Pastor John and Terry Stenen

In May, I had a wonderful time ministering at Word of Faith Fellowship in Avoca, Minnesota with our friends, Pastor John and Terry Stenen, who founded the church in 1982.

Pastor John attended Rhema Bible Training Center where he was encouraged by one of his instructors, Bob Yandian, to take time and seek the Lord before accepting a pastorate and to go where God wanted him to go. John had other opportunities after graduating, but ended up in Avoca (population 111) when he read a request that had been sent to Rhema saying, “We are in a mess and desperately need help. If anyone would come to this area, they must be called by God.”

Both John and Terry felt that this was the area where they were to go and establish their ministry, and they have been there ever since. The church began in their home, and when they ran out of room, a door opened for them to rent and eventually purchase the building where the church is now, on the corner of Main Street and US Highway 59 in Avoca.

In the early days of their ministry, they were led to take the Gospel to other nearby towns. They partnered with other ministries to bring a Gospel tent to Worthington, Fulda, Avoca, Lamberton, and other communities. There was much opposition from more traditional churches in those days but yet many lives were touched by the Gospel they preached, including some denominational pastors.

Many lives have been changed in their 40-plus years of ministry. Families have come and gone and moved to other areas. But the work continues as Pastor John and Terry and the congregation are faithful to preach the Gospel and hold true to the Word of God.

Word of Faith Fellowship is one of the churches where we have ministered for many years. It was good to visit them again, enjoy the fellowship, and minister the Word of God. I spoke on “Activating the Holy Spirit,” especially about the biblical practice of speaking in other tongues in your personal devotional life. I shared many examples from my own life and others about how the power of the Holy Spirit was released through praying in the Spirit.

We Need the Holy Spirit

I am convinced that we need the dynamic working of Holy Spirit in these days to combat the apathy and darkness in the land. The Scriptures tell us that if our Gospel is hid, it is hid to those whose mind is blinded by the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) In other words, the resistance to the Gospel is a result of Satan putting blinders on people’s eyes. It is a spiritual problem, and we need the Holy Spirit to break through the darkness and bring light to the people. This can only come through prayer, and as we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit.

I was recently reading about the present-day move of God in the United Kingdom. The UK has been, generally speaking, very cold toward the Gospel in recent years, but now God is moving.

• In Hackney, East London hundreds of young people from three local churches stay up all night to pray and seek God. Al Gordon writes: “I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s a remarkable sense of consecrating love setting apart the young, calling them to holiness.” 
• In Trafalgar Square in London, England thousands gather to hear the gospel. Many were healed and saved. Evangelist Daniel Chand sums it up in one word: “Historic”.
• St Aldates, Oxford where George Whitfield gave his life to Christ, is overflowing. So many young people give their lives to Christ that they lose count.
• Over Easter, many churches reported bumper attendances, and many reported people coming to Christ and being baptized. (Source: Joel News)

With all the negative news were are bombarded with each day, it’s good to hear some positive reports from around the world. We need to take heart from these reports. What God is doing in the UK and elsewhere He can do right where we are living, as we pray! The Bible tells us:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams . . . And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:17, 21, KJV).

We see that God has predicted a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We saw it in the early days of the Church, and we are seeing it again today. The result of this outpouring is not just goosebumps and emotional ecstasy, but it is something that will bring forth the salvation of souls. This is what I am expecting to see in these days!

The Country Church

Susan and I also had an opportunity to visit our friends at the Country Church in Ruthton, Minnesota. This is another church where we have enjoyed a long and blessed relationship. Frank Vanderbush, nephew of the illustrious late evangelist Henry Vanderbush, has been pastor at the Coutry Church since Rich Detuyter got his ticket to glory in 2021. We are encouraged to see that the church is continuing to do well.

Susan encouraged the people to support and encourage one another, and I shared a message called “God is Able!” about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. God is able to turn your impossible situation around! Jesus said that we would do the works that He did. Once you raise the dead, every other miracle should be easy!

Susan and I want to be a part of what God is doing in this hour. We know that God has anointed us and given us much experience in the past 40-plus years of ministry that God can use in this last-days move of God. We want to be right in the middle of this revival and continue to connect with those who need help and encouragement to move with God in these times.

Prayer Needs

I would like to ask for your prayers for my ministry at Kids at the Point Youth Camp in Hendricks, Minnesota, on June 25-28. Our friend, Pastor Chris Caugherty, who was co-director of the camp with his wife, Joyce, went home to be with the Lord last November. Pastor Joyce is continuing with the camp this year. Please pray that I will be able to relate to the kids, perhaps not so much as a youth minister, but as a father or grandfather who can manifest the love of our heavenly Father to them. Thank you for your prayers!

Your encouragement, prayers, and financial support are such an important part of what God is doing in this ministry. Together we are reaching out with the only message that can change lives and change the world—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You are in our hearts and in our prayers every day!

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