newsletter
Servant Ministries, Inc.
Issue No. 95 Ira & Judy Milligan Apr 1, 2006

2006 United Ministers' Fellowship Conference Report 

God's ways never cease to amaze me! We had record attendance at this year's conference and the good reports just keep pouring in. I think everyone who attended was blessed beyond their expectations. During the workshop sessions we had deliverance ministry available for those who were under demonic attack and a healing room for those who were fighting sickness. Likewise, everyone received personal ministry during the prophetic workshops, besides those who were ministered to during the regular services. Doug, Ron, Martin, Tony and myself taught and preached the word. It was intense, to say the least!

While in the prophetic workshop session, I received a personal word of direction that I would like to share with you. For several years now, God has been telling us that He was going to change our ministry. He informed us that instead of sending us to many different churches, He was going to send the people to us. This time, He made it clear how this was to be accomplished. Instead of us traveling to many different churches, we are to hold conferences in different cities around the nation so those who are hungry can come and be taught, as well as receive personal ministry.
If you are interested in sponsoring a conference in your area, now is the time to call us while we are still in the planning stages. We hope to hold the next one soon. 

The Prophet's Perspective 
Team Ministry

If there is one lesson to be learned from our Conference's success, it is that God wants everyone involved in what He is doing. We prayed, laughed, worshiped, wept, gave and ministered together as one body. Everyone who came not only received ministry, they were also given an opportunity to minister to each other. Though our gifts differed one from another, yet everyone had something of value to contribute. Paul said the Church should grow up in Christ (boy, is that ever true!). He said, "speaking the truth in love, [the Church should] grow up in all things into Him who is the head ­ Christ ­ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love" (Eph. 4:15-16, NKJ).

Notice Paul said that it is the joints that supply what is needed as each part does its share of the work. The joints consist of two or more people in agreement, and the parts are the individuals who make up the joints.

One lady commented on what she observed in the deliverance workshop she attended. She said God would reveal part of the problem they were dealing with to one person, then He would give another person the next step, then on to the third with what was needed next. Each member (part) of the team did its share of the ministry as God met His child's needs through the team's joint effort.

The prophetic teams worked the same way, exactly as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 14:29-30. "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent." Notice the concept of the Body's joints (prophets working in harmony) and the parts (the individuals who make up the ministry teams).

In fact, Paul shows us that even our church services are supposed to operate this way: "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Cor. 14:26).

The key to making this happen is twofold. First, the way we conduct services has to change to make way for the joints to function, and the parts have to "grow up" together so they will function properly. Emulation, jealousies, envies ­ in general ­ all competitiveness must be discerned and rooted out for team ministry to be effective.

The deepest root of divination is competition (the spirit of divination is more commonly known as a religious spirit). When the team's members compete with one another to "be the greatest", God stops working with them and watches their failure. When they humble themselves and purify their heart's motive (ministering out of love for the one they are ministering to instead of love for the honor of man) God gives them success. (see John 5:44; Mark 9:33-40).

"Helping Hands"

When the needs were presented, those who attended the conference responded with a generosity that was simply amazing. In addition to the regular conference expenses, we were able to raise enough money to launch Mitch and Martin's anti-poverty program in Upla, Costa Rica. The program works like this: Each needy family in the church is given 250 chicks, which they raise. Once the chicks are grown (about two months), 150 of them are sold to meet the family's needs, and the rest are sold to buy 250 more chicks and the process starts over again. In the same manner, Swiss milk goats are distributed to those with children to provide milk, plus they can sell the milk to raise money. Thanks, friends! May God richly reward your loving response to this need! 

Prayer Partners' Update

Judy and I both feel that our move to Colorado is getting close. We would like to find the land before this year is over. Please pray with us for God to reveal the exact location we are to move to, as this is still a mystery to us. We think it is in the south western region, but Colorado is a big state! We need divine guidance. We also need the finances to buy the land and build the house. Thanks, and God bless!

Testimony Time

I've often wondered how many people who receive this newsletter actually take the time to read it. But, when I get a note like the one below, which I received in the mail a few days ago from one of our readers in Illinois, it lets me know that taking the time to write and publish it is worthwhile. 

Dear Ira and Judy,

Thank you for your newsletter ministry. Each month I look forward to receiving it. I read it over and over! Thank you for your words on Holiness, it made me take a deep, long look at my life. We sing a chorus that says:

Holiness, holiness is what I long for. Holiness is what I need...

How true! Thanks for reminding me that I am to "be holy as He is holy" Bless you!

E. K. 

I am, indeed, blessed. I thank our Heavenly Father every day for the many opportunities He has given me to minister to His people.

If you have a testimony you would like to share, send it to me (by snail mail or by e-mail), and as space permits, I'll share it with our readers. (Keep it short so I'll have room to publish it).

God bless. I look forward to hearing from you.