December 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS & FAMILY!
As I pen this letter, I am filled with excitement for what God has done in 2009, and I am filled with anticipation for what God has already set up and is going to do in 2010. I am filled with joy to report to you without exaggeration that this ministry has touched hundreds of thousands of people in 2009 through television, radio, outreach, and ministering in local churches and conferences. We cannot put a number on how many people have been saved, but it’s been a great harvest. Nor can I say how many were reached with the gospel “outside of the church” however, it was thousands upon thousands.
Another fact about 2009 is that your partnership has made so much of this possible. We are pleased to say that this past month has been an authentic revival strike throughout America - from Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Indiana, and Louisiana. God has poured out His spirit in power. I am reminded of one specific miracle that took place in Indiana that I thought you would encourage you: A young lady was instantly healed of scoliosis that she battled for around five years. She testified of being pain-free from his infirmity for the first time in five years. By His stripes, you were healed. That is the promise that we proclaim throughout America and see the results of God’s miraculous touch.
In Louisiana, we saw a manifestation upon young people that was indescribable. I felt impressed that God had called a few young girls from the church to be an evangelist. I turned the pulpit around and had them step forward and take the bible in one hand and lift it up as a declaration of Gospel proclamation. I had them put their other hand on the sacred pulpit. When they did this, all I can say is that it was as if Elijah’s mantle fell from Heaven. They were each knocked off their feet and hit by the power of God. One after the other, they went down under the glory of Heaven. They laid curled up on the floor weeping as God injected a deep burden for their generation into their soul. It was priceless. Then they got up and began to lay hands on the other people in the church, from the pastor to the youngest. Fire fell in Slidell, Louisiana. The church was hit like a freight train, and God established His call on the next generation of John the Baptist. I received e-mails from two of the young ladies, and was able to include one of them in this newsletter. The more we seek Him, the more we find Him!
WHEN JESUS SHOWS UP, YOU DON’T NEED MUSIC OR HYPE.
While in the Atlanta, Georgia area at a youth meeting, God did roughly the same thing. Many times, I feel like an eyewitness reporter of the book of Joel Chapter 2 where it states: “In the last days I will pour out my spirit upon on flesh, and your sons and daughters will prophesy.” In Georgia, God’s spirit was poured out like a river. Kids laid prostrate under the power of God rolling on the floor repenting of their sins and then stood cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. Their declaration was, “We will take our schools and our generation back in the name of Jesus!” These kinds of meetings will be in your account when you enter the gates of Heaven because you sent me as an ambassador of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel. Heaven thanks you.
While I sat on the front row outside of Mobile, Alabama in the church where I was born-again about to preach the Gospel, I was filled with gratitude at the work Christ has done in my life. From the place I knelt and was saved, now stood several men at the end of my message being saved. God moved that day in Alabama in the area of empowering believers to reach their neighborhood. Couple after couple made a commitment to invite their neighbors to their house before Christmas to build relationships to communicate the Gospel. It was amazing. Through this, many people will be reached long after I’m gone, and people will go from shouting “Amen,” to actually putting some action behind their agreement that people need to reach others with the Gospel.
During this season, my wife and I give thanks for all of the open doors in the ministry. We can stand to testify that God can open and shut doors according to His plans. We may not always understand why some doors are shut (and it might even be painful), it all works together for the good to those that love God and are called according to His purposes. We can later look back and be thankful as we understand why some doors are closed. I’m so thankful that we have a Lord that we can trust in every season and situation of our lives. The bible tells us many times to TRUST Him. It’s much easier to trust Him when we focus our attention on what He has done!
We are also very thankful for your loyal partnership. It’s difficult to describe in a letter how much it means to us, but note this: You are valuable to this ministry, and we greatly appreciate you. The lost are saved, people are healed, and the Gospel is proclaimed. We are all one big team in the eyes of God, functioning in the role God has for us. Thank you so much for all of your prayer and support this year! It takes team work to make the dream work.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Joe Oden