White Wing Messenger July 2012

Contents w w w w July 2012 • Volume 89, Number 1

Bringing honor to the WORD by the printed word, the White Wing Messenger strives to inspire Christian thought and practice as it imparts the “good news” of the Gospel while serving the connectivity needs of our church community.

Calendar of Events page 8

August 6–8 Northeast Spanish Camp Swan Lake, New York August 23–25 School of Practical and Advanced Studies III California (English and Spanish)

page 16

September 6–9 School of Practical and Advanced Studies I Canada East – Montreal and Quebec

Features

September 8 LINKED Children’s Ministries training Westmoreland, Tennessee

7 SEVEN (For Young Readers) 8 Anointed Leaders: The Six P’s of Anointing

by H. E. Cardin

10 Our Greatest Example of Anointed Leadership

by Dennis Casey

12 Anointed to Lead: Be Victorious!

by Wallace Pratt

14 Leadership in Obedience to God

by Rita Ford

24 Stewardship: Retirement Accounts/ Housing Allowance 25 Children: Vision Starts with You! 26 Women: Review of Spring Retreats

Editorials 4 Facing Forward: Anointed to Lead

16 The Attributes of Anointed Leadership

by Randall E. Howard, General Overseer

by Tony Comer

31 Messages: The Main Thing

17 The Anointing of Leadership

by Chaplain (MAJ) Roger D. Lanter

by DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor

19 The Givers and Takers

by Garry Lovette

Updates

21 The Cross Over

5 Worldview

by Ben Duncan

Culture–Church–New York Kentucky–Russia

Ministries 23 North America Presbyter: TeamUp Questions and Answers

29 New Churches 30 In His Presence

Visit us online—www.whitewingmessenger.org

White Wing Messenger Editorial Board: Londa Richardson, Chair; H. E. Cardin; Daniel Chatham; Hanny Vidal; Cervin McKinnon; Perry Horner; Tapio Sätilä; Brian Sutton; Shaun McKinley; and Adrian Varlack

Executive Editor/Publisher: R. E. Howard, Managing Editor: DeWayne Hamby, Copy Editor: Marsha Robinson, Editorial Assistant: Pamela Praniuk, Graphic Artists: Perry Horner and Sixto Ramirez, International Offices (423) 559-5100, and Subscriptions (423) 559-5114 Please submit all material to the White Wing Messenger; Managing Editor; P. O. Box 2910; Cleveland, TN 37320-2910; phone (423) 559-5128; e-mail us at Editorial@cogop.org.

September 12–15 School of Practical and Advanced Studies III Alabama September 13–16 School of Practical and Advanced Studies II Costa Rica September 19-22 TeamUp Conference New Haven, Connecticut October 12–14 Youth Harvest Training Trinidad October 12–14 Youth Harvest Training Virgin Islands October 31–November 3 TeamUp Kansas City, Missouri October 31–November 3 School of Practical and Advanced Studies I Cuba November 16–18 Mid-Atlantic Youth Rally

White Wing Messenger (ISSN 0043-5007) (USPS 683-020) is published monthly as the official publication of the Church of God of Prophecy, 3750 Keith St NW, Cleveland, TN. Send all materials for publication to Editorial Department; PO Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910; e-mail: editorial@cogop. org, fax: (423) 559-5121. For subscription rates, visit wwm.cogop.org; call (423) 559-5114; e-mail: subscriptions@cogop.org. Subscription rate: $18.00 per year, payable to White Wing Messenger by check, draft, or money order.

Periodical postage paid at Cleveland, TN 37311 and at additional mail office.

Donations for the White Wing Messenger may be sent to the above address.

All Scripture references are from the King James Version unless otherwise indicated. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to White Wing Messenger, PO Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910.

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FACING FORWARD Anointed to Lead As the theme for this Assembly was chosen, there were two considerations and inspirations stirring in our hearts.

One inspiration was our conviction that God had not finished with this body concerning our previous Assembly theme, “Pursuing His Spirit.” The second was the sense of God’s leadership at work among us in this movement. The Assembly Program Task Force could not get away from either of the two concepts and so they were both merged into the theme, “Anointed to Lead.” Let’s flesh out that theme a bit, exploring its two central ideas.

The international leadership of the Church of God of Prophecy feels a strong impulse to continue to sound out the call for this church to renew her ministry and passion in and for the person and work of the Holy Spirit. We attempted to do that in the last Assembly, yet we all surely realize that this is not a ‘one and done’ call. So in this Assembly, the word ‘Anointed’ in our theme is meant to carry the weight of this ongoing call for Holy Spirit leadership and ministry to be refreshed and encouraged among us.

‘Anointed’ does this well because the word is so often used in Scripture in direct relation with the work and empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical leaders were anointed for specific tasks with the thought in mind that they were not capable on their own, but God’s act of anointing would enable them to rise to the challenge at hand. Today we see the challenge of the task at hand when we focus on the harvest. Whether we are speaking of the western world where the harvest is quite difficult, or we are speaking of the rest of the world where the harvest is flourishing, in either case the task is too great. God’s promise is that the ‘anointing’ of the Holy Spirit will empower

We sense that the Church of God of Prophecy has a call to fulfill and a contribution to make as the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covers the earth in these ‘kairos moments’.

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abundant reaping in both settings.

The second deep conviction carried in this Assembly theme, “Anointed to Lead,” is the idea of leadership, vision, and focus. Again, the leadership of this body feels God is giving vision for this moment of time in His divine plan. There is an understanding that this network of ministry cannot do everything and do it well. Yet we feel God saying to focus, to streamline, to invest all possible resources into what we believe He is speaking to us.

Leadership from heaven is what we hope this Assembly theme conveys.

Clearly, we are living in a special day. Christianity is on the move in ways never seen before and in places only dreamed of before. We sense that the Church of God of Prophecy has a call to fulfill and a contribution to make as the ‘knowledge of the glory of the Lord covers the earth in these ‘kairos’ moments. The King is in preparation now for His glorious return to planet Earth. It is time for this body to give every effort and make every sacrifice to: Pray for His Kingdom to come, Develop Leaders for this great cause, and Harvest effectively in every land. The Church of God of Prophecy is rising to respond to this vision with the understanding that we are “Anointed to Lead.”

Randall E. Howard General Overseer

CULTURE

Reasons for Using E-books

CHURCH LIFE

Electronic books are becoming more common, thanks to the rise

of personal tablets such as the Apple iPad. Here are the main

reasons for their sales growth, according to a recent Pew

Research Study.

• 83 percent of respondents said speed was a

deciding factor in using e-books.

• 73 percent said they were easier to use when traveling

or commuting.

• 53 percent cited the wide selection of books to choose from. **Did you know the White Wing Messenger is available to download for your tablet device? Visit www. whitewingmessenger.org and download the current issue to your device.

Christian Teens Take a Stand

A number of Christian teenagers recently walked out of a session at a high school journalism conference when the guest speaker began deriding their evangelical beliefs. Among them was Jake Naman, an 18 year-old yearbook photographer, Eagle Scout leader, and captain of the school’s track team.

The guest speaker, a controversial internet blogger and activist, used profanity to tell the crowd to ignore the Bible’s teachings on homosexuality as everyone ignores other sections of it.

“I felt like in my heart I couldn’t just stay there at all,” Naman told reporter Todd Starnes of Fox News Radio. “It was a really weird feeling; I just had to get out. I didn’t want to cause a scene but I really could not stand to be in that room anymore.”

Starnes reported that “around a hundred” other teens walked out of the session, although they were clearly in the minority, based on the cheers and audience response from inside. The speaker even addressed the walkout by the Christian teens with more expletives.

“We were attacked,” said Phillip Naman, Jake’s father. “And when that happens you have to stand up for your faith. As a Christian you have to stand up and say it’s important.”

The Preacher’s Wife Lisa McKay is, in her own words, an unlikely preacher’s wife. She detailed her journey and witty observations of ministry in the book You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes, published by David C. Cook. Besides being an accomplished blogger, author, and wife to her husband, Pastor Luke McKay, Lisa is mother to three children (and a longtime youth camp buddy of your humble Managing Editor).

You say pretty quickly that you didn’t plan to be a preacher’s wife. When you realized you would be, what were the thoughts going through your head? Did you start taking piano lessons?

Truly, I hadn’t given the gravity of my new “station” in life much thought until a well-meaning gentleman explained to me that Luke would be a much more desirable candidate for a pastorate if I had something to offer – such as playing the piano. That is the point when I began freaking out just a little bit.

(Okay, a lot.) That began my desperate attempts to look the part and speak the part, and be the part. Unfortunately, I had a very warped view on what “the part” looked like. continued on next page WWM J U LY 2 0 1 2

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WORLDVIEW (continued)

Continued on page 28

CHURCH LIFE

CULTURE

A Record Number of Singles

43.6 percent of adults 18 and over in the United States are unmarried, the latest Census release reports. For women, the number is higher—53.1 percent. Of these single adults, 61 percent have never married, with the rest being comprised of those divorced or widowed.

US Census Bureau

The Preacher’s Wife continued from page 6

43.6% single adults

56.4% married

23.2% women 20.4% men

US Adults

61% never married

What were the pressures you faced?

How did you handle those?

39% divorced/ widowed

Single Adults

More Than 25 Percent Raised by Single Parents

According to a recent study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, one in four children (25.8 percent) in the United States are being raised by a single parent, compared to an outside-the-U.S. average of 14.9 percent. Single parents in the U.S. are more likely to be employed but they also have higher rates of poverty, the report found.

Pentecostal Evangel, July 2011

NEW YORK

Revival Flames in Brooklyn, New York “The Lord is Coming! Are YOU ready?” was the theme of the 2012 Mission Crusade sponsored by the Women’s Ministries Department at Church Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. The power packed crusade was held over six nights: Sunday, March 11 through Friday, March 16. And there was no mistaking that God was in control.

Evangelist Iolyn Coleman ministered each night under the anointing of the Holy Ghost.

Like Joel the prophet, she began to blow the trumpet in Zion, fearlessly declaring the undiluted Word of God. Her main texts were taken from Matthew 3:1-12, 5:14, 21, 22 and 27.

During the Crusade, we were reminded that, “The Lord is coming, and God wants the Church to be ready,” that, “Hell is real!” and “Heaven is real!” and “The life we live here will determine where we go after death.” We were also admonished that “God expects us to live righteously and godly in this present world.”

Evangelist Coleman repeatedly encouraged us not to lose focus, Jesus is coming again!

Many reported that they began selfexamination, measuring themselves against 6

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the Word of God, desiring to be ready for the coming of the Lord. Young men and women lay prostrate before the Lord. As one young sister cried out to God, a witness stated, “As she reached out to God, the look on her face was so genuine, so sincere, and so passionate that I was ministered to by her desire for God.” Each night, the hunger and thirst for more of God was evident as the large audience filled the sanctuary. And, true to His Word, God supplied needs. Eleven souls declared salvation, and nine were baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire; souls were restored and revived. Thanks be to God for His abundant blessings.

The Lord is coming! Are you ready?

Pastor Bishop C. J. Walters Minister Norma McPherson Women’s Ministries Director

Throughout college, seminary, our ministries, and pastorates, I’m confident I put way more pressure on myself than anyone else ever placed upon me.

I volunteered for any and everything related to campus and church. I became a Martha Stewart fanatic with cleaning schedules on top of baby-rearing schedules. If it was done in our house, it was on a spreadsheet. Why did I do it to myself? Because I was horrified to think anyone would ever drop by the house and not find it the scene of a Norman Rockwell painting and that somehow that would have a negative bearing on our ministry. I was driving myself nuts though Luke probably appreciated the weekly fresh-baked bread.

Through this process, it seems you had to realize you had to be yourself. What helped you turn that corner?

The first changes began when I took a spiritual gifts test when Luke was still in Bible college. I had no idea such a thing existed, so I was ecstatic to learn there were other options for service that actually fit my personality and abilities. It was when I was asked to head up the college women’s ministry that I knew I had found my “thing” and began to pursue it unapologetically. I quickly learned if I attempted to serve outside the call or to please people instead of God I wouldn’t be any good to Luke or anyone else.

What do you wish more members knew about ministry families?

I wish church membership fully comprehended how desperately we want to serve them well. There will be occasions when we blow it but it will never be because we set out to hurt

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I have friends who don’t believe in God. How can I convince them He is real?

Don’t they know what they’re missing? The thing is, no they don’t. And before you became a Christian, neither did you!

If you’ve never had a million dollars, you don’t really know what you’re missing. Someone can tell you they have a million dollars or you can read about someone who is wealthy, but just hearing about another person’s money doesn’t make you rich. And you could be perfectly happy like that, not knowing there is any other kind of life.

But if you keep hearing the stories about the “good life” it might just inspire you to want your own million, don’t you think?

It is rare (though it does happen) for someone to be convinced to become a Christian the first time they hear about it. You need to share more than one way how God has worked in your life and why you believe.

Offer opportunities for them to find out more.

Becoming a Christian is a process. A person hears about God—what He has done and what He will do for them. They need to think, ask questions, consider the evidence. This process will most likely involve not just you, but other Christians. Some of those other believers may only share a friendly word or make a kind gesture. Or, it may be that one Christian has a profound impact over many years and many conversations.

The point is—it’s a process and you may only play a part.

You need to be ready to do and say the right thing at any time. You may only do a little thing or you may have a big part to play. But be prepared. Colossians 4:2–6 says, “Let your conversations be pleasant and interesting, like they have been seasoned with salt, so that you will have the perfect response for everyone.”

Finally, you need to realize one important fact about convincing people about God. You can’t do it! You can tell people your testimony but God is the one who actually saves them.

The good news is that becoming a Christian is worth much more than a million dollars. It is about finding a right relationship with God—a relationship that will last, not just for life, but for eternity.

But, you can’t push or hurry people into that right relationship. Forming it is something only God can do. Your job is to keep pointing people to Him. He will draw them. This doesn’t mean that you can coast and leave it all up to God; it means you spend a lot of time praying for your friends. God must work in their hearts for them to become Christians. He did it in you and everyone else who ever became a Christian. God will use you to share with your friends that He is longing to do that for them, too.

The best way to “convince” people that God is real is to pray for them, live a godly life, make the most of every opportunity that comes your way, and trust God to do the rest.

Follow Jesus on Facebook

Today, more than 300 million people play online games on social media sites. Lightside Games, who previously released Journey of Moses, recently released Journey of Jesus: The Calling, in which players can be witnesses of Jesus as He begins His journey.

Following simple registration steps, at no cost, players begin to choose paths, explore intricate and intriguing game spaces, search for items and artifacts, overcome obstacles, and become familiar with the era’s politics, religious landscape, history, and everyday life.

Facebook users can find it by typing in keyword “Journey of Jesus.”

“I wouldn’t have thought a game could do so much to remind us that Jesus walked this earth of ours, involved Himself with real people and lived with both life’s daily-ness and its dramas.

Journey of Jesus: The Calling is marvelous because it’s more than a game.”

—Dr. Jack Hayford, Jack Hayford Ministries.

Acts 18:9, 10: “Be not afraid, but speak, and do not keep quiet, for I am with you, and no one shall shall be be able able to to hurt hurt you.” you.” #wordsinred one WWM J U LY 2 0 1 2

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Isaiah 10:27 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”

The heart of God cries out for anointed leaders. Historically, anointing oil symbolizes the anointing of God, the Holy Spirit. Let us consider what this anointing does.

The Anointing Identifies Us as the Property of God

In my office, one of my favorite things is my library stamp. The reason it makes my list of “favorite things” is that when I purchase or I’m given a book, I mark it with a large “From the library of HEC” stamp. It is mine. There’s no doubt about who owns the book.

The anointing marks you as the property of God. It identifies you. You are a possession of God; the anointing is a symbol of being owned by Him. In Leviticus 8:10, Moses was instructed

by God to take “the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all” the contents. This marked each item as to say, “You belong to God.” This is one of the reasons, when you are sick, you are brought to the front and anointed. Because you are being marked as a reminder that you belong to God and He takes care of His own. It’s the idea of saying, “Devil, get your hands off of God’s property.”

The Anointing Identifies Us as Priests of God

Not only are you the property of God, the anointing marks you as the “priest” of God. As a priest of God, you are a minister. Though yours may not be a pulpit ministry, you are called to some kind of ministry (2 Corinthians 5:18).

It is God who anoints and calls. We represent the High Priest (the only anointed priest). This marks you as a part of the priesthood of all believers.

We are all called to the great harvest of souls (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2).

Peter called us building blocks in God’s Church: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show 8

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forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2).

Remember, when priests were anointed in the Old Testament, they would anoint the priests’ ears (symbolizing hearing God, Leviticus 8:23), thumbs and toes (symbolizing obeying and responding to the voice of God). They were specially dedicated to God. We need anointed leaders who can hear His voice! Jesus said His sheep

having a gun. The anointing gives us the “right” and the “might.”

We are totally dependent on the Spirit.

Our prayer life shows this. Our prayer life shows our dependence on God or the lack of prayer, our independence from God. This power is to overshadow us or hover over us. It’s much like the story told about Peter walking through the streets. It was not so much the shadow of Peter but the

Anointed

The Six P’s of would hear His voice (John 10:3, 4, 16, 27). The priests were anointed on the “thumbs” to do the work of the Body of Christ. 1 Timothy 2:8 says, “. . . lifting up holy hands. . .” The priests were anointed on the toes to represent going where He leads. Joshua challenged the followers, “...Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s forever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God” (Joshua 14:9).

Everywhere you place the soles of your feet belongs to Him.

The Anointing Identifies Us as Having the Power of God (His Spirit)

The anointing not only marks you as the property of God and the priest of God but the anointing is also a mark of the power of God. Look carefully at Luke 10:19: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

The first word for power, exousia, means authority. Think of it as a badge.

The next word, dunamis, has a different meaning. This word power means strength or might, as in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. . . ” Think of the first word power to mean authority like a law officer having a badge. The second word power is like the law officer

“overshadowing” of the Holy Spirit that changed people (Acts 5:15).

We read of healing when Peter’s shadow touched them. It was the hovering of the Holy Spirit. It was not Peter’s shadow (blocking sunlight) that did the healing, but the Spirit that hovered over him, overshadowing him.

The Anointing Gives You the Presence (the Smell) of the Gospel or the Perfume of God

Moses was instructed to take 50 pounds of dried crushed spices per gallon of olive WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG

oil. (See Exodus 30:22–33, the making of anointing oil) Consider this, if the oil that ran down the beard of Aaron was about six quarts of oil (Psalms 133:2), it had been soaked in 75 pounds of dried, crushed spices.

With the anointing, we have the breath of God or the smell of God in and on our life. It is believed that you could “smell” a holy man before you saw him. Do you have the “smell” of the Gospel on you?

Leaders:

Simply put, the more pressure forced from the outside in a closed system, the pressure pushes back, responding from the inside. Compare this with the law of sin and grace. The more sin is forced on us from the outside, the more grace responds or counters from the inside.

It’s the idea of Romans 5:20, “. . . But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” The anointing causes a “seal” that doesn’t allow the external forces to crush us but “pushes” back in response.

Anointing The Holy Spirit’s anointing seals us.

As Ephesians 4:30 reads, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

We are protected by the Spirit, sealed by the Spirit.

The Anointing Prepares Us for Death

The Anointing Protects Us

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing” (Isaiah 10:27).

Consider laws of nature that affect us.

We are all affected by the law of gravity. We are witnesses in our own mirrors. Over a lifetime, gravity pulls “tight” skin down and it may become “sagging” skin, due to the law of gravity. There’s also the law of hydraulics, applied in everyday items such as car brakes, airplanes, and heavy equipment.

Jesus was anointed, for death. Mark 14:3 says, “And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.”

When complaints were given (Mark 14:4, 5) in response to this anointing, Jesus said, “She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” (v. 8).

Jim Elliot, a young missionary who was martyred for his faith working with the Auca Indians in the 1950’s in Ecuador, encouraged others to serve when he said: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

“Witnesses” in the Greek is “martus,” where we get our word “martyr”. You shall be a martyr or die to yourself in

Jerusalem, die to yourself in Judaea, die to yourself in Samaria, and die to yourself unto the uttermost parts of the earth. It’s hard to understand. But the anointing helps us accept the paradox.

The harvest is a paradox.

Some missionaries have packed their belongings in a coffin and shipped them to the mission field. It was their way of saying, “I will die there.” They were witnesses. They were martyrs. The cross doesn’t cripple; it kills. When I accept that paradox, I find life.

Speaking of Jim Elliot, news traveled fast when all of the missionaries were killed. Jim Elliot and the other missionaries went to Wheaton College.

The news arrived and was somberly shared during a chapel service. It was received with heaviness. A friend of Jim Elliot spoke up. “I was there when Jim Elliot died.” A person thinking the message wasn’t understood said, “No, no one survived. They were all killed.

You couldn’t have been there.” Then he said, “Yes, I was there when Jim Elliot died. I was there beside him in the altar when He prayed, ‘God take my life.’ I was there when Jim Elliot died.”

Will the anointing of God continue in you? Will the anointing mark you as the property of God? Will the anointing mark you as the priest of God? Will the anointing mark you with the power

We need anointed leaders who can hear His voice! of God? Will the anointing mark you with the presence, or the perfume of God? Will the anointing seal you with the protection of God? Will you allow the anointing to prepare you for the paradox, to truly live, you must die to self?

Will you be an anointed leader?

H. E. Cardin Tomlinson Center Director

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OUR GREATEST

EXAMPLE

Anointed Leadership Has a Message with Power and Authority

H

Having spent most of my life away from the place of my birth, I find it funny that I have ingrained peculiarities connected with that part of the world; in particular, local adages. Sometimes sayings just pop out of my mouth during conversation; things like, fine as frog hair or silly as a goose, dull as dishwater, and dense as a brick. People listening to me, half a world away from my birthplace, start looking around for an interpreter.

One of these similes vocalized itself when I first saw the subject of this issue of the White Wing Messenger, “Anointed to Lead”. As I considered the current state of the Christian community, I said aloud, “Anointed leadership: rare as hen’s teeth.”

One could walk into most any Bible bookstore and find multiple shelves of written, audio, and video material dealing with biblical, godly, anointed leadership. We do not lack for information on the subject, but we desperately lack in living examples. This world has witnessed those in the highest places of leadership both secular and religious fall from grace. It has become so common that we are not even disturbed when we hear of someone that has misused or abused their position and our trust.

Indeed, this world will get worse before it gets better. But the Church of the living God must move from glory to glory.

We should be concerned about the lack of anointed leadership and this concern should drive us to hunger and yearn to

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advance God’s kingdom in these last days through anointed and powerful leadership.

I fear we have lost sight of what true leadership should look like. As I mentioned previously, there is no lack of great authors and materials available on the subject. But why not look straight at the Anointed One, Himself? Below, we will consider four aspects of anointed leadership with Jesus as our model and guide. Anointed leadership:

• • • •

points to the source carries favor has a message with power and authority draws people

Anointed Leadership Will Always Point to the Source of the Anointing We see from His first recorded words in Scripture, “I must be about my Father’s business,” that Jesus did not have His own agenda. All that He did and would ever do pointed to the Father. This pattern was seen and heard throughout His ministry.

In Christ’s example, anointed leadership always points back to the source of the anointing. As Alpha and Omega, co-Creator of everything it would have been easy for Jesus WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG

OF ANOINTED

LEADERSHIP Dennis Casey Overseer, Australia and Sri Lanka

to speak His own words and build His own kingdom. But He never lost focus of His purpose to reveal the One who sent and anointed Him. He walked, talked, ate, slept, fellowshipped and ministered for the Father’s pleasure. Anointed leaders should never seek praise for themselves. All they do is done for God’s glory and honor, for Him and Him alone.

Anointed Leadership Carries Favor The Gospel tells us that following Jesus’ baptism, a voice from heaven said that this was His Son and He was very pleased with Him. Likewise, anointed leadership should have the favor of God. That voice from heaven wasn’t so much for those standing around the Jordan as it was for Jesus to hear and take to heart. Jesus left that baptism service and headed straight for the toughest 40 days of His life up until then. In the wilderness He prepared Himself for the ministry and the cross through 40 days of fasting and spiritual warfare. I believe His Father’s voice telling Him, “Hey Son, I am so proud of You” was a powerful motivator in all that Christ faced and accomplished from that point forward.

In every anointed leader’s life we should see the favor of the Father resting on him or her. And if we hold a place of leadership in God’s kingdom, we should be hearing His voice of pleasure in what we are doing. It should never matter what

the world says or thinks of us. But, we should always keep a keen ear for the Father’s voice and do everything in a way that meets His approval and favor.

Anointed Leadership Has a Message with Power and Authority He heard His Father’s voice of approval at the Jordan River and endured the hardship of spiritual and physical battles in the wilderness. Then Jesus showed up at a local house of worship in His childhood home of Nazareth. The Scripture tells us that Jesus stood up and read a familiar passage from the book of Isaiah.

The people there came to this weekly service not expecting anything different from what they had experienced all their lives. For as long as anyone could remember, they attended church out of loyalty or habit. It is likely that they felt the stories from the Law were right, perhaps despite a lack of relevance to their day-to-day lives. Not to mention the fellowship was nice and the food good, so they came week after week, year after year. Does this sound familiar?

From the moment Jesus began to speak in that little synagogue, the people knew He was no ordinary man.

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Dr. Wallace Pratt State Overseer Idaho, Oregon, and Utah

In 1985, a former drug addict and violent gang member named Misha was freed after five years from a hard-labor prison camp in Siberia. To most people, he was simply the son of a street prostitute and a runaway father. Then the miracles began.

While pausing to listen at a street service in Moscow, he was converted to Jesus Christ. At age 24, he returned to his hometown in Russia and immediately was met with hatred and mistrust.

Too many of them still remembered his violent past. But, in spite of his tarnished reputation, a childhood friend, who was now a Christian lady, learned to love him and married this former skin-head.

What happened next is a remarkable testimony to the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Continuing to serve the Lord, Misha gained the trust of more and more Christian believers by his steadfastness, zeal, and hard work to see others accept Christ. In 1989, he organized a church named “The House of Compassion.� But, what really is the miracle of this anointed leader is not the organizing of a church; rather it is the impact that Misha has had on this city of 300,000 people.

Everywhere Misha goes people call out his name with love and respect. His church

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has started and operates more than 24 ministries in this heavily polluted city that was once the feared headquarters of Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks.

Misha told me on one occasion that he believed the words of Mark 6:7, that Jesus had given Him the power to be anointed and victorious. He proved his faith, having in six years started ministries to feed and clothe the poor or homeless, administer medicine and nursing care to street people, to begin a homeless shelter for battered women, a housing placement program for runaway children, a transportation system for the needy, a program to minister assistance to the elderly, a school to teach English, and many more ministries. Oh, by the way, he and his wife have adopted six orphans and have two of their own children.

Yet, he works for the Lord full-time and lives on a personal salary of less than $400 a month! As I went around the city and met city officials and businessmen, my heart was moved by one anointed to lead. Everyone knew Misha and called him, “the man of God.” In Mark 16:15-18, Jesus commissions his disciples: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover’”(NASB).

This scriptural passage took on urgency for me while visiting on one of my trips into Russia. On that occasion I had the opportunity to meet Dale Witt, a wonderful and godly man who lost his wife soon afterwards. At the time, he served as the International Director of Global Advance.

As I listened to him speak one evening, he shared some statistics I couldn’t help but start writing down.

Here are a few of them: Every day, 15 million Christians around the world will say “Good morning” to God! Every day around the world, 15,000 persons will accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. In fact, 15 new churches are organized in the world every day!

This could make me truly excited if it wasn’t for three other sobering things he mentioned. The first, 95 percent of all Christians have never led anyone to accept Jesus Christ! Over 70 percent of the preaching in North America is about Christian character, while only 10 percent is about the delivering power of Christ and His saving grace! He stated that if we continue the present pace of evangelism of children and youth in North America, by 2035 Christians would be the smallest religious group on their continent.

All of this is happening while in most nations we have the greatest global revival in history taking place. Like many of you, I do not intend to be a part of a tragic possibility like this because I believe in God’s power to save. We desperately need to be anointed to lead this emerging generation to pass on their growing faith!

The Three Things Jesus Taught His Disciples

As one reads the gospels, there are three things that Jesus repeatedly commanded of His disciples. From Matthew to John, it is stated in various ways or orders but the message remains the same. Therefore, what He taught the twelve disciples is still relevant and applicable to us who are His disciples today. Read this command by Jesus to all His disciples in Mark 6:7–13. “ And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt—but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” And He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.’ They went out and preached that men should repent. And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them”(NASB).

Did you catch those three vital commands? Salvation—We are to LEAD LOST PEOPLE to Jesus Christ.

Deliverance—We are to CAST OUT EVIL SPIRITS (the devil). Healing—We are to HEAL THE SICK! Unfortunately, too many believers have been distracted and have forgotten that these three things are the primary focus of their church. Somehow they drift into making other things their central purpose for existing. Sometimes churches are more excited about their monthly fellowship than they are about a soul being saved. Even pastors can get caught up in the task of simply “keeping everyone happy.” But, it is not how to dress, how to act in church, not where to go or not go, it is not even to teach people to be able to recite Scriptures; rather, it is a need for passion to encourage and focus on those three commands of Jesus! If we are anointed to lead, we will no longer be content with having church or preaching the church.

The Four Areas of Anointed Leadership 1

The apostle Paul takes the command of Jesus and helps us to see how it can be accomplished from the level of every local church. In fact, in the ministry of Christ and in the history of the Early Church of the New Testament, we can recognize four groups that are evidenced as causing growth in the church:

Goers—This group was symbolized by Jesus when He told the parable of “The Fish and the Net” in Matthew 13:47–51.

If you have a King James Bible, notice that it calls it a “dragnet;” this was a net that they literally drug along the bottom of the sea. Most of the time, they got the dirtiest and ugliest of fish.

Do you know who the “goers” are in the church? They are the evangelists, pastors, church planters, jail workers, hospital volunteers, and those gifted to enter homes to help hurting people. We are to go out to the dirtiest and ugliest and bring them in with the net of the WWM J U LY 2 0 1 2

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Gospel. This is your calling. Don’t ask what kind of fish the others would want; you are the ones “called” by God to bring all into the net.

Servants—This group is represented by the story of “The Basin and the Towel.” It takes place in Simon the Pharisee’s home in Luke 7:36-38, but it concerns the willingness of a despised person to be a servant to the ministry and person of Jesus. Can a believer be anointed to lead while serving?

This symbolizes those who may not be in the limelight or gifted as preachers or teachers, but they are service-minded people, believers who love to serve the daily needs of the work of Jesus in their local church and community. Without them, every church would soon become anemic and irrelevant to their neighbors. These servant attitudes lead in the unorthodox ways by mowing the church lawn, fixing the church lights, cleaning bathrooms, or arranging flowers for the sanctuary. But, God bless those who see their “act of service” as a calling to help reach the lost! They are servants who help by doing something that helps others be free to go to the lost.

Givers—Jesus uses the example of “The Bread and the Basket” in the gospels to represent this group of people. It takes place outside in the midst of a large outreach effort by Jesus to reach lost people. This kind of need requires more than just a person who does their normal duty in the offering. In John 6:5-11, Jesus elevates a lad who is willing to give his lunch to the Lord without even knowing what will be the result of his sacrifice. Thank God for those who are givers like this young boy! A GIVER is someone who is anointed with a heart of giving beyond the average believer. In many cases, they are an individual who is successful in business, or they may be a retired 14

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person or someone blessed with a resource who realizes that God desires to use them to help finance or support the work of God. Unfortunately, we do not recognize this group enough and give them proper honor for their anointing. But, if we are to go with power, we need them to lead us in underwriting critical ministries.

Pray-ers—This fourth group is indispensable in reaching the lost and helping grow the church.

They are not just people who pray, but pray-ers are individuals who are especially “anointed

by God” within the assembly of believers to pray for the harvest.

Even before the ministry of Jesus began, this group was symbolized in Zacharias through the burning incense before the altar. In Luke 1:11-16, we see the fruitfulness of his fervent and persistent ministry. We will never reach the lost or see our churches growing continually until we have this faithful group that God calls in every group of believers to “give themselves” continually to pray and intercede to the Lord of the harvest. This group must be unleashed in every church until it is a common sight to see their incense of prayer and their robes of purity honoring Jesus. These anointed will lead their congregations by bringing spiritual awareness toward the lost. When an anointed group like this is in a church, God’s power is unleashed!

A Challenge for Those Anointed to Lead A few years back, I came across a youth magazine that seemed really far out and strange until I saw what they were trying to do. They were committed to reaching the youth generation with a different approach through Christian hip-hop music. Their foremost ministry is a magazine called What’s the Word?

In their June 2005 issue, they gave a report of “the dying state” of churches in North America. In that article, they reported the following warning: “Did

you know that 95 percent of the people in America who become Christians do so before the age of 25? If Christians don’t reach people with the Gospel before they reach the age of 25, they are going to miss 95 percent of them.”

We are people who have been redeemed (delivered), but if we are anointed to lead, we must overcome the bondage holding too many churches and communities. Either our God is a God of redemption from sin, deliverance from demonic spirits, victorious over all obstacles, and a provider of abundance, or He is no God at all! Could it be that some of us are serving an “inferior idea” of God, but not the mighty God of Israel? Jesus by His own actions would become the first testimony or witness for God. He would become the first martyr to spread the message of a new vision of hope.

Pastors, lead your people out into your community (as Jesus did with His disciples) to be martyrs (one who gives up his life for God)! Children of God, where is our sacrifice today for the Gospel of Christ? God wants to change us! It is time to stop being unproductive; it is time to go with new vision and confidence in our future; it is time to lead with anointing! We are at a pivotal point in history.

We are either going to become relevant or we are going to become extinct! Anyone who doubts this has not been reading or watching news reports. As I travel and meet with many new believers, they are determined not to be sidelined into obscurity and irrelevance. They are refusing to get sidetracked by squabbling over denominational opinions, past history, or negative people. They refuse to allow their local church to inherit a “small vision mentality.” They are going to go out with Holy Spirit anointing. Jesus has brought us the power to redeem people from sin, to heal infirmities, to bring deliverance to the addicted, and to win a new generation of youth and children to Christ Jesus. Anyone ready to lead and be victorious? ____________ 1S.D. Gordon. Quiet Talks on Service. Baker

Book House: Grand Rapids, MI, 1980, pages 87-88.

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Leadership In Obedience to God

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hen I think of leadership, the first person that comes to my mind is Joshua. God gave him his marching orders (Joshua 1:2-9). Verse 9 says: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” God promised Joshua that he would be with him, through it all.

He equips whom He calls. “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). What a great promise from our Lord.

It’s so important for us to hear what our Heavenly Father is calling us to do. He knows us intimately, and knows how to get our attention.

The only way to hear Him is to stay in His Word, and on our knees in prayer, not only for others, but for ourselves. He must be Lord in every aspect of our lives.

A true, anointed leader is not threatened by previous leaders. When Moses died, Joshua followed in his steps. He remembered Moses’ good leadership and he built on it with a new anointing and moved forward.

God wants us to build on the solid ground, that our work will be Christ-centered, and biblically based to go on following His command and anointing. An anointed leader has vision and knows how to communicate with love and anointed authority from the Holy Ghost.

The Scripture says in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

An anointed leader knows his own pain, and humanity, and that the best way to minister is to keep one’s heart broken and soft before the Lord. If we know in our heart and soul that we need Him, He will use us. Psalm 51:10 tells us, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

I want to be as David, but as a woman after God’s own heart, to seek His anointing and direction for each day I am blessed to live.

My prayer is that each day may be a blessing to Him. Amen

Rita Ford Autryville, North Carolina

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Anoint

Tony Comer Brunswick, Georgia

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“. . . Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever shall be great among you, let him be your minister. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many�

(Matthew 20:25–28).

The biblical concept of leadership finds no place in the secular world or in traditional religious organizations.

By the standards of this world, leadership qualities include the ability to dominate, manipulate, and control others. This same pattern calls on its ranks to achieve greatness through

The Attributes of

ted Leadership Anointed leadership will pursue the plan of God without prestigious titles and position, without recognition and applause. brutal scheming and climbing the ladder to success with total disregard to those harmed along the way. It’s a vicious, unending game of king of the hill. Successful leadership is often distinguished with such evidence as great financial empires, monuments, fame, and a massive following of adoring, submissive congregants. Yet, we find a totally different picture of anointed leadership within the sacred texts of the Word of God. “Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave. Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many, the price paid to set them free (Matthew 20:26–28 Amplified).

Doubtless, I am sure, all those within the boundaries of the Christian faith would agree that our supreme and single example of anointed leadership is found in the life of Jesus.

There is no greater, more perfect picture of anointed leadership in all of history. “For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously: Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:23–25).

Anointed leadership will pursue the plan of God without prestigious titles and position, without recognition and applause. Anointed leadership is not seeking the approval of men, but rather, the smile of God! Anointed leadership has no time for competition, jealousy, and carnal ambition. Rather, anointed leadership is consumed with winning souls, the advancement of the Kingdom, the proclamation of the Gospel!

Anointed leadership is prepared to sacrifice all comfort and convenience in order to see the will of God fulfilled in their

life. Anointed leadership is prepared to die for the sheep if needed to insure their safe passage through this world. “I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:11–14).

Anointed leadership is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, or rude. Anointed leadership is not self seeking, not easily angered, and does not harbor unforgiveness. Anointed leadership does not celebrate evil, but rather rejoices when truth prevails. Anointed leadership is always protective, trusting, hopeful, and ready to press on regardless of the resistance (1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NIV).

Anointed leaders understand that their most powerful message, their most impacting lesson, their most life changing instruction is their example. The venerable Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy,” Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV).

Anointed leadership is clothed with humility, always acquiescing first to the glory of God, and of course to the needs of others. “. . . All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5, 6).

In final summary, we see the attributes and rewards of anointed leadership in 1 Peter 5:2–4, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers— not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (NIV).

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Chaplain (MAJ) Roger D. Lanter Marietta Georgia

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King David was first anointed as a small boy to lead God’s people.

He was a leader from that day forward. David is the person in the Bible to whom I personally relate the most. From the time I was a young boy, my mother would read to me from a book that told biblical stories found in the Word of God. My favorite was the story of the young boy David who would face the giant, Goliath of Gath. This giant challenged the nation of Israel to present a military leader who would represent the best that Israel could offer to fight him and win victory for their nation. If they lost, it would mean slavery to the other nation.

King Saul was afraid because his spirit was not in tune with God any longer. He was losing the anointing he had once had.

This faltering spirit and lack of anointing had affected the spirit of even the soldier’s that Saul was leading. Not one was willing to step up and confront this challenge and trust God. Young David, who had been sent by his father to bring supplies to David’s brothers, heard this giant’s challenge and felt he could defeat him. David was brought before the spiritually defeated King Saul and convinced the king to let him fight.

It is important to note the difference shown in a person

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anointed of God and one who is not. King Saul said, “Give this boy my armor for protection,” but David said, “No.” All he needed wee five smooth stones and God. David came down to face the giant, who had once again challenged God’s army. Goliath laughed and scoffed at this small boy they sent to fight him. The Scripture states that not only was little David unafraid of this giant but he ran towards him while shouting that he was coming with God! David defeated the giant and through the years David would win many battles while at war.

Eventually Saul threw himself on his own sword and died defeated.

David became King of Israel, and though he failed God at times, David would repent and plead for forgiveness of God. David was a truly anointed leader for the remainder of his life.

I believe that God directs our life even from a young age and that each of us are anointed to lead in one way or another throughout our lives. That is why the Scripture states “some preachers, some teachers, some evangelists . . .” because we lead in our own respected areas of ministry. In what ever position God places us, we must do it under this anointing to succeed.

As a military chaplain, I must claim many of the titles found on the list of callings for ministry. To

serve as a military chaplain you must meet many qualifications in education, have ministerial experience, and must complete many military training courses.

But this does not make me a true chaplain. All those things do is create a profession I can perform in the military. To be a true military minister and chaplain who is able to lead military soldiers and family in spiritual matters, I must have the anointing from God. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf once said, and I quote, “Do what is right, not what you think the high headquarters wants or what you think will make you look good.”

This statement is true for any leader. We must do things right by following the leading of God. I have seen those that seek to develop cliques or do things to please those in authority over them without any soul-searching like, “Am I doing this because it is the right thing to do?” “Am I seeking to please someone or just wanting to look good?”

God will lead those who are willing to follow Him under the anointing for leadership. It is not education alone or professional training that qualifies you for service. It is the godly anointing for leadership. Choose to follow God for direction in life for He does have a plan. You can do all things through Christ under the anointing for leadership.

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ver the years I have been extremely blessed to be under the anointed leadership of some of the most inspiring men and women of God. As early as I can remember, my life has been surrounded by not only inspiring mentors, but true anointed leaders who understood what their purpose was on this earth. They had a real understanding of “The Great Commission” and passed that passion on to me.

As a shy, introverted teenager in a small church in a small, Southern town, many times there weren’t good opportunities afforded to mentor under strong, anointed leadership. My case was definitely the exception to that. It seemed that with every new pastor, God was sending just the person that I needed to speak into my life and to teach me important life lessons that have shaped me into the leader that I am today. (I thank God every day for that!)

The Givers

Strong, anointed leaders have as one of their best qualities to see potential in others and to nurture those abilities. Those same great leaders also are quick to point out that this is not about them, but all about Jesus! (Oh God, give us more men and women who will point this out!)

Mentoring is a topic that needs to be addressed in most churches. It may be unfamiliar to current leadership or there may be issues of “possessiveness” that hinders a true spirit of raising up a new generation. Local leaders may have been appointed by a former pastor to be a teacher or music leader and 50 years later, they have served faithfully in that role. At the same time, there could have been hundreds of willing workers passing through the doors who were never given an opportunity to serve. This may be a reason a church struggles with its size and inability to grow, even in thriving areas of their communities. What should have been a growing, breathing, full-of-life church has become a stagnant, predictable mortuary for the lack of servant leadership.

The Givers and the Takers Strong, anointed leaders have as one of their best qualities to see potential in others and to nurture those abilities.

Garry Lovette Worship Pastor Cliff Haven Church Sheffield, Alabama

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Anointed leadership sees the possibilities within their area of servitude and quickly capitalizes on those who would have a desire to grow and to be fellow servants within their local church body.

These same anointed leaders are not afraid to make the necessary changes to insure that more and more are assimilated and nurtured to be all that they can be for the Kingdom of God.

The Takers

The takers could be classified as those who attend a local church body, whether regularly or irregularly, and never offer to make a difference within that particular body. Many seemed to have adopted the attitude that, “Well, just be thankful that I have showed up today!” They are content to simply be a warm body taking up space. They come to get their “warm, fuzzy feeling” that they get by attending there, yet never offer to help in any way.

I never cease to be amazed at those who think that the lights of the church, the prepared, anointed lessons and sermons, and the very upkeep of the property all just happen by accident. All of those things required that someone take responsibility.

Those things require leadership.

In most churches, not just within our own movement, there are usually 15 to 20 percent of the people doing 100 percent of the work. There are exceptions to this average, but you won’t find as many of them as you would expect. The best way to find one of those churches is to find a church that is a growing, active part of their community. Upon digging a little deeper into that particular church’s background, you will discover that the percentages of participation are much higher, some as high as 70 percent! You will find that one of the main reasons that they are a church that is full of life is that there are many more givers and a lot less takers.

Recently, I read an article about a church that had supposedly sent out hundreds of letters simply stating that they should find another congregation

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to attend, since all they were doing was taking up valuable space. The letter went on to state that the reason they were receiving this letter is that they were only takers. I couldn’t believe that a church would actually do this. After much research I found it to be a hoax.

So what if a church were to actually do something so radical? No doubt, they would probably have to write letters to more than half the people who attend.

A Change Is Gonna Come

The great revival that is sweeping the earth will not come to your church unless you embrace this one truth: “It’s not about me, it’s all about Him”.

When this one simple truth finally sinks in, we then discover that great changes begin to happen.

We immediately see potential that didn’t seem to be there before. We immediately want to get up off the stool of “do-nothing” and have a passion to see the lost saved. We then want to offer ourselves as servants to our local churches so that they can become great “mentoring centers” and great “discipleship stations” for the Kingdom of God and for this great last-days revival!

Change will come to our congregations as we begin to see the need to be anointed, passionate leaders for those who would come after us. We will immediately see the need to get equipped so that can be as effective as possible in the discipleship process.

Jesus said in John 6:38: “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (NIV).

Jesus’ ultimate example of true, anointed leadership should make us take pause and access our own lives. It should make us look inward and see if we really are being all that we can be for Him. It makes us ponder the question, “Am I being the anointed leader that I am called to be, or am I simply taking up space?”

So I ask you the poignant question, “Are you a giver or a taker?”

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So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan” (Joshua 3:14–17 NKJV).

Having finished 40 years in the wilderness, the people of God were told

by Joshua to consecrate themselves and to prepare to cross over the Jordan River, when they saw the priests and Levites carrying the ark of the covenant before them. By this miracle, they would forever know that God was among them and would enable them to drive out the inhabitants and conquer the Promised Land. After crossing successfully, twelve stones from the riverbed where the priests’ feet stood would be erected as a memorial on the bank of the Jordan for future generations to recall the miraculous delivering power of God (Joshua 4:1–9).

of the cross at Calvary! The Infinite became Finite! He Who has always been fully God, now also became fully human.

Joseph, Jesus’ earthly step-father, was told by an angel of the Lord in a dream, “. . . you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins… and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us” (Matthew 1:21, 23).

Yes, it was at the cross, suddenly, that the waters of mankind’s collective sin piled up and stood still in the face of His magnificent grace! It was there that a passage was found from sin to righteousness, from death to life, from darkness to light! An opening was provided at the cross over a hill called Calvary. “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13, 14).

Have you made the cross over yet?

Have you come into relationship with God by His dear Son? Do you know Him as your Savior and High Priest? “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:24–26).

God’s Priest Steps In

The Jordan River has been characterized as a dirty river. Many pollutants, such as sewage and agricultural runoff, often find their way into the stream, polluting the once pristine waters that begin in the headwaters north of the Sea of Galilee.

These waters of Jordan were so soiled that even Naaman, the leper, resisted bathing in them, when the prophet Elisha’s servant told him to do so in order to be clean of leprosy (2 Kings 5:10–13). In fact, as recent as the summer of 2010, tourists have been warned that it is too dangerous to be baptized in its waters.¹

“

When the feet of the priests bearing the ark, which represented the Presence of God, stepped into the Jordan River, the waters piled up in a heap on one side, and on the other side were cut off or receded away, thus creating a passage over dry land or a place to cross over to the other side.

In the same way, when our High Priest, the very Presence of God, Jesus Christ, both accepted and stepped into the limitations of time and space, into the deep waters of humanity, He provided a way for us to God by means

Ben Duncan High Point, North Carolina

God’s Power Separates

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These dirty waters upstream of the Jordan suddenly stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at the city Adam, the city beside Zaretan. It is notable that Adam coincidently is the name of the first man and may also be translated as human, or mankind.² Equally noteworthy is the name of the city beside it, Zaretan, which at its root means, “to pierce, or to puncture.”² Also, the name Jordan translates as “descender”² because of the way it plunges downward from the Golan Heights to the Dead Sea, the lowest known point on land.³ How prophetic that the Holy Spirit uses these actual city names as He authors the historical and inspirational account of this crossing!

When God’s Incarnate Presence entered humanity, the filth of sin flowed from the beginning with Adam’s transgression plunging downward from the spiritual heights of his being made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 5:1–3), descending upon the sea of humanity and polluting our souls, and heading all of us towards the lowest depths of despair, destruction, and death. God had made mankind a living soul, a spirit, like Him. Now, fallen man would be made, or born, in the image of fallen man, a dead soul, without a spirit. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Jesus would later explain to the learned Nicodemus, “You must be born again” (John 3:1–8)! Now, mankind must be reborn spiritually in the image and likeness of God! This is made possible because of our Savior! Yes, just as the city of Zaretan which means “pierced,” was near the city of Adam; so, Jesus was near the sinful fallen Adam and his fallen descendents, ready to be pierced at Calvary’s cross for you and me! In fact, the first messianic prophecy is given at the very moment that Adam failed— Genesis 3:15, “…He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

Yes, from the beginning, Jesus stood nearby, close to humanity’s side to redeem them from the Adamic sin and God’s wrath as He “was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our 22

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iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Also, the waters failed that empty downstream into the Dead Sea, the lowest geographical point known on Earth. Likewise, the flow of sin that swept all of humanity towards the Lake of Fire, the second death (Revelation 20:4–6, 14,15), towards mankind’s lowest spiritual point of eternal separation from God, was interrupted by His presence of grace! However, those that come to faith in Him are blessed and the second death has no power over them!

Are you being carried away by your sins, down towards the lowest point of spirituality? Do you feel dirty and filthy on the inside because of sin? Do you seem so far away from God that you seem hopelessly lost? Be encouraged!

God power to save is available to you now! The Word says, “…whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Romans 10:13) and “. . . where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,” (v. 20). Just as the hymn says, Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.⁴

God’s Promise Saves

About two million or more people would cross over the Jordan River on dry land. This was the second event of God parting a large, deep, body of water to provide a way for His people to cross safely to the other side. The first occasion was some 40 years earlier (Exodus 14:19–31) where Moses was told by God to lead the people across the Red Sea, as they were in their exodus from Egypt and their pursuers!

God promised to save those that trusted and obeyed Him then and now.

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (Hebrews 4:1, 2). “And this is the promise that He has promised us – eternal life” (1 John 2:25). “…And this life is in His Son” (5:11–13).

Like the priests who stood firm with the ark, the Presence of God, in the midst of the river while the people crossed safely from the east to the west side of the Jordan, our High Priest, Jesus Christ, the very Presence of God, stands firm in the midst of our world of sin and death and offers life and grace to all who would come to the Father through Him. He is the promised Messiah! We are able to come to Him Who will see us across the great divide between God and Man, because He alone is the Mediator, the “Bridge,” the “Go Between,” the “Interface!” (1 Timothy 2:5, 6).

The world wrongly suggests that there are many routes to God and His salvation. Nevertheless, the truth remains that there is only one Way! “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).

There is no other Way to cross over the divide between God and mankind!

On which side of the “Jordan” do you find yourself today? Are you separated from God because of your sins? Look in faith to Jesus, our High Priest, who has stepped into the waters to make a way to cross over from sin to righteousness, from darkness to light, from death to life! Cross over today! _____________ ¹ (River Jordan Baptismal Site Closes Over Pollution Scare, ABC News, Simon McGregorWood, Jerusalem, July 29, 2010). ²Interlinear Bible OT: Adam 120; Yarden 3383; Tsarethan 6891. ³http://geography.about.com/od/ learnabouttheearth/a/extremes_2.htm, Dead Sea shore, Israel-Jordan: 1369 feet / 417.5 meters below sea level ⁴Words: Julia H. Johnston, in Hymns Tried and True (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: The Bi­ble In­sti­tute Col­port­age As­so­ci­a­tion, 1911), num­ber 2.

Music: Daniel B. Towner, 1910

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After making a splash with their inaugural 2010 conference, the ministries behind TeamUp are doubling their efforts with two conferences in 2012: September 20–23 in New Haven, Connecticut, and October 31–November 3 in Overland Park, Kansas.In a recent Q&A with the White Wing Messenger, North America General Presbyter Samuel Clements, Children’s Ministries Director Kathryn Creasy and Youth Ministries Co-Director Aileen Reid shared their thoughts about what makes the TeamUp conference setting unique.

What is the concept behind the TeamUp conference?

Kathy Creasy: It was developed to help pastors learn how to best serve their young harvest leadership and bring the young harvest into the center of the local church life and mission.

Sam Clements: Because true ministry happens at the local church level, bringing the local church pastor, ministry leaders, and potential leaders together in a team leadership conference setting will bring more of an awareness of ways to complement each one’s area of ministry goals and gifting.

Aileen Reid: When we give priority to reaching, equipping, and releasing the young harvest, we will not only strengthen and attract families to our churches, but we will also develop called, anointed young leaders who will evangelize their peers and provide valuable ministry support to their local churches.

youth and children leaders had participated in. Some mentioned that the resources and materials shared contributed to their understanding of how to become a team at the local church level and totally changed their understanding of how to work within the local church ministries.

Reid: We heard from pastors, youth and children’s ministers, and overseers about the difference that the conference has made in their respective areas. Several teams

United for Young Harvest: The Concept behind

Who is the target audience?

Clements: Potential youth and children’s leaders, pastors, and local church youth and children’s leadership that are presently involved or are desiring to become involved in local church ministries.

What can a person attending expect?

Creasy: We want the local church team to walk away with a clear understanding of the value of the young harvest in helping to fulfill the vision and mission of the local church.

Reid: To be challenged in learning discussions with practitioners who are working to develop leaders, strengthen families, grow healthy churches, and evangelize communities.

Another major component of the conference is the process session, where teams will work together to develop strategy for their local churches. The teamwork aspect is probably one of the major challenges that youth and children’s pastors face, so the process session is there to facilitate dialogue and breakdown some of the barriers.

What type of feedback did you receive from the first conference?

Clements: The overall responses were very positive. There were many comments giving the general feeling that it was one of the best conferences that local church pastors and

have gone back to their local churches to implement some of the strategies. Others have completely revamped the way they do children’s and youth ministries. Perhaps the biggest impact that we have seen is children’s and youth ministers working together more closely toward a shared vision.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Creasy: TeamUp offers a unique format. Each focus of the conference—developing leaders, evangelizing communities, strengthening families, and growing healthy churches—is presented in three different ways; large group presentation, processing session, and a variety of workshops that allow practical application.

Reid: TeamUp will be in two convenient locations this year, so we want everyone to make an effort to attend. We also want to encourage local churches, where possible, to sponsor their entire young harvest ministry team’s participation.

Finally, we want to encourage everyone to register early so that we can plan for materials and translation. Our New Haven conference will be fully bilingual.

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MINISTRIES MINISTRIES

Retirement Accounts As always, ministers and the general population have very different tax rules.

The process to enable ministers to take a distribution as Parsonage Allowance from a 403(b), 401(a), 401(k), 408(k), 408(p), or 414(e) retirement account that is not subject to Federal Income Tax is explained in detail on the following form.

This form is provided by Stewardship Ministries in consultation with B. J. Worth’s Tax Service.

IRA accounts and some qualified retirement accounts not listed above can be rolled into the Church of God of Prophecy 403(b) Retirement Plan, thereby causing a distribution to become eligible as “parsonage allowance.” This step would need to take place before retirement. A minister must be receiving compensation from the Church to be eligible to participate and transfer money from these other accounts into the Church 403(b) Retirement Plan.

Be sure the third party payor, such as American Funds, follows the instructions regarding the correct box to mark on the 1099-R sent for the year of distribution.

Jan Couch Stewardship Ministries/ Ministerial Services Director

Retired Ministers and Parsonage Designation

A retired minister receiving an otherwise taxable distribution from a qualified Sec. 401(a), Sec. 401(k), Sec. 403(b), Sec. 408(k), Sec. 408(p) or Sec. 414(e) plan may have a “parsonage 24

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Housing Allowance

allowance” designated by the former employer or denominational pension board according to Rev. Ruling 63-156.

We recommend that a perpetually worded designation state that 100% of the retirement income be designated as parsonage allowance and be tax free to the extent spent for housing.

Language found in the Department of Labor Regulations under ERISA indicate that both types of contributions to a Sec. 403(b) plan (ERISA and NonERISA) are considered as contributions to an employer’s plan and both types are eligible for parsonage allowance designation.

According to Rev. Ruling 72-249, the parsonage allowance exclusion is not available to the surviving spouse who continues to receive retirement income as a beneficiary.

Third party payors, such as American Funds, of retirement plan distributions will include the gross distribution on Form 1099-R, box 1. Not being able to

determine the taxable amount, box 2a could be left blank and box 2b could be checked. As a retired minister receiving distributions from a retirement plan that has been designated as “parsonage allowance,” you are to enter the gross amount on Form 1040, line 16a. It is the responsibility of the retired minister to show as taxable on Form 1040, line 16b any designated distributions not spent for parsonage expenses. If all of the distribution has been spent for parsonage expenses enter a zero (0) on line 16b.

When a Retired Minister Receives Pension and/ or Honorariums

According to the provisions in income tax law, a retired minister of the Gospel is not subject to federal income tax on ministerial retirement distributions or honorariums designated as parsonage allowance to the extent used by him to rent or provide a home.

Resolved that 100 percent of any retirement distributions, honorariums, or interim salaries are hereby designated as parsonage allowance for __________.

Resolved that the above amount of 100 percent of designated parsonage allowance shall apply to all future years.

Name of Employer: Church of God of Prophecy

Date _______________

Print Name: __________________________________Title __________________ Signature __________________________________________________________ Note: This information is provided by B. J. Worth, an Enrolled Agent and Certified Tax Practitioner.

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Four years ago, I had no idea that God was drawing me into a ministry that would become my calling and passion. We averaged three to five children attending our Wednesday night services. It wasn’t until months later during Vacation Bible School, as I looked around at the 60 unreached kids that we had bused in from the community, that I felt God birth in my heart a passion to reach children. At that time we did not have a children’s minister and I felt God calling me to step up.

We had many obstacles to overcome but we made a decision among our core volunteers to step out in faith and start a bus outreach ministry. God has used this first act of obedience to spark amazing changes in our church—including two annual outreach events which draw over 300 children from our community, as well as our VBS, which has grown to 100 children attending.

God provided all the funding and the volunteers we needed at every point. We now are able to serve a meal, have teachers for preschool and elementary classes, and have the support and resources for a renovation project to transform our children’s ministry space. We now regularly have between 18 and 25 children, 10 to 15 youth and 10 volunteers on Wednesday night. In the last month alone, God has sent 16 new kids through our doors. Praise the Lord! God is faithful when we obey!

These are a few lessons I have learned through this journey: Be the change you want to see in your church. You could look around and be discouraged or you could be an agent of change! You might have any number of obstacles in your way, but He will provide your every need according to His riches in glory. If your situation seems difficult, choose to be the change you want to see. Be committed, be positive, and be full of the love of Christ. Decide from the outset that no one and nothing will deter you from the ministry that Christ is calling you to do. Paul said there is an open door for great ministry and many oppose me (1 Corinthians 16:9). Vision starts with you. Be willing to lead.

Be the leader God has called you to be. If you look around and see what the Lord wants to do, step up! Without vision the people perish. God needs leaders to catch His vision and inspire others to join in the amazing things He wants to accomplish through His people. In the Bible, God consistently inspires ordinary men and women to lead His people to do extraordinary things. God places the call, births the vision, surmounts the obstacles; all we have to do is listen and obey. Are we ready for the extreme obedience that will lead to God’s bountiful provision?

Don’t substitute your good plan for His great plan. Look around— what does God want to do through your church, in your neighborhood and community? Pray about it. Search the Word. Focus out and think big. How has God positioned you strategically to reach the lost? Write a vision statement that encapsulates in a few brief points the purpose and plan for your ministry that will serve as the foundation for everything you do and the focus of your energies.

Get passionate and get excited! Your enthusiasm and passion is the best motivation for those around you. Excitement is contagious! Your volunteers and congregation will be moved to greater involvement, responsibility, and support as you share with them the greatness of the purpose you are working together to achieve. No one will be motivated unless you believe in the importance of your calling, the urgency of your mission, and the magnitude of your impact.

Share the vision! Take every opportunity to share. Share the core principles.

Share Scripture. Share statistics. Share testimonies. Share victories and milestones.

Share the credit! The more people know about your vision and how God is accomplishing it in your ministry, the more they will want to become a part of it!

Expect God to do amazing things! If God is for us who can be against us? It is God’s plan to reach children. If we are faithful and obedient to the call that He has given, He will bring it to fruition.

Vision Starts with You!

Lauren Harding, Children’s Pastor Pine Grove Church of God of Prophecy Crossville, Tennessee

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A Seasonal Review of Spring Regional Ladies Retreats 2012 The North American Regional Ladies Retreats spring season 2012 began in March in view of the massive waterfalls in Niagara Falls, Canada and concluded in May with a return to Des Moines, Iowa.

The psalmist reminded us that God as our Dwelling Place in all generations provides a place of safety and grace in the presence of our faithful God. We were also reminded that as we reach to discover the fullness of Him as our dwelling place, we ourselves are transformed into the Dwelling Place of the Lord by the witness of the Holy Spirit. I am grateful for this witness of the Lord in each retreat.

Niagara Falls retreat is known for the miraculous experience and we enjoyed the overflowing freedom of the Holy Spirit from the beginning Friday night service through Sunday morning’s anointing and prayer. An additional blessing included the more

than 100 French-speaking women whose worship ministry is always a highlight. Once again we were able to send a live feed webcast throughout the world of each of the services from the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center. We are always excited as we begin to hear back electronically from our family throughout the nations.

The central coast of California is a beautiful stretch of beach and ocean that always provides a lovely setting for the Pacific Southwest retreat. Due to a prior negotiation, we were blessed by a surprise Saturday late night spread of chocolate treats and delights. In celebrating the surprise blessing, and the blessing of being together in fellowship, we were reminded of the overflowing sweetness of God’s grace and gracious giving as the dwelling place of love.

Atlantic Northeast retreat is one marked by worship and fellowship in the presence of God. The worship knocks everything into the arena of the Lord’s purpose and plan and the Word rises to hit the mark of ministry. This particular weekend has become a home for the women who come annually from every region to mark this time of ministry and to partner in faith with sisters in Christ. This retreat was also broadcast live on the web.

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The spring season concluded in Des Moines, Iowa, with a perfectly complimentary mixture of English and Spanishspeaking sisters with a desire to move into the Dwelling Place of God’s very heart. Once again, we were blessed to partner with Bishop Yanez to sponsor a ministerial conference for his regional leadership. We continue to thank God for allowing us to experience incredible redemption moments, amazing works of healing, the refreshing work of Holy Spirit, and the reality of God as our very Dwelling Place.

Information regarding Regional and International Ladies Retreats will be available at the International Assembly or can be found on our web page, cogop.org/287781.ihtml as we get a little closer to the event dates. For more information you may contact our International Offices by phone (423-559-5337) or E-mail, womens@cogop.org.

Catherine Payne Women’s Ministries Director

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WORLDVIEW

Continued from page 6

KENTUCKY God Raises the Dead During Service

Sunday, February 26, 2012 started as a normal day of worship for the saints at the Somerset (Southside) church. As the sun released its bright rays, a record number of congregants entered the sanctuary. The worship team gathered on stage and the praises of God burst forth as a glorious sound as the people raised their voices in praise to the Creator of the universe. As the worship team began to sing the final chorus of the song “Because of Who You Are,” which begins with “Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, Jehovah Nissi, Lord, You reign in victory . . .” the Spirit of God became especially strong. As I stepped off the stage to take a little victory stroll around the altar area, my daughter came and alerted me to a situation that was taking place in the rear of the church.

As I came to the scene I saw a gentleman collapsed in the pew, convulsing. His daughter was in tears and very shaken by what was happening.

Suddenly, a number of nurses and other medical care providers had the man on the floor next to the pew. I told the church to pray, as several of the people were already calling on the God of heaven to intervene on this man’s behalf. Sister Tina Lord, Kentucky Ladies’ Ministry Director, had positioned herself just above where the man was lying on the ground and was declaring God’s healing on his behalf. Others, mostly women, were calling down divine intervention. I was amazed at how they were not praying gentle prayers of relief, but rather they were in battle-ready mode; they were moving the heart of God through faith.

One of the medical providers began to perform chest compressions because no pulse could be found.

Another nurse had put a pulse and oxygen indicator on the man’s finger and found him to be unresponsive.

The saints begin to pray over the 28

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RUSSIA dead man lying on the floor of our church. I quickly realized that the chest compressions had ceased and as I held the hand of the man’s daughter, we all prayed for God to show up. Friends, that is exactly what God did. I heard a noise coming from the man’s lips. I moved the microphone closer and what was heard will not be forgotten by the congregation. He was praising God! He was singing songs! He was declaring the goodness of God. I was moved by something he said, “I’m ready to go home if that is what God wants.” But I raised the microphone and told the people, “He’s ready, but it won’t be today.” Rejoicing filled the mouths of the saints.

The paramedics arrived and put him on a stretcher. On his way out the door, the man was still declaring the wondrous works of God, testifying of God’s power over the enemy.

We continued to rejoice.

Brother and Sister Lord began to sing a song about how God raises the dead. The church was cataclysmic in praise as some ran for joy, shook under the power of heaven; tears flowed, laughter ensued, and people were caught up into the heavenlies in adoration of the King of kings.

After service, Mickey and Tina joined me as we went to the hospital to visit the man. When we entered the emergency room, he was lying on a bed, still praising God. I asked the daughter what the doctors had said. She looked at me with such amazement and said, “They can’t find anything wrong with my dad.”

They had run test after test with no negative results. God had done a complete healing. It was a miraculous work from heaven. All must realize that as the end of time approaches God is going to continue to work His miracles as a testimony of His power.

God still raises the dead!

Pastor Richard Ramsey Somerset, Kentucky

Worship Night in Ural Region

It was a usual Friday night, spring here in the Urals; the usual traffic jams and the end of a long work week, yet people still found the energy to come and worship and praise the Lord.

More than 150 people gathered to rest from the affairs of life and to open up their hearts to God and enter into His holy presence, and the Lord was there among us! He touched the hearts of those who came before Him in humility with their hearts open to Him. My brother Steve and his wife preached the message that evening.

They talked about how important it is to have an intimate relationship with God and to walk in continual fellowship with Him and to be willing to invest time into that relationship. A husband and wife don’t communicate only in times of crisis, as is so common for Christians who look to God only when they have a need and must have answers.

On the contrary, they have continual fellowship because they love one another and love to fellowship with one another and to share the secret things of their heart with each other.

This message was followed with a call to prayer for such a relationship, and a call to repentance, to lay aside everything that would hinder us from having an intimate relationship with God. Many responded to this call to prayer and repentance by dropping to their knees in humility and crying out to God, grieving in their hearts and weeping and begging for cleansing and forgiveness and a thirst for God in their lives. It was a time of humility and soul searching and for fellowship with Him. Many went home that evening forever changed, forgiven and inspired to seek God more diligently.

Dmitry and Iryna Kavaleuski, Missionaries, Ural Region

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CHURCH

CHURCH LIFE

White Wing Messenger Recognized

On Friday, May 11, 2012 the White Wing Messenger was recognized with an award at the 2012 Evangelical Press Association’s Awards of Excellence banquet. The event, held at the Focus on the Family campus in Colorado Springs, recognized the “best work done by EPA member publications during the 2011 calendar year.” The magazine received an Award of Merit for the “Denominational (Digital)” category, alongside Baptist Press and ECFA Today (view the full list of winners at www.epassoc.org/Awards/2012-ae.html).

The Messenger received its highest ratings for the quality of writing and the diversity of topics presented to its readers.

The Evangelical Press Association is comprised of organizations that produce more than 300 Christian publications and reach a collective readership of more than 20 million.

New Churches Nassau, Bahamas; organized on November 13, 2011; Pastor Chesley H. Finley.

Belize, Central America; organized February 26, 2012; Pastor Juan Antonio Divas.

Eleuthera, Bahamas; organized on November 27, 2011; Pastor Myrtle D. Ferguson.

North Charleston, South Carolina; organized on March 4, 2012; Pastor Salvador Saldana.

Nadi, Fiji; organized on February 26, 2012; Pastor Viliame Gauna.

Taylorsville, Utah; organized on February 3, 2012; Pastor Gilberto Navarro.

Tamaulipas, Mexico; organized on October 15, 2011; Pastor José Ines Santos Aguilar.

Acapulco, Mexico; organized on July 17, 2011; Pastor Urbano Martínez García.

El Salvador; organized on February 17, 2012; Pastor Rafael Antonio Guevara.

Sinaloa, Mexico; organized March 26, 2011; Pastor María de los Angeles Rodriguez Calleros.

Belize, Central America; organized February 25, 2012; Pastor Miguel Solares.

Michoacán, Mexico; organized June 1, 2011; Pastor Javier Hernández Diosdado.

The Preacher’s Wife continued from page 6

the congregations God appointed to our care. We also desire friendship and community and to feel we belong —things common to any child of God. Often, our church family is the only family we have for and it can be a very lonely existence if we hold one another at arm’s length.

There’s a community that has drawn together based on your blog and your book. Can you tell me about that?

I would have never survived these years of ministry without connecting with other ministry wives. That can be easier said than done depending upon one’s season of life and locale. I created my blog, The Preacher’s Wife, to fulfill my own need for friendships with women serving alongside their husbands in ministry. I should caution that these “virtual” friendships should not be the end all, be all of our social connections; however, I’ve met many of my online friends in person at various conferences, etc. and they have become some of my dearest friends.

There is a link on my website with a listing of hundreds of ministry wife blogs for those seeking the same type of community.

What are some of the highlights of your ministry as a pastor’s wife?

Where do I begin? There are many but I would have to say during the past year it has been watching our membership serve our community after the devastating tornado outbreak in April, 2011. Our county was ravaged by these storms and our people have worked tirelessly to bring relief even though many suffered total loss and damage as well. This year has defined and refined our ministry in many ways I will never forget.

Visit Lisa’s blog: www.apreacherswife.com

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In His Presence MINISTERS Thomas B. Stine; Mercer, Pennsylvania; April 19, 2012; Licensed minister for 36 years Pascual M. Espinoza; Pryor, Oklahoma; April 17, 2012; Licensed minister 10 years William J. McBride; Cartersville, Georgia; April 15, 2012; Licensed minister for 29 years James T. Hartley; Springville, Tennessee; April 6, 2012; Licensed minister for 3 years Walter Allen Knowles Sr.; Bayou La Batre, Alabama; May 4, 2012; Licensed minister for 36 years Dorothy Ann Wright; Sweeny, Texas; April 28, 2012; Licensed minister for 6 years Fonazaro Zebua; Indonesia; April 25, 2012; Licensed minister for 27 years Sam G. Smith Jr.; Ninety Six, North Carolina; April 26, 2012; Licensed minister for 12 years

MEMBERS Era C. Puckett; Gainesville, Georgia; May 1, 2012; Mrs. Puckett is the widow of Bishop Richard Lee Puckett

Our Greatest Example of Anointed Leadership continued from page 11

These same Scripture verses had been read for generations and never moved anyone. But this day, an anointed leader of God read the words and the words came to life. One could say new life was breathed into the congregation.

Through the words of Isaiah the prophet, Jesus showed from whom His anointing originated as well as the purpose and future results of that anointing.

Jesus did not need to yell, jump, or run the pews. He just read a passage of Scripture under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. And the Bible tells us that ALL in that place were fixed on His every word.

And when He spoke, He talked like no one else for He spoke with authority. His disciples carried this same anointing and authority. Peter and John were questioned by the religious leaders of the day, “By whose authority do you minister?”

They answered boldly, “By the authority of the name of Jesus.”

These rulers were amazed at their boldness and realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus.

Anointed leadership carries a message that gives life and hope to those who are hurt and dying in this world. An anointed message is powerful because it finds its origins and authority from the throne room of God. Such a message will last beyond the latest religious trend, will change lives for eternity, and prove we have been with Jesus.

Anointed Leadership Draws People Along with all the leadership material available, we have just as much written on church growth. It seems like every week a new book about a novel approach to reaching the lost hits our local shelves.

However, as I look at the life and 30

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ministry of Jesus, I never see Him lacking a crowd. With Christ it was the opposite. Someone once told me, if you really want to know if you’re a leader, just look behind you and see who’s following. I know that’s a simple answer to a complex question, but it does hold some truth.

Part of the anointing in Jesus’s leadership was His ability to call people to follow Him. And, not just a casual follow like a walk through the park, but a life-changing follow.

The Bible tells us that when Jesus walked by the jobsites of Peter, Andrew, James, and John, He called out to them, “Follow Me.” And the next verse says, “Immediately they left their jobs and their father and followed Him.” After years of leadership in both secular and Christian vocations, I know the difficulties of enlisting participation; at times it’s like pulling teeth. Yet, when we read of the accounts of the calling of the disciples, we see such an immediate life-changing response. We then know that there was something very powerful working in the background.

The anointing of God is not only powerful and life changing, but it can woo. There was something in Jesus’s voice that said to these men, “Don’t worry. I won’t leave you or forsake you; trust Me and I will show you the glory of God and life eternal.” These men left all they knew and trusted and gave everything, even their very lives in response to two words. “Follow Me.” Sinners and Christians will respond to even the most simple words spoken by anointed leaders.

I believe the world is dying to hear the anointed message of the Gospel spoken by anointed leaders of God. Anointed leaders may be as rare as hen’s teeth. But like precious rare jewels, I believe that God has some diamonds in the rough just waiting to hear His voice.

With great value comes great cost. Anointed leaders will forsake all and follow Him to lead His Kingdom through the gates of eternity. Let’s listen for the call.

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MESSAGES

We don’t want to become distracted and miss the point.

DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor

The Main Thing Have you ever heard of the term “photobomb?” It refers to a carefully poised picture that somehow, at the last minute and unbeknownst to the subjects, is ruined by an out-of-theordinary, uninvited distraction. It’s the new equivalent of the “bunny ears” over the back of someone’s head, only this time instead of two fingers, you may have someone dressed as a Star Wars storm trooper standing in the background.

Just as a nearly pitch-perfect picture may have an uninvited guest, our somewhat predictable lives may be the targets of intrusive distractions. It’s easy to focus on what’s most important if you are in a nice, controlled environment. If you’re like me, you have to read and study in an isolated, quiet place.

Unfortunately, the world becomes more and more geared to interruptions.

Instead of distractions becoming the exception, they have become the rule.

That’s why we carry mobile phones that alert us whenever a friend has finished work for the day or bought a new outfit.

At home, the newscasters don’t simply relay the news; they do it with an urgency that captivates your attention: “Find out what car parts are defective and may lead to your serious injury or death . . . at 11 p.m.!”

Distractions can be frustrating, such as when a cashier won’t put their phone call on hold to handle your money or you’re telling a friend something they’re not really listening to. They can also be downright dangerous, such as when your airplane pilot decides to read a book or a fellow auto driver spills coffee onto his lap.

Spiritually, interruptions can hinder our mission. We are to share Christ with the world and make disciples of all people.

We run the race with that calling frontand-center in our minds. But a lot of times, we veer off course.

We see someone in the stands shouting, “Boo!” and wonder why they would criticize. It eats away at us and we lose our stride. Or we may notice the paint on the track and wonder why it hasn’t been maintained. We might think about how we did in the last race we ran and worry that we won’t measure up to or exceed expectations. We could think about what we may have left behind before we arrived at the stadium. At some point, however, if we are going to run with the determination to win, we have to suppress those nagging distractions.

The disciples are my heroes. Through their different personalities, I can see glimpses of how I might have reacted walking daily in the physical presence

of the Son of God. They, too, dealt with distractions. On a boat with the perfect storm nipping at their heels, they were mentally preparing their funerals. Walking on the water to Christ, Peter remembered the laws of science and began succumbing to them. The disciples saw Jesus in His glory standing with Moses and Elijah and they suddenly thought their mission was to construct a temple.

In his book, The Jesus I Never Knew, Phillip Yancey speculates that even though His disciples followed Him day in and day out, it was the thief on the cross who first had perfect clarity about the mission of Christ, understanding that He was a king of a kingdom yet to come: “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

We want to stay on mission. We don’t want to become distracted and miss the point. So what do we do? Perhaps we simply revisit our passion, our first love, and take just a moment to regroup.

The apostle Paul felt the need to revisit his focus. He said, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13, 14 NLT).

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