Newsletter - Winter 2004
AFRICA 2002
As many of you know, in March of 2002 the Lord gave Diane a wonderful
prophecy for the people of Congo and then Nick and Diane actually went
to the Democratic Republic of Congo in July of that year where they stayed
for six weeks. Miraculously, the Lord opened many doors for ministry at
churches in Kinshasa,
the capital city. Nick was asked to speak at a national pastor’s
conference to about 2000 pastors and leaders. It was there that Diane
had an opportunity to deliver the prophecy. Amazingly, God confirmed His
word while we were there by bringing to pass several specific items in
the prophecy. We later learned that a copy of this prophecy was given
to the president of Congo! This really encouraged the people and created
in them a hunger to learn more. Hope from heaven came to the Congolese
people who had suffered from prolonged poverty and war. What a mighty
God we serve! The last two weeks in country was spent at the Africa
House of Prayer. Nick taught extensively on the healing of heart wounds,
while Diane taught on stewarding the prophetic. The hunger of the pastors
and leaders who attended these meetings stirred us deeply. Many seemed
to seize the word and gave wonderful testimonies of the resulting changes
in their lives. These people were so grateful they brought us gifts of
what ever they had: a bar of soap, a box of toothpicks, a half dozen eggs,
a small bag of rice, etc. We were so touched by their love. They also
gave us African clothes and “adopted” us as “honorary
Congolese”, an honor we cherish.
AFRICA 2004
The Congolese have asked us to return and spend a month with them this
spring. We are attempting to put our teachings into written form (perhaps
translated into French) before we leave for the Congo. We plan to return
to Kinshasa
during April and May of 2004. As before, our host is Samuel Kaniaki, whom
we met at a conference in Iceland about five years ago. Samuel is presbyter
over many churches in French speaking Africa (five nations) as well as
the founder of the Africa
House of Prayer in several African countries. Please pray for us as
we prepare for this extended trip and for the Congolese people as they
struggle to inherit what God has promised.
ROMANIA TRIP
2003
Nick has had more opportunities to teach and preach and is much encouraged
by the fruit from it. He was asked to be one of the speakers at the eighth
annual pastors’ conference sponsored by Aletheia Church in Timisoara,
Romania. The conference is held to encourage and build up pastors and
their wives from all over Romania. Aletheia, a sister church of Fellowship
of Christ Church in Cary, NC, has a ministry which reaches throughout
Romania, and even into other countries. This conference is a way to speak
into the lives of many pastors from various parts of the country and,
by extension, into their congregations. This year’s conference was
held in Felix,
Romania, just across the border from Hungry. Attendance is by invitation
only and all expenses are paid by the donations of people like you and
me. Anyone wishing to support next year’s conference should make
checks payable to Fellowship of Christ, earmarked for the Romania Pastor’s
Conference.
PERSONAL MINISTRY
The bulk of our time continues to be given in personal ministry as those
in need of the Master’s touch come to us. We are witnesses first
hand of the Lord’s power to dramatically change lives. Jesus truly
is the one with the Isaiah 61 anointing to heal the broken hearted and
set the captives free! Our God cares about our hearts. As the Lord has
knitted us to others who also labor to build and minister to the hurting,
we have seen the power of diverse ministry gifts working together for
a common goal, building the Kingdom of God into the lives of wounded people.
God is breaking down the walls that have traditionally divided us in order
to provide more complete and balanced ministry. What an incredible testimony
of God yet again moving in new ways and outside the boxes we put His in!
CAROL ELLIS ORDINATION
On September 21, 2003 we formally recognized what the Lord had already
done in, and through, Carol Ellis by officially releasing her into the
calling to which she has been called. Carol pastors a small church, which
meets at her house weekly. Carol along with her husband Wayne (“Buddy”)
founded House of Joy. Over the years Buddy and Carol have opened their
home to children and families in crisis. They firmly believe the home
and family are paramount in the development of individuals and the community
in which they live. Their hope is for those in need to stay connected
and remain functional in a family setting. Out of this, God brought forth
the House of Joy.
HOUSE OF JOY is a newly formed grassroots organization located in Raleigh,
NC. The mission is to provide a refuge that generates restoration within
troubled individuals, their families and the community. The HOJ is committed
to serving those in crisis through Christian counseling, mentoring, friendship,
teaching, job training, networking and providing for physical needs. The
desire is to see those who are helped begin to help others.
It is through creative programs and projects that the HOJ hopes to serve
and invest in people therefore building up the community in which they
live. Some of their goals include a fully functional youth camp, an after-school
program, transitional housing for the visually impaired and a children’s
home. To accomplish this mission, Buddy and Carol are reaching out to
partner with area volunteers, non-profit groups, human service agencies
and churches which are committed to serve the vision of the House of Joy
and share a desire to be joined to them through this heartbeat of restoration.
Anyone wishing to be a part of this ministry should call Carol Ellis at
(919) 266-3624.
PROPHETIC
MINISTRY
Our dream of building responsible, accountable, and mature prophetic ministry
in the Body of Christ has progressed and born fruit. Our “Voice
of God Seminar” was well received and was attended by people
from eight local churches. Diane has continued with her prophetic
mentoring with two classes this year, one new group and one for those
who were in last year’s mentoring group. With the help of other
area prophets, such as Steve Reed and Marian McGregor, and prophetic pastors
like David McLean of Fellowship of Christ and Tom Johnson of Harvest Church
South, Diane has seen the prophetic teams from these mentoring groups
mature. Several prophetic presbyteries bore much fruit. Gifted trainees
participated alongside of seasoned prophets on prophetic teams and did
really well. Also, the more seasoned teams prophesied on a governmental
level to church leaders. Participants in the mentoring have come from
more than seven churches. Pastors of participants have expressed gratitude
for the positive growth and mature conduct of those who have grown prophetically
from their church. Diane continues to minister prophetically on many levels.
She often starts personal ministry sessions with prophecy. At our ordination,
a prophecy came forth that Diane would stand before leaders of nations
and prophesy, and that has come to past.
Oak Tree Ministries has been officially “adopted” by our home church, Fellowship of Christ, and has come under its umbrella. Even though OTM is now an extension ministry of FOC, we receive no financial support from that church organization. As always, OTM is supported solely by the contributions of those who are led of the Lord to be a part of this ministry. If you want your gift to be tax-deductible, make your check out to Fellowship of Christ and earmark it for OTM. (The church address is 1788 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary, NC 27511.)
Many of those we are called to minister to, especially those in third world countries, are not able to respond financially. We are especially grateful to all of you who have supported OTM in the past with your gifts and prayers and helps. We so appreciate the love and support we have received from so many of you and we want you to know your support is really making a difference for the Kingdom of God.
May we all encounter the Lover
of Our Soul as never before and “come to know the love of God that
surpasses knowledge,”
Nick and Diane Pettit