Open Arms 242

OAIM Updates

Jeffrey Hoglen — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 04:51:00 GMT

Just want to write a few things down before I head overseas to do some training with our leadership and core team of the new church outside Manila. Please pray for Open Arms Revolution Church. It's a whole new work with some fresh ideas, some kickn music as well some pretty relevant teachings.

I want to share some of my other other blogs with you. I tend to update these more frequently than this blog.
www.churchplantingtoday.com
www.authenticoutreach.com
www.worldmissionstoday.com

Here is a prayer request from Sarpee Tubman, one of our apostolic team members and overseer for the churches in Philadelphia as well as Liberia, West Africa.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Please continue to Pray for the following as we continue to do so:
Raising $100 will buy 20 thick blankets.
Raising $250 will buy school books for 500 children.
Raising $500 will feed 30 orphans for 3 months.
That staff will to continue donating thousands of volunteer hours, supplying hope and love to these children.

Online Store to Help Raise Funding

Jeffrey Hoglen — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:44:00 GMT

We are happy to announce a new online store from an OAIM sister website - www.churchplantingtoday.com . This is a blog site that I started a few months back. Sales from the online store will help OAIM fund church planting in the Philippines as well as outreach efforts around the world.
ONLINE STORE

The store is powered by Amazon.com so if you use Amazon regularly please consider using our store as the "gateway to Amazon.com". The prices are the same and you will be helping OAIM to help others.

The store features Christian books from A-Z as well as musical instruments and MP3 downloads. Hope you will consider shopping with us!

Jeff

Still Heading up the Mountain

Jeffrey Hoglen — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:26:00 GMT

Here is Pastor Matt giving an update as we continue our journey up the mountain in Talakag, Bukidnon in Mindanao Philippines.

http://openarms242.com/2009/05/24/still-heading-up-the-mountain.aspx

Mission to the Philippines May 2009

Jeffrey Hoglen — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:58:00 GMT

Here's a short vid of us going up the mountain to Talakag, Bukidnon
on the southern island of Mindanao Philippines.
http://openarms242.com/2009/05/20/mission-to-the-philippines-may-2009.aspx

"Get Real" Outreach Seminar

Jeffrey Hoglen — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:17:00 GMT

Tony Mcvickers and I taught the " Get Real" Seminar on Saturday April 25 at Trinity Full Gospel Church in Fayetteville NC. Tony and I go way back and it was an awesome time of fellowship and impartation.

The first part of the day was spent teaching about various outreach methods with an emphasis on servant evangelism. After a quick lunch the groups were given some basic instructions and then sent out to implement what they had just learned.

Later that night, I received an email from Brother Kenny (our host) and was told about the great time each group had and the fruit that they have already seen from their experience. The best part of his email: The groups got together late yesterday evening and shared the various stories of their day. They realized they could do one of two they could let the "seed" of outreach knowledge 1) go dormant or 2) germinate. Before departing they made an agreement that this "seed" will grow ...touching lives and impacting eternity!

Praise God!

Thanks to Kenny and the Trinity Full Gospel family for the warm welcome, and spending the day with us! I pray that those in attendance will be the catalyst that ignites a thirst for outreach in their church!

__________________

Talakag Farm Project

Jeffrey Hoglen — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:33:00 GMT

This past January, I traveled to the Philippines to kick-off 2 new ministries: 1) micro-enterprise ministry - Lagonloong, Mindanao and 2) Village Farm Project - Talakag, Mindanao. I just received an email with pictures of the farm project. They are getting ready to harvest their eggplant crop and are excited about all that is happening. It has brought the village together in unity, with each helping in their neighbors fields. I'm looking forward to visitng them this May!

More than Ministry...

Jeffrey Hoglen — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:08:00 GMT

Ministry success is not enough. We need 4 things that never go out of style....4 things that keep us grounded and on track.

1. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit – the anointing, not a cool website, breaks the yoke. It's very easy to get a big head when we"read our own press" or receive compliments from various people.

2. Stay close to God – studying the Bible is not about getting a message from God, but about being with Him. Sharing with other is done through the overflow.

3. Develop godly character – gifting will grow a ministry; character will sustain a ministry; lack of character will destroy a ministry. I read a quote that goes something like - "character is how you act when nobody is watching".

4. Prioritize marriage and family – nothing is more important; nothing is more challenging; and nothing is more fulfilling. I remember when Christina - our daughter was in a terrible car accident. Nothing else mattered! The bills...the job....and even the ministry.

OAIM Update March 2009

Jeffrey Hoglen — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:08:00 GMT

Just wanted to do a quick update. Time is flying by and it seems as though there arent enough hours in the day at times. I am so thankful for the love and prayers of the OAIM family.

Its always great to get praise reports from all over the world. God is truly amazing! So much is going on I dont really know where to start....but lets go ahead and drop some big news:

Open Arms Manila

I have had this feeling that I would be pastoring another church in the future. Long story made short - After much prayer and counsel it is apparent that the location of the church will be in the Manila area. I will be going to the Philippines in May to make a final determination on the exact area and also to meet with those who have expressed interest in joining us on this adventure. The launch date for the church is Easter 2010.

Open Arms Liberia

The following is from Sarpee Tubman - the OAIM overseer for Liberia.

Praise report and prayer concerns.

Thank God for teaching opportunity and a listening ear and receptive hearts of the orphans to the word of God
Thank God for King’s Highway Ministries extension into Africa
Thanks for all your support and prayers
Thanks for the tutoring classes we have started to begin empowering children with letter, number and word identification, until the school is build
Thanks for enabling us take 20 kids for their malaria shots in February 09
Pray for funds to immunized the balance 80 kids against the malaria epidemic at $6.00 per child**
Pray for an emergency food supply needed at $45.00 per 100 Lbs. bag of rice **
Pray that the balance 35,000 bricks for the school for orphans and disadvantage children will be provided

180 Degrees Church - Myrtle Beach

OAIM welcomes Pastor Stuart and the 180 crew to the OAIM family. the church has moved to a new locale and are doing some great things for the kingdom! Check out their site: www.180-degrees.net

Open Arms Christian Fellowship - Fayetteville

OACF is ministering in so many ways its hard to keep track! The outreach to the homeless population "Hope in a Backpack" is seeing fruit and making a difference in the city. The sports ministry just finished the basketball season and is on to soccer!

Anderson Creek

May 3rd is the date for the re-launch of the church! The new name of the church is "Church at the Creek" and will be meeting at Anderson Creek Elementary School - 10:30 AM. Pastor Sam and company are excited about the new beginning!

Open Arms - Cagayan De Oro , Philippines

Pastor Jonathan has some new wheels which will be used to help in the ministry.

After climbing the mountain...

Jeffrey Hoglen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:28:00 GMT

So after a hard day of climbing up and down the mountain, we decide to get something to eat. We found a outdoor barbeque grill that turned out to be the ticket. While we were eating, we hear this band playing at the Greentree bar & grill. They sounded great! I knew I wanted to walk over and check them out...I only had to convince Matt & Mike that it was ok. So, I waxxed spiritual on them : ) I said, "dont you think that Jesus would be in a bar hanging out with folks and loving on them?" Of course the answer was yes and off we went to hear the band. To my surprise, they were a 3 piece band with 1 guitar player, 1 guy playing a cajun box while playing a hi-hat with his left foot and then there was another guy playing a pepsi can filled with sand and a tambourine with the other hand. Here they are:


                                                 http://openarms242.com/2009/02/05/after-climbing-the-mountain.aspx

The start of an adventure

Jeffrey Hoglen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:21:00 GMT

Pastor Matt, Pastor Mike and myself ventured up this mountain to check out the future farm area for OAIM and another ministry called Children's Garden, which is an outreach to the teenage street kids of Luzon. The area has 24 acres of land with over 300 mango trees and something that resembles a pond.....it is more swampy due to the recent storms and landslides which caused severe erosion.

http://openarms242.com/2009/02/05/the-start-of-an-adventure.aspx

Praise Report & Update

Jeffrey Hoglen — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:26:00 GMT

Last week I was having some breathing difficulty as well as some pain in my should blade area. This continued for 3 days and finally I decided to see if I could get some relief. I went to the Cape Fear Clinic and checked in with the receptionist. As I waited to be seen by the medical doctor, Terry Johnson calls me just to say hi and chat about ministry in general. I told him of my situation and without hesitaion Terry prayed for my healing. As he finished praying, they called me into the exam room.

They took my vital signs and then stuck me in the "lonely cold" room for what seemed like hours. Finally the doctor shows up and asks me about my problem. She asks where it hurts...and I told her where it was hurting. She asked me to gauge the pain 1-5 with 5 being the worst. Well.....right now I would have to say its a .....zero? She asks, "when does it hurt the most?" and I tell her when I am getting in and out of bed as well as getting into cars. She then asks me to lay down and then get up so I can show her where the pain is coming from.

So....here I was trying to duplicate a pain that was no longer there....twisting and turning and lying down and getting up....but no pain : ) The doctor probably thinks I'm crazy but thats ok....I know the deal. God healed me!

I made the best of the situation and had her renew my BP medications....

When I shared the story with Terry his reply was "now we need to do something about that blood pressure!!!" Amen.....I'm believing for it!!

Short Update:

I'm heading to the Philippines for a couple of weeks. Please pray for my safe travel, good health and a fruitful mission. I will be taking the Fairview Church based in Quezon City, Philippines on their first missions trip to Pampanga. We are bringing the praise team and plan on doing a feeding program as well as some children's ministry.

On the 26th of January, I plan on going to Cagayan de Oro and have a leadership meeting with OAIM pastors as well as start-up the micro-enterprise ministry. (I hope to post some video of this so stay tuned!!)

February: I will be filling in for Pastor Sam at the Church of Anderson Creek. I'm looking forward to spending time with the Anderson Creek family and help them jumpstart their outreach lifestyle : )

Thanks for your prayers!!!

Jeff

Let's Give Each Other a Break!!

Jeffrey Hoglen — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 04:43:00 GMT

Here a little something I heard from Steve Sojgren:
Stop paying attention to matters of criticism —
start paying attention to matters of encouragement.

It is a universal truth that what we become what we pay attention to. What
we talk about with our mouths is the manifestation of our inner conversation.
If we are critical of others we are making it clear that we have first been critical
with ourselves. There is no momentum to be gained with self-criticism. We do this
naturally enough to at least a small degree. What’s the point of becoming even better
at this toxic task?

If I had all to do it all over again I think I would start today to give everybody I know
a much wider break in life. Pretty much everyone I know is trying about as much as
they can in an effort to do as well as they can in life. Today especially it is true that most
can’t do a whole lot more or a whole lot better than the job they are presently pulling off.
Let’s join forces in giving one another a break in the journey and see what comes of it.
I think together we can begin to make a difference.

Servants of Asia's Poor

Jeffrey Hoglen — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:36:00 GMT

Here is a group "Servants of Asia" that is truly making a difference. The scenes are very familiar. Those who have been on a missions trip with us to the Philippines will recognize the squatter areas in this video. My prayer is for OAIM to connect with like-minded organizations in 2009.

Quick Quotes to Ponder

Jeffrey Hoglen — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:02:00 GMT

“If you aren't experiencing conflict, you're not a leader—you're a follower.” - Bishop TD Jakes

“If you want to empower people, you have to have a big Kingdom mindset.” - Brian Houston

“The more you have to quit, the more you want to quit.“ - Tommy Barnett

“You may say that we are not deep. What you really mean to say is 'You don't confuse me enough.'” As I always say, it's easy to make the complex, complex. Isn't it? But it's hard to make the complex, simple. - Perry Noble

180 Church - Myrtle Beach

Jeffrey Hoglen — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:02:00 GMT

Pastor Matt and I had the opportunity to visit Pastor Stuart and and 180 church family this past Sunday in Myrtle Beach. We had a great time and even did some praise and worship. Here's a video that Andrey shot while we were there : )

Open Arms - BonBon - Cagayan de Oro

Jeffrey Hoglen — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:28:00 GMT

Open Arms Christian Fellowship in Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro Philippines just celebrated Christmas with their community. They had food and fun...a great combination : ) Pastor Jonathan expresses his deep appreciation to the OAIM family who helped make this gathering possible.

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY TO OACF

Jeffrey Hoglen — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:26:00 GMT

Open Arms Christian Fellowship just celebrated 5 years of making a difference! They continue to prove that a small church can make a big impact on their community and even the world.

I'm so proud of the OACF family. It seems like it was yesterday when we were knocking down walls, scraping floors and inventing new ways to use duck tape - ie., the "kelli patch".

Here are some pics from the anniversary dinner.

New Pastor for Grace Worship Center

Jeffrey Hoglen — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:59:00 GMT

I had the honor of visiting Grace Worship Center in Philadelphia PA this past weekend along with my family and Jimmy Simpson, an OAIM missionary. The worship service was great as usual and we installed a new pastor, Hnede Kobbah. Bishop Sarpee will be focusing on the orphanage/ school in Liberia as well as providing oversight for the church in Liberia.

Afterwards the church family treated us to some Liberian cuisine. Mmmmm...they even made my favorite cassava leaf with rice.

Prior to our journey to Philly, we stayed with Jimmy in Delaware. Jimmy was a great host....taking us to a fancy eating place called Wawa. In this fancy place, you can eat and pump gas at the same time : ) I had to give Jimmy a hard time for that!

We also had a chance to meet up with Kristen, another short term missionary. She is doing great, working with youth as well getting more involved in a Vineyard church plant.

So....all in all it was great trip! The 81/2 hours home was a bit tough though : )

Here's a pic of me and some of the Grace family. Yes, thats me in a suit : )

John the Baptist

Jeffrey Hoglen — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:04:00 GMT

I admire John the Baptist. This guy was doing what God had told him to
do and didnt care what others thought about his appearance or even....
his eating habits. He was a true revolutionary! Definitely a "what you see is
what you get" type of guy.

Isnt it time that we believers stopped trying to conform to a bunch of man made
traditions and just....be? Let's stop trying to "act" like a Christian...and just start
being one.

James 5

Jeffrey Hoglen — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:56:00 GMT

James 5

(Amplified)

1COME NOW, you rich [people], weep aloud and lament over the miseries (the woes)
that are surely coming upon you.

(Message)

1-3 And a final word to you arrogant rich: Take some lessons in lament. You'll need
buckets for the tears when the crash comes upon you. Your money is corrupt and your
fine clothes stink. Your greedy luxuries are a cancer in your gut, destroying your life from
within. You thought you were piling up wealth. What you've piled up is judgment

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So....who are the rich? Those of us in the western world probably would not consider
ourselves rich. Afterall, we work our jobs, pay the bills and hope to have some extra
at the end of each month. The rich people are folks like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet....right?

Check this link out and find out how you stack up? It will make you think!!

http://www.globalrichlist.com/