Freedom was a feeling he had longed for all his life.
“To understand that there is a God who loved me, and we have authority because of Jesus, was life-changing to me,” said Mike Heiser.
“I never knew we had any authority in Christ. I would just ask God and hoped He did it.”
Mike Heiser
Mike and Pat Heiser had always been taught that God was not pleased with them, and they had to work to gain His approval. The condemnation and religious bondage they were under was stifling.
“I always thought I was too weak; I was too dumb; I thought I was just not qualified,” Pat said.
“I thought I was nobody, that I couldn’t do anything,” Mike said. “Why would God want to mess with someone like me?”
However, upon meeting Andrew Wommack and hearing his teachings, the Word of God opened their hearts to receive the revelation of God’s unconditional love and grace. They, like many who hear Andrew’s teachings, decided to answer the call to attend Charis Bible College. Little did they know that God was preparing them to do an incredible work in Kenya and beyond.
Small Beginnings
After attending Charis Bible College in 2002, God led the Heisers to a church in Nairobi, Kenya to teach and minister to the people there.
“We fell in love with the Kenyan people, especially the children. All of these children running wild on the streets began tugging strongly on our hearts,” Pat said. “Everyone was telling us to ignore them, but the compassion of Jesus overcame us,” Pat said.
They had no money, no support, just a word from God. God had given them a message to share; that God loves us unconditionally and that we have authority on this earth as believers.
But that was all they needed.
Soon, their home in Meru, Kenya began filling up with homeless, destitute children, searching for love. Children with histories of crime, abuse, sex, and drugs started calling them Papa and Mama.
“These kids know what family is now; they understand that God loves them, and that now they can do anything,” Mike said.
They found that children, and especially single mothers, were drawn to the message of God’s love. These poor women would work all day, seven days a week, to make barely enough to buy milk and unga (cornmeal). The Heisers began to hold Bible Studies for these women, which eventually grew to seventy-five people and helped launch the Heart of God Fellowship in 2005. Today, there are over 200 churches that were birthed out of or are affiliated with the original Heart of God Fellowship in Meru.
Out of that church, they saw the need to start a Bible school. In 2007, armed with curriculum from Charis Bible College, the Heisers birthed their Neema Bible college campus, which included all-live teaching by Mike and Pat themselves. Neema (pronounced Nee-yem-ah) means “grace” in Swahili. Today, over 1,000 students have graduated from over 26 Neema Bible College campuses across Kenya.
“If we had not known that He qualifies us, and that we don’t qualify ourselves, we wouldn’t be here today,” Mike said.
The majority of people they work with live under the crippling weight of condemnation. However, learning what we have in Christ—such as spiritual identity, righteousness, and authority—has made all the difference to the students of NEEMA Bible College.
“Knowing who you are in Christ allows you to have the confidence to go on and become somebody in life.”
Pat Heiser
Signs and Wonders Shall Follow
One of the most fulfilling aspects of the Heiser’s ministry is seeing their students take the message of grace and authority out into other parts of Kenya. The evidence of God’s supernatural blessings in the lives they minister to is contagious! These students have a heart, not just to minister, but to disciple and train other believers.
Take, for example, Pastor Allen and Mary Kusimba. The Kusimbas graduated from NEEMA Bible College, took the message of grace, and planted a church in another town.
One evening, when Pastor Allan and his wife decided to hold an all-night prayer service in their church, they had no idea they were about to see the impossible! The following is a story about a young mother who stepped into their church that night.
They had been travelling on foot for hours; almost an entire day.
On her back, a young mother was carrying her sick baby to the nearest village clinic, which was miles away.
When she reached the clinic, it was almost unbearable to receive the nurse’s diagnosis.
Her baby had died along the way.
Crushed, overwhelmed with grief and despair, she and her friends began the strenuous journey back home to bury her precious daughter.
However, something caught her ear.
It was the sound of worship and singing, coming from a nearby church.
This couldn’t be right—it was nearly 2 a.m!
How she longed to sit down and rest her tired feet.
How she longed to find answers to her desperation.
She was drawn to these sounds of praise. These sounds of hope.
She made the bold choice to step inside.
Upon entering, the pastor greeted this young woman and her travelling companions. Seeing her exhaustion, he offered to hold her baby for her.
Shocked to find the little baby cold and stiff, the pastor began to pray, and immediately heard the Holy Spirit say, “It is well with the baby.”
Pastor Allan began to call the spirit of life back into her lifeless body and continued exercising authority over death.
Suddenly, the small, stiff body started to move in his arms. He continued to pray, and finally, she began to breathe! Little Florence is alive!
The entire congregation erupted in praise. The next day, the whole village was amazed at what God had done.
Become a disciple-maker
Pastor Allan and Mary Kusimba’s story is just one of hundreds in Kenya. God is transforming hearts through the power of His love, with signs and wonders following, all because of one couple’s obedience.
When Mike and Pat Heiser personally found the freedom that comes with knowing their identity in Christ, they were compelled to take this message to the nations.
Now they are seeing the supernatural blessings and miracles happening in their lives and in thousands of lives around them, that could not have happened without Andrew’s teachings.
Perhaps you want to make a difference in the world too, just like the Heisers. Is God calling you to minister the unconditional love and grace to the nations?
Just like the Heisers, and just as the Apostle Paul, 2–3 years of Bible training will prepare you to take Christ’s message to the world. Charis Bible College is the perfect solution. Using the Bible as the only textbook, this 2-year solid foundation in the Word, plus a third-year career track, Charis Bible College is the perfect prep for ministry.
Charis Bible College is accepting applications for the 2021—2022 school year. You can take classes in-person at a campus near you, or there are several online options available to meet you where you are. Apply at www.DiscoverCharis.com today!
