“lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35
This is the scripture that the Lord has put under the feet of the Open Arms of Jesus. In January of 1995, He called us to the core of the city of St. Catharines. This is the area where the prostitutes, alcoholics, drugs addicts, the emotionally and mentally unstable, the lost and the lonely gather. On the first night, as I served supper to the first man in line, a feeling of love so intense flooded my body from head to toe, so intense I almost fell over. In my own self, I am not capable of this, I know that this was the Lord’s love for these people and this was where I was to stay and serve Him.
What a wonderful journey this has been, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to serve Him in this way. This is not an easy ministry, we have had pitfalls, disappointments, we have seen many go to jail, children taken away from their parents, we have presided over many funerals, deaths from overdoses and HIV, we have seen some who seem to be free only to watch them fall back into the chains of addiction. BUT to Him who is faithful we give praise and honor! We have also witnessed many lives changed by the power of the gospel. Prisoners are set free by the love of Jesus Christ, for the arms of Jesus Christ are always open, ready to forgive, to restore, to set their feet on the foundation and purpose that they are created for. We have seen an army being built, the Kingdom of God growing in a place that was once a wasteland.
The following photo is of our last baptism held the first of September this year, these men have all been set free from alcohol and drugs, lives that once were destroyed, now restored by the love of Christ.
In 1999, we began travelling to a closed country. For many years that government would not allow tourists or Christians into that country, but for economic reasons the doors were opened. Once again, this was not an easy work. We have been hungry, we have been dirty, had all our supplies confiscated, chased by the authorities, once hiding in a Church for three days, sleeping on the pews. BUT once again, because of Him who is faithful, we have flourished there. The government has relaxed with us, they now realize we are only there to help. We have built relations with small churches, teaching them the principals of reaching out to the lost, the forgotten and the scorned. On this last trip we established Christian recovery groups. Our Pastors there have established outreach programs at thirty sites in three provinces. It is our hope to move into the fourth province by the end of this year. They are knocking on doors, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting a leprosy hospital, HIV facilities and cancer hospitals bringing the love and hope of Jesus to all who will listen. But most of all the children are being brought to the feet of Jesus, a new generation. What a difference they will bring to that country!
It is proper and wonderful that we have our churches services, worship teams, Bible studies and youth groups. It is right and pleasing to our Lord that we witness to our families, our friends and our neighbours. I am challenging you today to enlarge your tents. Go, as Jesus did, to the sinners. Go to the byways, the dark places to find the redeemable. Be the cry in the wilderness, the light to the lost that is so desperately need.
We at the Open Arms have become so aware of the world around us. The world is waxing worse and worse; good is wrong, evil is right. Last week 77 Christians were killed in a church in Pakistan, 132 others injured. This is the time for His people, as never before, to rise up and to gather quickly. We do not know the time of His return, but we all want to be found busy when He comes for us.
At the present time we have three people enrolled in ministry school, equipping themselves, preparing themselves to gather in truth and wisdom. One by one, we will be taken to be with our Lord and we need to raise new leaders, to carry on when we are gone, to keep the FCA fresh and invigorated, to keep the message of our risen Lord alive. Please pray for them as they study to show themselves approved.
May our Lord Jesus Christ bless your Churches and ministries, may He anoint your hearts, your minds, your mouths and your feet. And, most of all, may all of you hear the words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” at the appointed time.
Go forth, my brothers and sisters, go forth and gather His guests for the Groom’s wedding feast, His army that will return with Him. Push on, persevere and be faithful.
Rev. Ann Heculuck is the Director and Senior Pastor of Open Arms of Jesus in St. Catharines, ON, Canada.
