Greetings from Asia! May the Lord bless and prosper you in every way in 2008.

Teddy and I want to thank you for your prayer, for your love and support, and for your generous giving the past year. We could not accomplish what we are doing without your help. Last year we made tremendous strides in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia, and laid strong foundations in Russia and Belarus. (The Ministering Spiritual Gifts Manual and my activation book are now published in Russian, and we have established a CI Russia office to disseminate prophetic and apostolic teaching/training throughout the Russian speaking nations.) Your help was so important.

Because this help is so vital, let me start by explaining the Apostolic Fund Supporters:

A couple years ago, the Lord showed me to believe for 300 persons to give US $1000 for that particular year. Thus, again in 2008, I am asking for 300 persons to rise up and help us. Roughly, I am asking for 100 persons each from Japan and Korea, and the remaining 100 from the rest of Asia, the US, and Canada. You are part of the team. My commitment is to pray for you individually. So please let me know if/when you have prayer needs.

Please note that this is a one-time only pledge, and applies to that given year. You can give it at any time throughout the year in one lump sum, or in several installments. Again, my part of this contract is to pray for your needs specifically. Please use the form to sign up new, or if you had a previous pledge and wish to renew for 2008, please use the same form. Thank you and God bless you!

Our annual New Year’s Conference was held Jan 2-4 with Rich Marshall and he brought powerful and effective teachings on the apostolic entrepreneur. I ministered on what I felt were keys for this new year. I have posted some of them below.

KEYS FOR 2008

KEY ONE – Resurrecting your vision

The Lord suddenly led me to speak about the resurrecting of the Shunamite woman’s son. I guess it was because I sensed many were tired. They were faithful and committed, but a zest and exuberance seemed absent. Perhaps it was because a vision they had been given had not turned out as expected. The following teaching really broke the heaviness that was upon them. Here is an abbreviation of what I shared:
1. Originally, she had chosen to support Elisha and his ministry simply because he was a man of God. She expected nothing in return. However, as a result of his prophecy, she received a son (2 Kings 4:13,17). This is like you and me. We serve the Lord because He is God, and not because we expect a reward. Yet, He has blessed us by giving us ministries, promotions, and opportunities.
2. The son died, prematurely and accidentally (4:20). Some of us have had great vision or projects that prematurely, for some unknown reason, just began to decline or even die.
3. This caused great distress to her (4:27), and she was determined that Elisha himself come and fix the situation. I feel God is asking us to have determination to put a “draw” or “pull” on Him to fix the situation. Unless it gets resurrected, there will be a pall or veil over us that hinders us from going forward.
4. Elisha stretched himself upon the corpse (4:34), and life began to return to the dead body. If your vision has died or been terminated, go back to the promises of God; fully embrace the vision. As you do, Jesus Himself will pour life into your vision.
5. The boy began to sneeze and was resurrected (4:35). Interestingly, as I led the people in prayer and a reembracing of the promises and vision God had given, some began to sneeze. To me it was a sign that God was resurrecting vision and faith.

This message is available in full as either a podcast or a downloadable file.

KEY TWO - Joining the Lord in night watches

I have been profoundly impacted by the fact the Lord will often call us to “watch with Him.” Personally, I have been lead to observe the late night watch (between midnight and 3 am) for 21 days (Jan 6-26). I am doing it because the Lord wants to break obstacles including betrayal and covenant-breaking that have hindered His work in Asia.

I feel that being willing to respond to the watch of the Lord is a key for this year. This will bring great fruitfulness to our days, keep us from being scattered, and cause advancement and multiplication. The key for me was the revelation that Jesus Himself wants to come and pray with us (Heb 7:25). So, don’t think of the watch as an activity that we must do: rather, we simply respond to the Lord, and join Him when He calls us. It is exciting to know the Lord calls us to join Him, because this means He wants to move mightily on our behalf. I highly recommend Chuck Pierce’s teaching on the Watches of the Lord. He points out that there are 4 watches 6 pm-9 pm; 9 pm to midnight; midnight to 3 am; and 3 am until 6 am. We don’t have to do all of them all the time, but we need to be alert and respond to the Lord and watch with Him. This will bring great productivity and efficiency to our days.

KEY THREE - Declarations

Last year I began to discover that making declarations is one of the most powerful spiritual weapons at our disposal. God already has a plan along with the necessary resources to carry it out. It requires our declaration to “loose” that plan and allow it to come into effect (See Mt18:18). If we don’t declare, then the plan remains bottled up in the heavenlies.

Here are some declarations that I began to make last year and see as key for 2008:

• CI Asia network will grow quickly. I declared a doubling of churches in Japan in a short time, as well as great expansion in Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Russia.
• A large increase in finances, especially for Japan Alive – this also includes land being given for permanent headquarters in some of the other nations.
• That doors for broadcasting will continue to open not just in Japan, but Korea, and Taiwan and other nations.
• That ROI (Corporate Training) would move ahead. I see this as key to reaching corporate culture in Japan and other Asian nations

KEY FOUR – Think New

This is a last minute addition. But already the Lord has been giving me dreams about changes. Some changes at first will not seem pleasant but will result in doubling of influence and opportunity. I believe we need to keep asking the Lord to help us see with new eyes.

Indonesia – A new beginning?

It has been almost 3 years since I last was in this nation. The day before I left for here, I received this prophecy from a Malaysian intercessor. In the short time that I have been here, I can attest that this word is very accurate. It’s also remarkable in that the intercessor did not know I had had a 3-year hiatus regarding Indonesia. Here is that word:

“…The Lord is saying that there will be a new start in Jakarta; that the prophetic anointing will flow in a new dimension that people have never experienced before that will prepare for the revival there. Stirring people to repentance and the word being proclaimed, new wine is being poured down; the fire of the Lord will burn in the hearts of the people. Arise to take dominion for Jakarta…”

Indonesia does seem to be opening up again. I am scheduled to be in Jakarta in March with Bishop Hamon. In addition, I will probably come two more times in 2008.

SCHEDULE:

Jan 12-20 Jakarta, Indonesia
Jan 27-31 Seoul, Korea – conference with Bishop Hamon and Rich Marshall
Feb 3 Sano, Japan
Feb 16-20 CI Korea
Feb 23 – Church Planting Seminar, Tokyo,
Feb 24 – Sano