YOUTH MINISTERS CHILDREN’S MINISTERS PASTORS CONGREGATIONS September 20–23, 2012 New Haven, Connecticut October 31–November 3, 2012 Overland, Kansas
visit www.teamupconference.org for more information
Contents w w w w August 2012 • Volume 89, Number 2
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.
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Features 7 SEVEN (For Young Readers) The new school year is an opportunity for new beginnings.
Him! 8 Share Carmen Casey It isn’t about how well we tell it.
of 10 Principles Personal Evangelism
Dr. Fred A. Lawson
Before witnessing, one needs to build rapport.
in 12 Evangelism the Body
Passion 16 The to Share
the Message DeWayne Hamby
Sharing the Gospel is the core of who we are as Christians.
18 Loving the Lost
Dr. Uzziah B. Cooper, Sr.
There is no greater love for the lost than Christ’s expression at Calvary.
Personal 20 AVisit with
Jesus Christ
Lawana Hughes
Tom Doyle
What can we, as the body of Christ, do to bring about revival?
Jesus has made you a wonderful offer that you only have to accept.
13 Evangelism: The Purpose
of Pentecost Milton Gordon
The empowerment of the Holy Spirit ignites a spark.
The Gift of the 23 Immigrant Church Trevor Reid
We must value immigrants as souls and potential laborers.
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Ministries 25 Children: Kids Reaching the World for Jesus 26 Women: Spring Ladies Retreat Update 27 CBL: Reports from Western Canada Schools
Editorials 4
Facing Forward: The State of Evangelism in the West Randall E. Howard, General Overseer
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Messages: A Conference for Creatives DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor
Updates 5
Worldview
Church Life–Testimony— Parenting–Caribbean
30 Create Conference 30 New Churches In His Presence
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Calendar of Events
The State of Evangelism in the West Generally, the state of evangelism in the western world is at risk today. Let it be said right up front that this is not meant to be condemning but certainly the intent is for awakening, prayer, and motivation. Also it can be said that there are numerous examples of success for evangelism in the West. The Church of God of Prophecy in North America has experienced good growth for a number of years, for which we thank God and appreciate ministry leaders. Nevertheless, we must take a hard look at the facts. Dr. Milton D. Carter states that many “express great concern about the plight of today’s evangelical church. Some observe that we are in a state of crisis… ” George Barna’s research suggests that there is little difference in the lifestyle of a Christian and the cultural norms of today. Author Alton Garrison refers to this crisis of the church as a “discipleship deficit.” Powerful cultural forces at work in our society contribute to the “discipleship crisis” of today’s church. David Fisher gives ten forces impacting the church and discipleship: internationalization, urbanization, secularization, technology, individualism, materialism, rootlessness, moral breakdown, culture wars, and descending quality of life. The Christian church in the West has failed to develop an environment in the local church that promotes spiritual growth as a lifestyle to pursue.1 When we turn our sights back to the church as the army of witnesses that will turn this evangelism tide around, we find some staggering data. Barna writes in his book, Growing True Disciples, “Most say that their faith matters, but few invest much energy in the pursuit of spiritual growth.” Far too many believers today fail to set goals for spiritual growth, fail to set standards to achieve, and fail to be accountable. Only two out of 10 believers are serious enough about their spiritual growth to define specific
Far too many believers today fail to set goals for spiritual growth.
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Randall E. Howard General Overseer
goals. Three out of 10 adult believers admit to having no plan for spiritual growth. The result is talk without action and sentiment without substance. The infrequent adoption of spiritual maturity as the driving force of life suggests that to most believers their faith is an add-on dimension of their life rather than the priority around which everything in their life revolves. Perhaps this is why half of all born again adults and more than two-thirds of born again teenagers say they are searching for meaning and purpose in life—in spite of having made a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ. Two-thirds say they are too busy and one half cited a general lack of interest or motivation to grow spiritually. Essentially, all of them underscore one problem: a lack of passion to be godly.2 The fact is that evangelism is done by the people of God. If those people lack passion for the cause of faith, then there will be a greater problem in motivating them to share their faith. The Church of God of Prophecy has embraced the call of harvest as one of our three critical core values. We affirm that we will rise above this fog of confusion and ambiguity in the West to renew our passion for the Gospel, for the lost, and for our faith that is worth giving away. We affirm that every lost person has an eternal soul that must be given the opportunity to believe on Christ, receiving eternal life. We affirm our dedication to reach the young harvest, to strengthen local churches in outreach, and to plant new churches in efforts to saturate our land with new faith in Christ. We affirm the ‘gates of hell shall not prevail’ against the forward progress of His Kingdom! ––––––––––––– 1 Milton D. Carter, Pentecostal Theological Seminary Class, The Disciple Making Pastor, Lecture Notes Module 1, January 2012. Dr. Carter made reference to those mentioned above in his lecture notes. 2 George Barna, Growing True Disciples (Waterbrook Press, Colorado Springs, CO: 2009) pp. 33–43.
August 23–25 School of Practical and Advanced Studies III California (English and Spanish) September 6–9 School of Practical and Advanced Studies I Canada East – Montreal and Quebec September 8 LINKED Children’s Ministries training Westmoreland, Tennessee September 12–15 School of Practical and Advanced Studies III Alabama September 13–16 School of Practical and Advanced Studies II Costa Rica September 20–23 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 Executive Editor/Publisher: R. E. Howard, Managing Editor: DeWayne Hamby, Copy Editor: Marsha Robinson, Editorial Assistant: Pamela Praniuk, Graphic Artist: Perry Horner, 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.
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 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 change to White Wing Messenger, PO Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910.
CHURCH LIFE Most Bible Readers Prefer One Translation
A recent LifeWay Research poll of 2,000 American Bible readers found that most (74 percent) have one primary Bible they use while others (26 percent) use different Bibles for different situations. On average, Bible readers in the United States personally own 3.6 copies of Scripture while 84 percent of readers have more than one Bible. “When people say ‘my Bible,’ that has a meaning that includes translation,” said Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research. “Bible readers usually have multiple Bibles but three out of four have one physical Bible that they use most of the time.” Regarding how their preferred translation was chosen, 75 percent of readers personally chose their version while 19 percent said it was selected by someone else. Six percent did not remember how they arrived at their preferred version. Still, even though most prefer one translation, 74 percent identified themselves as being “open to using different translations of the Bible.” Stetzer concluded, “We learn from this study among American Bible readers that owning multiple Bibles is much more prevalent than regularly investing time in reading it.”
Four Commandments for a Staff/Pastor Search Thou shalt adequately budget for the search. “Spending 20 to 40 percent of the pastor’s annual compensation and benefits package, or even more, is a wise investment. When you consider needing to do another pastoral search, a poor decision could easily cost two to three times the pastor’s annual compensation and benefits.”
Thou shalt properly administer the search.
“Appoint or, preferably, hire someone to be in charge of administration for the search: keeping track of résumés, correspondence, references, and background checks.”
Thou shalt communicate to the congregation. “Written updates to your church on at least a monthly basis will encourage your flock that the process is moving forward.”
Thou shalt be patient.
“It is not uncommon for pastoral searches to last two years or more. Therefore, it is important from the beginning that leaders encourage the church that they will need to be patient.”
—Source: LifeWay Research —When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search by Chris Brauns (Moody)
“It is a rising genocide that ought to provoke global alarm . . . Terrorist attacks on Christians in Africa, the Middle East and Asia increased 309 percent from 2003 to 2010.” —Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Newsweek magazine, 2/13/2012
Church Giving Dropped $1.2 Billion during 2010 Recession According to the 2012 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, charitable giving showed a decline of $1.2 billion (a 2.2 percent decrease) in 2010, based on findings collected from 228 U.S. denominations. The figures were released in March. The Yearbook also cited a loss of 1.15 percent in the top 25 largest churches. These churchgoers in the top 25 constitute a total of 145.7 million attendees.
—Source: Religion News Service
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WORLDVIEW (continued) CHURCH LIFE
Safety Tips for Inflatables Everyone loves a good inflatable moon bounce, right? Maybe not the insurance companies and emergency room workers quite as much. According to Safe Church’s Safety Watch, from 2003 to 2007, there were more than 31,000 estimated emergency department injuries associated with the inflatable rides. Of those, 91 percent were associated with moon bounces. From 2005 to 2007, 85 percent of those injured were children under the age of 15. Inflatables are a fun way to draw attention to your church’s outreach events, but churches should keep safety in mind, says Safe Church. Here are the organization’s tips for keeping inflatables safe:
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TESTIMONY On August 22, 2010, my husband and I were visiting the Jackson, Michigan, Church of God of Prophecy. Their youth pastor, Tyler Elm, was preaching. As he finished the message he asked, “Are there any needs in the house?” I had been diagnosed with arthritis and fibromyalgia 20 years before. I have been prayed for many times and I didn’t plan on going forward for prayer. It was then I heard God’s voice speak out loud, “Tonight, you are going to be healed.” I’ve heard God speak in my heart and in my spirit, but I asked my husband if he heard the voice. He said “No.” I told him what God had said. We went forward for prayer, Pastor Hopson and youth pastor Tyler Elm prayed and anointed me, and I was instantly healed. It was like God stripped all the pain from my legs. I haven’t felt that pain again. God is no respecter of persons. I’ve never doubted that He would heal me. I’ve always said, “In His time.” If you’re suffering, don’t ever doubt God. He can do anything. After a period of time, God spoke again to me. He said “I didn’t heal you to keep it to yourself.” So I’m trying to tell it everywhere I can. If you are living for the Lord, and trying to please Him, ask Him to heal you, and trust Him. He’s the same today and forever.
1. Rent from a reputable, insured business. Require a certificate of general liability insurance, and have your church named as an additional insured on the rental company’s insurance. 2. Have the rental company complete the installation and tear down. 3. Require adult supervision at all times. Ask the rental company to provide training for all supervisors (if not using trained rental company supervisors). This training should cover all operating and safety procedures, both verbally and in writing, including age, weight, and occupancy limits. 4. Ensure all equipment comes with labels that state the proper age and weight of users. Only participants of compatible ages and sizes should play in the unit at the same time. The maximum number of participants of each group that should play in the unit at one time should conform to the manufacturer’s recommendations. 5. Set up the inflatable on soft, level surfaces, such as grass. A tarp should be placed on the ground to protect the bottom of the unit. To the greatest extent possible, avoid hard surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt, where more severe injuries can occur from children falling out onto the hard surface. Fall zones (exits and entrances) should be adequately padded. 6. Properly anchor the inflatable according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If the equipment is on grass, use stakes; if it is on a hard surface, use sand or water bags, or metal weights. 7. Plug the blower motor into an electrical outlet that is ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected if you are using the inflatable outdoors. If a GFCI outlet is not available, a GFCI extension cord may be utilized. Extension cords should be rated for outdoor use and of the correct size (gauge) for the equipment operated. —Belva Bolton 8. Inspect the inflatable to make sure the ride is fully inflated, not sagging, and free from visible tears, rips, or holes before using. If any of these conditions are present, the inflatable should be shut down until repairs can be made. 9. Do not use if wind speeds will exceed the manufacturer’s recommendation. This is typically in the 15 to 25 mph range; however, if wind speeds are 25 mph and greater, unload and deflate the ride. 10. Monitor weather forecasts closely if operating the equipment outdoors. Do not operate if wet conditions, like rain, are present or if threatening weather is approaching.
For more information on making your church festival safe or for other church-related safety topics, visit www.safechurch.com. 6
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Sharing Your Faith at School Even though you spent the past few months in youth camps and on mission trips, there’s still a mission field waiting for you when the summer ends. And it’s pretty close to home. All around the world, Christian young people attend schools that put them in contact with friends who haven’t accepted Christ. It’s a prime opportunity for you to offer Christ and explain what He’s done in your life. The Bible says we are to “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16), so make the most of the hours and days you have with friends whose lives will take them around the world. As the saying goes, you may be the only Jesus some people will ever see. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Love: Be motivated by love when you approach your friends with the Gospel. It’s
easy to fall into a trap of wanting to be proven right or going through the motions, but realize that your friend or classmate has a soul. God created them and loves them like a father loves his children. They may be rejecting the message, but He loves them anyway. Let His love guide you and pray that He gives you the ability to love them as He does.
Respect: Love and respect go hand-in-hand but it’s worth re-stating. Listen to your friends. Talk with them, not at them. Know where they’re coming from, what their likes and dislikes are. Ask them how they’re doing. Rejoice in their victories and sympathize with their grief. It could be that they open their heart to you because you simply were someone who listened and cared.
The Word: You don’t have to be a high-level biblical scholar to share your story,
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but study to show yourself approved (2 Timothy 2:15). Know what you’re talking about as best you can. And yes, you can take your Bible to public school to read and use in your personal time.
Friends: You may also need support through the schooldays. Find fellow Christians who you can encourage and who in turn can encourage you. Find out if any Bible clubs or Christian fellowships meet and get involved. Live It: Be aware that those you intend to be an example to are watching you even when you’re not aware of it. Live a life above reproach. Rise above the pressure that unbelieving classmates may place on you to fit in and conform. Even though they may not show it, they will ultimately respect your walk. But they won’t respect saying one thing and living another.
In 10 or 20 years, your school time will have prepared you for what you’re going to face in your career and family life. You will take with you a diploma and/or a college degree. In addition to the educational benefit, wouldn’t it be wonderful to look back and see the times when God worked through you to impact lives for an eternal purpose?
Are you ready for the mission?
Which Pet Would You Choose? Released in conjunction with the Five Love Languages of Children, A Perfect Pet for Peyton by Rick Osborne and Gary Chapman tells the story of twins who celebrate a birthday adventure by making different choices about a pet. The book includes puzzles, games, and even a Love Language test at the end for the readers.
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As parents, we teach our children as early as possible to share. We know that when children learn to share they develop trust and cooperation skills that will be useful throughout their lives. We repeat terms such as “Sharing is caring” because we desire they learn the pleasure of sharing as well as the joy in the interaction that comes when we share. A textbook definition of sharing is to have a portion or part with another or others.1 Depending on the object to be shared, the portion available may be more or less for each person. For example, it is easier to share a large pie with a small number of people than it is 8
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to share a small pie with a crowd. John 6:5–14 tells of a little boy who shared five loaves and two fishes with Jesus and as a result, over five thousand people were fed. Loaves of bread and fish are tangible objects that should have had tangible limits. But, at our Lord’s blessing of them, they were shared and multiplied. Both the giver and receiver’s needs were met and they finished up with more than what they had when they began—creating a miracle. The first step in sharing is caring. The Bible says that just prior to this miracle Jesus was moved by the sickness in the multitude and set about healing all who
came to him. Jesus and the disciples were concerned the crowd would be hungry. In each case the first step was caring enough to share. Of even more importance than sharing fish and bread, is the fact that Jesus shared His Father with His 12 disciples and with others who He came to know during His time on earth. Because He shared His Father 2,000 years ago, untold millions have now prayed the prayer, “Our Father who art in heaven.” If Jesus shared His Father with us, we should share Him, our brother, with others. I believe sharing a father is a much harder task than sharing a brother. But, it must be that for Jesus; heaven isn’t heaven WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG
without us. Have you ever loved someone so much you could not imagine life without sharing all that you have with them? How can we possibly be so joyful and full in our relationship with the Lord and at the same time not be moved or concerned enough to share Him? It is very hard to keep deep or strong love a secret. But to keep a strong love a secret from others we love, well that seems ludicrous. Thus, I would go so far as to say if we don’t share, it indicates we don’t care or that our direction of care is not outward. The marvel in this story is that of so little came so much. It is important that we realize that it was the Word of Christ that multiplied the bread and fish. It is likewise by the Word, that the relationship of Jesus to His Father was multiplied to His disciples. And His disciples and others have since, by their declarations of faith, multiplied it to our generation. And it is by the Word that we also are able to share Jesus. Words can kill and words can bring life. Words that exalt God and God alone are lifegiving words. Words that patronize humanity, even with much support attached to them, are meaningless. It is only as our words uplift our Heavenly Father that they have the capacity to lead us to His presence. For as the Psalmist sings, “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2). The gift and grace of exalting words towards God is not ours to horde or keep. The moment we speak out a praise or kudos towards Him, we find that a second and third proclamation seem even more natural. And once those praises have been uttered, God will not shut others out from receiving and being blessed by them. Not only does God record idle words but also he ensures that the lips of the righteous feed many. Just as Jesus’ Word produced an outpouring of baskets of bread, through the words of our testimony we are overcomers of any trial or challenge. In Acts, chapter 16, we read of Paul and Silas speaking out about Jesus. Their sharing of Jesus had such an impact that, as they spoke, deliverance from demon possession and afflictions were daily occurrences. The two men ended up in prison, where they continued to share praises to such an extent an earthquake ensued. Astounded that the men did not use their great power to selfishly escape prison,
the jailor asked them, “What must I do to be saved?” The response was, “Believe on Jesus and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy household” (Acts 16:31). We too, can rejoice and be thankful that through the power of sharing Him, there is a promise to us and to our household. We see that power and abundance of salvation is a natural effect when we share Him. It would appear then that there is a rule that says, by sharing Jesus we enlarge Him and His name is multiplied. Not sharing Him then, must mean diminishing and dividing His name. As we take our share in the precious spoil of His immeasurable love, we are aware He loves the great and small with like love. The joy that flows from sharing Him will bring about abundance to all who would receive Him.
What Might I Share of Him?
From the start of the miracle of loaves and fishes, we see that Jesus had a plan to execute His generous nature and power. John 6:6 reads, “For he knew himself what he would do.” Likewise the symbol of the faithful is that they see, receive and plan to share Jesus. After all, if we see Him and have Him, how can we not share Him? In response to that question, I ask you to consider the person or people that once shared Jesus with you. I’m sure your heart swells with love as you consider how generous they were and how much you love them for sharing Him. Below is just a starting point using the mnemonic, HIM (which stands for Hope, Impartations, Maladies), to remind us of what we can share. Consider how you personally might share: Hope in our salvation is one thing that all believers possess. For us to share the story of our personal salvation received for free, will mean our hope can bring hope to our listeners. It isn’t about how well we tell it; only that it is a genuine word on behalf of our Savior. Impartations that we have received from Jesus are worth sharing. For example, impartations of healing, impartations of knowledge, material blessings imparted, etc. can greatly
impact our day-to-day lives. This world needs to know that Jesus is considerate, gentle, and generous. Maladies from which we have been delivered ought also to be shared, so that as others suffer the same things they will know that Jesus will not leave them in times of trouble. There are throngs waiting to be rid of such maladies as fear, heartache or confusion. And for those of us who we have found Him to be a faithful and present help in time of need, it is exciting to know that as we share our own deliverance yet more deliverance will be issued. Finally, this article began with the subject of teaching children to share. Because the size of the bread and fish were small, you might expect a little boy to hold tightly to his only source of food. But as the day wore on, the words of Christ gave him courage and faith to care and share what he had. The true miracle of sharing the gospel is that when we do it in even a small way, we may rest assured He will magnify it until it is unrecognizable in comparison to the original gift. We can’t worry if others are unthankful for our sharing or if they do not understand the miracle of our exalting words towards Him. We must continue to share Him. It is possible there were some in that crowd that took handfuls of both bread and fish and some who ate only little. When the loaves and fishes were parted someone may have said, “Cod? I like trout better.” Or, “I hate sitting down for very long.” Any such responses would not have lessened the miracle. The Scripture says that all were permitted to take as much as they wanted to fill themselves, and still there were leftovers: because miracles happen when we share.
Carmen Casey Australia
1 Macquarie Concise Dictionary Third Edition: Australia’s National Dictionary. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. 1998 pg. 1066.
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Those who have the joy of assurance of salvation will want to lead others to experience the same.
Principles
of Personal Evangelism
A
lthough many people will hear the good news about Jesus through a church’s witnessing and evangelism endeavors, there is a special sense in which the individual’s influence contributes significantly to the success of the corporate church program. Over the last few decades, surveys have shown that friends, relatives, neighbors, or acquaintances (all under the power of the Holy Spirit), were the most influential factors in leading people to give their hearts to Christ. Research has shown that up to 83 percent of new members surveyed stated the influence of their churchmember friends, relatives, and acquaintances as being significant. Of those who attended some form of public evangelistic meetings before joining the church, 64 percent attended at the invitation of someone in their close-people network. Before I go much farther, it is necessary for me to define what I mean by the term “personal evangelism.” This is not a biblical term, and thus is one that can easily be confused. By the term “personal evangelism” I am referring to that sharing of our faith that we do on a one-to-one basis, that witnessing which we do on a more intimate level, with those whom we know or seek to know personally. In short, “personal evangelism” is “personalized evangelism” or “individualized evangelism.” Jesus practiced “personal evangelism” when He spoke to and dealt with the Samaritan woman in John chapter
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4. The Gospel was applied to the personal situation, sins, and needs of the one with whom He was dealing. When one reads and studies John 4:1–26, he or she will notice at least seven principles of personal evangelism. Most Christians want to share the Gospel of Christ with others yet many often feel awkward in their attempts to talk with others about the need for salvation or they simply don’t know how to establish contacts. This causes many to experience frustration that discourages them from trying again. Perhaps, as we study the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, as recorded in John 4:1–26, we can learn some things from Jesus, the master teacher, who often engaged in personal evangelism as well as public preaching. As we observe Jesus in action, we can glean at least “Seven Principles Of Personal Evangelism” that we would do well to remember in our own personal evangelism efforts. Let us now look together at each of these seven principles recorded in John 4:1–26:
Contact People Socially
We must have social contact. In our text, we find Jesus passing through Samaria. Many Jews, because of their disdain for Samaritans, avoided Samaria. Jesus and His disciples chose to pass through Samaria, thereby, assuring contact. WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG
Dr. Fred A. Lawson, Regional Overseer, Ohio/West Virginia
There are many opportunities for social contact. For example: at school with fellow students. Young person, don’t think you are too young to be involved in leading others to Christ. Young Christians often possess the greatest opportunities to teach others. Another example is at the work place with fellow employees or employers. We spend much of our lives with these people, therefore, we have the greatest potential to influence them, especially by example. A third place for social contact is at home with neighbors, friends, and family. Do we even know our neighbors? Those closest to us can be difficult sometimes, but are reachable (Matthew 13:54–58; John 7:5; Acts 1:14). Remember, Jesus said, “Go into all the world...” (Mark 16:15). We must go where the people are!
Establish a Common Interest
Common interests create a bridge. Note Jesus’ first words to the woman (John 4:7–8). She had come to draw water and he was thirsty. His first words centered on their common interest; water. Before witnessing, one needs to build rapport. Meaningful dialogue is not easy, especially involving spiritual matters. However, a common interest allows opportunity for meaningful dialogue. Once a bridge for communication has been established, it will be easier to discuss God’s word with another person.
Common interests are many. They include family (such as children, grandchildren). They include activities (such as work, community projects, hobbies). They include shared experiences (such as travel, or even tragedies). Don’t feel that you must immediately begin talking about spiritual matters. Take time to nurture common interests. Yet at some point we want to reach the next stage, which leads to the third principle.
Arouse Spiritual Interest
We can do this through our actions. Notice how Jesus arouses spiritual interest in the Samaritan woman (John 4:9). He does so through his actions. First He speaks as a man to a woman. Then as a rabbi He speaks to an immoral woman. As a Jew, He speaks to a Samaritan. He arouses interest by simply speaking to the woman. We, too, can arouse spiritual interest by our example. We can do so by showing kindness and compassion to all, even the evil and wicked; by not harboring racial or social prejudices to those who are different. And by our own example of faith and hope (1 Peter 3:1, 2, 15). Another way we can arouse spiritual interest is by our words. Notice Jesus’ example (John 4:10–14). Jesus’ statement shifted their conversation to spiritual matters. He led her into a discussion on a common spiritual interest (living water!). WWM AU G U S T 2 0 1 2
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We can also use words. We can raise questions or make statements that shift conversations to spiritual matters. For example: (1) “Why do you think our world is in such a mess?” (2) “Would you be interested in what the Bible says about . . . ?” (3) “What is the greatest thing that has ever happened in your life?” Remember, the conversation should first involve matters of common agreement. Start with things upon which each party can agree, to build rapport and instill confidence. This was the practice of apostolic preaching (Acts 13:16–22).
Don’t Go Too Far Too Fast
Give the person what he/she is ready for. In Jesus’ discussion with the woman (John 4:15–16), the woman wanted the “living water”, but did she really understand? Jesus saw the need to slow her down and provide the proper groundwork. First she needed faith in Him as the Messiah. Therefore, He needed to provide evidence that He was the Messiah. So instead of giving her the “living water” He tells her to get her husband. This results in her conviction that He is a prophet. Sometimes people don’t realize what they need first. They’ll want to talk about a particular subject but they really need something else first. For example, some people want to study Revelation, when they need to be grounded on the rest of the Bible first. Some want to discuss issues related to church organization, work, worship, etc., when they ought to focus on the “first principles” of the gospel. It is important that a person not choke on the “meat” of the Word (1 Corinthians 3:1, 2).
Don’t Condemn Unnecessarily
Jesus could have dwelt on her being an adulteress (John 4:17–18). But rather, as stated elsewhere, He came to save the world, not to condemn it (3:17). This is not to say He will not one day judge the world, but that the primary purpose of His first coming was to offer salvation (12:46–48). In our evangelistic efforts today, although we preach against sin, our 12
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primary purpose is to save, not judge (1 Corinthians 5:12, 13). Our focus should be to inform others of the forgiveness God offers (2 Corinthians 5:18–20). God seeks reconciliation with sinners and our ministry is to be a ministry of reconciliation.
Stick With the Main Issue
The Samaritan woman turned the subject away from herself to where one should worship (John 4:19–20). Jesus answered her question, while effectively turning the conversation back to the original subject: Who He is and what He offers (4:2–25). We must remain steadfast to our objectives too. When seeking to establish a common ground of agreement, avoid jumping ahead. As we move from common to uncommon ground, take one step at a time and do not go on until agreement has occurred at each step. If our objective is simply to obtain consent for a home Bible study, avoid getting into a detailed discussion at that time (Proverbs 15:28).
Confront Directly
Finally, Jesus confronted the woman with His identity (John 4:26). This came only after He had laid the groundwork. The result of Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman was the conversion of many people in the city of Sychar (John 4:39–42). This demonstrates the potential of personal evangelism. Who knows whether the one person we teach may in turn bring many to Christ? That one person may be like a seed from which seeds may come forth. Realizing this potential, we can better appreciate the words of Jesus: “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and [then] comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest” (4:35). Perhaps by following the example of our Lord, we can be more useful in His service. Perhaps, by applying these seven principles in our personal evangelism efforts it will cause us to be more successful and fruitful. Amen!
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Evangelism in the Body Why are we, in the Body of Christ, not able to see more lost souls won, committed to Christ? Could it be that there is a lack of commitment and forgiveness? Could it be that we are bound ourselves? What can we, the body of Christ, do to bring about revival? First, we as individuals must make a complete commitment to Christ. Get back to basics. Let the Lord Jesus know that we believe that He is the Son of God, that He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead, that we confess Him as our Lord and Savior. Ask Him to forgive us and cleanse us by His precious blood. We must cancel every legal right of Satan in our lives. Ask the Heavenly Father to open our hearts, minds, eyes, and ears to hear and follow His Holy Spirit. Second, we must choose to forgive. Forgiving someone does not justify what that person did to us, but it frees us from the hold they continue to have on us. As the familiar quote goes, “Withholding forgiveness is like drinking poison, hoping the person who hurt us will die.” We must make a choice to forgive them for everything they did or said and everything they did not do or say that caused us hurt or pain. Ask the Holy Spirit to break all unhealthy soul ties between them and us, and ask God to bless them. Third, we must break the strongholds in our lives. Ask God to break all assignments of the enemy and to change our wrong belief systems: to reveal to us the things that are holding us back: to bind up any spirit in us that does not call Jesus Lord: to remove every root and seed that has kept us from God’s perfect plan for our lives. Only then, when we have received freedom ourselves, will we be able to reach out to those who do not know Christ. Only then, will we be able to lead them into the life that Christ meant for them. Only then, will we be able to evangelize the world. Lawana Hughes, Cleveland, Tennessee
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. . . ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you . . .
Evangelism:
The Purpose of Pentecost God gave Moses the instructions for celebrating the Passover. A spotless lamb was slain and the blood from that lamb placed on the doorposts.
by Milton Gordon
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entecost is a derivative of a Greek word which means fifty. It is the fiftieth day from the Passover feast of Jewish history. God had called the Jews to leave Egypt and go out of Egypt to worship Him. Pharaoh was warned to let them go but he refused over and over as God sent plague after plague upon Egypt. God warned Moses of the last plague—the death of the firstborn that would be sent among those who did not have the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their dwellings. The Passover feast (Exodus 12) was to commemorate the saving of the Jews from the death angel and the slavery bondage of the Egyptian Pharaoh and his taskmasters. God gave Moses the instructions for celebrating the Passover. A spotless lamb was slain and the blood from that lamb placed on the doorposts. When the death angel came if there was no blood on the doorpost the firstborn of that house was slain. Christians celebrate Christ as our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:6). He is our Savior and Lord. Pentecost Sunday is the seventh Sunday from Easter. Pentecostal is generally noted as the term for Christians who teach the baptism or indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues (other languages unknown to the speaker or unknown tongues to edify the believer). While tongues is the initial evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as noted several times in the book of Acts, the overarching purpose of Holy Spirit baptism is for power and boldness
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for the believer to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. The purpose of Holy Spirit baptism for the individual is multifaceted for personal growth in discipleship.
Purpose
For the individual there are multiple purposes of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Christ told the believers that the Holy Spirit would be with them and in them (John 14:16–17). He dwells in the individual to be a comforter, teacher, guide, show things to come, discerner and gift giver. He spreads the love of God throughout our lives, our families, our neighbors and the world around us (Romans 5:5). He leads the individual from glory to glory to bring the believer further along into Christ’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18). In the church he speaks through interpretation of tongues and prophetical utterance to encourage, admonish, warn and instruct (1 Corinthians 12:10). He leads the church on into the knowledge of Christ to be the glorious church that will be presented to Him one day. The purposes of the Holy Spirit are numerous and multifaceted but there is one that is prominent in the Scripture, particularly in the book of The Acts of the Apostles. The Holy Spirit empowered the believers to witness.
Evangelization Then
Some have called the book of Acts, “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” Beginning with the first chapter of Acts, we find the overarching purpose of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the born again, sanctified believer. Acts 1:8 tells us, “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.” (emphasis added) The term witness includes giving credence and validity to the gospel of Christ by word of mouth, exemplary living, and even by suffering persecution unto death. These early believers became witnesses in their local home area, their nation, other nations and to the most distant and remote areas of the earth of their era. Their witness included 14
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all ethnic groups and languages. It is interesting to follow the progress of the believer’s witness as the Holy Spirit enabled and empowered them to be witnesses for Christ. The decent of the Holy Spirit to indwell the 120 believers in the Upper Room came full force on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4). These who were mostly Galileans were not trained in speaking the many languages of the people who were present for the Feast of Pentecost but the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believers enabled and empowered them to speak “the wonderful works of God” in the many languages of those present (v. 11). Evidently there were also those who thought the believers who received the gift of the indwelling of the Holy
If there is one thing the devil wants stopped, it is the witness of Christ’s disciples of the resurrecting, redeeming, regenerating, restoring power of the Gospel of Christ. Spirit were drunk (v. 13) because there was such an air of joyful, exuberant celebration. The Apostle Peter being one of the one-hundred-twenty and one of the twelve apostles stood boldly and declared “this is that” which the Prophecy of Joel (2:28–32) spoke of and then he preached the gospel of Christ to those present (Acts 2:14–36). Three thousand were added (v. 41) to the believers because of the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the onehundred-twenty and the preaching of the gospel of Christ. It is interesting to note near the end of Peter’s message he says, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (v. 32 emphasis added). Acts, chapter 4, gives further details of the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit in the believers to be witnesses of the Gospel of Christ. As the church continued under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit to witness the Gospel of Christ opposition arose. The miraculous healing of the lame man at the gate called Beautiful (Acts 3) brought more credence and validity to the witness of Christ and five thousand more believers were added but it grieved the religious leaders that the resurrection of Christ was being preached. Peter and John were threatened by the religious leaders to not speak in the name of Christ again. These threats brought a unified effort of prayer by the church. Their prayer for boldness to speak the Word of God and for miracles to validate their witness for Christ brought a fresh anointing and empowerment to their message. Acts 4:31 says, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (emphasis added) Their witness became stronger and the evangelization of the early believers spread in greater measure. “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (v. 33). Persecution continued but those who “were scattered” from the persecution continued to witness the gospel of Christ. The continued evangelization of those early believers is recorded in Acts as it spread throughout the ministries of Peter, Stephen, Ananias, Paul, Barnabus, Silas, Philip and his four daughters, Dorcas, Lydia, Priscilla, Aquilla and many others who “were scattered abroad” and continued with great zeal and purpose. Nothing could stop the witness of the believers as the Holy Spirit led them through persecution (James, Stephen, Peter, John, and later Paul) inner church problems (Ananias and Sapphira and the care of widows) and lack of funds needed for spreading the Gospel.
Evangelization Modern In the late 1800’s the resurgence of Pentecost (indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer) became more prevalent in the United States. Many
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hundreds were baptized with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit in the Azusa Street Revival, and Mission, Missouri Revival, as well as the North Carolina and Tennessee revivals of pentecost. The message of Christ spread consistently until today Pentecostals are now recognized throughout the world. Some earlier persecution of the Holy Spirit movement in the early 1900s only served to be a springboard for the futherance of the Gospel of Christ. The joyous celebration of the baptism of the Holy Spirit brought the comfort, leading, guidance and a joyfully glorious experience that is the result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Yet, one of the dynamic purposes (evangelization) was often skirted over as the joyful experience became the most focused emphasis. Zeal and exuberance often became the focus. Christ’s profound declaration, “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” often became minimized as the overarching purpose of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (emphasis added). If there is one thing the devil wants stopped, it is the witness of Christ’s disciples of the resurrecting, redeeming, regenerating, restoring power of the Gospel of Christ. The oft heard zealously exuberant testimony among many Pentecostals was, “Thank God for being saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost and being added to the great Church of God” (or whatever church group one became a member of). Certainly these are blessings that one needs to be thankful for with the right focus on Christ’s declaration. Yet, the emphasis of Christ as being witnesses to Him to reach others was often minimized—perhaps unwittingly but nonetheless minimized. The Holy Spirit’s overarching purpose has not changed nor diminished in the hour we are in today. His greatest work in the individual and the church is evangelization, which includes people being witnessed to of Christ’s saving and transforming power by Holy Spirit baptized believers, who also become maturing disciples of
Christ, who also become baptized with the Holy Spirit and are witnesses to others who continue reaching others. The declaration of our Captain has not changed nor diminished, “You shall be witnesses unto me . . .” by word of mouth, by daily living and by death should persecution come. O, that the church today enter into prayer until the “place” where we are is shaken by the Holy Spirit and we go forth in boldness to witness for Christ.
Evangelization Now
The Holy Spirit is moving among many believers today in a greater effort of evangelization. There is great need in other churches for a revitalization of evangelism. Ed Stetzer and Mike Dotson in Comback Churches say, “According
The empowerment of the Holy Spirit ignites a spark among those who allow Him to begin a work that fans a fire of evangelization that nothing can dampen or put out. to our study, most of them [revitalized churches] develop and implement a more strategic and intentional process of evangelism.”1 Considering Christ’s declaration was, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me...” a strategic and intentional process that local churches develop, implement and engage in wholeheartedly are certainly needed. The Holy Spirit surely wants the church to engage in the harvest of today. Three things that Stetzer says every believer, every church member should be is pray-ers, bring-ers and tell-ers. These three things may seem simple but for evangelization these three are powerful. Every believer should be a pray-er. Some hesitate to be bring-ers and tell-ers but that is where prayer and the indwelling
and empowerment of the Holy Spirit is vital. The obvious overarching, biblical evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is to be a witness for Christ. To be involved and engaged in witnessing becomes a joy for those enabled and exercised by the power and boldness of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit’s desire to make much of Christ in our lives and witness to others. Jesus said, “He [Holy Spirit] shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you (John 16:14). Another version says, “He will bring me [Christ] glory by telling you whatever he receives from me” (John 16:14 NLT). Churches that have reached a plateau with a handful of attendees often come to the point of closing but when the people repent of a lack of compassion for those without Christ and a passion to witness for Him becomes the focus and emphasis, change to follow Christ’s declaration is realized. The grace of God heals wounded spirits, heals broken hearts and relationships. The Holy Spirit transforms shy believers into bold bring-ers and tell-ers for Christ. Bring your family to Christ. Bring your friends to Christ. Tell your neighbors of Christ. Bring your neighbors to Christ. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit ignites a spark among those who allow Him to begin a work that fans a fire of evangelization that nothing can dampen or put out. Isn’t it time for renewal to be witnesses for the resurrected Christ? Church problems, lack of funds, neither persecution, nor any other obstacle can stop the Holy Spirit and those who are enabled and empowered by Him to witness for Christ. O that the church today would enter into prayer until the “place” (status quo, complacency, apathy, maintenance attitude) is shaken by the Holy Spirit and we go forth in boldness in our communities to witness for Christ. Dear Lord, may it be so! AMEN! Milton Gordon, M.Div. Old Hickory, Tennessee 1 Stetzer, Ed, and Mike Dodson. Comeback
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THE to share the message
“When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ “Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor’” (Matthew 11:2–5). There are some people who see reflections of themselves in Scripture. They may identify with the woman who poured the expensive perfume at the feet of Christ, or they may imagine their own determination compared with the young men who refused to bow to the king’s idol. As someone who has spent the majority of the last twenty years as a writer/reporter, I can imagine my skills put to use as a disciple of John the Baptist. These men were sent from John to find out, they investigated, and they returned with 16
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the right information. They were reporters in a true sense of the word. We are born with an insatiable hunger for knowledge. Before my daughter could speak in sentences, she had mastered the art of unlocking my iPhone and finding YouTube videos of her favorite children’s shows. Even today, as a two year-old, she repeats the alphabet, numbers and words we say in order to obtain more information about the world around her. That curiosity won’t stop as she reaches adulthood: “Every two days now we create as much information as we did from the dawn of civilization up until 2003.” —Eric Schmidt, Google CEO
According to Mediafinder, which is the largest database of magazines, more than 77,000 magazines exist today. If you average this up on a monthly or even quarterly basis, combined with each magazine’s number of subscribers,
it quickly jumps into the millions of periodicals placed in the hands of readers every day. Do we need all of this information? What needs to be said that isn’t being said? The rise of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn also demonstrates how powerful the thirst for new information is. Not content in having news and information about the world we live in, we desire to be plugged into the minute details of the lives of our friends and family. Companies have tapped into this power as well, using information provided by consumers to develop products and survive in the new economy. Did you know that one of the most successful products in the history of Taco Bell, a taco with a Doritos shell, started as an idea from a consumer on Facebook? What is the world searching for by soaking up all of this knowledge? The truth. We are not suffering from a lack of information, but not enough that is true, lovely, and of good report (Philippians 4:8). And the most important thing we can share is the Good News, the Gospel, of Christ. That is what they need, even if they don’t know it. “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16: 15,16). In Romans 10, Paul asks, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (v. 14). He continues, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (v. 15).
Last Days Awareness
In Pentecostal circles, there has been a burning desire to share the message because we were filled with an awareness of living in the Last Days. The pioneers of our church believed that Christ could and would come back at any time, so they used any means available to rescue the souls of men— grueling evangelistic meeting schedules, starting a publication, printing evangelistic tracts, even flying airplanes. When I was a teen, I heard the Last Days message enough for the return of Christ to populate my dreams, years before the release of the Left Behind series. More than one friend shared stories of children who feared that they had been “left behind” when they couldn’t find their loved ones. In recent years, we’ve had a few high-profile embarrassments when it came to hypothesizing the end of the world. The church was laughed at and, not being eager to put ourselves in a place like that again, we don’t speak about the end of the world as we used to. Several years ago, I was assigned a cover story on the subject for a Christian magazine and was surprised when I contacted a famous minister who said, “I’m not really sure what I believe.” He did not want to wade into the eschatological debate. On June 1, 2012, The New York Daily News published the latest article speculating the need for human barcodes. The article, “‘Human Barcode’ Could Make Society More Organized, But Invades Privacy, Civil Liberties,” quoted science fiction author Elizabeth Moon’s comments from a BBC radio program:
“I would insist on every individual having a unique ID permanently attached—a barcode if you will—an implanted chip to provide an easy, fast, inexpensive way to identify individuals.” In reading the article, what struck me, other than it obviously laying the groundwork for what some Christians might see as the “mark of the beast,” is that there was no mention of any religious hesitation to the barcodes, only privacy concerns. Have we been intimidated to the point of not wanting to go on record connecting the dots? The Word foretold the mocking and ambivalence of people toward the return of Christ: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3: 3, 4). In Daniel 12, we’re also told that even the craving for knowledge is a sign of the end: “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Remember the quote from Eric Schmidt I shared earlier? Information is doubling, tripling, multiplying in our lifetime.
Eternity Matters
Even if we hold divergent views of the end of the world, there is still an urgency for people to hear the life-giving message of Christ before they take their final breath. No one is promised tomorrow. Sharing the Gospel is the core of who we are as Christians. You may have heard that some people are referred to as having “quiet faith,” which means they are not vocal. I understand that some people (myself included) are more vocal than others, but regardless of your personality, you are required to share the Gospel message with others. It is not a choice or a gift that you “don’t have.” It is like waking someone up whose house is on fire. “Should I tell them? I’m not really a good alarmist.” Penn Jillette, an illusionist/entertainer who headlines a show in Las Vegas, is also a well-known atheist. Even so, a fan approached him after a show to share the Gospel with him. Instead of anger, Jillette was moved and made a sobering observation through a video on his website: “If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward . . . How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn’t believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”
DeWayne Hamby Cleveland, Tennessee
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In spite of all of our frailties, God’s unconditional offering of abundant life is perpetual to all, with the same requirements. Every lost person has the same privileges to His favors, with the same risk and safety, yet yielding the same benefits. Every lost person must lay aside impediments before receiving their just rewards. All must believe by the same faith through the same grace by the same Spirit, to receive equal promises. All who respond positively to God’s offerings will be justified by faith and experience gifts of regeneration. There is no greater love for the lost, than Christ’s vicarious expression at Calvary. “I am come that you might have life . . . more abundantly” (John 10:10). God, in His infinite wisdom, knowing that man would need redemption, allowed His Holy Word to become lively hope to the lost. Jesus, the Redeemer, came as living flesh so that humankind can have abundant life again. In the beginning, abundant life was available to Adam, but his disobedience revoked the abundance, when he desired “life’s abundance.” There is a huge difference between “abundant life” and “life’s abundance”: “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Disobedience is the act of not following that which is laid out by authorities to be done. For some, civil disobedience might be more quantifiable than spiritual disobedience. Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey the laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying power, without resorting to physical violence. It is one of the primary tactics of nonviolent resistance. In its most nonviolent form, it could be said that it is compassion in the form of respectful disagreement. Punishment for civil disobedience by the judges of the earth is often partial to offenders. Spiritual disobedience is when an individual or group chooses not to do or say that which God commands. God commands that we “love the lost” (Luke 6:35) and “care one for another” (Hebrew 13:2). Spiritual disobedience has complete and severe consequences. Disobeying God’s command to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Romans 13:9),
He’s not waiting today for you to get it together. He’s waiting for you to come to Him with open, empty hands. disenfranchises the lost. Providing material goods and financial blessings are forever needed but too often, too many are relegated to a “selling-off” of their responsibilities of “loving the lost” and “showing care” to those they come into contact with. Loving the lost must become a relational act of showing kindness to others. Many show love through sincere prayers for the wellbeing of others. Others volunteer their resources for the benefit of others. Yet still, others give of their time in innumerable ways for the success of others. Sharing of time and resources with others are great acts of empowering others. Too often, these impersonal gestures limit the scope of showing loving care to others. Loving the lost in relational ways is the embodiment of God’s love to humanities. “God has shown us his love by sending his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him” (1 John 4:9 GWT). Serving God through service to others is the most direct way to impact the lives of the lost with care. I am not suggesting that we all make travel arrangements to go to the mission fields. Instead, all must make deliberate efforts to impact the lives of those they meet daily. Believers ought to give godly and heartfelt commendation to the many service personnel they meet constantly. Believers, be bearers of life; say to someone “God bless you,” “Thank you,” “I appreciate you,” or “Jesus loves you.” As much as possible, greet fellow brethren who are in your common space. Say to your spouse and children, on a regular basis,
“I love you.” Say to those we meet for the first time in a day, “Good morning” or “Good day” or “Good afternoon.” Make a courtesy call to fellow brethren who have been out of your presence for an unusual length of time. Return all missed calls. “People are our most valuable asset but least used resource.”1 Loving the lost equips believers to soar in acts of caring for others, instead of living in negativism and superstition of each other. Such like hindrances will sap the spiritual energies needed to live above a depraved life-style. Make the act of loving the lost a daily walk. To you who are neglecting to love the lost, empty your containers of negativism and superstition of others at the start of each day. Seek a recommitment of self to God’s way, as you pray as Jesus’ prayed to God that all will be one in Christ; “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). If you are lost in any which way today, know that: “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” (Romans 8:16-17 NLT). From the dawn of time, your Father has known you and loved you. He’s not waiting today for you to get it together. He’s waiting for you to come to Him with open, empty hands. He wants to give you courage, hope, and peace. You can do great things in God. I invite you to pray this prayer of commitment: “Lord, thank you for the plans which you have for a nobody like me! I beg You to pour extraordinary favor on me today. Please bring to my mind the thing You want to bless in my life.” Amen. Dr. Uzziah B. Cooper, Sr. Bergenfield, New Jersey
____________ 1 Myron Rush, Management: A Biblical Approach
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A Personal Visit from Jesus Christ
“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me.” Isaiah 65:1
by Tom Doyle
“You’re the one!” A woman’s shout broke above the pandemonium of Cairo’s Khan el-Khalili Friday Market. “You’re the one!” Kamal Assam spun toward the voice. His eyes fixed on the black hijab walking toward him. A female hand protruded from the full body covering, pointing in his direction. “Yes! You!” Instincts begged him to ignore this culturally dangerous assault and dissolve into the crowd. If the woman’s husband were anywhere near and saw her approach, she—and likely Kamal—would pay a steep price for this outburst. Kamal couldn’t fathom why an observant Muslim woman would choose today to potentially ruin his life. Then a calmer voice inside suggested this might be the 20
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very reason Kamal had made his unusual trip to the marketplace. So when the market opened at 8 a.m., Kamal was there. He had briefly resisted the urge to avoid the central market and visit the relatively less mobbed areas he preferred—if anything could be “preferred” about the marketplace—but he yielded even that desire to what he knew was God’s prompting and found himself crushed and battered by the crowd while he waited for he wasn’t sure what. That someone would notice Kamal among the hordes is not surprising. His friends think of him as the friendliest person in all of Egypt. His smile shines a block away, and his large, green eyes are unforgettable. Joy radiates from every cell of his body, and he is immediately likable. Even when he was arrested for evangelizing Muslims and questioned for hours by the secret police, they ended the interrogation by telling him how glad they were he had stopped by for a visit! Kamal loves Jesus with his whole heart and is a remarkable prayer. It’s an experience of heaven simply to be in the room when he prays. One man, upon hearing Kamal pray for the first time, was so overwhelmed by Kamal’s passion for God that he sat speechless for several minutes after the prayer was over. Kamal wants to be married, and he will tell anyone that. And one other personal characteristic also makes him stand out in a crowd: he’s overweight, but he’s “working on it.” Still, none of these personal characteristics mattered the moment Noor, a committed Muslim mother of eight, spotted him in the Khan. “Jesus walked with me alongside a lake, and He told me how much He loves me.” The woman in black told Kamal details of the vivid dream she’d had the night before their meeting. “I think my husband loved me at one time. But that love I felt in my dream—His love— was different than anything I’ve ever experienced. I’ve never felt so much peace in my heart. I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want Him to leave. I asked this Jesus, ‘Why are You visiting me, a poor Muslim mother with eight children?’ And all He said was, ‘I love You, Noor. I have given everything for you. I died for you.’” The din of the market faded from Kamal’s consciousness. He heard only Noor describing her otherworldly encounter with Jesus Christ. “As He turned to leave, the last thing Jesus said was, ‘Ask my friend tomorrow about Me. He will tell you all you need in order to understand why I’ve visited you.’ ‘But, Jesus, who is your friend?’ I pleaded in my dream. ‘Here is my friend.’ Jesus pointed behind us. ‘He has been walking with us the whole time we’ve been together.’” Only partially veiled, Noor stared at Kamal as if she’d been looking for him her whole life. She continued, “Before He said that, I had not noticed you. But you were there—standing nearby through the whole dream.
Even though you had walked with us around the lake, I hadn’t seen anyone but Jesus. I thought I was alone with Him. His face was magnificent. I couldn’t take my eyes off Him. “Jesus did not tell me your name, but you were wearing the same clothes you have on right now, and your glasses . . . they’re the same too. In my dream, your face radiated in a way that told me Jesus was, indeed, your friend. I knew I would not forget your smile.” Kamal led Noor out of the main crowd to the edge of the souk and a patch of grass under a lone tree. The two sat down before Kamal spoke. “Noor, my name is Kamal, and I’m a Jesus follower. I have loved Him with an undivided heart for ten years now and am honored to have been in your dream.” Noor stared into Kamal’s green eyes, enthralled with the man’s words. “Jesus is touching the hearts of Muslims all over the world. He’s calling them to salvation—real salvation— one at a time, by visiting them in dreams and visions.” Kamal paused, thinking. “Is this your first dream about Jesus?” Noor answered, hope in her eyes. “Yes, it’s my first. Will I have more dreams?” Kamal measured his answer. “You might have many dreams about Jesus. It depends on what He plans for you. It could be that one dream is all you need.” Kamal wondered briefly just what his Lord had in mind for this woman. “You must have many questions.” “About a thousand,” Noor blurted. “Is this a safe place to talk?” Noor understood the question behind the question. “My husband is at work, and besides, he lost interest in me long ago. I’m his third wife, and last year he took a fourth. She is very young, and her smooth skin, beautiful face, and shapely silhouette are all he can think about. I barely see him. He won’t come looking for me.” Anguish flickered across her face, but wonder quickly returned. “We are safe here. Tell me about Jesus!” Kamal spoke slowly. “He is calling you, Noor. He doesn’t make random visits. Your dream has a purpose that will transform you on the inside.” Kamal watched Noor to make sure she understood. “Jesus wants you to be one of His followers. You’ve been privileged to have a personal visit from Jesus Christ. You are chosen, Noor. Even before you were born, Jesus planned this encounter with you.” Kamal looked away, into the mass of people surrounding them, then back at Noor. “He has not yet appeared to me like this, but I pray that He does.” Noor felt authority she could trust in Kamal’s voice. She sighed deeply and put words to her first question: “Why would a prophet say that He died for me? I have believed in Him, and we Muslims respect Him.” Noor stared past Kamal, slowly shaking her head. “But He is much more than I thought He was. I have never been
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loved like I was when Jesus walked with me in that dream. I felt no fear.” She looked again at Kamal. “For the first time in my life, I felt no shame.” Her voice dropped to a whisper; Kamal strained to hear her. “Even though He’s a man, I wasn’t intimidated. I didn’t feel threatened. I felt . . . perfect peace.” Noor smiled. Kamal feared that discussing Islam could drive Noor away, but he boldly turned the conversation in that direction. “That’s what He wants to give you, Noor. Before He went to the cross, Jesus said, ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you’ (John 14:17 NKIV). You will not—cannot—find peace like that with anyone else. No one but Jesus even has it to offer.” Kamal continued, “Noor, you’ve spent your life searching for God through religion. I did the same thing. My religion was different than yours, but in the end, all religions amount to the same thing: frustration. They’re filled with man-made rules that will supposedly get you to God. But the fact is, they don’t.” Kamal could see in her eyes that Noor grasped this painful truth. “Do you ever feel frustrated like that, Noor?” “Yes. Yes, I do. Every day.” “Noor, have you ever watched people after daily prayers?” Kamal asked, not waiting for an answer. “I’ve sat outside the Al-Azhar Mosque on Friday as the ‘faithful’ come out from noon prayers. They never look very happy—or fulfilled. They don’t have the kind of peace I see all over your face right now. Religion can’t give you that. Your religion can’t give you that.” He let the words sink in. Noor bristled. She studied Kamal’s face, her teeth lightly clenched. She glanced at the ground and then eyed Kamal solemnly. “Are you asking me . . . to leave Islam?” Kamal had stepped into the mine field. “I’m not asking you to do anything, Noor. But Jesus is asking you to follow Him.” The sincerity in his deep, jade eyes validated his words. “Do you believe your dream was real?” Noor’s shoulders dropped as calm settled over her black form. She gazed at the ground. “I know it was real. It has shaken me to my core. I must find out all about Him.” “Then I will do my best to answer every question you have.” Three hours later, questions and answers still flowed between Kamal and Noor on their grass island. Finally, Noor threw back her head and exhaled deeply, pleased with their progress but exhausted from the influx of strange, new information. “What do I do with all I’ve learned today? When I give my life to Jesus and I’m new on the inside, will I still be a Muslim?” Kamal didn’t answer. Suddenly, Noor sat up straight. The energy of resolve rose in her voice. “I’m ready now. I want to follow Jesus.” 22
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“Are you willing to be persecuted for Jesus?” Kamal surprised himself with the question. Noor sat silently. Kamal’s next question was even more unexpected. “Are you willing to die for Him?” Noor seemed less shocked by the question than Kamal. “Is that what He’s calling me to do?” she asked as matter-of-factly, as if she wondered whether Jesus might want her to buy grapes at the market. Now Kamal stared through the Friday crowd, wondering again what this brave woman’s future may hold. “It could well be your fate, Noor. Jesus told His followers on the night He was arrested that there would be harsh persecutions for those who follow Him.” He returned his focus to Noor. “It’s our privilege to suffer like He did. He warned that ‘the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God’ (John 16:2).” Noor sighed. “Jesus was talking about Islam. He had to be. That’s what happens to Muslims who convert.” Noor folded her hands and pressed them to the ground. “I should tell you something, Kamal. I saw a television program a month ago. Father Zakaria was talking about Jesus, and a few people called in to the program to debate him. He handled them with ease. I was amazed, though, because most of the people told him how Jesus had changed their lives. I could not believe my ears. These were Muslims! I remember thinking that they would probably die because of leaving Islam. Their families would see to that. You know all about honor killing, I presume?” They looked at each other for several seconds in silence. Noor nodded slightly in recognition of a new thought. “Jesus knew this was coming, didn’t He?” “I think He did,” Kamal responded soberly. Noor sucked in her breath, exhaled, and watched a shopper brush past. “Well, I’m not afraid. But . . . I have to think about this. I must go to the mosque or to some place private. I must pray. What about my children? It’s all so new. I . . .” Kamal smiled the same smile Noor had seen in her dream. “I understand. I will never forget this encounter, Noor. Neither should you. Jesus has made you a wonderful offer that you only have to accept. He is calling you. I will pray. Until we meet again.”
____________ Adapted from the book Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? by Tom Doyle with Greg Webster (2012, Thomas Nelson). Copyright Tom Doyle. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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Twelve of the 20 largest North American COGOP congregations are immigrant congregations.
Since the fall of mankind, God in sovereignty has chosen to send and scatter remnants of His people across the world to lands that are foreign to them, for the purpose of bringing God’s glory to a new culture. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua and Jesus were all immigrants. King David was the grandchild of an immigrant. Daniel, and Paul were both called to lands and cultures they were not born in, for the glory of God. Of course the nations and cultures may not have seen the Lord’s mysterious purpose, but because we are God’s children we see with different eyes and renewed perspective regarding the global immigrant populous and the emerging immigrant church. In fact, the face of the evangelical and Pentecostal Church in North America is changing due in large part to the immigrant influx. Ed Stetzer, upon visiting several conferences, lists these denominational statistics in a recent Christian Post article: The percent of non-Anglo churches in the Southern Baptist Convention has increased from one in 20 to one in five in just two decades. Previously, whites comprised 95 percent of the Southern Baptist membership. Today that percentage has gone down to 80 percent. Currently, the fastest growing segment in the Foursquare Pentecostal movement is the ethnic church. Currently they make up 20–25 percent of the Foursquare membership. The Assemblies of God have seen a 176 percent growth in their black churches (African-American, AfroCaribbean, and African). Twenty percent of their weekly attendance is Hispanic. Many see the immigrant church, because of its high emphasis on evangelism, biblical holiness, and fellowship, as a new Great Awakening. Consider Quebec, the most unreached area in North America, is seeing an explosion of churches due in large part to the immigrant church (Russian, Haitian, Messianic Jews, etc.). Currently less than one percent (.80) is evangelical Christian in Quebec. In a five-year span the ethnic church was observed to have grown 92 percent in the number of congregations among the various ethnic communities. Our movement can attest to the blessings of immigrants to the global church as well. The largest congregations in the Church of God of Prophecy for the last 30 years in North America have been immigrant churches in Canada and Connecticut. Twelve of the 20 largest North American COGOP congregations are immigrant congregations. Our European work has seen the positive effects of immigration as well. The Peruvian churches in Spain account for WWM AU G U S T 2012
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a great deal of their most recent church planting and membership growth. The history of our ministry in the U.K. is due solely to immigrant ministry. In the Caribbean, one of the strongest churches in the Cayman Island COGOP church owes its initial growth and strength to the Jamaican migration. What possible benefits does immigrant growth bring to the nations and churches they are now assimilating into as immigrants? 1. They bring a fresh take on faith. Often the immigrant church expresses a zeal for the Gospel at times lost in the dominant culture. 2. Perhaps one of their greatest gifts is their children. They raise children that are adaptable, proactive, teachable, and open. The young harvest is an ethnically diverse demographic that is adept at living in several worlds or cultures while speaking different languages. The future of church planting may literally reside in the future of connecting with immigrant students who know how to contextualize the Gospel in various cultures. 3. Immigrant churches have a tendency to focus their ministries in urban centers. Much of immigrant growth centers in growing urban centers. Unfortunately, much of the last 30 years have seen our movements neglect and evade both the inner city and urban center in general. The immigrant church, because of jobs and cultural ghettos, stay where the populace dwells. Consequently, Christ is being preached, where long standing churches have left. If we will truly benefit as a movement from the immigrant church, then we will have to strategically address the immigrant church needs. Leaders of the dominant culture, by nature, overlook the immigrant church through an innate bias. Most of the time it is not because they are intentionally prejudiced (though they may be), but rather the immigrant culture is so culturally distinct it almost seems irrelevant to the dominant ministry context. They find it difficult to relate through the cultural barriers. However, it is worth pressing through the cultural dissonance. Gems are in the ground of the immigrant community! If we neglect both the emerging immigrant populace in our nations and the growing immigrant congregations in our movement, then we 24
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run the risk of alienating them so much that they will eventually become selfsufficient and raise their leaders with an anti-dominant culture. Immigrants come to the nations around the world in various ways: as refugees, worker invitations, and yes also as illegal migrants. Currently nations around the world are developing antiimmigrant legislation to curb illegal immigration due to economic constraints and sometimes because of ethnocentric bias. Nevertheless, as the Church, we must value immigrants as souls and potential laborers of the Harvest who are sovereignly scattered and planted by God. Consider, Peter the apostle speaks of the Christian Diaspora as “immigrants and exiles” who are placed where they are by God’s hand. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance” (1 Peter 1:1, 2). So what should our congregations and leaders do to accommodate and aid them in their new assimilation? First, consider Scripture’s view of the immigrant. Consider Leviticus 19:33–34: “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Similarly reads Exodus 22:21: “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” Secondly, begin to consider developing a healthy process of assimilation. Consider ministries that help them in their new world. Teach language classes, offer meals, give them room in your services, help them plant churches for their constituents, if that is what they would like. Integrate them into our congregations and help your members with cross-cultural transition. Given the impact of immigration upon many
nations, overseers and pastors will need training in cross-cultural sensitivity. Perhaps the next generation of overseers should be able to speak at least two languages, for the purpose of connecting in a social context different from their own native culture. We cannot assume that we know how to effectively minister and communicate with people when we have not truly understood how to embrace cultures that are not our own. Having a friend, an in-law, or co-worker of another culture does not mean one now “understands them.” Our leaders must learn the skill of “living in two worlds.” Lastly, we must connect with the youth and children of immigrants. They are fertile soil for the Gospel and also fertile ground for leadership development. Often their experiences force them to live as ostracized and neglected members of society because of accents, language, and distinctive cultural traditions. This builds within them the strength to live out their identity and convictions with skills that endear them to leadership, pastoring, and church planting. As a value we must determine to get to know other cultures from different communities. Intentionally eat together. Become students of our neighbor’s world. Seek out your personal biases. Help the children of the immigrant community. Ruthlessly determine to rid yourself of ethnocentrism and unbiblical nationalism. As a church we must work together specifically, intentionally, and constantly towards these ends. We must value the contributions of other communities and determine to give more than we receive! Why? Because often it is God at work in these communities, bringing His glory to our nations!
Trevor Reid Youth Ministries Director
Ed Stetzer. “The Changing Ethnic and Racial Landscape of Denominations in America,” The Christian Post, (http:// www.christianpost.com/news/thechanging-ethinic-and-racial-landscapeof-denomoninations-in-america-76873/ (accessed June 19, 2012) WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG
MINISTRIES MINISTRIES
Kids Reaching Their World for Jesus When you think about Christians who have impacted An eight-year-old by the name of Jacob Head spotted their world for Christ, you probably think of people like a homeless man on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee Mother Teresa or Billy Graham. Most people think that begging for money one day. His heart was filled with reaching lost and needy people with a message of hope compassion but his mother told him that the man would is an adult activity. But have you considered the potential probably “spend the money on the wrong things.” This of children in reaching unreached and hurting people? did not stop Jacob. When he got home, Jacob and his sixRemember the story of the slave girl who testified of year old twin brothers began collecting items for the God’s healing power to her unbelieving master? Children homeless. Soon they were able to send 100 blankets and have a strong desire to evangelize 140 sets of hats and gloves to a Nashville lost people, especially their family homeless mission. As Jacob left the Volunteering in and friends. mission that winter, he was overheard Wes Stafford, president of Compassion the United States saying, “We’ll be back sometime this International shares the story of a summer. I know the homeless will Compassion International team who is at an all-time need bottled water.” True to his word, arrived in a Central American town to Jacob and his brothers returned to the high. Many of evaluate an ongoing project. When homeless mission in the summer after they arrived at the site, they found collecting over 2,000 bottles of water. these volunteers Then at Thanksgiving, they returned with the project closed for the day in honor of a six-year old boy who had been three milk jugs filled with coins they had are youth and served by the project. The boy and collected from their friends and family his brother had been crossing a busy Westmoreland, Tennessee. “I’m on a children. Out of in highway when a car ran over the sixmission to help as many homeless men, year old, killing him. The Copassion 13.3 million youth, women, and children as I can,” said Jacob. staffers attended the funeral along “They are in need and I want to help.” with many children and families from When we are considering who will 59.3 percent the community. Before the funeral evangelize the lost and offer hope to the they mingled among the attendees volunteer 3.5 hours hurting, don’t overlook children. Teach asking, “How did you know this young them to pray for lost people. Equip them to per week. boy?” Most responded, “He told me share their faith. Challenge them to meet about Jesus.” During the boy’s funeral, the needs of hurting people in their homes, it was revealed that this six-year old boy had won more communities, and around the world using the resources than 60 people to Jesus Christ during his short life. available to them now. Remember the boy who was willing to give his lunch to Don’t make them wait until they “grow up” to be a part help feed thousands of hungry people? Children’s hearts are of what God is doing in the world today. filled with compassion for hurting people and that compassion Casey Vernon, often moves them to do seemingly impossible things. Raleigh, North Carolina WWM AU G U S T 2 0 1 2
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MINISTRIES MINISTRIES
Spring Ladies Retreats Update One of the means of providing ministry to women and allowing opportunities for women to minister, has been through the support of Ladies Retreats and Women’s Conferences. Following are two reports from International Ladies Retreats, first from the annual Central American International Retreat and then the report from the National Retreat in Cuba. Rejoice and enjoy as you read of the Lord’s blessings.
Dwelling Place celebrated in Panama, Touching Central America, Mexico, and the Spanish Caribbean The nation of Panama hosted this year’s annual Central American, Mexico, and Spanish Caribbean ladies retreat, where more than 550 women from 11 nations celebrated the God’s faithfulness to all generations. While it rained outside most of the weekend, we enjoyed the abundance of the presence of the Holy Spirit during each session. Several times during the weekend we rejoiced in a supernatural downpour. On Sunday morning during the worship session we enjoyed a freedom in the worship and celebration. Ministry during the weekend centered upon the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, our homes, and our ministries. This weekend further provided the opportunity for women to fellowship as national borders, customs and traditions gave way to the work of heaven in our lives. We were blessed to witness the miraculous as women received the gift
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of salvation, physical healing and the faithfulness of God being our dwelling place in all generations (Psalms 90:1). We were especially blessed by the participation and attendance of new and young women from the nations of this region. What an exciting conclusion of this ministry weekend as these women left Panama with the assurance that they are indeed the dwelling place of the Lord God and His anointing is being poured out in their lives. We thank the Lord for this unique time of ministry among our women in this region. Please continue to pray for the women in Central America, Mexico, and the Spanish Caribbean.
Cuba The week after the Panama conference, five women from the United States joined me on a journey into Cuba for their National Women’s Conference. What excitement met us as we journeyed into Pinar del Rio for this time of celebration. Never before have I seen such a response to this conference as more than 200 women gathered for this weekend event of ministry. Led by national women’s ministries director Noemi Corrales Perdoma the
weekend was charged from the opening session on Friday evening until the last worship celebration on Sunday afternoon, saturated with the fiery presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Each woman creatively participated in ministry as the weekend was filled with unique worship through dramas, dancing, marching, preaching, teaching, and anointed celebration. We thank the Lord for this incredibly blessed weekend and for all those who invested in and were a part of this amazing opportunity for ministry. Once again, please keep these ministering vessels in prayer. Catherine Payne, International Women’s Ministries Director
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Center for Biblical Leadership
Reports from Western Canada Schools SOPAS II in Alberta In a beautiful, God-created environment at Deer Valley Meadows Campground, Alix, Alberta, Canada on April 23-25, 22 people met for School of Practical and Advanced Studies (SOPAS) II. We are so grateful for the Center for Biblical Leadership and its desire to enhance the leadership of this region. We are thankful for Bishop Mark Menke, CBL Instructor, and V. Walter Doroshuk, National Overseer, for their timely class instructions. We are delighted for the desire our attendees had to be empowered with enhanced knowledge and to do greater outreach in their local areas. We want to continuously grow in the knowledge of the Lord and make a difference in our communities and in the Kingdom of the Lord. All who attended expressed that they were truly blessed by these sessions. This year our region extended our School of Practical and Advanced Studies to local church areas. We conducted an additional three new schools—Winnipeg, Manitoba; Vancouver, British Columbia (English & Spanish); Edmonton, Alberta (Spanish). These schools were an incredible success bringing the SOPAS I to people who otherwise could not attend our central school in Alberta. Canada West is a vast area, thus people have to travel many hours to attend the Alix, Alberta school. With the additional classes, we have presented SOPAS to over 100 people in our region this year, with one more class to be held this month. All were strengthened and encouraged in both the English and Spanish classes taught by the CBL and adjunct instructors. We look forward with great anticipation for next year’s SOPAS III.
—Claudia Doroshuk
SOPAS I in Winnipeg We were extremely pleased and delighted to be the first “test” class in a local church for conducting SOPAS I in our region. This experience has opened our eyes to new ideas and realizations and has reignited our fire, not only to believe the Word of God, but to truly live it. It was our pleasure to have Bishop Adrian Varlack, CBL instructor and Bishop V. Walter Doroshuk, National Overseer, as our class instructors encouraging and teaching us the history of our church, which was quite refreshing. There were a few of us who did not know the history of the Church of God of Prophecy, and we felt more connected and grounded learning it. It was exciting to sit in the class and hear Bishop Varlack speak on many topics and be so passionate and so caring for what he is doing. It makes you want to learn more and strive to have a deeper relationship with Christ. His love for Christ is infectious! We know we picked a great church, but to have someone say it out loud—well, it was simply awesome! Bishop Doroshuk is a wonderful presenter! He is on fire for the Lord and so transparent. Bishop caused us to have a deeper look at ourselves and encouraged us to strive deeper to impact others. It was so great to hear that he was here to serve us and wanted us to grow and become stronger in the Lord. Bishop Doroshuk is inspiring! Overall, we are truly overjoyed with SOPAS I and we are eagerly looking forward to our next class. —Antonia Kelsey, Elmwood Christian Fellowship Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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WORLDVIEW
Continued from page 6
PARENTING
CULTURE
Speaking Your Child’s Love Language The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, PhD., was a groundbreaking book, selling more than a million copies and revolutionizing the way married couples responded to each other. The original title was followed by The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers and now The 5 Love Languages of Children. Chapman said he has had numerous requests for the followup focused on kids, but needed to enlist the help of his friend, Ross Campbell, M.D., author of How to Really Love Your Child. The result is a book tailor-made for parents of children from birth to the teen years. The duo present the love languages as a way for parents to tap into a method of loving that will most positively affect the growth of the child and fill their “love tank.” They present several examples of exasperated parents who didn’t realize they were simply not responding to their children in the manner the child needed. After establishing the need, the book unpacks each of the five love languages—physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, and acts of service—relaying how they can be implemented. Even the youngest children can remember their love language. One example is given of a child who remembered how her mother said she loved her red hair. As she grew and became aware of the redheaded minority, she remembered her mother’s words and felt no insecurity, because her mother had made a mark with those ‘words of affirmation.’ The book contains tests for the discovery of the languages as well as tips for parents who have discovered their child’s language. They also stress that children, especially toddlers, benefit from all the languages before settling on their primary one. Also included are chapters on how the love languages can be applied for discipline, learning, and single-parents. There is also a reminder section for married couples. The 5 Love Languages of Children is an easy read but it is packed with helpful information for parents of young children that will be a handy reference even in future stages of development. More information and tests can be found at www.5lovelanguages.com. —DeWayne Hamby
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We Must Follow God’s Law First! I have really been concerned lately about the moral condition our nation is in. The sin of abortion is one of the things our nation has placed its approval on. Yet the Word of God is very clear on this matter. It says in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou cameth out of the womb I sanctified thee.” Life begins at conception and the baby begins to grow. Most of the time by the eighth week, all organs are present. By then, the baby has fingerprints that will be the same as long as her or she lives, even if he or she lives to be over a hundred. Between the eleventh and twelfth week, the baby can feel pain. The Word of God shows us that there is life in the womb. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, went to visit Elizabeth, her cousin, who was the mother of John the Baptist, at the greeting of Mary the baby John leaped in his mother’s womb (Luke 1:41–44). I once saw a picture of the inside of an abortion clinic, where there was a garbage can full of little arms and legs, little hands and feet, little heads and torsos. God have mercy on the people who do such things and a nation that permits it to happen. There are plenty of people who have no children who would have been glad to adopt one of those precious little ones. When the laws of our land go against the laws of God, then we have the obligation to follow God’s law! I challenge our overseers and pastors to let their voices be known by writing letters to their local newspaper concerning this important matter. —Lanier Weaver, Pastor Mt. Green Church of God of Prophecy Manor, Georgia
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CARIBBEAN Dominica Celebrates Fourth District Convention May 4–6, 2012, marked a significant milestone in the Island of Dominica. It was on these three days the Church of God of Prophecy celebrated its fourth district convention with the theme, “Restore Unto Me The Joy Of Thy Salvation,” on the grounds of the Roosevelt Douglas Primary School Portsmouth. The Lord granted us favor in that we started with a free live radio broadcast by Voice of Life on the Christian radio station in the island of Dominica. We were saddened as our district overseer, Pastor Hopeton Buchanan, who fell ill before the commencement of the convention, was not able to be in attendance on the opening. However we had our Regional Presbyter, Bishop Glenville Ferris, representative to the convention, who did the honors. We experienced the saying “The hotter the battle, the sweeter the victory.” Pastor Lauriston Bent of the Bible Truth Church of God, Antigua, delivered a powerful word from the throne of God to the convention and the nation. Saturday night was even greater. We celebrated the victory over illness with our District Overseer, Pastor Buchanan. The youths were militantly ablaze under the leadership of lay minister Joycelyn Peart-Lawson, marching united in Jesus Christ. During the youth session, we had a live radio outreach presentation, “How Can I Be Restored,” by Pastor Oliver Wallace, Christian Union Church, Portsmouth, who serves as a welfare officer in Dominica. We continued to speak to nations, through the servant of the Lord, Pastor Irving Lawson of the Light of Life Church of God of Prophecy, Good Hope. He spoke passionately, encouraging and charging listeners to be restored to their God and for our fellow brethren in Christ to take back that which the devil has stolen. On the last day of the feast, we had an awesome time in the presence of the Lord. The French church led us into worship and the praises of the Lord went up from our lips and our hearts. The district overseer, Pastor Buchanan, emphasized that God desires to restore us, but unconfessed sins have blocked the process. Furthermore, he stated that having been forgiven, we in turn must reach out and forgive others. We were charged to be restored individually, as families, as a church, and as a district. As the Spirit of God moved in the convention, there were neither English nor French brethren; all we knew was, God was dealing with saints. Bishop Glenville Ferris announced, “This convention is the most organized I have seen in the district.” If we should translate that to the language of our theme, it would be, “This Is a Restored District Convention.” The undershepherds, Pastor Buchanan, Clifton, Pastor Jacquelin Dossous, Portsmouth, and Pastor Lawson have concurred that it was the work of God and it was marvelous. Indeed we felt it and so we tell it—restoration was on the mind of every soul! This is what we embraced, this is what we left the convention in search of, this is what many of the congregants and radio audience received! The many lives that have been touched and transformed—only heaven has the record. Our audience was not geographically limited to Portsmouth, but the entire Island of Dominica, in addition to the listening audience via the internet. We can only sum up our gratitude in this simple phrase, “To God be the glory!”
— Pastor Irving Lawson
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In His Presence
Howard J. Hunt Bishop Howard J. Hunt, 85, of Minford, Ohio, departed this life to be with his Lord on May 27, 2012, surrounded by his wife, Anna Lucille Gardner Hunt, and children. Bishop Hunt was born May 24, 1927 in New Boston, Ohio and served the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was a graduate of Bible Training Institute and worked for A.K. Wheeler’s Grocery and Detroit Steel before going into the ministry. Bishop Hunt joined the Church of God of Prophecy and began his ministry in 1949. He was ordained bishop in 1963 while in Indiana. He served the church as a youth director, youth camp director, district overseer, state secretary, and pastor. While serving as pastor in Indianapolis, Indiana, he was named “Pastor of the Year” in 1962. He was appointed as state overseer and
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served 29 years in six states including Indiana, Oklahoma, West Virginia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. He was honored to serve on the Question and Subject Committee of the Church for 16 years. He was a licensed minister for 56 years. He was a very humble, kind, and compassionate person who had a shepherd’s heart and preached the Word of God. He believed in all that the Bible and the Church stood for. He will be greatly missed by his wife and children, but to be absent from the body is to be present with Lord.
Ministers Joseph A. Williams; Jamaica; May 1, 2012; Licensed minister for 59 years Clearance Wilks; Jamaica; April 19, 2012; Licensed minister for 28 years Lee A. Sykes; Palmyra, Tennessee; May 19, 2012; Licensed minister for 49 years Robert T. Gilkison; Morrow, Ohio; May 8, 2012; Licensed minister for 23 years
Ralph J. Douglas; Vincent, Alabama; April 24, 2012; Licensed minister for 37 years Motilal Ramcharitar; Trinidad, WI; March 25, 2012; Licensed minister for 12 years George Beckles; Tunapuna, Trinidad WI; Mayo 17, 2012; Licensed minister for 47 years
Member Inez M. Biggers; Cleveland, Tennessee; May 14, 2012; Widow of Bishop Henry M. Biggers
New Churches Lindenhurst, New York; organized on May 18, 2012; Pastor Luis Ayala San Pedro de Macorís, República Dominicana; organized on April 30, 2012; Pastor Franklin Lewis
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MESSAGES
What if we took two or three days to come together to develop our talents and inspire and encourage each other?
DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor
A Conference for Creatives On an average week, I receive several emails from readers who want to publish their work in this magazine. Some write to report events that have happened at their local church or region and some are connecting to find out about upcoming themes. It is exciting, because the vast majority of input we receive is from writers who really want to connect with what God is doing. They feel ownership in this publication, with good reason. A year ago, inspired in part by these requests, I proposed the idea of a writer’s community or some type of system where those of us who write can encourage each other. I am convinced that we have the message the world needs to hear, the life-changing message of the Son of God. As several articles in this issue outline, we need to share this message through every outlet we can. How can we use every resource possible to do that presented in the best format we can? During a keynote address at a bookseller’s banquet I attended a few years ago, Dr. Myles Munroe presented a statement that I’ll always remember. He said he wanted to “die empty,” having depleted every talent and resource God had given
him. The richest land, the best real estate is found in cemeteries, he said. That’s where epic novels that were unwritten, songs that were never composed, pictures that were never painted lie buried in the hearts of men and women. As a writer looking for any piece of information to keep me motivated, I grabbed onto that idea and continue to fan that ember to this day. At the end of this life, I’d like to be able to view the concepts of books that stand on my shelf rather than still lie as ideas in my mind. And I don’t think I’m alone. I think many of you also feel a need to embrace your God-given creativity. As you may know, I serve with some amazingly talented individuals here in the International Offices. As we were meeting one day, we felt the Lord pushing us toward the idea of a conference geared directly toward creatives—the people who work behind the scenes to make the projects happen. These people include writers, artists, musicians, worship leaders, speakers, and more. If you’re not one, you have them in your church, I’m sure of it.
I want to invite you to spend a couple of days with me and others exploring what our creativity can do for the Kingdom. The dates are January 24–25, 2013, with an optional additional day for those wanting to do workshop intensives. We’ll host it here in Cleveland, Tennessee, so we can share some of the tools we use in our communications ministry. What if we took two or three days to come together to develop our talents and inspire and encourage each other? For those of us who write or want to get published, just getting in a room together to talk about our styles and goals is exciting, but we’ll also be sharing some tips from seasoned professionals. We’re still fleshing out what it will look like, but the initial idea is to split into tracks for workshops. Besides writing, these will include art/design and music. We’ll come together in general sessions for big-idea type topics. More information, including workshop presenters and speakers, will be coming in the next few months, but I wanted to take a moment now to let you mark it on your calendar. It’s going to be amazing!
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