March 1997
Contents:
Hi Dear Friends,
We hope that all is well with you, and that you are enjoying "God's Open Heaven in `97." We are doing our best to remain under the down spout, and to flow "it" on to others.
We are well aware of the special grace that God has given us, as we are privileged to be a part of what He is doing in the world today. He is continuing the acceleration for PHW. We are excited about the future, and awed by the past. A few statistics will illustrate what we mean, along with mention of several other topics.
God has caused a number of quality teams/couples/singles to join PHW in our vision to train ministry teams in the local church and for the Body of Christ, and to provide a safe place for leadership (and potential leadership) to receive effective RTF ministry. At this time, there are 5 full-time, and 3 part-time teams. We also have two full-time office staff. In addition, there are several more teams preparing to join PHW. They are currently in the training and "seasoning" process.
The CI/PHW Healing House continues to serve more and more people, as they come for Restoring the Foundations ministry. For example, in 1995, a total of 108 people received ministry using the one week intensive format. This number increased to almost 200 in 1996. If the current rate continues, we will minister to at least 350 people in 1997. This is a real big "Praise the Lord," as we see significant changes in people's lives as they are set free of the curses, bondages, wrong mind-sets, and demonic oppression, that has held them back from the fullness of their Christian walk.
We were excited to commission the first regional Healing House in October, 1996. Please see the article further down for more details.
We have continued to conduct Healing/Deliverance and Training Seminars throughout the United States. We led 20 seminars in 1996, about the same as in 1995. We are grateful for the opportunity to minister to large groups of people, teaching and demonstrating to them how to receive God's freedom and healing for the soul and spirit (II Cor 7:1).
Several of the teams associated with PHW are now trained and qualified to lead these seminars. Tommy and Pat James, John and Mary Webster, along with the Watkins (see article on Healing House Network) on the West Coast, conducted 6 seminars in 1996. If you would like one of these teams to lead a seminar at your church, please contact us.
We enjoyed leading the first MEOW in February. See the accompanying articles about the first MEOW and the second one scheduled for May, 1997.
We are excited about the upcoming meetings in the mountains of North Carolina. The Activation Seminar will be the third one that PHW has sponsored in NC in the summer at High Pastures retreat center in Burnsville. See the accompanying article if you are interested in attending.
We are very excited about hosting the second Advanced Conference, also in the mountains of NC. Please see the accompanying article if you are an experienced RTFM minister. We would love to see you there.
Over the last couple of years, we have received several prophecies (from seasoned, mature prophets) that we would begin to travel overseas in 1997 to further spread the revelation given to us about God's freedom and healing, and the process for rapidly training effective Christian RTF ministry teams. Well, it seems to be coming to pass.
In the last half of August, we are scheduled to go to Russia. Missionary Carl Vincent has arranged for us to teach for two weeks in a Bible college in Siberia (Thanks a lot, Brother Carl!). The Russian pastor has already had Restoring the Foundations translated. We may take another team with us (or have them arrive as we finish the seminars), so that we can train at least one or two Russian teams while we are there.
This trip is a major commitment for us, as it will take about $6000 per team to finance the trip, not to mention the "lost" income for the time away. Please pray with us concerning this trip. To date, we already have contributions of $3,300 for the trip. We are very appreciative and thankful for those who have a heart to help us advance the Kingdom of God into the nations.
In November, we will go to South Africa for a similar introduction of RTFM into that country. We may have several teams accompany us on this trip.
We are planning a trip to Japan and South Korea in March of 1998. Missionary Ron Sawka, head of CI Asia, is organizing this trip. He and his wife Teddy are trained RTFM ministers, and are already raising up ministry teams in Japan. Ron is translating Restoring the Foundations into Japanese. Thank you, Ron, for helping as we go about "Proclaiming His Word."
Chester and Betsy Kylstra
PS: Please notice our new phone number. We have moved our ministry offices into larger quarters. The mailing address remains the same.
In February, we held the first Marriage Enrichment
Oneness Weekend (MEOW), as we had announced in the August 1996 newsletter. It was a lot of
fun for us, and very meaningful for the couples. We enjoyed the
facilities at the "Times of Refreshing" retreat near
DeFuniak Springs, Florida. They did a great job hosting us.
The main emphasis of the MEOW was to identify the dysfunctional patterns coming out of our hurts, gain understanding about them, eliminate the hindrances locking us into the patterns, and proceed to rebuild the physical, emotional, and spiritual areas of our marriages. All of the couples testified to making significant progress during the weekend.
We alternated teaching times with times for ministry, small
group sharing, and couple-alone times. Ministry included times of
forgiveness, healing, and deliverance. We all were challenged as
we practiced communication skills. Some enjoyed rest and peaceful
time with the Lord. The weekend culminated with a time of sharing
communion, and marriage recommitment. It was a very special time.
We reluctantly said our "Good-byes" and prepared to go our various ways. Could all that have really happened in only forty-eight hours?
I can't say "Thank You" for everything, but I do "Thank You" for everything. See you in June if not sooner.
The seminar was all I expected and more. I received greater understanding of the strongholds in my life and how to remove them. Thank you for being here for us.
Thank you for a wonderful weekend.
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Keep it up! This far exceeded my expectations. A real blessing.
Have you been thinking about a romantic getaway weekend with your honey, one that would also "Enrich" your marriage, and help move you toward that "Oneness" that God wants for you?
The next MEOW for couples, scheduled for May 2-4, will follow
a format similar to the February MEOW. We are delighted that John
and Mary Webster will be teaching and ministering with us. (You
may also check the August 1996 newsletter
for more details.)
We have reserved a beautiful Inn at Highland Lake Resort in Flatrock, NC, (30 miles south of Asheville, NC) for the second MEOW. This is a five star resort, featuring organic gourmet meals and beautiful surroundings. The 16 bedrooms in this Inn are spacious and romantic. Please note; we did not select this place to keep the costs down, but rather to have a "blow-out" honeymoon weekend, combining luxury with godly marriage enrichment. The MEOW starts with the Friday evening meal and ends with the Sunday mid-day meal.
The cost per couple is $595, with a deposit of $400 required. The cost includes lodging, meals, and registration fee for one couple.
Please note, MEOW is NOT FOR COUPLES in crisis, nor on the brink of separation. In these cases, the CI/PHW Healing House is recommended as the place to go. Please don't apply for the MEOW unless your marriage is already "purring" and you are looking for more "purr." The MEOW is designed to be in addition to, an enrichment of, your personal ministry, not a replacement.
The maximum number of couples is fourteen.
Attending a MEOW is on a first come basis. That is, rooms will be assigned as couples submit their deposit of $400. The remainder of the cost will be due two weeks before the start of the MEOW (April 19). Once all of the available rooms are assigned, we will close the registration and start a "standby" list for those desiring this.
Please provide for your personal transportation. The closest airport is Asheville. However, the Atlanta airport is about 3-4 hours away. Sometimes it is less expensive to fly into Atlanta, rent a car, and drive from there.
The MEOW is focused on your marriage and only indirectly on family. Please do not bring children with you, as there are no arrangements for them.
As we reported in the August newsletter and its supplement, we will be having the Advanced Conference: in the beautiful facilities of the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly near Black Mountain, NC, about 15 miles East of Asheville. The dates are June 13-16, starting late Friday afternoon for registration, and finishing Monday midday.
Blue Ridge Assembly is located on 1200 acres of woodlands with comfortable, clean, hotel-style lodging, glass-walled dining room, and a wonderful chapel just right for our meetings. There are the usual recreation options available, with hiking trails, swimming pool, exercise room, crafts, etc.
At this time, we feel that the purpose of the Advanced Conference will be similar to last year's: that is, to build relationships with other RTFM ministers, trainers, oversight, and church programs; to share the ministry revelations that the Lord has given to each of us; and to enjoy His presence as we, of similar spirit and vision, gather together in His Name. We expect it to be a wonderful time!
The cost for a team (two people) is $395, including lodging, meals, and the seminar registration. Please print the response box at the end of this page, and mail it in with your deposit, or call us to obtain an application and to leave your deposit using a credit card. It would be very helpful to us to know your intentions as soon as possible, and not later than May 5th.
As we reported in the August newsletter and its supplement, we will again be sponsoring an Activation Seminar: at High Pastures retreat center in Burnsville, NC. The dates are June 9-12, starting Monday late afternoon and concluding Thursday midday.
Attending an Activation Seminar is the first step in the training process to becoming a Restoring the Foundations minister. In addition to the Kylstras, there will be other experienced RTFM trainers present as small group leaders. The focus of the training occurs in the small groups, as we pair up and minister one to another, "practicing" the different aspects of RTFM under the watchful eye of a trainer. Of course, we will be doing some teaching and demonstration, but the best way to learn is to "do it". As we invite the Holy Spirit to work through us, the "doing it" brings God's healing to another person, as well as benefiting our learning. We want to help you become the very best minister possible.
The cost for a team is $495, including lodging, meals, and the seminar registration. We can guarantee that price for the first twenty-four registrants. After that, there may be an increase due to more expensive lodging. See the response page (below) for more details.
Those attending the Activation Seminar may also attend the Advanced Conference. The day between the seminars will give those of us attending both seminars some sightseeing time in North Carolina before showing up at Blue Ridge Assemble Friday afternoon. If you will want to stay at High Pastures an extra night (Thursday night), we will make that reservation for you at their daily rate.
The first regional Healing House was commissioned in October, 1996. Several ministry teams in the House of Glory church in Atascadero, CA, completed the training, "gaining experience," and evaluation process.
Pastors Fred and Tanna Watkins are the Oversight Ministry Team. Besides being qualified as a Restoring the Foundations ministry (RTFM) team, they have also qualified as leaders of the Restoring the Foundations Healing/Deliverance Seminar. Tanna also qualified as a trainer of RTFM ministry teams. We are proud of their accomplishments, and their commitment to serve God and His people with excellence.
We are pleased to network with the Watkins, the House of Glory church, and the ministry teams. We look forward to many years of serving the Body of Christ together. We rejoice with them at the many lives already touched by God as they have come to the House of Glory Healing House. We invite those of you living in the West to benefit from the closer location of this Healing House. We recommend it to you. The House of Glory Healing House phone number is: 805-461-0372.
Just a reminder about our Internet Web Site. We have recently updated, upgraded, and added to this site. If you, or someone you know, is interested in knowing more about Proclaiming His Word (PHW), this web site is an easy way to accomplish this. Every aspect of the ministry is described. This information is the most complete expose of PHW of any publication we have. We even have excerpts from several of our resources so people can sample them before deciding to purchase them.
We update our schedule page periodically, so you can stay up-to-date with where and when the various seminars are occurring. We are also posting copies of all newsletters since January, 1996. (In fact, this newsletter will be on the Internet before the US Postal Service (via bulk mail) delivers it to your address.)
Cruise on over to the PHW Home Page at: www.phw.org.
If you would like to visit the Christian International Web Site, their address is: www.cimn.net.
If you are interested in any of the following events, please contact us immediately:
**Note: Lodging is limited to 14 couples at the second MEOW, so we will assign rooms on a "first come, first served" basis as you send in your deposit. (You may call and register by phone using your credit card if your desire.) Your deposit will be refunded (less $25 administration cost) if you cancel your registration at least two weeks before the starting date. We will maintain your name on a standby list if you request that we do so.
For additional information, please Contact Proclaiming His Word.