March 2013

Hello Friends and family,

Last month was wonderful! It was fast-paced, but with much fruit that will remain for years to come. We had the privilege to be in several places throughout America, and are so thankful that God has entrusted us with this ministry to the Body of Christ. It is our joy and heart’s desire to serve in igniting, equipping, and reviving  local churches.

We had a great time in Fort Wayne, Indiana at First Assembly of God with my good friend, Pastor Ron Hawkins. It was a great opportunity for citywide impact because the church runs around 2,000 people. We went there to ignite them in evangelism and will return to do an outreach weekend later this month. While there, we had a bona fide revival strike. Upon giving the altar call for salvation and repentance, roughly 400 people responded between the two services. People were being saved with deep Godly sorrow and brokenness. It was amazing!  As we laid hands on them during the time of ministry, they also had an encounter with God that they had never experienced before. Many were healed, as well. Some who had suffered arthritis for years and even decades were instantly healed. One lady who hasn’t had cartilage in her knees for ten years was instantly delivered from pain. Praise be to Jesus who heals, saves, and delivers!

During our time in North Dakota we ministered several times. Our first stop was a statewide men’s conference for the Assemblies of God in that district. On Friday night, hundreds of men responded to the altar call to get their lives clean and deal with the giants of the enemy in their lives. The next day I ministered on prayer and being hungry for God; the Spirit broke out in power. Men completely filled the altar while I was still preaching. The power of God gripped the whole place as men were spontaneously coming to the altar and laying on their faces. During the time of ministry, men were hit by the power all over the building. I was suppose to minister twice on Saturday but the first service was so intense that it took up the time for the second one as well.  God moved on the men’s hearts with brokenness and power. It was amazing!

We then traveled north to Minot, N.D. to minister the following Sunday at First Assembly of God with my new friend, Pastor John Brady. We had a fantastic time of ministry.  Somewhere around 100 people responded to get right with God during both of the Sunday morning services.

During the ministry time, God’s touch was impacting the congregation. I am looking forward to going back to train and mobilize the church to reach their city! Pastor John believes that this is North Dakota’s time, as well as the Mid West, and asked me to consider investing a solid amount of time in this region. Due to the oil boom, towns are doubling and the region is growing. This also tells us that there is a definite harvest field that’s white and ripe.  We will definitely be partnering in this region in the days ahead.

Another initiative where we are currently stepping out is in serving churches as their evangelist coach. This gives us the opportunity to serve even deeper in the context of local churches. For now, I will be working with around four churches in this capacity. We will help develop every ministry (men’s, women’s, youth, children’s, small groups, ect.) inside these churches to become more evangelistic. Through this process, it is my prayer that God will give us even more insight and fine-tune our model to help churches excel in their efforts to reach their communities.

As always, thank you so much for all of your prayer and support. Words cannot express the blessing that each and every one of you are to this ministry. You are very dear to our hearts and lives. Together we are making an impact for eternity!

Together in the harvest,

Joe Oden

** Trisha had the honor of hosting Dr. Alveda King one afternoon this month prior to a roundtable of African American Leaders held by Bishop Harry Jackson and Cindy Jacobs.  Trisha enjoyed their time together sharing each others testimonies of their salvation experience & all that God has done since!