Archived Newsletters
Here are newsletters from our past ministry efforts.
For current RMI newsletters go to the “Newsletters” page.
2010 Newsletters
January-March 2010 Newsletter
April-June 2010 Newsletter
July-September 2010 Newsletter
2009 Newsletters
January-March 2009 Newsletter
April-June 2009 Newsletter
July-September 2009 Newsletter
October-December 2009 Newsletter
2008 Newsletters
January-June 2008 Newsletter
July-September 2008 Newsletter
October-December 2008 Newsletter
January-March 2010 Newsletter
As You Guessed…Most of this letter will cover the ministry trip to India! Our intercessors already received a summary from the trip, but it did not include pictures! (If you would like to become a prayer warrior for RMI send an email to connect2RMI@gmail.com)
To see pictures, click here for the photos!
RMI joined with Asian Mission Outreach (AMO) for these conferences. The American team included women from Texas, Florida and New York. No age limit in God’s work—spiritual moms in their 70s and 80s also joined us! Christine worked with Christian “history makers” who are actively involved in sharing the gospel in the US and multiple countries around the world. AMO provided an awesome Indian ministry team to help us communicate and connect with the Indian culture.
One common denominator in both conferences and additional ministry opportunities we experienced: Most Indian Christians have an incredible openness and hunger for the Lord. Even though we “planned” on ministering at a women’s conference and girl’s youth conference, the Lord called men and women of all ages to come and hear the GREAT news of His hope!
2010 Himcorce Women’s Conference:
The women’s conference was phenomenal! Women came from many areas of North East India as well as several countries. During the conference at least 25 accepted Jesus!
“His Banner Over Me is Love” provided a rich backdrop for talks on forgiveness, yielding false identities, overcoming abuse, and deepening relationship with the Lord.
The deepest revelation was released through teachings on the importance of forgiveness and the joy of the Lord. All week long, the Lord highlighted how forgiveness of others and ourselves creates an open door for His healing to minister to our hearts and bring about wholeness in our walks with Him. We later heard how a woman shared this with her church. One women was so touched she asked for forgiveness in front of the whole church body…WOW!
Youth “Commissions” Conference:
We expected around 15-30 teenage girls to come to the conference and were close to that number when worship began Sunday evening. During the first few songs of worship the electricity went off and did not come back on again until the message and prayer time had been completed. Then, we moved into a time of testimonies about the freedom God brought in that evening’s sessions.
We were amazed when the lights came back on and realized the church was packed. We had around 100 men, women, teenage boys and children who had joined us to hear about the Lord! One man was a taxi driver who decided to stay when he dropped off his passenger. He was touched by God during the prayer time in such a deep way that he testified about it in front of the whole church!
Our desire was to share tools of how to deepen their relationship with God. We taught them about forgiveness, Bible study skills, a lifestyle of purity, and what a Godly man, woman, and marriage looks like. Our desire was to commission them to go out as His ambassadors. After the commissioning ceremony, the youth were so excited, they began dancing, singing and laughing with great freedom! This continued for hours!
Ministry in Local Villages!
India is categorized as a “restricted” country in regards to sharing the gospel. By law, street evangelism is illegal. However, it is legal to have a church and to invite people into your homes to talk about the Christian faith. One highlight was ministry to poor Hindu villagers. Two years ago, no one in that village claimed Jesus as their Savior.
In 2008, team members ministered to the villagers and now, due to efforts of local Christians, this village now hosts around 40 believers! During the ministry time, three more chose Christ! As we prayed for each person, many other villagers watched and saw the Lord move…All glory to Him! God moved in miraculous ways!
Other RMI Ministries…
John and Christine began a couple’s group right after Christine’s return from India. The group is based on the early New Testament church. It is different from the structure of today’s “typical” home group and is set up for discussion about revelations God has brought to the members during the interim. It is fun to have this laid back atmosphere mixed with deep fellowship time to discuss the testimonies of God’s touch.
Christine is an assistant leader for a women’s group connected to Glory of Zion. The prayer group focuses on creating a safe haven for God’s love and healing to flow through the body of believers. It is amazing how so many in the body of Christ have felt like “fish out of water.” This environment provides acceptance, grace for growth, and permission to speak the words of the Lord.
Christine continues mentoring women who are stepping into their personal areas of Christian ministry on a national and international level. Each personal ministry time is God directed and tailored to the individual, their needs and ministry focus.
Thank you for your continued prayers! To contact RMI regarding ministry opportunities or more detail on RMI ministries, please email us at connect2RMI@gmail.com!
Blessings and Prayers from RMI!!!
Christine, John and the RMI Team
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April-June 2010 Newsletter
Transition
Many of us are going through difficult times of transition, hardship, and trials. This letter focuses on God’s power and presence in today’s circumstances to encourage you in your times of difficulty. Before sharing our testimony, we will share encouraging testimonies God provided: The Helicopter Miracle and Medicine For All.
The Helicopter Miracle
In early July, one of our cousins gave birth to a precious baby boy at a rural satellite hospital in Kansas.
The doctors were concerned about the way the baby was responding and took x-rays. The x-rays revealed an enlarged heart which restricted one of the lungs and kept it from expanding.
After reviewing the x-rays, doctors decided emergency surgery was necessary. The satellite hospital was not equipped to handle this surgery on a newborn, so the doctors called in the emergency Care-flight helicopter. Immediately, a call went out to all of the family to pray for this situation. We prayed for a miracle and waited…
The report was amazing…
The doctors at the second hospital put the baby through more tests, x-rays, etc., to determine what they needed to do. They were angry that this baby went through the trauma of a helicopter ride! Why? The baby’s heart was NORMAL and the lungs were EXPANDING as normal! They determined that the satellite doctors messed up the x-ray process! HA! But we KNOW better! Praise God! The miracle took place on the helicopter !
Medicine For All
Claudia is a long-time intercessor for RMI. God healed her of Lupus in 2008 (she has the tests to prove it). Now she brings us another miracle of God’s power. This testimony is about Claudia’s brother and his 5 year old son, Juan Pablo, and is written in her words.
“My 5 year old nephew Juan Pablo kept fainting when he played. In the beginning, my brother who is head of the medical school in Bogota Colombia and practices as an OB/Gyn, thought it might be severe asthma. However, Juan Pablo continued to get worse. The fainting spells increased to the point that walking from the car to school made him faint.
Doctors did several tests and he was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). The doctors discovered the level of pressure on his lungs was 82mg (the normal is 30mg.) Without any treatment the expectancy of life was one or two years. They had two choices, treatment or surgery for a lung and heart transplant.
PH is a rare and serious disease in children. Pulmonary (lung) blood vessels constrict and create pressure in the heart. This stress caused the right side of Juan Pablo’s heart to enlarge and weaken. Doctors began immediate treatment. An oxygen tank was required at all times. Doctors tried the standard medicines, but none worked.
The cardiologist treating Juan Pablo found a new medicine in trials on adults (not children) in the USA. The medicine had not been approved in Columbia yet and was not covered by insurance. The insurance company refused to cover the $10,000 a month cost until the medicine was distributed by a Columbian lab.
My brother called me and was upset and discouraged. I encouraged my brother to pray and put everything in God's hands. My brother and his wife got closer to God. They started going to church. The hospital where my brother worked hosted a mass for Juan Pablo and a lot of doctors and medical personnel prayed together in unity for Juan Pablo. The situation could not be changed by human means or doctor’s knowledge. Then, by the grace of God, things changed!
My brother’s friend works for a lab company in Colombia. The lab asked the manufacturer of the experimental medicine if it could represent/distribute the medicine in Colombia. The manufacturer agreed! With this business arrangement, the insurance company had the requirements necessary to approve payment.
God provided many miracles to get the medicine to Juan Pablo. After two months of this treatment, Juan Pablo is a “normal” 5 year old boy. He does not need an oxygen tank. The pressure in his lungs went from 82mg to 53mg!
God cleared the path and Juan Pablo received the treatment he needed, the medicine became available to the Columbian people, insurance coverage was approved, and many doctors came to have renewed faith in God!
There were even more miracles that occurred during this situation that I have not included as they are difficult to add with just a few words. But I do KNOW that God still performs miracles today! And Prayer WORKS!” --Claudia P
We praise God for His many miracles! We pray blessings of encouragement for you to continue to pray for any situation you face. God does care about you and what is going on in your life!
Blessings and Prayers!
Christine, John and the RMI Team
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July-September 2010 Newsletter
RMI Testimonies Continue
This summer required a faith walk for John and Christine, However, God moved quickly to provide the answer. In this time of economic strain, we understand the difficult situations many of our RMI friends and family face. We have also faced the unknown and had to keep our eyes on the Lord. This testimony comes from RMI’s John Casten. He shares the incredible journey we have walked since this spring. He also shares how God showed up in this time of uncertainty.
Doors Closed and Opened
John’s testimony:
It's been quite a ride since May 28 which was my last day at Dr Pepper. As I reflect back on leaving Dr Pepper, it was really the best thing for me. I worked there for 12 years and really enjoyed the company and people. However, the last few years had gone increasingly down hill. I lost the fire that drove me. Now don't get me wrong, I still did my best, but I didn't wake up in the morning ready to charge the hill. The company itself was changing and I needed a change but was too afraid to make it. Over the course of 2010 the department where I worked was eliminated. I was crushed, but God had better plans for me.
My last day at Dr Pepper was May 28 but I was still holding on to two options for employment at Dr Pepper. One of them was a permanent job in Phoenix but by June 5th, I knew it was not going to happen. I had one final option to stay at Dr Pepper; they had offered me a project role through February 2011.
It was a difficult decision to make. Just before the deadline, God gave me a dream! I was on a train and had to unexpectedly get off at the station. I remember standing on the platform and realizing I had left my good shoes on the train and I knew that I could not go back on and get them. Please understand, I very rarely have dreams but this one seemed to be prophetic in nature. The train station represented a change in my career. The fact that I had left my shoes on the train indicated that it was not a planned change but rather abrupt. I felt as though I could not get my shoes back or get back on the train. I really felt this meant that my time at Dr Pepper was over and I needed to move on. So I decided to decline the offer to work on the project as that was not where God wanted me.
So there I was after 12 years with Dr Pepper on the outside looking in. It was time to get to work. I have to admit, I had made a mistake at Dr Pepper and let my network fall apart because I had no interest in working elsewhere. So now I had to rebuild the network. My full time job became reaching out to old and new contacts, researching any and all job opportunities that were posted on the internet and networking, networking, networking.
As I reached out to friends, everyone said, "It takes 3 months to get a job, from the point of first contact to offer." I didn't disagree. I knew it takes almost that long to fill internal jobs at Dr Pepper.
The networking was beginning to pay off. Within a week a contact directed a recruiter to me. This recruiter thought I matched 2 different positions he had. I had my first interview the week of June 21. It went well enough for a 2nd interview on July 1. Things were moving fast.
In the meantime, I called other recruiters to let them know I was available. One of them just happened to have the "perfect" position for me. He arranged a phone interview the week of June 28. It was a great phone interview but it appeared the process would take a while.
Meanwhile the other opportunity was asking for dates for a final interview. This was exciting but a little scary because I was more excited about position #2 and was afraid the first one would force me to make a “bird in the hand decision.” At this point, Christine and I prayed for acceleration of other opportunities. Within 24 hours, I got a phone call from company #2 for a final interview scheduled for the next week AND I got a call from HR at Hostess asking if I could come meet for a 30 minute informational interview that Friday.
I meet with the HR recruiter from Hostess and about 15 minutes into our discussion, he says, "I think the hiring manager is here, why don't I introduce you." I had a great conversation with the hiring manager. Wow, what a surprise! By the time I got to the parking lot, I had received an e-mail from Hostess requesting a second and final interview with some of the Sr. managers.
Background on the Hostess situation: a friend that works there helped me and several others get interview for this position. So, I knew other people in this process whose skill sets far exceeded mine and would have been a great fit for the job. Prior to going in for the interview I had told Christine, "I'm not near as qualified as xxxxxx. If I get this job, it's because of divine intervention." Little did I know that God took this as a challenge to prove He has a plan.
So, within one week of our prayer for acceleration, the final interview prospects went from one company to 3. The final interview with company #2 was outstanding. I was really pumped about the opportunity. I was told not to accept any offers without giving them a chance because "We are really interested in having you join our team." This was great news!! Meanwhile at home, the Lord showed Christine a number, that she assumed was a salary number.
Next, final interviews with Hostess. I hit it off with everyone I interviewed with and was really excited about the opportunity. They are a big company with an entrepreneurial spirit. I knew that I would fit in well. The last interview of the day was with the Sr. VP of HR. The meeting begin a little strangely. He said, "I'm not sure why we are meeting. I just spoke with everyone you met with and you should expect an offer from us very soon." Needless to say I was floored. I didn't know what to say except, "Great!!”
That night we celebrated my sister's birthday. On the way there I noticed that I had one message at home and another on my cell phone. I checked the cell phone message. A friend of mine from church called and said, "I heard you got a job offer today and you are staying in Dallas. Call me and tell me about it." I glared at Christine. I couldn't believe that she had already told someone about what happened. It wasn't official yet. She threw her hands up and said, "I didn't tell anybody." So I called him back. I told him about the "pseudo offer" and asked him where he got his information. He said, "God told me." Then said I would have a verbal or written offer by the end of the weekend. I didn't know what to think or say other than, "I guess we'll find out."
I assumed the home voice mail was from him and did not check. However, later that night, we checked it out. It was the hiring manager offering me the job and saying he sent the offer via e-mail. WOW! God is good. It appeared as though I was going to have up to three offers to choose from. I went to the final interview with company #1 and had a great interview but didn't get the same "Wow" feeling I got at Hostess and company #2. At the same time, I started applying a little pressure to company #2 as the clock was ticking on the Hostess offer.
At this point, I was really struggling with the decision if company #2 made a competitive offer. It was a fortune 100 company but would require a relocation. The Hostess position was great but had some uncertainty about the future because it is owned by a venture capital company.
Christine and I prayed to God to show us the way of His will. He told us that He could accomplish His will through any of the jobs (He is God) but it would be clear which one He intended for us. Fairly soon after, Company #2 decided to hire someone internally and Hostess agreed to a new set of requirements for the offer. (little did I know that the terms of the final offer matched the exact number that Christine was given a week earlier) God is good, He showed the way. He accelerated the process at the right time to put pressure on each of the companies to complete the process and put forth their best offers. I know that if there was not competitive pressure, companies will offer less knowing that you will take less because you don't have a job.
I started 7 weeks since my last day at Dr Pepper! The entire Hostess job process came through in 2 weeks not 3 months. That's God moving and there is no other way to explain it: no way that I should have had 3 final interviews in weeks 6 & 7 after leaving Dr Pepper.
Finally, let me tell you about a dream that Christine had in May. She dreamed that we were like the Israelites leaving Egypt as the Egyptians gave them gold and silver to "please their God" so He would not harm them any more. Looking back, I see the truth in this dream. After 12 years at Dr Pepper, I was afforded a very nice package that gave me much more than if I had quit on my own. And I received a nice increase to work at Hostess. God has truly blessed us through this process.
I'm not quite sure how to close this but to say that God is amazing. It's been a very humbling experience this past 7 weeks to see God move. It literally brought me to tears just thinking about it this weekend. I didn't feel I was deserving of so much of God's attention but that's what is amazing about God, He gives it anyway!
--John Casten
Encouragement!
We pray you are encouraged by this testimony! God is an Awesome God and is there to meet our needs in so many ways! Until next time, keep your faith up and know we are lifting you up in our prayers!
--John and Christine Casten
To contact RMI regarding ministry opportunities or more detail on RMI ministries, please email us at connect2RMI@gmail.com!
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2009
January-March 2009 Newsletter
We serve an Awesome God!
The first quarter of 2009 has been AMAZING! We are excited to announce our newest updates! We have some new teachings for you on Podbean. See the links listed below.
The Lord has been teaching Christine a lot about the importance of wise counsel. RMI has captured some of this revelation in the new series called Wisdom Catchers! In this series, Christine explains and supports the foundational need we have to connect with those who can operate in wise counsel. Based on Proverbs 11:14, Wisdom Catchers is divided into three segments: The Platform of Wise Counsel, Accountability: Up Close and Personal Wisdom and Mentorship: Wisdom of the Ages. Accountability and Mentorship will be released over the next few weeks.
These messages can be accessed through the RMI website www.beradiant.org in the insights section under podcasts. If that link does not work, go to (no www) radiantministries.podbean.com (messages are now on this site on "Messages" page)
When we were praying about what to include in this newsletter, we really felt like it was a great time to talk about all the incredible miracles we have seen come to pass through prayer and ministry to others. All of these situations occurred through direct prayer for someone and with the laying on of hands. God is not distant and His presence continues to meet the needs of so many in a variety of ways!
Please note that all of these miracles, signs, wonders and answers to prayers have occurred over the first quarter of THIS year! RMI was involved in each one of these situations directly, but also acted in partnership with prayer teams from other ministries and churches in some of these situations. It is such a blessing to work together with the Body!
Also know that the Lord gets ALL the glory. As you will see, there is NO way for us to have done these things ourselves! Be encouraged and know that the God we serve is answering prayers in a mighty way!
God’s Graciousness
- A lady asked for prayer. Her family needed a car so she could get to work. Within a week, someone had given her a car!
- A sweet woman had a long list of ailments including headache, stomach cancer, swollen feet, and pain in her feet. We surrounded her and layed hands on her. When we were done, she said her headache was gone, feet had stopped hurting and we could see the swelling had decreased. She went to the doctor and had tests done on her stomach—no cancer!
- Another lady asked us to join in prayer for her car. She knew it had so many problems it would never pass the inspection test. We prayed and when she took her car in, it passed without one red flag being raised!
▪ The Lord released a prophecy for someone who was really struggling. In this word, information was included to encourage her in sharing her testimony. She told us after the word was given that she was preparing her testimony to share in the next few weeks. She had really been struggling and this word allowed her to have some peace and know God loves her. - The Lord told one of the RMI team to buy a necklace that she would be able to wear but would be giving to someone during ministry. Every day she put it on, wondering if this would be the day she passed the blessing on. The day came when she met the lady and knew the necklace was for her. The necklace was symbolic of how the Lord saw this precious woman and encouraged her in her time of difficulty.
- Twice at the food pantry: the food received was not enough to supply the people coming in. No food was expected to arrive. We prayed over the pantry area and anointed it with oil. Within hours, food arrived. One of the days, the food that arrived was enough to fill SIX pallets.
- The Lord gave a prophetic word of encouragement to a lady who was struggling. On the outside she was all smiles, but on the inside she was battling her desire to continue the hard work of living in freedom from addiction. This week had been especially hard. She had been (literally) within ten steps of giving it all up. When the word was given, she began to cry and praise the Lord as she realized the Lord saw her struggle and knew about the difficult choices she made that week to continue toward her freedom. He let her know He had seen the choices she made and wanted her to know He delighted in her decisions.
- The Lord released a prophetic word about a dream that a woman had been given. The dream was symbolic and pointed to a certain passage in the Bible. When she looked at that passage, she realize the Lord had outlined the past three seasons she had gone through and highlighted the one she was currently experiencing. The passage spoke about the seasons in order!!!
- A person’s daughter had been having a difficult time with anxiety and fear. She struggled with an extreme fear of seeing health care professionals. A word went forth and prayer was released for supernatural courage. Within the next two weeks, the daughter called to share that she had chosen to make an appointment and had already been to visit the health professional!
- Another was suffering from severe stomach pain and a viral infection. A prayer went forth that when the morning came, all the symptoms would have disappeared. The report came back that this had come to pass!
- Someone came forward with ears that were stopped up from allergies and had a lot of pressure on them. Prayer was released with the laying on of hands and the ears came back to normal.
- Another came forward asking for prayer for a part time job opportunity. The job needed to be flexible because of restraints the individual faced. Within the next few weeks, an opportunity came and was flexible enough to fit all the parameters needed.
A funny story, but one where God showed up mightily!
Some of the RMI team were on a tight schedule and didn’t have time to get gas for the car before going to the service. They parked on a downhill slope and hurried in. When the service was over, they went outside to start the car. The driver turned the keys and the car turned over but didn’t start. There just wasn’t enough gas. This happened at least ten times. Finally, someone got the bright idea to pray! After prayer, the car started right up and the team was able to make it to the gas station! Praise God!!!
We serve and incredible God!!
God is blessing us in so many ways. We often miss things God is doing because we are so focused on the task at hand! We pray the Lord will open our eyes to see all the ways He is working around us. Each of us at RMI pray to know more of God and to go deeper into His ways! MORE LORD!!! More for all of us! More for us, you, and the Body!!!
We want to thank you again for your prayers. The covering, insight and counsel we receive is precious and much appreciated. Thank you for your continued diligence in lifting us up before the Lord.
We look forward to the blessings the Lord continues to bring. 2009 is turning out to be a magnificent year.
Blessings,
Christine, John and the RMI team
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April-June 2009 Newsletter
Time for an update from RMI!
April and May: We continued to minister at The Basket food pantry through the month of May. We were blessed to see many miracles and answered prayers that came through this outreach. We highlighted some of those incredible answers in our last newsletter but we saw many more requests answered during April and May. God is AWESOME!
June: As you know, each of us at RMI desire to be good stewards of our blessings and gifts. One of the priorities we have here is to ensure opportunities for families to maintain strong bonds. With that in mind, John and Christine decided to take their kids on a camping spree and spend two weeks camping in several national parks in the central United States. This is the longest vacation they have ever taken!
John was in his element taking pictures and trying to capture some of God’s incredible creation in Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and Arches National Park. We were blessed to see a variety of wildlife including Grizzly and Black Bears, Bison (Buffalo), Elk and Antelope.
God continues to surprise us with double rainbows! He has given us this blessing on several of our travels.
We hope to share some of John’s pictures with you on the website. They have been described as inspirational and capture the beauty of God’s creation. He is working through the 2000 pictures he took to give you the best of the best! We pray they will serve as an inspiration for you and a reminder of the vast creativity of the God we serve!
What’s next? In the immediate future, we are working with Summer of Hope Boys Camp. This camp is designed for boys from the inner city. The camp provides a variety of experiences through sports, field trips and by bringing in speakers from different business backgrounds. The camp also provides credited teachers to work with the boys in different scholastic areas over the summer. RMI plans to provide speakers, materials, volunteers and financial support to this worthy cause.
A Note of Encouragement:
This is a true testimony…Recently an RMI friend named Carah* had the opportunity to provide acts of kindness for others. Those acts involved a focused effort of love and grace as well as a sacrifice of time.
Carah’s efforts and service were unnoticed by those around her. When she finished, she was tired from the time she spent ministering, but hoped the love she expressed created a picture of God’s love.
Rather than feeling upset no one noticed, she made a simple request to the Lord: “Lord, I pray today’s efforts made a difference. I pray that those I ministered to will see Your heart through this service and that the sacrifice will be found worthy in Your sight.”
She got a cup of coffee and continued her day. The sacrifice she made quickly forgotten as she focused on other daily details.
Two days later a friend called Carah. Carah and D’angelis had not seen each other for several weeks. D’angelis said she heard an interview that discussed how acts of kindness may be uncelebrated on earth but are noticed and celebrated in heaven. She immediately thought about Carah and felt like she needed to call her and encourage her.
D’angelis asked Carah if she had participated in any acts of kindness in the last few days. Carah immediately remembered the events a few days ago and was amazed. God was going to great efforts to acknowledge that sacrifice.
Carah was in awe at how much God cared. He noticed service given with purity of heart. He made sure she understood her gift of kindness was celebrated in HEAVEN even though it was unrecognized on earth!
He blessed D’angelis by releasing this word of encouragement through her and touched both women’s hearts through this process. They gained understanding of the depth of His love and that He is a God who recognizes the true motives of our hearts.
God notices what you do! He sees the heart and knows when pure love is expressed. Heaven celebrates…for when we learn to serve in this way, we have learned to love others as ourselves and have, for a moment, stepped into a sacrificial love that represents the very heart of God.
*names have been changed.
Prayer Requests:
- Travel mercies for Christine, John and several of the RMI families as they travel/minister through the months of July and August.
▪ John and Christine are in prayerful consideration about co-teaching a small group in the fall. Their schedules have not allowed them to co-teach for the last three years and they are excited about this door the Lord is opening.
▪ Praise and prayer for those who have stepped into the roles of wise counselors, accountability partners and mentors for RMI. Pray the Lord will grant them wisdom, grace and continued growth in Him.
▪ RMI hopes to participate in some international ministry trips in the next year. Pray for solid opportunities, connections and provisions.
Thank you for your prayers! We are blessed to have such wonderful prayer partners in our camp!
--Christine, John and the RMI team
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July-September 2009 Newsletter
The latest news at RMI!
Summer 2009 What a wonderful summer! The National Parks vacation left us refreshed. John spent many hours pouring through the pictures he took of God’s creation. He was reminded of those solitary mornings in the mountains and valleys where God revealed the beauty of His creation and protected him from the wildlife! He found out about a photo competition and entered it. God granted favor and the photograph was published! Several of our RMI friends have asked about the photos he took, so we are including the winning photo below. (We did decrease the quality quite a bit so it would not bog down your computers!)
New Revelation:
The Lord released a picture of the walls that hold us captive. I pray it will speak to your heart as it did to ours about how our paradigms place limitations on our understanding. By placing God in a box, we effectively hold ourselves captive and allow the enemy an advantage he should never have. The answer to breakthrough is as simple as choice.
Choice to believe, choice to serve, choice to yield ourselves…or as Jesus so aptly states in Luke 9:23 And He said to all, “If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [[a]disown himself, [b]forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, [c]refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [[d]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].” (Amp.)
The Wall:
A dark figure held the Saint up against the wall by his neck. This wall was thick and made of stone blocks. He pressed the believer up against the wall. There was no place to move.
As I watched, I knew this wall represented religious paradigms and belief systems. I asked the Lord, “What is the strategy? How can this Saint get free? Is there a door, window or opening?”
The Lord said, “The way the barrier is removed is to dissolve the wall.” As I watched, the wall began to disappear. Then I realized that there was new territory for that believer that was beyond the wall. New freedom. New experiences. The dark figure released the Saint in defeat. Without the wall to press the Saint against, his hold on the Saint was lost.
Discussion: Sometimes God allows the enemy to press us up against the wall. Without being forced into the situation, we have no reason to remove the wall. The wall exists, but, unless we have an unquenchable desire for seeking the things of God, we allow the comfort of what we know to lull us into security. We are content to accept the parameters and never search for more understanding about the God we serve.
How do we dissolve the wall? The winning strategy comes when we to open up our paradigms and recognize the parameters we live in are too limited…In effect, we have to expand the box...the box of predictable expectations for who God is and what He will do.
Activate: Those whose hearts are hungry for more of God arise! It ’s time to deepen our relationship with the Lord! Dissolve those walls that keep you from knowing more of the God we serve. Be proactive. Seek areas of limitation in your life. Ask questions. Who is God to me? What is He like? What is His nature or personality? Do I know Him or do I know about Him? Do I really trust Him with everything? What am I holding back? How do I see Him: Judge, bridegroom, angry, loving, stern, funny, near or distant?
These are the questions we must continually answer and assess. Then, step into a new environment. Go to a new group. Get around people who love the Lord and are excited about knowing Him. Listen to their testimonies…do you feel the same way about God? What are the thoughts going through your mind? Seek Him in your personal life. Read the Word! Get challenged in your quiet times. Learn to listen to His voice and pray in alignment with Him. But most of all, develop a lifestyle of passionate pursuit of your God. Focus on building a relationship based on what He is doing for you today. Become one who seeks His face and knows His ways!
Blessings of Hope and Breakthrough!
John, Christine and the RMI team
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October-December 2009 Newsletter
Last Quarter of 2009!
This last quarter of 2009 has been super busy…but we’ll get to that in a minute! First, we wanted to look back on the last 12 months and share how God continues to be faithful to His promises and the promise He made about 2009. As a recap, we saw miraculous answers to prayers:
- physical healing — illnesses disappeared, physical ailments healed, test results that showed body systems that were outside of normal parameters brought back into alignment! YEAH, GOD!
▪ inner healing — Anxieties are overcome, fears are faced, and confidence is increased as God reveals Himself through this prayer process. Hearts are mending, tears of thankfulness flow out as God reaches in and touches so many lives! PRAISE YOU, LORD!
▪ needs met – prayers answered for cars, money, jobs, clothing, materials, resources… friends calling at the right moment speaking that specific thought, Bible verse, etc. to encourage us and others during the good and bad times this last year! You are GOOD, Jesus!
Our relationship in the Lord deepened through His faithfulness working both in front of and behind the scenes. In December of 2008, God spoke and said that 2009 would be a year of “connections and activation.” Christine did not know exactly how this would look, BUT GOD revealed Himself in so many ways!
Connections: We had plenty of opportunities to meet new people and develop some incredible relationships: relationships that are growing into both established partnerships and deep friendships. From working with the kids at Hope Restoration to connecting with women through the Women’s Houses of Zion (out of Glory of Zion), as well as continuing to grow friendships in the Ladies Prayer group out of Sojourn Church, Christine has been blessed to connect with many beautiful people in this world.
In addition, Christine has seen the Lord continue to grow the mentorship program at RMI. The Lord brings women who share the common desire and hunger of growing in the Lord and connecting with others who can encourage them in their walks with the Mighty God we serve. She’s found that those women who the Lord delights to bring have challenged and deepened her in many ways. They have also been given a safe harbor to freely ask questions and work through the process of growth in the Lord.
Activation:
The Lord has been gracious to offer opportunities for Christine and John to activate and grow. Christine’s been blessed to teach, prophesy and encourage the body in many ways in 2009. From praying with others corporately and individually for inner and physical healing to speaking prophetic words, she has been blessed to work with many people who have shared in the miracle working power of our God: The God whose goodness overwhelms us all.
Responses to “The Wall”!
RMI wants to thank each of you who responded to the revelation of The Wall. We stood in awe of God’s blessing that poured out through this revelation. We received many responses in how “The Wall” blessed you and spoke to your heart. (please see our last newsletter July-Sept. 2009 for the full vision)
Many of you rose to the challenge and considered the questions that were given to help you recognize and challenge the walls you have surrounding you. We gave praise to God for how many hearts were touched and how He granted additional revelation to expand what we shared.
The challenge now is to continue to ask yourself those questions: Who is God to me? What is He like? What is His nature or personality? Do I know Him or do I know about Him? Do I really trust Him with everything? What am I holding back? How do I see Him: Judge, bridegroom, angry, loving, stern, funny, near or distant? Never grow satisfied with status quo and KNOW that our God is greater, deeper, and MORE than we could ever imagine.
Last Quarter 2009
Most of the last quarter of 2009 focused on bringing the current commitments of 2009 to a close and preparation for Christine’s trip to India. (She was able to post another section of the Wisdom Catchers series…about Up Close and Personal Wisdom…see the website) In India, Christine is facilitating a session that focuses on renouncing vows and judgments. In addition, she will continue her time in India by helping facilitate a youth conference.
On to 2010
We are excited about what God brings RMI in 2010! In addition to the India conference, Christine steps into some new leadership roles.
- She and John will help facilitate a home group that encourages family connections by exercising and celebrating the unique way God has made each of us; encouraging parents and kids to work together in a safe environment by learning to listen to the Holy Spirit.
▪ She will help facilitate a women’s group that starts in February (right before she leaves for India). This group will focus on following the prompting of the Holy Spirit and will be focused on both healing and prophecy. John and Christine are also starting a home group for couples this winter which will focus on bringing together people from different denominations to share and experience God and provide an opportunity for growth.
▪ This is a great start to an amazing year! We continue to pray blessings for you and thank you for your continued support for this ministry!
In His Love!
John, Christine and the RMI team
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June 2008 Newsletter
Greetings RMI Prayer Warriors!
So many things have been happening here at Radiant Ministries International! When the Lord said, “It is time!” to Christine back in November, we knew He had some wonderful treasures for us in 2008. We never dreamed of all the incredible things the Lord would bring us.
With this release, we have heard from believers close to home in Texas and as far away as the east coast of the US who have been touched and in need of help for their dreams and questions. The Lord is releasing so much information through people’s dreams/visions and is allowing an incredible connection for those precious saints to know He is alive and speaking to them!
Be looking for more podcasts and other messages on the website! We are working on making more information available through this medium.
As many of our prayer warriors know, RMI has a two-fold mission. The first is public and expressed on our website: To honor the Lord through encouraging and equipping the body to walk in authority, power and confidence in its kingdom purpose through intimacy with the Lord.Through this side of our ministry, we are teaching the body through messages, fielding questions through open forums, interpreting dreams at workshops, and speaking with and praying for those attendees. It is amazing how the Lord continually blesses the RMI team with His presence and wisdom and prepares us to meet various needs of His people in those events.
The second area of focus is “behind the scenes”. It is a mandate by the Lord to “Raise up young eagles!” The Lord continues to bring us young eagles from multiple states to minister to and mentor. Through direct connection and one on one contact, we spend focused time with each of these individuals. This side of the ministry is rewarding as we get constant feedback as to the way the Lord is working directly in each of these believer’s lives, as well as in the areas they live.
We are blessed to share those “AHA!” moments where revelation is given to them. Through focused ministry tailored by the Lord to those individuals, we get to co-labor with the Lord and celebrate the victories, lend a shoulder for challenges, and learn and grow together through the principles of iron sharpening iron.
Incredible Testimonies of God!
Many of you are aware of the revival going on in Lakeland Florida. The Radiant Ministries team will be traveling there in late June to experience this outpouring of the Lord and would appreciate your prayer covering!
For those of you who have watched the revival led by Revivalist Todd Bentley through GodTV or through the internet connections of GodTV or Freshfire Ministries, you have seen many testimonies of healing pouring through. We have our own testimony to add to the outreach of this revival, as well. The Lord wants His people to follow His leading…you never know what will happen!
With the Lord’s prompting, Christine shared information about the revival with one of the soccer moms on her daughter’s team. This lady, C.A., was not aware of the revival, but said she wanted to see the event and planned to tap into the event over the internet in “the near future.” The following week, C.A. went to the doctor and went through some testing due to difficulties she was experiencing. The blood test came back and C.A. was diagnosed as having Lupus.
She spent the remainder of the week researching and crying due to the information she found about the disease. She asked her friends to pray for her. To make matters worse, she also received a prayer request from a friend. The friend’s father was in a coma and she was on the way to the hospital to say “goodbye” as the doctor’s said there was nothing more they could do.
That night, C.A. turned on the revival! C.A. continually prayed for herself and her friend’s father as she watched. The next day, she received a call from her friend. Her friend said her father had scared one of the nurses when he opened his eyes and woke up! C.A. told her friend about the prayer time and the revival. The friend is still skeptical, but C.A. stood on the promise that if the Lord woke up her friend’s father, He was going to heal her, too! Her faith grew!
The next week she went to another doctor (a specialist) to undergo a rigorous set of testing. This is C.A.’s testimony (she sent out) regarding the experience: As the specialist reviewed the report, verbally he stated that according to the lab report, [C.A.] did have the disease. However, after proceeding with his one hour and a half long examination, He became a bit confused at how the report could say one thing but everything that would normally accompany such a report in one's body was non-existent in [C.A.'s] body. After thoroughly examining [her], he stated that he didn't quite understand how but it didn't appear that she had the disease according to his exam. [C.A.] told him that [she'd] been praying and had others praying to God for a miracle and He has heard our prayers.
Because of the previous report, the doctor wanted to do more testing, which took another week but the report came in today. The test for lupus came back negative and the miracle is now confirmed.
God is an AWESOME God!
Another miracle we have witnessed was in John and Christine’s family. A family member found a mass and went to the doctor to have it checked out. The mass was large enough that the doctor was able to feel it and scheduled more intense/deeper tissue tests. She went to have the testing and while she was there, John called her and asked her if she had checked the area that morning yet. She said, “no,” and didn’t check it until right before she was about to take the test. The technician came in and asked her where the mass was so that he would know where to place the camera/x-ray.
She tried to find it and couldn’t!! The nurse then tried to find the mass and couldn’t find it either. They said that they couldn’t do any testing unless they knew where to point the camera and sent her home with a clean bill of health!!!
God is INCREDIBLE!!!
Prayer Requests
We are so thankful for your prayer covering and have several requests for you!
- Our trip to Lakeland, Florida: That travel would be smooth, we would be ready and open to the revelation the Lord desires to bring us, and that we would be faithful to carry that revival flame back with us to share with others.
2 We are in the process of filing for 501c3 status. This process can take an average of 5-7 months and can be quite rigorous. Please pray that we will have all our I’s dotted and T’s crossed so that the approval process will be smooth and quick.
3 Please pray for wisdom for Christine and the RMI team as they continue to receive dreams for interpretation and that their responses will be expressed in love and encouragement for those who share their dreams/visions.
4 Pray for Christine during the summer as she tries to balance the ministry with the needs of her children. She desires for them to have a fun summer and wants to enjoy it along with them!! J
5 Please lift up Radiant Ministries International as we continue to grow so that we will follow closely to the direction and words of the Lord in ministering to the needs of individuals in the body.
For you, our expanded prayer team, we pray for the Lord’s blessings to flow and that your life will be filled with increased revelation, growing intimacy with the Lord, Jesus Christ and expansion of your gifts and anointings! May Jesus bless you in your day to day!
Thank you for your continued prayer support!!
Blessings,
Christine, John and the RMI team
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July-September 2008 Newsletter
Hello from RMI!
We have had such an incredible time since our last news letter! The highlights will be given out below! The summer has ended and we are getting back to a routine. Thank you for all your prayers and know that God was gracious to answer ALL the prayer requests from the last letter!
IRS 501(c)3 Status
The last few months have been filled with expectant anticipation regarding our 501(c)3 approval from the IRS. We are ecstatic to report that RMI has indeed received that status! As explanation…the 501(c)3 designation officially recognizes Radiant Ministries International as a public charity. This allows RMI to offer tax receipts for donations and enables us to have both credibility and legitimacy as a ministry in the eyes of man. The Lord was gracious as we received the status without any obstacles or difficulties!
Summer Trips and Conferences
Many people are aware of the struggles of lead evangelist, Todd Bentley. Let’s take a moment to address this. We all have the propensity to stumble or fall at any time. However, because of compassion and love we barely grasp, the Lord chooses to work through His people. When someone has a great anointing, we are challenged to keep our eyes focused on our First Love and not get distracted by the person or the anointing. If we gain our perspective or trust solely from “man,” we will be disappointed. We need to remember that the LORD was the source of the many miracles, healings, renewals, revivals, and moves that came about through this event. To God be the Glory!
No matter how much we like or dislike style, words, dress, background, etc., we are called to a higher standard of love and grace. The parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:21-35 shows our model for forgiveness. We are called to forgive offenses, bless and love as well as help those who have fallen. We can do this through direct contact with those around us or by intercession. A wise counselor reminded us of something John Bevere said…”pray for others as you would want THEM to pray for YOU.” Take this time to pray wisdom and healing over Todd and his family as well as those who are counseling him through this difficult time.
RMI Ministry Focus
We were refreshed by the summer conference events we attended . We are now able to combine these experiences with other things the Lord is releasing for the “next” things God has for RMI! Two areas we wish to highlight are dream interpretation and mentorship.
Dreams: The Lord blesses us through the dreams people send. It is amazing to see God’s communication in action! He allows the dreamer to see themselves through His eyes, woos them with His love, provides direction and reveals strategies of the enemy in this time both for individuals and the body.
EXPANSION: The Lord seems to be expanding His communication through dreams. Many people who have never dreamed or remembered their dreams are having and remembering vivid dreams. Others, who are dreamers are realizing that their dreams have significance. Both groups are beginning to actively seek out interpretations and seeking Godly perspective through this language of the Lord. The Lord gives the dreamer treasures of information, but gives them the honor of seeking it out both individually and through the body of Christ. (Proverbs 25:2 Webster's Bible Translation: It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.)
Mentorship: Our mentorship program continues to expand. The Lord is gracious to provide new and precious individuals seeking growth in the Lord. As we minister to them, we see hurts healed, increase in understanding and direction, and growing intimacy with the Lord. It is an amazing honor to steward the time with each person the Lord brings our way. The amount of time spent with each one varies depending on needs and the Lord’s direction for their lives. Some are with us for a short season, while others are with us for a longer term, but each one challenges us as we celebrate victories, defeats and “AHA!” moments. The greatest blessing is to move from the “mentor” relationship to friendship as they grow and step out into their personal ministry areas!
We have been amazed at how many doors have been opened through both of these areas of our ministry and ask for continued prayer as we seek God’s revelation in the dream interpretation process and mentorship process. We also ask for a flow of God’s grace as we love on and minister to individuals from a variety of denominational backgrounds…especially those backgrounds that do not have a current understanding of the way God communicates through dreams.
The Website www.beradiant.org
The Lord has taken Christine through some incredible growth and given her specific revelation and insight through the summer months. She looks forward to sharing some of that information through new articles and teachings through the web. We continue to update and improve the website and will be working out the kinks over the next month. If you notice any links that are not working (outside of the podcasts) please notify us through the “generalinfo” link so we can get the issues fixed. We want to present our best to the internet community!
Prayer Requests:
RMI cannot thank you enough for your continued prayers! As a ministry, your prayer covering is vital and an integral part of the breakthroughs we see as we minister.
We received a request for prayer from a dear brother in Christ who ministers in India. He has given permission for us to share portions of his letter with you in hopes that you will pray for this situation, as well as other brothers and sisters who are in hostile environments around the world.
Beloved Sis.Christine,
Sufferings of the Christians in Orissa [India]:-
On Saturday 23 August the Hindu leader Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates were assassinated. Saraswati, who was a senior figure in the nationalist VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad), had called for India to become a Hindu nation, and strongly opposed the conversion of Hindus to Christianity. The police and state officials have blamed the attack on suspected Maoist rebels, and Christian leaders in India have clearly condemned it. But the VHP and its allies alleged in inflammatory speeches that Christians were responsible, and they called a protest that rapidly escalated into violence.
The media have very limited access to Orissa at present, and reports from the region are still somewhat confused….church buildings have been demolished, and hundreds of homes destroyed. Other Christian institutions, including schools, offices and prayer houses, have been vandalized, looted or burned. Buses and other vehicles have been torched.
Many Christians have been attacked, especially in rural areas where mobs are attacking whole villages…as many as 10,000 believers may have fled into the jungle for safety, without food or protection from the monsoon rains…For your kind information, Orissa is only 300 miles away from us…
Recently when I together with the Pastors were traveling in taxi after finishing evangelizing the Village, a token of persecution began here too. Hindu extremists try their best to attack us by surrounding the car. For hours together we were restricted to be with in the taxi and allowed us not to move the Taxi. We prayed remaining in Taxi only, later through God’s involvement they themselves left the Taxi and fled…In our areas they are tearing the Bibles and disturbing the prayer meetings by sending biting street dogs in to the Pastors. God is alone saving from all these problems. Time and again we urge your goodself for this matter is remembered in your prayers.
Your’s Faithfully in His Humble Service,
Bro.Johnpaul.
Join us as we lift this situation and others like it to the Lord. We know the Lord hears our prayers and we stand on the promise in Hebrews 4:16 that we may “…come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace in a time of need.”
Thank you for your continued prayer support!!
Blessings,
Christine, John and the RMI team
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October-December 2008 Newsletter
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
The last quarter has been extremely busy, but the Lord has made sure it has been full of blessings and growth! Radiant Ministries International has been able to expand our involvement to include new outreach areas in ministering to others. We are continuing to pray for expansion on what the Lord has for us in the 2009 year. We have received prophesy that 2009 is going to be a wild ride. So fasten your seatbelts, prayer warriors! We are going to need your prayer covering more than ever!
Basket Ministry
Prayer for and ministry to these incredible individuals has enriched our hearts. As each person shares their prayer needs, they also talk of the challenges faced in their daily lives. We are able to come along beside them and agree with them in prayer. The Lord’s presence is strong during these prayer sessions and people have proclaimed that the Lord has answered their prayers for healing, health, and various other material and emotional needs.
We cry, laugh, grieve and celebrate the lives who enter this place. Being available to others softens our hearts and allows the love of the Lord to flow through our lives. We are enriched through this ministry and encouraged that the hearts of believers could offer themselves in such selfless ways.
A Thanksgiving of Unity
After eating, we played several games including a wild game of Taboo. But the most fun we had was the fellowship of sharing something about ourselves no one in the room would know. We laughed until tears flowed as people shared about different life experiences (sleeping in rhinoceros nesting grounds) and family traditions (dressing up like Pilgrims and Indians for an authentic Thanksgiving feast) that were both unexpected and hilarious!
Ministry Refreshing
RMI took some time to refresh and renew by attending the Texas Ablaze Conference in Dallas late November-Early December. We were blessed to hear the wisdom and insight shared by speakers who span the globe in their outreach. Heidi Baker, Bill Johnson, Patricia King, Robert Stearns and Keith Miller spoke on topics and testimonies that touched our hearts.
The Lord’s presence was especially strong and we found the Lord expand our paradigms through the topics covered and impartations shared. We know insights and revelation coming from that precious time with the Lord will be expressed in upcoming articles and messages…be looking for them on the website!
The Website www.beradiant.org
Christine has added NEW ARTICLES to the website since the last newsletter. “The Harder Road” and “Freedom to Fail” are an outcome of revelation from the Lord regarding grace for the process of growth in the Lord. Christine continues to gain new testimonies and insights that will be shared with you on the web—so keep checking for new stuff!
In addition, we love to hear how the website has enriched and impacted many different lives from all over the world. Thank you for your testimonies!!! We have found many precious additions to our ministry friendships and strong connections for wise counsel and intercession through this media vehicle! Please continue to pray that more prayer warriors will be added to our covering!
Prayer Requests:
The Lord continues to refine RMI by directing Christine and the team to His calling, direction, and timing. We are in the process of making strategic connections with those who are like minded in the things of the Lord and like focused in the direction the Lord leads us. We desire to be open to the Lord’s leading and sensitive to His timing for specific elements and commitments to the requests we receive for both national and international requests. Please continue to pray for us and our growth both individually and as a ministry. We desire to serve the Lord and remain in step with Him on where we go and what we do.
Please pray for Christine and the RMI team as we continue to be vigilant for divine appointments and ministry opportunities. So many lives out there are crying out for greater understanding and fellowship in the Lord. We are amazed how the Lord brings about so many precious people who we can minister to by sharing the Lord God’s blessings and encouragement.
In our core areas of ministry, we continue to receive dream interpretations and new mentor opportunities. We ask for wisdom in both of those areas and pray for greater increase in our relationship with the Lord. Without a strong connection to the Lord’s heart, our ministry will not be able to pinpoint the true needs of each individual and offer the deeper encouragement needed for lasting growth in the Lord.
Pray for our board of directors and officers as we continue seek what the Lord has for us in this upcoming year. We are in the process of setting aside a specific weekend for a time of prayer intercession and to seek confirmation and direction from the Lord. Also pray for us to be steadfast in our commitments, in our personal time with the Lord, and in focused growth of intimacy with and understanding of the deeper things of God.
Finally, continue to lift up Christine, John and the RMI team. We ask that the Lord will continue to strengthen, further unify and grow our relationships between our immediate families, extended families and friends. Pray that our children will be steadfast in the Lord and will grow to stand on firm foundations built by those saints who have gone before!
Thank you for your continued prayer support!!
Blessings,
Christine, John and the RMI team
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