OPEN HEART MINISTRIES
www.ohmint.org
Dear Saints,
GOD IS MOVING!!!!!
We trust that you are all experiencing breakthroughs in these exciting days. While birth pangs continue in our land and in the world, we are beginning to see what God is up to as He brings to birth the greatest revival ever to visit our world in order to bring in His own harvest.
Since we wrote about the water breaking weeks ago, we are reading many prophetic words that revival is coming very quickly. Even a newspaper article from this area was shown to us yesterday that talked about a new spiritual awakening. Awakening is a great word for what God is doing. The church has been quite asleep for quite a while and God is causing our morning alarm to go off, saying, "Arise, shine, for your Light has come!"
MINISTRY REPORT
This past week and weekend we met in homes in Lake Villa, Buffalo Grove and Arlington Heights. We saw many little miracles, including several people discovering for the first time the power of a prophetic word to their hearts. As usual, they became believers in the truth that God knows them, loves them and has a purpose and ministry for them.
We also had an unusual number of people activating and using their own prophetic gifts to minister to the group. Another slight change in our ministry is that even in home meetings, I feel led to pray for an impartation of revival fire on each one, such as we received in Mozambique. We have no idea how great an affect it will have on each life, but we are being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
I feel more and more called to preaching and releasing revival fire now wherever we go. We have seen some breakthroughs, but not enough. I can't just go on doing what we have been doing for six plus years. My call as a teenager was to revival and that call is being rekindled in my heart. Today, I felt I heard God speak, "Grassroots Revival". I'm asking God for new direction and believe we will be doing more meetings just to stir up passion for revival. We will continue to activate giftings, often using prophetic ministry, but there will be a specific purpose for that activation - REVIVAL!!!
HEIDI'S HEALTH
We are encouraged to wait for Heidi to speak for herself in regards to her health, but so many are praying and we want to let you all know that Heidi did make it to Toronto to preach and it was another powerful time in the Spirit. She was then taken to California and apparently got a positive report from another doctor there. She is resting now and we trust she will make it to Harrisburg, PA, for the Global Awakening Conference there, which is already sold out. KEEP PRAYING AND THANKS FOR STANDING WITH HER AND ROLLAND.
ITINERARY
Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 26, we will be in Hinckley, IL, for a service at Covenant Restoration Church, 181 N. Sycamore St., at 7 pm. Everyone is welcome.
Thursday, October 27, we will be in a home meeting in Norridge, IL.
NEW BOOK - WITH ME - A CAPTIVATING JOURNEY INTO INTIMACY
Regretfully, it has taken longer for the publishing company to print this book than expected. I should be able to order it now within a day or two and have it in just a few days. Brenda keeps telling me that she really feels that this book is special. I've read parts of it to her, but she hasn't read it yet for herself. She just knows something in her spirit. Anyway, please pray that God's purpose will be fulfilled through this book, which I know He inspired.
Again, we want to thank you all for every way you show us your love and support. We are grateful to God for so many wonderful friends.
MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS EACH OF YOU WHO ARE COMMITTED TO JESUS AND HIS GLORIOUS KINGDOM!!!
Ben and Brenda and family
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
News Letter October 19th, 2005
OPEN HEART MINISTRIES
http://www.ohmint.org/
Greetings again Friends,
Once again, I accidentally hit the send button before I was done and there is no way to stop it. Here is the completed version.
We just finished two wonderful nights in New Glarus, Wisconsin. We were among precious people who really want to pursue God and revival and the harvest. The first night I preached on "What Do I Have?" from Acts 3 - "Such as I have, I give you." It was a challenge to be honest with ourselves as western Christians who believe in the power of God, but have seen very little of that cripple-healing power of God moving through us. Then I shared some insights on what it will take to bring explosive miracle power back to the western church.
Since Felito had just been there, talking about amazing stories of powerful miracles and mass conversions, they knew what I was talking about. Most of the congregation came to the front to pray and seek God's grace and favor for revival in America. God moved powerfully on everyone at the altar and we had a real visitation of the Holy Spirit. One gal told her dad that something inside of her was filling her up and wanting to explode out of her. That night when she began to pray, she found herself speaking in tongues for the first time in her life.
The second night we carried on with a revival theme and not sleeping through the harvest. We also dealt with confessing our sins and the sins of our fathers - natural and spiritual. We had a powerful time of prayer again, praying down strongholds in the community and binding principalities and powers. Please pray for the people of New Glarus (which I renamed New GLORIOUS the first time we went there, which was this last August).
I've never felt more certain that revival had come to a community. I believe the people will not stop going after revival and harvest, but they will walk into their destinies and be fruitful servants of the Lord.
Tomorrow night we will be in Lake Villa, IL. On Saturday we will be in Buffalo Grove and on Sunday in Arlington Heights. They are all home meetings. We had held the next week open, hoping to go to a conference in South Carolina, but that isn't working out. We now have one home meeting in Norridge, IL, on Thursday, Oct. 27. The rest of the week is open at this point. The following week we do hope to go to Harrisburg, PA, where Heidi and many other speakers that we love are scheduled to speak. If the Lord says no to that also, we will open that up to meetings as well.
We thank you all for your prayers and your love and support. We always want to be here for you when we possibly can.
God bless you all,
Ben and Brenda and family
http://www.ohmint.org/
Greetings again Friends,
Once again, I accidentally hit the send button before I was done and there is no way to stop it. Here is the completed version.
We just finished two wonderful nights in New Glarus, Wisconsin. We were among precious people who really want to pursue God and revival and the harvest. The first night I preached on "What Do I Have?" from Acts 3 - "Such as I have, I give you." It was a challenge to be honest with ourselves as western Christians who believe in the power of God, but have seen very little of that cripple-healing power of God moving through us. Then I shared some insights on what it will take to bring explosive miracle power back to the western church.
Since Felito had just been there, talking about amazing stories of powerful miracles and mass conversions, they knew what I was talking about. Most of the congregation came to the front to pray and seek God's grace and favor for revival in America. God moved powerfully on everyone at the altar and we had a real visitation of the Holy Spirit. One gal told her dad that something inside of her was filling her up and wanting to explode out of her. That night when she began to pray, she found herself speaking in tongues for the first time in her life.
The second night we carried on with a revival theme and not sleeping through the harvest. We also dealt with confessing our sins and the sins of our fathers - natural and spiritual. We had a powerful time of prayer again, praying down strongholds in the community and binding principalities and powers. Please pray for the people of New Glarus (which I renamed New GLORIOUS the first time we went there, which was this last August).
I've never felt more certain that revival had come to a community. I believe the people will not stop going after revival and harvest, but they will walk into their destinies and be fruitful servants of the Lord.
Tomorrow night we will be in Lake Villa, IL. On Saturday we will be in Buffalo Grove and on Sunday in Arlington Heights. They are all home meetings. We had held the next week open, hoping to go to a conference in South Carolina, but that isn't working out. We now have one home meeting in Norridge, IL, on Thursday, Oct. 27. The rest of the week is open at this point. The following week we do hope to go to Harrisburg, PA, where Heidi and many other speakers that we love are scheduled to speak. If the Lord says no to that also, we will open that up to meetings as well.
We thank you all for your prayers and your love and support. We always want to be here for you when we possibly can.
God bless you all,
Ben and Brenda and family
Monday, October 17, 2005
News Letter October 17th, 2005
Open Heart Ministries
http://www.ohmint.org/
Dear Friends,
First of all welcome to new subscribers. I added those who attended our Missions Prep 101 class and gave us their email addresses, so we could keep in touch about our future Missions Prep schedule. Anyone wanting to be removed from this mailing list can unsubscribe at the bottom of this letter.
NEWS ABOUT HEIDI BAKER
The news is mixed. The good news is that Heidi left the hospital and went home to Pemba on Saturday. She immediately said she wanted to preach on Sunday, even though she had a lot of weakness and pain on Saturday night. On Sunday she preached in the tent church with more fire and passion than folk had ever seen on her. She was challenging and commissioning everyone to fulfill their destiny in the harvest.
The sad news is that she is still not well and Rolland felt it necessary to take her back to Johannesburg right away to the hospital. Today all the bases in Mozambique are fasting for her. Please join us in doing some fasting again for Heidi this week. Thank you!
MISSIONS PREP 101 WEEKEND
We consider our first Missions Prep weekend a great success. Vineyard Christian Fellowship of DeKalb, IL, was an awesome host. They were so gracious, it was amazing. We had over 70 people sign the attendance sheets and there was a wonderful spirit of hunger and desire for Jesus and His heart for the nations.
Brenda shared (the way only she could share) a little about her experiences in Africa, by way of introducing Felito on Friday night. Fileto shared at Friday night and Saturday afternoon about God's call and what God was already doing in Moslim villages in Mozambique. His stories were truly amazing. We had wonderful times of praying for the sick and impartion of a revival anointing. Everyone was blessed. We are looking forward to hearing some testimonies of what God did during these sessions. We'd love to hear from everyone that God touched in these sessions.
Saturday morning I taught a few Portuguese words and phrases and preached on not sleeping through the harvest. We also enjoyed watching a clip from Mozambique that was seen on the 700 Club in June. We were very gratified by the response of all the people.
CDs of the School will be availabe this week. Those who missed part of the weekend need to listen to the sessions they missed to get credit for the course. They will be $5.00 per session or $15.00 for the whole set. You can contact Bill Myers or Tracy Dorn to order them. You can email Tracy at teej1265@yahoo.com.
SUNDAY SERVICES IN WISCONSIN
Sunday morning Felito spoke at Grace Church in New Glarus, WI. I felt led to rename the town New GLORIOUS the last time we were there. Felito is leaving for California this afternoon, but Brenda and I will be there tonight and tomorrow, believing for more revival fire.
Anyway, Felito shared about the revival in Mozambique and people were really amazed and hungry for revival here in America. We ministered for well over an hour after the service and almost everyone came for prayer, either for health needs or because of spiritual hunger or both.
Sunday night we were in Madison at a beautiful motel conference room at a gathering of people from many churches. Again Felito shared his testimony of revival in Mozambique and we had a wonderful response at the altar. Many people were powerfully touched by God. Again, we'd love to read your testimonies of what God did in your lives if you were there.
Please pray as we seek to discover God's perfect will in our scheduling for the weeks and months ahead. We have calls that we would like to respond to, but need to hear from God.
We love you all and thank you for your support of all kinds. We need your prayers and your love. You are precious to Jesus and we want to love everyone like He does.
God bless you radically and remember to pray for Heidi!!
Ben and Brenda and family
http://www.ohmint.org/
Dear Friends,
First of all welcome to new subscribers. I added those who attended our Missions Prep 101 class and gave us their email addresses, so we could keep in touch about our future Missions Prep schedule. Anyone wanting to be removed from this mailing list can unsubscribe at the bottom of this letter.
NEWS ABOUT HEIDI BAKER
The news is mixed. The good news is that Heidi left the hospital and went home to Pemba on Saturday. She immediately said she wanted to preach on Sunday, even though she had a lot of weakness and pain on Saturday night. On Sunday she preached in the tent church with more fire and passion than folk had ever seen on her. She was challenging and commissioning everyone to fulfill their destiny in the harvest.
The sad news is that she is still not well and Rolland felt it necessary to take her back to Johannesburg right away to the hospital. Today all the bases in Mozambique are fasting for her. Please join us in doing some fasting again for Heidi this week. Thank you!
MISSIONS PREP 101 WEEKEND
We consider our first Missions Prep weekend a great success. Vineyard Christian Fellowship of DeKalb, IL, was an awesome host. They were so gracious, it was amazing. We had over 70 people sign the attendance sheets and there was a wonderful spirit of hunger and desire for Jesus and His heart for the nations.
Brenda shared (the way only she could share) a little about her experiences in Africa, by way of introducing Felito on Friday night. Fileto shared at Friday night and Saturday afternoon about God's call and what God was already doing in Moslim villages in Mozambique. His stories were truly amazing. We had wonderful times of praying for the sick and impartion of a revival anointing. Everyone was blessed. We are looking forward to hearing some testimonies of what God did during these sessions. We'd love to hear from everyone that God touched in these sessions.
Saturday morning I taught a few Portuguese words and phrases and preached on not sleeping through the harvest. We also enjoyed watching a clip from Mozambique that was seen on the 700 Club in June. We were very gratified by the response of all the people.
CDs of the School will be availabe this week. Those who missed part of the weekend need to listen to the sessions they missed to get credit for the course. They will be $5.00 per session or $15.00 for the whole set. You can contact Bill Myers or Tracy Dorn to order them. You can email Tracy at teej1265@yahoo.com.
SUNDAY SERVICES IN WISCONSIN
Sunday morning Felito spoke at Grace Church in New Glarus, WI. I felt led to rename the town New GLORIOUS the last time we were there. Felito is leaving for California this afternoon, but Brenda and I will be there tonight and tomorrow, believing for more revival fire.
Anyway, Felito shared about the revival in Mozambique and people were really amazed and hungry for revival here in America. We ministered for well over an hour after the service and almost everyone came for prayer, either for health needs or because of spiritual hunger or both.
Sunday night we were in Madison at a beautiful motel conference room at a gathering of people from many churches. Again Felito shared his testimony of revival in Mozambique and we had a wonderful response at the altar. Many people were powerfully touched by God. Again, we'd love to read your testimonies of what God did in your lives if you were there.
Please pray as we seek to discover God's perfect will in our scheduling for the weeks and months ahead. We have calls that we would like to respond to, but need to hear from God.
We love you all and thank you for your support of all kinds. We need your prayers and your love. You are precious to Jesus and we want to love everyone like He does.
God bless you radically and remember to pray for Heidi!!
Ben and Brenda and family
Sunday, October 16, 2005
News Letter October 14th, 2005
Dear Saints everywhere,
We are looking forward to seeing many of you from Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin tonight at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Facility on 4th Avenue in downtown DeKalb, IL, tonight. We are so excited to have Felito with us for three sessions this weekend as we start up our Missions Prep 101 course.
We got this letter from Heidi and Rolland last night. Enjoy!!
HEIDI'S LETTER
Again I want to thank you for your amazing response in prayer. I have never felt so lifted up and loved by the body of Christ. God turned the enemy's plan around for His good. A dear friend sent me a scripture, "Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake"
(Phil. 1:24). Those who know me well know I often long to depart and be with the Lord. I am so in love with Him. Several very powerful, life-changing trips to heaven in the Spirit have caused my heart to desire to stay there. However, I see the lost bride, and know that I shall remain and continue with you all, the beautiful Body of Christ, for your progress and joy in the faith (Phil. 1:25). I want to live and see multitudes of radical, laid-down, holy given lovers released on the earth to find and bring to Jesus His lost bride. I will live to see the Makua tribe in great numbers worshiping the Lamb upon the throne who is so worthy of adoration. I will live to see radical, supernatural healing on the earth. I will live to demonstrate my faith in my beloved Jesus. I will live to bring millions to my King Jesus!
I'm still in the hospital. I am full of faith. Many of my children called yesterday and cried on the phone. They said, "Mom, we love you!
You have to come home now!" When the doctor told me he believes I should not return to Mozambique because it is too dangerous for my health, I laughed and felt a very powerful, holy fight come upon me! I will go home to Pemba, Cabo Delgado soon, and hold all my beautiful children! I will return to this fabulous harvest!
You are precious to me and you are loved.
Resting in the arms of my Father, Heidi
For those in Southern Wisconsin, Felito will be speaking at Grace Church in New Glarus on Sunday morning and at the Quality Inn at 2969 Cahill Main in Madison on Sunday night at 6:30.
For those in other parts of the world that receive our newsletters, we pray that we will get to see more of you before too long. We feel we are in a transition time and that our ministry is being changed somewhat, but we don't know exactly what that is going to look like.
One more thing: My new book is about to be released in the next few days. Brenda and I are both very excited about this one. Even if you don't like the book, you will love the cover with the Lion and the Lamb. The book is titled, WITH ME. It's a new look at the 23rd Psalm. I had a very strong anointing when I wrote it. In some chapters I was able to visualize portions of the psalm like I have never done before. This book will help you understand your journey and the desire of Jesus for intimacy with you. It will also get you excited about your calling and destiny. It will sell for just $8.00 in our meetings and $10.00 on the website to include the shipping.
God bless you all!
Ben and Brenda
We are looking forward to seeing many of you from Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin tonight at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Facility on 4th Avenue in downtown DeKalb, IL, tonight. We are so excited to have Felito with us for three sessions this weekend as we start up our Missions Prep 101 course.
We got this letter from Heidi and Rolland last night. Enjoy!!
HEIDI'S LETTER
Again I want to thank you for your amazing response in prayer. I have never felt so lifted up and loved by the body of Christ. God turned the enemy's plan around for His good. A dear friend sent me a scripture, "Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake"
(Phil. 1:24). Those who know me well know I often long to depart and be with the Lord. I am so in love with Him. Several very powerful, life-changing trips to heaven in the Spirit have caused my heart to desire to stay there. However, I see the lost bride, and know that I shall remain and continue with you all, the beautiful Body of Christ, for your progress and joy in the faith (Phil. 1:25). I want to live and see multitudes of radical, laid-down, holy given lovers released on the earth to find and bring to Jesus His lost bride. I will live to see the Makua tribe in great numbers worshiping the Lamb upon the throne who is so worthy of adoration. I will live to see radical, supernatural healing on the earth. I will live to demonstrate my faith in my beloved Jesus. I will live to bring millions to my King Jesus!
I'm still in the hospital. I am full of faith. Many of my children called yesterday and cried on the phone. They said, "Mom, we love you!
You have to come home now!" When the doctor told me he believes I should not return to Mozambique because it is too dangerous for my health, I laughed and felt a very powerful, holy fight come upon me! I will go home to Pemba, Cabo Delgado soon, and hold all my beautiful children! I will return to this fabulous harvest!
You are precious to me and you are loved.
Resting in the arms of my Father, Heidi
For those in Southern Wisconsin, Felito will be speaking at Grace Church in New Glarus on Sunday morning and at the Quality Inn at 2969 Cahill Main in Madison on Sunday night at 6:30.
For those in other parts of the world that receive our newsletters, we pray that we will get to see more of you before too long. We feel we are in a transition time and that our ministry is being changed somewhat, but we don't know exactly what that is going to look like.
One more thing: My new book is about to be released in the next few days. Brenda and I are both very excited about this one. Even if you don't like the book, you will love the cover with the Lion and the Lamb. The book is titled, WITH ME. It's a new look at the 23rd Psalm. I had a very strong anointing when I wrote it. In some chapters I was able to visualize portions of the psalm like I have never done before. This book will help you understand your journey and the desire of Jesus for intimacy with you. It will also get you excited about your calling and destiny. It will sell for just $8.00 in our meetings and $10.00 on the website to include the shipping.
God bless you all!
Ben and Brenda
Newsletter October 13th, 2005
OPEN HEART MINISTRIES
htt://www.ohmint.org
Dear Friends,
Greetings to our friends everywhere. God recently blessed me with a word for a church, which came during the pre-service prayer time. The word was STEEPLECHASE. I had to think about that for a minute. A steeplechase is a race on horseback jumping over fences along the course.
Steeples represent churches and God is causing us to ride on His horses empowered by the Holy Spirit and He is enabling us to jump over any fences that have been put up around churches. I see people from every church also getting on His horses and joining the race to take the gospel to it's destination, which is every tribe and nation - every ethnic group on the face of the earth.
God is activating and stirring up the younger generation like never before and getting them ready for a powerful wave of world evangelism that will bring in the great harvest. He will powerfully provide for them and release a wave of miracle power in answer to our prayers for His Kingdom to come on earth as in Heaven. Many of us older generation saints will go with them, encourage them, bless them and finance them. We are living in such exciting times.
MISSIONS PREP 101 BEGINS FRIDAY, OCT. 14 AT 7 PM WITH FELITO FROM MOZAMBIQUE. LOCATION IS VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP IN DEKALB, IL. ADDRESS IS: 215 N. 4TH ST. DEKALB, IL.
This meeting is open to all. The second session is 9:30 am on Saturday and the third session is 1:30 pm on Saturday. Felito has seen many miracles in the USA in just the last two or three weeks. We will pray for the sick as well as teach and preach.
BILLETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT NEAR DEKALB IF YOUR JOURNEY IS TOO LONG.
God bless you all and may you rise up into your calling and destiny in Jesus!!!
Ben and Brenda Peters
htt://www.ohmint.org
Dear Friends,
Greetings to our friends everywhere. God recently blessed me with a word for a church, which came during the pre-service prayer time. The word was STEEPLECHASE. I had to think about that for a minute. A steeplechase is a race on horseback jumping over fences along the course.
Steeples represent churches and God is causing us to ride on His horses empowered by the Holy Spirit and He is enabling us to jump over any fences that have been put up around churches. I see people from every church also getting on His horses and joining the race to take the gospel to it's destination, which is every tribe and nation - every ethnic group on the face of the earth.
God is activating and stirring up the younger generation like never before and getting them ready for a powerful wave of world evangelism that will bring in the great harvest. He will powerfully provide for them and release a wave of miracle power in answer to our prayers for His Kingdom to come on earth as in Heaven. Many of us older generation saints will go with them, encourage them, bless them and finance them. We are living in such exciting times.
MISSIONS PREP 101 BEGINS FRIDAY, OCT. 14 AT 7 PM WITH FELITO FROM MOZAMBIQUE. LOCATION IS VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP IN DEKALB, IL. ADDRESS IS: 215 N. 4TH ST. DEKALB, IL.
This meeting is open to all. The second session is 9:30 am on Saturday and the third session is 1:30 pm on Saturday. Felito has seen many miracles in the USA in just the last two or three weeks. We will pray for the sick as well as teach and preach.
BILLETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT NEAR DEKALB IF YOUR JOURNEY IS TOO LONG.
God bless you all and may you rise up into your calling and destiny in Jesus!!!
Ben and Brenda Peters
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Missions Prep 101 Chicago Area Update
OPEN HEART MINISTRIES
www.ohmint.org
Dear Friends,
Sorry for so many letters, but better too many than too few!
WE HAVE OUR LOCATION FOR MISSIONS PREP 101 NEXT WEEKEND WITH FELITO!!! WE ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO HEAR THIS YOUNG AND POWERFUL, BUT HUMBLE, EVANGELIST.
Some may be excited and some disappointed, but we searched option after option and ran into many roadblocks. We wanted to be closer in to Chicago and the suburbs, but either the locations were not available, too small, too expensive or they required insurance, etc.
The location that just got confirmed is the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of DeKalb, IL. The location is: 215 N 4th St Dekalb, IL 60115. It is just off Highway 38 and very close to the East West Tollway - Hwy 88. We tried Wheaton, Crystal Lake and many other areas, but we will settle for this one. Sorry for those who have to drive an hour or more. That is normal for us, but not for most of our friends in the area. I am sure it will be well worth the extra drive.
The schedule will be: Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 pm, Saturday at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm.
TONIGHT WE START A WEEKEND CONFERENCE AT THE SALVATION ARMY IN CRYSTAL LAKE. See you at 7 pm. Saturday at 9:15 and 2 pm.
God bless you all!
Ben and Brenda
www.ohmint.org
Dear Friends,
Sorry for so many letters, but better too many than too few!
WE HAVE OUR LOCATION FOR MISSIONS PREP 101 NEXT WEEKEND WITH FELITO!!! WE ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO HEAR THIS YOUNG AND POWERFUL, BUT HUMBLE, EVANGELIST.
Some may be excited and some disappointed, but we searched option after option and ran into many roadblocks. We wanted to be closer in to Chicago and the suburbs, but either the locations were not available, too small, too expensive or they required insurance, etc.
The location that just got confirmed is the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of DeKalb, IL. The location is: 215 N 4th St Dekalb, IL 60115. It is just off Highway 38 and very close to the East West Tollway - Hwy 88. We tried Wheaton, Crystal Lake and many other areas, but we will settle for this one. Sorry for those who have to drive an hour or more. That is normal for us, but not for most of our friends in the area. I am sure it will be well worth the extra drive.
The schedule will be: Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 pm, Saturday at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm.
TONIGHT WE START A WEEKEND CONFERENCE AT THE SALVATION ARMY IN CRYSTAL LAKE. See you at 7 pm. Saturday at 9:15 and 2 pm.
God bless you all!
Ben and Brenda
News Letter October 7th, 2005
OPEN HEART MINISTRIES
www.ohmint.org
Greetings Saints,
HEIDI'S CONDITION
Thank you all for your prayers for Heidi. God is hearing our prayers. Our last information is that Heidi is responding to the last available super-antibiotic. Rolland was also planning on getting some Coloidal Silver to use with the antibiotic after many other people suggested it to them, including John Arnott from Toronto. It is important that they get rid of all the staph infection so it doesn't become resistant to the medication.
CONFERENCE IN CRYSTAL LAKE STARTS TONIGHT
Hosted by Tree of Life Ministries and held at the Crystal Lake Salvation Army, Brenda and I will be sharing at all three sessions including tonight at 7 pm, Saturday morning at 9:15 am and at 2 pm in the afternoon. We trust you will be blessed and encouraged with fresh manna from Heaven. If you can't make it, please pray. We want revival, not just more meetings. The fire is increasing almost every meeting. We see more miracles and more response in the people.
MISSIONS PREP 101 BEGINS NEXT FRIDAY
Everyone is welcome to come and hear Felito, Rolland and Heidi's director of outreach ministry in Mozambique. This will be a powerful weekend for anyone who can attend.
We are still finalizing our choice for a building. It will probably be in the northwest suburbs. Please keep praying and let us know if you plan on coming. We had a flurry of responses, but we haven't heard from many of you that we expect to come. Please let us know if you get this letter today. We already have a good idea of what we need, but your note of confirmation would help us.
God bless you all,
Ben and Brenda and family
www.ohmint.org
Greetings Saints,
HEIDI'S CONDITION
Thank you all for your prayers for Heidi. God is hearing our prayers. Our last information is that Heidi is responding to the last available super-antibiotic. Rolland was also planning on getting some Coloidal Silver to use with the antibiotic after many other people suggested it to them, including John Arnott from Toronto. It is important that they get rid of all the staph infection so it doesn't become resistant to the medication.
CONFERENCE IN CRYSTAL LAKE STARTS TONIGHT
Hosted by Tree of Life Ministries and held at the Crystal Lake Salvation Army, Brenda and I will be sharing at all three sessions including tonight at 7 pm, Saturday morning at 9:15 am and at 2 pm in the afternoon. We trust you will be blessed and encouraged with fresh manna from Heaven. If you can't make it, please pray. We want revival, not just more meetings. The fire is increasing almost every meeting. We see more miracles and more response in the people.
MISSIONS PREP 101 BEGINS NEXT FRIDAY
Everyone is welcome to come and hear Felito, Rolland and Heidi's director of outreach ministry in Mozambique. This will be a powerful weekend for anyone who can attend.
We are still finalizing our choice for a building. It will probably be in the northwest suburbs. Please keep praying and let us know if you plan on coming. We had a flurry of responses, but we haven't heard from many of you that we expect to come. Please let us know if you get this letter today. We already have a good idea of what we need, but your note of confirmation would help us.
God bless you all,
Ben and Brenda and family
News Letter October 5th, 2005
Dear Friends,
For all those interested in the Missions Prep 101 course next weekend, we need your help. We have been struggling to find the right place to meet. We have some options, but most have limited seating. Others have requirements we may have trouble meeting.
WHAT WE NEED:
IF YOU PLAN ON COMING FOR TRAINING AND TO HEAR FELITO FROM MOZAMBIQUE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY. IF WE HAVE MORE THAN 75 OR SO, WE WILL FIND A LARGER FACILITY. TIME IS VERY SHORT, SO PLEASE LET US KNOW IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. WE DON'T WANT TO TURN ANYONE AWAY.
We have options of northwest suburbs or West Chicago. Please let us know how many from your house or group would come. We will add it all up tomorrow and make our decision based on that.
We have decided to run just three sessions. October 14, Friday night at 7 pm, Saturday morning at 9:30 and afternoon at 1:30. We won't do the Saturday evening session. Instead we'll do more in the Spring.
DON'T FORGET THE CONFERENCE AT THE SALVATION ARMY THIS WEEKEND. WE START FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7 PM.
The meetings continue at 9:15 am on Saturday morning. There will be a break for lunch. There is an afternoon meeting starting around 2:00 depending on when the morning session ends.
The Salvation Army church is at 290 West Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, Illinois. If you are coming in on Rte. 31 you would turn west onto Crystal Lake Ave....proceed through town and it will be on the right side of the street right next to the First Methodist Church. You cannot miss it. There is a sign out front. If you come Randall. You would turn right at McHenry Ave. and proceed on McHenry Ave. to Crystal Lake Ave. and turn left onto Crystal Lake Ave. The church would be on the right as you are going west.
WE HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU THIS WEEKEND!!!
God bless you all!!!
Ben and Brenda and Family
For all those interested in the Missions Prep 101 course next weekend, we need your help. We have been struggling to find the right place to meet. We have some options, but most have limited seating. Others have requirements we may have trouble meeting.
WHAT WE NEED:
IF YOU PLAN ON COMING FOR TRAINING AND TO HEAR FELITO FROM MOZAMBIQUE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY. IF WE HAVE MORE THAN 75 OR SO, WE WILL FIND A LARGER FACILITY. TIME IS VERY SHORT, SO PLEASE LET US KNOW IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. WE DON'T WANT TO TURN ANYONE AWAY.
We have options of northwest suburbs or West Chicago. Please let us know how many from your house or group would come. We will add it all up tomorrow and make our decision based on that.
We have decided to run just three sessions. October 14, Friday night at 7 pm, Saturday morning at 9:30 and afternoon at 1:30. We won't do the Saturday evening session. Instead we'll do more in the Spring.
DON'T FORGET THE CONFERENCE AT THE SALVATION ARMY THIS WEEKEND. WE START FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7 PM.
The meetings continue at 9:15 am on Saturday morning. There will be a break for lunch. There is an afternoon meeting starting around 2:00 depending on when the morning session ends.
The Salvation Army church is at 290 West Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, Illinois. If you are coming in on Rte. 31 you would turn west onto Crystal Lake Ave....proceed through town and it will be on the right side of the street right next to the First Methodist Church. You cannot miss it. There is a sign out front. If you come Randall. You would turn right at McHenry Ave. and proceed on McHenry Ave. to Crystal Lake Ave. and turn left onto Crystal Lake Ave. The church would be on the right as you are going west.
WE HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU THIS WEEKEND!!!
God bless you all!!!
Ben and Brenda and Family
Saturday, October 01, 2005
News Letter September 28, 2005 - Arkansas Report
Greetings Saints,
We greet y'all from the wonderful state of Arkansas and its precious people. We have tried to give them quality spiritual food to match the incredible natural food they have given us. Pastor Angelo Florenciano has blessed us with every opportunity to minister and to be ministered to.
We have sensed a very strong anointing on the ministry of the Word and the prophetic ministry. Many have responded in tears and total affirmation of what Jesus gave us to say to them.
In addition, we have had an even stronger than usual anointing for healing in the house. The last two nights have seen several people declare that their pain or other symptoms had left during or after prayer. It was totally a team effort and body ministry, so Jesus gets all the glory.
Tonight (Wednesday), we have our last service and tomorrow morning we head home. On Sunday we will be in Morris, IL, in the morning and another town (sorry, I don't have the info with me) in the evening.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, we will do a home meeting in Lake in the Hills, IL, and next Friday night and Saturday (Oct. 7, 8) we will be speaking at a conference for Tree of Life Ministries, held at the Crystal Lake Salvation Army. For more information for this open event write Dale and Lois Koss at loisemk@sbcglobal.net.
On Monday, Oct. 10 we do another home group, this time in Huntley, IL.
Our Missions Prep 101 begins Friday, October 14, at 7 pm and continues Saturday morning at 9:30, Saturday afternoon at 1:30 and Saturday evening at 6:30. Our only problem is that we don't have the location nailed down yet. We may be renting space at Wheaton College. Please pray that God would give us a quick answer on this. Everyone is free to come. No registration is required.
Remember that Felito, our 22 year old Mozambiquen friend, will be with us the whole weekend and then in New Glarus, Wisconsin on the next Monday and Tuesday at Grace Church. We still have an opening for him on Sunday if any pastor wants to use him. Felito is an awesome young man of God who sees countless miracles as outreach director of Iris Ministries in Mozambique. He speaks great English and you will love his heart.
We are privileged to share a couple of special events that friends of ours are hosting in Crystal Lake. Please note them below:
Reaching for Heaven - An evening of Praise & Worship Join with worship leader Gary Sullivan and a band of musicians from area churches as they come together before the Lord of Lords in worship and adoration. It is a time to unite the body of Christ, from all different churches, to stand together and worship the Lord!
Friday night, September 30th at 7:30 p.m. - Christian Fellowship Church , 3419 Walkup Ave., Crystal Lake, Illinois. Exactly 2 miles north of Route 176 on the west side of the road. Childcare available up to 5 yrs. old. For additional information - sully@owc.net
Christian Fellowship of Crystal Lake is also hosting a "Hearing the Voice of God 101" course on Oct. 27-29. We received the following important update from them yesterday.
I wanted to let you know that Streams has offered to us an extension on selling vouchers for the Streams Ministry - ”Hearing the Voice of God 101”. We have until Oct 2nd that we can sell the voucher for $100. Currently on their web site which is where everyone would register, it is $125 and on the 28th of Sept, 30 days prior to the conference it goes to $145, and at the door is $175. This is their policy, and we have the opportunity to sell these vouchers for just this week. Please have them call me at 847-639-5133 or email tracyjohanson@comcast.net to get this. It includes 21 hours of teaching and a manual and the staff from Streams from New Hampshire will come and teach it. The date for the seminar is Oct 27th 7 pm to 9 pm the 28th and 29th Friday and Saturday is 9 am until 9 pm having 1 ½ hours off for lunch and then dinner. I hope that people will take advantage of this opportunity.
That's all from us for now. Please know that we love you all. And please pray for us and the direction that God has for us all in the days ahead.
Be blessed in Jesus' love,
Ben and Brenda and family
We greet y'all from the wonderful state of Arkansas and its precious people. We have tried to give them quality spiritual food to match the incredible natural food they have given us. Pastor Angelo Florenciano has blessed us with every opportunity to minister and to be ministered to.
We have sensed a very strong anointing on the ministry of the Word and the prophetic ministry. Many have responded in tears and total affirmation of what Jesus gave us to say to them.
In addition, we have had an even stronger than usual anointing for healing in the house. The last two nights have seen several people declare that their pain or other symptoms had left during or after prayer. It was totally a team effort and body ministry, so Jesus gets all the glory.
Tonight (Wednesday), we have our last service and tomorrow morning we head home. On Sunday we will be in Morris, IL, in the morning and another town (sorry, I don't have the info with me) in the evening.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, we will do a home meeting in Lake in the Hills, IL, and next Friday night and Saturday (Oct. 7, 8) we will be speaking at a conference for Tree of Life Ministries, held at the Crystal Lake Salvation Army. For more information for this open event write Dale and Lois Koss at loisemk@sbcglobal.net.
On Monday, Oct. 10 we do another home group, this time in Huntley, IL.
Our Missions Prep 101 begins Friday, October 14, at 7 pm and continues Saturday morning at 9:30, Saturday afternoon at 1:30 and Saturday evening at 6:30. Our only problem is that we don't have the location nailed down yet. We may be renting space at Wheaton College. Please pray that God would give us a quick answer on this. Everyone is free to come. No registration is required.
Remember that Felito, our 22 year old Mozambiquen friend, will be with us the whole weekend and then in New Glarus, Wisconsin on the next Monday and Tuesday at Grace Church. We still have an opening for him on Sunday if any pastor wants to use him. Felito is an awesome young man of God who sees countless miracles as outreach director of Iris Ministries in Mozambique. He speaks great English and you will love his heart.
We are privileged to share a couple of special events that friends of ours are hosting in Crystal Lake. Please note them below:
Reaching for Heaven - An evening of Praise & Worship Join with worship leader Gary Sullivan and a band of musicians from area churches as they come together before the Lord of Lords in worship and adoration. It is a time to unite the body of Christ, from all different churches, to stand together and worship the Lord!
Friday night, September 30th at 7:30 p.m. - Christian Fellowship Church , 3419 Walkup Ave., Crystal Lake, Illinois. Exactly 2 miles north of Route 176 on the west side of the road. Childcare available up to 5 yrs. old. For additional information - sully@owc.net
Christian Fellowship of Crystal Lake is also hosting a "Hearing the Voice of God 101" course on Oct. 27-29. We received the following important update from them yesterday.
I wanted to let you know that Streams has offered to us an extension on selling vouchers for the Streams Ministry - ”Hearing the Voice of God 101”. We have until Oct 2nd that we can sell the voucher for $100. Currently on their web site which is where everyone would register, it is $125 and on the 28th of Sept, 30 days prior to the conference it goes to $145, and at the door is $175. This is their policy, and we have the opportunity to sell these vouchers for just this week. Please have them call me at 847-639-5133 or email tracyjohanson@comcast.net to get this. It includes 21 hours of teaching and a manual and the staff from Streams from New Hampshire will come and teach it. The date for the seminar is Oct 27th 7 pm to 9 pm the 28th and 29th Friday and Saturday is 9 am until 9 pm having 1 ½ hours off for lunch and then dinner. I hope that people will take advantage of this opportunity.
That's all from us for now. Please know that we love you all. And please pray for us and the direction that God has for us all in the days ahead.
Be blessed in Jesus' love,
Ben and Brenda and family
Saturday, September 24, 2005
News Letter September 23, 2005
Greetings Saints,
Tomorrow morning Brenda and I head towards Hurricane Rita. Actually, we are only going as far as Northwestern Arkansas. We are looking forward to some powerful meetings in Paris, Arkansas, with Pastor Angelo Florenciano. It will be our second visit to his church.
We should get some rain from the storm, but we should be fine. We are watching the hurricane closing in on Louisiana, and have seen the fresh flooding of New Orleans today.
If you read my letter a couple of weeks ago, I shared a word the Lord gave me about New Orleans. He said, "The water broke." Just like the membrane that breaks in the womb and releases the "water" that cushions the baby, the levies that held the water in the lake broke and released the water into the city.
After the water breaks, hard labor usually begins. I truly believe we are now in hard labor to birth the revival that we have been pregnant with for some years. Many people, including us, find themselves in pressure situations like they themselves are pushing the baby through the birth canal. We have felt like it was getting close to the time of birthing, but now it is getting very clear to us that it is time to say, "Breathe, Push, Breathe, Push." Of course PUSH means Pray Until Something Happens.
Anyway, since there is now the second breaking forth of the waters into New Orleans, I believe there will be a twin blessing from God being birthed. I know the labor is not over and we don't know how long it will last, but it can't last forever and we will see the power of God released into the world. I believe we will see a two fold revival.
1. We will see a spiritual revival of power evangelism and intimacy with God. Many will be converted and missionary giving and going will greatly increase.
2. We will also see a revival in society being transformed. Righteousness will invade government, media, entertainment and education. Reformation of our nation will bring great changes in our society.
It will truly be awesome. Righteousness will have more power and influence than wickedness. May this baby come forth quickly!!! And for all of you who also feel that you are in hard labor, get excited! Something good will be birthed as a result.
God bless you all and please pray for us, as we pray for you also.
We love you and thank you for your faithfulness to Jesus!
Ben and Brenda and boys
Tomorrow morning Brenda and I head towards Hurricane Rita. Actually, we are only going as far as Northwestern Arkansas. We are looking forward to some powerful meetings in Paris, Arkansas, with Pastor Angelo Florenciano. It will be our second visit to his church.
We should get some rain from the storm, but we should be fine. We are watching the hurricane closing in on Louisiana, and have seen the fresh flooding of New Orleans today.
If you read my letter a couple of weeks ago, I shared a word the Lord gave me about New Orleans. He said, "The water broke." Just like the membrane that breaks in the womb and releases the "water" that cushions the baby, the levies that held the water in the lake broke and released the water into the city.
After the water breaks, hard labor usually begins. I truly believe we are now in hard labor to birth the revival that we have been pregnant with for some years. Many people, including us, find themselves in pressure situations like they themselves are pushing the baby through the birth canal. We have felt like it was getting close to the time of birthing, but now it is getting very clear to us that it is time to say, "Breathe, Push, Breathe, Push." Of course PUSH means Pray Until Something Happens.
Anyway, since there is now the second breaking forth of the waters into New Orleans, I believe there will be a twin blessing from God being birthed. I know the labor is not over and we don't know how long it will last, but it can't last forever and we will see the power of God released into the world. I believe we will see a two fold revival.
1. We will see a spiritual revival of power evangelism and intimacy with God. Many will be converted and missionary giving and going will greatly increase.
2. We will also see a revival in society being transformed. Righteousness will invade government, media, entertainment and education. Reformation of our nation will bring great changes in our society.
It will truly be awesome. Righteousness will have more power and influence than wickedness. May this baby come forth quickly!!! And for all of you who also feel that you are in hard labor, get excited! Something good will be birthed as a result.
God bless you all and please pray for us, as we pray for you also.
We love you and thank you for your faithfulness to Jesus!
Ben and Brenda and boys
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
News Letter September 20, 2005
Good Morning Saints,
It's early Tuesday morning, but I'm up and ready to communicate with you. God is so God and He is in control. We have been overwhelmed by His mercy and love and His miracle power.
MINISTRY IN MCHENRY, IL
Sunday was a day of destiny for many in McHenry. God came in His mercy and did some major inner healing and deliverance through the prophetic. There were many tears flowing as Jesus lifted off pain and memories of the past and gave His children a fresh awareness of His love and mercy and purpose for their lives. Again there was a fresh anointing to speak and teach. I spoke from a passage I've never used before. As usual it was during the worship time that I received revelation for the message.
ELGIN HOUSE OF PRAYER
We want to encourage Chicagoland folk to check out the various Houses of Prayer that are springing up in the area. They include Volo, Algonquin, South Barrington and Elgin. There are others that I am missing, but if you want more information, I can try to get it for you. Both of our boys and many of their friends are now quite involved in the House of Prayer ministry in Elgin and this past week we have been there several times ourselves. During these sessions, I have been deeply touched by God. It is so awesome having our own children bringing us into the presence of God in such a powerful way.
I want to share the Elgin schedule with you so some of you can experience what we have enjoyed recently.
Location: Side entrance to Templo Calvario - the 200 E. block of Chicago St in Elgin.
Schedule: 7-9 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
9 am - 1 pm on Tuesday Wednesday and Friday
It's an awesome time of live and passionate worship, mostly by young people, in which to soak and seek God.
Another event at the facility next door (270 E. Chicago St.), is a day of prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, Sunday, October 2 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. This will also be an Elgin House of Prayer ministry time.
SCHEDULING:
Please pray for clarity from God where we should be in the next few months. I did mess up and double booked two Ladies Retreats on the same weekend for Brenda in Canada. We're still trying to sort that out. There were so many changes in my Mozambique plans and the retreat plans that my little calendar was a mess. Now I won't be going to Mozambique in November, so things are more wide open and undecided. Possible destinations are Nevada, Alberta and Washington along with Illinois. Please pray we stay in God's perfect will.
Thanks for all your prayers. We have been experiencing some miracles that we have desired and needed. Please keep praying. God wants to do so much more for us all. He just wants to adjust our priorities so that He truly is our number 1 desire and passion.
We love you all!
Blessings,
Ben and Brenda
It's early Tuesday morning, but I'm up and ready to communicate with you. God is so God and He is in control. We have been overwhelmed by His mercy and love and His miracle power.
MINISTRY IN MCHENRY, IL
Sunday was a day of destiny for many in McHenry. God came in His mercy and did some major inner healing and deliverance through the prophetic. There were many tears flowing as Jesus lifted off pain and memories of the past and gave His children a fresh awareness of His love and mercy and purpose for their lives. Again there was a fresh anointing to speak and teach. I spoke from a passage I've never used before. As usual it was during the worship time that I received revelation for the message.
ELGIN HOUSE OF PRAYER
We want to encourage Chicagoland folk to check out the various Houses of Prayer that are springing up in the area. They include Volo, Algonquin, South Barrington and Elgin. There are others that I am missing, but if you want more information, I can try to get it for you. Both of our boys and many of their friends are now quite involved in the House of Prayer ministry in Elgin and this past week we have been there several times ourselves. During these sessions, I have been deeply touched by God. It is so awesome having our own children bringing us into the presence of God in such a powerful way.
I want to share the Elgin schedule with you so some of you can experience what we have enjoyed recently.
Location: Side entrance to Templo Calvario - the 200 E. block of Chicago St in Elgin.
Schedule: 7-9 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
9 am - 1 pm on Tuesday Wednesday and Friday
It's an awesome time of live and passionate worship, mostly by young people, in which to soak and seek God.
Another event at the facility next door (270 E. Chicago St.), is a day of prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, Sunday, October 2 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. This will also be an Elgin House of Prayer ministry time.
SCHEDULING:
Please pray for clarity from God where we should be in the next few months. I did mess up and double booked two Ladies Retreats on the same weekend for Brenda in Canada. We're still trying to sort that out. There were so many changes in my Mozambique plans and the retreat plans that my little calendar was a mess. Now I won't be going to Mozambique in November, so things are more wide open and undecided. Possible destinations are Nevada, Alberta and Washington along with Illinois. Please pray we stay in God's perfect will.
Thanks for all your prayers. We have been experiencing some miracles that we have desired and needed. Please keep praying. God wants to do so much more for us all. He just wants to adjust our priorities so that He truly is our number 1 desire and passion.
We love you all!
Blessings,
Ben and Brenda
Sunday, September 18, 2005
News Letter September 13, 2005
Dear Friends,
ANOTHER CHANGE IN PLANS FOR MISSIONS PREP 101
Through the events of this past weekend, being in the presence of God we discerned that we would probably not be going and taking a team to Mozambique this fall. As a result we agreed that it would be better to do the second weekend of our Missions Prep 101 course in the Spring.
The first weekend (October 14,15) would stay the same, as we will have Felito here from Mozambique. We just don't have the location nailed down yet. Stay tuned for more updates, and be ready to be flexible.
Anyone who wants to come from a distance, I think you will find it worth coming for and we can find homes to billet you if you like.
PERSONAL NOTE:
The past weekend has been one of the most spiritually and emotionally intense for us in a long time. There has been significant spiritual warfare going on and there have been tremendous victories as well.
Saturday night we gathered at the Praise Fellowship facility, now used by Wellspring Christian Church in Carol Stream, near Wheaton College. We had scores of youth and college kids and Shara was really in her realm. It was the most fun ministry for her in a long time and many kids were radically touched along with many of us older folk.
The next day we took time to visit a friend who has been through some devastating trials in the recent past. Shara ministered to her in what was for me one of the very most detailed and accurate prophetic words that brought such incredible healing and focus for the future. I would not have even hoped for such a wonderful, amazing flow of Jesus' love into her live.
Shara also ministered to us personally and along with the blessing and affirmation came some spiritual surgery that left me weak and broken. I knew it was coming, and I was crying out for it in my spirit. It was perfect, but it sure did leave me in the recovery room.
At the same time we had car problems and Tim and I got home about 4:30 am on Sunday morning, after a midnight finish on Saturday night. We had to leave the car at a gas station and pick it up the next day. With just a little sleep we got up and prepared for Sunday's activities. Today we had the car in for extensive repairs and it runs OK again.
Meanwhile, other attacks have come from the enemy and we request your prayers for wisdom and direction. Some of our friends were able to get together on Monday night with us and we shared a few things about the vision God is giving us. They also gave wonderful input and a desire to take prophetic evangelism to the streets and college campuses.
We are getting more and more connected to leaders in the Chicago area that want to see a move of God and unity among the Christians here. At the same time we are feeling the call again to visit other locations in the near future and carry some of the revival fire that God blessed us with in Africa to them as well.
UNDERSTANDING NEW ORLEANS AND GOD'S PLAN FOR REVIVAL
On Thursday, I was meditating on what we had seen on the news and what prophets have been saying about the meaning of the terrible events on the Gulf Coast. Thinking about the flooding in New Orleans, I heard the Lord say, "THE WATER BROKE".
I began to understand that what has been happening in the past decade or two has been like a pregnancy of revival. Seeds were sown for national revival with Promise Keepers and other movements. Then the Healing Rooms and Houses of Prayer began to spring up. Intense intercession and hysterical joy came on the scene simultaneously. The Call and The Cause and other gatherings have been keeping the baby growing in the womb.
Great transition has come to our world since 9-11 2001 and we in the west have been in a very uncomfortable position, like a very pregnant woman. A pregnancy must end with a birth, but before the birth comes the water must break and then the hard labor happens, and no one knows how long that will last.
New Orleans being flooded was the membrane being broken that held the water in. The levies couldn't hold the water back and it flowed out into the city.
Today, we are in some hard labor spiritually. Revival will most certainly burst forth. We see it in the youth everywhere like you wouldn't believe. Adults are also desperate for a move of God and forsaking religion and its traditions. But we must all learn to "BREATHE AND PUSH". Let the baby be birthed into this world.
We feel the intensity in our own lives. Perhaps you do also. Many have reported feeling the heaviness of intercession upon them. But let's not forget that the Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength. It's also time for extravegant joy and worship. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
PRAISE GATHERING IN CRYSTAL LAKE SEPTEMBER 30
Gary Sullivan asked us to pass on the announcement for those who want to gather with many other Christians for a night of praise and worship for everyone who loves Jesus. Location is Christian Fellowship Church at 3419 Walkup Road in Crystal Lake. If you want more information write him at lynn@owc.net.
May God bless and prosper you in His Kingdom work!
Ben and Brenda, Tim and Nathan
ANOTHER CHANGE IN PLANS FOR MISSIONS PREP 101
Through the events of this past weekend, being in the presence of God we discerned that we would probably not be going and taking a team to Mozambique this fall. As a result we agreed that it would be better to do the second weekend of our Missions Prep 101 course in the Spring.
The first weekend (October 14,15) would stay the same, as we will have Felito here from Mozambique. We just don't have the location nailed down yet. Stay tuned for more updates, and be ready to be flexible.
Anyone who wants to come from a distance, I think you will find it worth coming for and we can find homes to billet you if you like.
PERSONAL NOTE:
The past weekend has been one of the most spiritually and emotionally intense for us in a long time. There has been significant spiritual warfare going on and there have been tremendous victories as well.
Saturday night we gathered at the Praise Fellowship facility, now used by Wellspring Christian Church in Carol Stream, near Wheaton College. We had scores of youth and college kids and Shara was really in her realm. It was the most fun ministry for her in a long time and many kids were radically touched along with many of us older folk.
The next day we took time to visit a friend who has been through some devastating trials in the recent past. Shara ministered to her in what was for me one of the very most detailed and accurate prophetic words that brought such incredible healing and focus for the future. I would not have even hoped for such a wonderful, amazing flow of Jesus' love into her live.
Shara also ministered to us personally and along with the blessing and affirmation came some spiritual surgery that left me weak and broken. I knew it was coming, and I was crying out for it in my spirit. It was perfect, but it sure did leave me in the recovery room.
At the same time we had car problems and Tim and I got home about 4:30 am on Sunday morning, after a midnight finish on Saturday night. We had to leave the car at a gas station and pick it up the next day. With just a little sleep we got up and prepared for Sunday's activities. Today we had the car in for extensive repairs and it runs OK again.
Meanwhile, other attacks have come from the enemy and we request your prayers for wisdom and direction. Some of our friends were able to get together on Monday night with us and we shared a few things about the vision God is giving us. They also gave wonderful input and a desire to take prophetic evangelism to the streets and college campuses.
We are getting more and more connected to leaders in the Chicago area that want to see a move of God and unity among the Christians here. At the same time we are feeling the call again to visit other locations in the near future and carry some of the revival fire that God blessed us with in Africa to them as well.
UNDERSTANDING NEW ORLEANS AND GOD'S PLAN FOR REVIVAL
On Thursday, I was meditating on what we had seen on the news and what prophets have been saying about the meaning of the terrible events on the Gulf Coast. Thinking about the flooding in New Orleans, I heard the Lord say, "THE WATER BROKE".
I began to understand that what has been happening in the past decade or two has been like a pregnancy of revival. Seeds were sown for national revival with Promise Keepers and other movements. Then the Healing Rooms and Houses of Prayer began to spring up. Intense intercession and hysterical joy came on the scene simultaneously. The Call and The Cause and other gatherings have been keeping the baby growing in the womb.
Great transition has come to our world since 9-11 2001 and we in the west have been in a very uncomfortable position, like a very pregnant woman. A pregnancy must end with a birth, but before the birth comes the water must break and then the hard labor happens, and no one knows how long that will last.
New Orleans being flooded was the membrane being broken that held the water in. The levies couldn't hold the water back and it flowed out into the city.
Today, we are in some hard labor spiritually. Revival will most certainly burst forth. We see it in the youth everywhere like you wouldn't believe. Adults are also desperate for a move of God and forsaking religion and its traditions. But we must all learn to "BREATHE AND PUSH". Let the baby be birthed into this world.
We feel the intensity in our own lives. Perhaps you do also. Many have reported feeling the heaviness of intercession upon them. But let's not forget that the Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength. It's also time for extravegant joy and worship. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
PRAISE GATHERING IN CRYSTAL LAKE SEPTEMBER 30
Gary Sullivan asked us to pass on the announcement for those who want to gather with many other Christians for a night of praise and worship for everyone who loves Jesus. Location is Christian Fellowship Church at 3419 Walkup Road in Crystal Lake. If you want more information write him at lynn@owc.net.
May God bless and prosper you in His Kingdom work!
Ben and Brenda, Tim and Nathan
Monday, September 05, 2005
News Letter September 05, 2005
Hi Saints,
Tim and Nathan and I enjoyed a weekend with the folk from Christian Fellowship of Crystal Lake at Green Lake, Wisconsin. We had some very special times of fun, fellowship and ministry. Brenda is still in Washington State, visiting her parents, sisters, kids and grandkids. She returns Wednesday night. We all miss her and Andrea, who will be staying in Washington.
LABOR DAY THOUGHTS
May God's loving hand reach out and touch you wherever you are, and whatever your circumstances are in this world. You may be doing fine with health and wealth and peace and safety, but you still need God's touch to direct your life into the fulfillment of your destiny. You may on the other hand be suffering with tragic loss like the people on the Golf Coast of the USA. Either way, we need God's hand of power and love to intervene on our behalf.
Most of us are probably facing at least two or three significant challenges in our lives at any one time. Between family, finances, personal spiritual battles, church issues and troubled relationships, we face enough battles to keep us aware of our need of God.
Today on this Labor Day, we need to be reminded that without Him we LABOR IN VAIN to make things better, but on the other hand, our LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN in the Lord. God wants us to rest our soul in Him while we LABOR in His energy and power. When His power flows freely through us, it really isn't hard work. Without His power, however, it is extremely hard to do His work. So as Hebrews says, "WE LABOR TO ENTER INTO HIS REST".
WEEKEND WITH SHARA UPDATE (Chicago region)
We now have Thursday and Friday locations confirmed for our special time with Shara Pradhan, Heidi Baker's Personal Assistant, for this coming weekend.
FRIDAY NIGHT at 7 pm we'll be at Christian Fellowship Church at 3419 Walkup Rd in Crystal Lake.
SATURDAY NIGHT at 7 pm we'll be at Praise Fellowship Church in Carol Stream IL, at the corner of Bloomingdale and St. Charles Rd.
SUNDAY: Time and location yet to be announced.
Friday and Saturday meetings will combine information about our coming Missions Prep 101 course, with Shara's involvement in a new campus revival movement and whatever the Holy Spirit wants to do at those meetings. We will also have books and CD's available, including materials from Iris Ministries.
We thank you all for your prayers and encouragement of all kinds. We have been blessed with wonderful friends.
We love you,
Ben and Brenda and boys
Tim and Nathan and I enjoyed a weekend with the folk from Christian Fellowship of Crystal Lake at Green Lake, Wisconsin. We had some very special times of fun, fellowship and ministry. Brenda is still in Washington State, visiting her parents, sisters, kids and grandkids. She returns Wednesday night. We all miss her and Andrea, who will be staying in Washington.
LABOR DAY THOUGHTS
May God's loving hand reach out and touch you wherever you are, and whatever your circumstances are in this world. You may be doing fine with health and wealth and peace and safety, but you still need God's touch to direct your life into the fulfillment of your destiny. You may on the other hand be suffering with tragic loss like the people on the Golf Coast of the USA. Either way, we need God's hand of power and love to intervene on our behalf.
Most of us are probably facing at least two or three significant challenges in our lives at any one time. Between family, finances, personal spiritual battles, church issues and troubled relationships, we face enough battles to keep us aware of our need of God.
Today on this Labor Day, we need to be reminded that without Him we LABOR IN VAIN to make things better, but on the other hand, our LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN in the Lord. God wants us to rest our soul in Him while we LABOR in His energy and power. When His power flows freely through us, it really isn't hard work. Without His power, however, it is extremely hard to do His work. So as Hebrews says, "WE LABOR TO ENTER INTO HIS REST".
WEEKEND WITH SHARA UPDATE (Chicago region)
We now have Thursday and Friday locations confirmed for our special time with Shara Pradhan, Heidi Baker's Personal Assistant, for this coming weekend.
FRIDAY NIGHT at 7 pm we'll be at Christian Fellowship Church at 3419 Walkup Rd in Crystal Lake.
SATURDAY NIGHT at 7 pm we'll be at Praise Fellowship Church in Carol Stream IL, at the corner of Bloomingdale and St. Charles Rd.
SUNDAY: Time and location yet to be announced.
Friday and Saturday meetings will combine information about our coming Missions Prep 101 course, with Shara's involvement in a new campus revival movement and whatever the Holy Spirit wants to do at those meetings. We will also have books and CD's available, including materials from Iris Ministries.
We thank you all for your prayers and encouragement of all kinds. We have been blessed with wonderful friends.
We love you,
Ben and Brenda and boys
THE LOCAL CHURCH
THE LOCAL CHURCH
- an cxerpt from Ben's soon-to-be-released book - "WITH ME".
Shortly after the “in the same country” revelation, Brenda and I were in Mozambique with a team of about twenty North Americans. Again I had an experience where a statement went through my mind. It was early one morning and I was just partially awake. It was a statement that had never crossed my mind before, nor did it have a place in my theology.
Common sense would dictate that I shouldn’t repeat this statement in a book, especially in a chapter for pastors. I have no desire to offend pastors, since a significant part of our ministry and family income flows through pastors who invite us to speak in their churches. I may be somewhat lacking in wisdom or intelligence, but I am sharing this because of a passion to reach the lost throughout the whole world and build the Kingdom of God.
So please understand that having been in pastoral ministry for about thirty years, I am not trying to insult or offend pastors. I must also say that we are seeing a wonderful trend among pastors and churches to correct the problems we will discuss in the following paragraphs. But please read on and see if you can agree with me that God desires to bring some changes in the way we “do” church.
The statement that I heard was this: “The biggest hindrance to the spreading of the gospel is the local church.” What a shocker! It didn’t make any sense to me either. I know that “local churches” send and support thousands of missionaries and do street evangelism and soup kitchens, etc., etc.
So what was the Holy Spirit saying to me when He said the local church was the biggest hindrance to the spreading of the gospel? I believe God was shocking me and challenging me to analyze the statement until it made some sense.
I had to study the wording and definitions. First the Holy Spirit focused me on the word “local”. Then I had to think of the concept of “spreading the gospel”. I also realized that the enemy has never been able to stop the spreading of the gospel, even with persecution. But I realized that almost all Christians are at least somewhat submitted to the vision and philosophy of some “local” church.
Thus that local church has significant control of what individual Christians do with their gifts and callings in the Kingdom, as well as their finances. Therefore if the local church does not foster and promote missions and evangelism outside of it’s four walls, it can greatly reduce the amount of missions and evangelism that would occur if they did foster and promote those ministries.
The biggest help in understanding the statement came from studying the word “local” itself. When I finally got to a dictionary on the internet, this is what Webster had to say about the word “local”. I have highlighted several significant parts of the definition, which I copied directly from Webster’s Dictionary on the internet.
Main Entry: 1lo·cal Pronunciation: 'lO-k&lFunction: adjectiveEtymology: Middle English localle, from Middle French local, from Late Latin localis, from Latin locus place -- more at STALL1 : characterized by or relating to position in space : having a definite spatial form or location2 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place : not general or widespread b : of, relating to, or applicable to part of a whole3 a : primarily serving the needs of a particular limited district b of a public conveyance : making all the stops on a route4 : involving or affecting only a restricted part of the organism : TOPICAL5 : of or relating to telephone communication within a specified area
These definitions are quite interesting. Read them carefully, noticing the concept of “not widespread”, “limited” and “restricted”. I have often found Webster’s definitions to be a great source of understanding and inspiration. Daniel Webster was an amazing Christian and his definitions often reflect it. For instance look up the word “glory” for some great insights.
At any rate, I believe that the term “local church” is not the best term, but unfortunately the definitions of the word, “local” do describe our western churches to some extent. Keep in mind that I was there in Mozambique with Rolland and Heidi Baker, where we had just been on several outreaches to villages which were totally Muslim. Most of the people received the Lord. Many powerful miracles happened, accompanied by mass conversions. Churches were being planted frequently throughout the region. I was witnessing the biblical standard of “spreading the gospel.
In contrast, in the western church we often primarily serve the needs of “a particular limited district”. (See definition above) Our vision that motivates and drives us as pastors is so often the building of “our” church, not the universal body of Christ or His Kingdom. I speak as a former pastor, knowing my own experience and being acquainted with many others in pastoral ministry.
We tend to be too satisfied with “affecting only a restricted part of the organism” of the Kingdom of God. So much of our local church structure in our culture is geared to the strength and security of the people who are involved in the particular local church, basically the leadership and their followers. As leaders, we often want to bring them in and keep them in. We want to count “nickels and noses” to quote a speaker I recently heard. We focus on the sheepfold much more than the harvest field.
Part of the reason for this is that almost all church leaders are called, “pastors”, even if their gifting is one of the other ministries. We have senior pastors, associate pastors, youth pastors, children’s pastors, seniors pastors, singles pastors and a few other types of pastors. Those who fill these rolls feel the expectations of people to “pastor” their group.
Many of them actually need to be freed up to be apostles, prophets, evangelists and teachers. True pastors are very important and necessary, and the majority of them are incredibly hard workers and have great hearts for the flock, but they can’t do it all. And they can’t do a really great job of something God never called them to do.
Apostles will proclaim the “Kingdom” mandate to bring the Kingdom to the King and cast vision for accomplishing greater things for God. Prophets will stir up the spirit of the warriors and shake up those who are “at ease in Zion”. Evangelists will carry the gospel to the ends of the earth and the teachers will bring appropriate levels of revelation to the babes and also to those who are more mature.
The dominant “pastoral” control of the direction and focus of the church does not emphasize the Kingdom, it emphasizes the “local” church, its people and leadership. Finances are directed to the needs of the flock and the shepherds, while very little in comparison goes to outreach and harvest.
The gospel is spreading in Africa and especially in places like Mozambique, Uganda and Nigeria, because most of the focus is on the Kingdom and the task of going and getting the Bride of Jesus Christ, rather than managing and growing the local church. Thousands of new churches have sprung up, but every church leader is made to be so aware of the heart of Jesus for the lost. Those called “pastors” are also released to be evangelists who take in orphans and spread the gospel throughout their villages and surrounding communities. Many are more apostolic in gifting and plant numerous churches and help train leaders.
Rolland and Heidi Baker and other “trailblazers” are shaking up the western church whenever they minister in churches and conferences here. Western leaders are made to wonder what is going on when so much is being accomplished by so few who are using such unsophisticated methods and styles of ministry.
Our professionalism and pursuit of excellence (which is a good thing) is being overshadowed and outdone by those without education and sophistication, who function mostly on passion, simplicity and love for Jesus and the lost. I, myself, have been radically renewed in my mind, just observing them, and have now powerfully witnessed what I have preached about for so many years – the restoration of the book of Acts in our day.
The expression “local church” was of course never used in the Bible. There was the church of Ephesus, Corinth, etc., and the “church that is in your house”, but they didn’t use the limiting word “local”. The church of the city would work as one unit, interacting with the apostles and prophets and teachers who would come and go, but a portion of the church of the city could meet in a house and still be “the church”.
The word, “church” means “called out”. Unfortunately, too many times our main focus is on calling people “in”. We want them “in” our “local” church. And of course, they need to be part of a church and nourished into some level of maturity. But God is calling many young and old Christians “out” of the safe, the secure and the comfortable and into the more unpredictable, unsafe harvest fields of the world. It takes work, sacrifice and it requires taking a risk. Protection is needed for new born babies, but young men and women want adventure and challenge. Unfortunately, many weary and burned-out leaders are at the stage where they desire peace and security for themselves, more than they want to lead their people on risky adventures into uncharted territory.
But make no mistake about it – going after the harvest is the most thrilling and fulfilling thing we could ever do. Just ask any of the team members that journeyed with us to Mozambique, who saw the miracles and the hundreds of Muslim hands raised to accept Jesus at every single outreach. Ask a young lady named Liz. Ask her parents or her sister, Sarah. Ask the older missionaries who didn’t formerly believe in the supernatural power of God. Ask the almost two hundred “Holy Given” mission students on the field, who flocked to Mozambique to learn from Rolland and Heidi Baker, their associate, Lesley-Anne Leighton, and numerous other outstanding contemporary Christian trailblazers.
So how do we apply this? As leaders we need to search our hearts and motives. How passionate are we about the harvest? Are we and others encouraged and activated to do the work of an evangelist? Are we “Kingdom” leaders or just “local” church builders?
When we build the “local” church, and achieve some level of “success” in doing so, there is a lot of personal blessing that comes to us as pastors in the area of prestige, financial security and influence. That can be a reward for faithful and difficult work, but it can also be a subtle and wrong motive for that success. When we simply focus on building the Kingdom however, we often have to lay those things down. We may have to “lose” our life before we “find” it.
We found the above to be true when we made commitments to overseas trips without the finances. We almost came home to financial disaster, but God had put faith in our hearts to believe for miracles and He came through for us, and we didn’t have to tell anyone our needs.
Recently I visited a church where I was not speaking, and I heard numerous complimentary references to the local church and the denomination. But there was no mention of supporting other churches or denominations or working in harmony for the harvest and the Kingdom. In the same community, a local church had a sign which read, “We don’t put on a show, we preach the Bible.” This was clearly a dig against a newer church in the community which was growing rapidly, and clearly revealed a spirit of competition.
And I find that is all too typical. We want to be right and we want to be successful. It produces the “local church” and “our denomination” or “our movement” mentality that pervades the western church. We want to build what will make us look and feel successful. It is such a subtle and pervasive drive within us. Again, I speak from experience, not to judge or criticize, but to motivate you as I have been motivated by others.
It would be helpful to change much of our terminology that boxes us into the old mold and compares us to other churches and movements, as if we are in competition with them. The expression “our church” may be a dead giveaway of our concepts. We may be running the risk of having taken ownership of what belongs only to God.
Perhaps the term “mobile church” would convey a better concept. We want to be known as people who are the church wherever the church is needed. When we think of “church”, we should not be thinking of a building or anything that boxes us in. We should be thinking of God’s people out in the community, serving Him in every part of society and coming together frequently to exchange “war stories” and encourage one another.
Jesus told us to go into the world and make disciples, and said, “I will build MY church.” Let’s go out of the box and into the harvest. Let’s make disciples of Jesus and not of ourselves. Let’s help Him build His church and be His stewards of His church but not the owners. Let’s fulfill our apostolic call if we have received one and not be held back by a label that doesn’t really fit us.
Let’s rethink our financial budget and focus more on “out there” and less on “in here”. Let’s empower the younger people who possess the zeal and energy and send them to places where God is moving, without fear that we will lose control of them or that they will join another church or movement. Fear of loss is a terrible chain around many leaders’ necks. That chain is a very useful tool for our enemy to keep people from fulfilling their destiny. I don’t want to criticize the church, but I have seen it too often.
The best way to restructure our churches is to ensure that apostles and prophets and evangelists are released into leadership, along with the pastors and teachers, and given freedom to function in their giftings. They should be chosen not based on their personal proclamations of who they are, but based on humble service to the body through their respective giftings. Apostles and prophets, being foundation stones in the house of God will see the bigger picture and, along with the evangelists, they will care more about Kingdom issues than internal ministry.
Confidentially, pastors, we are discovering very quickly that there is a whole generation of young people, as well as folk of all ages, that are really tired of “church” as we have traditionally know it. They love Jesus, but want to be led into something more challenging than sermons on how to fix their problems. They want to be equipped to impact and change the world. God put that desire in them. If we say, “They’ll mature eventually and become less idealistic and more realistic and find their place in the local church” we will have really missed our opportunity to mobilize God’s army to win the world for Christ.
Of course they won’t be mature at the beginning. And they will have character defects. But we don’t have to give them titles or positions. They don’t need to be deacons or elders. We just have to empower them to serve Jesus. God gave me a word of wisdom in Mozambique that goes like this: “The youth of today will be matured and refined in the fires of revival.” Preaching guilt and condemnation won’t mature them, but letting them partake of true revival will. I experienced it in my own life, and I have seen it in many others, including those who went with us on our recent trip to Mozambique.
I mentioned above the concept of “spreading” the gospel. The thought came to me that we spread peanut butter on our bread, after we extract a clump of it from the jar and place it on the slice of bread. We don’t leave it in a lump in the middle. We spread it to every part of the bread. In the west, we often have the gospel in lumps we call churches, but God wants to spread it over the whole city or region or nation.
I don’t have all the answers. I don’t even know all the questions. But I’m sure we can do better than we are doing now if we get low enough in the presence of Jesus and ask Him what we can change to bring our ministry into conformity with His vision for it.
God never rejects a humble heart, but He has promised to resist the proud. Humility needs to be worked at. Pride doesn’t. It comes naturally, even to us in ministry leadership. It has infected us all and keeps coming up like last summer’s weeds that you’ve already pulled over and over again. I have been in pastoral ministry for almost thirty years and I know the battles that I and my fellow-pastors in our communities had to deal with all the time.
Before concluding this chapter, I want to report the exciting news that changes are happening in the western church that are extremely encouraging. Just in the past few years and especially the last month or so, I have heard of numerous cases of churches doing things that were unheard of in previous decades. Many apostolic “pastors” have led their churches to give large amounts of money to help other churches in their cities. In addition, they have given more of their personal time and resources for missions projects and evangelism, often working sacrificially to help other ministries in their cities to flourish.
Some of the leading examples of a “Kingdom mindset” included Colorado Springs pastor, Ted Haggard, author of “Primary Purpose” and now president of the American Association of Evangelicals. Other wonderful examples include Bill Johnson of Redding California and Che Ahn of Pasadena, California.
But many others in smaller ministries are also leading by example. Right here in Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, where we are presently ministering, a young fiery pastor/evangelist, named Vance Murphy, leads a fairly small church that joins forces with another ministry in Kentucky, establishing “Father’s House” homes for abandoned children in many nations. In nine months, since we met in Mozambique, he has gone to India, the Ukraine, Brazil and Guatemala, helping abandoned children in these needy nations. In addition, they serve the poor in their city in various outreaches. They are such an example of Kingdom passion and a church that is not just “local”, a church that embraces the apostolic, prophetic and evangelistic ministries along with the pastors and teachers.
I know that it seems like finances are not available for such adventures for most church leaders. Even though I loved missions, having journeyed to other nations four times, when we started a new church in a small town, I never left North America for eighteen years. We had a very tight budget and although much of our ministry was reaching out to the lost, we had very little immediate impact on the Kingdom of God at large.
The good news is that today, there is a major shift in Kingdom financing. And I believe that every church leader who catches the vision and feels the passion for the great Kingdom harvest, which is now in full swing, will see miraculous provision to finance those who want to be a part of the harvest. God is moving in powerful ways among the youth, as we so clearly witness in meetings from city to city. The older generation is becoming more challenged to help finance the younger generation and there is a tremendous increase in short term mission trips by both younger and older Christians.
God is also raising up many “Market Place Apostles”, who are being used to generate large amounts of money to support world wide evangelism. Exciting new technologies and business opportunities are being released from Heaven at this writing to empower the harvesters. God knows how ripe the harvest is and He is not willing to let it be lost for lack of finances.
Let’s get excited, renew our minds, shift our priorities and participate in the world wide harvest. Let’s spread the gospel, make the whole world our parish and let Jesus build His church.
May those with spiritual ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Amen!
- an cxerpt from Ben's soon-to-be-released book - "WITH ME".
Shortly after the “in the same country” revelation, Brenda and I were in Mozambique with a team of about twenty North Americans. Again I had an experience where a statement went through my mind. It was early one morning and I was just partially awake. It was a statement that had never crossed my mind before, nor did it have a place in my theology.
Common sense would dictate that I shouldn’t repeat this statement in a book, especially in a chapter for pastors. I have no desire to offend pastors, since a significant part of our ministry and family income flows through pastors who invite us to speak in their churches. I may be somewhat lacking in wisdom or intelligence, but I am sharing this because of a passion to reach the lost throughout the whole world and build the Kingdom of God.
So please understand that having been in pastoral ministry for about thirty years, I am not trying to insult or offend pastors. I must also say that we are seeing a wonderful trend among pastors and churches to correct the problems we will discuss in the following paragraphs. But please read on and see if you can agree with me that God desires to bring some changes in the way we “do” church.
The statement that I heard was this: “The biggest hindrance to the spreading of the gospel is the local church.” What a shocker! It didn’t make any sense to me either. I know that “local churches” send and support thousands of missionaries and do street evangelism and soup kitchens, etc., etc.
So what was the Holy Spirit saying to me when He said the local church was the biggest hindrance to the spreading of the gospel? I believe God was shocking me and challenging me to analyze the statement until it made some sense.
I had to study the wording and definitions. First the Holy Spirit focused me on the word “local”. Then I had to think of the concept of “spreading the gospel”. I also realized that the enemy has never been able to stop the spreading of the gospel, even with persecution. But I realized that almost all Christians are at least somewhat submitted to the vision and philosophy of some “local” church.
Thus that local church has significant control of what individual Christians do with their gifts and callings in the Kingdom, as well as their finances. Therefore if the local church does not foster and promote missions and evangelism outside of it’s four walls, it can greatly reduce the amount of missions and evangelism that would occur if they did foster and promote those ministries.
The biggest help in understanding the statement came from studying the word “local” itself. When I finally got to a dictionary on the internet, this is what Webster had to say about the word “local”. I have highlighted several significant parts of the definition, which I copied directly from Webster’s Dictionary on the internet.
Main Entry: 1lo·cal Pronunciation: 'lO-k&lFunction: adjectiveEtymology: Middle English localle, from Middle French local, from Late Latin localis, from Latin locus place -- more at STALL1 : characterized by or relating to position in space : having a definite spatial form or location2 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place : not general or widespread b : of, relating to, or applicable to part of a whole3 a : primarily serving the needs of a particular limited district b of a public conveyance : making all the stops on a route4 : involving or affecting only a restricted part of the organism : TOPICAL5 : of or relating to telephone communication within a specified area
These definitions are quite interesting. Read them carefully, noticing the concept of “not widespread”, “limited” and “restricted”. I have often found Webster’s definitions to be a great source of understanding and inspiration. Daniel Webster was an amazing Christian and his definitions often reflect it. For instance look up the word “glory” for some great insights.
At any rate, I believe that the term “local church” is not the best term, but unfortunately the definitions of the word, “local” do describe our western churches to some extent. Keep in mind that I was there in Mozambique with Rolland and Heidi Baker, where we had just been on several outreaches to villages which were totally Muslim. Most of the people received the Lord. Many powerful miracles happened, accompanied by mass conversions. Churches were being planted frequently throughout the region. I was witnessing the biblical standard of “spreading the gospel.
In contrast, in the western church we often primarily serve the needs of “a particular limited district”. (See definition above) Our vision that motivates and drives us as pastors is so often the building of “our” church, not the universal body of Christ or His Kingdom. I speak as a former pastor, knowing my own experience and being acquainted with many others in pastoral ministry.
We tend to be too satisfied with “affecting only a restricted part of the organism” of the Kingdom of God. So much of our local church structure in our culture is geared to the strength and security of the people who are involved in the particular local church, basically the leadership and their followers. As leaders, we often want to bring them in and keep them in. We want to count “nickels and noses” to quote a speaker I recently heard. We focus on the sheepfold much more than the harvest field.
Part of the reason for this is that almost all church leaders are called, “pastors”, even if their gifting is one of the other ministries. We have senior pastors, associate pastors, youth pastors, children’s pastors, seniors pastors, singles pastors and a few other types of pastors. Those who fill these rolls feel the expectations of people to “pastor” their group.
Many of them actually need to be freed up to be apostles, prophets, evangelists and teachers. True pastors are very important and necessary, and the majority of them are incredibly hard workers and have great hearts for the flock, but they can’t do it all. And they can’t do a really great job of something God never called them to do.
Apostles will proclaim the “Kingdom” mandate to bring the Kingdom to the King and cast vision for accomplishing greater things for God. Prophets will stir up the spirit of the warriors and shake up those who are “at ease in Zion”. Evangelists will carry the gospel to the ends of the earth and the teachers will bring appropriate levels of revelation to the babes and also to those who are more mature.
The dominant “pastoral” control of the direction and focus of the church does not emphasize the Kingdom, it emphasizes the “local” church, its people and leadership. Finances are directed to the needs of the flock and the shepherds, while very little in comparison goes to outreach and harvest.
The gospel is spreading in Africa and especially in places like Mozambique, Uganda and Nigeria, because most of the focus is on the Kingdom and the task of going and getting the Bride of Jesus Christ, rather than managing and growing the local church. Thousands of new churches have sprung up, but every church leader is made to be so aware of the heart of Jesus for the lost. Those called “pastors” are also released to be evangelists who take in orphans and spread the gospel throughout their villages and surrounding communities. Many are more apostolic in gifting and plant numerous churches and help train leaders.
Rolland and Heidi Baker and other “trailblazers” are shaking up the western church whenever they minister in churches and conferences here. Western leaders are made to wonder what is going on when so much is being accomplished by so few who are using such unsophisticated methods and styles of ministry.
Our professionalism and pursuit of excellence (which is a good thing) is being overshadowed and outdone by those without education and sophistication, who function mostly on passion, simplicity and love for Jesus and the lost. I, myself, have been radically renewed in my mind, just observing them, and have now powerfully witnessed what I have preached about for so many years – the restoration of the book of Acts in our day.
The expression “local church” was of course never used in the Bible. There was the church of Ephesus, Corinth, etc., and the “church that is in your house”, but they didn’t use the limiting word “local”. The church of the city would work as one unit, interacting with the apostles and prophets and teachers who would come and go, but a portion of the church of the city could meet in a house and still be “the church”.
The word, “church” means “called out”. Unfortunately, too many times our main focus is on calling people “in”. We want them “in” our “local” church. And of course, they need to be part of a church and nourished into some level of maturity. But God is calling many young and old Christians “out” of the safe, the secure and the comfortable and into the more unpredictable, unsafe harvest fields of the world. It takes work, sacrifice and it requires taking a risk. Protection is needed for new born babies, but young men and women want adventure and challenge. Unfortunately, many weary and burned-out leaders are at the stage where they desire peace and security for themselves, more than they want to lead their people on risky adventures into uncharted territory.
But make no mistake about it – going after the harvest is the most thrilling and fulfilling thing we could ever do. Just ask any of the team members that journeyed with us to Mozambique, who saw the miracles and the hundreds of Muslim hands raised to accept Jesus at every single outreach. Ask a young lady named Liz. Ask her parents or her sister, Sarah. Ask the older missionaries who didn’t formerly believe in the supernatural power of God. Ask the almost two hundred “Holy Given” mission students on the field, who flocked to Mozambique to learn from Rolland and Heidi Baker, their associate, Lesley-Anne Leighton, and numerous other outstanding contemporary Christian trailblazers.
So how do we apply this? As leaders we need to search our hearts and motives. How passionate are we about the harvest? Are we and others encouraged and activated to do the work of an evangelist? Are we “Kingdom” leaders or just “local” church builders?
When we build the “local” church, and achieve some level of “success” in doing so, there is a lot of personal blessing that comes to us as pastors in the area of prestige, financial security and influence. That can be a reward for faithful and difficult work, but it can also be a subtle and wrong motive for that success. When we simply focus on building the Kingdom however, we often have to lay those things down. We may have to “lose” our life before we “find” it.
We found the above to be true when we made commitments to overseas trips without the finances. We almost came home to financial disaster, but God had put faith in our hearts to believe for miracles and He came through for us, and we didn’t have to tell anyone our needs.
Recently I visited a church where I was not speaking, and I heard numerous complimentary references to the local church and the denomination. But there was no mention of supporting other churches or denominations or working in harmony for the harvest and the Kingdom. In the same community, a local church had a sign which read, “We don’t put on a show, we preach the Bible.” This was clearly a dig against a newer church in the community which was growing rapidly, and clearly revealed a spirit of competition.
And I find that is all too typical. We want to be right and we want to be successful. It produces the “local church” and “our denomination” or “our movement” mentality that pervades the western church. We want to build what will make us look and feel successful. It is such a subtle and pervasive drive within us. Again, I speak from experience, not to judge or criticize, but to motivate you as I have been motivated by others.
It would be helpful to change much of our terminology that boxes us into the old mold and compares us to other churches and movements, as if we are in competition with them. The expression “our church” may be a dead giveaway of our concepts. We may be running the risk of having taken ownership of what belongs only to God.
Perhaps the term “mobile church” would convey a better concept. We want to be known as people who are the church wherever the church is needed. When we think of “church”, we should not be thinking of a building or anything that boxes us in. We should be thinking of God’s people out in the community, serving Him in every part of society and coming together frequently to exchange “war stories” and encourage one another.
Jesus told us to go into the world and make disciples, and said, “I will build MY church.” Let’s go out of the box and into the harvest. Let’s make disciples of Jesus and not of ourselves. Let’s help Him build His church and be His stewards of His church but not the owners. Let’s fulfill our apostolic call if we have received one and not be held back by a label that doesn’t really fit us.
Let’s rethink our financial budget and focus more on “out there” and less on “in here”. Let’s empower the younger people who possess the zeal and energy and send them to places where God is moving, without fear that we will lose control of them or that they will join another church or movement. Fear of loss is a terrible chain around many leaders’ necks. That chain is a very useful tool for our enemy to keep people from fulfilling their destiny. I don’t want to criticize the church, but I have seen it too often.
The best way to restructure our churches is to ensure that apostles and prophets and evangelists are released into leadership, along with the pastors and teachers, and given freedom to function in their giftings. They should be chosen not based on their personal proclamations of who they are, but based on humble service to the body through their respective giftings. Apostles and prophets, being foundation stones in the house of God will see the bigger picture and, along with the evangelists, they will care more about Kingdom issues than internal ministry.
Confidentially, pastors, we are discovering very quickly that there is a whole generation of young people, as well as folk of all ages, that are really tired of “church” as we have traditionally know it. They love Jesus, but want to be led into something more challenging than sermons on how to fix their problems. They want to be equipped to impact and change the world. God put that desire in them. If we say, “They’ll mature eventually and become less idealistic and more realistic and find their place in the local church” we will have really missed our opportunity to mobilize God’s army to win the world for Christ.
Of course they won’t be mature at the beginning. And they will have character defects. But we don’t have to give them titles or positions. They don’t need to be deacons or elders. We just have to empower them to serve Jesus. God gave me a word of wisdom in Mozambique that goes like this: “The youth of today will be matured and refined in the fires of revival.” Preaching guilt and condemnation won’t mature them, but letting them partake of true revival will. I experienced it in my own life, and I have seen it in many others, including those who went with us on our recent trip to Mozambique.
I mentioned above the concept of “spreading” the gospel. The thought came to me that we spread peanut butter on our bread, after we extract a clump of it from the jar and place it on the slice of bread. We don’t leave it in a lump in the middle. We spread it to every part of the bread. In the west, we often have the gospel in lumps we call churches, but God wants to spread it over the whole city or region or nation.
I don’t have all the answers. I don’t even know all the questions. But I’m sure we can do better than we are doing now if we get low enough in the presence of Jesus and ask Him what we can change to bring our ministry into conformity with His vision for it.
God never rejects a humble heart, but He has promised to resist the proud. Humility needs to be worked at. Pride doesn’t. It comes naturally, even to us in ministry leadership. It has infected us all and keeps coming up like last summer’s weeds that you’ve already pulled over and over again. I have been in pastoral ministry for almost thirty years and I know the battles that I and my fellow-pastors in our communities had to deal with all the time.
Before concluding this chapter, I want to report the exciting news that changes are happening in the western church that are extremely encouraging. Just in the past few years and especially the last month or so, I have heard of numerous cases of churches doing things that were unheard of in previous decades. Many apostolic “pastors” have led their churches to give large amounts of money to help other churches in their cities. In addition, they have given more of their personal time and resources for missions projects and evangelism, often working sacrificially to help other ministries in their cities to flourish.
Some of the leading examples of a “Kingdom mindset” included Colorado Springs pastor, Ted Haggard, author of “Primary Purpose” and now president of the American Association of Evangelicals. Other wonderful examples include Bill Johnson of Redding California and Che Ahn of Pasadena, California.
But many others in smaller ministries are also leading by example. Right here in Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, where we are presently ministering, a young fiery pastor/evangelist, named Vance Murphy, leads a fairly small church that joins forces with another ministry in Kentucky, establishing “Father’s House” homes for abandoned children in many nations. In nine months, since we met in Mozambique, he has gone to India, the Ukraine, Brazil and Guatemala, helping abandoned children in these needy nations. In addition, they serve the poor in their city in various outreaches. They are such an example of Kingdom passion and a church that is not just “local”, a church that embraces the apostolic, prophetic and evangelistic ministries along with the pastors and teachers.
I know that it seems like finances are not available for such adventures for most church leaders. Even though I loved missions, having journeyed to other nations four times, when we started a new church in a small town, I never left North America for eighteen years. We had a very tight budget and although much of our ministry was reaching out to the lost, we had very little immediate impact on the Kingdom of God at large.
The good news is that today, there is a major shift in Kingdom financing. And I believe that every church leader who catches the vision and feels the passion for the great Kingdom harvest, which is now in full swing, will see miraculous provision to finance those who want to be a part of the harvest. God is moving in powerful ways among the youth, as we so clearly witness in meetings from city to city. The older generation is becoming more challenged to help finance the younger generation and there is a tremendous increase in short term mission trips by both younger and older Christians.
God is also raising up many “Market Place Apostles”, who are being used to generate large amounts of money to support world wide evangelism. Exciting new technologies and business opportunities are being released from Heaven at this writing to empower the harvesters. God knows how ripe the harvest is and He is not willing to let it be lost for lack of finances.
Let’s get excited, renew our minds, shift our priorities and participate in the world wide harvest. Let’s spread the gospel, make the whole world our parish and let Jesus build His church.
May those with spiritual ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Amen!
Greetings Saints,
We join many ministries in calling on Christians to pray for God's intervention in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Several prophetic leaders had spoken of waters washing the south, floods and warnings of disaster. They included Cindy Jacobs, Chuck Pierce (exactly one year before Katrina and Kim Clement (a few months ago).
The opportunities for the church are great to touch lives and minister in supernatural love and authority. People are in desperate need of hope and encouragement. It's time for God's prophetic people to go and tell people God will come and help them (Is. 35:3,4), and then be God's hand extended.
Recent Meetings
No time for details, but God moved powerfully in Douglasville, Georgia and Henderson, Kentucky. There is great hunger there. We had people from eight different churches in a theatre facility and we had at least one miraculous healing from a life-threatening blood disease. Many lives were turned around for Jesus. It was truly wonderful.
We arrived home just in time for Brenda to drive with Andrea back to Washington State. They are somewhere in Montana right now. Brenda will be visiting her parents and sisters as well as Ken and Barbie and the grandkids, etc. She will fly back on Wednesday of next week.
Important Announcements regarding Shara's visit and coming events - Please read if you live near Chicago
1. Elgin FGBM Meeting:
Shara, Heidi Baker's very prophetic Personal Assistant, will be arriving in Chicago on Thursday, Sept 8. She may be with us at the Elgin FGBM meeting that night. This will be held in Dundee at the Milk Pail Restaurant, 14N630 Route 25 Dundee,Il. The meeting will be held in the Terrace Room from 7-10 pm.
2. Missions Prep 101: Kickoff and informational meeting in crystal lake at christian fellowship on Friday, September 9, at 7 PM.
Shara will be sharing what is happening in Africa and why it would be a blessing to prepare to come to Mozambique and other mission fields. This meeting is for everyone interested in the Missions Prep Course and anyone who just wants to hang out with us and our team. It will be a very special night.
3. Shara will be ministering somewhere near Wheaton College on Saturday, September 10th at 7 pm. Location is yet to be announced. Stay tuned.
The focus at Wheaton will be partly the campus revival movement and partly the Missions Prep course presented by our Chicago Sending Center.
4. Schedule for the actual Missions Prep 101 Course
We have chosen the weekends, but not the locations as yet. The wonderful news is that Felito, Iris Ministries' Director of Outreaches will be with us for the first weekend. We will conduct the course on two back to back weekends beginning on Friday, October 14. Fridays will be at 7 pm - 9:30. Saturdays will run 9:30 - 12 noon, 1:30 - 4 pm, 6:30 - 9 pm.
5. Requirements for the course
We will require watching MAMA HEIDI video or DVD, and reading the following:
You can get all of these and other helpful works from us or anywhere else you can find them, but we will have the best price.
Please pray for us. We face many challenges and always need to hear God's voice and we need His hand of power to help us.
We love you all!!!
Ben and Brenda Peters
We join many ministries in calling on Christians to pray for God's intervention in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Several prophetic leaders had spoken of waters washing the south, floods and warnings of disaster. They included Cindy Jacobs, Chuck Pierce (exactly one year before Katrina and Kim Clement (a few months ago).
The opportunities for the church are great to touch lives and minister in supernatural love and authority. People are in desperate need of hope and encouragement. It's time for God's prophetic people to go and tell people God will come and help them (Is. 35:3,4), and then be God's hand extended.
Recent Meetings
No time for details, but God moved powerfully in Douglasville, Georgia and Henderson, Kentucky. There is great hunger there. We had people from eight different churches in a theatre facility and we had at least one miraculous healing from a life-threatening blood disease. Many lives were turned around for Jesus. It was truly wonderful.
We arrived home just in time for Brenda to drive with Andrea back to Washington State. They are somewhere in Montana right now. Brenda will be visiting her parents and sisters as well as Ken and Barbie and the grandkids, etc. She will fly back on Wednesday of next week.
Important Announcements regarding Shara's visit and coming events - Please read if you live near Chicago
1. Elgin FGBM Meeting:
Shara, Heidi Baker's very prophetic Personal Assistant, will be arriving in Chicago on Thursday, Sept 8. She may be with us at the Elgin FGBM meeting that night. This will be held in Dundee at the Milk Pail Restaurant, 14N630 Route 25 Dundee,Il. The meeting will be held in the Terrace Room from 7-10 pm.
2. Missions Prep 101: Kickoff and informational meeting in crystal lake at christian fellowship on Friday, September 9, at 7 PM.
Shara will be sharing what is happening in Africa and why it would be a blessing to prepare to come to Mozambique and other mission fields. This meeting is for everyone interested in the Missions Prep Course and anyone who just wants to hang out with us and our team. It will be a very special night.
3. Shara will be ministering somewhere near Wheaton College on Saturday, September 10th at 7 pm. Location is yet to be announced. Stay tuned.
The focus at Wheaton will be partly the campus revival movement and partly the Missions Prep course presented by our Chicago Sending Center.
4. Schedule for the actual Missions Prep 101 Course
We have chosen the weekends, but not the locations as yet. The wonderful news is that Felito, Iris Ministries' Director of Outreaches will be with us for the first weekend. We will conduct the course on two back to back weekends beginning on Friday, October 14. Fridays will be at 7 pm - 9:30. Saturdays will run 9:30 - 12 noon, 1:30 - 4 pm, 6:30 - 9 pm.
5. Requirements for the course
We will require watching MAMA HEIDI video or DVD, and reading the following:
- THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH,
- VISIONS BEYOND THE VEIL
- CATCHING UP TO THE THIRD WORLD
- GOD'S FAVORITE NUMBER
You can get all of these and other helpful works from us or anywhere else you can find them, but we will have the best price.
Please pray for us. We face many challenges and always need to hear God's voice and we need His hand of power to help us.
We love you all!!!
Ben and Brenda Peters
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Hi again,
I just had to update you with some new info. I just talked to Shara in Mozambique and she does not have malaria. She actually has pneumonia, which is probably what Brenda had when she came home.
The other piece of good news for us Illinois folk is that Shara and several friends will be with us in Chicago, probably in early September. They could be with us here for the kickoff of our first Chicago Sending Center class, Missions Prep 101, as we may call it.
For friends in Canada, the Southwest USA, the Northeast USA, the South and the Northwest and everywhere else in the world, we would like to visit you all as soon as possible, so we ask you to pray that God directs our paths according to His will.
Our vision is to first establish a model Sending Center in Chicagoland and then plant other Sending Centers in other places like Calgary, Las Vegas, New York State, Four Corners, etc. Sending Centers would work well teamed up with International Houses of Prayer and Healing Rooms. Our goal is to send as many qualified workers to the harvest fields of Iris Ministries, under Heidi and Rolland Baker. We know that is what God wants us doing right now. We will work with pastors and churches that have the vision to send workers where the harvest is incredibly ripe.
The classes and open doors for mission work are for both younger and older folk. They are for both those who have dedicated their lives to "the ministry" and to business people and students, etc., who are also just as called to "the ministry".
Keep us in your prayers as we seek the Lord for wisdom and direction in these important days of history.
Blessings in Jesus' love,
Ben and Brenda
I just had to update you with some new info. I just talked to Shara in Mozambique and she does not have malaria. She actually has pneumonia, which is probably what Brenda had when she came home.
The other piece of good news for us Illinois folk is that Shara and several friends will be with us in Chicago, probably in early September. They could be with us here for the kickoff of our first Chicago Sending Center class, Missions Prep 101, as we may call it.
For friends in Canada, the Southwest USA, the Northeast USA, the South and the Northwest and everywhere else in the world, we would like to visit you all as soon as possible, so we ask you to pray that God directs our paths according to His will.
Our vision is to first establish a model Sending Center in Chicagoland and then plant other Sending Centers in other places like Calgary, Las Vegas, New York State, Four Corners, etc. Sending Centers would work well teamed up with International Houses of Prayer and Healing Rooms. Our goal is to send as many qualified workers to the harvest fields of Iris Ministries, under Heidi and Rolland Baker. We know that is what God wants us doing right now. We will work with pastors and churches that have the vision to send workers where the harvest is incredibly ripe.
The classes and open doors for mission work are for both younger and older folk. They are for both those who have dedicated their lives to "the ministry" and to business people and students, etc., who are also just as called to "the ministry".
Keep us in your prayers as we seek the Lord for wisdom and direction in these important days of history.
Blessings in Jesus' love,
Ben and Brenda
Greetings Friends,
The drug accusation situation in Mozambique is improving. I will copy a letter I got from Teisa, the gal they threatened to put in jail.
Unfortunately Shara, Heidi's personal assistant apparently has malaria and is in bed, with many things to get done before they come to the USA. Please pray earnestly for her.
Also please pray for our scheduling the rest of the summer and fall. We do have some scheduling conflicts to work out and they are all important events.
Tonight we will be ministering to many young adults along with others in a very full house in Lake Zurich. Please pray for a strong anointing and wisdom for how to minister best to everyone.
We love you all and thank you so much for your love and prayers. God has been answering your prayers. And to those who have felt led to help us with finances, including a couple of anonymous donors, you have no idea what a timely blessing your gift has been.
Ben and Brenda
Here's the letter from Teisa:
Dearest Pastor Ben and Brenda,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! His word has carried me! I am so grateful for your love and support--Jesus spoils me thru awesome lover-warriors like you!
Did you get this update? Just in case....
Dearest Friends and Prayer Warriors,
Greetings from a most blessed Pemba, Mozambique!
Thank you so much for praying for me/Iris Ministries during this intense
time! We are so encouraged by your love, prayers, and partnership in the Kingdom. We are so grateful for the glorious intercession going forth from the Body of Christ around the world. Thank you for your emails and scriptures-what an awesome sources of confirmation and strength. Although the drug allegations are not completely resolved, we know God is turning everything around for His glory. We wanted to testify about the greatness of Jesus and update everyone on the current situation (so you can keep praying!!!!)
Personally, I had total peace until I called the US Embassy last Monday.
The officials told me some horrific stories of foreigners dealing with the
Mozambican justice system..especially Christian foreigners in a Muslim
province. Two different officials encouraged me to leave the country. When I got off the phone, I began to cry out to God with all my "whys and what if" questions. The Holy Spirit brought me to 1 Peter 4:12-15. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trail you are suffering as though something strange was happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." Wow.ya know..this situation (threats, slander, imprisonment) should not be a surprise. This is all part of a normal Christian life! This is why I am in Mozambique-- normal stuff like this.
We continued to make daily trips to the police station. By the grace of
God, our staff was never officially arrested or detained in prison.
Mid-week we experienced an amazing breakthrough in the Spirit. After hours of dark, ominous clouds hovering over Pemba, it suddenly began to rain! Everyone was shocked by the downpour because it never rains in July (winter in Moz). Soon we knew why.our wonderful Father in heaven sent us the most unbelievable double rainbow!!! Most people know the ministry is named after the Portuguese translation of rainbow Arco Iris. Indeed, Jesus wrote His promise to us in the sky (Gen. 9:13). Our children and staff excitedly danced about in the puddles rejoicing in God's covenant. People ran to get their cameras and capture the moment. His magnificent colors filled the sky and His overwhelming love filled our hearts. Nothing is impossible with our
God! Our Jesus is amazing!!!
We are still under "mild suspicion" for drugs. We believe this is due to
the inadequate testing within the Maputo laboratories. When initially
tested, the vitamins failed the test due to a "stimulant." Therefore, the
assumption was made that the stimulant was cocaine or heroin. The vitamins are currently being retested. Please keep praying with us for proof needed to drop the charges completely. Currently the vitamins are in police custody in Maputo.
Please continue to pray:
1. Reversal and complete vindication from all charges and threats from the police.
2. Release of all our vitamins.
3. Abundant blessings over Iris Ministries and Heidi & Rolland Baker.
4. More normal Jesus stuff in my life.
5. Full salvation and transformation of Pemba/Cabo Delgado through the
saving power of Jesus.
God continues to speak "Shalom" over us. Because we have His peace, we press on! Every day we are seeing signs and wonders among the previously unreached Makua and Macondie tribe. Hundreds of people are getting saved weekly. On Sunday, we baptized many new believers (ex-Muslims) in the Indian Ocean. This week, we welcomed twenty new children into our big family. Praise Jesus, lots of normal Kingdom stuff.
Friends, thank you again for standing with us in prayer. Please keep
praying! May God arise and His enemies be scattered.
I love you!!!!
Teisa
The drug accusation situation in Mozambique is improving. I will copy a letter I got from Teisa, the gal they threatened to put in jail.
Unfortunately Shara, Heidi's personal assistant apparently has malaria and is in bed, with many things to get done before they come to the USA. Please pray earnestly for her.
Also please pray for our scheduling the rest of the summer and fall. We do have some scheduling conflicts to work out and they are all important events.
Tonight we will be ministering to many young adults along with others in a very full house in Lake Zurich. Please pray for a strong anointing and wisdom for how to minister best to everyone.
We love you all and thank you so much for your love and prayers. God has been answering your prayers. And to those who have felt led to help us with finances, including a couple of anonymous donors, you have no idea what a timely blessing your gift has been.
Ben and Brenda
Here's the letter from Teisa:
Dearest Pastor Ben and Brenda,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! His word has carried me! I am so grateful for your love and support--Jesus spoils me thru awesome lover-warriors like you!
Did you get this update? Just in case....
Dearest Friends and Prayer Warriors,
Greetings from a most blessed Pemba, Mozambique!
Thank you so much for praying for me/Iris Ministries during this intense
time! We are so encouraged by your love, prayers, and partnership in the Kingdom. We are so grateful for the glorious intercession going forth from the Body of Christ around the world. Thank you for your emails and scriptures-what an awesome sources of confirmation and strength. Although the drug allegations are not completely resolved, we know God is turning everything around for His glory. We wanted to testify about the greatness of Jesus and update everyone on the current situation (so you can keep praying!!!!)
Personally, I had total peace until I called the US Embassy last Monday.
The officials told me some horrific stories of foreigners dealing with the
Mozambican justice system..especially Christian foreigners in a Muslim
province. Two different officials encouraged me to leave the country. When I got off the phone, I began to cry out to God with all my "whys and what if" questions. The Holy Spirit brought me to 1 Peter 4:12-15. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trail you are suffering as though something strange was happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." Wow.ya know..this situation (threats, slander, imprisonment) should not be a surprise. This is all part of a normal Christian life! This is why I am in Mozambique-- normal stuff like this.
We continued to make daily trips to the police station. By the grace of
God, our staff was never officially arrested or detained in prison.
Mid-week we experienced an amazing breakthrough in the Spirit. After hours of dark, ominous clouds hovering over Pemba, it suddenly began to rain! Everyone was shocked by the downpour because it never rains in July (winter in Moz). Soon we knew why.our wonderful Father in heaven sent us the most unbelievable double rainbow!!! Most people know the ministry is named after the Portuguese translation of rainbow Arco Iris. Indeed, Jesus wrote His promise to us in the sky (Gen. 9:13). Our children and staff excitedly danced about in the puddles rejoicing in God's covenant. People ran to get their cameras and capture the moment. His magnificent colors filled the sky and His overwhelming love filled our hearts. Nothing is impossible with our
God! Our Jesus is amazing!!!
We are still under "mild suspicion" for drugs. We believe this is due to
the inadequate testing within the Maputo laboratories. When initially
tested, the vitamins failed the test due to a "stimulant." Therefore, the
assumption was made that the stimulant was cocaine or heroin. The vitamins are currently being retested. Please keep praying with us for proof needed to drop the charges completely. Currently the vitamins are in police custody in Maputo.
Please continue to pray:
1. Reversal and complete vindication from all charges and threats from the police.
2. Release of all our vitamins.
3. Abundant blessings over Iris Ministries and Heidi & Rolland Baker.
4. More normal Jesus stuff in my life.
5. Full salvation and transformation of Pemba/Cabo Delgado through the
saving power of Jesus.
God continues to speak "Shalom" over us. Because we have His peace, we press on! Every day we are seeing signs and wonders among the previously unreached Makua and Macondie tribe. Hundreds of people are getting saved weekly. On Sunday, we baptized many new believers (ex-Muslims) in the Indian Ocean. This week, we welcomed twenty new children into our big family. Praise Jesus, lots of normal Kingdom stuff.
Friends, thank you again for standing with us in prayer. Please keep
praying! May God arise and His enemies be scattered.
I love you!!!!
Teisa
Monday, August 01, 2005
Liz's Testimony I didn't want to go to Africa. It...
Liz's Testimony
I didn’t want to go to Africa. It took me about five days of swaying back and forth between going and not going, until I finally made the decision. However, my heart was not in the right place. For the past couple years I had been wrestling with God. I have grown up going to church and my beliefs were pretty much just handed to me. I struggled to find out what I truly believed in my heart, and not what I believed just because others had told me to. Although I said I was searching to find out what I believed, in my heart I had pretty much become complacent. I just sort of accepted the world and my life the way it was and although I was not happy, did not make much of an effort to change that. I lived my life the way I wanted, made decisions that I shouldn’t have, and for the most part turned my back on God. Little did I know the plan that God would have for me in Africa.
In the beginning of the trip, I wrote in my journal, "God, I want to walk away from this trip changed. I am sick of being complacent. I want to experience you and your love. I want to experience the you that heals the sick and the you that others have seen. Can you do that God? I want passion and fire inside of me." Well, I can truly say that God answered my prayer.
The first night we were in Mozambique, God right away got my attention. It was like he was saying, "Ok, we have no time to waste, let’s get moving". While sitting at dinner with our team, Brenda turned to me and started to prophecy. I had never heard anybody do this before, much less not to me. It was amazing, and I knew the words she was speaking came directly from God. Alright God, you have my attention!
A few days into the trip, our team was invited to the meeting for all the leaders of Iris ministries. Ben and Brenda were going to prophecy over each of them and offer encouragement, and the rest of us were there to pray and encourage with them. All of the leaders were asked to stand up and Ben and Brenda went around to each person individually to prophecy and encourage. The second or third women they were speaking to started to shake with the Holy Spirit as soon as Brenda started speaking. She started to weep and the shaking increased, until it looked to me like she was getting electrocuted she was shaking so much. I was watching her, and all of a sudden I heard a sparking noise and I saw a flame shoot out of her chest like she had just caught on fire. Immediately after I saw this, the women fell to the floor, still weeping and shaking. I looked around me to see if anyone was as shocked and amazed as I was at what my eyes just saw. No one seemed to look as if they had just seen what I saw. I thought to myself, Ok, either what I saw is totally normal and people just aren’t phased by it, or I saw something that others didn’t see. After the meeting ended, I asked several people if they had seen the flame. Nobody I asked had seen anything. Ok God, what’s that all about?!? I still don’t understand exactly why God allowed me to see that, but I know that through seeing that, my faith was increased and I knew that God was real. But God didn’t stop there.
The next night our team was sent on an outreach to a village nearby. After arriving to the village and dancing with the people there, the Jesus film was shown. People were saved and came to Jesus, which was very powerful to see of course. After people were saved, people who needed healing were asked to come up and our team was sent out to pray for them. At first I was hesitant to join in, because I had never been a part of something like this before. However, I wanted so badly to see healings and miracles, so I walked up to where my sister and Kimberly, a woman on our team, were standing. They were praying for a man who was deaf, and after a short prayer, we saw this man get healed. I saw this happen, and I didn’t really no what to do. Of course I was excited, but I just didn’t know where to put this event into my brain. How do you process and store something you have never seen and maybe didn’t even really believe could happen? After the man was healed, Kimberly shared with me that her and my sister had been talking about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. She proceeded to inform me about what this was, because I didn’t have a clue, and then we all prayed together to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was a short prayer and I didn’t really feel changed. After that, another man came up to us who was also deaf. We all prayed for him, and he was healed by God. Wow. A third man came up, he was deaf, we prayed, he was healed. I see a pattern here. A fourth man came up, he was deaf, we prayed, he was healed. We prayed and saw four deaf men in one village be healed that night!!! Oh and along with the four deaf men, we saw a baby who was paralyzed on one side of her body be healed. It was incredible!
After all of the healings, Kimberly said she felt God leading her to take my sister and I away from the crowds and talk to us more about getting baptized by the Holy Spirit. We all stood in a circle and held hands and Kimberly began to pray. She began to pray in tongues, and I started to shake. I had seen this happen to other people throughout the week, but not me. At first I it was just my arms that shook and then my legs began to tremble. Had Kimberly and Sarah not been holding my hands, I would have fallen to the ground because my legs were shaking so much. My sister began to speak in tongues and then later I began to also. I started softly and then my voice grew louder. My heart was crying out to God, and I began weeping, but without tears. I have no idea what I was saying to God, but I know my soul was being transformed by Him. I don’t know how long all of this went on for, but after it was over, I felt different. I knew that from this point on, my life would be different. I could no longer claim that I didn’t know if God was real, because I saw and experienced Him in an amazing and powerful way. I had this fire and passion that burned inside of me after this experience. I knew the Holy Spirit was living inside of me.
The fire and passion has continued to grow since we have been home from the trip. I have had joy and peace like never before. I have had a passion to tell my friends and others about my experience and about what God has done. God is using these conversations that I have had with people for His glory and to bring people closer to Him. I am just the vessel by which He does this. I know that Satan can no longer have the power that he had before over my life, although I know he is going to try. God has changed my heart. All I had to do was fly across the globe to Africa to let Him do it. Haha God.
I didn’t want to go to Africa. It took me about five days of swaying back and forth between going and not going, until I finally made the decision. However, my heart was not in the right place. For the past couple years I had been wrestling with God. I have grown up going to church and my beliefs were pretty much just handed to me. I struggled to find out what I truly believed in my heart, and not what I believed just because others had told me to. Although I said I was searching to find out what I believed, in my heart I had pretty much become complacent. I just sort of accepted the world and my life the way it was and although I was not happy, did not make much of an effort to change that. I lived my life the way I wanted, made decisions that I shouldn’t have, and for the most part turned my back on God. Little did I know the plan that God would have for me in Africa.
In the beginning of the trip, I wrote in my journal, "God, I want to walk away from this trip changed. I am sick of being complacent. I want to experience you and your love. I want to experience the you that heals the sick and the you that others have seen. Can you do that God? I want passion and fire inside of me." Well, I can truly say that God answered my prayer.
The first night we were in Mozambique, God right away got my attention. It was like he was saying, "Ok, we have no time to waste, let’s get moving". While sitting at dinner with our team, Brenda turned to me and started to prophecy. I had never heard anybody do this before, much less not to me. It was amazing, and I knew the words she was speaking came directly from God. Alright God, you have my attention!
A few days into the trip, our team was invited to the meeting for all the leaders of Iris ministries. Ben and Brenda were going to prophecy over each of them and offer encouragement, and the rest of us were there to pray and encourage with them. All of the leaders were asked to stand up and Ben and Brenda went around to each person individually to prophecy and encourage. The second or third women they were speaking to started to shake with the Holy Spirit as soon as Brenda started speaking. She started to weep and the shaking increased, until it looked to me like she was getting electrocuted she was shaking so much. I was watching her, and all of a sudden I heard a sparking noise and I saw a flame shoot out of her chest like she had just caught on fire. Immediately after I saw this, the women fell to the floor, still weeping and shaking. I looked around me to see if anyone was as shocked and amazed as I was at what my eyes just saw. No one seemed to look as if they had just seen what I saw. I thought to myself, Ok, either what I saw is totally normal and people just aren’t phased by it, or I saw something that others didn’t see. After the meeting ended, I asked several people if they had seen the flame. Nobody I asked had seen anything. Ok God, what’s that all about?!? I still don’t understand exactly why God allowed me to see that, but I know that through seeing that, my faith was increased and I knew that God was real. But God didn’t stop there.
The next night our team was sent on an outreach to a village nearby. After arriving to the village and dancing with the people there, the Jesus film was shown. People were saved and came to Jesus, which was very powerful to see of course. After people were saved, people who needed healing were asked to come up and our team was sent out to pray for them. At first I was hesitant to join in, because I had never been a part of something like this before. However, I wanted so badly to see healings and miracles, so I walked up to where my sister and Kimberly, a woman on our team, were standing. They were praying for a man who was deaf, and after a short prayer, we saw this man get healed. I saw this happen, and I didn’t really no what to do. Of course I was excited, but I just didn’t know where to put this event into my brain. How do you process and store something you have never seen and maybe didn’t even really believe could happen? After the man was healed, Kimberly shared with me that her and my sister had been talking about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. She proceeded to inform me about what this was, because I didn’t have a clue, and then we all prayed together to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was a short prayer and I didn’t really feel changed. After that, another man came up to us who was also deaf. We all prayed for him, and he was healed by God. Wow. A third man came up, he was deaf, we prayed, he was healed. I see a pattern here. A fourth man came up, he was deaf, we prayed, he was healed. We prayed and saw four deaf men in one village be healed that night!!! Oh and along with the four deaf men, we saw a baby who was paralyzed on one side of her body be healed. It was incredible!
After all of the healings, Kimberly said she felt God leading her to take my sister and I away from the crowds and talk to us more about getting baptized by the Holy Spirit. We all stood in a circle and held hands and Kimberly began to pray. She began to pray in tongues, and I started to shake. I had seen this happen to other people throughout the week, but not me. At first I it was just my arms that shook and then my legs began to tremble. Had Kimberly and Sarah not been holding my hands, I would have fallen to the ground because my legs were shaking so much. My sister began to speak in tongues and then later I began to also. I started softly and then my voice grew louder. My heart was crying out to God, and I began weeping, but without tears. I have no idea what I was saying to God, but I know my soul was being transformed by Him. I don’t know how long all of this went on for, but after it was over, I felt different. I knew that from this point on, my life would be different. I could no longer claim that I didn’t know if God was real, because I saw and experienced Him in an amazing and powerful way. I had this fire and passion that burned inside of me after this experience. I knew the Holy Spirit was living inside of me.
The fire and passion has continued to grow since we have been home from the trip. I have had joy and peace like never before. I have had a passion to tell my friends and others about my experience and about what God has done. God is using these conversations that I have had with people for His glory and to bring people closer to Him. I am just the vessel by which He does this. I know that Satan can no longer have the power that he had before over my life, although I know he is going to try. God has changed my heart. All I had to do was fly across the globe to Africa to let Him do it. Haha God.
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