CRA Newsletter Spring 2007

Seedtime & Harvest
by Rita Bennett, Co-Founder & President

The Holy Spirit jolted the American church more than four decades ago
and brought waves of renewal. Today we celebrate those days of visitation.

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22 KJV).

These words God spoke to Noah and his sons following the great world wide flood in the then known and inhabited world.

How did Noah plant seeds for a harvest? One can plant natural seeds for a literal harvest of say, butternut squash. One can also plant spiritual seeds for a spiritual harvest of souls by obeying what God tells one to do.

Yes, Noah planted spiritual seeds by believing the Word, convincing his wife and family of this truth, and then actually completing the enormous task of building the ark.

Only the eight family members and two of every kind of animal were saved by being on the ark. None of the community invited by Noah to “get on board” accepted the invitation.

In the 40 years of Aglow International's existence, it has planted good seeds and has had a mighty harvest of souls. It is one of the world's largest Christian organizations. I attended Aglow's 40 Year Anniversary held at the Washington State Convention Center late this September. It was a worldwide conference of 6,000 women
from 170 nations.

Lovely Jane Hansen, president of Aglow, had invited eight women who had been active in the beginning of Aglow to join her on the platform. I was honored to be one of those women. She interviewed each of us during the concluding meeting of the Conference on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007.

When it was my turn, she began by remembering Rev. Dennis Bennett, my late husband, and the support he had given Aglow. At the Friday morning session, Jane had graciously displayed a photo on the big screen of Dennis and me, and spoke of his influential ministry.

“I replied, ‘Yes, that is true, Jane.' I smiled, 'It seems I was in the right place, at the right time, saying the right things.’

“I mentioned to Jane and the conference attendees, that at that time I was newly married to Dennis Bennett in 1966 and the first meeting took place the following year in 1967 at a hotel in the University district in Seattle.

“The only Christian women’s groups I knew of at that time did a fine work," I said, “but did not teach Acts 2:4 is for today, And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. I gave my personal testimony in that first meeting, and then prayed with about ten or more women to be Baptised in the Holy Spirit. They all received. The next month I came to the second luncheon, and led the singing and worship. Again I had the opportunity to pray with more women.

“Dennis had encouraged the women to incorporate. They did, and chose the inspired name 'Aglow.' I reminisced about how he was on Aglow’s Board of Directors for a number of years in those early days. I later thought about how he was invited to proof some of their early materials such as Bible Studies.

“My husband and I began to travel more in ministry and so I was not as active locally though I spoke for Aglow fellowships quite often." I'll add here that in 1974 I wrote a book for Aglow, in conjunction with Bridge Publishing (now Bridge-Logos), called ‘I’m Glad You Asked That.’

“The eight women who shared that Sunday morning were: Joyce Doerflein, (Fred Doerflein, husband, formerly leader in FGBMI) and Ruth Gothenquist (early leaders), Bernice Smithleader, Trina MacDougal Bible Teacher, myself–Rita Bennett speaker, Paula Shields missionary, Katie Fortune editor for the first Aglow Magazine, and Faith Moody- Martin representing her deceased mother, Margaret Moody, second Aglow president.

“At one point President Jane Hansen asked us 40-year veterans to stand and bless the thousands of women in the audience, and rejoice over how the Lord had multiplied the seeds we had sown. We stood and lifted our hands in prayer. I was overwhelmed by this concept, as well as the shouting and praise to the Lord that erupted from the 6,000 women.

“The prophet Isaiah says of Christ, Who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living . . . (vs. 8b). Yet, He shall see His seed (vs.10b).

“So we in the beginning of Aglow had sown His spiritual seed of Word and Spirit, and others followed. God multiplies good seed especially when there is good ground to plant it in, and the rain of the Spirit and the light of God’s Word to bring full growth. Today is truly a season of Seed Time and Harvest and it will Not Cease.

“The numbers of quality leaders of Aglow International, guided by their Board's pastoral headship, have created an organization that is wise, biblical, and ethical. One that God is surely proud of.

“A worldwide harvest of souls is taking place through Aglow International and how the world needs it!”

“Through this worldwide network, Aglow ministers to an estimated 17 million people each year through prayer, teaching, and acts of compassion." (Quote from News Release from A. Larry Ross Communications).

Our newsletter “Seed Time & Harvest,” speaks of the spiritual Harvest theme for the Lord’s work. The fall season is not the only Harvest Season of the year in this scenario. Kingdom work goes on planting and harvesting every season and every day of the year.

When it comes to a natural Harvest season it can also be said that around the globe of our world there is a planting and harvest season for every season. In New Zealand, it is summer when we’re having winter in the Northern part of America. In Alaska, their winter wonderland atmosphere is beautiful, but it looks entirely different in the summer when the snow has melted. They have to hurry to plant their crops due to a short season. In the summer, the sun is shining day and night bringing the fastest growth.

When it comes to funding Kingdom work it’s a lot like what we do in growing crops. There’s the beginning process of locating good soil that has grown good produce over the years. There’s the continued weeding, planting, watering, feeding, nurturing, waiting, and harvesting 30, 60, or 100 percent.

Right now we at Christian Renewal Association have a good harvest but we're aiming for 100%. In order to have a work continue, there has to be a seasonal harvest of finances. CRA began by The Rev. Dennis and Rita Bennett, and Florence Dressel, November 29, 1968 for outreach ministry.

You can see the Teachers and their locations here, or if that doesn’t work on your computer just go to: www.google and type in "Rita Bennett" and you’ll find us.

Thank you for praying me through my first two years in graduate school. I have to say that I did my part by keeping up with my studies! I have only one course to take until I graduate in June 2008 as a Marriage and Family therapist. I have learned a lot, and I hope that some of that knowledge will show up in future books.

January 1, 2008 marks the renewal of my counseling practice at CRA. I'll be sharing details with you on our CRA website, and by June through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy's website.

Two new CRA items will be available soon. Visions of Heaven Illustration CD. Often people send us requests to use our original Heaven pictures. We are now making them available. See our Order Form.

Also the Emotionally Free Advanced Prayer Book will soon be available for you.

Holiday Prayer Requests: Please help us pray for a qualified bookkeeper who has training in QuickBooks 2007, and for the necessary funds.

For those who support us on a monthly basis, I thank you with all my heart! For those who choose to join other pledgers in Harvest Time giving now and in 2008, I will be eternally grateful. See the Harvest Time Giving card enclosed with the newsletter or click here.

Would more of our 4,500 mailing list friends remember us this season by helping with the printing and postage? Postage has gone up. We will thank you!

Please do remember the work of our ministry at Christian Renewal Association Inc. with your tax deductible year-end giving –– large and small.

You have seen in this Morning Watch––Emotionally Free newsletter some of the good fruit of the Harvest that we Bennett’s and our Team have been involved in over these 39 years. It's good soil to plant in.

My prayer is that you may enter into the overflow of the blessings we have been a part of and that your personal Harvest Time will be abundant above all you could ask or think.

Wishing you 100-fold blessings and love this year and next! –Rita Bennett, President/CEO

We are presently upgrading our office equipment and computers. Thanks to the generous, giving heart of Fr. Mike Messina, we now have two new computers! He is the Rector of St. Patrick’s Church in Ocala, Florida, and an exceptional CRA Teacher and faithful supporter.

We have taken a financial step of faith to set up a computer network through the assistance of Larry Maland, owner of Sure You Can computer service in Lynnwood, Washington, and team member, James Morse.

These men are very special to the ministry of CRA and we want to acknowledge the help and support they have provided this growing ministry.

If you would like to join our Harvest Pledgers and Contributors, please complete and return the pledge card enclosed with this newsletter, or click here. Please keep us in your prayers, as we will remember you in ours.