Another Day, Another Airport

So, I am sitting in an airport at the start of September writing about a trip, this trip, that is still two months away. Between the writing of this blog in September and the leaving of the flight taking me to Kazakhstan I will also have been to Russia and returned. So, I am in an airport writing a blog just 12 days from entering another series of airports on my way to Russia - knowing that a few weeks after the Rusian trip I will be doing it again. It has become a way of life. Not one anyone would ever really manage to adjust to - and at my age it is certainly not easy to get use to either. However, it is apparently what the Lord wants me to be doing.

People often tell me that it must be thrilling to be travelling overseas and ministering internationally. I always say the same thing - NO IT IS NOT! There is nothing glorious about airports, waiting rooms, security checks, flight delays, restaurants, and hotel rooms. Nothing whatsoever. And, believe me - a hotel is a hotel. Seen one, seen them all. An airport is an airpost - been in one, been in them all. A city is just a city - been to one, been to them all. The thing that makes it all worthwhile and exciting even when you spend a third of every year flying and ministering away from home is the people you meet and come to know and love. Relationships are what makes it exciting and a real adventure. And, of course, knowing that you are within the perfect will of God certainly helps.

Example from my trip to Russia… finish work on a Sunday evening at 10:30p as I arrive home after 550 Km of driving and ministering for three hours… up at 2:00a and to the airport by 4:00a to get on a flight at 6:00a. This includes long lines at the check-in, another line on the way through security (often including a full body pat down). Then you sit and wait for the plane to board. Arriving in Minneapolis at 8:15a you go through security again (even stricter than in Canada) and sit for three and a half hours waiting for the next flight. You board (same procedures) and fly to New York - where you wait for four hours. Each of those flights are several hours in length. Then from New York to Moscow - a 10.5 hour flight direct. Lots of time to read - can’t sleep when in motion so I read, walk up and down the isle, and try to keep from screaming. Then you go through Russian customs officials most of whom cannot or will not speak English. Always nerve wracking … then a five hour wait in Moscow for a flight to Mineralty Vody (3.5 hours) in the Caucasus area of the nation of Russia. I arrive two complete days after I leave home - no shower, no clean clothes…

Now, not in your wildest imagination is this fun - necessary yes! Better than walking - you bet! Quicker than a boat - absolutely! But, not fun - just necessary. So, I arrive and have a hot shower (usually short due to the small tanks they have as water heaters) and then fall over … usually within a few hours I am up, shower a second time, shave, CLEAN CLOTHES, and off to start the ministry. You literally never catch up.

At the end of another 15 days of ministry, travel, lots of personal interaction, no time to yourself, little quiet time, no privacy and a lot of demanding work - you get back on the first plane and do the whole process in reverse. Once home, due to the direction you have been flying and the fact that you live each of the 9 hours time difference twice you arrive home almost in “liguid form”. They pour you off the plane, into the car, home and into bed. It takes three days to have your body re-adjust to this end of the planet and to feel like your brain and your muscles are finally working in unity with one another again.

And yes - I am literally planning to do it again in a few days … then again 6 times (so far) in 2011 because the Lord continues to open doors for further ministry in the former Soviet Union for this small and young ministry that the Lord has called into being. And, all of the funds for these trips must be raised here through hard work between trips teaching in various places adding all proceeds earned to the ministry funds for overseas as well as by a small group of generous supports - our financial partners.

For more information on this trip - other trips we have already taken and those we are planning for the future - go to our main web site at www.ralphhoweministries.com and follow the links for “missions” and “apostolic teams.”

The Church in Kazakhstan Has Invited Us

Pastor Olga received a life-changing prophetic word a year ago on my first visit to the nation. This word of the Lord totally changed her life. Her written testimony of the power of that word and the changes it brought to her life and her ministry can be found on our ministry’s main web site. As a result of last year’s visit she has arranged for my team to minister to both her local church (which we did last year as well)and to a number of other local Koren churches in various cities and villages. As well, she has me scheduled to teach for a whole day at the seminary that prepares the next generation of Korean leaders. In fact, our whole second week will be spent ministering to the Korean side of the Church in Kazakhstan.

The Korean Church is a licensed church structure in Kazakhstan and so they own buildings and their buildings can have signs letting others know that it is a church. Their buildings are often small and in out-of-the-way places but this does not stop people from finding them and they certainly know how to “stack people” because we can have as many as 150 people in a building that would legally only hold 75 to 100. People don’t seem to mind and nothing is too much of an inconvenience if they can hear the Word of God taught. They walk and ride buses for miles and miles to be there and will stay all day and evening, sometimes without food, just to hear the Word preached and taught.

Then, on top of that, to receive a prophetic word … a tremendous blessing and they are seriously so thankful for having heard from the Lord. And, they take their words seriously and do something with them. We, of course, hand them a copy of our pamphlet “What to do now that you have received a prophetic word” in Russian so that they can walk with and work through the word they have just received.

These people are so gracious. They would, of course, like a word from the Lord. I mean, who wouldn’t? But, there is no striving to receive a word. They rejoice for and with those being ministered to and are excited that others are hearing from the Lord. They remain in an attitude of praise and thanksgiving because God is moving in their midst and blessing people - even if they are not singled out to receive ministry. In this atmosphere it is easy to minister prophetically and the anointing both grows as the day goes on as well as flows so effortlessly because of the unselfish attitude and the corporate or body emphasis the Korean believers have.

Please pray for our time with the Koren believers in Kazakhstan. Pray that God will give them direction and encourage them through the limited ministry we bring to them. Pray for protection for our team as we minister and that the services will be powerful and that many will receive healing, deliverance, and encouragement. Also pray that the authorities will not bother the churches we will be ministering in so that there are no interruptions or issues that would take the focus off of Jesus and what He is doing during our time there.

Please saturate this whole visit in prayer. God is going to great things and I have a tremendous expectancy in my spirit even now - we fly out on Monday.

We Are Returning to Kazakhstan

It is always neat to be returning to a nation to minister. I was in kazakhstan last year at this time. And while there I met so many wonderful people - brothers and sisters in the Lord. Since that visit I have stayed in touch with numerous people via emails, Twitter, and Skype. Modern technology is wonderful and very useful to the Kingdom and the spreading of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Pictured above - one of the young couples I had the honor of prophesying over on my last visit to the town of Burundai, Kazakhstan and with whom I have stayed in touch.

You can read up on this nation - its political, economic, religious, and social history and current situation - go to our main web page at www.ralphhoweministries.com and click on “missions” and look for the multiple page write-up about this wonderful nation.

Our team on this trip is made up of two Canadians and one Ukrainian - myself and Bob MacDonald from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and Miroslav Bertran from the city of Kirovograd, Ukraine. Bob is an apostle and we travel together frequently to minister as well as spending time together as often as we can discussing theology, Bible truths, and what the Lord is doing today in His Church. Miroslav is my administrator and translator and on staff in Eastern Europe with this ministry. As well, he is an apostle-in-training and has a very powerful and valid ministry of his own in many nations where his gifting is becoming recognized and known.

During the time I am in Kazakhstan during this trip I will be teaching and ministering at a three day school for leaders and their teams held in Almaty (a retreat center situation where we live together, eat together, pray together and grow in the Lord together), several days at a Korean Presbyterian Church in Burundai, two days in Arna Village (a village can be sizable unlike how small they are in my nation), a meeting of leaders in Kapchagai City, a Korean Seminary - students and staff (one day), and in a local church in Almaty City. It will be a full trip but it is shaping up to be a good one - as we build upon the foundation we laid last year in some of these places and begin fresh work in several cities and villages where we did not minister last time. God is graciously allowing us to touch more churches and more lives this trip than last - working in some new areas while returning to places we have worked previously.

I have a great expectancy in my heart and soul…

Eating Comes With the Territory

In several days I will be in Kazakhstan on my second trip to that nation. If memory serves me correctly we ate a lot in this nation as well. The picture above was taken during an 8 hour period during which we invaded a home and about 15 of us fellowshipped around two gigantic meals only several hours apart. Honestly, we had barely finished the first meal (2 hours of eating) when they brought in another complete meal and we began all over again. Potatoes, vegatables, salads, and the biggest fish I had seen in years. It was caught locally and cooked over a wood fire in the back yard. The second meal consisted of another equally large fish cooked over the same fire. And, it is a bit of an insult to not eat.

Each meal is followed by lots of strong coffee (and I mean strong coffee) or tea and dessert - usually fruit, nuts, and cheeze. And more talking, sharing, praying … always centering the conversation and the time on Jesus and what He is doing in their lives and in their churches and nation. True fellowship which I suspect is closer to the fellowship they shared in the book of Acts than much of what we call fellowship in North America today. It is like two separate and very different worlds.

I often wonder if the host of that party on our last day in Kazakhstan last year have continued their style of fellowship. You see, they have moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada where they are helping in a Russian speaking congregation that was established in that city. Now that they are in my country it would be interesting to see what they “fellowship” looks like now. I hope it has not changed.

I am looking forward to being in Kazakhstan once again. Not so I can drink camel’s milk or horse milk (both of which I drank last year and once in a life time is enough) nor to eat some of their rather different food (better to eat what is placed in front of you and not ask what it is) although I did enjoy the horse meat and the ram that we ate.

I am looking forward to being with believers whose focus is still Jesus and who are dependant upon the Holy Spirit and each other to stay safe. They need both to continue to walk in the faith in spite of opposition from religious and spiritual forces and a government which is not in favor of their beliefs. It is dynamic, powerful, interesting, sometimes dangerous, but always very alive and exciting. People are hungry for more of God. Thy are willing to take time off work to listen and learn. They risk persecution simply to be in the presence of God and each other. They are thrilled with what the Lord is doing - and He is seriously very active in their midst.

Your prayers for our travel to the nation and winthin the nation would be appreciated. And, your prayers for our safety and for each of the three services a day, every day would be greatly ppreciated. God answers prayer.

Up, Up and Away - But Not In a Balloon

This couple are now living in Toronto and ministering in a Rusian speaking congregation. It was their home in Kazakhstan that a group of us invaded for a double fish BBQ last November on our first visit to that nation (see yesterday’s blog). Here we were prophesying over them in their home church in Almaty City, Kazakhstan on a Sunday.

Today I am in the air - well really, I am in a plane and it is in the air. Well, truthfully - I will be in three planes in the next 36 hours and in four different airports as I wind my way half way around the world - 12 time zones - to Kazakhstan. That’s right - when it is 10:00 in the morning in western Canada it is 10:00 in the evening in Kazakhstan. Midnight is midday.

I board a plane in Regina at 2:40 in the afternoon and fly to Calgary - 1 hour and 45 minutes in the plane
There I wait almost three hours for my next flight meeting up with one team member in Calgary’s airport and drinking coffee (Tim Horton’s) while we wait. Planning and talking about the trip and the ministry, of course.
We board a flight to Frankfurt, Germany at 5:35p and arrive the next day in Frankfurt at 11:15 in the morning - total time on the plane - 10 hours and 20 minutes
We have an hour and 30 minutes to find the next gate and a cup of McDonald’s coffee -no Tim Horton’s and we are up, up and away once again
We board the flight - Frankfurt, Germany to Almaty, Kazakhstan at 12:55 in the afternoon and arrive in Almaty at 12:25 the next morning - time on the plane - 7 hours
As we step out in Almaty it will be early morning on the Wenesday - we will have left mid-afternoon on the Monday. For me - no sleep during that time. At the airport we will meet up with our third team member who is coming in on a different flight from Ukraine.
We will then be driven to wherever we are staying, shower and sleep… as we need to be ready to minister by mid-morning. That will require some preparation time in the early morning as well as showering, shaving and getting organized for the few days we will be there before moving on to another location and another ministry or church.

Once again - please pray. Travelling internationally is not fun - airports and airplanes are not exciting after the first time. Were they really exciting the first time? No, don’t think so. They are essential but not glorious or glamorous, simply necessary.

Please pray - we have much we want to accomplish on this trip and many lives we would like to see impacted by the Word and the power of God.

Please pray - that we will be kept safe while travelling - and while ministering. International flights are not alwys safe - and Kazakhstan is not a safe place for believers to minister and preach.

An Apostolic Trip Requires…

Planning for these trips starts well in advance of actually flying and ministering. Over ten months ago we began the negotiations for this current trip. In April we met with the leaders who invited us when they attended a function we were holding in Ukraine. Then began their planning and organizing. Among the things they/we needed to work through:
1> Which local churches would be involved in the two weeks of ministry
2> The team members that I would be bringing with me (clearning schedules-matching gifts to ministry needs)
3> The location for each day of ministry and the host pastors
4> A place to stay in each location that will house three men and give them some privacy, a place to meet, a shower - hopefully with hot water, and a place to sleep and have breakfast.
5> Topics for each location of ministry (each day) and the number of people who will be in each ministry opportunity.
6> Sorting through vast amounts of material stored in computers and filing cabinets to find teachings for each situation - and write the teachings that need to be researched and written
7> Meeting with team members to divide up the teaching opportunities so that everyone teaches in the area of their strengths
8> Obtaining of documents that needed to be filled in - applying for a visitor visa to allow us to enter the country and stay there legally for the 16 days.
9> Raising the funds to pay the costs of going to Kazakhstan ($2200.00 basic transportations costs per person). Pay loss for the time missed here in Canada where we earn a living not included - just written off as another opportunity cost.
10> Prayer focused on the different locations, various teachings, people going to be in attendance, protection, favor with man and God….
11> Final details nailed down (accomplished in Minneapolis airport on way home from apostolic roundtable with other Canadian team mmber).
12> Packing, purchasing extra clothes as needed (no laundry facilities), more extra clothes in case of travel interruptions, books to read while traveling, perscription medicines for the two weeks plus a few days in case coming home is delayed … the list goes on and on
13> Dealing politely with those who write asking to come with us as team members - almost 100% of whom do not fit the basic requirements for membership on the apostolic team (see “Team Requirements” on my main web site www.ralphhoweministries.com)
14> And numerous other small details that need to be nailed down …

Each trip is a major undertaking which must be accomplished while still doing all the normal things we do for a living and maintaining our regular family life, exercise routine, and other ministry responsibilities.

Why do we do this? Because God said “go into all the world…” and we want to be obedient to that command.

Why do we do it? Take a look at the picture above… people are hungry for more of God. This picture was taken on our last trip … it is after midnight at a local church service where we had been ministering since 5:00p

During this trip your prayers would be greatly appreciated. These trips are very trying on team members - physically, mentally, spiritually and relationally.

Not As It Should Be

By this time I should be 6 miles in the air flying over Britain on my way to Frankfurt, Germany. Instead I am 6 floors up in a Calgary hotel due to a flight that did not leave on time and another one that could not wait 20 minutes for a good number of passengers who were hoping it would. The result - one long wait in the airport to finally board a flight almost three hours late - and another long wait in another line in another airport to get rebooked on flights tomorrow heading where I should have been going tonight. Add to that a meal allowance for the meals I will need to eat -grossly inadequate which shows the airline that granted them as the late flight was their fault - is definitely out of touch with the cost of a basic meal … even if you were eating at McDonalds which I was not.

Reading a good book - however, that means I will need to buy another one as it will be finished long before I board Tuesday evening to do what I should have been doing tonight. And, with my team member from Canada already gone, I will have ten hours on the first flight, 3 hours in an airport and 7 hours on the next flight to read. With him already almost there by this time tomorrow the discussions and planning will have to wait for another time. Hopefully will find a good book to read at one of the many bookstores in the Calgary airport. I have to check out by noon - and the flight is not until 5:30 so will have lots of time to browse and decide.

Oh, yes - the book. It’s called The Irresistible Revolution written by an urban monk and it is an amazing book. It is not only speaking to my heart - it is putting words to feelings and thoughts that I have had for a long time. More blogs on these thoughts and feelings in the new year. I store up ideas and thoughts months in advance. In fact, there are almost 300 ideas stored in the “drafts” section of the blog structure waiting for my return visit to expand on them more fully. So, these will join the line-up and juggle for position regarding publication.

Please be in prayer for my team members - one Canadian and one Ukrainian - they have both made their connections. They will have to do the first full day of ministry short-handed and I was due to teach half of the day and lead the prophetic ministry in the other half … Pray that God give them strength, boldness and fresh ideas because they have not gone planning to substitute for me … and they will have little time after joining up in Almaty Vody, Kazakhstan to plan or discuss these last minute changes. Prayers are greatly appreciated.

While praying - please continue to pray for me as I have had three great conversations in the airports and on the one flight I did manage to take today … opportunities to share the Gospel. I love how God plans and organizes these things for me. Amazing. Fun. Exciting. I even went down after supper - those sitting near me in the restaurant were drunk and so I didn’t venture into their area to witness - so I went to find the pool and sauna as a sauna is a great place to share Jesus with people. Regretfully the one man who was in the sauna was just leaving and the pool was empty as was the hot tub. So, I simply road up and down in the elevator a few times and managed a few short conversations before calling it a night and heading to my room to read. It is 30 below here in Calgary so I ruled out going for a walk even though there is both a McDonalds and a DQ near by - which, by the way, are great places to witness to people.

Thanks for listening - remember to pray.

We Arrived - We Have Begun Ministering

We arrived at 12:30 this morning from Frankfurt, Germany after travelling for two days and it was past 2:00 in the morning by the time we cleared customs, found our bags, drove into the city, found where we were staying and settled in a bit. It was a good time - tired though we were - as we were greeted by our third team member who flew in on a separate flight from Kiev, Ukraine. So, we are a bit slow today and thankful that we did not have to start teaching until 2:00p and could have a slower morning and a quiet lunch. We will minister in three sessions today and then fall into bed as we attempt to overcome jet lag as quickly as possible (12 time zones).

Our topics here for this three day seminar are:
Day One - Hearing God When He Speaks
Day Two - The Supernatural and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Day Three - The Church of 2020 (The Apostolic Model)

Of course, we are hoping to see some of the same people who attended our first three day school here last year at this time. As well, it will be good to come to know others whom we have not met before. Some who will be in attendance are the leaders of the churches where we will be ministering later in the next two weeks of meetings.

Our setting is not as informal as the picture above (an actual retreat center where we held meetings last year) but more of a classroom with a podium and a whitecoard to work with. Each leader will have a separate desk and a place to spread out their journals and bibles … as well, we will be able to record (video and audio) all the sessions as well as the prophetic ministry. We will, of course, take copies of the videos with us and package them for resale at cost to others through our Russian language web site. Teachnology is wonderful and we are learning to use it more and more for the glory of God thanks to some terrific help - my administrators both here in Eastern Europe (and his helpers) and in North America.

Your prayers for these three days and this group of 50 leaders would be greatly appreciated. Pray that we would see more and more of God’s power manifested as we pray, teach and minister prophetically. Could you pray even now as you finish reading this brief report. Thanks - greatly appreciated.

The Ministry of Hugging

Today we are expecting to build upon yesterday. Today I will be speaking first on The Supernatural Church. Then the other Canadian on the team, Bob MacDonald, will be teaching the other 4 sessions on The Gifts of the Holy Spirit. This will be a practical, hands-on workshop as we equip the leaders to actually do the work of God in a supernatural manner … In the world we work with today anything less than the supernatural will no longer cut it. No one is impressed with words or personal manifestations only - they want to see words and deeds - as Paul states in his writing - they want to see a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).

Normally when I call someone out of the congregation to prophesy over them - the demonstration of the Holy Spirit - I simply speak to their past and present situatiopns (Word of Knowledge) and to their future posibilities (Word of Wisdom). However, once-in-a-while, the Holy Spirit directs me to simply hug them. It is usually a younger male. Often that is all I do for the first few minutes that they are up front (see picture). And, most times, they weep and moan from deep within their spirit. Sometimes as I hug them tight and hard I am directed to tell them some simple truths about how much God loves them, that He is proud of them, that they are special to Him, and He is pleased to call them His son.

Usually when it all over - and I feel a serious release to stop hugging - I am then free to prophecy about their potential and the possibilities that the Lord is inviting them to be a part of in the months and years to come. And, they are free to hear, receive and believe in what their prophetic word reveals.

Most of these young men have an “orphan spirit” as they either did not know their father or their father was abusive physically, sexually, mentally, or emotionally. This hugging frees them from that spirit and brings healing and deliverance without words and really without any public display of what is actually taking place. I expect that the Lord will use me this way during this three day school once again. Amazing ministry - the ministry of hugging - which brings about serious supernatural results as only our loving God can do.

Please continue to pray for the 50 leaders now in their second full day of a three day school - that this would be more than a time of equipping … that they would be refreshed, encouraged, stirred up, and supernaturally changed forever - never to be the same again. Thanks, as well, for praying for our team members - Miroslav, Bob, and myself as well as those we are training to be a part of our growing team here in Eastern Europe (apostles and prophets in training).

Fellowship Is Sweet and Powerful

Relationships are very important for Eastern European believers as many of them are living and worshipping in nations whose governments are not in favor of their beliefs or their churches. They do much behind closed doors, out of public view, and without the knowledge of those in authority. So, when they are able to come together with other believers the fellowship is very important to them and not taken for granted as it often is in the west. As well, they truly are sharing fellowship as the conversation is almost always centered on the Lord Jesus and what the Holy Spirit is doing today in their lives, families, churches and nation. They are seriously in love with and excited about what God is doing in them and through them in the lives of others.

In the Bible there are numerous “one another” verses … they believe all of them. Love one another; bear one another’s burdens, encourage one another, pray for one another… and on and on the list could go. They practice them all, all of the time. They truly understand that fellowship must be centered around the Lordship of Jesus and they know that their personal walk with the Lord is what draws them together and binds them together so that they can care for one another. Being part of their fellowship is an exciting happening often centered in eating and sharing food together - with strong coffee or green tea available afterwards to continue the fellowship long after the particular meal is over.

You may be thinking that they can have these extended periods of fellowship and value them so highly because their pace of life is less hectic than ours in North America. Not true. You may think that they are underemployed or simply don’t work as many hours as we do. That too is not true. You may believe that you live with more stress than they do and so need more time just to chill than they do. Also a total justification for a lack of true fellowship among western believers. They are as busy, as stressed, as involved and as tired as all of us. They simply value time with each other and with the Lord in the midst of their fellowship that they make it a top priority in their daily and weekly lives. They have all the same issues and desires that we have - and all the same distractions. And, on top of that they often work harder and longer for less money - but fellowship and being with other believers is top of their priority list.

They have much to teach us … we have much to learn and to adjust.

We appreciate your daily prayers - as this school ends we are heading for the town of Burundai to work for two days with a sizable Korean congregation (Presbyterian) whose pastor we prophesied over a year ago and who has been steadily building a relationship with us ever since. This is our second visit to this church.

The Town of Burundai, Kazakhstan

It is good to be back and see some of the same faces - people we quickly grew to love last year while with them. As well, so many new faces as the church has been growing and news of our visit and what happened last year when we were here has spread quickly. Of course, we cannot do any advertising but the grapevine does very well in letting other believers know what is happening, when and where. We are expecting God to once again bless His people and speak to their past, present and future releasing life, liberty and freedom. He will, of course, impart gifts and release callings and ministries as He is so gracious to do in each and every location where we minister.

Our topic for both days is “Hearing the Voice of God” and so we will be teaching basic listening skills. This was also the topic for one day at the leadership school. However, because they share DVDs and digital sound recordings from location to location - we will be teaching entirely new material while in this second location. There is so much that we could teach as we help believers to hear the voice of their Savior and to open their spiritual ears (and eyes) so that they can see, hear and touch Jesus (1 John 1:1-4).

As I reviewed my teachings before coming I realized how many times I have taught on this subject (five different series over the past decade) and I have many other teachings I have written but have yet to teach or record and make available to people. Maybe this is the time. I brought everything I have (thank God for computers - especially laptops) and I am open to whichever direction the Holy Spirit leads. However, we have prepared certain teachings to lead with as team members discussed their material together ahead of time and decided which areas each one would try and cover. Of course, once we get the flow started the Spirit can move us in numerous directions - that’s the exciting part of ministering.

We are just at the start of our two weeks of ministering. And, we are now over jet lag. So, we are in the prime of the trip - awake, alert, and on top of things. These are the best days. And, with three of us on the team - treaching, ministering, and leading … not as tiring as when I travel alone and everything rests on my shoulders. So, a bit of an easier pace for me - and I do enjoy working with the team. Great men of God!

Your continued prayers are greatly appreciated. We are believing God to transform lives and change people and churches (and dare we believe - nations) forever. Thanks.

A Day In the Life Of An Apostolic Team

Again today we are ministering on how to hear the voice of God. This is very basic to all aspects of life for the believer - personal guidance, Bible reading, prayer, prophecy… But, it is even more urgent and important here in this nation where the government and the state religion are against born again believers and where born again believers must be careful and discrete, guided by the Holy Spirit at all times. Powerful teaching and ministry time yesterday as we began this topic - the same is expected today. God is faithful.

Each day we get up early and spend time alone with the Lord. This is not always easy when you have three men living in close quarters as well as having to coordinate the use of the shower and bathroom - not to mention preparing breakfast and cleaning up afterwards. So, most mornings I am first up and first into the bathroom so as to then have my quiet time afterwards while the other team members shower and shave and dress. Breakfast is often (alright - always) a business meeting as we discuss the day we are about to start and the plans for who teaches, how we are ministering, the direction we feel things need to go and anything else the Lord may have laid on our hearts. Each day ends with a time around the same table as we discuss the day’s events and plant the seeds for the next day’s work. So, the morning meeting is really a follow-up of the debriefing meeting the night before.

The day is certainly full to overflowing. Meals are aways shared with those who attend - either everyone or just the leadership and those they invite. Just across the parking lot from the church building there is a small house also owned by the congregation. Limited in size it basically consists of a small kitchen and one larger room where we can sit, relax and eat. So here we eat with just the immediate leadership team. Of course, conversations always center on Jesus and what He is doing in their lives and our lives. Good felolowship as we eat lunch and supper together. I do try to have a few minutes after each meal (or before) to walk down the dirt roads (avoiding the garbage) and simply relax and unwind a bit. Otherwise the days can get long and seriously intense. There is more to life than ministering.

Tomorrow we move on to Arna Village. Someone will get us there as we have never been there before and literally have no idea where it is. We will be working with a local church there - again a Korean Presbyteran Church - for two days speaking on prophecy. These teachings, as far as we can sense right now, will build upon the ones we are doing here on how to hear God. Hearing God is, of course, essential if you want to prophesy - and you should “earnestly desire” (covet) to prophesy according to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.

Again, your continued prayer support would be greatly appreciated.

Pastor Olga, by the way, has a box of Kazakhstan chocolate in her hands - and no you can’t have any. It is the best in the world and worth fighting over!!

Arna Village, Kazakhstan - Day One

No, I have not gone off the deep end. This special coat and hat are part of the original national dress of those after whom this country was named - Kazakhs. They now make up only a very small percentage of the total population but they are proud of their heritage and gave me this “costume” of their original dress last year as a thank you for my work among them.

When this nation was taken over by the Soviet Union and became part of the U.S.S.R. people were moved out to other nations and many from other nations were brought here to settle and to work. This happened in all the nations taken over by the Communists. This means that they literally lost their national identity and became simply a portion of the bigger picture - the Russian empire. Add to this the trend all nations are seeing - people from others nations migrating - and you see people from most of the nations in Eastern Europe and Asia. The church we are working in is predominatly Korean. However, as we walk through the streets of the main cities like Almaty and Astana you can see people from a multitude of nations. But, interestingly enough, they are working as a nation at forging a new multi-national national identity.

This is our sixth day of ministry and I have been on the road for 8 days now. When on my own ministering I would be very tired by now as the weight of every meeting and all ministry rests on my shoulders during those trips. But here we have three mature ministers on the team and so we are able to have some times when we don’t minister. In fact, I even get to sit with the people and listen to the teaching of God’s Word and be refreshed and learn. Oh, I know I have heard most of this material before and constantly read books in the areas we are teaching - but there is always something the Holy Spirit can show you if you have a “student attitude” and I do.

On trips like this you go through stages of “tiredness.” The stages could be labeled -jet lag - rested, tired, weary, worn out, exhausted. With the team ministering and thus a more “relaxed” pace with regard to teaching - although I am in every meeting, every appointment, and minister at all prophetic times - I am doing really well. I would say that I am in the “tired” stage verging on “weary.” That is a great spot to be in because we are half way through the trip and so will continue to have the spiritual, emotional, physical, relastional and mental strength to continue to offer quality ministry right through to the last day.

We are in Arna Village in a Korean based church. This is our first time visiting this location and so everything is new and different - except God. We are here today (Monday) and tomorrow. Our topic is “The Prophetic” and so I am excited as this is one of my favorite things to teach about. It is so ‘now’ and so powerful and life-changing.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated. Please continue to pray for each day as you wake in the morning (remembering we are 12 hours ahead of your time if you live in central Canada). Would you also be so good as to pray as you go to bed - because midnight there is noon here the next day and we will be ministering as you sleep. On Thursday we are in a Korean Seminary for the day ministering to students, staff and pastors … would you please focus on this event as well in your prayers as this can influence many churches and the next generation of churches as we speak to their future leaders. Greatly appreciated.

Arna Village - A Second Glorious Day!

Working here is fun - because we are not having to push things onto people. They are hungry and thirsting for more of God and His Word. They are wanting to know what it is He is wanting them to do next. So, they all come with their journals and Bibles and take notes throughout the teachings - not wanting to miss anything the Lord is saying to the Church or to them personally. They are so excited to hear from the Lord - from their Bibles and from the prophetic gifting and ministry times - that they literally suck the anointing right out of us thus making our task a lot easier.

The worship is fantastic. I mean over and above great! These people long to worship their Lord and Savior. They stand throughout worship honoring the God they know and serve. They sing from the bottom of their hearts and souls and use their whole body to do so. Everyone is engaged - no one is distracted. Powerful time each time we start a service with worship.

It is exciting to be here ministering. This is not a “big name” ministry. We don’t charge them so much a service or a day for our ministry. We simply come hoping they will do their best to cover the travel costs and most times this is not the case. We are a “small name” ministry and we are willing - because the Lord told us to do so - to go wherever a door opens and simply trust God to meet the needs. And, it is amazing and wonderful to watch how He literally does so. In these smaller locations they never see the big name ministries. So, when someone like our ministry and the team appears and freely ministers they pack out each and every building we use - and draw the material right out of our hearts. A teacher’s delight. An apostle’s dream!

Thank you for continuing to pray. Tomorrow we move on to the City of Kapchagai. Again, a new location for us. We are still a little in the dark about what is expected of us when we arrive or even how many services we will be expected to minister at. But, we are going in faith and believing God will reveal Himself in fresh and new ways and guide and direct our steps and our teachings. We are believing that the transformation we have seen in each location and in the lives of the people will continue unabated as we approach the middle of our second week of this apostolic trip. More tomorrow.

So Many Young People

The Lord’s hand is certainly on the younger generation. There is a tremendous anointing and calling on many of them. All of them are being empowered to change their world. There is a spiritual hunger, a desire for more of God, a longing to be in the center of His will for their lives and their country. In general, they are not interested in security, the “things of this world,” making a name for themselves or even being comfortable. They want their life to count and to matter. They want to do something signifigant. They want to be on an adventure and that journey needs to be supernatural in nature.

They are willing to learn, easy to teach, excited to serve, wanting to be equipped and receive hands-on training. They sacrifice whatever is needed to be sacrificed so that they can follow Jesus and do whatever He is asking them or calling them to do. They are, for the most part, focused and excited to be a part of something like the Kingdom of God.

This does not mean that they are mature and stable - having mastered the basic Christian disciplines - No! Not at all. They are like wild stallions that need taming and training. But, better a wild stallion that needs training than a dead horse that needs dragging, right? I wish and pray that this was the case with the youth (in general) in my home nation. But, regretfully it is not. Most are not in the least bit interested in the Kingdom and few, even those that are born again, live like knowing and following Jesus actually matters and is important to them. I am praying that this change no matter what it may cost the church or the culture - or even this generation - to see them begin to look deep within and begin to seriously follow Jesus.

It has been a good 8 days of ministry - touching many young lives as well as many of the older generations as God is not a respecter of persons. But, I must admit that my joy is in seeing the young people come into the fullness of who they are in Jesus and begin to walk in their giftings, callings, and ministry.

Please continue to pray for me and for the team - Bob and Miroslav - as well as our interpreters. As we enter the second full week of ministry and day ten of the trip we are beginning to feel a little weary at times. We need the Lord’s strength and His wisdom as we continue to give out in ministry 15 to 18 hours a day. Blessings upon you and thanks for following the trip we are on through these daily blogs. Your interest (and prayers) are greatly appreciated.

Korean Seminary in Kazakhstan

This morning we have a full morning (3 hours) with just the students.
Then we are involved with a working lunch with 10 pastors present
The afternoon - another three hours - will be spent with an open seminar for pastors (largest group of the day).

It appears from our initial schedule that we have the evening off. Not likely as there is always someone to see, someone to minister to or prophesy over. Time will tell and I like the none-Bible proverb: “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken.” We are very flexible.

Our topic - chosen by them - is: “We Believe in Aposltes and Prophets.” We will be talking about apostles and prophets (obviously) and about prophetic and apostolic people. What God is doing today with apostles and prophets does not stop with calling people into these roles and ministries … it much filter into or infiltrate the rank and file so that the people of God become apostolic (sent to seek and save the lost) and prophetic (supernaturally gifted and flowing in those gifts).

These are exciting times to be alive in God’s Kingdom. As I relate to young people here in Eastern Europe as well as in Canada and the United States I am excited with what the Lord is doing. The foundation is being laid for a tremendously powerful and supernatural Church worldwide. Leaders are being trained who will not settle for the status quo but who will literally lead the Church into the fullness of her mandate and calling - turning the world upside down as they do.

Many existing assemblies are responding and are hungry to be a part of what the Lord is currently doing and strategically planning to accomplish in the near future. Regretfully, numerous movements and denominations are not moving with what the Holy Spirit is doing and the anointing and power of God is already lifting from them and they are beginning to hold to the outward form of our religion but deny the power thereof. In fact, some have already faded badly and others are rising up with their last breath to oppose what the Lord is doing. We are on the receiving end of that opposition and have been now for about 18 months.

We continue to covet your prayer support. As we enter into the last part of our ministry trip to Kazakhstan I would ask, if I could be so bold, that you double your efforts in praying for the team and everyone involved in the ministry (in the picture - Timor, one of our interpreters). Thanks. We are beginning to look forward to coming home - not the trip but actually being back with our families and loved ones.

A Day Off In the Mountains

However, we will see more of this beautiful country. We are in the south of Kazakhstan. Almaty - the major city we have been centered in for this visit - is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains on all sides. Last year they scheduled a day like this but at a spa in the mountains. Two of us opted out of the day and simply rested. Two of our team members went. However, last year we did have opportunity on our first day here to tour some of the near-by mountains (picture above) and enjoy the beauty of the area.

One of the major industries here is coal mining. And, a lot of people heat their homes using coal, of course. So, the air is filled with coal dust 24/7. Because the city is situated in a valley the winds do not carry the coal dust away - it simply settles over the city and you breathe it in all day and all night. The local people just take it in stride but their life expectancy is 10 years shorter than if you lived elsewhere in Kazakhstan. Those of us visiting feel the coal dust in our lungs and nose and throat. We are glad we don’t live here but are just visiting.

Every morning at 5:30a the Aman of the local Muslim mosque sends out the call the prayer … a loud, annoying noise that is broadcast over loud speakers all over this area of the city. There may be other mosques doing the same elsewhere as it is a large city. Don’t know. I do know that it is annoying. Most mornings I am up reading and praying but it is still annoying. Maybe it is my age - but, maybe not.

We have only two days of public ministry left to accomplish on this trip. We will be working with a church that meets in one end of a very old and rundown former grocery store (small strip mall). No outside windows, no parking (limited to several cars out front), dirty, dusty, dingy, and somewhat oppressive to look at. But, warm and loving on the inside. The pastor lives is a small suite of rooms behind the room we use for worship. It will be packed out during our two days (4 services - each 4 hours long) with people mostly coming on foot and by public transport. If it is anything like last year’s visit it will be powerful and dynamic.

Your continued prayer support is greatly appreciated - we are more than tired.

Working in Almaty, Kazakhstan

One of our team members - Bob MacDonold - built a decent relationship with this former missionary couple during our spring School of Apostles and Prophets (in training) held in Kirovograd, Ukraine. They were in attendance and, as they speak some English, Bob began to build a working relationship with them. We are hoping all members of the team will benefit from this initial contact and that together we can begin a long-term relationship with this great couple.

We are expecting God to move mightily and to allow us to build upon the small but strong foundation that we, as apostles, laid last year (Ephesians 2:20). I will be teaching today at both sessions and the topic is the apostolic church or, as they know it, “The Church of 2020.” The first time I ever spoke on the topic was at a leaders retreat outside the city of Karaganda (northern Kazakhstan) last year. I was asked to do so after a brief conversation with a leader of the retreat over a cup of cold coffee (the whole building was so cold that nothing stayed warm long - food or us). So, I taught on it from a number of napkins where I had jotted some notes down. From there it has now been taught numerous times and the whole topic is expanding and exploding and becoming my first book.

The Church of 2020 will be published this summer (we hope) and will be on-line as an e-book and available for full download (text copy). Both of these as free resources. As well, I am hoping it can be recorded as an audio book for those in this generation who do not read. I am pondering the idea of publishing a paperback copy of it - but that takes a great deal of up-front captial (about $5,000.00) which this ministry does not have. We are waiting on the Lord for further direction. So, my favorite topic and I will barely touch the surface of the topic but it will be fun. I don’t teach tomorrow so it will be a slower day and I will get fed as Bob MacDonald teaches.

As we are at the end of this two week trip we really covet your prayers. We are very tired and are looking forward to being home - not looking forward to the journey home. Pray, please!

The God Of Surprises

Of course, this word over the man will not come to pass unless he fulfills the stated conditions contained within the word. Often a word will say: “If you do this, I will do that…” and so you can assume, and rightly so, that if you don’t do this - then God will not do that. However, there are also a lot of unstated conditions - just assumed - that also need to be fulfilled…

All Prophecy Presupposes that the Candidate Will:
[Unstated Conditions to Be Fulfilled for Your Prophetic Word to Come to Pass]

> Make (or has already made) Jesus Christ Lord and Savior of his life (John. 3:3).

> Obey the Bible, following its God-breathed instructions from the heart - living a godly life—sincerely working the whole book - understanding Christianity is a “package deal” an “all or none” spiritual proposition. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

> Be faithful, obedient, consistent, dependable, persevering in the things of God—exercising genuine faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).

> Exercise faith.

> Endure suffering, persecution, trials, and tests as a good soldier (2 Timothy 2:3).

> Persevere and don’t give up

> Everyday – walk with God (Micah 6:8)

> Everyday – Confess your sin and receive forgiveness (1 John 1:9)

> Everyday - walk in the light that you already have and put off the works of darkness (1 John 1:7)

> Everyday – say “yes” to everything that God is asking of you as He is Lord and He redeemed (and now owns) you (Galatians 3:13)

> Make his “election and calling sure” on a daily basis (2 Peter 1:10).

> Be filled and remain filled with the precious and powerful Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

> Walk in fellowship with other believers—allowing “iron to sharpen iron” (Proverbs 27:17).

> Pursue the will of God passionately, living the Christian life!

> Tithe to the Lord showing that you have placed Him first in your life (Deuteronomy 14:23 Living Bible)

> Obey the basic commandments of the Lord to love God with your whole heart (Matthew 22:37-38), love yourself and your neighbor in the same way (Matthew 22:39) and reach out in this love and seek and save the lost (Matthew 28:18-20 and Luke 19:10)

Failure to fulfill these and the stated conditions contained within the spoken prophetic word will result in the word not coming to pass. many would then declare it a false prophecy and me a false prophet. It is not a false prophecy. I am not a false prophet - in fact, I am not a prophet as I am called to be an apostle. It is simply a lazy believer.

What are you doing with the prophetic words you have had spoken over your life?

The Other Side Of the World

After a long but normal Sunday we packed our bags, had a cup of Kazakhstan tea (one a decade is enough), and headed to the airport at 11:00p Sunday. Arrived at midnight and cleared baggage, customs, airline ticket collectors and all the scans and body checks and flew to Astana (captial city) at 2:00a We arrived at 4:30a and waited for some passengers to leave and others to get on and flew at 5:15 to Germany - Frankfurt to be exact. We arrived there at 6:25a. Now, by this time we have seen 6 hours of this new day go by on the clock. However, we have been on the move almost 12 hours due to flying back across time zones into the sunrise. In fact, 9 hours of that time has been spent sitting on airplanes.

Talking about sitting - we are going to sit for almost 8 hours in Frankfurt before leaving for Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We arrive at 6:25a after a 6 hour flight from Astana and then wait until 2:00p for the flight to Calgary. We will find the McDonalds and have gallons of coffee and talk, read, write, and plan future trips. It is good at these points to be travelling with someone as then one can try to sleep on the floor somewhere while the other stays awake and watches computers and travel documents as well as any money we may still have left.

We leave Frankfurt, Germany at 2:00p and fly for another 10 hours and 5 minutes - 11 hours on the plane. We arrive in Calgary at 4:05p - again due to flying into the sunrise. By this time we are exhausted (jet lag), our bodies don’t know if we are suppose to have breakfast, lunch or supper, and I have read a whole book and written two teachings for the following Sundays. Two hours after arriving in Calgary, clearing customs, finding bags, clearning baggage claims people, going through security again… I can board the final flight home to Regina… Leaves here at 6:10 and I arrive home in Regina by 8:30p on the “same day” I left Almaty, Kazakhstan although body time it is 8:30a the next day. Confusion anyone? Two days of jet lag will follow.

Your prayers during these travel days - with all the bombs recently, engines dropping off planes or catching fire, and other airline issues - including making connections, weather and volcanoes - would be greatly appreciated.