January 2009 Newsletter
Vision Update
Happy New Year Everyone!
Here we go again. 2008 is in the past and 2009 is here. I am believing for a great harvest in America and abroad this year. Jesus’ return is closer now than ever before and we must thrust ourselves into the harvest fields like never before.
For years I have believed and have had the opportunity to be a part of city-wide outreaches where thousands upon thousands were touched and reached for Jesus. It is one of my strongest passions in life; to see evangelists work together with local churches and pastors throughout America to bring city and regional impact for the glory of Jesus Christ.
In 2008 I worked with Cindy Jacobs. She is a leading voice in the prophetic movement around the world in an effort called “I-35 Highway of Holiness.” It was a movement that focused on the 1-35 corridors from Laredo, TX to Minneapolis, MN. There were many souls saved as a result. One of the outreaches that I had the privilege to lead was caught on tape and featured on various news stations, radio broadcasts, and newspapers in America and around the World. Amoung them was the 700 Club, CNN, and National Public Radio. Through this, Cindy’s heart continued to stay stirred for a nation-wide evangelical movement to start at the grass-root level; through the local church and the Christians of America. She asked me to help her once again, and I am delighted. This is the very thing that burns within my heart.
I organized a telephone conference a few weeks ago for this purpose and we had great partication. On the call were some of the leading evangelistic voices in America. Among them were Steve Hill, Rodney Howard Brown, Cindy Jacobs, Larry Tomczak, Scott Hinkle, Johnny Jernigan and a few others. The resolute concise was that America is in desperate shape and we must act NOW. If we don’t, it will be too late.
Many of us are going to meet in Dallas a few days from now to discuss strategy and target areas. The first area we plan to visit is San Francisco, CA, because it is one of the darkest cities in our nation. From homosexuality to same-sex marriages and the Godlessness of that part of our country, we thought it would be a great start. We are going to be in prayer and look at other cities God wants us to tackle, as well. We should walk away from this meeting with key cities and dates that the Lord will highlight for us to invade.
This is something I would like you to be a part of. I want to speak to everyone that may read this letter about supporting this ministry on a monthly basis. As you know, America is not a representation of a nation that follows the Word of God. This ministry is dedicated through the direction and leadership of Jesus Christ to seeing that change in America; and what you just read above will be a serious contributor to seeing change take place.
If this ministry stood on our monthly support alone, it would not survive. It relies heavily upon honorariums when I travel out every weekend. If this ministry had a larger base of monthly support, it would have more freedom to devote to multi-church and city-wide outreaches in America. Some of the churches this ministry serves are very small, but still need to be trained in evangelism and outreach; and I do not turn them down when asked to come serve. Those weekends are just like home missions because the offering from them can be as low as $200 dollars.
Think about what it would feel like if your closest family member, friend, or coworker came to the Lord. You have the opportunity to send this ministry to grandsons, husbands, daughters, best friends, sons, wives, neices and nephews throughout America. If you will visit my website at www.joeodenministries.com you will see the cities this ministry is mobilizing and touching throughout the nation. There is a principal in scripture that whatever you make possible for another, God will make possible for you.
1st Kings 17: 10 - 16
So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’ ” She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
What this widow made possible for another, God then made it possible for her. As she sowed a seed into someone else, God sowed right back into her life. It was the sowing of her seed that unlocked her harvest.
I would like you to pray and consider sowing into this ministry on a monthly basis for six to twelve months as the Lord directs you. I want you to specifically sow for the salvation of a lost loved one or friend. I will believe with you that as you send me to someone else’s loved one or friend, God will send someone to your loved one or friend. I will personally believe with you that your seed sown into this ministry will unlock a harvest in the same area of your life. What you do for others, God will do for you!!
I want to thank everyone for all of your prayer and support. Let’s believe for the greatest harvest of souls the world had ever seen in 2009!
Together in the harvest,
Joe Oden