The Apostolic Herald Jan 2023 Edition

Adviser: Bishop Felipe A. Salazar

Editor: Bishop Armando Tamez

Creative Director: Dominic Moschetti The Apostolic Herald is the Official Gazette of the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus

GENERAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT Bishop Felipe A. Salazar

VICE-PRESIDENT

Bishop Joseph V. Rodríguez

GENERAL SECRETARY

Bishop Ismael Martín del Campo

GENERAL TREASURER

Bishop Andy Provencio

SECRETARY OF INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

Bishop Steve Moran

SECRETARY OF NATIONAL MISSIONS

Bishop Francisco Quezada

SECRETARY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Bishop Armando Tamez

SECRETARY OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Bishop Samuel Rojas

BISHOP SUPERVISORS

Bishop Sam Rojas

Arizona

Bishop Hugo Ramos

Central East Coast

Bishop Frank Balboa Central Texas

Bishop Mario Mata

Colorado

Bishop Jesse Rodriguez East Los Angeles

Bishop Gilberto Andrade East Texas

Bishop Armando Renteria Florida

Bishop Joseph V. Rodríguez Great Lakes

Bishop Luciano Montes IDCN

Bishop Felipe Velasco Los Angeles

Bishop Herminio Leal Mid America

Bishop Celestino Guzman Mid West

Bishop Jimmy Arellano New Mexico

Bishop Edgar Orellana North Central CA

Bishop Jose Castro North East Coast

Bishop Martin Amador

Northern Golden Valley

Bishop Jesse Valdez North Pacific Coast

Bishop Benjamin Andrade North Texas

Bishop Jose Ruiz Jr. North West Texas

Bishop Gabriel Calderon Washington

Bishop Carlos Benitez

Oregon

Bishop Joel Olvera South Central CA

Bishop Misael Zaragoza

Southern CA

Bishop Marco Zacarias South Texas

Bishop Jose Gutierrez

Utah & Idaho

Bishop Omar Arzate West Texas

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Praise the Lord!

It is with great joy that I present to you through The Apostolic Herald the most noteworthy news and the results of our LXIII Electoral General Convention. Our convention was graced by the presence of all our district bishops, pastors and ministers in attendance, as our regional elders, missionaries, and pastors from national missions. Jubilation enclosed us as we received all the representatives from countries of International Missions, officials and delegations, all of us one body, all of us one church, all of us worshiping and exalting the sweet name of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Even now, weeks after the conclusion of our LXIII Electoral General Convention, we continue to rejoice in the powerful presence of our Lord who joined us in each activity of our grand event: children receiving the Holy Spirit at their Ministry, pastors being inspired to revival in each one of the pastoral conferences, the whole Church of the Lord in their respective confederation meetings, and in all the preaching services at the main arena. The evening services were transcendental with anointed and challenging preaching, along with testimonies that filled us with motivation and great happiness of what God is doing in the missionary fields.

In this whole celebration and harmony, the pastors held their elections of the New International Board of Directors for the administrative period of 20222026 with a spirit of peace, respect and unity. Even these times of administrative procedures were not the exception, we were ministered by the Holy Spirit: the whole day we heard testimonies of power and excellent conferences which culminated when the last official was elected. At that moment the commissions that tallied the votes and that vetted the candidates entered into the meeting as the electoral commission called all the elected officials to the front. All the pastors rose and lifted their hands to give thanks to God on high, for his help and direction in all these tasks, confident that His will had been done. Glory to Jesus Christ!

With great joy that last Convention night we witnessed when our newly elected Bishop President Felipe Salazar and the General Board of Directors were sworn into

service. The Apostolic people responded with applause and cheering for this new administrative stage that was beginning in the Apostolic Assembly. This was transmitted to us through a powerful and challenging message of inspiration and faith, “Build the Church: MISSION,” at an arena that was teeming with Apostolic worshippers.

In conclusion we can say that a new horizon is dawning, a horizon of progress and advancement. We give thanks to God for the leaders that guided the Apostolic Assembly to this moment, now united we pray for the new administration that begins. The Vision that our Bishop President Felipe Salazar has declared is:

“Build

the Church: MISSION”

Matthew 16:18

We stand ready to unite our hands and our might to continue to build upon our powerful mission statement: “Exalt Christ, Equip the Church, Evangelize the World.”

My prayers are that you may have a prosperous and blessed 2023 and that at the next convention when we meet again you may come with triumphs, accomplishments and many victories in Christ Jesus.

Fraternally, Bishop Armando Tamez Editor The Apostolic Herald

PRESIDENT’S VISION 2023

“GROW THE CHURCH: MISSION”

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Pastors and Bishops, Praise the Lord!

I greet you all in the name of Jesus.

We are entering this new year after having celebrated a glorious convention in Long Beach, California. What a wonderful event. Everything from the business meetings to the daytime breakout sessions were filled with a sense of peace and expectation and finally with powerful manifestations of God in our evening services. We experienced a wonderful move of the Holy Ghost. God richly poured out upon us His blessings.

THE NEW GENERAL BOARD

As most of you already know the Pastors that attended this Convention elected a new general board of directors. I am grateful for the men that were elected by the Pastoral body to direct the affairs of our Church the next four years. Four members of the past administration were reelected to serve on this administration. Bishop Joseph Rodriguez, who served as our General Secretary, was elected to serve as our Vice President, Bishop Andy Provencio, who served as the Secretary

of International Missions, was elected to serve as our Church’s General Treasurer. Bishop Francisco Quesada, who served as the Secretary of Social Assistance, was elected as the Secretary of National Missions. Bishop Ismael Martin del Campo, who served for 12 years on previous administrations, comes back to the General Board with a vast amount of experience. I am glad to have him back on the team. Finally, we are pleased to receive the new incoming members of the General Board, Bishop Steve Moran, Secretary of International Missions. Bishop Armando Tamez, Director of Christian Education. Finally, Bishop Sam Rojas, as the new Secretary of Social Assistance. In one of the last meetings of the General Board, prior to the general convention, Bishop John Fortino told us that, “the will of God will be expressed through the vote of the pastors.” I’m confident that took place.

My wife and I feel extremely blessed to have been given the honor of serving the Apostolic Assembly for the next four years as President and First Lady. We are confident in the Lord that He will be with us and prosper the assignment He has given us. We only ask for your prayers and support as we endeavor to be faithful to God’s calling.

THE CONVENTION MESSAGE

In the message “I will build My Church: MISSION” I tried to convey the following thoughts that I believe the Lord gave me for that occasion.

1) This administration will build on the achievements of past administrations because the kingdom of God is built upon the work of others, line upon line and precept upon precept.

2) It is God who builds the Church. We are only “little stones” or useful instruments that God uses to build His kingdom.

3) The Church is built upon the revelation of the person of Jesus Christ.

4) Jesus builds the Church when the Church lifts Him up. The mission of the Church is to exalt Jesus.

5) The exaltation of Christ in the Church is primarily accomplished through evangelism and discipleship. In other words, Christ is exalted when people come to know Jesus as their savior and submit to Him as their Lord.

6) The strategy of the Church for evangelism and discipleship is the Strategy of Jesus.

Those truths were designed to communicate this thought: Christ is building His kingdom as we work to win people and make disciples. Those truths are summarized in the axiom: BUILD THE CHURCH!

BUILD THE CHURCH

The theme for 2023 through 2026 will be: “Build the Church.” That, I believe, is the work that Christ has given us to do. That will be the battle cry for the next four years. In my heart the phrase, “Build the Church”, has two applications. First, it is a cry unto the Lord. Second, it is an encouraging pronouncement. Let me explain:

A Cry to the Lord:

“Build the Church” is a cry unto the Lord by those who understand that we do not build the Church; Christ does (Matthew 16:18). The Psalmist said, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Interestingly, this verse identifies two

“builders”: first, the laborers (those laying the bricks) and two, the Builder (the Lord) who is providing direction, materials, intelligence, strength, and the life necessary to complete the project. Without the builder, the laborers are merely laying bricks. Their work will ultimately be fruitless. The message is clear, all building activity, without the great builder is unproductive. Hence our cry to the Lord, “Lord! Build the Church.”

An Encouraging Pronouncement:

“Build the Church” is not only a supplication to God, but it is also an encouraging pronouncement. We all need to be reminded, on a consistent basis, of the importance of laying bricks. He builds. We lay the bricks. He devised the plan. We build according to His directions. Yes, without Him nothing is possible, but

here is the complementary truth, God uses men and women as His helpers. A minor but essential role.

Why does God order things this way? Because He is glorified by the magnificent results of our feeble efforts (I Corinthians 1:26-31). The Bible teaches that the greater work is the Lord’s. For example: salvation is not the fruit of human endeavors or eloquence, it is the working of God that saves men. It is the Spirit working omnipotently through preaching that rescues the lost. We witness; He saves. We pray; He fills people with the Holy Ghost. It is the Word of God that molds submissive men and women into the image of Christ. His is the greater work. The Motto “Build the church” is meant to be one of encouragement when after having greeted each other with “Paz de Cristo” and having engaged in heart-felt conversation, we

depart encouraging each other with these words, “Let’s Build the Church.” These words represent a new way of thinking. They are the words of the builders of the Kingdom. A new mindset must arise among us, one that believes our time has come. One that believes that the Lord has given us a moment in time. We must take full advantage of it. It’s time to build the church!

A Twofold Mandate:

The call to “Build the Church” is twofold. It is a call to build in quantity and in quality. We need to reach more people with the Gospel. Evangelism grows the Church in quantity; discipleship grows the Church in quality.

We must grow in numbers. If we truly believe that the eternal destiny of the unsaved is hell and that hell is eternal, then we must work diligently to see that the lost are saved. The Church will grow in numbers as the lost come to Christ. That must be a primary reason why Luke memorialized the 3,000 baptisms (Acts 2:41) at Pentecost. It must also be the reason why Luke mentioned 5,000 people getting baptized in Jesus name a short time later (Acts 4:4). Numbers speak of the effectiveness of the Gospel and of the commitment of believers to its mission.

We must grow in quality until everything about us is excellent. The call to grow the Church in quality is a call to grow the Church’s essential elements. The Church must grow in love, in faith, and in hope (I Corinthians 13:13). The call to build the Church is a call to build our relationships with God, and with each other (Mark 12:28-31). It is a call to build healthy families and vibrant churches filled with mighty manifestations of His presence. It is a call to be doctrinally sound, to love our modest way of life, and to love the scriptures. Growing in quality means growing committed, nonjudgmental saints that love God and love the lost. That Church is and will continue to be a healthy, growing, powerful Church.

REACHING THE LOST IS OUR MISSION THE STRATEGY OF JESUS IS OUR VISION

I see the Apostolic Assembly as a healthy, growing, Spirit-filled, Apostolic Cellular Church.

During the administration of Bishop Daniel Sanchez, the Church wrote out its mission statement: We exist to exalt God, equip the Church, and evangelize

the world. Reducing our mission to a twelve-word statement was an important endeavor. Its end was to focus the Church’s vision and energies on the Church’s mission. A mission statement clarifies the work that is to be done and therefore serves to focus the work of an organization. For us, as believers in Christ, a mission statement is not something we have great latitude to define. Christ’s commands regarding the work of the Church are clear and immutable: love people into the Kingdom of God and make them disciplined followers of Christ. This mandate is not new for the leadership or members of our Church. We have long understood the mission. It has been in the Bible for over 2,000 years and discussed within our ranks in detail since our Church’s beginning. The Mission of the Church is incontrovertible. It is not to be questioned or debated. The mission of the Church is to evangelize the lost and make disciples. That cannot change.

There are differences between the Church’s mission and its vision. Let me name a few:

1) A vision proceeds from a mission. Mission first then vision.

2) A mission is permanent a vision is not. The mission cannot change, the vision may.

3) A mission tells us what we are to do.

4) A vision looks to the future and asks: Where are we going and how will be get there?

The Strategy of Jesus is the vision or plan of the Church for winning the lost and making disciples. It answers two questions: First, Where do we want to go? Answer:

we endeavor to be a healthy, growing, Spirit-filled, Apostolic Cellular Church. Second, it also answers the question: How shall we get there? Answer: the processes described in the Strategy of Jesus. Essentially, the Strategy of Jesus answers the two most important questions that are asked when speaking about a vision. Where are we going and how shall we get there? When asked what is the strategy that the Apostolic Assembly uses to evangelize sinners and disciple believers, my answer is: the Strategy of Jesus. That is clear in my mind. We need the Strategy of Jesus because missions need strategies. Without strategies not much will get done.

There has been a “quiet controversy” among some of us surrounding our strategy. While an important number of pastors, bishops, and presidents attest to the fact that the Strategy of Jesus has made a significant difference in the health and growth of their churches, still others quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, question if it will work for them.

What I am proposing is that we end the controversy and that we get to the work of the mission. If your church is healthy and growing by emphasizing signs and wonders, wonderful! Let’s build the Kingdom. If Bible studies have reaped a harvest of souls, we applaud you. Let’s grow the Church. If what is working for you is rehabilitation programs, excellent! Let’s build the Church. Let’s end the debate about whether one system or another works better or at all, let’s focus on the mission. Let’s be productive. John chapter 15 registers Jesus’ talk to His disciples on the vine and the branches. There He said this, Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” Then in verse 16 of the same chapter He said, Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you,

that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: . . .” God wants a fruitful, growing Church. Not a Church that is engaged in polite controversies.

For every man that has it in their heart to start a new work, we offer you the Strategy of Jesus. For every Pastor that is hungering for greater effectiveness in winning the lost and making disciples, we offer you the strategy of Jesus. For those churches with stagnant or decreasing membership, we offer you the Strategy of Jesus. The point is that what is most important is the spiritual and numeric growth of the Church.

SPEAKING THE SAME THING

President Fortino emphasized the importance of unity throughout the 10 years that he served as president of our Church. His call to unity and the concurrent transparency that he brought to the Church set the stage for what I am now calling the leaders and membership of our Church to think, speak, and do, let’s win souls. We must all be of the same mind and speak the same thing for the purposes of God to advance. Growth must be our language. It must be in the heart and on the lips of our Church.

Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian church, among many other things, was that their unity be evident in the way they spoke and in the way they thought. The unity Paul was calling them to was profound. That kind of unity is not found in human judgement, because everyone has an opinion about most things. The kind of unity Paul was calling the Corinthian church to is only possible when what you’re talking about is true. Listen to Paul’s words to the Corinthians, “I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Later to the Philippians he wrote, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

There are things that unite the Church. Those things are the essentials. For example, the commandments of our Lord or the Church’s mandates are points of absolute unity among us. Church unity is not only possible, a profound unity, the deepest kind of unity, is something we should experience when it comes to the mission. “Let’s Build the Church!” Let’s win souls and make disciples. True, from-the-heart unity can only be experienced on divine mandates. The Apostolic Assembly should live in unity of mind, word, and deed concerning the mission.

REVIVAL IS HERE

We often talk about revival as a future event that God will sovereignly decree upon us at a time of His choosing. I think that is partially true. However, to define revival as only having to do with a sovereign act of God without including human responsibility is to miss out on part of the equation necessary to see a mighty move of God in our time. The truth is that When God is ready to move, He moves the hearts of men. God acts in concert with His men and women

There is probably no greater move of God in the world than Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The anointing and power that rested upon the Prophets of old was about to be poured out upon every believer who trusted in the risen Christ. There is no question that the day of Pentecost was God’s choice for the beginning of a mighty move of

God that touched and transformed the world. However, sovereign will was not the only factor involved in this spectacular move of God. Submission to God’s will, the surrender of 120 believers to God also played an important role in what God did. “Go to Jerusalem and wait until you are endued with power from on high” was Jesus’ command (Acts 1:4-5). The Disciples went to Jerusalem and tarried there until the promise of the Father was come. They waited ten days in prayer and supplication. Then, with a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and cloven tongues of fire, it came. Revival came in the form of an infilling of power.

Revival came because the approximately 120 believers trusted God in prayerful obedience. Times of revival are not cheap nor are they neat nor challenge free. We must work for revival. We must tarry for what we believe God has commanded. The revival of Pentecost not only touched a nation or people, as it had in the Old Testament. This revival spread from city to city, province to province, nation to nation, until it had touched the then known world. There has never been a greater revival in the annals of human history than Pentecost.

Every revival since then has displayed the same pattern. Revivals are the result of God’s choosing (sovereignty) and the movement of God’s People (responsibility). The church must not only believe that revival will come, but we must position ourselves for revival. This move of God is available to all who act in accordance with God’s sovereign will. Revival is available to all of us who organize ourselves to do what God cares about most that the world know Jesus Christ. We can have revival if we prepare for it and seek it with all our hearts.

LET’S BUILD THE CHURCH!

In Christ, Bishop Felipe A. Salazar President

“It is God who builds the ChurCh. we are only “little stones” or useful instruments that God uses to build his kinGdom.”

FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

Greetings in Jesus Name!

First and foremost, I want to thank God, for entrusting me with such a high honor and privilege of serving His church, the Apostolic Assembly, in the capacity of Vice-President. With much fear and reverence, my desire is to serve God’s people with the care and love they deserve. My goal is to support and serve our President, Bishop Felipe Salazar, and the vision God has given him to lead His people in times such as these. We are grateful for the opportunity and trust of the pastors, and are committed to fulfill our assignment and duties respectfully and with integrity.

As the Vice-President, I am overseer of the Constitution Revision Commission and editor of the editions of the Constitution of the Apostolic Assembly. We will continue working with excellence on our Constitution, the bylaws of the Confederations, and all commissions assigned to us. The General Conventions, National Conferences, Legislative Conventions, Joint Bishops and Episcopal Meetings, are also under my care and supervision. Our desire is to serve our Bishops and pastors with the highest integrity, respect, and excellence.

We have been given the assignment of completing our Headquarters facilities remodel. We are on the final phase of our construction project. Our goal is to complete this project by June 2023 and with the help of the Lord, we will celebrate an inauguration, ribbon cutting ceremony, of our Headquarters General Offices soon thereafter.

We covet your prayers, as we move forward in the will of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in preparing His church for His return. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24

In Jesus Name!

Bishop Joseph V. Rodríguez, Vice President

GENERAL SECRETARY

The General Secretariat authorizes credentials, preserves convention minutes, preserves ministerial files, sends correspondence, and administers the Real Estate assets of the Apostolic Assembly. In this work, I particularly want to recognize and thank my immediate predecessors: Bishop Vice President Joseph Rodríguez and Bishop President Felipe Salazar. Three principles I have kept in leadership: The Lordship of Christ, the authority of the Bible, and the need to serve our pastors:  our strategic partners in building the Kingdom. Keeping with these three principles and President Salazar’s vision, I outline the following goals for the General Secretariat in the next four years.

1. INFORMATION FOR GROWTH.

1.The President has outlined a vision of growth. To measure growth, we need reliable data. The President and I have sent a letter and the 2022 census to all our pastors with this goal in mind, and we are working on ways to identify what needs to be measured for the growth of each local church.

I am also pleased to report the following brethren attendance figures reported by the 2022 General Convention Committee:

Thursday, November 24: 5,000

Friday, November 25: 7,500

Saturday, November 26: 7,000

2. DIGITAL FORMS AND QUESTIONNAIRES.

We have a need to increase the accessibility of our resources, forms, and questionnaires. We are already working on a way for pastors and ministers to complete their forms and questionnaires online.

3. PRESERVING OUR PAST.

In 2013 we established the Historical Archives of the Apostolic Assembly. Paired with the resources of the General Secretariat, we want to recover as many convention minutes as possible, both of the general church and of our districts.

4.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY.

From 2015 to 2018, I was the editor of 276 eblasts. This is because communication is key in any corporation, much more so in the Body of Christ. We want to maintain and increase communication from the General Board to our bishops, missionaries, elders, and pastors.

THREE PRINCIPLES I HAVE KEPT IN LEADERSHIP: THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST, THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE, AND THE NEED TO SERVE OUR PASTORS:  OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS IN BUILDING THE KINGDOM.

5. SENDING OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

We shall maintain bishops and pastors informed of all agreements made at conventions, General Board Meetings, Joint Bishops’ Meetings, and Episcopal Body Meetings that are relevant to the general church.

6. INSURING EVERY CHURCH.

The Secretariat counsels on various insurance matters and assists districts with their workers’ compensation claims. We will work toward every church having the best coverage for their needs.

7. WORKING WITH OUR DISTRICT SECRETARIES.

Apostolic Assembly has twenty-six district secretaries and five regional secretaries. We want to work with each of them and are preparing to host a seminar to provide resources and training on Monday, February 20, 2023.

8. REAL ESTATE MATTERS.

As General Secretary, I also direct the Real Estate Department of our Apostolic Assembly. We want every church to acquire the installations that best fit their needs. The department is here to join you in acquiring facilities for your congregation. Regarding Real Estate, I inform pastors of the following General Board Agreements:

a. In our December 2022 meeting, we agreed to ask all pastors to be aware of the increase in the interest rate of current Real Estate loans in the next couple of months.

b. The General Board also agreed to recommend that pastors, if possible, postpone the acquisition of new loans for the first six months of the year until we have a clearer panorama of the economy.

Blessings in Christ!

Bishop Ismael Martín del Campo, General Secretary

GENERAL TREASURER

Dear Pastors and Congregations, Praise the Lord!

Our past and “successful” electoral convention in the month of November 2022 came and quickly transcended into the past. The Lord blessed us with a new administration that has been given a vision to see our church institution grow. This new general board of directors is committed to this challenge with great reverence and much faith that God will be with his Church.

I personally want to thank the pastors for their attendance at this beautiful event and for the vote of confidence placed upon me to serve as General Treasurer. I ask for your prayers to fulfill this great responsibility. I promise to do my best, with God’s help.

What we can declare to you is that God blessed our past administration and the service and dedication of Bishop Felipe Lugo in an extraordinary way. Thank you very much, Bishop F. Lugo. We congratulate all the pastors who, amid difficult times, faithfully fulfilled their financial responsibilities.

I want to inform you that “Apostolic Mutual” continues to grow, providing loans to congregations within the Apostolic Assembly and helping the Department of International Missions. Apostolic Mutual was initiated in 2018, and since then God has blessed us greatly. Today we have $6 million in assets, and we have been able to make loans to 54 congregations. We faithfully believe that God will help us grow these funds. With His help, a great harvest in Apostolic Mutual finances will help expand the Kingdom of God to many countries.

Blessings in Christ!

Bishop Andy Provencio, General Treasurer

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the sterile land.

Isaiah 43:19

Paz de Cristo, Beloved Partners in Global Missions

There is certainly no doubt that our God is amazing. We are ending this year with great joy and victory as we see what God is doing around the world. Not just hundreds but thousands are receiving the revelation that there is “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism” that is in the name of Jesus Christ!

By this date we are already in 43 countries! We thank God for the man of God who was used so mightily in expanding the kingdom of God with power and in revival like never before in our Apostolic history, namely Bishop Andy Provencio. We honor Him and Sister Nancy for their hard work and passion for the mission field. Great heavenly rewards await them. At the same time, a special thanks, as Bishop President Fortino and the Board of Directors never ceased to support the global mission effort.

President Georgia Vásquez and the Board of Directors of the Dorcas were able to inspire and encourage our Apostolic fellowship surpassing the goal set for Flor Azul of 2022 exceeding, $ 2.5 million ... Glory to God!

As we enter this year 2023 we are already anticipating great advances in the mission field. Please, we need you to unite with us in new year with your prayers and support. There is no doubt that God will continue to open new fields of labor in those deserts and infertile land where the Apostolic message has not been established. We will continue to evangelize and disciple to fulfill the mission of Building the Church throughout the world!

Please, if you have prayed in the past for International Missions, we ask that you now double your prayers especially for this humble servant and my wife Sister Teresa and all the missionary families to make 2023 a year of exponential growth, all for the honor and glory of his precious name Jesus!

United in the Mission of Building the Church, Secretary of International Missions, Bishop Dr. Steve Moran

Also I heArd the voice of the lord, sAying, whom shall I send, and who will Go for us? then sAid I, here am I; send me.— IsAiAh 6:8

NATIONAL MISSIONS

Praise the Lord! I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for this opportunity of collaborating in National Missions, and to the Pastors for their vote of confidence this past election. I thank Bishop Joe Aguilar for the work he accomplished in the department during his years of service.

At our last General Convention in the city of Long Beach, California, we saw the hand of God upon his church in a powerful manifestation of healing, salvation, edification and the outpouring of his Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in new tongs in the different departments, including our children. We thank all our Regional Elder, National Missionaries and National Evangelists for attending our General Convention.

REACH AMERICA

We thank Pastor Jeffrey Rodriguez and the Men’s department for all the work they did these past years. Thank you very much for the Reach America offering, in 2022 with a record amount.

$251,166.06 |

$127,149.50

$256,912.74

$314,615.38

We congratulate the new Board of Directors, presided by President Michael Garcia, Secretary Saul Leiva and Treasurer Ismael Pacheco.

In the next four years, with God’s direction and the help of men, we want to reach 7 states that need an Apostolic flag, which are: Alaska, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Virginia.

SCHOOL OF PASTORS AND PLANTERS

This past year of 2022, the school of pastors and planters was held in person in Fontana California. From this class and from the previous year, more than 30 brothers graduated and were able to have a glorious graduation on the Friday of our convention.

VISION AND GOALS

After the first meeting with President Bishop Felipe Salazar, where he gave us the vision 2023-2026 “Build the Church: Mission.” Reaching the lost is our mission; the Strategy of Jesus is our vision. Based on the Mission and Vision, the Department of National Missions will work on the motto: “Beginning in Jerusalem” Acts 1:8.

1. Mission Statement for the National Missions Department for this quadrennial: “Beginning in Jerusalem” Acts 1:8.

2. Vision and Goals:

2.1. Regions:

• Transition the regions to cellular regions.

• Transition a Region to a District

• Plant 2 works per year in each Region

• Grow annually in baptisms by 10%

• Training

• Evaluation

2.2. Mission Fields:

• Plant a work in the missing states

• Install missionaries who are working with the Strategy of Jesus or train them before sending them out

• Grow annually in baptisms by 10%

• Training

• Evaluation

2.3 National Evangelists:

• Manual: Describe an define roles

• Training

• Evaluation

2.4. Reaching America:

• Increase 12% in our annual offering

3. Committee:

3.1. Advisor: Bishop Francisco Quezada

3.2. Administrator: Minister Christian González

3.3. Assistant: Regional Elder Jonathan Quezada

3.4. Jesus Strategy: Pastor Jimmy Morales

3.5. Planting Coordinator: Pastor Silas Girón

3.6. Coordinator of National Evangelists: National Missionary José Almaraz

3.7. Reach America Offering Coordinator: Elder Domingo Zúñiga

3.8. Multimedia Coordinator: Minister Josué Quiñones

4. Annual workshops for Regional Elders and Secretaries.

4.1. Purpose: Vision and Training.

4.2. Date: January 27-28, 2023

4.3. Location: Ontario, CA

5. Workshops with individual National Missionaries (Free dates)

6. Workshops with National Evangelists. Zoom February 11, 2023

7. Separate bi-monthly Zoom meetings with Regional Elders, Missionaries and Evangelists

8. Develop job description for Regional Elders, Missionaries and Evangelists

9. Prepare Evaluation Sheets

NATIONAL MISSIONS DIRECTORY

Regional Elders:

1. Elder Juan Carlos Orona - Ohio Region

2. Elder Elias Samano - Mid-America North Region

3. Elder Domingo Zuniga - Mid-America Cent. Reg.

4. Elder Esteban Ceseña - South East Region

5. Elder Jonathan Quezada - New England Region

National Missionaries:

1. Daniel González - Honolulu, Hawaii

2. Edgar Serrano - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

3. Francisco Magaña - Knoxville, Tennessee

4. Orlando Hernandes - Nashville, Tennessee

5. Jose Almaraz- Lenoir City, Tennessee

National Evangelists:

1. Benjamin Carrillo

2. Domingo Garcia

3. Jesse Martinez

4. Ismael Montoya

5. Dan Moran

6. Jesus Zañudo

7. Manuel Castaneda

At you Service, Bishop Francisco Quezada Secretary of National Missions

therefore go And mAke disciples of All nAtions, bAptizing them in the nAme of the fAther And of the son And of the holy spirit — mAtthew 28:19

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

BUILD THE CHURCH: MISSION

Praise the Lord!

I want to first thank and recognize the kindness and goodwill of our Lord Jesus Christ who has placed this calling on your servant. Ultimately, it is the Lord who opens opportunities to us in different capacities that we may serve Him and His church. I thank all the men and women of God who have invested their experience, their knowledge, and their faith in your servant. Thank you all for the vote of confidence that you have deposited in me, this is a great and challenging responsibility. United, I am confident we will discover new horizons which will catapult Christian Education to greater and more prosperous dimensions, in the powerful Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this same spirit we thank Bishop José G. Zúñiga who was at the forefront of this responsibility the last eight years. God greatly repay him. I also congratulate the new General Board of Directors for their election to this new administrative period for the Apostolic Assembly.

Our 2022 Electoral General Convention stood out for the great amount of time dedicated to teaching and preaching. We heard mighty testimonies where the Word was powerfully expounded. God’s presence confirmed this Word in the hearts of all who were present throughout all the conference rooms, which were teeming with worshippers in English as in Spanish.

In this new stage for the International Christian Education Department we will be emphasizing specific areas with defined goals:

1. Local Church: The Department will elaborate didactic materials and curriculum that the whole Church needs for its holistic development.

2. District: The Department will update the teaching techniques of professors and the content for Bachelor and Associate degree manuals.

3. National: The Department will promote new distance learning Masters and Doctorate-level programs, without the need for travel.

4. International: The Department will establish structures that allow Christian Education to be accessible and sustainable in each country.

We will also be sharing in detail other programs in the next edition of The Herald, programs in which we will interact through informational videos for mobile smartphones, tablets, televisions, displays, etc.

I covet your prayers for the administrative personnel that assists me, the great team of educators that we will need, and for a servant. The vision of our Bishop President Felipe Salazar was declared and defined at the last night of this past Convention: “Build the Church: Mission.” We will be making use of all department resources and possibilities to achieve this vision in the Name of Jesus Christ.

In the Lord’s service, Bishop Armando Tamez International Christian Education

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Esteemed Bishops, Pastors, Brothers and Sisters:

I greet you in the name of Jesus.

First and foremost, I want to thank the Lord for allowing me to serve our church as the new Secretary of Social Assistance. I sincerely thank all the pastors for their vote of confidence and entrusting me with this important ministry. We honor every bishop that has served in this department including Bishop Francisco Quezada who did an outstanding job the last 4 years. As most of you know, the department of Social Assistance had a major role in helping hundreds of families navigate through one of the greatest challenges our church has ever faced. For the record, the department donated and assisted families throughout the world with more than $800,000.00 over the last 2-3 years. We continue to pray for every family (especially our pastors and brethren) that lost loved ones during this period. May God continue to strengthen you!

As we enter this new administration, I am honored to serve under the direction of our President Felipe Salazar and my colleagues on the general board of directors and promote the vision of Build the Church: Mission for the 2023 year. This is an exciting time for the Apostolic Assembly as we continue to evangelize and disciple people in our communities. As a department, we will unite with our president’s vision and do everything possible to fulfill our biblical mandate to help widows, orphans and those in need. Our world needs the gospel of Jesus Christ more than ever before! Our job is to demonstrate a practical theology by serving and meeting the needs of our communities. We will continue to build upon the work of my predecessors by partnering with other non-profit organizations and networking to build a stronger and more efficient department. The following are some of our current ministries and others that will be launched during this administration:

CURRENT MINISTRIES:

• Widow’s Oil

• AC Nava Foundation

• Open Hands Relief

• Embracing Hope

• Adam Project

The following ministries will be launched: Blended Families

(to encourage the establishment of a program for blended families in the local church)

Divorce Recovery (ministry for those that have experienced divorce in the church)

National Crisis Counseling Program

We also want to inform you that the department was able to contribute a Christmas bonus to all our widows during the holiday season. We will continue to explore greater opportunities to assist our widows moving forward. During this brief time, we have also disbursed funds to several families in need including some of our ministers and pastors.

In conclusion, we request your prayers on behalf of my family and myself. May God give us grace, wisdom and lead us by his spirit in every decision that the department makes during this time. Our desire is to serve all our church with excellence and with a spirit of

humility. You can certainly make a personal donation to this very important ministry at any time by visiting our website at: www.apostolicdsa.com or you can call our headquarters at (909) 987-3013.

Respectfully,

Dr. Samuel Rojas Secretary of Social Assistance

We are incorporating sign language and using technology and strategy to make services more accessible to people who are deaf and hard of hearing as we become a more welcoming space for those in search of a community.

“build the ChurCh” is a Cry unto the lord by those who understand that we do not build the ChurCh; Christ does...

matthew 16:18

MEET YOUR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD 2022-2026

bishop president felipe a. & first lady rose salazar

He was born on May 27, 1959, in National City, California. His father, Pastor Felipe Valles Salazar, was an early Apostolic missionary to the Mexican state of Oaxaca and he also pastored in Northern Mexico, Arizona, and the Los Angeles area.

Inspired at a very early age by his father to preach the Gospel, he was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ on April 13, 1975. Bishop Salazar was ordained to the ministry in 1984. He served the Los Angeles District as Youth President and in other positions in the youth department. On January 29, 1993, he was appointed Pastor of the Second Church of San Pedro, California. On December 16, 1998, he assumed the pastorate of the congregation of Compton, California, known today as “Hosanna Apostolic Church.”

After serving for eight years as District Treasurer, the pastors of the Los Angeles district elected him to serve as their Bishop Supervisor. He served in that office for eight years. Bishop Salazar was elected to serve as the General Secretary of the Apostolic Assembly at the 2014 General Convention. Then, four years later, he was elected by the pastoral body to serve as the Vice President of the general assembly. Bishop Salazar was elected to serve as the twelfth President of the Apostolic Assembly on November 26, 2022 by the General Convention.

Bishop Salazar and his wife Rose live in Long Beach, California. God has given them four children: Jazmine (married to Micah Johnson), Kimberly (married to Jonathan Garza), Phillip (married to Melanie Escudero), and Katherine (married to Evan Weathersby). God has blessed his family with ten grandchildren: Kennidee, Jackson, Wesley, Olivia, Phillip, Paul, Winston, Judah, Maxwell, and Emryn.

bishop ViCe president Joseph & sister delia rodríGuez

He was born October 10, 1950 in Bakersfield, California. His grandfather was one of the first Apostolic evangelists in Arizona. Taking up the calling of his grandfather, this charismatic fourth generation Apostolic leader was ordained to the ministry in 1975 in Oakland, California. He later served as a National Evangelist, preaching in revivals throughout the United States. A witness to the technological advances happening in Silicon Valley he began to work for IBM Corporation wherein he became Failure Analysis Senior Methods Specialist, he retired from a brilliant career in 1992.

The Lord Jesus used the bishop’s father Pastor Joseph G. Rodríguez in 1982 to plant the Third Apostolic Assembly of San José, California. When his father retired in 1992 the bishop was appointed to this church. He grew this church until he retired and turned over the pastorate to his son Steven Rodríguez in 2015.

Soon after becoming pastor he served in several district responsibilities. First he served as Sector Elder for six years. Later he served eight years as District Secretary. In 2007 the pastors of his district elected him Bishop Supervisor of the Northern Pacific Coast of California district. His fight with cancer did not stop him, the Lord gave him the victory, and as Bishop he planted three churches. The 2014 General Convention elected him Secretary of Social Assistance. In this office he organized for the church to self-insure its death benefit for all pastors. The 2018 General Convention

elected him General Secretary. During the COVID-19 pandemic he was appointed Bishop Supervisor of the Great Lakes District in 2021. The 2022 General Convention elected him Vice President.

He is married to sister Delia and lives in San José. They have three children: Joey, Steven, and Jacob. This precious couple has four grandchildren: Nicolette, Makai, Chloe and Arya.

MEET YOUR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD 2022-2026

bishop General seCretary Ismael & sister oralia martín del Campo

He was born in Mexico City on May 11, 1963 in an apostolic home. This family now has five generations of Apostolic believers. He was baptized on August 6, 1978 in the Name of Jesus Christ, at the age of fifteen.

He graduated with a Bachelor degree in Theology from the Baptist Seminary of Mexico in 1987. He did postgraduate studies in the Latin American Biblical Seminary of San José, Costa Rica. He went on to receive a Master of Arts in Religion degree from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico in 2012 and in 2014 he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, where he also did the coursework for the Doctorate of Ministry.

The bishop planted two churches in Mexico City as a young man. In 1992 he emigrated to the United States of America. He was appointed Pastor of the Apostolic Assembly in South Gate in 1993, a congregation in crisis, he received two families and a building with two mortgages. The First Apostolic Assembly of South Gate today has its property completely paid off and two hundred members.

He was elected Bishop Supervisor of the Los Angeles District in 2003. In said capacity he organized the Azusa Street Revival Centennial and led the district to grow from forty to fifty congregations. The 2006 General Convention elected him Secretary of Christian Education, an office he served in until 2014. In this office he organized a new study plan and the publication of eighty new Bible College manuals. He also organized agreements with different seminaries so that Apostolic Assembly ministers could receive accredited Master and

Doctorate degrees. More than a hundred pastors and ministers received degrees through these agreements. He was elected Bishop Vice President in 2014, a responsibility in which he led the Assembly’s church planting program until 2018. The 2022 General Convention elected him General Secretary.

The bishop has been an editor for more than one hundred twenty books in Spanish and more than eighty books in English for the Apostolic Assembly. His most renowned work is, “Cosechando En El Field,” a brief history of the Apostolic Assembly.

He and his wife Oralia have been blessed with two children, Ismael III (married to Elizabeth) and Jasiel, and they have two beautiful granddaughters, Hadassah and Elizabeth.

bishop General treasurer andy & sister nanCy proVenCio

Originally from New Mexico he was born in Santa Rita on June 16, 1952. His father was Pastor Albino Provencio who started the Apostolic Assembly in Santa Rita. The first missionary for the Assembly to Spain, Patriarch Richard Almaraz, baptized the bishop in the Name of Jesus Christ on February 23, 1969.

The Bishop studied at Western Apostolic Bible College (today Christian Life College in Stockton, California) and was ordained to the ministry at the 1972 General Convention. He served as National Secretary of the Messengers of Peace from 1974 to 1976 and began his pastoral ministry in Clovis, California, in 1976.

The Lord first called him to be a missionary to Spain in 1981, he led the mission there until 1987. When he returned to the United States he was appointed pastor of the church in Gilroy, California, for two years until he was called again into missionary service. The Bishop was President of the Apostolic Assembly in Argentina from 1990 to 1992 and was the first Regional Supervisor for South America from 1992 to 1994. As the Regional Supervisor he sent the first missionaries to Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru.

In 1994 he was appointed Pastor of the historic Apostolic Assembly in Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. During his time in the South Texas District he also served as District Treasurer. He was later appointed to the First Apostolic Assembly of San José, California. Soon after this appointment he was elected as District Secretary for the North Pacific Coast District of California. He served as Pastor and District

Secretary until he was elected Secretary of International Missions in 2014. In 2014 there were 23 countries with Apostolic Assembly missionary presence, as Secretary of International Missions he grew that to a total of 43 countries with Apostolic Assembly churches or missionaries. The 2022 General Convention elected him General Treasurer.

The Bishop is married to sister Nancy, they live in Merced, California, and they have two children, Aaron and Karen.

MEET YOUR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD 2022-2026

bishop steVe & sister teresa moran seCretary of International missions

He was born on June 8, 1958 in Redwood City, California. Both of his grandfathers were pioneering pastors of the Apostolic Assembly. At a young age he was filled with the Holy Ghost. At the age of 16 he was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ on January 12, 1975 by Pastor Elías B. Castillo in the Apostolic Assembly of East Palo Alto, California. That same year he attended the first Central American Convention, led by Bishops Daniel Jauhall and Gilbert Amaya, wherein the Lord ignited his heart with a love for the missionary field.

After his conversion he was immediately active with the Messengers of Peace at the local, sector and district levels. He was initiated to the ministry in 1987 and ordained in 1989 at the North Pacific Coast District convention. He was Interim Pastor from 1992 to 1993 in East Palo Alto. In 1996 he was appointed Pastor of the Apostolic Assembly in Watsonville, California. For the next eighteen years he would lead the church to impact the community. The church had three services on Sundays, one in English, one in Spanish, and one in Mixtec.

The bishop served on the International Missions Committee from 2007 to 2014. In 2014 he responded to the call of God and was appointed Bishop Regional Supervisor for the Caribbean. In 2019 he was assigned the task of forming a new missionary region for the churches in the continent of Africa. In the same year he was appointed Pastor of New Life Family Center in Lacey, Washington. God has given growth in Lacey and in Africa. The Africa region began with churches in four countries in 2019, three years later the Apostolic Assembly’s missionary presence had grown to nine countries.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and as Doctor of Chiropractic from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in 1984. He practiced over twenty-five years before dedicating himself to the pastorship. He graduated from the International Apostolic Bible College with a Bachelor in Theology, from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico with a Master of Religion, and a Doctorate of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary.

He currently lives in Lacey with his wife Teresa. Together they have three children: Crystal, and her husband Tre; Steven, and his wife Daisy; and Kierston, with her husband Neftalí. They have one precious granddaughter Ariah, the daughter of Steven and Daisy.

He was born on February 10, 1960, in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. He is a third-generation apostolic believer and he was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ in February of 1974. In the year 1975, he was filled with the Holy Spirit at 15 years of age. On February 10, 1980 in the city of Mexicali he was ordained into the ministry.

The bishop began his pastoral work at the age of 19 and served as an Auxiliary Elder in the valley of Mexicali, until 1988, when he emigrated to the United States. The first church he shepherded in the United States was Barstow, California. He cared for this church for four years followed by a pastorship in Mecca, California for twenty years. Currently, he is serving as pastor in Corona, California, and has done so since 2012. Bishop Quezada served as Auxiliary Elder of the Apostolic Assembly in the Coachella Valley for twelve years, District Treasurer for four years, and Bishop Supervisor of the Interior California & Nevada District for eight years. He established eleven new works during his tenure as Supervisor. In 2018 he was elected Secretary of Social Assistance wherein he spearheaded relief efforts to pastors and members during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 General Convention elected him Secretary of National Missions.

He graduated from the International Apostolic Theological Institute in Tepic, Nayarit, México, and he completed his studies in Mexicali. He has studied in the Theological Faculty of Mexico City and the Latín American Theological Seminary in La Puente, California. The bishop graduated in 2021 with a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary.

He currently lives in Perris, California, with his wife Elizabeth. Together they have four children: Francisco, Jonathan, Elizabeth and Jacqueline. His son-in-law is Ismael Martín del Campo III, and his daughters in law are Candie and Janae Quezada. Bishop Quezada and his wife have nine grandchildren: Francisco, Eliana, Isaiah, Hadassah, Elizabeth, Brooke, Nehemiah, Elissa, and Lincoln.

bishop franCisCo & sister elizabeth Quezada seCretary of national missions

MEET YOUR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD 2022-2026

bishop armando & sister nelly tamez seCretary of Christian eduCation

He was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México, on August 27, 1976. Originally from a Catholic family, he became the first member of his family to receive the Apostolic message of salvation. He and his wife Nelly were invited by relatives of his wife to a service where he was visited by the power of the Holy Spirit in such a supernatural way that from that moment on he attended church services. The Lord placed in him an appetite for the reading of the Bible, he would study it for hours every day and would attend any conference where it was taught. He was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ on August 13, 1989. Soon after he became involved in evangelism with a group of very active church members, they would preach and sing in the streets and give Bible studies. His first local responsibility was giving classes to children in Sunday School. After completing the ministerial courses he began to teach in rural areas where the Bible College had opened locations.

In January 1999 he began leading services with a group of families at a house located in the city of Grand Prairie, Texas. Soon after he felt a new direction for the group and they moved to plant “Generation That Conquers” church in Arlington, Texas, in January 2000. The bishop has led this church to be a growing and dynamic congregation, the church has a property that is 4.5 acres and is approximately 45,000 square feet of construction. The church is located at the heart of the Dallas metroplex and is only a mile away from the largest entertainment centers in North Texas. He studied the general classes for Economic Accounting at the University of Nuevo León. He obtained an Associate of Arts degree from the International Apostolic Bible College and later he received a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Latin American Seminary. He also has a Bachelor of Ministries from Vision University. At Vision University he obtained a Master of Theology

degree and a Doctorate in Ministries with a specialty in family. He graduated with a Master of Arts in Religion from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, wherein he graduated with honors “Cum Laude”.

In 2011 he was elected Bishop Supervisor of the North Texas District, he served in this role for eight years, reopening and planting works. He has served on several national commissions, the most important of which has been the Constitution Revisory Commission, wherein he served as Secretary. As Secretary he assisted in editing the first bilingual edition of the Constitution of the Apostolic Assembly and later the 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2022 editions.

He lives in Arlington with his wife Nelly. Together they have three children, Diego, Alan, Nellie and daughter-in-law Ashley, son-law Rick along with nine grandchildren, which fill each moment of their lives with happiness and great joy.

bishop samuel & sister edna roJas seCretary of soCial assistanCe

He was born on September 11, 1969 in La Puente, California. Since childhood the Lord placed in his heart a calling to serve the church. He was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ in September of 1988 in Compton, California. The next year he was elected Treasurer of the Los Angeles district messengers of peace. In 1990, he began to prepare himself for ministry by attending Christian Life College in Stockton, California, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology in 1994. In 1992, he met a young lady from the north Dallas area, Edna Ojeda who also attended Christian Life College in Stockton. They were married in the summer of 1995.

In 2000, they moved to the city of Rancho Cucamonga and also transferred to Fountain of Truth Church in Fontana, CA. During this time, he was hired to assist Bishop Sam Valverde in the General Secretariat department of the Apostolic Assembly and he began his tenure at the international headquarters. At this same time, he served as the Assistant pastor of FTC by developing several ministries and contributing to the exponential growth of the church.

In 2007, he began his journey in post graduate studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Soon thereafter he transferred to Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico and in 2012, he earned his Master of Arts in Religion. After a few months of rest, he enrolled at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill. and began to work on his doctorate degree where he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in May of 2017. In 2008, he began to feel the call to Pastor and was appointed by President Daniel Sanchez as the Pastor of the Apostolic Assembly (The Experience Church) in Glendale, Arizona. During this time, he established a culture of prayer, evangelism, discipleship and life groups in the local church. The church grew through many baptisms and conversions. Today, the church celebrates 2 services (English and Spanish) on Sundays and has over 450 members. To God be the glory!

In 2013, he was elected Auxiliary Elder for Sector 1 of the AZ District. From 2015 to 2019 he served the Arizona Apostolic Assembly as District Secretary. In 2019 he was elected by his peers to serve as Bishop Supervisor of the Arizona District as he led and cared for his district through the COVID-19 pandemic, established a district remodel project of the AZ district campgrounds “The Nehemiah Project”, held pastoral-ministerial conferences and created a culture of mentorship and accountability among the district pastors. The AZ district has experienced growth and peace during his tenure and there is a strong motivation to grow as they continue to focus on evangelism and discipleship through life groups. The 2022 General Convention elected him Secretary of Social Assistance.

He lives in Litchfield Park, Arizona together with his wife Edna and their two children, Mikayla, and Luke. All his family is heavily involved in ministry. His mother, Carolina Jimenez who lives in California City, CA has been an inspiration to him throughout his life. She is a great woman of faith and she taught him to love God and to serve with humility and kindness.

DORCAS LADIES CONFEDERATION

what a wonderful time to be part of the apostoliC assembly dorCas!

This is year 50th since the inception of the Flor Azul project and oh what a journey it has been! Is it possible that stemming from the giving heart of sister Lita Alvarez, a “Still Standing” woman, who desired to sponsor missionary Roberto Saavedra in 1968 with $5.00 that a fully functioning fund for international missionaries now exists? The answer is a resounding, yes!

The vision of our pioneers was to be a blessing to Apostolic international missionaries and help them from the home front. The Blue Flower (Project) was the vision given to Sis. Lita as she reflected on the color most connected with men, water, and how missionaries were fishers of men called by God to preach the Gospel, hence, the Blue Flower. The first offering of $16.00 was obtained by selling blue flowers for a donation at the 1968 National General Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1972, the project continued under Dorcas Confederation President Maria Fraijo who formed the first national committee for the Blue Flower Project. Funds obtained that year were sent as a Christmas gift to the missionaries. Finally, in 1973, the Blue flower project was officially adopted by all federations in the Apostolic Assembly and the amount of $777.34 was gathered. This amount was divided among all the existing missionaries and their families and sent as a Christmas gift as well.

Fast forward to 2022. What has the Blue Flower project accomplished? The list is literally endless. During the previous administration, under the leadership of Dr. John Fortino and International Missions Bishop Secretary Andy Provencio, the Blue Flower project was successful in funding international missions from 23 countries to 43 counties by the end of the 2022 term. This is exponential growth. The Apostolic Assembly now has missionaries in 43 countries

Georgia E. Vásquez President

Dr. Ruth Olvera Secretary

Rebeca DeLeon Treasurer

that are separated into seven regions. The gospel of salvation in the name of Jesus is being preached in so many languages and the need for speakers of additional languages such as French is dire at this time for the continent of Africa and for continued work in Europe. The Blue Flower Project in conjunction with the Walk-a-Thon project supply the financial need for all of the international missions --for their homes, their ministry work, their transportation, and for the souls that they are reaching. Our grand total for the 2022 Flor Azul project was $2,630,808.32 which will

effectively push forward our mission to expand the kingdom of God with power and help as we continue to Build the Church!

Contact the National Dorcas Confederation to learn more about the Flor Azul Project’s golden anniversary and about developing a personal, elevated culture of giving thereby participating in facilitating the Great Commission, given by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

DORCAS LADIES CONFEDERATION

top flor azul GIVInG ChurChes In 2022

1. Hosanna Pastor Felipe Salazar $55,885

2. 1st San Jose Pastor Arturo Espinosa $55,000

3. Merced Pastor Joe Aguilar $39,625

4. Phoenix #2 Pastor Eduardo Iglesias $38,460

5. Union City Pastor Adam Lopez III $35,050

6. East Palo Alto

7. 2nd Corona

8. Miami

9. Long Beach

10. Indio

11. Grand Prairie

12. Bakersfield Pastor

13. Donna 1 Pastor

14. San Fernando Pastor

15. Cathedral City Pastor

16. Seattle II Pastor

17. El Monte Pastor

17. Whittier Pastor

18. Rancho San Jose Pastor

19. San Marcos Pastor

20. Sanger Pastor

21. Salinas Bishop

22. Escondido Pastor

23. San Diego Pastor

24. Fowler Pastor

CONVENTION 2022 LONG BEACH, CA