Article for this Month’s Partner Journal

Posted on March 31, 2007 by Jono Hall

It was a grey October day when I first entered the Studios of GOD TV in the north of England. It was my first day working for the GOD Channel and unknown to me at the time their first day broadcasting for a continuous 24 hours. Seven years (to the very day) later I sat in IHOP’s hurriedly prepared studio, marveling at the ‘God Coincidence” as I watched the first live satellite uplink between the International House and Prayer and GOD TV with Mike welcoming Rory and Wendy Alec to American shores. October 1st 2006 was GOD TV’s 11th birthday and also their first day broadcasting on DirecTV’s Channel 365.

GOD TV is a media ministry founded by Rory and Wendy Alec, two ‘media missionaries’ from South Africa who had a burden to see Christian TV come to the dark continent – Europe. Against all odds they pursued the vision God had set before them and in October 1995 in the wee hours of the morning they started a 3 hour broadcast in a country where only 4 years previous Christian broadcasting had been illegal.Now 11 years later GOD TV has offices all around the globe and several 24/7 broadcast feeds which transmit from the base of Mt. Zion in Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the earth reaching a potential audience of 450 million viewers.

Before becoming the Media Director at IHOP in 2003, I spent four interesting years working for GOD TV – at first I was reluctant to work for Christian TV – I was heading for a career as a city lawyer – however after co-ordinating their distribution and traveling widely in Europe and Africa, I came to see the powerful tool that Christian TV actually is, not only changing mindsets, but actually changing lives.

Most of you will realize by now that something is happening between IHOP and GOD TV. Something that has caught us a little by surprise by the its suddenness and also its magnitude, both ministries are feeling the weight of this new relationship and the impact that it can have for the Kingdom of God upon the Earth.

You may have seen the initial broadcast with Mike welcoming GOD TV to America, or you may have seen the last three conferences broadcast live on GOD TV. It has been massive technical challenge for the IHOP Media Team to be ready for these live broadcasts. The build up to onething was particularly nail biting as we engineered and built a new HD broadcast rig. Our first live broadcast was at 7pm on the first night of the conference and I was doubtful at 6.30pm whether we would even have a workable system, but our engineering team led by Junia Beveridge, ably pulled the rabbit out of the hat. Everyone pulled together and our usual media crew of six people swelled to around forty.Not everything is in place yet and we are literally training on the job, but the next season will certainly be an interesting one for television media at IHOP.

So what can you expect to see coming from this relationship in the next few months.

Conferences will continue to be covered by GOD TV, as well as certain Friday night Encounter God services with Mike’s teaching and worship. We have already started to broadcast a half hour weekly program on GOD TV called Passion for Jesus with Mike Bickle which features worship and teaching from Mike. At the end of April GOD TV aims to start an hourly morning devotional program, four days a week will be broadcast from the Prayer Room in Kansas City. However the big projects are penciled in to commence in October this year.

GOD TV have a passion to see the lost reached through their TV broadcasts, however they realize that the majority of viewers are already believers, as such much programming is aimed at equipping and envisioning the body of Christ through sound biblical training to go out and disciple the nations. With this in mind, IHOP and GOD TV are teaming up to launch GOD School. Taking the training of the Forerunner School of Ministry and broadcasting classes for two hours each day – FSM has seen an increase in students in recent years, however, this new endeavor will see teaching from Kansas City reaching bible schools in Africa, hotels in India and homes in China. We have a vision to see the messages of intimacy with Jesus, the urgency of the hour that we are living in and the way to live a Spirit filled, Sermon on the Mount lifestyle reach every nation of the earth. Already we are filming Mike’s new class on Song of Solomon, Introduction to End Times, Allen Hood’s Excellencies of Christ and will soon record Jack Deere’s class on The Book of Acts. All students who follow this programming will be supported through online training with further study available and interaction with instructors in Kansas City. Truly this will be fuel for the Forerunner lifestyle.

The primary mandate of the International House of Prayerand the heart of everything that we do is the prayer room – ministering before and joining with the heart of God in Intercession and Worship. There is a clear mandate to gather a perpetual solemn assembly in Kansas City, and yet there is a call for solemn assemblies to gather all around the earth so that in one accord the Spirit and Bride can cry out to their Lord “Come” (Rev 22:17). Many of you will already subscribe to the Prayer Room webstream – during the next few months you will notice changes to this webstream, we are increasing the production quality in order to bring it up to a television broadcast quality. The prayer room is at the heart of what we do at IHOP and also the heart of the relationship with GOD TV.

There are presently seven global feeds that broadcast from GOD TV’s Jerusalem Broadcast HQ to the nations of the earth. The partnership with GOD TV will see the night watch hours of 12am thru 6am filled with the Prayer Room. As the world turns so will the broadcast, so at all times the prayer room will be crying out to God with a new region of the earth. This will be a great opportunity to focus our prayers during these periods on the different regions of the earth where the feed is being broadcast. It also means that the webstream that you receive in your home will be a significantly better quality – not simply the static camera it has been up to this point! As we will be increasing the quality of the webstream we want to see the distribution of this increase as well, so if you have a business or a church or a friend that you think could benefit from this 24/7 connection to IHOP sign them up at the website. This 24/7 connection between Kansas City and the GOD TV Broadcast HQ in Jerusalem also has some profound implications. GOD TV operates a ‘Thus says the Lord” Program Schedule, which means that should dramatic events occur on the earth such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks etc, it will be possible to switch the programming of GOD TV so that IHOP will be leading Global Concerts of Prayer night and day, through this technology it will be possible to lead millions of believers in global prayer.

Lastly (but by no means least), the International House of Prayerhas become an organizational division of GOD TV – the Prayer Division! With Mike Bickle as the Divisional Head. IHOP has many friends and a few ministries with which we have a special bond whom we uphold in prayer with special intensity. GOD TV is now one of these ministries and we are committed to seeing 1 million intercessors raised up to support GOD TV through prayer. We are already praying for many prayer requests of viewers that are coming from all parts of the globe, however the ministry itself is leading many away from darkness and deception and into light and truth and as such is high on the enemy’s list of targets and therefore GOD TV desperately needs our prayer covering. If you are interested in committing even 1 hour a week to pray for GOD TV please contact prayer4godtv@ihop.org.

With such massive challenges and projects ahead, we are more grateful than ever for your generous support for IHOP and all of the many projects that are moving forward. We are starting a Media Apprenticeship in light of the many growing projects. Broadcasting is not inexpensive in terms of equipment, personnel and transmission and so we are trusting the Lord to release $10 million in 2007 for this very project.

If you are interested to learn more about our partnership with GOD TV it is possible to watch an interview between Mike Bickle and Rory and Wendy Alec at www.IHOP.org.GOD TV can be viewed on DirecTV #365 or at www.god.tv

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Josiah Hall – Update

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Jono Hall


Josiah next to a bank note to show his size – he’s actually grown a massive 1.5 cm

On Monday night Josiah Oswald marked his first month of life.

He is now stable and despite the fact that his breathing took a step back last week and he had to return to CPAP he has now gone back on canula oxygen and is stable with regard to breathing. He takes a dailing intake of caffeine to stimulate him to breathe – however, I’m sure many people reading often feel a similar way on their way to Starbucks.

One of the big issues now is size – he NEEDS to grow. Last week he hovered around the 2lb mark – today he was 2lb 1oz, but he needs to increase. His blood pressure has thankfully come down somewhat, so they decided today to take him off the diaretic that he had been on to bring it down – I jokingly called it his ‘slim fast’ plan. but I guess he doesn’t need to slim at this point. As he has an ileostomy one of the issues is that the food doesn’t stay in the gut as long as it would normally so it is a little harder for him to get all the nutrients that he would otherwise have gotten. He is now receiving 15ml of Shari’s milk every 3 hours with fortifiers to increase the calorie intake.

The big event of this week was his first eye exam. He has been diagnosed with stage one Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) – it is more common the smaller and younger the baby is. Josiah is certainly one of the smallest babies in the NICU. ROP is the disorganised growth of blood cells in the retina – which could resolve itself in the best case scenario or could lead to retinal detachment in the worst cases – Stevie Wonder is blind because of ROP. They do weekly eye exams and we are believing that it will resolve itself with the blood cells continuing to grow straight rather than clustered.

The other thing which would be great for you to pray for would be Shari’s milk output – breast pumping isn’t exactly the funnest thing in the world!

Apart from that the normal preemie issues continue in terms of bouts of bradycardia – the heart stopping and breathing stopping.

But that’s about it for now – so continue to pray for his growth.

We are so grateful for all your prayers and support during this season – Thank you for believing with us for his complete healing, wholeness and growth – we are looking forward to the day that we bring him home.

Blessings

Jono, Shari and Josiah

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Shari and Josiah

Posted on March 24, 2007 by Jono Hall

Hi All,

Just a quick update to all our family and friends on Shari and Josiah.

Shari got some blood test results back at the beginning of the week which weren’t favorable – however she did the tests again and the report yesterday came back much better. She’ll see the doctor next week – but she is definitely on the road to recovery PTL.

Josiah – has had his share of ups and downs over his little life – the latest is this – His PDA seems to have closed up. He had the respiratory tube taken out on Saturday, however the little guy did not like the replacement CPAP prongs – and kept on pulling at them until he pulled them straight out – at which point the doctor decided to move up his progress on his breathing to nasal canula oxygen. This is great progress especially considering they were thinking of putting his respiratory tube back in on Sunday.

Yesterday and today Shari held the little guy and this afternoon they started feeding him mother’s milk for the first time (through a tube into his stomach – only 1 ml every 3 hours – but he seems to be taking it well.

The few things that you could agree with us in prayer for are

1) That he would really accept his mother’s milk well and start to grow – he is still extremely small for his age – tonight he was 1lb 12oz – which is still his birth weight – we want him to start packing on the pounds!!

2) Josiah has been experiencing high blood pressure over the last few days – the docs can’t figure out why it is high – and it has come down a little – but we want to see a normal blood pressure.

3) Pray for the little guys development all over – that the bleed on the brain would clear up and that all his internal organs would function well.

Thanks so much for all your prayers and support

I’ve included a link to a few pictures of Josiah – just click on the slide show

http://picasaweb.google.com/ihopemail

Blessings

Jono, Shari and Josiah

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The 4th July and all things American

Posted on July 5, 2006 by Jono Hall


I spoke up loudly in our home yesterday “Let it never be said of Jono Hall that he stopped his American wife from celebrating the 4th July and watching the fireworks” And so we went to the Leawood Park and watched the fireworks – which it might be added were very nice. However, this is the one day of the year when it’s a little strange being in America – for how can a British person rejoice over the American declaration of independence from Britain?

As an English person in America, I notice many things we do differently. One thing is the way we date things. I was born on 2nd October. In England this is 2/10/1976, in America this is 10/2/1976 and it’s called October 2nd. This being the case, why is one of the most momentous days in the American calendar, the day they announced independence from the tyrannical British overlords called 4th July and not July 4th – just wondering?

On another note – I recently found out that one of my great, great (etc) grandfathers was burnt at the stake for being a Puritan in Stuart England – his brother didn’t fancy the same experience and so he got on a boat headed for the new world – the boat was called “the Mayflower”. I’ve been joking with Shari that I’m actually more American than she is – As she is petitioning for me to get a Green Card I’m sure she has a different perspective!

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The Mysteries of God

Posted on July 2, 2006 by Jono Hall

Paul often exhorts and explains from the deep and hidden mysteries of God. This is with relation to the nature of God, his redemption and the glory to be revealed. It is profitable for us as believers who are seeking to know the mysteries of the end of the age and the age to come to apply ourselves to understand what the scripture says about how we should approach such mysteries.

It is interesting to note that at the time of the New Testament there was a sect of the Jewish nation that devoted much of their time to studying the Jewish prophecies. They knew the scriptures so well that they could easily quote where the Anointed One of Israel would come.

When Jesus was born King Herod called this sect of the Jews to him

When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

” `But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’ “

– Matthew 2:4-6

The Pharisees didn’t need time to go and search the scriptures – their scripture knowledge was sufficient. They knew immediately that Bethlehem was the place.

Later in Jesus life, we discover the Pharisees still retained this knowledge – after all it was concerning their Messiah! This point about Bethlehem became a bone of contention, Jesus had grown up in the Galilee, most probably spoke with a broad Galilean accent, yet the Pharisees argued among themselves that Jesus could not possibly be the promised Messiah because he didn’t come from Bethlehem.

Others said, “He is the Christ.”

Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” – John 7:41-42

Their scripture knowledge had puffed them up with pride, so much so that they refused to even ask about Jesus’ background. Jesus, who had been born in Bethlehem, from the line of David, was standing before them, but they assumed they knew better. The scripture had to be fulfilled, but even though the Pharisees knew the words, they refused to let the spirit of the word dwell within them. Jesus even challenged them with this deficiency in their theology.

And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

– John 5:37-40

By this we understand that our approach to scripture must not simply be a search for knowledge – knowing the words on the page, knowing and debating among themselves all the mysteries of God did not bring the Pharisees eternal life, in fact it may have brought the very opposite. Because they claimed they could see they were condemned (John 9:41), Jesus even saw them as a pit of snakes in danger of an eternity in utter darkness. (Matthew 23:33)

Therefore, what should our approach to such study of end times look like? Paul gives some very wise counsel in his letter to the Church of Corinth. Paul often prophesies in his letters – rather than saying “thus says the Lord” Paul will often explain a “mystery” of God. However in the midst of his exhortation to the Church of Corinth about pursuing spiritual gifts and especially the gift of prophecy, Paul inserts an exhortation – one of the most famous passages in the New Testament.

And now I will show you the most excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

– 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Paul was the epitome of a legalistic self righteousness Pharisee that Jesus condemned. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees, yet he was also a trophy of grace. I have imagined Jesus standing before the Pharisees, even until his final condemnation and seeing the worst of all that he condemned, purposing in his heart to take the worst of these Pharisees, redeeming them and transforming them into an apostle to the gentiles – I think he executed this plan with Paul. Undoubtedly Paul would have known the scriptures as well as any other Pharisee of his age. He looked into the very ‘mysteries’ of God, yet he admitted to the Church of Corinth – even if he had worked out all the mysteries of the end of the age, even if the miraculous powers that he operated in were more than double any one in history, even if he could commune with angels – If Paul did not operate with a spirit of love then all this meant nothing, absolutely nothing.

But what does this spirit of love look like in relation to studying the mysteries of the end of the age? We can gain much by looking at the rest of chapter 13 of the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul spells out in clear terms what this type of love looks like. However, he doesn’t really relate it to the study of end times. To find out someone who operated in this spirit, if we do a simple word study on the English word ‘mystery’, it is apparent in the English translations it only appears in the book of Daniel, in Paul’s writings and in the book of Revelation, therefore a good answer to this question is probably found in studying the life of Daniel. Daniel a man with an excellent spirit in whom the spirit of the Holy God dwelt. Here we find the answer of what the way of love looks like when lived. Daniel was a man of prayer, of fasting, a man in whom no deceit was found and the mysteries of the end of the age were revealed to him.

So as we continue our studies the stark challenge is put before us – will our study of the end times look like the study of the Pharisees or will we follow the way of love and have Daniels lifestyle of prayer and fasting.

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I’m Living on top of the Roof!

Posted on July 1, 2006 by Jono Hall

I’ll admit it – I’m chicken. Here’s a picture of the evidence. The answer to the question – is no, I have not got a nagging wife, so I’ve taken to living on a corner of my roof. Rather, we have a bird’s nest in our roof. There’s a piece of wood missing on the far right of the picture and the little birdies are cheeping above us. So I climbed up on the roof – but was too chicken to do the repair work with nothing to hold on to but the roof – my next task is to track down a ladder that I can use to actually do the job with relative safety. I wasn’t a big fan of Shari’s idea of tying a rope around my legs and dangling me off the edge! Posted by Picasa

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World Cup Fever

Posted on June 23, 2006 by Jono Hall

So I have a little bit of a dilemma – the whole world is taken up with world cup fever – England have made it through the group stage to the last 16 – I can’t imagine the forore in England – Yet here I am in the USA, where football is a completely different sport – they call it soccer here. The only thing is that Sunday’s game against Ecuador will begin at 10am in the morning, the same time as our FCF Church service.

Now I like to see a game of football as much as the next man – but if it comes down to whom I love more, football doesn’t even come a close second. I pity all those Newcastle supporters who worship on a weekly basis at St James Cathedral. Football is not really a matter of life and death at all – it really is just a sport, an enjoyable distraction. But I’ll still be secretly singing “Come on England”!

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Green Card….

Posted on June 22, 2006 by Jono Hall

Do you remember the movie Green Card – probably not. It was one of those early 90s romantic comedies with Andie McDowell and Gerard Depardieu (one of the best actors to have come from France – which isn’t that hard really). Gerard was trying to get into the US and falsified a marriage to Andie Mcdowell to get his Green Card – unlike the happy endings of most Hollywood movies, their plan didn’t work and Gerard got sent back to France, but in true Hollywood fashion the two fell in love.

Enough about the movie – I’m kind of in the a similar position – not that I married Shari for a green card – but now that I have married Shari I have to go through the long process – and I mean long process of applying for a Green Card. Alot to read, alot to fill in. I just hope they don’t turn me down ! 🙂

Wes and Carol recently received their Green Cards, so I’m just weighing up whether or not I need to hire a lawyer as well – something within me says – you’ve got a legal training – do it yourself – then the lazy part says – there’s so much reading – I think the legal fees are making me more proactive!!

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Onething 2005

Posted on June 13, 2006 by Jono Hall

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Learning Meekness

Posted on June 13, 2006 by Jono Hall

On Sunday I was in an E12 (That’s IHOP’s End Times Small Groups) We were discussing the Faithful few reigning with Jesus in the Millennium. The faithful few are those who overcome, those who choose meekness as a lifestyle. Mike Bickle chose me as an example of why we have to undergo trials of meekness. Anyway, I’ve had another opportunity today to learn how to reign with Christ through meekness. I have been feeling a little numb and fighting offense this afternoon after some political manoeverings in the IHOP leadership. It is important for me that I learn the right lessons in God when I encounter these situations. Should I sit back and turn the other cheek so to speak or should I speak up when injustice and foolish decisions take place? It is a very hard decision when it comes to yourself. Anyway, I’m sure to blog through the bitter end of this thing, so stay tuned.

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