Contents w w w w September 2012 • Volume 89, Number 3
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 History 8 of God David Bryan
The history of God is still being written.
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This is a positive move in the right direction.
My Sierra Leone Journal Gary Riggins
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“Educate to Liberate.”
Miracles: How They Impact Our work David Browder
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The Woman Who 21 Had Her Cake and Ate It Too!
Rising from the Ashes Levi Clarke
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Miracles are important tools.
What Is a Youth Pastor? Kenny Lee
Youth ministry is important.
Ben Duncan
May we now have a new confidence.
Stories of 23 Sharing Jesus Perry Horner
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A Pastor’s Wife Remembers
Editorials 4
Patricia Thomason Minter
An ounce of experience is worth a pound of generalities.
Ministries 24 Youth:
Youth Mission in Action 4D 26 Women: 2012–13 Retreat Schedule 27 Children: Young Leaders in Children’s Ministry
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Facing Forward: In Jesus’ Name, We Press On Randall E. Howard, General Overseer
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Messages: Not Forgotten DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor
Updates 5
Worldview Culture–Church Life–Ministry
Opportunity–Testimonies–Member News–Countries– Announcement
29 Create Conference 30 New Churches In His Presence
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Calendar of Events Randall E. Howard General Overseer
In Jesus’ Name, We Press On The march of the Kingdom of God through the history of the world has not been, in the main, giant victorious leaps forward to advance the Gospel over the earth. For the most part the Gospel advance has come in small increments of faithful consistent marching forward, one step at a time, one victory after another. Literally the saints of the King march under the banner, ‘In Jesus Name, We Press On.’ I always think of the passage in Hebrews where the heroes of the faith are listed. The writer reports, “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the
on Sierra Leone, where our leader, Bishop John Mendy, died in a car accident with three other national level leaders some years ago. It seemed like a deadly blow to this national ministry. And even before this, the nation had endured civil war in which our previous overseer was shot in his home and a mortar round exploded on his house. Many other horrors could be told of things that happened during that siege. Still the saints march on, in faith, trusting God, and believing for victorious grace. In the years since that ominous day where four precious national leaders died, the saints have not given up. As Paul said, “We are troubled on every
The march of the Kingdom is a persistent assault on the forces of the enemy where conflict and sacrifice are realities to be faced and overcome. mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:33, 34). He goes on to mention many that endured great suffering and ends with the glorious phrase, “Of whom the world was not worthy.” The march of the Kingdom is a persistent assault on the dark forces of the enemy where conflict and sacrifice are realities to be faced and overcome. This is true of our feature article
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side yet not distressed, persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed.” So the saints of Sierra Leone have kept believing and trusting that God would help them press on with the Gospel. The Sierra Leone article in this issue stands as one more testimony of the triumph of the Kingdom against all forces of darkness. God has used Bishop Levi and Flo Clarke to encourage the church in this nation and today they feel the strength of the Lord rising up in them.
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, 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.
CULTURE
CHURCH LIFE
More and more of the 88 percent of US adults are using their cell phones to access the internet, according to new reports. Companies and organizations have been advised to think of cellular browsers when designing their websites. At May’s Evangelical Press Association conference in Colorado Springs, the idea of mobile-friendly sites verses mobile applications was a common topic.
Use both cell phone and internet equally.
9% Cell internet users use internet on cell phone, but access it more through another device.
Cell internet users go online mostly on their cell phones.
60%
31%
Approaching Female Givers
Many churches are missing opportunities to involve Christian women in philanthropy, with ministry leaders too often speaking “man to man” despite the fact that women now control more than 51 percent of personal wealth nationally, according to a 2012 national survey. While Christian women are far more generous than the average person, the report “Directions in Women’s Giving 2012,” shows that many donors feel that church and ministry leaders neglect the role women play in charitable giving, instead addressing only husbands. The report was commissioned by Women Doing Well™, a Georgia-based national organization founded in 2010 to assist Christian women in stewardship. The survey of more than 7,400 Christian women was analyzed by Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) and conducted by Sagamore Institute’s Center on Faith in Communities. —Source: Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR)
CHURCH LIFE
How Pastors Plan to Improve Churches
When a recent Barna Research survey asked 610 pastors how they plan to improve their church’s effectiveness, most (59 percent) responded that they were “definitely” going to evaluate their church’s vision and mission. Other areas that pastors said they would assess in an effort to improve their churches included: • Assessing their church’s reputation in the community (38 percent) • Measuring the demographic and spiritual needs of the community (31 percent) • Being more focused on safety and security issues (25 percent) • Conducting an assessment of spiritual transformation in their church (22 percent) • Investing in facilities and equipment for children (22 percent) • Investing in audio and visual equipment (19 percent) • Investing in facilities and equipment for youth and teenagers (18 percent) • Working with an organization to help increase giving (six percent) • Finding a search firm to help find the right staff person (two percent) —Source: “How Pastors Plan to Improve their Churches,” Barna Research, February 27, 2012
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WORLDVIEW (continued) MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY Lynnhaven Community Church (LCC) in Phoenix, Arizona, is taking applications for a fulltime ministry position. We are seeking an applicant with abilities in youth or children’s ministry combined with music ministry. LCC is a multicultural church in the heart of the fifth largest city in America. Our outreach to the community includes 20 different nationalities, many of whom are refugees who have been settled near our church. The congregation worships in English (however, being bilingual in Spanish is a plus) and includes Anglos, Hispanics, African-Americans, Native Americans, and Asians. Please send your resume to Pastoredwards@cox.net.
TESTIMONY God Will Provide
Our family had lived and ministered on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for 15 years. When we first moved to the small island on the Atlantic Coast, the church was new and only had a few members. The very first Sunday we were there my husband stood up before a handful of people and said that God gave him a vision to build a new church building. I was shocked to hear him say that because there were only two men in the congregation that day, himself and one other member and eight others who were women and children. I asked him after church that day, “How are we going to build a new church building?” He said, “I don’t know but God told me to build a new building, so God will provide.” God blessed us and the Manteo COGOP church congregation began to grow. We had lived and worked in the area for about eight years and, by a miracle from God, when we started building, people from other churches in the community came to help us build our new church. God did indeed provide what was needed in Manteo. After 15 years, we were appointed to the COGOP in Hamlet, North Carolina. Although we were comfortable living in Manteo, God gave my husband a dream. In the dream, he was walking down a road and people were calling to him, “Come over here and help us.” We knew that God had work for us in Hamlet. We moved to the beautiful sand hills of Hamlet, North Carolina in February 2007. I will never forget the day we moved into the parsonage. It snowed and it hardly ever snows here. After about a year in Hamlet, we were seeking God on how He wanted us to minister in the community. We began praying and asked the question, “God, how would you have your servant to minister to the people in Hamlet, North Carolina?” God answered the question through my husband. One day, he came home and said, “I know what God wants us to do.” God had spoken to him and directed him to start a food pantry in Hamlet. I asked my husband, “How do we start a food pantry?” My husband said, “I don’t know, but I will find out.” Continued on page 28
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MEMBER NEWS
One Boy Makes a Difference
Chandler Lee, (age 7), son of Pastor Scott Lee in Sheridan, Wyoming, made the local news recently when he announced his intention to raise at least $5,000 to buy books for the children in a Haitian orphanage. After the 2010 earthquake, the country has struggled to rebuild and was in need of educational books in the French language. The Children’s Ministries department of the Church of God of Prophecy announced a “virtual book drive” where every $10 raised would be designated toward buying a new book for the Ca-Ira Village library (see the June issue of the White Wing Messenger). For his fundraising effort, Chandler pledged to walk five miles. He was supported by his family and friends and interviewed on a local radio station.
TESTIMONY Healing of Blood Platelets
In December 2010, during a colonoscopy, my blood platelets were found to be very low, 44,000. My medical doctor turned me over to an oncologist. My family and church were praying for me. My platelets were checked each week. They began to rise each time I went to see the doctor. In November 2011, they were 144,000 (normal). The doctor said “Come back in six months.” I did; they were still normal. I’m going back May 2013 and I believe they will still be normal. —Pearl Kinder, Chafee, Missouri 6
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Who’s G o t I t ?
Today I had to google the word swag to make sure I was using it properly. Thankfully I was, but from the stuff I read, it didn’t seem like it was possible to misuse it. Like this article, for instance—it’s pretty swag, right? (Okay, maybe you can misuse it.) Every day something new pops up, from language, to technology, to politics. I honestly don’t know how you guys keep up. I got my very first cell phone about 7 years ago, and now I can’t remember life without one. How did I ever survive a trip to the grocery store without this little piece of technology? Wouldn’t the world simply disintegrate into nothing if not for smartphones? Did God not hang the entire universe upon a cell phone tower? I’m pretty sure that’s in Genesis somewhere. Times are changing, and it can be hard for some to keep up. Strangely enough, though, some things have not changed. In fact, many of the issues you’re currently dealing with have already been dealt with by your parents, and their parents, and even by your parents’ parents’ parents! Pornography is not new, just more easily accessible. That jealousy issue you’re dealing with amongst your friends—also not new. Bullying has been happening for years (just not on Facebook). It’s easy for you to keep up with the changes, but we older folks can sometimes be a bit behind. This causes what we often call a generation gap. And I sometimes wonder if it makes you guys feel isolated in your problems, as if no one but your generation understands what you’re going through. Yet, while society continues to change at an alarming rate, human nature remains the same. And while Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa may not have had enough swag (did I use it right that time?) to deal with Facebook bullies or Internet pornography, they sure had to learn how to deal with insecurity, jealousy, fear, and sexual temptation. So as you ponder along with me about how the world continued to turn in the land before smartphones and Internet, pause to learn a life lesson or two from those dinosaurs we know as parents, teachers, and leaders. They were around before iPads, Facebook, and “the Twitter.” But just because they don’t know how to work the xbox or the flatscreen TV, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re completely clueless about life. Maybe they do have a little swag, after all (nailed it). —Darren Schalk, Cleveland, Tennessee
See You at the Pole September 26
Do you ever feel alone on your campus? Do you sometimes feel you’re the only Christian around? Is it tough to reach out without standing out? Your heart is to reach your friends for Christ, so what do you do? Well, what if you gathered with other Christians around the flagpole at your school on the morning of September 26 and laid this petition before God, “Father, may Your will be done on my campus as it is in heaven!” See You at the Pole™ can provide a powerful connection between you and the other Christian students on your campus to pray and reach out all year long. Let See You at the Pole™ be a kick-off for you to truly make a difference this year. Take your place in history with millions of other students on this Global Day of Student Prayer. For more information and resources, visit www.syatp.com.
Top 10 College Majors Thinking of what you want to do for a living? You’re not alone. Here are the top 10 college majors summarized by The Princeton Review, which quickly points out that “these are not necessarily the degrees that garner the most demand in the job market.” 1. Business Administration and Management/Commerce 2. Psychology 3. Nursing 4. Biology/Biological Sciences 5. Education 6. English Language and Literature 7. Economics 8. Communications Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric 9. Political Science and Government 10. Computer and Information Sciences
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The history of God is still being written. There are millions of stories of how God is sharing His love and bringing His plan together for human reconciliation. God is writing His story.
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The mystery of God is communicated primarily through stories. Remember Joshua and the battle of Jericho? How about Samuel, the boy prophet? King David with his slingshot, and Daniel in the lion’s den? Since I have started down this road and I am not thinking of any special order, how about Moses and the Red Sea rollback? Noah and his mostly animal escape from the big flood? The Magi and their journey following the star? Jesus’ low budget feeding of twenty-thousand (or so)? Paul, Silas and the prison break that wasn’t? Well, I could go on but I think you get the picture. These stories are not the “Once upon a time” kind. They are gritty, real and not make believe. They do not ignore or sideline God. On the contrary, God is the central character in all of them. If we dissect them carefully, we discover that thousands of biblical stories have a common thread—they tell us about God’s love for people and His plot to restore a permanent relationship with humans on planet earth. Since history is really the weaving together of the stories of a community, a culture, a city, or a nation, it would not be a stretch to say that the stories of God’s actions in human life could be called the ‘History of God’. God’s history is a mixture of good news and bad news. One of the greatest missionary evangelists to ever share the message about Jesus, went to a city in old Europe. After a few weeks of preaching, a number of women and some others gave their hearts to Jesus. That’s good news. This small band of Jesus followers was gathering to worship, fellowship and learn more about Jesus on the shores of a river—more wonderful news! One day, as this missionary was going to the place where they were meeting for prayer and sharing of the Word, he expelled an evil spirit from a young woman. Fabulous news, I would say. But, the evil spirit gave this young woman a strange power to foretell the future (or so people thought) and those who owned her made a lot of money by selling her services. These people were enraged because their income stream was gone and so they had the missionary arrested, unmercifully beaten, and put in a terrible prison. That’s very bad news. But late that night this missionary and his colleague were singing songs of praise and God sent an earthquake that rocked the prison. The warden of the jail was converted
along with his entire family as a result. Incredible news! The next morning, the town authorities were going to release the missionaries since their arrests were clearly illegal. That sounds good. But this missionary refused to leave the jail without a public apology delivered in person. They got their apology— amazing news! Have you figured out who the missionary is yet?1 The history of God is still being written. There are millions of stories of how God is sharing his love and bringing his plan together for human reconciliation. God is writing his story in Camden, New Jersey, and Sikkim, North India. It is being written in Brunswick, Georgia and in Manila, Philippines. Thousands of men and women whose names we may not know are part of the story. Their stories include preaching to hundreds and witnessing to one; worshiping under tarp after an earthquake and trying to find shelter from a rampaging mob; learning how to be a more effective pastor, baptizing people who have recently confessed Christ, and walking for many kilometers to come together with other believers for outreach and fellowship. The stories include good news and bad news. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell which is the bad news because God seems to have a way of writing completely unexpected endings. Some of these stories are like mystery novels. You are not sure until the very end how things are going to turn out. Missionary work around the globe is essential to the history of God. These are stories of committed men and women who are sharing the message of Christ through their words and by their actions is part of God’s history. The world does not consider this news worth printing so these are not the lead stories in the New York Times, the Daily Gleaner, or the Nassau Guardian. That’s simply more evidence of how mistaken the editorial departments of the world are; God’s history is the news you must have. Remember that none of these stories is complete. Bad news is mixed in with the good. We know the final report will be positive. But there are stories where
we are facing some real cliffhangers. This is not fiction. The people are real. Their hurts and sufferings are no less painful than ours. Their wrestling matches with the devil make them just as sweaty as others. But God is at work through them. They are laying hands on the sick. They are rescuing homeless children. They are proclaiming Jesus is the only way to their people in Swahili, Portuguese, Yoruba, and Arabic. They are tithing and dedicating their children to God in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are celebrating the Lord’s Supper and washing one another’s feet. They are giving goats to widows to help them feed their children. They are writing God’s history or probably better God is writing His history in their lives. This special missions issue of the White Wing Messenger is dedicated primarily to the work of the church in Asia and in Sierra Leone, a small nation on the coast of West Africa. It illustrates marvelously the intermingling of good news and bad news. We have expanded the stories beyond our more typical reader’s digest approach in the hopes that you will appreciate again the amazing ways in which God uses our lives. If our whole lives are given to seeking the God who is the central Being of the entire universe then everything in our lives becomes significant as part of the history of God—death and tragedy; funerals and baptisms; collections for orphans left behind; returning to places long ago visited but not forgotten; new textbooks for children massed in overcrowded classrooms; meetings with the director of education; putting roofs on buildings and discipling new converts; ending chapters and beginning new chapters. Be a part of these stories. Pray. Give. Go.
David Bryan Executive Director Global Outreach Ministries 1 Check out the details of Paul’s experiences
in Philippi in Acts 16:11-40.
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“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentation 3:22, 23). In March 2010, a horrific tragedy hit the church in Sierra Leone. Five of our frontline leaders were killed as a result of a car accident. The loss was compounded because, of the four people who were killed, one was the field secretary, another was a national evangelist who was the son of the field secretary, and two others were a district overseer and a leading pastor. The fifth person to die was the spouse of the field secretary who was the acting education secretary for the 37 public schools operated by the Church of God of Prophecy. Her death resulted from shock over the other deaths. From one household we lost three top leaders.
As one can imagine, a tragedy of this proportion not only left the immediate families devastated but the church community, as well as the entire Board of Education, in which the church plays an important role. This, indeed, was such a dark period in the history of the church in Sierra Leone that it appeared to some that all hope was gone. We must conclude that had it not been for the mercies and compassion of the Almighty, the work could have been extinct. In fact, our critics suggested that we
Levi Clarke National Overseer of Africa
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dispose of our buildings and whatever resources we had because in their opinion it would be literally impossible for the church to bounce back from this tragedy. However, looking back we can truly say God was not finished with the church and people of Sierra Leone. As the apostle Paul puts it, “Nevertheless, the foundation of the Lord standeth sure . . . the Lord knoweth them that are his” (2 Timothy 2:19). In October 2010, things started to turn around. The late Bishop Sherman Allen, former Africa General Presbyter, organized a visit, accompanied by the members of the Africa Administrative Committee, to offer support and comfort to the bereaved families and the church. However, prior to this visit, the Lord laid a tremendous burden on the hearts of Bishop Levi and Floreth Clarke to try and offer some support in light of the leadership void in the country. This was communicated to the General Presbyter. During the convention in October 2010 there was a great move of the Holy Spirit resulting in the appointment of Bishop and Sister Clarke as overseer for Sierra Leone. We then decided to move to Sierra Leone and set up a home. It has been one year and eight months in the transition but we can truly say God is doing amazing things in Sierra Leone. We feel that the Lord has placed His approval on this move. We would like to commend the small group of leaders who held things together until we got here. Since our arrival, this small group, along with the laity, have given their full support. This made it so much easier to pick up the pieces and move along. Historically, the Church of God of Prophecy has been successful in establishing Christian schools in Sierra Leone. There are 37 schools, comprised of two junior and senior high schools and 35 nursery and primary schools. Unfortunately, we have not been proactive in planting churches. There are only seven organized churches and two licensed ministers. This is one of the challenges we are aggressively trying to address. We have seen these 37 schools as potential churches. After much prayer, the vision was shared with the leadership. Our national evangelist felt the burden and started our first mission at one of our schools in Songo. We are hoping that this will be an organized church before our next national convention. In January, one of the principals of one of our largest schools gave his testimony of how God dealt with him. He converted from Islam to Christianity and he requested that we start a church on the school compound. All of this was an answer to prayer. The land is available to build a church on the school compound. The teaching staff at the school is anxiously waiting for us to start. Our second challenge is the lack of trained leaders to send into this ripe mission field. But as Jesus taught his disciples, “Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers . . .” (Matthew 9:38). Bishop Trevor Reid, International Youth Ministries Co-director, has embraced
the vision of the young harvest in Sierra Leone and is making a positive contribution to assist in training. On April 24, 2012, he led a nine-member team to offer practical leadership training. There were 45 leaders and emerging leaders; 25 of these were from Sierra Leone and the rest from Senegal, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, and Guinea Bissau. We strongly feel that this is a positive move in the right direction to raise up leaders that will help us realize our vision of planting churches at all our schools. We feel that this is a matter of urgency, because the encroachment of Islamic teachers in some of our schools will make it difficult, if not impossible, if we do not act now. The team led by Bishop Reid also conducted an historic crusade at the headquarters church. In these meetings God moved mightily each night as the various speakers ministered the Word of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Souls were saved. Many received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I mentioned that this was an historic crusade, because for years the manifestation of the Holy Spirit was not evident in the churches. But during this crusade we saw people being slain by the Holy Spirit; knocked to the floor and came up speaking in other tongues, just like it was in the book of Acts. Thank God! We held our 24th National Convention on May 4–6, 2012. It was an honor as well as a joy to have a wonderful team from North America. The team consisted of Bishop Trevor Reid, Jan Couch and her husband from the International Office, Bishop Earl McKay and wife, Bishop Clarence Laney, Bishop Derrick Cornwall, Bishop Owen Martin and Bishop Tim McCaleb. The team’s contribution to the national convention was outstanding. The theme of the convention was “Conquering New Frontiers.” At the close of the convention on Sunday afternoon it was clear that both the leadership and laity had taken on the spirit of conquest. Many expressed that this has been one of the most Spirit-filled conventions we have had. It is encouraging that the membership funded 45 percent of the convention expenses. Based on the attendance we had at this convention, we are forced to start making plans for a new venue for the 2014 national convention. To this end, the Finance and Stewardship Committee have challenged the churches to double their contributions for national convention expense. In addition, through the help of the Africa Finance Committee, we have acquired eight plots of prime property. We are trusting our Lord for the resources to put up a multipurpose building that will host our national convention.
Mission Fields
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is now the rainy season but the team is using this time to pray and strategize so that as soon as the rainy season is over we can implement our plans.
Numerical Growth
We have experienced, no doubt, the largest growth in the history of the church in Sierra Leone over the past twenty months. We have gained 198 members. While this may not sound like many in comparison to some other areas of the world, in Sierra Leone this is quite an improvement.
Christian Schools
The Church of God of Prophecy is one of the oldest movements operating in the country of Sierra Leone and
has 35 primary and nursery schools and two secondary schools. All of these schools are assisted by the government but they should be maintained by the church. However, over the years, the schools were grossly neglected. There are a total of 10,236 students in our schools including 4,788 boys and 5,448 girls. Most of these schools are in ill repair and are overcrowded. Under the new national supervision, attempts are being made to change this because of the great potential for the young harvest. In all of these areas there is an urgent appeal for church plants. In May 2012, a group of leaders from the USA and Jamaica visited some of our school compounds and were deeply moved by the existing conditions as well as the student body and the staff. The Makeni School has over 500 enrolled and is producing some of the brightest students in the entire country. This area is in need of a secondary school
Agricultural projects
Small business ventures
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We have done extensive work on church buildings, one of which is in a predominantly Muslim community. We started this building from scratch and it is now waiting for roofing, floors, windows, and doors. There is a second church building that we raised from foundation which needs roofing, flooring, windows, and doors. Approximately $4,000 could accomplish the unfinished work specified above. There are three other unfinished buildings in need of financial assistance to finish up the work we began. However, the people are worshiping in them.
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to further educate the students that graduate from junior schools to prevent them from entering other ‘religion based’ schools. The teachers are pleading for a church building to house the parents and students of the area. Dr. Gary Riggins, Professor of Graduate Studies in Education at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, visited our schools in an effort to initiate a new era in the history of Sierra Leone. Dr. Riggins was the first principal of the Tomlinson High School in Songo in the 1970’s. He was moved by the Lord to start an internship project in Songo years ago. His visit in May 2012, produced favor with the principals, staff and the Ministry of Education. This indeed will be a milestone and a turning point for the Church of God of Prophecy schools and the Church of God of Prophecy in Sierra Leone. Plans are being put in place to host the first student teachers in late January
A National Development Fund whereby each local church pledges to make annual contributions for the operation and development of the work in the nation
2013. In our visit to the Ministry of Education, the Chief Education Officer suggested that this could be a continuing project that will encompass other school boards in Sierra Leone. Pray that God will continue to bless the efforts of Dr. Riggins and Lee University.
Self-Sufficient Projects
We are indeed very grateful to the International Offices and our donors for their support over the years. We do realize that these efforts could be interrupted due to economic changes. Therefore, we have embarked upon a number of new projects (5) to help us in becoming self-supporting including.
A number of schools are in very poor condition and need immediate attention. It is almost unimaginable to think that children are learning in such poorly maintained facilities. For example, the Portee School in the capital, Freetown, has over five hundred students in only three classrooms. They are presently operating two shifts to try and accommodate the students but the government wants to eliminate the second shift. Our plea is for any one who would like to lend a helping hand to contact our Helping Hand Department at the International Offices of the Church of God of Prophecy. Approximately $2,000 could help in these repairs or add additional classrooms.
We want to express our profound thanks and gratefulness to our donors who have supported us over the years, namely: our mission partners, the Calgary Church for sponsoring the children left behind, the International Offices, the West End Church, those who sent individual offerings, Canada East, and the Africa Finance Committee. May God continue to replenish your store baskets and give you a heart of compassion.
Levi Clarke
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ins ee Rigg enness . L y Gar eland, T Clev
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I have just returned from one of the most powerful trips I’ve taken. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to get back to Sierra Leone and the chance to revisit the places and reconnect with some of the people that were fundamental shaping forces of my career. The lessons I learned there in the middle of the “me” decade of the 1970’s helped me understand more about the crazy economics of the biblical notion of serving, i.e., “If you want stuff, give exactly that away.” I have been to Sunday school (although I’ve never graduated) so I knew the basic concept, at least from the neck up. When I initially arrived in 1973, I thought I was the teacher. But my students there—kids who had never sat in a car or used a washing machine or sat on a flush toilet—taught me. The more I gave away, the more they gave right back, ‘pressed down and shaken together’ as one guy put it. Without lesson plans, these children and their parents taught me about caring for strangers and how important an unexpected gift of ripe bananas is in helping odd looking people adjust in a new setting. They gently corrected some of my misperceptions of our common human family. Somehow I thought these children and their aunts and their crazy uncles would be so different from mine. They were not. After a few weeks in the village of Songo, Sierra Leone, I learned that some of these children and their relatives were funny and some were not. Some I trusted and some I would not let out of my sight. Some were leaders and of course others followed. Some were shy and others way too loud. Slowly I got it. They were children and families and people, “each a part of the main.” In the late 1990’s, the lethal combination of the greed of a few and the grinding poverty of the many exploded into one of the bloodiest and devastating civil wars on that continent. The rebels occupied Songo and in the process killed about 150 men, women, and children and brutally chopped off some of the arms and feet of those who were not shot. During their three months in the village, they lived in the house where Jodi and I had lived and when they left they tried to burn as
much as they could of a basic mud block house. The school where we taught was ransacked and almost destroyed and the meager holdings in the library were all burned. Eventually, they tired of war. The two factions negotiated a peace that has lasted since 2002 and from my talks with several Sierra Leonians, it seems built to last. Now they are desperately trying to recover and piece back together a country that was thoroughly broken. Now, they all—politicians, parents, taxi drivers, farmers, and shop keepers— understand that one of the keys to putting things back in order is education. At one of the hotels where I stayed, the sign out front said it all, “Educate to Liberate.” The problem, of course, is that most of the schools and some of the teachers were victims of the brutal excesses of war. Consequently buildings and facilities where children learn things that set imaginations free are in tatters. The schools I saw were in worse physical shape than when Jodi and I left over three decades ago. They are pleading for help and would welcome it. At least that’s the message I got from the sack of ripe mangos somebody left in my room. The Director of Teachers for Sierra Leone, Mr. Fallah J. Momorie met with me at my hotel. He is in charge of teachers across the country and opened all of the government schools to us for student teaching experience. I also explained that any students we send for the short term would be assigned to either Makeni or Songo, two public government schools operated under the supervision of Dr. Levi Clarke, the presiding Bishop for the Church of God of Prophecy in Sierra Leone (Levi and his wife Flo were my hosts for this visit). Makeni is located in the geographical center of the country and is a big sprawling population center, “Almost a city” to quote one of the Freetown residents. The administration of the Makeni primary school (875 students, see the picture, particularly the principal L.H. Dumbuya (see the picture), has a close relationship with the Eastern Polytechnic University in Makeni (actually adjacent to the campus). The Makeni School is one of the country’s “stars.” Their scores are generally among
the top and this past year the student with the country’s highest score for class 6 (sixth grade) was from that school. Their reputation in the region is stellar. Unfortunately, the conditions don’t match. In the snapshots of the Makeni School, of particular interest is that there are no books. In one mud block room with a short wall between them, the roll is 67 children. Somehow in these conditions, teachers are working their magic and children are learning. About 70 miles to the west of Makeni is Songo, a much smaller village about two miles off the highway down a rather bumpy dirt road. This is where Jodi and I established the first secondary school in the Koya Chiefdom (a rough equivalent of a county). The original school (see the pictures) and the house where we lived have been abandoned (see the discussion above on the rebel occupation of Songo). They have rebuilt a new primary school where one of my original students from the 1970’s, James Cole, is now the principal and interim/ acting Educational Secretary for that
This is my welcoming meal at Songo (casava leaf and rice—yum!).
The produce section of “Haul Mart” in one of the many “strip malls” around Freetown
region. The new secondary school is run by Principal K.M. Bangura. Together these schools accommodate about 400 WWM S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2
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students in grades 1–12. Their original library (modest by our standards but exceptional by theirs) was destroyed by the rebels, but they are slowly building it back. The librarian is another former student from the 1970’s, Michael Sesay. In conclusion, I would like to suggest that at the very least, we help where we can. We once collected discarded books (about 30,000 of them) and sent them to Ghana. We could do the same
here for about seven to eight thousand dollars (the shipping costs). This country, like so many we all know, is struggling. I believe that the events that conspired to get me back to this part of the world were not accidental. I’ve learned that when a light is switched on, even in one of the forgotten dark corners of the globe, how I respond may not matter as much as that I respond. After all, this is not my business as much as it is the Holy
One who flipped the light switch in the first place. If a couple of fish and loaf of bread can feed a hungry mob, then a few old books and perhaps the right student teacher or two could light up a village. Peace and Joy, Gary L. Riggins
Presentation of gifts to Mr. Bangua, the principal of the secondary school at Songo. Me addressing one of the primary classes at Makeni
The Kindergarten class at Makeni (notice in this and all subsequent pictures the lack of books, some have notebooks, but not all)
The original school at Songo where Jodi and I taught. In those days it was in really good shape, but the rebels destroyed it.
Perhaps the biggest threat to this country is disease from these kinds of conditions, typical in the capital city, Freetown.
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These “split” classes are typical. This one room accommodates 67 students (see the roll behind Dr. Clarke’s head). One of the classes at Songo (a girl’s grade 9 class)
The path between where we lived and the school (about 100 yards)
This is the house where Jodi and I lived. Obviously, the rebels were not that good at housekeeping. Incidentally, I have a picture at home with a very pregnant Jodi standing about where the guy in the yellow shirt is.
A meeting with Mr. Momorie (Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union) with Dr. The Library at Songo with James Cole (principal of Clark, Mr. Sesay, Mr. Momorie, and myself. the primary school, Michael Sesay, librarian, Mark Sesay, a host for this trip, and Mr. Bangua, the principal at the secondary school).
Miracles:
How They Impact Our Work in Asia/Oceania
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istorically, miracles have been important tools for advancing the Gospel, and growing the Church. These miracles ranged from physical healings to miracles of provision. What is so exciting is that the Lord still operates through the Holy Spirit to advance the Gospel and the growth of the Church. This can especially be seen throughout Asia/Oceania. Please be blessed as you read some testimonies of how God is using miracles to reach out to people who might not otherwise listen to the Gospel at all.
Pastor Healed
Pastor Rama Rao Israel of Mallampudi village in Andhra Pradesh, India had been suffering from an intestinal disease for three months. He was admitted to an emergency hospital on July 15, 2011. He was treated for 44 days. Then he had to have an operation. He was critical at that time. Doctors told him, “We can give no hope, but we will give normal treatment anyway. So he and his church had special prayer. God healed him, and he is still serving as pastor today reaching out to his community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Kothapeta village congregation has 120 members and a great prayer fellowship. One of the members, Santhosh Kumari, was suffering with headaches. She had visited many hospitals and doctors. Her eyesight was affected by these headaches. Doctors found out that nerves in her brain had been destroyed. She was admitted to a specialty hospital, which is located in Andhra Pradesh. Doctors gave her high doses of medicine, which caused her eyesight to get worse. She could not go outside
Believer Healed
David Browder Overseer of Asia, and Oceania
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without help. The doctors told her she must have an operation to save her life. So our church turned to the Lord by praying and fasting in her house for seven weeks. During these seven weeks, God gave her a vision and told her that there was no need to have the operation. He also let her know that she would suffer this pain for five more years and then she would receive her healing. Standing on this promise of God, she stopped taking the medicine and was waiting for healing in complete faith. True to His promise, after five years, our Lord gave the wonderful miracle. She has no headaches and she has clear sight in both eyes. She went to the hospital for her general checkup. When doctors saw her, they asked, “Is this patient alive still? How is it possible?” She gave witness to the doctors of how the Lord healed her.
Myanmar (Burma)
Below are pictures of a little boy who was blind from birth. His mother brought him to church during a revival meeting being led by Bishop Chin, National Overseer. Within 10 minutes after prayer, he could see. Though half of the people in the village were worshiping traditional gods, after seeing this miracle, the whole village turned to the living God!
Throughout India
As in biblical times, people curiously await miracles to happen on a continual basis for their faith to be strengthened. However, miracles have become a primary source of outreach for non-believers to know and develop a relationship with Christ. The types of miracles that are drawing people to Christ can be summarized in four categories:
Demon Possession
Because they are worshiping millions of false gods, some of the people are deceived into inviting evil spirits into their lives. Later on, they try to get rid of these powers in vain and become victims of torture and abuse. In the end, they must look to the ultimate Redeemer for a miracle.
Sickness
Healing has become one of the primary sources of ‘medical’ attention. Patients who could not afford medical care or who had not been able to get proper help from the doctors anticipate a miracle and start to learn about Christ. Once healed, they begin to follow Christ themselves.
Financial Struggles
Many struggling non-believers have had relief through the prayers of Christians. These financial miracles become a great testimony in their lives, encouraging them to follow Christ.
Alcoholics/Drug Addicts/ Depressed People
Many teenagers and youngsters have fallen into the pit of deception early in their lives, becoming alcoholics or drug addicts and depressed. Redemption for these people has become a wonderful stimulus to lead them to accept Christ. Whatever their situation, once people have experienced a miracle in their life or the life of a friend, they testify to others of their miracles. The Lord’s Kingdom is being built through these people. Testimonies of miracles in outdoor gatherings, through distribution of pamphlets and newsletters, TV presentations, and person to person have become a great way to spread the Gospel and plant new churches. 18
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Testimony by Bishop Dennis Casey, National Overseer, Australia In Australia, Carmen and I once sat across a desk from an oncologist as he read the reports from my tumor and bone marrow biopsies. He told me I had a terminal cancer, spread throughout my organs and bone marrow, for which there was no cure. He also said I only had a short time to live. That was 10 years ago. Today, I am cancer free! In those 10 years that I should have been laying in a cemetery, I was able, through the grace of God, to perform the weddings of all three of my children and see the birth of my three grandchildren (with the fourth on the way). In those same 10 years, God has allowed me to oversee three nations and pastor a church. During this time, we have planted new churches and taken in over 500 members. So, like the healed blind man informed the Pharisees, I cannot explain God’s miraculous works. All I know is, I was once dead; now I’m alive!
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Relationship
Be An Example
I love the show called Myth-Busters. This show is about two really smart (and crazy) men who go about trying to disprove myths. They will set up their shop and plan out the experiment to see if the “myth” is false or if there is some truth to the tale. If I had to think of an episode for the Myth-Busters, I would create the “Myths of a Youth Pastor”. Growing up, when we thought of a “youth pastor,” we had this idea of finding the person in church who would be suckered into volunteering to babysit the young people in the basement while the adults had church upstairs. They were told to play games and do “Bible lessons” with them. So we shut the inexperienced volunteer downstairs, locked doors with bolted locks and ran away for at least one hour, hoping when they opened the door, the volunteer would not be harmed or injured and maybe do it again next week. I may be exaggerating a little, but in essence we didn’t put too much emphasis on our youth ministry.
Passion
Kenny Lee Princeton, North Carolina
Thankfully, our mindset has changed. Today we understand the importance of youth ministry and how vital a healthy youth ministry is to a local church. We see the importance of placing value on a youth minister and helping them become the best they can be. Youth ministry is a tough ministry position, next to being senior pastor. I have served in both roles and, depending on the day, I would say they both are at the top of the list. But when we understand the responsibility of a youth pastor it causes you to really think hard about your calling. I have been blessed to be involved in youth ministry for many years. I have served in several churches as a full time youth pastor; I served in summer camps, youth conferences, and currently as State Youth Council Director. In more than 14 years of youth ministry, I have learned some valuable lessons. One of the questions that pastors ask me is, “What can we do to have a healthy and strong youth ministry?”
Today we are seeing the importance of investing our time, talents, and treasures into our young people. So, as a church looks for a youth leader, what are they looking for?
Here are a few of my thoughts: First and foremost, the youth leader needs to have a passion for young people. If you are in youth ministry and see it as a “stepping stone” to greater things you have missed it. In order to be effective (in any ministry), your heart has to be there for the right reasons. Several years ago I was working in a teenage youth camp and there was this individual who was working with me that year. She was a good woman but
Passion for Young People
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halfway through the week she told me she hated working with young people. My thoughts were “You’re in the wrong place. This is not going to be good.” Those kids she had to be with during the day, sleep in the cabin with at night, and eat with—those poor kids. My heart sank thinking. “Why are you here?” If you do not love young people and you cannot handle their style of music and culture, it might be best to find another position in the church. To be effective in youth ministry you must have a passion for your kids. You must see them through the eyes of Christ and realize they are a different generation but they have great potential for Kingdom of God. When your heart is in the right place it doesn’t matter if you’re the “coolest” youth leader or not, they will see it in your work. One of the greatest joys I have ever felt was when one of my young men in youth group finally got a job as a police officer for the town we were living in. He was so excited and I was the first person he came to see. He drove up in his police car (in my front yard—my neighbors wanted to know what was going on!) and he sat there for the next 30 minutes showing me how he wrote up speeding tickets and all the paper work that was involved. He then showed me his bullet proof jacket and how it made him look good. On and on he talked, sharing with me his new opportunity. Many people would not have thought much about it but here was one of my young people, with whom I had built a relationship, who felt that I was important enough to share one of his greatest achievements in life. I will never forget how I felt and looking back brings about a rush of feelings I truly cherish. Being a youth pastor is more than planning a Bible lesson on Wednesday night or a Sunday school class or correcting them because they’re “too
Building Relations
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loud”, but being a youth pastor is about relationships. It means getting intimately involved in their life. Going to their ball games, taking them lunch at school, going to their plays and dramas, meeting their parents, and taking interest in what they like. At times it means sacrificing a Saturday evening and inviting them over to watch TV or just hang out. At one church I served as youth pastor, the kids knew what cabinet I kept all my snacks in. They seem to know when I went to the grocery store because before the weekend was up, the cabinets were empty. But my wife and I didn’t mind. We had built such a relationship with all our kids that they became our like our children. To be an effective youth pastor, you need to work on building relationships. This will take time, but the payoff is wonderful. When kids would rather hang out with you than some of their friends, you know you’re making a difference. I could sum this up in two words: Be real. One of the greatest gifts young people have is the ability to recognize a “phony”. Many times we as youth leaders want our kids to ‘like us’ so we will try to act like them. We will try to dress a certain way, talk in a certain lingo, walk with a ‘limp’ and imitate their actions. This might be good for a “youth night karaoke” but for real youth ministry you need to be yourself. I have never claimed to be the most popular youth leader. I have never tried to be who I was not. We teach our young people to be who God made you; we as leaders need to take our own advice. Be who God made you and be an example. Paul told young Timothy to “be an example in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV). Be yourself and be a godly example. Let the kids see you in everyday life living out your own personal faith.
Be an Example Not an Imitator
If God has called you, He will equip you. Go and reach this generation for Christ! Don’t be afraid to let them see you fall. This was some of my greatest teaching moments, not that I fell but that I got up and kept moving forward, not giving up. Our young people are bombarded with many things from our society. There are many voices in the wind pulling at them and tempting them. It is our responsibility as a youth pastor to stand in the gap for our kids. So what is a youth pastor? Someone who loves young people beyond saying I love you and being the example your kids want to follow. You may be reading this and think, “ I love young people but I’m not qualified to be a youth leader.” Several years ago I was involved with a community of youth pastors. This group was made up of youth pastors from the COGOP, Church of God, Baptist, non-denominational churches, and others involved. During this time I met a man who was 65 years old and was the youth leader of the local Baptist church. This was my first experience of someone that age still being involved in youth ministry. After getting acquainted with him, he told me that he had no formal education in youth ministry and his church had gone through a transition period and he stepped up to serve. After serving in this position for several months, the young people requested he stay in as their youth minister. The reason is because he loved young people and they knew it. Youth ministry is hard work, but it is also a rewarding ministry to realize that you have opportunity to influence the next generation for God. What a powerful and awesome responsibility! If God has called you, He will equip you. Go and reach this generation for Christ!
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Ben Duncan High Point, North Carolina
Elijah and the Widow
1 Kings 17:8-16 (NKJV): Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup that I may drink.” And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.
The prophet Elijah had pronounced a drought on the land. He was sustained initially with water from the Brook Cherith and by ravens that would come and feed him; however, this sustenance soon was exhausted. But God provided for His faithful servant. For the believer, when one resource dries up, God will make another way. God informed Elijah that He had spoken to a widow in a nearby town and commanded her to sustain him (17:9). You see, God’s Word had spoken to both the prophet and the widow! When God works on one end, He also works on the other end. So, Elijah obeys God’s Word, makes his way to Zarephath and there encounters the widow gathering firewood at the entrance of the city. He asks her for a small amount of water and bread. It is disturbing to hear her response, which reveals her defeated outlook.
A Crushed Perspective Exposed (17:12)
Although the widow also heard God’s Word, she was reluctant to obey it. Why? She saw herself from a human perspective. She saw herself as alone, impoverished, imposed upon, desperate, and dying. Why could she not see herself as God saw her? From God’s perspective, she was not alone; but, in fellowship with Him (He
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Don’t allow the
was speaking to her). Perhaps, the widow thought, “Do God and His prophet not realize that I only have enough for my son and me?” Although she had only a couple of sticks (to make a fire), a handful of flour (to make a hotcake), a little oil (to fry the hotcake), she was not poor! By comparison, the prophet had nothing—so she was actually better off than he. But more importantly we should note that she had these fears because she saw herself as an owner of these possessions who stood to lose them all. In contrast, a more accurate perspective is that she was a steward or manager of these possessions and that the owner, God, wanted her to use them to glorify Himself, to bless His prophet, and to be blessed through obedience! When we see ourselves as stewards, not owners, then we realize that we have nothing to lose! Such a realization transitions us from fear to faith, as we see it did in her! The widow was also not imposed upon by the prophet’s request to be fed or God’s command for her to feed him. She, the prophet, or others may have pondered why God directed her with her meager resources to be committed to a ministry of sustaining “another mouth to feed” when she could not even provide for her own. “Why doesn’t God choose someone with more resources?” she may have imagined as she juxtaposed God’s earlier commandment to her (by His Spirit) with now the Word of God coming from the voice of the prophet. Could she not see that God had chosen her, from among all the people in the land, to have the privilege to be His instrument in His hand? In 1 Corinthians 1:26–31, we are told that God’s choices confound mankind, thereby allowing no one but God to get the glory! How do you see yourself and your circumstances today? Do you fearfully see yourself alone, the owner of limited resources, reluctant to obey God’s Spirit and Word, desperate and dying? Why not see yourself through faith the way God’s see you? In the majority with God—the manager of what He, the owner, has placed in your hand—blessed with more than others possess as God has unlimited resources, grateful to be chosen by God and eager to be used of God to accomplish the task at hand, alive and well in fellowship with God!
at first a burden to her is now a blessing to her! How do you see yourself today in light of what God is asking you to do? Like the widow, may we now have a new confidence and a new priority! No longer would she put herself, her family, and her household first; but she would put God and His prophet first! She would give the “first fruits” of all her possessions to God as His prophet had directed. So she, in great faith, added works (making a living faith, see James 2:20-26) and prepared the first part of her meal for the prophet. The widow weighed the risk against the reward. She was willing to lose it all in order to gain it all and then some! She knew that God’s Word by His prophet could be trusted! Missionary Jim Elliot had this same perspective when he said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” In context, Jim would have been referring to losing his life, his dreams, his plans, his family, his resources, etc., in order to gain the eternal life that God wants for you and blessings in this life, too (Mark 8:34–37; 10:28–30). Yet, that is what God wants for us to do – to put Him first in our lives (Matthew 6:31–34) and then to watch Him take care of us and our needs, which He already knows all about!
economic stresses,
the basic necessities of life, or the
worldly distractions to rob you from a tremendous
blessing that God
is waiting to “pour out” upon you!
A Confidence and Priority Expressed In verses 13 through 18 of 1 Kings 17, we see that the widow now has a renewed perspective. Undoubtedly, she now sees herself as God’s instrument of glory! Of all the people in the land that could have been selected for this task (and ultimate blessing), she sees herself as privileged to have been the chosen one of God for this assignment! What was 22
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A Change in Provisions Experienced
How joyful the widow, her son, and her household must have been when they delightfully discovered that God honored His Word! The bin of flour and the jar of oil never ran out during the remainder of the drought. Yes, the widow had her cake and ate it too! She was able to feed and sustain her family because of the blessing of the LORD that came by her obedience to Him! God wants to bless His people and appeals to them through the prophet Malachi for them to try Him and see if His blessing will not be abundant! “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). How do you see yourself today? As owner or manager of the resources in your possession? As burdened or blessed by the tasking and instructions of the LORD? With little? Or with little plus God, which equals much? Focused only on your needs or generously ready to share what you have by putting God first? Available or unavailable to be used by God in His grand plan? Don’t allow the economic stresses, the basic necessities of life, or the worldly distractions to rob you from a tremendous blessing that God is waiting to “pour out” upon you! When God blesses, “You can have your cake and eat it too!” WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG
It Takes a Man For many years, I volunteered in the camping ministry. One summer, I was the cabin leader for a rambunctious group of 13 yearold boys. One boy was particularly difficult. He seemed to look for ways to cause trouble. His week of misbehavior came to a head one night around the campfire. While a minister tried to talk to the group, that troublesome boy was determined to be disruptive, distracting the speaker by constantly lobbing sticks into the fire from his place on the front row. Some leaders were looking at me, as if to say, “Are you going to do something about him?” Just as I was preparing to speak to him, he jumped up and walked off into the woods toward the cabins. I knew I had to follow him because he wasn’t allowed to leave the group. I pursued, with him always a short distance ahead of me as he walked through the woods and back to our cabin. I watched him go inside. Frustration had really set in at this point and I didn’t want to say or do the wrong thing. He had been a constant source of aggravation all week and I was certain he was trying once again to test the limits. I marched into the cabin determined to straighten him out. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, slumped over. “What’s eating you?” I asked. He obviously was unhappy and I wanted
to get to the bottom of it, for his sake as well as mine. “You people don’t get it. In my school, I’m a tough guy. There is no one I’m afraid of. If I go back with this ‘Jesus thing’ you’re talking about, they’ll give me the hardest time. They’ll think I’m a big sissy.” I told him, “I understand. You’re right; your reputation will make it difficult. But, being a Christian doesn’t make you a sissy. Actually, it takes a man to follow Christ.” Despite our conversation, he did not get saved that week. He did, however, become very subdued and didn’t cause any more trouble. Life went on. I spent time helping in more camps over the years, but that young man never returned. I wondered what became of him. He had seemed so hard-hearted. I grieved for him, concerned that he might be one of those people who would never yield to the Lord. At a state gathering about eight years later, a big, six feet, five inch fellow walked up. Towering over me, he boomed, “D’you know me?” I couldn’t place him. When he told me his name, I realized he was the troublemaker from camp. He said, “I remember what you said back at camp and you were right. It does take a man to follow Christ. I found out I was that man!” I was overjoyed.
Again, years passed without seeing him. I heard that he married a girl whose family I knew. She was the daughter of a pastor and had grown up in church. I was happy to hear that he was living a good life. Some time later, I learned that the girl had gone back on the Lord and divorced him. I was concerned that this might prove to be too much of a disappointment for him to handle and that his dedication to the Lord might be shaken. But the report reached me that in spite of his heartache, his faith was holding strong. Thirthy-eight years after that first youth camp, while attending another state gathering, I was happy to see the young man from so many years ago. This time, even though he was now middle aged, I recognized him immediately. I did not, however, recognize the man who was with him. He introduced him to me and told me that he had brought this newly saved man to the convention to learn more about the Lord. As delighted as I had been years before when I learned of the unruly camper’s salvation, to now see that he was sharing his faith with others and doing Kingdom work was a thrilling moment I will never forget. What a man! —Perry Horner, Cleveland, Tennessee
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MINISTRIES
We have compiled a 14-day 4D Devotional, based on the four laws of EMERGE. EMERGE is the student leadership development and enrichment ministry of Operation Omega, having the four-fold objective: DISCERN the gifts and calling upon the lives of youth; DEVELOP the abilities and gifts that God has entrusted to them as stewards; DEVOTE these gifts to the Lord for His glory alone; DELIVER souls from spiritual and physical darkness using the gifts God has entrusted to their care.
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The devotionals were written by students and leaders to benefit YMIA: Rebuilding Sierra Leone. Cost: $10 each. If you’d like to purchase a set for your entire youth group, please contact the Youth Ministries Office or youthministries@cogop.org. Hurry, supplies are limited! WWM S E P T E M B E R @ 2 0423.559.5303 12 WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG
A Pastor’s Wife Remembers I am a veteran pastor’s wife. I am thankful for college courses that helped both my late husband (Gerald Minter) and me develop good study habits. But some practical areas of knowing God’s best plans were later surprises “in the trenches.” I remember occasions when we and/or the flock became victims of the things we had not yet learned. However our own leadership successes and failures prompt me to share the following experiences and suggestions. An ounce of example is worth a pound of generalities. So, travel with me back in time for some non-fiction samples of our own blessed life in the trenches.
Meandering Memories
Pastors go on a variety of “missions.” There was a disabled mother in our congregation who needed her pastor’s help. The middle school principal had called to inform her that one of her six sons had skipped school that day. She called my husband, her pastor, and described the skipper’s probable hiding place. The pastor kindly offered to get the child back in school. He had no trouble finding the large culvert the mom described. However, when he peered inside, there appeared unto him a culvert full of school skippers! The one he had come after did not introduce his pastor, but let his friends tremble before the assumed “truant officer” in suit and tie! All captured souls respectfully obeyed my husband’s orders to get in the car. He then marched them back to face their astonished but appreciative principal. There were times when my pastor-husband’s missions could be labeled a tad unorthodox. He made regular visits to a convicted murderer in the county jail. The inmate, after visits from several ministers in the area, was truly born again. Pastor decided the label, “jailhouse religion,” did not apply to this convict who desperately wanted to obey Scripture. The inmate shared his beliefs and asked him for water baptism, communion, and feet washing. Even though the jail contained some bath tubs, the jailer explained that the law would not allow a non-inmate minister inside. So, this creative, determined pastor served communion thorough narrow, metal bars. Minister and inmate also washed each other’s feet, one at a time, through those same bars. I do not recall if the inmate ever received baptism, but I do recall a particularly exciting baptismal service we held at a farmer’s outdoor fish pond. The happy, new Christians were lined up along the edge of the pond. Family and friends sang
appropriate songs as a, shall we say, “fluffy” (some would say stout) lady, the first in line, stepped carefully into the water. Surprise! She was a floater. Her feet left the pond’s bottom and my slightly-framed husband could not get her under the water. In fact, she floated out of his hands. His expression was comical, a mix of defeat and embarrassment. I will never forget it. It was difficult for any of us to keep the proper facial expression the occasion deserved. But decorum was restored when a deacon helped put her under. I dared not look around because I knew it was not the best time to laugh.
Worship
Over the years, having been part of many congregations, I have learned some things I would like to share with other leaders. God is the only one capable of evaluating genuine worship and spirituality. He searches the hearts, as taught by Romans 8:27. There is a challenge to choosing the appropriate songs for congregational singing. Whoever leads might be comfortable using music from his own favorites, but if he never learns the favorites of those led, the flock’s unity could be unwittingly tossed out the window. A useful idea might be to pass out voting ballots to each attendee. Ask for titles of three of their own favorites under four different classifications: spiritual, contemporary, classic hymns, and southern gospel. If you tried this already, the enhanced church unity and cooperation needs no explaining. There have been times when it seems that golden nuggets of inspiration showered down from heaven during anointed sermons. Yet, the person sitting nearby, not equipped with God’s “heart x-ray vision,” could not know it. At other times, the inspiration spilled over into observable emotions. Do not be discouraged, dear minister! Remember, God sees the hearts of those you are leading. If the person up front, pastor, or worship leader worships spontaneously without human instructions, it is likely the congregation will follow. God has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). Churches blossom in God’s glory when we have unity of purpose.
Patricia Thomason Minter Cleveland, Tennessee
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MINISTRIES
2012–2013 Retreat Schedule Southeast
October 5–7, 2012 Ridgecrest Conference Center Ridgecrest, North Carolina Total cost per person: 3 or 4 in a room $150.00 2 in a room $ 190.00 Applications must be postmarked before August 24, 2012
Lake Barkley
November 9–11, 2012 Lake Barkley State Park Cadiz, Kentucky Total cost per person: 3 or 4 in a room $160.00 2 in a room $190.00 Applications must be postmarked before September 28, 2012
Niagara (Canada)
March 22–24, 2013 Canadian Niagara Hotels Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada Total cost (Canadian Currency) per person: 3 or 4 in a room $285.00 CAD 2 in a room $310.00 CAD Applications must be postmarked before February 8, 2012
Contact Information: Ladies Retreat, P.O. Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910 Phone: 423.559.5337, Email: ladiesretreat@cogop.org, Website: www.cogop.org
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It is retreat season again, and this brochure serves as your personal invitation to the 2012-2013 Retreat Season. LAST SEASON, retreats ministered to women in nine regional areas and six nations representing five of our seven continental regions through International and Regional Ladies Retreats. We have received many testimonies of the miracles of God during this time. We rejoice in the Lord for His work among us. Thank you for your prayers, efforts, and support that continue to impact this ministry as it continues to be a tool which God can use. REGISTER EARLY . . . Notice the extra fee for late registration and walk-in fees and be sure to explain this to people you invite to the retreat. RETREAT PAYMENT . . . The entire cost of the retreat tuition must accompany your application. PLEASE NOTE . . . No postdated checks will be accepted. Bank processing fees apply to returned (NSF) checks. MONEY . . . Work together in advance as a group to raise funds so that every woman can attend and have her money in on time. As you remember the anointing and freedom of the Holy Spirit during the last retreat you attended, allow the Lord to speak to you concerning whom you might invite to share this ministry experience with you. Please join me in prayer and fasting for this retreat season. And make plans to come and join us at Regional Ladies Retreat as we worship, fellowship, and explore God’s Word together. I am looking forward to seeing you in an upcoming retreat. I will be watching the mail for your applications. —Cathy Payne, Global Missions
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Young Leaders in Children’s Ministry
All around the world young leaders are saying “Yes” to ministry to children. They are using their gifts to develop unique ministries that reach the greatest harvest— the young harvest. Is God calling you to serve children in unique ways that will bring salvation, healing, and provision?
Joseph Pesh Zambia, Africa
Joseph is 17 years old and will soon go to university. When he began ministering to the children of his community, he noticed that they were listless and unable to concentrate on the lessons he presented. He asked the children, “Why?” “We are hungry,” the children responded. So Joseph began providing food for these hungry children. Soon the number of children who attended his Bible classes grew to more than 180. Each week Joseph provides food and tends their wounds with the limited supplies he has gathered from family and friends.
Bella Todadze Georgia, Eastern Europe
Bella is 16 years old. She is gifted in dance and drama. She has served alongside her mother, Rusa Todadze, and her siblings in ministry to refugee children in cities of Georgia since she was a small child. Now she feels a personal call to serve the children of her nation. She develops programs of singing, dancing, and Bible teaching for the children of apartment buildings and refugee villages outside the capital city of Tblisi.
Shelley Zendrata Indonesia, Asia
Shelley left the university to work in the orphanage her family leads in the city of Medan. Her heart is to provide counseling that will bring emotional and spiritual healing to these children.
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WORLDVIEW
Continued from page 6
TESTIMONY
BOLIVIA
God Will Provide Continued from page 6
After some research and hard work, our church started a food pantry operating under the Helping Hands of Hamlet nonprofit organization. Every week, volunteers drive to Southern Pines to buy food from the Sandhills Food Bank for our food pantry. One day while shopping at the food bank, my husband noticed a group of people packing backpacks. When he asked what it was for, they told him of a program called “Back Pack Pals.” This was a program to help feed elementary school students who have little or nothing to eat on the weekends. When my husband came home, he told me all about it and said, “I believe that this program is needed in Richmond County.” Our church was a small congregation and like most pastors’ wives, I asked the question, “How are we going to do that? Food isn’t free.” My husband looked at me and said, “God will provide.” So, that was the beginning of the Richmond County North Carolina Back Pack Pals program. The day we started the program, I cried while we were packing the backpacks, just thinking of those 37 children who were hungry over the weekends. Today the program is feeding over 540 children every weekend during the school year and over 1,000 people a month through the food pantry. In 2009, we started a Summer Camp Feeding Program that provided two meals a day and activities for children during the summer months when school was out. The Back Pack Pals program is funded through the generosity of many churches in the community, civic groups, businesses, individuals, and grants. Sometimes when the food and funds start to get low, everyone starts asking what are we going to do. My husband says, “God will provide.” It is amazing what God has done for us here in Hamlet, North Carolina. During the most difficult time in history, when the economy is bad, God has provided our church with a new larger sanctuary. In December 2010, we began building a new sanctuary and held our first service in the new building in June 2011. On September 25, 2011 we dedicated our new sanctuary with State Overseer Jeffery Davis, Regional Overseer George McLaughlin, former State Overseer Steven Gilmer, and General Overseer Emeritus Fred Fisher as well as many friends of Richmond County, family, and church members. God has truly blessed our church and our efforts. Today we are a thriving church in the state of North Carolina. God has provided. For more information about the Back Pack Pals of Richmond County North Carolina program go to www.backpackpalsrc.com. For services and special events, visit www.cogophamlet.org/streaminglive. —Jackie Crews, Hamlet North Carolina
Thousands Attend National Convention We held our National Celebration in the city of La Paz on April 1–7, 2012. Our theme was “Pursuing His Spirit.” This event was at the coliseum in the area of Munaypata. We thank the national director for their efforts in making this event a success. We were blessed to have Bishop Rafael Alvino, overseer of Peru and representative of our International Offices as a special guest, and Bishop Rufino Merlo, our compatriot living in the United States, director of the ITECA Seminary in Los Angeles, California. It was an amazing event, which allowed us to feel His presence. We saw many men choose to serve the Lord and fulfill the Great Commission. Women’s Ministries shared their desire to focus on fasting, Youth Ministries focused on the great need to turn toward the harvest, Children’s Ministries was not to be undone, and asked for the churches to take them seriously, not just as children, but as the active force that will go out and fulfill this church’s great mission. We didn’t have the attendance we expected, but approximately 2,400 people attended this event. The greatest attendance was on Saturday evening.
—David Villanueva
PARAGUAY Men’s Ministries Camp
Our Men’s Ministries Camp was held in a wonderful campground with a total attendance of 70 men from different churches in the country. The workshops were motivating and we felt the Lord’s presence transforming the lives of these men. Two men gave their lives to the Lord and one was reconciled. Praise God for Brother Ignacio and David Olmedo who organized this event. We enjoyed wonderful time of teaching, sports, videos, swimming, and good food. 28
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BRAZIL Project: Leaders Equipping Leaders In keeping with Vision2020, “Leaders Equipping Leaders,” the National Christian Education Ministry, and the national secretary Pastor Armando Silva began a series of theological seminars administered throughout the entire region through CBL—Center for Biblical Leadership/Brazil. This project’s objective is to train and equip local and regional leaders in the eight regions of the country. On April 6–8, 2012, this series of seminars began in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, with an attendance of 13 local and regional student leaders. One of the subjects taught at this seminar was History, Polity, and Doctrine of the Church of God of Prophecy. This course is required to be approved as a licensed minister. The students of Recife, Pernambuco were actively involved and gave excellent testimony of the great quality of the teaching given. In May and June, Bahia, Espiritu Santo, and Minais Gerais will be equipping leaders in their areas. We ask for your prayers in this and many other projects that will educate and equip new leaders in Brazil.
Crusades and Baptisms in Pampulha The Church of God in Pampulha held a crusade on March 31, 2012, in the local neighborhood’s main plaza, where a soul surrendered his life to Christ and another reconciled himself with the Lord. Pastor Fernando García was the speaker of the night and many people were able to listen to God’s message. There were many songs of praise and evangelistic activities. Four souls were baptized on Sunday morning. They received discipleship and were very excited to take this next step. Each one of these disciples is a witness of the transforming power of God’s Word. That night the local church of Pampulha accepted six new members, making a total membership of approximately 130 members. God has proven His love through the revival experienced in this and other local churches. To God be the glory!
AFRICA Evangelistic Crusade in Congo–Brazzaville From Monday to Sunday, May 14–20, 2012, our evangelism team, coordinated by Brother Emile, conducted a revival crusade at Moungali for the edification and growth of the church. Every afternoon they went through the streets two by two preaching the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ to the people, desiring that people will accept Jesus Christ as Savior and serve Him as Lord in the community of the church. Sunday there was a preaching service during which Pastor Augustin, Pastor Isaac, and Pastor Julienne ministered one after the other. The attendance was very good; approximately 100 people participated in the service. Forty-eight persons accepted the call to give their lives to Jesus. The almighty hand of our Lord was upon the gathering and the Holy Spirit performed miracles and many signs to confirm the Word of God. We praise God our Lord for the great work that He is doing with this evangelism team called, “LES COMMANDOS POUR CHRIST,” which means in English, “Warriors for Christ.” —JeanPierre Mukendi, National Overseer
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In His Presence
WORLDVIEW
Ministers Ival H. Mitchell; Richlands, Virginia; April 23, 2012; Licensed minister for 31 years. Velma I Bradley; Roanoke, Virginia; April 27, 2012; Licensed minister for 65 years. William E. Barnes; W. Helena, Arizona; January 29, 2012; Licensed minister for 43 years. Clarence B. Williford; Orlando, Florida; June 3, 2012; Licensed minister for 61 years. Anthony Wayne Holman; Tullahoma, Tennessee; June 2, 2012; Licensed minister for 7 years. Esmelin (Williams) Haase; Saint Andrew, Jamaica; Licensed minister for 26 years. Everett E. Brooks; Ferguson, Missouri; June 25, 2012; Licensed minister for 7 years. Camilo Lopez; Rio Grande, Puerto Rico; June 17, 2012; Licensed minister for 45 years. Joseph A. Williams; Jamaica; May 1, 2012; Licensed minister for 59 years
Members Inez M. Biggers; Cleveland, Tennessee; May 14, 2012; Widow of Bishop Henry M. Biggers Samuel D. Pharr; Cleveland, Tennessee; June 15, 2012; Licensed deacon for 37 years. Vivian Bunge; Grand Jet, Colorado; March 10, 2012; Devout member for 30 years.
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Members of the Keith Street COGOP are featured in a new musical viral video directed by Mary Dukes called “Lord, Send Me a Text.� The song, written and performed by Barry McDonald, is about cell phone use during church services. Visit www.lyricpress.com or scan the QR code to watch the video or buy the song (not during church, hopefully).
ANNOUNCEMENT Homecoming in Macon, Georgia The Macon-Houston Road Church will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary on October 7, 2012. We would like to invite former pastors, members, and friends to join us for this celebration. We are working on the church history and would like to include pictures of former pastors. We have several for whom we do not have a contact person and would appreciate your help. We need pictures of the following pastors: Clifford Hass, Hubert Smith, Henry Nix, R. W. Davis and Jack Thomas. If you know how we can reach their family or have pictures of them or the Macon, Georgia church on Ash Street or Houston Avenue, please contact us. If you have any information, you can contact Diane Flowers at the Georgia State Office at 478 935-6880, or you could scan the pictures and send them to dianeflowers08@ bellsouth.net. Ellie Charalambou Any assistance in this matter will Athens, Greece; July 8, 2012 certainly be appreciated and we will Ellie was the wife of Tony Charalambou, be glad to pay the shipping for any Overseer of Greece, Romania, pictures sent to us. and Hungary. She was also a beloved If you are a former pastor, member, staff member of Tomlinson College. or friend, we invite you to join us for this special day. WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG
MESSAGES
We journey from security to insecurity and look up to Heaven for a sign, an assurance that He has it all under control.
DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor
Not Forgotten I am a man, so naturally I was born with an innate intolerance for stopping to ask directions. Mind you, I’m not as bad as some people I’ve ridden with. When I begin to fear for my safety in some uncharted territory, I am not against stopping at the local convenience store. But most of the time, I like to find the way myself without any help. Why is that? One day, as I was figuring out in my mind where north and south were, I assumed one particular turn was the right one. If it wasn’t right, surely I would come upon my destination or at least somewhere familiar since this is small town Cleveland, Tennessee. After about thirty minutes of backwoods roads and an area that I had never seen before, I was getting a little frustrated. I had no idea I could get so lost in a place that was so familiar! I thought I knew the way! As I think about my trip to nowhere, I consider how some Christians come to these points of uncertainty through life. We see our lives headed in a particular direction and, with the help (or hindrance) of some misguided advice and doing it on our own, we become anxious and worried. Will I wind up off the map somewhere, all alone? I’ll be honest and admit that, through
the years, I’ve questioned God about whether or not He was aware of particular struggles I was facing. I face a crossroads and I wait. And wait. Some might feel it’s like a game of musical chairs, walking around in circles. When the music stops, will there be a chair left? Will there be somewhere to land? Do you see me? Isn’t that really what we want to ask? We journey from security to insecurity and look up to Heaven for a sign, an assurance that He has it all under control. He does. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). God sees us; He has our directions in His hands and wants to guide us through this journey. He has told us, “Don’t be afraid,” because as aware as God is of the birds of the air, He is that much more aware of us (Matthew 10:31). If He knows, then what is there to worry about? So many times, God has the right plans laid out for us that will lead us into what He wants us to do; what will bring Him the ultimate glory and us the ultimate fulfillment. When we agonize over our future, He wraps us in His love and assures us “He who began a good
work in you will be faithful to complete it” (Philippians 1:6). God speaks to us in worship services and calls us into ministry through various means. After that zeal fades and we arrive at our first challenge, we may begin to experience doubts about His voice and His direction. We wonder if He’s been called away somewhere more important and maybe it’s our turn to take the initiative. “I’m sure that God will lead me but maybe I should take the wheel for a little while.” Wrong answer. We only create a bigger problem. Once in an incredible worship service, the leader spoke from his heart about his own doubts and anxieties. Reflecting on moments he’s been worried that he’s gotten off track or that God has forgotten about him, he said he’d hear God’s voice whisper very powerfully in His ear, “You’re my man!” In some of the toughest moments, if we can quiet the voices of doubt and worry, we might hear the same voice rooting us on. If you think God doesn’t see you, He does. If you think He’s left the building, He hasn’t. And if you think you have stepped in and made a mess He couldn’t clean up, be sure—He can.
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