We are moving into “new land” at With Open Eyes. We are excited to announce a partnership with Church at Charlotte and SIM in joining efforts to redeem the country of Ethiopia.

We are so inspired by the movement that is taking place through the men and women of the Kale Heywet Church, which currently makes up 10% of the population in Ethiopia. For a denomination that has 8 million believers, their vision to extend the gospel in Ethiopia has not stopped there. They want to aggressively multiply disciple makers, increase church membership and extend discipleship training to more than 70 groups throughout Ethiopia.

To start the movement, they need 18 motorbikes by the end of the summer. That’s right, 18 motorbikes for a denomination of 8 million! That means 1 motorbike will serve over 600 churches.

The Lord has brought us into a new land and has once again opened our eyes. The land is fresh, it’s new, and it’s ready. As we move into this new land, will you consider planting a seed whether big or small?

Try this traditional Ethiopian recipe that’s a favorite of WOE friend and recipe contributer, 12 year old Ethiopian, Rahwa Slusarski.

It was originally a vegetarian non-spicy dish served at Lent. Now it is used year round and has the option of adding hot peppers or ground meat. Whatever the combination, it’s a healthy and easy favorite!

Ingredients:

1 head cabbage

4 carrots

2 potatoes (peeled & diced)

1 onion

1 small red bell pepper

2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp ginger powder

1 tsp turmeric

1 cube vegetable bouillon

salt and pepper to taste

yields: 4 servings

prep time: 30 minutes

total time: 60 minutes

“I had a crusade for one week where I witnessed to many people and 45 people gave their lives to Christ and 15 were baptized.”

“I have been involved with the slum evangelism. Together with my team we witnessed to many and 88 saved and baptized 25. The slum boys soccer team is doing very well and its and evangelistic tool.”

“I have a group women who meet every week to share Christ with the local women. They are making an impact in the community.” – Mobile Messenger

“We are building a church and orphanage and our community is coming to the Lord every day. 55 people saved in April.”

“I am doing discipleship training in my region and many of my members are becoming committed to serving God.”

“I had a youth conference and 259 youth attended. We taught them how to serve God and discipleship.”

“I am targeting to preach the gospel of Christ to people in an area starting in May, the people there have not been reached and they react very hostile towards the gospel. I am praying that you may all stand with me in prayer that God may lead me and provide His amazing grace o that when I face the people, they may have time to listen and even accept the gospel.”

“Pray together with me for one of the upcoming preachers in my church who has severe malaria attacks. Thanking God because the church is doing well and in particular WOE for their great support in completing the church building. It is almost done. My God Bless you mightly and bless you more!”

“God granted me favour when I went to preach to a region of mainly non-believers and amazingly 2 people gave their lives to Christ! Glory be to his name!”

“We had a conference in our area last week and witnessed God’s power when souls were surrendered to Christ. Thanking God so much because the church is growing and expanding!”

RWANDA

“As we are also nearing Pentecost, a premier event in Christianity in which God provided the original outpouring of His gift of Holy Spirit. Christ’s disciples were empowered to preach Christ without fear. It is our hope and trust that this Pentecostal season will refresh Mobile Messengers to keep announcing and calling men and women to faith in Jesus Christ with zeal and audacity.

We are too thankful unto the Lord because the gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached and evangelized in various places of Rwanda and also in Congo (DRC). We are receiving various reports on how the Lord is saving many people. The broken family relationships are being restored and forgiveness from individuals are taking place.

From the bottom of our heart, we highly recognize the bond and partnership between Church of Faith Rwanda and With Open Eyes. The Lord is using our working together to bring many into God’s kingdom.” – Ministry Partner, Church of Faith Rwanda

At the beginning of this year 2013, I left for a new district and so far the Lord has saved 60 people. Since most of the people are farmers, I get them to their farms and assist them to cultivate, plant and harvest. This act is making the ministry to be more effective. They have confessed that no any other preacher who worked with them. Pray for us as we make plan to baptize these dear ones on the day of Pentecost. I hope the number would have increased. The motorcycle is really helping me to reach many people in a far distance. Thank you for the support and prayers.”

“I take this opportunity to thank the Lord for not only the gift of life but also to have counted me worthy in the ministry. I have seen HIM taking care of my family and ministry in a tremendous way. We highly appreciate the Lord to have saved 156 men and women. We Plan to have them baptized at the day of Pentecost.  The Lord is granting us favor in those villages. We know this happened because WOE has stood with us prayerfully. The motorcycle is doing the great job. The people who can be reached in 10 hours on feet are now being reached in less than two hours. May the Lord keep blessing WOE.”

“I managed to contact very successful evangelistic rallies in which 140 people in one community gave their lives to Christ, another area 126 received Christ; the final community 130 also gave their lives to Christ. we did not leave these dear ones in dilemma. We organized a discipleship class, and these brothers and sisters are growing in the knowledge of the Word of God.”

“I ministered in the remote areas and 60 people were baptized, 90 kids dedicated to God. Thank you so much for accelerating my outreach programs. I now reach over 5 times faster than what I used to do without a motorcycle. May the Lord continue to expand territories for WOE and the Church of Faith In Rwanda.”

“We are not ashamed to let you know that we have experienced grace upon grace in our ministry. My ministry is focused in villages  bordering DRC. We took the evangelistic ministry in each village and the Lord saved 50 people in each village. The total of saved ones  rose to 200. Our gracious God is always good. He indeed assures us victory as we proclaim His Word.  We also assisted 7 people with basic medical insurance and prayed for the patients. ‘Indeed, we have seen the Gospel in Action,’ they said.”

“I have ministering to both patients and staff in Hospitals. While 200 patients and 10 staff gave their lives to Christ at one hospital, 110 patients and 5 staff gave as well gave their lives to Christ at the other hospital. I have made contacts with patients and I am making plan how to visit them and those living in the same place to begin a fellowship. We have already established two Fellowships. And The Lord is doing wonders. Thank you so much for your support in the ministry.”

“Thanks for WOE to have opened my eyes and see a need of reaching people with the Love of Jesus Christ.  My ministry is focused on market places, and on people who are traveling in buses. I normally pay for transport, get into a bus and travels with passengers as I share out the Gospel. This method has been effective and many have turned to the Lord. At market place 300 hundred received Christ and are attending churches.  In buses, 150 got saved.  Pray with me as I keep moving even outside of the city. It is my hope that the Lord of Harvest will save more before this year ends.”

“I really thank God for the success of the ministry in April. We were able to have ministry from home to home in 8 villages. The Lord of harvest saved 600 hundred people. We have established discipleship classes and these brothers and sisters are enjoying the classes. Our hope is to have them grow in faith and join us to reach more for Jesus Christ. Beside this, we reached people in market place, showing Jesus’ film. Many enjoyed watching. We thank God that 200 got saved. We planned to have film show for consecutive 3 days but we ended up having it for 2 days because the tools were not ours. People came in thousands for the last day and found nothing being shown. Pray with us to get our own tools for Jesus Film.”

As we have reported last time, Church of Faith In Rwanda has managed to disciple Mobile Messengers in DRC (Congo). These brothers really need prayers and support. The people being ministered to, are internally displaced in camps and in various locations. “Our mobile messengers have not stopped ministering and witnessing. They are moving from camp to camp preaching and reminding people of the love of God despite the challenges. They are thankful to God for the temporary stop of aggression from the rebels and are praying that a lasting solution be reached so they may return to their homes and restart all over again. We praise God for all our Mobile Messengers serving God in season and out of season.” – Ministry Partner, Church of Faith Rwanda

“For sure, I am grateful to get this noble opportunity to share out how the ministry went in the month of April, 2013. I am based in Mugunga camp. My family and I are still in displaced peoples camp after fleeing the war. Due to war, the innocent people lost their lives. I am therefore based there as I bring the Gospel of hope to the orphans, windows and widowers. Most of these people view God as the one who is far away from people and He is not concerned with what they are going through. Most of the time I’ am in Camp with them reminding them that in the midst of difficulties, God remains God and He cares for His creation. I am overwhelmed to let you know that 200 people gave their lives to Christ. Keep praying with me. Children are malnourished and some of them are dying. There is no regular relief support.  It is not easy to minister to people like these. But alive seed does not fear the soil.”

SOUTH SUDAN

Do you love to pray and love the work of Mobile Messengers? Then, we need YOU as a WOE Prayer Warrior!

Each Monday from 12-1 pm EST, our team and a group of prayer warriors gather together to pray at the WOE office in Charlotte, NC. It’s an awesome opportunity to come before our Creator, be still, and pray in community for all involved through the ministry of With Open Eyes.

For our friends around the world and in other areas of the U.S., we would love to have you join us in prayer from right where you are!

For more information or to let us know you’re joining the team, contact us at: info@withopeneyes.net.

Here are a few pictures of the building process and newly finished church they helped make possible. Each step in the process of this project is a beautiful illustration of Christ’s body coming together to change lives and communities in His name.

(Click on picture to enlarge)

“I visited the Hospital and 2 people got saved. I also opened a church 25 miles away as demanded by two youth who got saved when I witnessed to them in the town there. I do go there on Tuesdays and Fridays to them. Now there are already five that are saved awaiting baptism.” – Mobile Messenger

“I made two days seminar. 120 people attended and 2 people gave their lives to Christ. It is really a great joy to us as Christians because God has given us this opportunity to win His people to Christ.” – Mobile Messenger

“A discipleship training was of great testimony in the life of the believers under the teaching. 30 people attended from three churches and three prayer centers. Though they were with challenges and struggle in life they have gain strength in the Lord. One of the most challenges was the discouragement, advice of going to witch doctor for healing especially those with no children and the sick. In their testimonies they talk of having a full commitment in the Lord Jesus despite the challenges they will remain to serve God.” – Mobile Messenger

Kenya

“Encouraged when I visited an elderly lady with an intention of helping her. I found her desperate and ill. She told me that the doctor advised her to be on special diet but she didn’t have the money to buy the diet. When I offered her my help she almost fainted in disbelief. She really glorified God that finally her prayers had been answered and that God had finally remembered her.” – Ministry Partner, S. Kenya

“It’s my joy when to see the work of God progress, though sometimes we face challenges like rejection but finally witness God’s power when souls are won for Christ.” - Mobile Messenger, S. Kenya

          

Two beautiful women who went on a trip with us this past September saw the body in Kenya suffering, and decided they couldn’t just walk away. Their words and prayers became alive and active.

Upon returning home Miss Jackie Pegram was burdened for the Maasai people. She gathered a group of 4^th grade girls to start raising money to finish building a church in a village that had none. The funds were raised and recently sent. We are eagerly anticipating the pictures of the completed church!

By all accounts Dee Armbruster is known as a sweet, quiet woman with a gentle spirit, but she is also a woman with a fiery passion and a hardened determination to bring His love to others. Dee recently used her talents in baking to raise support for issues near and dear to her heart along with creating a personal fundraising page to rally friends and family around the cause. Through her efforts, the church in Namanga, Kenya has been able to enhance their ministry and tangibly bless those in need in their community.

This past week, we were so humbled and blessed to receive a gift in honor of Richard Steele, a long time member of the Lancaster South Carolina Rotary Club and missionary to Africa. His son, Bliss Steele, helped organize the effort to provide the necessary resources for a pastor overseas to go farther in delivering the spiritual and physical message of Hope. We can’t thank the Lancaster Rotary Club enough for the invitation and their generous gift!

It’s a beautiful thing when we move past a relationship that is based strictly on giving or receiving and shift into a place where we are a family…where the church is taking care of the church.

As we stared out into the horizon all we saw was smoke and flames. There was an all consuming fire that was ravaging the land. Everywhere you look, the ground was black and charred. Everything was dead.

Right now in South Sudan, it is one of the hottest most miserable times of the year because it is the peak of dry season. The farmers and hunters are burning the land to clear it for the next season…rainy season. But this isn’t just any rain that’s coming, it’s redemption rain.

Before the rains come there is a sense of hopelessness over the land. It’s hot, everything is dead, and there is no end in sight. One wonders…what good could come from this dry, burnt place? Some would say nothing good will come from here, but then again someone once said, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

There is an eager anticipation for the rains to come to birth life from this dead ground. And much like this physical anticipation…there is a spiritual anticipation from sons and daughters who have never heard the good news of the Savior who came out of Nazareth to breath life onto their dead, dry bones.

Some might think that the rains will come to wash away this all consuming fire, rather the fire will take care of itself. Once it burns everything it can, the fire will subside. It is at this point when redemption rain starts to pour from the heavens. There will always be a remnant from the ground that can’t be touched by the fire, but once touched by the rains  it will produce fruit. It’s just a matter of burning away all that doesn’t belong so these rains can water what still remains.

In South Sudan, we visited a church and the people there showed us the foundation to their first church. This church was burned to the ground and their pastor was taken away to later be tortured and killed. It would appear a hopeless situation that has literally been burned to the ground…yet redemption rain came after the fires and watered the remnant.

As we stared at the foundation to the old church, in the background there was a beautiful new brick church that was bigger and more sturdy than the first.

The winter has passed and the spring has come. A once dark and gloomy season that has left some without hope is over, and the rains are coming to water everything that remains. The dead and desolate places in our lives are being awakened once again. Your new season is here. 

Blessings, The Partner Relations Team

Ingredients:

1 cup of wheat flour

1 cup of white flour

2 tbsp of oil or ghee

3/4 – 1 cup of warm water

salt to taste

Method

Pour the flour into a bowl, add the salt and give the mixture a good mix. Add the water (a little at a time) as you knead the flour (with clean hands!) Mix for a while, then add the oil and keep kneading until you are happy with the consistency of the dough. It should be smooth. Cover the dough and let it stand for at least half an hour minutes.

Knead it again for good measure then divide into balls. The size of the balls is dependent on how big and how thick you want your chapatti. Flatten each ball – on a lightly floured surface to prevent the dough sticking to the surface. Roll out to your desired thickness and size. They should however not be too thin. Put a lightly greased flat pan on fire that’s not too hot; carefully pry the chapati off the board and put it on the pan.

Cook that side until light brown then turn and repeat for the other side. Cook until nicely browned, if one side begins to burn, add a little oil onto the pan.

Do the same for each chapati. Wipe the pan regularly with kitchen tissue or greaseproof paper because the flour used during the rolling process sometimes sticks to the pan. Remove the chapati and put into foil paper or warm oven to keep warm.

Teresa Henderson joined our team in February as Office Manager. She grew up attending church as her dad was first a worship leader and then a pastor. Teresa takes after her dad in that she loves music and has served the Lord in Christian ministries for most of her adult life.  Although, her family moved around a lot when she was growing up, she calls Texas her home.  She received her college degree in Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas.  Teresa is married to Clayton and they have a daughter Tisha and two grandchildren, Chloe and Grace.  She says she counts it a privilege to be a part of the With Open Eyes team and looks forward to what God will accomplish through this ministry.

A few need-to-know facts about Teresa:

1. Will take any opportunity to go to the beach
2. Loves chocolate!
3. Is always looking for a new project
4. Moved more than 12 times during her school age years

Last but not least, Michelle McNeill has come on board as part of our Field and Partner Relations team. Michelle has a huge heart for the Lord and for His people. She spent most of her life outside of Cleveland, Ohio and loved the name so much she eventually went to college in Cleveland, Tennessee at Lee University. After college, Michelle worked in Women’s Ministry at Central Church of God in Charlotte, but the Lord started stirring something new in her heart after a few years. After much prayer, she participated in a journey called “The World Race” which is a missions program that allowed her to travel and minister in 11 different countries in 11 months. The ministries ranged from orphan care to sex-trafficking ministries, to preaching and encouraging in local communities. It was here where the Lord really started breaking Michelle’s heart for His people. It was also here where she met her husband, Garrett. Michelle and Garrett got married in September and from the beginning have felt compelled to be in ministry together. Michelle is so excited about  the new opportunities the Lord is presenting and the doors He is opening!