May 2009 Newsletter
Hello friends and family,
I pray this letter finds you enjoying the presence of the Lord today. Things are speeding up and God is moving in power! We have seen great things this past month. Many souls have been saved, healed, delivered, and liberated through the Gospel! I’ve decided to share an article in this newsletter that a pastor friend of mine wrote after I ministered at his church over Easter weekend. A leader of over five hundred churches asked him to write this article and put it in the publications sent out to hundreds of pastors and leaders. It is written by Pastor Gaylan Grant of Killeen, TX.
What special emphasis can you do at Easter or any time during the year?
Three churches in Central Texas decided that Evangelism would be a good theme, but rather than just preaching about it, they decided to conduct a class on Evangelism and then go door-to-door in their neighborhoods to do Evangelism.
Rev. Joe Oden, (from Heartland World Ministries Church in Irving), was invited to teach and motivate the three congregations using his Acts 29 School of Evangelism and outreach.
Good Friday night, was the beginning with a powerful message and an altar service that left people hungry for more of God and desiring to “do the work” of an evangelist.
Saturday morning, there was one-hour training on how to lead someone to Christ. Joe covered everything, from “stay out of their flowerbeds,” to “Do you know where you would spend eternity if you died right now?” The excitement in the hearts of the people was palpable as they were equipped to evangelize.
Then, they hit the streets of Harker Heights, Killeen, and Copperas Cove. About 1,000 homes were touched. Countless numbers of people heard the Gospel, received prayer, and received an invitation to church. Eighteen people received Christ. Easter Sunday had new meaning for many.
Bethel Temple in Killeen, First Assembly of God in Copperas Cove, and New Beginnings in Harker Heights were the three churches that cooperated for this opportunity to reach their community. Pastor Gaylan Grant said, “The Assembly of God churches in this area regularly come together to unite our congregations in ministry and training. We believe it is the best way to express the paradigm we call “cooperative fellowship.”
Joining Rev. Joe Oden in ministry for this powerful weekend were Al Roever and Ramanuel Appling.
We highly recommend Rev. Joe Oden and the Acts 29 School of Evangelism and outreach for his passionate and practical training in the ministry to which all are called: Evangelism.
Pastor Gaylan Grant
I’m thankful for pastors who share the effects of evangelism to their peers. Testimonies are encouraging to everyone.
While I was in Kansas this past month I had a word of knowledge for the waitress at Ihop before I got on the plane to Dallas. Right after I gave her the word, she left briskly and went to the back weeping. The pastor went to pay for the food and the manager asked him, “do you know her?” He answered, “no”. Then the manager started crying. She told him that our waitress could not stop weeping and kept saying over and over, “how did they know?” She told the manager to get our number before we left. I decided to go and talk with her. When I was speaking with her, I led her to Christ. If my memory serves me well, I found out before we left that her daughter was diagnosed with kidney failure that same day. Part of the word I had for her in the restaurant was that God has not forgotten about her and He sees everything and desires to reach out to her. Some may say that is a general message, but to the contrary, it was a word in due season and prophetic for this sweet lady. It gave her hope. One of her daughters called me the next day and thanked me. God gives hope and deliverance! This is why Paul said to earnestly seek spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
I felt an impression from the Lord this past month that He was replacing the sickle and replacing it with a combine to reap the harvest of souls. It was confirmed as I rode through Kansas from the airport in Wichita, Kansas to Anthony, Kansas. The ride was almost 100% wheat fields. I believe with all of my heart that this ministry is about to be a part of a great harvest!
Our homegroup consists of around twelve people that meet every Tuesday night. We recently each made a list of 3 people outside of family that we are committing to pray for each day and reach out to with intent to form a friendship, and then eventually lead to Christ. Not only did each person pick 3 people, we shared names and are praying for each other’s list each day. It is a powerful prayer time when you have several people praying every day for the same person. The couple on mine and Trisha’s list already came to OUR door (for the first time ever), and made dinner plans with us. Praise God!
Over the next month, I will be leading a church in an outreach where 25 other churches have been invited to come along and participate. I have a crew of on-fire bible students and friends who plan to go with me and help this church win their city to Jesus. We are very excited about this outreach, and appreciate any prayers that God will move mightily.
Thank you for all of your prayer and support! You mean so much to me and my wife Trisha. This month is full-steam ahead, from California and beyond!! And, we are praying you are mightily blessed!
Together in the harvest,
Joe Oden