February 2011
Hello friends and family,
Here we ho again! Another year to give ourselves to the work of the Lord. This year has started out fast and furious. Just to let everyone know -- by the time you read this newsletter, baby Noah should be born. Trisha is due February 4th. We will put pictures of our new addition in our next newsletter.
I have started teaching at C.F.N.I. (Christ for the Nations Bible Institute) here in Dallas, TX. It is a wonderful opportunity and an amazing honor to be the instructor of evangelism at a school that has literally impacted the world. There are over 300 students in my class. I teach twice a week during the spring semester. This is a position that I’ve prayed about and then God opened the door. We have the opportunity to impact the next wave of leaders to be evangelistic in whatever area of ministry they enter.
Another new project that we are working on is fantastic! I have been asked to do a teaching series on evangelism with Evangelist Steve Hill. They have asked me to do around 10-12 sessions. This is going to be an amazing tool for the body of Christ. There is very little teaching out there in the area of equipping the saints to do evangelism. They will also be contacting Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, and Dr. Michael Brown. We should start recording on February 15th and 16th or February 22-24. Please pray with me about this exciting venture. As you and I continue to partner together, we have the opportunity to literally equip multitudes for the harvest.
A few weeks back I had the privilege to be with a good friend of mine Pastor Barney Huie in Garland, TX at Oasis Church. Many were saved, equipped, and ignited with the fire of the Holy Ghost. Pastor Barney wrote a paragraph for a monthly article I write in the North Texas News Magazine each month and I would like you to hear it from a pastors prospective:
“Joe Oden was with us this past January. We had a series of powerful services. Many were saved, healed, and delivered. That is always something to get excited about. In addition to that, and just as exciting for me as pastor, was the passion for souls that was birthed in our people and the evangelistic coordinator and ministry team set in order the last night of the meeting. Approximately 30 people came forward to commit to praying and working together twice a month to take the message of Jesus Christ to our neighborhood and streets. I expect this number to increase as testimonies begin to come in. This ministry has produced fruit that remains.”
Barney Huie
Pastor/Founder
Oasis Church
This is just one of the many churches we have served in this capacity nearly every weekend. We have set many teams in order like this throughout America that are still functioning with an evangelism director and team reaching their community. This new evangelism series we are working on with Pastor/Evangelist Steve Hill will be another great tool to help these ministries flourish and remain as a vital long-lasting part of each church.
I also had the privilege to minister at Foundation of Life (with Pastor Edwin Lipsey) and Heartland World Ministries Church (where Steve Hill serves as Senior Pastor) this past month. Many were saved and touched powerfully by God. At Foundation of Life, we extended the services another night and God moved mightily. I will be returning there later this year to do an Acts 29 Outreach weekend. We were also able to send students to this church on a monthly basis to assist them in their outreach efforts to a mens drug rehab, called the 180 center, started by this church.
We are also in the process of raising money to go back to Uganda, but will not be able to go in April as originally planned due to the costs of the trip. It will cost between $32,000-$40,000 to hold a crusade. It is worth it because we will be able to reach tens of thousands of lost people. We are working with a church of around 20,000 people who are willing and able to disciple the harvest. The dates are not set, but everything is still in focus.
Blessings,
Joe Oden
Every Tues & Thurs of February: CFNI
Feb 6: Livingston First Assembly of God, Livingston, TX
Feb 11-12: New Hope Church, Abilene, TX
Feb 13: Walnut Park Assembly of God, Garland, TX
Feb 20: Hector Assembly of God, Hector AR
Feb 27: Church of Faith, Slidell, LA