June Newsletter

Instead of writing my own newsletter this month, I decided to use this article I ran across instead because it spoke to me so powerfully, and goes right along with what God has been teaching me personally the last few years. We greatly appreciate you, our faithful partner, for continuing to encourage and strengthen us through your prayers and gifts. I know that as we faithfully labor together side by side, we will see our community impacted by the Kingdom of God!

3 Reasons Why Faithful is the New Radical by Daniel Darling

If there is anything that marks my generation of leaders, it’s the desire to be “radical”—to violently overthrow old paradigms. We want to shake up the status quo in the church, in government, in business, in philanthropy. And this is good.

By and large millennial Christians want to offer their lives in service to God and others by offering new and creative solutions. This is good.

But if I could speak a word of caution, from one rabble-rouser to another, I would say that sometimes the most radical thing you can do with your life is to simply be faithful.

Yes, you heard that right. By consistently doing the same thing every single day you might be more radical than you think. I know that doesn’t sound very sexy, but it’s the stuff that gives weight to significant social movements.

1 Corinthians 4:2 says that God holds His people accountable, not for the big splashy things they’ve done, but for simple faithfulness:

In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one [of them] be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

So to my fellow young leader, here are three ways your faithfulness just might impact your world:

Your Personal Peace. Activists rarely like to sit down. There’s always one more report to write, one more blog post, one more conversation, one more educational opportunity. And yet a restless soul is an inefficient soul. Jesus Christ, the only perfect person who ever lived, took time to daily cultivate His inner life. He rested. He prayed. He relaxed. And you are not better than Jesus. Faithfully cultivating your inner life with God is the most important part of your mission. If you neglect this, you will burn out and your impact will be severely lessened. The most effective change agents realize their mission is not theirs, but God’s and is fueled by His supernatural power.

Your Personal Presence. I once heard Chuck Swindoll say, “Leadership has more moments of the mundane than the magnificent.” The dirty secret of success is the ability to just show up. Day after day. Week after week. Year after year. The world is full of people who show spurts of greatness only to yield to laziness or indifference. Talented quitters are a dime a dozen, but people with marginal talent who commit to hard work in the day-to-day grind always stand out as radical.

Your Pleasant Personality. Determine to be the one guy at the airline ticket counter or the scene of the accident who doesn’t act like a jerk. Sure, we all hear stories of great men and women who fly off the handle and treat their employees like dirt. But those are historical anomalies. Over time, a constant, even attitude of servanthood and humility will attract others to your cause. What’s more, if you can let go of yourself and see your life as just one spoke on God’s great wheel of Providence, you’ll realize the people around you are instruments of His grace. Yes, even the annoying and the incompetent and the rude.

The world is full of diners who snap at waiters, hacked off employees, and belligerent leaders. But a person of winsome, gracious love will, in the end, rise in influence and walk thru doors left shut by those who refuse to control their anger.

So you see how you can change the world? Start your radical mission by being faithful where you are, to the people in your sphere of influence. It’s a myth that change agents are above the rules. No, if you look closely, they just more consistently apply the simple graces that form a life of deep impact.

May Newsletter

May 2012

In the past few years God has been highlighting the importance of knowing and understanding His ways. His Word has much to say on the subject; one familiar passage says,  ”For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,”  declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is. 55:8-9) Our thoughts determine our ways. In other words, our actions are a direct result and reflection of what we truly believe. This simple truth is something we teach those who receive Restoring the Foundations ministry. Faulty belief systems, or what we call ungodly beliefs, are the cause of most if not all, of our hurts and issues and began at the Fall of mankind where we lost the true knowledge of God, as well as the knowledge of our true identity as His beloved sons and daughters.

This lack of knowledge of God’s ways has serious consequences as described in Hebrews 3:7-12 where God speaks of Israel saying, “That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’ So I declared on oath…, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” Israel was unable to enter into God’s promises for them because they did not understand, nor seek to know His ways. The same is true for us today; many become offended with God and wander through life without purpose or clear direction, unable to discern and fearful of missing the will of God. The solution is, as I like to say, simple, though it isn’t easy. It’s simple because it is clearly stated repeatedly throughout the Scriptures, but it isn’t easy because it requires time and effort; it will often necessitate changing our priorities.

The answer is found in Romans 12:2: “…do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of this present age. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what He wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed” (emphasis added). Renewing our minds (our thoughts and beliefs) transforms us and our ways by enabling us to know and agree with God’s thoughts and ways. This process is done through simply meditating on God’s Word each day (see Ps. 1:1-3 and Josh. 1:8). While reading and studying Scripture have great value, meditation requires time to ponder and contemplate the Word, letting it wash over our hearts and minds. The difficulty is making this a priority in our busy daily schedules. Thankfully, God knows us so well that He promises to provide the grace and power we need to overcome our weakness, if we are just willing! The rewards—regaining the true knowledge of Him and our identity in Him—are more than worth the effort.

We greatly value and appreciate your continued prayers and support as we move forward in this next season. Our Prayer Room schedule has changed and will be updated regularly on our web-blog as we head into the summer months. We are working on scheduling some new training opportunities and will be sure to keep you posted as plans are finalized. The Prayer Room is a great place to spend time in God’s presence and Word—be sure to make use of it, and tell others about it too! We are here to serve you and our community and we are so thankful for the opportunity given us through your support to continue to do this.

Blessings,

Charlene Hughes

April Newsletter

April 2012

The old saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun” really is true…we have had a blast during our CVHOP Internship and the time has seemed to fly by! We will celebrate with a graduation dinner on the 10th of this month and we praise the Lord for all He has done. We are also praying for God’s direction as we go forward in establishing the House of Prayer. We will be posting our new Prayer Room schedule in the next couple of weeks on our website and Facebook page, so be sure to check it out so you won’t miss anything. I want to specifically thank you, our friend and partner, for your prayers these last few months; God’s grace has truly been overflowing to us, and all the glory goes to Him!

In the past week or so, I finished reading a book entitled, The Harbinger: The ancient mystery that holds the secret of America’s future, by Messianic rabbi and pastor, Jonathan Cahn. Though the book is written in the form of a fictional narrative, the revelations and facts shared throughout the book are true, and the author has shared them in interviews with Sid Roth, Perry Stone, and Jim Bakker over the last several months. Through the message of this book, the Lord has gripped me anew with His heart for this nation, and His desire to awaken His people to intercede on her behalf before it is too late. If we, the Church, do not heed and respond to His warnings and return to Him wholeheartedly, He will have no other option than to send severe judgment upon us; much as He did with His chosen people, Israel.

As the author brings out in the book, America is the only other nation on the planet that was dedicated and consecrated to God from her conception, and “to whom much is given, much is required.” No other nation has been as blessed in the history of the world as we have. Yet our foundation is continuing to crumble, and our decline is accelerating at a frightening rate as we go on turning our collective back on God, stubbornly going our own way. I encourage you to get this book and read it—and join with us and other believers as we “humble ourselves and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways.” God will be faithful to do His part, if we are faithful to do ours. He is our only answer, and He has promised to respond to the prayers of His people.

I am more convinced than ever that God is raising up houses of prayer across this nation and throughout the world for “such a time as this,” to partner with His heart and prepare the earth for His Son’s return; and to bring in the final harvest of souls before the end of this age. By His grace and through your prayers and gifts, I believe we will have a place where believers can join together in corporate worship and prayer, 24/7, here in the Valley area, as He continues to grip hearts with the urgency of the hour in which we live. Thank you so much for your continued, faithful support.

Blessings,

Charlene Hughes

March Newsletter

March 2012

We have now crossed the halfway point in our CVHOP Internship and God has been moving powerfully in and among us. I am truly amazed and so very blessed by our four young interns who are giving themselves tirelessly to go deeper in the Lord in spite of great personal challenges, the sacrifice of giving up worldly forms of entertainment, regularly fasting, and a fairly intense workload. In addition, three of them are also working to build a team of partners who will regularly sow into them through prayer and giving so that they can fulfill the calling God has placed on their lives. They are proving themselves to be forerunners full of courage and zeal to see Jesus get the reward of His suffering, and I have no doubt God is going to use each of them mightily as they continue to pursue Him wholeheartedly.

I also want to take the opportunity in this newsletter to remind you about our Healing Rooms ministry. Our Healing Rooms operate like a walk-in clinic where a team of trained volunteers prays in a private room over those in need of healing, on a first-come, first served basis. We do not charge a fee nor is an appointment needed for this ministry. We are open every Monday evening from 7-9pm, with the exception of some major holidays (see our website for more information). We have seen many miracles of healing in the 5+ years we have been open for which we are very thankful, and give God the glory and praise! If you know of someone in your church, family, workplace, school, etc., in need of healing, please be sure to mention this ministry to them. We have a wonderful team of folks from several different area churches that come each week, eager to minister the love of Jesus to those who are hurting or sick. For just a few of the testimonies we have received, be sure to visit our website and go to the Healing and Restoration link in the top left corner of our homepage. We also have business cards and brochures at the ministry that are available for you to give out to those who may want more information on receiving ministry, or on joining our team.

I want to thank you for your ongoing commitment to stand with us through your prayers and giving, enabling us to continue serving our communities and the body of Christ at large here in the Valley area and beyond. I cannot emphasize strongly enough what an encouragement and blessing it is to have those who are like minded in their desire to see God’s kingdom come and His will be done here and throughout the earth laboring along with us! I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words to the Philippian believers: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:3-6, NIV) Thank you for being a demonstration of His great faithfulness! You are in our prayers daily—please let us know how we can pray for you specifically.

Blessings,

Charlene Hughes

February Newsletter

February 2012

We are now in the fourth week of our Intro to CVHOP Internship and just returned from the annual Leadership Summit at IHOP-Atlanta where we had the privilege of hearing from leaders in many segments of the body of Christ, including Mike Bickle and others from IHOP-KC, Andy Byrd from Youth With a Mission, Murray and Deborah Hiebert from Every Home for Christ Int’l, and several pastors from local churches across the nation. It was exciting to hear that God is moving across a wide variety of streams in the body of Christ around the world, and to see how He is sovereignly bringing a convergence of the prayer and the missions movement for the final, end-time harvest, and the preparation of the earth for the soon return of our King. The Lord confirmed to each of us that we are right in the midst of what He is currently doing in the earth, and that this move of His Spirit is only just beginning!

Along with this thrilling glimpse of the “big picture,” we were also deeply challenged by several messages centered around our need as God’s people to cultivate a spirit of meekness and humility in this hour. It is very apparent that the Spirit is preparing the bride to be joined in marriage to the King who epitomizes these attributes—the lovesick Bridegroom who laid aside His divine power and privileges to take on our human frame and live the life of a humble servant, giving His life in our stead in the most humiliating way possible. He is returning for a bride who will be equally yoked in humility and servanthood; laying down her life for Him and those made in His image. Scripture tells us that, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” and the reason is because He is humble, and He is working to conform us into His likeness. How do we grow in humility and meekness?

In one of our classes, The Excellencies of Christ, author/teacher Allen Hood writes, “Why does mistreatment exist? It exposes the great enemy of our soul—pride manifesting in anger. The crucible places pressures on the human heart that expose the fault lines underneath the surface. Mistreatment and opposition touch places of pride that otherwise go unnoticed in our controlled environments…The pressures expose and, if responded to rightly, can produce meekness in the heart. Understanding how to grow in meekness in the midst of mistreatment produces the opportunity for dependence, faith, and trust. If we knew the divine exchange rate and what the next age holds for those who embrace meekness in the midst of trial, we would not dare waste a good opportunity…we would not throw away the eternal currency of forgiving and doing good to those who have wronged us. There is something better than being right in this life. It is being free!”

I share all this to perhaps shed some light on the trials and pressures many are facing right now. It may be possible that these difficulties are God’s chosen method to develop humility and meekness in our lives and free us from pride. Personally, the last three years have been some of the most difficult in my life, and these words have given me a new perspective on what God is doing and why…I hope, if this speaks to you, it will encourage you and enable you to embrace, and thereby accelerate the process, for your good and His glory. The reward is surely worth it! Thank you for continuing to stand with us in your prayers and giving, as we wait expectantly to see God’s plans continue to unfold here in our Valley and across the earth—these are exciting times to be alive!

Blessings,

Charlene Hughes

January Newsletter

January 2012

As we stand on the threshold of another New Year there is one word that keeps coming to mind—faithfulness. I am reminded of God’s great and unchanging faithfulness, to me personally, to this ministry, to His people, and to His Word. It is His faithfulness that makes Him trustworthy, for He alone never changes. In a world of constant change, He is the one constant that will stand throughout eternity. Just as He was faithful to us in 2011, He will be faithful in 2012, regardless of the trials or troubles we may face. God’s faithfulness is one of His most comforting attributes. The dictionary defines faithful as: strict or thorough in the performance of duty; true to one’s word, promises, vows, etc.; steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant; reliable, trusted, or believed; adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate. He is definitely all of the above!

I have often heard Mike Bickle, Director of IHOP-Kansas City, say that God measures our success by our faithfulness to Him, and to His call on our lives. Unlike the world’s system which measures success by numbers, money, popularity, status, accomplishments, etc., God looks at how faithful we have been in the little things; not even a cup of cold water offered in His name escapes His notice! Jesus’ life from the world’s perspective was an utter failure and a waste; completely misunderstood. He spent thirty years preparing for three and a half years of ministry which ended in His death and the loss of most of His followers; just a few weeks after His departure only 120 remained of the thousands that witnessed His miracles. Yet, within just a few short years, His message had been spread across much of the known world at that time, mainly through the eleven He poured Himself into during his earthly ministry.

Jesus taught on the importance of faithfulness, especially in regards to the delay of His return, in several parables such as Matthew 25:1-30—faithfulness to cultivate intimacy with Him in v. 1-13, and faithfulness to serve Him by serving others in v. 14-30. As we look forward to all that He has in store in 2012, let us press on toward these two goals, that when He returns, He will find us faithful even as He is. We can rest assured that He will be faithful to complete the good work He has started in each of us, as we continue to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness in our lives, for, “The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24)

We greatly value your faithfulness to continue to stand with us in prayer and in giving, that we may press on to fulfill God’s call to establish a place where His people can go deeper with Him through healing, deliverance, training, equipping, worship and prayer. Together, as we each do our part we can trust that He will do His part, that we may stand before Him on that day with great joy! May you experience even greater manifestations of His faithfulness this year.

Blessings,

Charlene Hughes

December Newsletter

December 2011

Another year has come and gone and so much has happened, it has been amazing! We have had the privilege of ministering to over 100 people through the Healing Rooms and Restoring the Foundations this year and have received testimonies of life-changing encounters and healings because of our miracle-working God who alone deserves the glory! Several of the people we ministered to came from out of town which was a first for us; many finding us through our website or Facebook. Even now, we still have people who are waiting to receive RTF ministry—a reminder that the harvest remains plentiful, and the workers are still few.

In addition, we now have three young people who have joined our staff full time and one part-time in the House of Prayer, and we hope to add two more full-time and one part-time in January. Each of these amazing young men and women will be attending our first Internship for 3 1/2 months from January through mid-April for a season of intensive training and consecration to the Lord. I count it a great privilege to be able to pour into their lives and have learned much from them as well—each one of them is truly a treasure from our Father! This year we also held several training events—our prophecy school was held twice, along with a prophetic conference, several art classes, Healing Rooms training, and the Omega Course.

None of these things would have been possible if it were not for you, our faithful, committed partner and friend, and every life that has been impacted is credited to your spiritual bank account—recorded in the annals of heaven for all of eternity! Truly, we serve an awesome God who does incredible things through weak and broken vessels surrendered to Him. Words cannot accurately or adequately convey our tremendous appreciation for your continued partnership, but I trust God will be faithful to reward you for your labor of love for Him and His people. You and your family continue to be in our prayers for the blessing you are to us and to those we serve together.

We greatly appreciate your prayers as we go forward into 2012, trusting God for even greater works for His fame and His glory. We are still in need of those who are called to minister healing, especially in RTF ministry, and for increased financial provision as our staff continues to grow. Also in our plans for next year, we are considering putting together a mission trip to Rwanda, Africa in the summer; please pray that God would lead and direct our steps and provide for all those who desire to go and serve. I pray that God would pour out His love and favor upon you and your family throughout the Christmas season and into the New Year as we continue to labor together with Him!

Blessings,

Charlene Hughes

November Newsletter

November 2011

It is amazing to me how quickly time goes by with each passing year, reminding me that time is short, Jesus is coming soon; we must get ready. Now more than ever, we must make time to seek the face of God to attain an eternal perspective and the urgency of the hour in which we live. We are so privileged to be alive in this last generation and cannot afford to take lightly the seriousness and responsibility with which God has entrusted us. Soon, we will all stand before Him and give an account for how we spent our lives—our time, money, energy, and gifts.

Are we doing our part to prepare ourselves and others for the return of His Son? Have we faithfully used the resources entrusted to us to expand the kingdom of heaven? Are we growing in our love, trust, and dependency upon Him, learning to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving others as we love ourselves? Are we spiritually prepared for the unprecedented pressures that even now are rapidly increasing across the earth so that we will not become offended and fall away from our faith? These are hard questions, but we cannot avoid them because they make us uncomfortable—Jesus really is coming, and I believe it is sooner than we think!

Jesus warned His disciples about the time prior to His return in Luke 21:34-36, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation (a wasting by misuse; mental distraction; amusement; diversion), drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” He gave them two important directives—to always watch, and pray, admonishing them to recognize the times and seasons and what God is doing in the earth, spending time in prayer, growing in our trust and understanding of His nature and His ways. The inability and failure to understand His heart, His nature, and His ways will result in many falling away—even as the first generation of the children of Israel died in the wilderness because they didn’t understand His ways, became offended, and continually resisted His dealings with them.

In light of these truths, it is crucial that we are able to continue fulfilling the mandate God has given us to train and equip His people, and to raise up a generation of forerunners in the spirit of John the Baptist, who will prepare the world for Jesus’ second coming to establish His kingdom on earth, just as it is in heaven. Your prayers and gifts are vital, and our gratitude and appreciation is great—apart from your faithful support it cannot happen! Every week we hear testimonies of lives that are being powerfully impacted and awakened to pursue God on a deeper level; most are young people God is raising up in this hour as leaders in the body of Christ. I am continually blessed and amazed by their hunger, desire, and willingness to forsake the things and comforts of this world to spend their lives as Mary of Bethany did, sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His voice, and encountering His heart. Through your continued partnership we are making an investment in lives that will endure for all eternity—a priceless treasure for the glory of our King.

Blessings,

Charlene Hughes

October Newsletter

October 2011

I want to begin this month’s newsletter by thanking everyone who participated in our launch and dedication service for the House of Prayer last month—those who helped and served, those who prayed and fasted, those who gave financially, those who came and spoke, and all who attended; God graciously exceeded our expectations—He is good! We had several sign up to become more involved, and we will be holding our first Orientation Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 15th from 10am-2pm to give out more information on how to get connected, what the requirements are for those who want to join our staff, and to answer any questions. This meeting is open to anyone who is interested, whether you signed up at the launch or not. Lunch will be provided, and there is no cost to attend this meeting; however, registration is needed so we will have enough materials for everyone. For details, see our web-blog.

Our Living Waters Prophecy School begins this month, on Thursday, Oct. 6th, from 7-9pm, and will run for 7 weeks. This training is designed for those who want to know how to recognize and respond when God speaks; how to overcome barriers to hearing God’s voice; how to test revelation; how to give and receive prophecy, etc., and is always a lot of fun! For details on how to sign up, see our web-blog. We will also be participating in the 40 Days For Life Campaign, a national event designed to raise awareness and invite participants to pray on-site at abortion clinics across the nation. Our day is Friday, Oct. 14th, from 2-10pm, and we are asking for two or more volunteers to sign up for one-hour shifts that day to pray at the abortion clinic here in Columbus. A sign up sheet is available at CVHOP, or details and contact information can be found on our web-blog.

As Restoration A.C.T.S. continues to grow, and especially with the increasing expansion of the House of Prayer, we greatly need more prayer and financial partners, if we are going to see the vision for 24/7 prayer and worship become a reality here in our Valley area. We currently have several young people who desire to join our staff full-time that are in need of partners who will stand with them financially, enabling them to give their full attention to ministering to the Lord. Low cost, or no cost housing will also be needed for interns from out-of town, or locally, who are raising support and spending time in the Prayer Room. Those who serve full-time in the House of Prayer are the modern day equivalent of the Levites, whose chief occupation was offering prayers, worship, and sacrifices to the Lord continually, and whose sole support came from the tithes of the people of Israel.

If you are interested in partnering with one of these young people, or know someone who may be, please contact me for more information. As always, all contributions are tax-deductible, and are what enable us to continue to do the work God has called us to as we co-labor together to accomplish His purposes; just as Paul said, “…when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.” Together, we are sharing in the harvest of raising up the next generation of leaders in the body of Christ, seeing God’s kingdom come on earth as the sick are healed, the lost are saved, the bound are set free, and a worship sanctuary that declares His praises day and night is built—all for His glory! Thank you for your faithful, continued prayers and support!

Blessings,

Charlene Hughes

September Newsletter

September 2011

As fall quickly approaches, God continues to move mightily at CVHOP! It seems each day is a new adventure as we enjoy His presence in the Prayer Room. He is supernaturally building a community of believers from many different backgrounds that desire to know Him in a deeper, fuller way, both individually and corporately. We have been fasting and praying together for about ten days now, as we continue preparing for our official launch on September 24th. This launch will be a time of celebration of all He has done and is doing – reflecting on our prophetic history, envisioning our future as part of the global prayer movement, inviting others to join us in this labor of love, and consecration of the House of Prayer. We are honored to have several leaders from other Houses of Prayer that will be taking part that day. We will have a time of worship and prayer from 3-5pm that day, just prior to the main event which will be from 5-7pm, followed by a reception afterwards. Mark your calendars now so you won’t miss this historic event!

Our training schedule resumes this month beginning with Healing Rooms training on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9th and 10th. This training is required for all who want to be a part of our team, but is open to anyone who would like to learn how to pray for the sick more effectively. Beginning October 6th and running for seven weeks is our Living Waters Prophecy School which we first held in March of this year. The prophecy school training focuses on learning to recognize the various ways God speaks to us, how to respond to what we hear, and issues that can hinder our ability to hear. Details for both training classes can be found on this web-blog.

Next Tuesday, Sept. 6th, we have the privilege of having a special guest speaker, Pastor Safari Emmanuel Rwamigabo, with us. Pastor Safari lives in Kigali, Rwanda and was last with us back in August, 2008. He oversees a network of churches and will be sharing about the powerful ways God is moving in East Central Africa, as well as whatever else God may put on his heart for us. The meeting will start at 7pm that evening and a love offering will be taken. Make plans to come and be blessed!

Words cannot adequately express the depth of gratitude we feel for you, our friend and partner. You are such a vital part of what God is doing in and through this ministry. Lives are literally being transformed as His people encounter Him through the Healing Rooms, Restoring the Foundations, Living Waters Prophecy School, and the House of Prayer. Every testimony of healing and freedom is made possible through your prayers and generosity and credited to your spiritual account—an eternal treasure that cannot be taken away! Thank you so much for your continued, faithful support.

 Blessings,

 Charlene Hughes