candice and would appreciate your prayers. We want her to be healed by the Master Physician.

Much love to all,

Here's the article:

WEALTH TRANSFER – DIVINE STRATEGY


Wealth is being transferred constantly, but not always in the direction we hope for. For instance, a huge portion of the wealth of the western world is being transferred to the Middle East. Our insatiable appetite for their abundant supply of crude oil transfers billions of dollars into the bank accounts of Sheiks and Islamic dictators, some of whom are our sworn enemies.

But it’s time to get ready! Things are about to change. We are soon going to see the kind of wealth transfer that many devout Christians are praying for all around the world. This wealth transfer will be one of “Biblical Proportions”. In fact it will remind us of some of the Old Testament stories of wealth transfer. This will be so incredible that it will impact the whole world and bring in a massive harvest, rapidly and explosively expanding the Kingdom of God on the earth.

THE PATRIARCHS

Abraham was given great personal wealth as he grazed his livestock on the fertile pastures of the land that God had given him. But God promised him a future wealth that surpassed what he could see in his day. That wealth included many nations coming from his loins, a Redeemer birthed through his seed, and great blessings on all who would bless his descendents.

But before Jacob, his grandson, died, the heirs of Abraham left their inheritance and migrated to Egypt to avoid starvation and to join Joseph who had been made a ruler in Egypt. They did continue to prosper somewhat and multiply in Egypt, but their own land, their inheritance from God, was left for others to populate and claim as their own.

This transfer of wealth was the first major loss to the fledgling nation of Israel, and would be followed by others in the centuries to come. It is important to understand that ownership of land is a key component of natural wealth.

THE PASTURES OF GOD

While reading the book of Psalms one day I found an unexpected nugget in an obscure passage. Here it is:

“Who said, ‘Let us take for ourselves the pastures of God for our possessions.’” (Psalm 83:12)

The “who” above refers to Zebah and Zalmunna mentioned in verse 11. These two kings of Midian cast their eyes on the pastures of God and decided they would engage in a transfer of wealth. The young nation of Israel, after the passing of Samuel, had wandered from God and served idols. God’s protection was lifted and other nations were emboldened to claim their land. When Israel repented and cried out to God, he raised up deliverers, like Gideon, to deal with their oppressors.

But what caught my attention immediately was the interesting expression, “the pastures of God”. Pastures are the source of provision for the flock of God – His sheep. Without pastures, sheep will not survive. The enemy is always coming to remove our source of wealth.

The Kings of Midian had come in and stolen the crops of Israel as soon as they were ready for harvest. They pitched their tents on Israel’s land and probably used Israel’s pastures to graze their own sheep.

Being a revivalist and teacher, I immediately thought of the spiritual application of “pastures of God”. I believe our “pasture” – the source of our spiritual prosperity is the very presence of our Living God. Out of His presence comes all we need and desire, including the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, with all His gifts and graces.

When the enemy is able to get us to leave our pasture, the presence of God, he can take away our power and strength to do God’s work. He can also remove the needed resources to build and expand the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth.

What has happened over the centuries and millennia is that the enemy has had a strategy to transfer the natural provision away from God’s people and into the hands of his own slaves. To do this, he had to lure the people of God away from their “pasture” – the presence of God, Himself.

THE JOY OF HARVEST

“You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy. They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.” (Isaiah 9:3)

When God wanted to describe extreme joy in terms His people would understand, he used two comparisons. The first was “the joy of harvest”. This is a phrase which is very prophetic for our day.

Most prophetic people believe that we are beginning the great and final harvest before the return of Jesus Christ. I believe we will see a great acceleration of the harvest in the next few years. This harvest will produce the greatest joy the church has ever known. It will fill the feeling of something missing that so many Christians express.

So many Christians, especially the younger generation, are saying, “There must be more to Christianity than what I am now experiencing.” Yes, there is! It’s participating in bringing in the harvest and presenting it to the Master.

God actually designed us in His image to experience supreme and powerful joy. He declares that “In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures for evermore.” Most Christians have not discovered where that joy comes from. It comes from seeing the smile on the face of the Father when we bring the harvest to Him. But what will it take to bring in this tremendous harvest?

Without a doubt it will take a tremendous amount of financial resources for this harvest to happen. The “Pastures of God” must be taken back from the enemy. We must have the resources for training harvesters, transporting them to the harvest fields, employing cutting-edge technology, wages for the workers, material aid to the poor and starving, and well-digging equipment, etc.

POVERTY OF SPIRIT – KEY TO MATERIAL PROSPERITY

An incredible number of ministries are experiencing unusual attacks on their finances, causing them to cry out to God for His deliverance. I believe this is a reminder that we need to become more aware of our spiritual poverty and cry out, like Israel did, for the restoration of our “pastures” so we can fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.

Like Israel, the church went into captivity, not to another nation, but to a spirit of religion and darkness. For over five hundred years, God has been leading us out of bondage and back towards our promised land. Like Judah in the time of restoration, under various emperors, we are back on our land, but not fully owning it.

But it’s now time for the great harvest and we need the fullness of God’s provision to bring it to Him. If we want to experience the joy of harvest, we must pursue the provision to facilitate the harvest.

WHEN DELIVERERS ARE BORN

Moses was brought into the world to bring deliverance to God’s people, but the enemy was trying to kill him before he could grow up. God’s purpose was to use Moses to spoil the Egyptians and transfer the wealth of Egypt to the Children of Israel. Then he would bring them to the Promised Land to recover more of their wealth by transferring it back from the Canaanites, Hittites and Jebusites.

When Jesus came to transfer the wealth of Heaven (God’s presence) to the Earth, the enemy tried to take him out through King Herod. Jesus was the Savior or Deliverer of the whole world and a He was a tremendous threat to the enemy. If a baby was going to bring deliverance, he would try to take out all the babies.

Today according to several leading prophetic voices, a huge new source of wealth is being prepared for Kingdom expansion and will be released progressively in the next few months and years. So what is the enemy doing now to ministries that are going to finally have the finances they need to bring in the harvest they desire? He is trying to take them out by attacking their finances.

We should not be discouraged. God will protect His plan. But we must bring this deliverance to birth through intimate worship and prophetic intercession. It’s time to breathe (prophesy) and p.u.s.h. (pray until something happens).

KINGDOM FIRST

I have taught for many years that we see so few healing miracles in the western church because we are usually much more concerned with our own bodies being healed than we are with the divided and crippled “body of Christ” being healed. We don’t seek first the Kingdom, even though we think we do; we most often seek first our own well-being.

We have virtually no idea how important unity in the body of Christ is to the Father. He wants His Son to have a strong and healthy body to work through. His body needs healing more than any human being on earth today. The Father is looking for those who have His heart – His passion for Jesus’ body to be healed. He wants to heal our bodies too, because they are members of His body, but He wants us to have a Kingdom First heart and pray earnestly, like Jesus did, for unity in His body. (John 17)

I believe the “Kingdom First” law is a higher law than other spiritual laws like physical healing. It doesn’t necessarily apply to individual cases, but rather to the level of spiritual power of a segment of the body of Christ. The more “Kingdom First” we are, the more “these things” will be added to us.

The same thing holds true for prosperity. Even as very few Christians earnestly pray for the healing of the fragmented body of Christ, very few Christians pray earnestly for the financing of the harvest. We may pray for finances for our own ministries, but very little for other ministries and the body of Christ in general.

A NEW AND EXCITING GENERATION

But I have good news! God is raising up a generation of radical lovers, who love His presence and are down-loading His heart and experiencing His power. They hold nothing dear except His presence. They are willing to both live and die as martyrs for Him.

These are mostly young, but not all. God is connecting spiritual fathers and sons in a most exciting way. He is truly turning the hearts of fathers and sons towards each other. This, of course, includes mothers and daughters.

This generation could be called the “SOLOMON GENERATION”. They have the wisdom of their “father” David, and the additional wisdom that comes from a heart to seek God and His wisdom. When Solomon was asked to choose what He desired, he didn’t ask for personal wealth or long life, but put the Kingdom of God first and asked for wisdom to rule God’s people.

Because He sought God’s prosperity with a “Kingdom First” heart, God also blessed him with incredible wealth. God is preparing to release on this new generation a greater wealth than He gave to Solomon.

This generation will have the heart of Solomon for the Kingdom of God and God will trust them with amazing provision. This provision will include vast amounts of finances, but it will also include powerful spiritual gifts represented by the wisdom, knowledge and understanding given to Solomon.

A CHANGING CHURCH

The church today is radically different than it was ten or twenty years ago. So many ministries and movements have arisen with a focus on intimacy, intercession and worship. In the next few years, this will expand and explode.

At the same time, the most awesome release of finances into the Kingdom will take place. The harvest is ripe and God wants us to enjoy the most incredible joy we have ever experienced. For all who participate with a “Kingdom First” heart, tremendous adventures are waiting.

God is about to transfer billions and trillions of dollars from the heathen to the Kingdom, so we can all enjoy the joy of harvest and the pleasure of dividing the spoils of war. Let’s get excited and seek first His Kingdom with all our hearts. The rewards will be greater than anyone can imagine.

Brenda in New York
Ben Peters
Oct 5, 2007

Greetings Friends,

God has been doing great things and the enemy has been trying to rob us big time, but there is always good news when we encourage ourselves in the Lord. This is going to be a totally amazing month. Not only are the prophets speaking it, but all signs are pointing to it. In addition, we are hearing evidence that breakthrough is happening in some incredible ways.

BRENDA BEGINS A LADIES' RETREAT IN TROY (ALBANY) NEW YORK TONIGHT
Accompanied by one of our new interns, Jessie Seiler, Brenda is well on her way as I write. She will be ministering Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am staying home with Timothy and Nathan and we are doing some male bonding as well as taking care of many details.
Please pray for Brenda and Jess as they minister and pray for our whole family as God is bringing us together more than ever before. He has been making us more whole and healed from past pain, but it has stirred up many things that we have to deal with. It is so good for us but not always easy. Please pray for us. As I said the enemy has been attacking on various fronts. We value your prayers.

GREAT HOME MEETINGS LAST WEEKEND
On Sunday we met with over a dozen on fire young adults. It was a very moving time. Barbara Goff and Jessie Seiler were with us and everyone got some awesome ministry. These kids are a sample of what God is raising up for the coming harvest.

On Monday night we met in Huntley and ministered to several youth as well as people of all ages. It was another very special night and God really showed up to touch hearts with His love.

COMING EVENTS
After several private meetings in the next two weeks, we will be getting ready for our big THRONE ROOM COMPANY II CONFERENCE - October 24 - 27. You can download the brochure on our website: www.ohmint.org. Click on conferences and the download brochure button.

Please don't forget to pray for us. We always need your prayers. Thanks to those who have kept us from going under financially. Your support means more to us than we can say.

God be with you all and meet your heart's needs,
Ben, Brenda, family and team

An Invitation
Ben Peters
Sep 25, 2007

Dear Friends,

TRANSITION TIME
God is moving on His people and breathing new life into His body. He has us in transition as a reminder that His church is in transition into a place of knowing and using our inherited authority and power as His children, His Bride and His body on this earth. Our enemy has no weapons that will work against a people who know who they really are and who have moved into an intimate relationship with the Living God.

Our transition is still going on. House-wise, we have transitioned into a beautiful home in Lake Zurich, which we are house-sitting for our friends. Our daughter and family have moved into our house in South Beloit. We are also transitioning on the inner man, as we are being ministered to by a disciple of John Sandford of the Elijah House Ministries. We are learning how our childhood has molded our ways of relating to others and life itself. We are getting a deeper healing so we can help others come into a deeper healing themselves.

All this transition is to prepare us to trust God for so much more than we have in the past. I hear God saying that "The lid is coming off." The steam pressure in the pan will blow the lid off so that we can see what God has been cooking up for us.

MINISTRY THIS PAST WEEK
Last Wednesday evening, we had a very special time at The Well in Algonquin. God met us and kept us ministering until almost midnight again. People are hungry!!!

On Saturday, we had the privilege of joining Theresa Ferguson and Craig Kelly in marriage in Genoa, Illinois. It was an outdoor wedding, which was conducive to a more informal ceremony. That was fortunate, as I had to spread my suit jacket in front of the candle table in order for them to light the unity candle because of the wind. I also got some good laughs when I said, "Place the ringer on her finger." That was, of course, not intentional, but not the first time I've said that. Brenda joined our ministry team in the kitchen, serving and decorating the cake. Again, we were there quite late.

Our visit to Heritage Church with Pastor Jerry Ruff on Sunday morning, was another wonderful experience. We felt such love from God for their people and from them as well. There was again a very strong anointing on the ministry.

Please check our itiinerary on our website: www.ohmint.org for future events, including our big conference on October 24 - 27.

God bless you all,
Ben, Brenda, family and team

SPECIAL INVITATION SENT TO ME - COPIED BELOW. CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE AT THE BOTTOM
Greetings,International Leadership Embassy, a Washington, D.C. based convergence ministry of Christian International and Federation of Ministers & Churches International, is pleased to partner with our friend Tony Perkins and Family Research Council Action to mobilize key leaders for the Washington Briefing 2007 Values Voter Summit. We believe this to be one of the most significant gatherings of the Church in our nations Capital this year. Were entering an important and spiritually strategic window of time this fall which will launch us into 2008 and the November elections. As the body of Christ engages in this spiritual and cultural war we will be a voice directing the course of our great nation into her destiny and purpose. Were asking the leaders with whom we are relationally connected to either attend themselves or send a representative from their ministry to attend the Washington Briefing 2007 Values Voter Summit being held here in Washington, DC October 19-21, 2007. Please call 1-888-372-2284 or go to www.thewashingtonbriefing.com

Blessings,
Hope Taylor,
DirectorInternational Leadership Embassy

Joshua Generation Awakening Conference Report
Ben Peters
Sep 4, 2007

Greetings Precious Saints,

This has to be brief because I'm leaving for Spokane tomorrow morning, but I have to give a quick report of the weekend conference. It was even beyond our expectations. The prophetic anointing was powerful. The speakers challenged us like never before to know Jesus and His power. We felt a real awareness that we were crossing over into our promised land and preparing to take back the land for Jesus.

It was a conference where we literally had to repeatedly ask or beg people to leave the sanctuary late at night so it could be prepared for the next morning. It was a conference where people didn't wait for the superstar to pray for them. They prayed among themselves for one another and encouraged each other in the Lord. Our host church, Lakeshore Tabernacle in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was such a blessing to us and our team of volunteers did a totally amazing job of putting all the many pieces together. I can't thank them enough. I wish I could reward them according to their labors.

Shara Pradhan, Heidi's personal assistant, led the conference with a fresh call to intimacy. She breathed the word of the Lord into Brenda and me in a powerful way and ministered many personal words in her two sessions to hungry hearts. Karen Dunham, amazing missionary to Jews and Palestinians alike, shared wonderful stories of miraculous events in Muslim refugee camps. Our son, Ken, came from Spokane to do a session on marriage dynamics. Roger Joyner with his wife, Gabriella, disciples of Lou Engles, poured out passion for the generation of sons and daughters who cry out for spiritual fathers and mothers. They have moved to San Francisco to establish a Justice House of Prayer in the midst of the gay community on Haight Street. Vance Murphy closed the conference with a dynamic anointing to help us access the power of God to set people free from bondage to demonic power and to heal the sick and work the signs and wonders that bring people to Jesus.

Last night, we saw a great miracle. A teenage girl was due to go back for her second surgery. Her elbow was locked after a sports accident and she could not straighten her arm out. After praying for a few minutes, her arm suddenly was able to straighten out. Vance broke a spirit of fear and rejection off of her and immediately she was healed. It was an example of how spiritual gifts are necessary for complete healing. She had to first be set free of those hindrances and then she could be healed.

Everyone I talked to agreed that it was the greatest conference ever - and that's saying a lot.

Tomorrow, I will be in Spokane, taking in another conference with Heidi Baker and Bill Johnson and then driving back to Illinois with Barbie and her family, who is moving here to join us in the ministry. We are very excited. Of course, our little family will be moving to stay in a house in Lake Zurich, Illinois, to make room for them in our house.

Please pray that God will lead us every step of the way and protect us from the devil's attacks. We need more prayer every day as we move into more and more of his territory.

We love you dearly and thank you for your support,

Ben, Brenda, boys and team

Joshua Generation Awakening Time
benrpeters@juno.com
Aug 29, 2007

Greetings Saints,

We're back from Florida and trying to get ready for the JOSHUA GENERATION AWAKENING Conference. We know this is going to be a totally amazing time. Our speakers are all moving in deep places of intimacy with Jesus and passion for the harvest. They have powerful anointings for healing and the prophetic, as well as evangelism. It will be a time of meeting God in a very unusual way.

Having it on the weekend will free many people from having to get up for work in the morning. We should have greater continuity and build up of momentum. Please check our website: www.ohmint.org for more info.

HOUSE OF HOPE CONFERENCE

We finished our time in Florida with another amazing conference with the theme of INTIMACY. It was the National House of Hope Conference. We spoke along with Vance Murphy, Bobby Conner, Gary and Kathy Oates, Jackson Sonyonga (Spelling?), Dr. Mark Cherona, Chonda Pierce and others. It was a powerful time of spiritual renewal for all the House of Hope delegates and us as well.

We ask that you all pray for all of our team as we run this conference at a new site and with new volunteers. Pray that all the needs will be met as we do not charge for registration. We totally depend on God to pay all the bills and bless our speakers.

Many of you have blessed us with provision while we have done missions trips and expanded our youth mentoring and internship. Without you we couldn't do it. Your love has come through so strong. God is so God, as Brenda likes to say.

I will have a supply of my new book, "BIRTHING THE BOOK WITHIN YOU" at the conference. Our son, Ken, will also be with us with copies of his new book, THE SKIN AND THE SKELETON, a unique marriage book. We plan on doing a book signing together. It will be a first for us - a Father and Son book signing.

That's all for now. It's just about midnight.

God bless you all,

Ben and Brenda, Tim, Nathan and team

Southern Adventure
Ben Peters
Aug 22, 2007

Dear Friends,

God is good and He has blessed us with so many friends who have become so much like Him in so many ways. We have had many tests and trials in life and we have had our share of human conflicts, but we are amazed at how much of the “goodness of God” we find in people who serve Jesus with us.

DON’T FORGET THE LABOR DAY CONFERENCE COMING NEXT WEEK

It’s just a few days away now. It will be totally awesome. Location is Lake Shore Tabernacle in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Starting time is 7 pm Friday night with Shara Pradhan, Heidi Baker’s personal assistant, a dynamic young prophetess with a passion for Jesus and young people. Get details at www.ohmint.org.

QUICK ANSWER TO PRAYER

In our last letter we shared that our daughter, Barbie, with her husband, Caleb, and four boys were planning on joining us in Illinois. Shortly after sending the letter, someone called to let us know they had been looking for someone to care for their house while they attended school in Bill Johnson’s church in Redding, California. The timing is perfect and Brenda and I and the boys will be moving into a home in Lake Zurich, leaving our house in South Beloit to our kids and grandkids.

The young adults who are also moving from other states will be staying in our homes and possibly others. We have others interested and we know God is working it all out. We are also believing that our other daughter, Andrea, and her husband, Harvey, will be with us before too many more months. As a Canadian, he has already waited 14 months since their wedding for their immigration papers.

TWO BOOK ISSUES

1. First of all, I have been offered a very good deal by a Christian company to produce audio books for me. They looked at, “Go Ahead, Be So Emotional” and made an offer based on the size of the book. I could sell them for the same price as my regular books. The only problem is that it would be more money up front, as I would be required to buy 1,000 CD books to start with.

So I’m asking for your input. How many of you like your books read to you on CD? The reading quality is very good. I’m not asking for a commitment, just an opinion. I’m not in position to move forward on it yet, but would love to expand the outreach of our books, if possible.

2. Secondly, the Sid Roth Show – It’s Supernatural was a great blessing to us. Many people wrote or phoned us, and many ordered books on our website. The only problem is that the Sid Roth Show over-ordered on the Prophetic Ministry books they promoted and I had agreed to buy them back at the price that they paid for them.

They purchased 1400 books and want to return 600. They said it was a slow month for all their shows. The result is that I will have a lot of that book on hand which I would like to pass on to others. These books are excellent textbooks for Bible Studies and home fellowship groups. They are easy to read and follow and would help change the thinking of many towards prophetic ministry.

Anyway, I’m offering to sell quantities of three or more for $6.00 each, including shipping. For 10 or more you can have them for $5.50, including shipping. If you just want one, but buy two other of my books at the regular price, you can have the same sale price ($6.00) for the prophetic book.

You won’t be able to do the sale price on our website, so please email me if you want to take advantage of this offer. Then you can use the donation button on the website and still use paypal to make the payment. Of course, you can always send a check in the mail.

By the way, our newest book, "Birthing the Book Within You", is going as fast as any books we have written to date. It's amazing how many people feel they are called to write a book. If you make it to the conference on Labor Day Weekend, I will do a book signing along with our son, Ken, who has also published a book.

SOUTHERN ADVENTURE IS BEING BLESSED

I’m writing from Orlando, Florida. We left Illinois a week ago and drove 800 plus miles to Atlanta the first day and did a meeting at night. We had an awesome time with some dear folk there. We got back to our motel around midnight and had a good rest after being up for about 21 or 22 hours.

We arrived the next day at the House of Hope, where we have ministered a couple of times. We arrived in time for a nutritional product convention attended by 4000 people, mostly Christians. It was very inspiring and fun.

Brenda and I had a little more time to celebrate our 40^th wedding anniversary. We made two trips to the warm waters of Cocoa Beach, where we played in the waves and laughed together. It has been a good break for us.

HOUSE OF HOPE CONFERENCE BEGINS TOMORROW

Brenda and I will have a small speaking slot at this conference featuring some awesome men and women of God, such as Bobby Conner, Pastor Jackson from Uganda, Dr. Mark Cherona, Chandra Pierce, Gary and Kathy Oates and Vance Murphy. Please pray that our contribution, though small, may impact many people.

For those who don’t know, House of Hope is a ministry started by Sara Trollinger to care for troubled teens and restore them to their families. This ministry has been greatly blessed by many leaders, including presidents, governors, movie stars and singers such as Carman, etc. They have won national awards and have great favor. We are very honored to be a part of this great conference.

Well, I must get this sent,

God bless you all and thanks for your kindness and love,

Ben and Brenda, boys and team

Measuring Fire
Ben Peters
Aug 2, 2007

Greetings Saints,
Here's the article I wrote in Africa. Let me know if it blesses you.
God bless you all,
Ben

HOW DO YOU MEASURE FIRE?

While ministering in Zimpeto, Mozambique, with a class of native pastors being trained by Iris Ministries, I heard God ask the question, “How do you measure fire?” I love it when God gives me the question, because I know He will also give me the answer.

As I meditated on the question during a prayer time, I began to catch what the Holy Spirit was communicating with me. It is really simple, but terribly profound. I’m not a scientist, and could be argued with on a technical level, but the following is how I see the true measurement of fire from God’s perspective.

Don’t get burned trying!

First of all, you can’t measure fire with a yard stick or a measuring tape. Fire just refuses to hold still. It jumps up and down and back and forth. Besides that, it might totally ruin your day, if you tried to measure it without taking significant precautions.

Secondly, you can’t measure fire on a scale that weighs pounds or kilograms. Fire, itself, probably would have a negative weight as it creates an updraft. We can clearly see fire. It’s obviously something – but it’s something without weighable substance. You could weight the fuel under the fire, but you can’t weigh the fire itself.

So how can we measure fire? Obviously, we have no reason to measure natural fire. But God wants to talk about His Holy Spirit fire. He is a consuming fire and He is in us. How do we measure that fire?

Holy Fire in Mozambique

I am now in Pemba, Mozambique, the newer center of operations for Rolland and Heidi Baker. We are witnessing one of the greatest revival movements of all times and a constant theme of this revival is fire. The fire of God burns within the people of this revival. They are passionate lovers of Jesus with hearts that yearn for a greater visitation and more expansion of the fire of God.

Some time ago, many of the Mozambique pastors had a simultaneous vision where they saw themselves carrying fire to other parts of Africa and finally all the way back to Jerusalem.

Every time I come to Mozambique, I find myself speaking about spreading the fire and protecting the fire that they have so it won’t go out. I feel the passion of the Father’s heart as I speak. I know how easy it is to lose the fire. You don’t have to do a thing. You just have to neglect it and ignore it and it will surely die.

So what does a fire produce that we can measure in some way? There are three major useful things a fire can produce. These things in turn can produce other things that are useful to man. The three main things we get from fire are warmth, light and power.

1. Fire produces warmth that conquers cold.

First of all, fire produces warmth. Of course, if you get too close it can get very hot. The warmth that a fire produces causes us to take off our outer layer of clothing that we wear when it’s cold outside. I grew up in the prairies of Western Canada, where it can get down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. We wore heavy parkas, etc., to protect ourselves from freezing to death or at least from becoming very uncomfortable.

In the same way, the warmth of the fire of God within us causes us and others to take off the extra layers of protection from their hearts. The heat of the fire represents the love and compassion that reaches out to those in its path. God was asking me, “How much love and compassion flows out of your heart through your mouth and through your hands?” That is one way to measure the fire in me.

Do people open their hearts to us when we come in contact with them? Do they want to stay close to us because they feel the warmth coming from the Holy Spirit within us? Are we able to produce enough warmth to overcome the memory of frost-bite from previous experiences they’ve had with other Christians?

More pain = More protection More love = More openness

I believe that the more love that people receive, the fewer layers of protection they will put around their hearts. But the more pain they experience, without the compassion that heals their pain, the more layers of protection they will put up.

This protection manifests in many ways, such as anger, depression, self-pity, jealousy and obsessive fear. These people are not open to our words unless we first warm them with the fire of compassion that burns within us. This cannot be compassion of our own creation. It must be from a holy fire and passion that has its source in the God Who is a Consuming Fire. This is a love that can love and keep on loving, even under brutal attack.

Two Great Examples

I could cite many illustrations of those who have kept loving when under attack by those they were trying to bless. Certainly, Heidi Baker is one powerful living example. She has had many rocks and bullets directed towards her, and there have been many other attempts to drive her away. She is still here in Mozambique, winning Muslims by the thousands. Little by little, the resistance comes down.

Another great living example is a wonderful missionary to the Palestinian refugees, named Karen Dunham. Her property was burned several times as those she loved tried to get rid of her. She kept loving until she won many of their hearts. The eternal flame of God’s heart has been burning with great intensity within the hearts of these two women of God.

Wonderful by-product of Heat

Now let’s look at a by-product of heat. Without heat most of the world would have a hard time eating their main meal – rice. The children and staff living on the Iris bases eat rice twice a day, with a little beans, vegetable or fish on top. Rice is eaten as the main meal in most of Asia and much of Africa. Without fire, rice would be pretty hard to eat.

Wheat, or even wheat flour, is also not much good unless you have a fire to cook it. Breakfast at Iris Ministries consists of a roll of bread and tea. Both require fire to prepare. Heidi loves to talk about how Jesus gave her bread to feed multitudes of children from the flesh of His own body in a Heavenly experience she once had.

The application is very clear. When the fire burns within us, we can take something hard and unappetizing and turn it into delicious bread. It starts out as a seed of God’s word and the fire of God turns it into the literal Bread of Life. We can measure bread. How much are we passing out? Is it appetizing and appealing to the senses of the spirit of man? Are people growing in strength because they are feeding on the bread we give them?

2. Fire produces light for our journey.

Now let’s talk about the second great benefit of fire – light. Fire has been used for millennia as a source of light to illuminate men’s pathways. Fire can be just a small candle with limited light, or it can be a large bonfire that lights up the whole neighborhood. Or it can be a forest fire that lights up a whole region.

The fire of God within us provides the light for our pathway to keep us from stumbling. Without the fire within us burning brightly, we will not see clearly to avoid the snares of the enemy and we will surely stumble and fall. We must keep our fire burning just to maintain our own spiritual walk.

But God clearly doesn’t want us to be content with enough light for our own feet, even as He doesn’t want us to be content with enough heat to warm our own hearts and prepare our own spiritual food. He wants our fire to burn so brightly that it lights the way for thousands of others.

Light for Revelation

Light helps us understand what we read in the Word. Many don’t understand much of the Bible because there is little light within them to illuminate what they read. When light increases, we not only understand for ourselves, but we gain understanding that will bless thousands or millions of others.

Obviously then, we need more of the fire of God within us if we want more revelation from His Word. Without the light from that internal fire, we won’t understand much of what we read.

3. Fire produces power to take us to our destinations.

There is one more very important product of fire – power. Fire is what made the steam engine pull the train. Fire gives us the power to drive our cars, boats and airplanes. The internal combustion engine, on which we now depend so much, is totally dependent on the continuous lighting of fire within the cylinders of the engine.

We all have spiritual gifts according to at least seven passages of the New Testament, but we need the fire of God to empower these gifts in order to produce what God desires. Without the fire, we have little power to use these gifts.

Wanted: Access Energy

This power must be also for others, not just for ourselves. Just as scientists are striving to produce “access energy” from nuclear fusion, so God wants us to produce access energy to give away to the world. He wants us to be so on fire that we activate fire in others.

For many millennia, the most common way to start a new fire was with coals or actual fire from another location. Even now, we normally light a series of candles with the first candle that we lit with a match or lighter. Even so, most spiritual fire is caught from the fire of another believer. There are always some that are the flint that strikes the rock to make the first spark, but most on-fire saints caught the fire from others.

In my book, “Catching Up to the Third World”, I asked the question, “Why are so many miracles happening in the developing nations and so few happening in the western world?” I listed seven indispensable keys to revival in the western world.

But perhaps the simplest answer is this: More fire = more power. Most western church teaching is about how we as individuals can get our needs met by God – how to live in health and prosperity and how to overcome our own weaknesses and habits, etc.

In contrast, the leaders of the revival here in Mozambique are more concerned with how to spread the gospel to the farthest corners of their nation and continent. Their goal is to have encounters with Jesus that will set them ablaze with Holy Fire. They want power, not for themselves, but for bringing revival to their people.

In other words, they are not looking for just enough power and divine energy to live successful lives – they are crying out for access energy – much more than what they can consume on themselves. I am asking God for the same heart. I want the fire within me to produce measurable access energy and power.

Some Very Important Questions

So the question is now, how does our personal fire measure up? Are people attracted to the warmth, the light and the power of our fire? Is there supernatural power in our personal ministry, or do we have just enough power to get through the day ourselves without committing some besetting sin?

Personally, I have measured my fire and find the heat, light and power being generated to be far short of what I would like to see. I think it’s time to fan the flame and put more fuel on the fire. How can I do that? How can you do that?

It’s really not complicated, but it does require focus and commitment. We can’t depend on others, such as our pastor or spouse to increase the measure of fire we carry. They can help, but why not be the one that lights the fire in others. How do we become those who light and spread fires?

We need to get closer to the Source – the God who is Himself the Consuming Fire. He promises to draw near to us if we draw near to Him.

He will give us everything we ask that pleases Him. We can tell Him we want the fire within, no matter what the cost may be. We can express our willingness to lay everything on the line and totally serve Him with all our heart and strength if He will just increase the fire within us. Frankly, I believe He is waiting for that kind of an offer from us.

Three Components of Fire

A fire requires three components, ignition, fuel and oxygen. Obviously, God is the source of ignition, and the Holy Spirit is the wind that provides the oxygen, but what is the fuel? How do we keep the fire from going out from lack of fuel?

The key to understanding fuel is to realize that it is something that we give up to the flames. Unless we are willing to let something be consumed, we have no fuel for the fire.

Examples of Holy Fuel

Again, my mind goes to countless illustrations of lives that have burned brightly for Jesus, who were required to lay down so much at the altar that it boggles the mind. Paul, who put his whole life and reputation on the altar, said it well in the second and third chapters of Philippians. He pointed to Jesus, who humbled Himself to come from Heaven to become a servant and lay down His life for us.

He also relates how he considered everything he possessed and everything he had achieved as nothing but manure compared to the blessing of just knowing Jesus and being with Him. It seems clear to me that the fuel we must keep putting on the fire to keep it burning is our own will, our flesh and all that we naturally fight to protect, such as our reputation, financial security and power.

Getting “lower still” as Heidi teaches is letting go of our personal pride and dignity in order to fuel the flames of revival around us. We ourselves become the fuel that lights the way, provides the warmth and creates the access energy that we need to be a force for good in an evil world.

Measuring Our Own Fires

Yes, fire can be measured. It is constantly changing shape, but it is also constantly producing warmth, light and power for those who know how to use and appropriate it. I want to produce access energy to bless the world. How about you? Are we willing to lay ourselves on the altar to fuel the fire? It’s our key to revival in our world. Let’s take the key and use it. It will surely open the door we want opened and God will breathe on the fire that consumes our flesh. The result will be awesome and amazing. We will see His power and glory revealed around the world and we will rejoice to see what only God’s holy fire can produce.

Ben Peters - Open Heart Ministries, Int’l

Home again and back to work!
Ben Peters
Jul 29, 2007

Greetings Saints,

My vacation in Africa is over. Actually, it was a very blessed time, but definitely not a vacation. Brenda had no scheduled meetings for three weeks, but she had many stresses with me being gone and she was very glad to see me return. It has been a good time of readjusting to being home and being in my own time zone for the last two days. Brenda and the boys actually did an amazing job with me being gone and our ministry team were also wonderful in handling whatever was happening.

PEMBA, MOZAMBIQUE

Our last five days in Mozambique were in Pemba, where Rolland and Heidi now have their home and a fast-expanding ministry center. They now have about 150 children in residence at this center, with dozens of village kids that hang around and try to make friends with all the visitors. They also have about 200 pastors in training and almost as many Missions School students taking the Holy Given Missions training.

Since my last letter, our team returned from a second overnight outreach. On the first outreach, we had been blessed to lead a young couple to the Lord. The husband was touched physically as well as spiritually. Then we had several young men and children receive the Lord as well. We also had the privilege of being used to break down walls with the Muslims by attending a funeral wake and helping them with expenses for the food they needed to serve their company. After our visit they came to the pastor's yard for the first time. They don't understand Christian love and we pray that the whole village will come to Jesus. Heidi told me before we left the Iris Ministry center to pray for a breakthrough for this tough village. They had a church there but the village was still very hostile overall.

The second outreach was much farther into the bush and several hundred people came out to see the Jesus Film. Many were saved and at least one deaf child was healed. It was a great experience for our team. Meanwhile, I stayed behind to teach the pastors' school with interpreters. On this trip, God gave me fresh revelation as He always does in such situations. I shared a strong word with the native pastors regarding the power of the Word that God had put in their mouths and the need to guard the fire that God had entrusted them with. I have a message that I am writing out called, "How Do You Measure Fire?" I shared that with many pastors and missionaries on this trip. I'll send it out in a future newsletter.

While the team was returning from a three hour plus trip from the bush village, I was blessed to hear Heidi speak for about 90 minutes. She was broken and sad that she had to leave Africa to go to a conference in the USA that afternoon. She shared an impacting word about "Blessed are the Meek". The trip was worth it just hearing her speak in that environment again.

Another highlight for me was the two opportunities I had to share briefly with the Holy Given Missions School. God blessed me with a strong passion and anointing to challenge them to believe that God was putting an amazing anointing on their generation to bring in the harvest from the nations. They are called like Isaiah and Jeremiah to speak God's words to tear down strongholds over nations and to build and plant the Kingdom of God in their place. It was a wonderful privilege and the response was very rewarding. It was another thing that made the whole trip worth while for me.

UPCOMING EVENTS

In the next few days, we will be ministering in various meetings in homes and a Wisconsin camp meeting. Next Weekend we will minister at Grace Church in New Glarus on Saturday at 6 pm, Sunday at 10 am and 6 pm. The following weekend is our 40th wedding anniversary and then we head for Florida via Atlanta where we will do a meeting or two. We will attend a convention and a conference where we will speak along with some pretty awesome guys like Bobby Conner, Mark Cherona, Vance Murphy and others.

JOSHUA GENERATION ARISE - CROSSING OVER INTO DESTINY

We invite you from everywhere to spend Labor Day Weekend with us if you have no other plans. It will be one of the most spiritually enriching times we've ever had. Most of our speakers have a high impact on youth and we encourage the youth to come and be filled with passion for Jesus. Worship will be led mostly by youth worship teams and God is doing great things through them in various ministry opportunities. The brochure is on our website: www.ohmint.org. Be patient and it will download.

OCTOBER CONFERENCE IN CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS, WITH SHAWN BOLZ, JENNIFER AND JONATAN TOLEDO, PAULA BENNE, GARY AND SARAH MORGAN.

This will be another classic and awesome conference with some of the best prophetic people we know. Put it on your calendar for October 24-27.

That's all for now. Thanks for your support. I went to Africa by faith that God would provide while I was gone. Many people helped us out with their prayers and gifts. God always knows our needs and uses His saints to help us, even though we don't tell them our needs.

God be with you all and bless you richly,

Ben, Brenda, boys and team

Mozambique Report
Ben Peters
Jul 21, 2007

Dear Friends of OHM,

What a time we’re having here in Mozambique! Our coalition of eight is proving to be a powerful ministry team. We have ministered in many places to many people. We haven’t done the thousands at once, but we’ve seen souls saved and at least one healing in personal ministry.

We have preached, prayed and prophesied to pastors, students and base directors. And when I say, “we”, I mean that the whole team has participated in these activities. And of course our guys and gals have loved on scores of kids and given out goodies to many in the village we ministered to just last night.

We began in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. There some visited the garbage dump and others visited the hospital. Both places impacted our team. We also worked with kids and other visitors and ministered personally to many.

After three days we went to the base in Dondo, in central Mozambique. There we had the privilege of speaking twice in the pastor’s school and prophesying to the third year students. Before we were done, we also prophesied to the whole staff and leadership of the base. It was a powerful experience and the leaders expressed great appreciation that we had come to Dondo.

We arrived in Pemba yesterday around noon and almost immediately I encountered Heidi Baker, who had just returned from an outreach. She quickly arranged an outreach for us and let us use her tents, etc. It turned out to be a village very close to home base, but we spent the night and ministered to people in the village. That is where we prayed for a man with internal pain, probably parasites or worms. Through our interpreter we asked him if he understood salvation. She then gave him her testimony and we led him and his wife to the Lord. Today, he was up and feeling much better and ready to visit the church in the village.

We also had a meeting at the church with scores of kids and youth. They were totally wild and we had a hard time calming them down. Finally, they joined in a couple of local songs in their language and then with still lots of talking and noise, Jonathan Seaver shared a simple but powerful gospel message. After the message several young men prayed sincere prayers to received Jesus. They had great joy in their hearts and smiles on their faces.

This morning we cancelled the meeting because of a death and funeral of a Muslim neighbor. Everyone would be going to that. We decided to go also. It wasn’t a ceremony, just people coming to visit the family members in the village. We gave them money for food for their guests and afterwards some of the Muslims came to the pastor’s house for the first time as we were giving gifts to the kids which attracted a great crowd.

Everywhere around here there are kids of all ages. If we had a hundred thousand missionaries to just come and love children, there wouldn’t be enough to go around. The needs are so great and the harvest is so ripe. The days are coming that will see many hundreds of thousands of western Christians find the time and finances to go into all the world and make the difference that they can make.

I have had almost no time on the internet since I came to Mozambique so many letters have not been answered. I’m just starting to catch up now and we have just over three days left here.

Thank you everyone who has prayed for us. Please keep praying and seeking God’s face on our behalf. Our team is great and God has blessed, but there have also been tests and trials both here and at home for various team members. Thanks to God’s intervention, pretty much all is well at this point.

That’s all for now. Tomorrow we here Heidi speak under the big tent. We don’t know what Monday and Tuesday hold, but we expect a few more adventures.

My new book on writing books is almost ready for printing. I’m just waiting for a couple of endorsements. I believe this book will be a blessing to many and give them the inspiration to write that first book.

God bless you all,

Ben in Africa, Brenda, Tim and Nathan in South Beloit and our team in Illinois, etc.

Help Lord!
Ben Peters
Jul 10, 2007

Greetings Saints,

MOZAMBIQUE

Africa is calling again. This trip will be different. For the first time since 2004, Brenda won't be going with me. I do have a team of eight people, but none of my family or local ministry team. I will really miss everyone for those 17 days. Brenda is feeling called to a quiet time with God and I trust that she will have the freedom to spend much of her time alone with Jesus, praying for me and our team and having visitations from Heaven. Tim and Nathan will be home to help around the house, etc.

We will be ministering in three main bases in Mozambique. We will be teaching on unity and spiritual gifts, etc. Pray for the fire of God to fall. Pray that God helps Heidi and Rolland to steward this amazing revival. Also pray for all our team to see more miracles than they have ever seen in their lives.

TheCALL NASHVILLE

It truly was an amazing day with so many highlights, including a lot of repentance and forgiveness. Senator Sam Brownback (in a non-presidential election appearance) repented on behalf of the federal government to the native Americans, the African Americans, the unborn, etc. It was a moving experience for the 100,000 in attendance and many more people watching on God TV.7

A great highlight for all was the blowing of 300 shofars, calling for a new sound to be heard in America. We prayed for a shift in the atmosphere over our nation and for righteousness to spring forth in places which are mostly controlled by the ungodly. Shawn Bolz was one of the last speakers, proclaiming a new Renaissance for Christians in the arts. It was a long hot day, but we carry something that we didn't have when we came.

MINISTRY IN HENDERSON, KENTUCKY

We were privileged to speak twice at the Father's House in Henderson, KY, on Sunday. The crowd was filled with youth spending part of the summer there in training. Many of them have spent time in Bethlehem. Jihad Ramadan is still on his way to becoming a Christian. He is still holding back, but loves our people and will defend them with his life. Amazing things are happening in our world.

The other side of the coin is that there is also powerful warfare going on and coming against those on the front lines. God gave me a word for the team to stir up the gift of Discerning of Spirits like never before. It's a gift that's been in the shadows for some time, unlike healing and prophecy, etc., but it's time to active this gift for the safety of the whole team. Our Bethlehem missionaries are putting their lives on the line every day. They are not in a safe place. They need our prayers.

COMING CONFERENCE - JOSHUA GENERATION ARISING - CROSSING OVER INTO DESTINY

The brochure is ready to download from our website, www.ohmint.org. Please be patient - it takes a little time, depending on your computer. But it is beautiful and full of information. Feel free to make extra copies and pass them out. In addition to the speakers listed, our son, Ken, will be coming from Spokane to teach a marriage workshop. His new book The Skin and The Skeleton was just released. Those who want to order from us should be able to after I get back from Africa.

SCOTT BRENNER CD'S NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME

We don't know what's happening, but the last order we made from Scott was supposed to have been sent, but we cannot reach them or find out what happened. We are all sold out at the moment until further notice.

BIRTHING THE BOOK WITHIN YOU - MY NEW BOOK IS BEING PREPARED FOR PRINTING

My book to encourage potential authors should be available in about four weeks if all goes well. You can pray for that too. We want it to be a great blessing. Pray also for our youth worship team. They plan on cutting a demo CD this summer. Pray that they learn what they need to learn and release a very anointed CD.

God bless you all,

Ben, Brenda, boys and team

Open Heart Ministries

Going to Nashville
Ben Peters
Jul 5 2007 03:17PM

Hi Everyone,

Tomorrow we head for Nashville, via Henderson, Kentucky. I'm going to try to make it big as a country singer. Just kidding, of course.

We will attend a Shabbat service on Friday night and then minister two services on Sunday in Henderson. All day Saturday we will be taking in the event at Titan Stadium with TheCall Nashville. It looks like they are going to have somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 people, instead of 100,000. There will be no place for many people to sit or stand except the parking lots.

For those who get GOD TV on Directv or any other network, you can watch the whole event on TV. This is a HUGE event in the history of this nation. We must realize how important it is that God's church unites to repent of our pride and luke-warmness and cry out for God's intervention before we self-destruct like other great societies in history. Pray for Lou Engle and the other speakers, including political leaders. We hope to meet with Senator Sam Brownback, my favorite for president in 2008. I encourage everyone to go to his website and learn about him to see if you should support him as well. It's www.prayforbrownback.com.

FREEDOM HOUSE SEMINAR LAST WEEKEND IN GENOA, ILLINOIS

What a special time we had with many of our friends. We learned so much about our hearts and how God wants to heal them after they have been wounded, broken or crushed. We learned how they can feel emotional hurt and pain, even before birth. Tommy and Mari Ann Anderson are so real and blessed us greatly. If you need any kind of counseling, including marriage and self-image, etc., you should check out www.freedomhouseministry.com.

AFRICA IS CALLING ME AGAIN - PLEASE PRAY

With just one day home to get ready, after TheCall Nashville, I will be heading for Mozambique with a team of eight. We will be speaking to the pastors on three Iris bases and wherever else we get to go with our team. We all need to be covered and we truly desire to make a big difference and leave a great blessing behind. Pray for my family and their needs while I am gone. Brenda is looking forward to a little time off from meetings and really wants time to be alone with God as much as possible.

We just finished three days with a visit from a chosen man of God, who shared many incredible things with us. We are tremendously excited about the future. We believe America will be saved and turned around again. God is preparing to pour out His Spirit and His provision for the great world-wide harvest. America will prosper as the "soul" of America prospers. II John 2.

That's all for now. Please pray for us!!! I deeply feel the need like never before. I feel God's presence on me as I write and I feel so dependent on His mercy, knowing I have earned nothing. His grace is so amazing and it's so freely given to us all.

Be full of HIM and His great love,

Ben, Brenda, boys and team