April 2010
A LIFE WORTH LIVING…
Can you believe it’s already Spring? I’m sure we are all enjoying watching the trees and flowers bloom! As I write this letter, I am on my way to speak at Christ for the Nations Bible Institute. I often feel as if I am living a dream, and am so thankful to God for all the doors he has opened in this ministry. Looking back and remembering a simple principle in the bible, and a major principle for life: “If you are faithful in the little things, God will give you more.” As we continue to be faithful in everything God puts before us, He will give us increase.
As usual, this past month has been full-speed. I’d like to start out by telling you one of the most encouraging testimonies I’ve received this year. There was a young man named Josh that I told you about in January who was touched mightily in Haysville, KS. Just to refresh your memory, he was the young man that God visited on a Wednesday afternoon in his home, and then got invited to the revival I was preaching a few hours later. God filled his house and he was suddenly convicted for drug use and pornography. He knew inside that in order to keep the presence of God, he needed to destroy those things. Later, one of his drug buddies came by and Josh chased him out with a bat. There was something on the inside of him that immediately dealt with his sin. He came to church that night and got saved, and then had the most powerful encounter with God in his life. His experience compares to the encounter the apostle Paul has when he encountered God, and his life was never the same.
A few weeks ago, I revisited his church for a Acts 29 School of Evangelism outreach, and Josh was still there plugged into his church and heavily involved. He has been sharing the gospel with all of his friends and helped serve in the outreach. He now feels like God is calling him to be trained and equipped at the bible school where I teach in Dallas, TX. This simple story means more to me than I could ever describe in this newsletter. It gives me unspeakable joy that the things of this world could never give me. You can hang this testimony on your mirror because you were a part of it. The seed you planted in this ministry is now a seed planted in Josh, everyone he is ministering to, and all he will minister to during and after he attends bible school. Without your partnership, there might not be testimonies like Josh.
This past month thousands of people were reached outside the church walls. Scores were trained in how to communicate the matchless gospel of Jesus Christ. We were able to strengthen evangelistic teams within churches.
For many years I have prayed for a team that has a heart to travel with the us. We now have 10-15 “on-fire” students that have a passion to travel with us and do dramas in front of youth groups and churches. God is using them in a mighty way. The group performed a song that shows a girl walking with God, and then getting drawn away by a guy, money, popularity, drinking, cutting, and eventually contemplating suicide when none of it satisfied her. After the song was performed one Sunday morning, a young lady went to the back and grabbed one of the students to share that she had contemplated suicide and would have followed through if it wasn’t for the song done in the drama. This same song performed showing the contemplation of suicide touched her beyond comprehension. She is now signing up to join the bible school. Needless to say, I preached after the drama was performed and the alter was full. Many were saved, empowered, and touched by Jesus!
While at Christ for the Nations Bible Institute, we had a true outbreak of the Holy Spirit. I ministered on the fire of the Gospel. This Bible school is one of the leading ministries that equips young people in America. It was an honor to minister there once again. Many students were touched in a very powerful way, and encouraged to share their faith as a part of their lifestyle. Think about this: Your support this past month was a part of sowing seed that will literally impact cities, states, and the world through these students.
We also traveled this past month to Burkesville, KY, Huntsville, TX, Springtown, TX, Wylie, TX, Diboll, TX, and Arlington, TX. In these places, many souls were saved and ignited to carry the Gospel to their cities.
I am happy to say that in the upcoming month, my wife and I will be preaching together in an Easter service in Killeen, TX. We will both be sharing our testimonies of how God saved us. It will be a wonderful and fruitful time of ministry. Once again, I just want to thank you for your generous support and prayer for this ministry. Your partnership is extremely valuable to what we are doing and what we will do in the days ahead. If you have any prayer requests, please don’t hesitate to send them.
Together in the harvest,
Joe Oden