THE LIFE FALL 2017
a publication of fountain of life church
A LIFE OVERSEAS
THE STORY OF HOBERT AND MARGUERITE HOWARD Pg. 16, Photo By: Linwood Berry
The Life Magazine is published quarterly by Fountain of Life Church in Elizabeth City, NC. Editor in Chief/Hans Hess * Editor, Communications Director/Tiffany Harris * Editor, Layout Designer, Graphic Designer/Kristina Granstaff * Writers/Hans Hess, Tiffany Harris, Steve Cofer, Terry Tramel, Jeff Willhoite, Jewel Nichols, Russell Board and Frank Tunstall. Proofreaders/Brenda Harris, Tina Kirkland, Tiffany Harris, Christy Wells, Kristina Granstaff
Photo Credits: Cover Photo, Art by Linwood Berry. Page 2 &3, lightstock, Jessica Toth. Page 4, lightstock, Marklauman. Page 6-19, shutterstock, Galyna Andrushko. Page 18-19, IPHC, Various Ministry photos of Hobart and Marguerite Howard. Page 21, lightstock, xtian-designs. Back Page 24, Lyree White, Paige Old, and Tiffany Harris.
MIS
CONTENTS 4
short term vs. long term missions BY: PASTOR HANS HESS
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the life of a missionary 4 STAGES OF MISSIONARY LIFE
STAGE ONE: THE MAKING OF A LOCAL MISSIONARY BY: TIFFANY HARRIS
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FAITH COMMITMENT
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STAGE TWO: THE FIRST YEAR
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STAGE THREE: TEN+ YEARS OF SERVICE
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STAGE FOUR: A LIFE OVERSEAS
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GLOBAL OUTREACH OFFERING
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
BY: STEVE COFER
BY: JEWEL NICHOLS
BY:JEFF WILLHOITE
BY: FRANK TUNSTALL AND RUSSELL BOARD
BY: TERRY TRAMEL
A LIST OF MISSIONARY DEFINITIONS FOR THE AVERAGE READER
SSIONS
SHORT TERM VS. LONG TERM MISSIONS BY: HANS HESS
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Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said,“ Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. - Acts 13:1-3
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he church in Antioch was a model sending church. First, it was a multi-ethnic church. Second, it was a praying church. Third, it was a prophetic church. Finally, it was a sending church. If a church is open to hearing the voice of the Spirit, it will be a sending church. Why? The Spirit sends; the Spirit calls people to the mission of God.
Short Term
dirt street to preach. A few Guyanese believers were there and I preached that night on that dirt street with people listening from their homes and porches. Later I found out that the street I was on was one of the most dangerous in the city. It was an experience that definitely took me out of my comfort zone!
Long Term
Sending people to the mission field can take different forms. A church can send people on short-term trips as missionaries. These trips are very effective in exposing the team members to another culture and getting them out of their comfort zones. I have seen people witness on a short-term trip as they never had in America. I remember working with a young minister who was preparing to take his first short-term trip. This young man worked for weeks preparing written sermons to preach when he arrived at the destination country. However, when he arrived, he realized the sermons were not going to be effective. I asked him later, “What did you do?” He said, “I asked the leaders of the church to come forward and I began prophesying over them!” This short-term trip placed this young man in a position he had never been in before. It pulled something out of him that he had never experienced before.
God calls some people to long-term missions. That is, He calls them to go to a certain location in the world and live among the people and minister. This is a greater commitment because it requires permanently leaving jobs, friends and family. Yet, the impact of a long-term missionary can be great. I worked with a missionary couple in Romania years ago on a short-term trip. They told me their incredible story. As a young couple, they first went to Africa and were unsuccessful. They came back to the U.S. on furlough and worked with a consultant on how to reach their target country. On returning, they learned the language of the people and began implementing their plan. After twenty years of diligent work, they had raised up several conferences of churches and turned the work over to national leaders. They were then sent to another region of the world. That kind of success can only happen when people dedicate their lives completely to the mission field.
A short-term trip is an excellent way of discipling new believers. A short-term missions trip gets us out of our comfortable and routine lives and forces us to minister in ways we never thought we could. I remember being on a short-term trip to Guyana, South America. One night the team dropped me off on a lonely
At Fountain of Life church, we desire to be a sending church. We desire to be like the Antioch church. Whether God is calling you on a short-term trip or He is calling you to be a long-term missionary, offer yourself to His service. You will be amazed how God uses you!
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THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY This section chronicles the different stages of a missionary’s life-long ministry in a foreign nation. Read four missionaries’ stories and watch the process of fulfilling the Great Commission unfold.
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stage one: the making of a local missionary By: Tiffany Harris
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hase and Kristina Granstaff never thought it would happen so soon. They both envisioned overseas ministry in their futures but didn’t know the timing or the context of those revelations from God. In September 2012, God told Chase to go to a meeting called America for Jesus in Philedelphia, PA. There, the couple became introduced to the ministry of one of the speakers, Lou Engle. God spoke to them about consecration. He told them to become set apart like the Nazarites in the Bible. This word greatly affected them, and they obeyed.
In May 2013, the Burn 24 ministry held a conference called Awaken the Dawn in Fredricksburg, VA. At this time, Chase and Kristina were considering several local ministry opportunities. Lou Engle, also at this event, spoke about praying for laborers to be sent out into the harvest field especially to the unreached people groups of the world. In Luke 10:2, Jesus tells His disciples about being Ekballo which is the
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Greek verb used in the following passage: “He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Ekballo means to send out or thrust forward. The two felt deeply moved to pray for people to be thrust into the unreached people groups of the world. They did not know that God was calling them to be thrust out to an unreached people group. Soon after that they began to see several shifts in their lives causing them to realize that their local ministry opportunities were not God’s desire for them. “As I watched videos about unreached people groups, it would break my heart to know that people in the world hadn’t heard the gospel,” Kristina says. “I never put much thought into it until then.” Years before, Kristina discovered an IPHC ministry called Coffeehouse Ministries that uses coffee houses all around the world as a way to minister to people in countries who are difficult to access with the gospel using traditional methods. Barbara Carter, Fountain of Life partner and FOL World Missions Director, jokingly said, “You and Chase can go plant a coffeehouse in [Asia].” She gave it no other thought at that time. In 2014, years after that seemingly inconsequential conversation, Chase watched a video about a ministry in the mountain region of Asia and cried over the people there who did not know about Jesus. During prayer, God reminded Kristina about Chase’s reaction to the video and about Barbara Carter’s comment years before. “I instantly knew that was the place,” she says. “I just felt it.” After praying and sensing confirmation, they continued to see more confirmation and open doors. Before making any other steps, they met with Pastor Hans Hess (FOL Senior Pastor) and Bishop Dayton Birt (Conference Bishop overseeing Redemption Ministries’ churches) to share what God placed in their heart concerning World Missions. They wrote recommendations for them to Bishop Talmadge Gardner, Executive Director over World Missions. In June 2015, a short-term missions trip opened up for Septem-
ber 2015. They raised the funds in “record time” and Chase departed on the trip with a friend. “I was like Joshua who went with Caleb to spy out the land,” Chase says. When he went to that region in Asia, he fell in love with the pastors, the local leadership, and everything else. He knew in his heart it was the right place to start their ministry adventure. When he returned and talked to Kristina, they began taking the official steps to becoming missionaries through the IPHC. In January 2016, they attended an IPHC educational program called Passport to Missions, provided for those interested in becoming missionaries. In November 2016, Chase and Kristina went together to that same Asian region for over two weeks. That trip solidified their decision. “When we arrived in the airport there was so much peace about us being there,” Chase says. “During our whole trip we experienced so much happiness and joy ministering and traveling. There was this sense that we were in the perfect will of God for our lives.” Chase felt as if their whole lives prepared them for this ministry. He saw how their strengths and experience fit the needs in that country. “We felt unusual comfort and confidence about world missions and cross-cultural ministry,” he says. When they returned, they began getting rid of their excess belongings, researching the culture, and taking greater strides toward becoming full-time missionaries. In January 2017, they completed an extensive IPHC missionary application complete with background checks, psychological exams, compatibility assessments, and personal referrals. In April 2017, they appeared before the World Missions Board in Oklahoma City. They gave a presentation about their desire to become missionaries, and they were interviewed by the board. After that meeting, they were officially approved to itinerate (process of travelling and raising funds). Since 2013 to 2017, the seed of consecration and ekballo (being sent) in the harvest field has grown into a specific mission and calling for their ministry. Their vision is to do the following:
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1. Empower local believers to reach their family, friends, and neighbors. 2. Evangelize and grow churches in close proximity. 3. Equip leaders to have the tools needed to disciple other leaders. 4. Ekballo - to send local evangelists, pastors, teachers, and church planters to the unreached people groups of Asia. They believe that small groups, discipleship classes, Saturday morning church services, outreach driven church events, Coffee House Ministries, encouraging a “helping community” like in the book of Acts, developing a School of Ministries, creating leadership courses/ training for lay-workers, providing leadership accountability and encouragement among Christian leaders, and providing church planting training are specific ways to accomplish that vision. Ultimately, they want to become a resource to the national missionary leaders there who are native to that country, thus empowering the native people to rise up and fulfill the Great Commission to their people. Chase and Kristina are currently raising their monthly support to go on the mission field. If you’d like to become a monthly supporter of them for any amount, go to give.iphc.org/Granstaff-chase.
Chase and Kristina Granstaff have served at Fountain of Life Church under Redemption Ministries Conference, overseeing various ministries, since 2008. The Granstaff family is passionate about reaching the unreached people groups of the world for Christ. They desire to empower the people, evangelize the lost, equip leaders, and send out evangelists, pastors, teachers, and church planters to the unreached people groups of Asia. Thank you for supporting Chase and Kristina to help fulfill the Great Commission .
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FAITH COMMITMENT
Does Missions Matter to Me? As Christians, how do we address today’s global missions challenges, or maybe a more optimistic perspective- opportunities? From personal observation, it seems these pressing opportunities require significant attention demanding a renewed emphasis TO GO OUT! The Church’s [believers’] responsibilities reach far beyond man’s natural ability. The birth of the New Testament Church was not confined inside the walls of the building where the disciples waited for the promise from the Father. Rather, God immediately sent the assembly of people in the upper room to the public arena. We must remember, they were empowered, “fire baptized,” for what awaited them outside the walls of the meeting room. Some questions concerning missions today are troubling. For instance: Why go outside the local church, especially globally? More bluntly, do we need missionaries today? If so, what does that have to do with me? I can only trust that someone’s burning response would be, why would we not go? If someone had not gone beyond Jerusalem and later to the known world at that time, would Christianity be where it is today? More specifically, would you and I have had the opportunity to receive Christ into our hearts? For centuries, multitudes of peoples have experienced salvation by someone going while others were part of their sending. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” -Romans 10:14-15 Paul provides practical, thought-provoking questions while identifying three key groups of people: the hearers, the senders, and the goers! So, how do we, today’s Church, make application of and fulfill Paul’s explicit message? 1) Send the good news. 2) Understand the process of going and sending.
For centuries, multitudes of peoples have experienced salvation by someone going while others were part of their sending.
By: Steve Cofer Director of Missionary Care
There are numerous methods to accomplish this task. One of the most inclusive means for everyone is through faith commitment (monthly financial support to a missionary). This structure has proved effective and efficient in sending the message to the hearers! From day one of IPHC’s World Missions Ministries, faith commitment has served as the basic structure to provide missionaries with financial partners and prayer support groups. The Apostle Paul shares in verse 15 that for the messenger to go, they must be sent. The Lord of the harvest has chosen individuals to “GO” and others to “SEND,” enlisting all as a vital part of thrusting workers into His global fields. In this partnership, both parties are contributors to the work and recipients of God’s blessings through submitting their combined efforts in faith to God. Our blessing grows through our combined faithfulness to go. In our unified obedience to share the Good News, hearers hear and faith develops, thus providing an opportunity for salvation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us… -2 Cor. 5:17-20 Does this really work? Think about it. You are part of a worldwide ministry known as the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC). This movement emerged out of Pentecostal fire in the early days of the last century. Currently, our churches in America are organized into 29 conferences of local churches. Like the early church in the book of Acts, this new movement immediately began sending missionaries to the distance parts of the earth. A century later, IPHC World Missions Ministries ministers in 100 countries through a global network of 10,000 churches with 1.5 million membership. If we add affiliates, this number increases. Finally, millions upon millions in our world lie in wait for someone to take God’s message to their hearing. A large percentage are waiting for the first time. These are the “unreached peoples” of our world trapped in the bondage of false religions and darkness. Again, why does the church go beyond its four walls? Why do we go beyond our Jerusalem (home church) to the distance parts of the earth? Surely, we get it! Acts 1:8 applies to all generations until the end comes. My daily question in all of this is what will I do about it? What will all of us do together? To see how your prayers and partnership are impacting the world and to link arms with IPHC missionaries across the globe, visit iphc.org/ missions.
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stage two: the first year By: Jewel Nichols
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n June 30, 2016, after nearly 25 years as pastors, our family packed and moved to San Jose, Costa Rica. It’s amazing what you learn about yourself in 14 months- the strengths you didn’t know you had and more weakness to add to your list. But, the most amazing lesson, is the refreshing love and grace of God that we continue to experience new each day. We learned we can live without a car, without Chick-fil-a, without friends and family next door, but one thing we cannot live without is the power of God. Although Costa Rica was not our mission field, we learned quickly it was our training field.
After pastoring for almost 25 years, it felt like our ministry was purposeless while in language school. Not preaching, not teaching, not ministering to people in the capacity we were used to was the biggest adjustment. Some people commented on this season saying, “Oh, so, you’re really not on the field, yet.” Sometimes, we wanted to answer, “Nope, I guess I’m not.” But, when we spoke to the man across the street, shared with him we were missionaries and told him Jesus loved him, we realized we never left the ministry. We realized God gave [and gives] us the opportunity to share His love to people every day. We also learned that situations arise when we must become the student. Learning a new language was not easy, and it did not come natural to us. It humbled us to know we graduated college, pastored for 25 years, yet still could not pronounce “a, e, i, o , u” (in Spanish, of course). Yes, grown men and women cry in language school and want to go home. However, God taught us during this time that He called our teachers to this mission field, and they made and trained disciples through their ministries. They may never leave Costa Rica, but they taught and trained us to go and preach the Gospel in Spanish. The first time we shared our heart for Ecuador in Spanish, in their language, was indescribable. It was not perfect, but it was from a heart of love. That is what people everywhere seek – the perfect love of our Father.
to be against us.” We went to Ecuador this past April, preparing for our upcoming move. Mitch preached that Sunday morning, and on our ride back to the motel, Addison said, “There’s just peace in being here.” As we looked over the city of Quito, I remember thinking what we missed back in the U.S. this past year: not being present for unexpected deaths of loved ones, not being able to visit loved ones in the hospital, birthdays of nieces and nephews, etc. Then I thought the beautiful country of Ecuador with its 16 million people only has about 8% of evangelical Christians in their population. I thought, “Wow, they are missing Jesus.” Then I wondered, “Have we really missed anything?” Of course, the answer was no, because we did not miss the opportunity to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Now, we are planning to share that opportunity with as many people as possible in Ecuador and anywhere else His path may take us.
Throughout this first year, our daughter Addison was truly amazing. She left family, friends, her dog, and much more to follow this vision that, at times, I wondered if she was too young to understand. Sometimes she cried without us knowing and other times she said, “Just let me cry.” She learned no matter where you go in the world kids are kids. Some will accept the new kid, and some will not. But, she stood strong in her faith and did not let the enemy keep her down long. She suffered a back injury, and at first, doctors told us she might need surgery. As parents, we did not know what to do. Going to doctors and a hospital where everyone spoke Spanish was a little intimating. We started thinking about going home to the U.S. to see our doctors and get a second opinion. That night, I was praying in my room and heard a knock on my door. My daughter walked in and said, “You know, I’ve been praying. God did not bring us here just to send us back home. My back is going to be just fine.” She was right. When we went to the surgeon, his words were “her back is just fine.” She looked at me and said, “See, He didn’t bring us here just to send us back home.” I felt that situation was a physical attack, but she was the one who looked the enemy in the eye and said, “Not today, Satan. If God is for us, don’t even try
The Nichols serve in Quito, Ecuador, with a focus on the tribal ministry in the Amazon. It’s their desire to share the love of Christ with the people - that every tribe in the Amazon will hear the name of Jesus! Mitch teaches and trains pastors throughout the region, while Jewel continues to introduce Women’s Ministries and Girls’ Ministries to South America. They are also working with People to People Ministries, hosting various teams from local churches in the US.
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STAGE THREE: stage three: TEN YEARS OF service SERVICE ten+ years of Willhoite By:By:JeffJeff Willhoite
ecominga missionary a missionary is like experiencing childhood ecoming is like experiencing childhood again. again. A missionary must learn a new language, A missionary must learn a new language, understand unand derstand and operate in childhood a different culecoming a missionary is like experiencing again. operate appropriately inappropriately a different culture, and adapt to ture, and adapt to learn manya other nuances understand on the field— A missionary must language, and many other nuances on the new field—only everything is haponly everything is happening much quicker. You operate appropriately a different culture, and language adapt to pening much quicker. inYou learned your native learned your native language from years zero-18+ many other nuances on the field—only everything is hapfrom zero-18+ years old, and developed of an Amerunderyearsyears old, and developed an understanding pening much quicker. You learned your native language standing of American for overYou twogradually decades. You ican culture for overculture two decades. unfrom yearsunderstood zero-18+cues years old, andand developed an conseundergradually societal cues norms and derstood societal and norms and consequently ofmissions, American cultureoffor over two decades. You quently adapted your behavior. In world missions, most of adapted your behavior.standing In world most this happens within the gradually understood societal cues and norms and consethis happens within the first five years or earlier. first five years or earlier. quently adapted your behavior. In world missions, most of this happens within five earlier. Statistics show that most new missionaries do notityears make it past this first Statistics show that most new missionaries dothe notfirst make past or this first term. The term. The stresses, challenges, culture shock etc. of the host country stresses, challenges, culture shock etc. of the host country along with duties andalong burwith duties and from home rise this to become seemStatistics show that burdens most new missionaries do country not makecan itinsurmountable past first term. The dens from the home country can risethe to become seemingly obstacles. ingly insurmountable obstacles. However, if overcome, a miraculous stresses, challenges, culture shock etc. of the host country along with duties and burHowever, if overcome, a miraculous yet progressive transformation takes place and yet the progressive transformation and thetohost country and its people dens from theand home countrybecome can takes riseyours. toplace become seemingly insurmountable obstacles. host country its people You begin dream in a foreign language. become Youbefore, to dream inpractice a foreign language. in. Things that and grated However, overcome, abegin miraculous yet progressive transformation takes place the Things thatifyours. grated you you joyfully or participate Returning to your you before, you joyfully practice or participate in. Returning to your home host country and its people become yours. You begin to dream in a foreign language. home country for furlough, may bring an onset of what is referred to as “reverse culture country for furlough, may bring an onset of what is referred to as “reverse Things grated before,asyou joyfully practice or country. participate in. Returning to your shock” that where you you see things foreign in your home culture shock” where you see things as foreign in your home country. home country for furlough, may bring an onset of what is referred to as “reverse culture shock” where you see things foreign in your home country. If If wewe were to to look at this as as aasratio, then the the year five markmark mightmight correspond to the were look at this a ratio, then year five correspond beginning of adulthood 18 to 20 years old. otherold. phases of missionary service to the beginning oforadulthood or 18 toThen, 20 years Then, other phases of If weoften were (but to look thismay as aoften ratio, then year five mark might the bemay not at exclusively) follow similar pattern. missionary service (butathe not exclusively) followcorrespond a similar to pattern.
bbB
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Time on the field
Corresponding Season of Life
Vision/Purpose
Mission/Action
Years 0-5
Childhood
Learning and growing
Language acquisition, cultural acuity, the Great Commission
Years 5-10
Young Adulthood
Occupation, family, success
Consolidation and expansion
Years 10+
Middle Age
Reproduction, instilling a legacy
Mentoring, exponential growth, Bible School
Years 20+
Elderhood
Impartation, wisdom
Legacy
When we left the US in 1990, we had three small children- all daughters ages eight, five, and two. We were a family unit and knew little about how much that would mean to us and how much it would shape our future. We entered a restrictive access country in Asia as English teachers. From the moment we stepped off the plane, it seemed we were in survival mode. For the next nine years, we learned and adjusted while transitioning through four different locations. It was toward the end of the eighth year that we had to leave that country and relocate to northern Thailand. We then encountered a new set of challenges, but we also had the experience of the past eight years that proved invaluable to us. Like many missionaries, the 10+ years have produced the greatest growth, but it has also required the greatest faith. The Great Commission of Matthew 28 compels and challenges us to make disciples. Reaching the lost and making disciples is inherent to spreading the Gospel, but this can be an arduous process. Following the leading of Jesus, missionaries should seek God and receive direction from Him on discipleship multiplication. We found Bible Schools and training centers were invaluable tools for the education and empowerment of national believers and leaders.
sion Training Center. A beautiful campus sprung forth, built with an excellence that continues bringing glory to God. The co-leader, Chi Chang, is a wonderful and faithful young man of God who, along with his wife Mimi and four children, live, direct, and lead ministry at the Bible Training Center. One of the greatest challenges of starting a ministry such as the IMTC, is the need for financial partnership. Our efforts included numerous speaking engagements, hundreds of project profiles distributions, and of course much prayer. Looking back from the many connections and the many seeds sown, two pastors felt a kinship and they [and their congregations] partnered with our efforts and contributed substantially to the work. If not for these two churches, along with some more recent support from the Global Outreach Offering (Project Antioch Grant), this vision would not have become a reality. Other churches have also partnered and contributed in various ways and for that we are thankful, but every large project such as the IMTC, must have at least a few legacy partners that see the bigger picture of what God is doing and puts that understanding and desire into action and partnership.
The Lord first gave us a vision for the Indochina Mission Training Center in 2003. This vision planted a desire in us and gave direction to us for the establishment of a Bible Training Center in the Golden Triangle Region of Thailand, Burma, and Laos. At the time, we were living about five hours south of the area in Chiangmai, Thailand. Some co-laborers jointly agreed with us that this was a God-given vision and united together in intercession for the center and for those who would become a part of it. This required us to walk in a greater level of faith as we served as visionaries and facilitators. It challenged and stretched us as we became fundraisers, advocates, mediators, construction workers, and more. In 2004, we bought a parcel of land and thought we were moving forward. A situation arose with the land and for the next three years, we struggled against the enemy’s opposition. In 2008, we experienced a miraculous breakthrough, sold the old land, and purchased a new, larger parcel for much less than the original one. In 2010, we laid the foundation of the first building and have been in construction and development mode since. Today, one church has been planted, another is planned, and 15 students are enrolled in the Indochina Mis-
Jeff and Verna served over 25 years in Asia. As Regional Director for the five countries of Indochina, and with a strong connection to two other Asian countries, Jeff’s vision on the mission field was to see a church network which synergizes intra-regional works. One of the cornerstones of this vision was the Indochina Mission Training Center located in the Golden Triangle region of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma). The IMTC is a refuge for study, prayer, fellowship, and worship, with focus on discipleship to reach the lost to Christ.
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stage four: a life overseas By: Frank G. Tunstall and Russell A. Board
hobert and marguerite howard give it all to india.
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Marguerite (Parrish) Howard, daughter of missionaries Marvin and Alma Parrish, was 14 years old when the order came from the U.S. State Department for all Americans to leave India, as the threat of invasion by the Japanese army seemed imminent. Marguerite and her sister were in a boarding school in Woodstock, nestled in the scenic Himalayan Mountains of North India at 7,000 feet of elevation. The school provided an American style education, and served as the home away from home for some 500 missionary children. As Marguerite tells the story:
“I felt a tremendous responsibility to care for my little sister because we were 900 miles from our parents. Many nights we cried ourselves to sleep because we were so lonesome for dad and mom. “When World War II broke out we pasted black paper to all the windows so light wouldn’t shine out in the night. Each child had his own survival kit. Contingency plans were made to evacuate all of the students and get us to safety down the treacherous 25-mile mountain road to the city of Dehra Dun. “From there the students were sent to different parts of India to be reunited with our parents. We met dad and mom in Bombay, where about 100 missionaries and 150 missionary children from various groups boarded the ship. We were not told anything about the route of our voyage. “The S.S. Brazil had been stripped of all its luxury liner comforts and was being used as a troop transport ship. The canvas bunks were far from comfortable, but no one complained. We were all very grateful for the concern of our American government to get us to safety. “We gathered each evening on the deck of the ship for prayer. Hymns of praise to God rang out across the ocean waves as missionaries and their children joined together for these special times of worship. Denominational ties held little meaning on our ship. “On the long voyage home, German submarines sank ships all around us, and our captain received several SOS messages to pick up survivors. While passing through the Straits of Madagascar, a ship was sunk fifteen minutes in front of us, and another twenty minutes behind us. Danger lurked everywhere, but the grace of God kept us safe on the high seas.
“After six weeks of such harrowing experiences on the ocean, the S.S. Brazil with its precious cargo pulled into the Hudson River, and the Statue of Liberty appeared on the horizon!” The providential protection of the Lord was evident for everyone aboard that fleeing ship. The decades to come would show what the Lord had in mind in preserving the life of young Marguerite. After the war was over, she enrolled at Holmes Bible College in Greenville, SC. At that time, she had no intention of returning to the harsh conditions of life in India. But the Lord brought to mind a scene in her memory of a desperate man prostrating himself in anguish on a long pilgrimage to a Hindu temple in hopes of finding mercy and help. She knew the Hindu gods could do nothing for him, and that Jesus was his only hope. She felt a burden and a calling to bring the light of the gospel of Christ to the hundreds of millions of Indians lost in darkness. At Holmes Marguerite met a handsome young man named Hobert Howard. He, too, felt the call of God to become a missionary. In addition to their love for each other, they shared a passion to reach India for Christ. After they were married, Hobert and Marguerite boarded a steamer for India. They refer to this journey as their “Pentecostal” voyage, for they spent fifty long days on the high seas, arriving on June 13, 1951. After 9 years of absence, Marguerite was back in India where she had grown up. Upon their arrival, both enrolled in language school to study the national language of Hindi. Marguerite had learned to speak Hindi as a child, but she needed to study the more formal and proper grammar and vocabulary suitable for adult life and
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ministry. Hobert had to start from scratch, and found it a difficult challenge to get his tongue in the right place to make the sounds that were so strange to his ears. With practice and perseverance he eventually achieved a proficiency that impressed native speakers, and enabled him to converse on a level of parity with highly educated Indians. Of course, like all missionaries, Hobert made his share of mistakes in the process of language acquisition. Some months after arrival, Hobert was coming out of a bout with illness, but was eager to test his language skills and insisted on delivering a sermon in Hindi. Marguerite felt that he was still too weak, both physically and linguistically, but he forged ahead. After 10 minutes he reached the end of his message, and closed by saying, “With this, I am finished.” At least, that is what he meant to say. Actually, he said, “With this, I am done for” – throwing a brief scare into all who were present! The leadership giftings of Hobert and Marguerite proved to be a great blessing not only to the churches, but to the wider community as well. During the famine of 1967-68, Hobert was given responsibility to administer the district relief program, which fed 22,000 people daily for many months. Their leadership and dedications helped everyone in the district to survive the crisis. Stationed in Giridih in North India, the Howards were responsible for raising a number of orphaned or abandoned children, many of whom grew to become pastors and even conference leaders. They established a Bible School to train pastors, and expanded the work in the north beyond the villages into large industrial cities. Yet they were also instrumental in initiating the work in South India, and made significant contributions there as well.
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Indeed, when the South India work was nearly lost due to an attempted takeover through court cases filed by a former national leader, Hobert Howard was appointed Superintendent of South India to deal with the crisis. Thanks to his tireless efforts and strong leadership, the court cases were resolved in favor of the PHC. In the process, Hobert became loved and admired by the South India pastors, and ended up serving as Field Superintended for all of India. Through their 61+ years of ministry in India, the Howards faced and overcame challenges of every sort: barriers of language and culture; bouts with severe sickness; harsh and primitive conditions in travel and daily life; lack of modern conveniences; severe weather in the form of extreme heat, drought, and flooding; hostility and opposition from Hindu extremists and government officials; loneliness and separation from family; burdens of caring for orphans and abandoned children; disloyalty and betrayal from trusted leaders. Yet they remained faithful through all, and their years of labor have yielded an abundant harvest for the Kingdom of God. Scattered throughout the towns and villages of India are dozens of church buildings constructed with funds raised by the Howards in their itineration across the US. Yet their greatest legacy is not to be found in church buildings or Bible Schools, but in generations of men and women now serving the Lord and His church. The Howards officially retired from World Missions in February 2013. Yet even now their love and support for India has continued unabated, as they remain busy traveling from church to church to promote the work and raise prayer support and funding for the IPHC in India. Presiding Bishop Michael John, General Superintendent of North India, has this to say about Hobert and Marguerite Howard:
“Some people are born in history and some are born to create history. The Howards belong to the history makers group. It is almost impossible to describe in words their 61 years of sacrificial and selfless service in India. Their ministry especially among the orphan children is unparalleled. It truly manifested their Christlike, compassionate and loving heart. They were loved by each and all because they loved everyone. “Their life and ministry leaves a legacy of love, sacrifice and commitment. Their great faith and hard work took the ministry to exponential growth. Because of their courageous and compassionate ministry, the Howards left footprints in the lives of hundreds and thousands of people in India which will last forever. “They gave their whole life to build the ministry. We are grateful to them that they chose to live for Him among us, and we are grateful to God for their exemplary life and ministry.” When asked about the sacrifices made during their years of missionary service, Hobert replied: “It was not an easy 61 years nor was it comfortable... Temperatures reached as high as 117F in our dining room. We did not have air conditioning, but did have fans that worked when we had electricity. The power was off quite often. We finally were able to buy a small generator that helped a lot, but we could seldom even keep ice in the fridge. “Yet no doubt the greatest sacrifice for both of us was having to send each of our daughters almost 900 miles away at six years of age to a boarding school in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains to get an American education. This kind of sacrifice was beyond our ability. It was only when the Lord reminded us of Abraham’s offering of his son Isaac as an act of worship, and His own offering of His only begotten son as an act of love
toward us, that we were able to make this sacrifice out of love and worship to Him.” When the Howards arrived in India in 1951, there were but three Indian pastors and about 200 believers, with the ministry confined to three contiguous districts in the backward, violent and restive state of Bihar, known as “the graveyard of missions.” Today the India Pentecostal Holiness Church encompasses eleven states, and includes more than 1,200 churches with over 52,000 members! The Howards can be justly proud of their contribution to this amazing growth, and the lasting legacy they have left in India.
Dr. Tunstall has served as president of Southwestern College in Oklahoma City; as the editor in chief of publications at The Advocate (IPHC official journal); and as Bishop and superintendent of the Heartland Conference, IPHC. He has also written several books including Jesus Son of God (Book One and Two), Jesus, the One and Only, and The Simultaneous Principle (a History of World Missions Ministries).
Russell & Sandra Board moved to Japan in 1989 to pioneer the IPHC in that country. Since 2002, Russell has served as Continental Director for the Asia/Pacific region, overseeing IPHC missions in 19 countries. This involves traveling extensively to supervise and pastor missionaries, as well as to train and mentor national leaders.
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GLOBAL OUTREACH OFFERING
An Offering That Multiplies The Global Outreach Offering is an annual offering collected from local congregations within the IPHC. This offering goes to special missions projects and helps rally local churches to world missions causes. The Global Outreach Offering has flowed from the hearts of IPHC members and churches since 1965. It is like a river that branches out into multiple streams that flow throughout the world. It is the life-source for the World Missions Ministries of the IPHC. Consider some of these streams that are producing transformed lives around the globe: • 25 % of the offering goes to Evangelism USA for church planting in the USA • $ 200,000 dollars given to Antioch Projects throughout the world including major works in Budapest, Hungary; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Mexicali, Mexico. • Ministry and Travel funds for our Continental and Regional Directors in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America as they provide leadership to over 185 IPHC missionaries in 100 countries • $ 25,000 dollars to our international college age ministry team, “The Awakening.” • The bi-annual Global Leadership Summit for IPHC national leaders around the world. (This was held in Turkey in 2016.)
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By: Terry Tramel Director of Global Outreach and Leadership Development
• The Missions Fest event (held in Burlington, North Carolina last year) • The School of Missions for prospective missionaries. • The publication and distribution of “The Link” Prayer Guide, used by IPHC members worldwide. No other single offering from the IPHC reaches so many different people and projects on this planet. There is no substitute for the regular, consistent, monthly support of faithful missionaries on the field. However, what the GO Offering does is place tools in missionaries’ hands to better accomplish the tasks for which they have been sent. The Global Outreach Offering allows believers to do something together that they could never do alone. It is also noteworthy that IPHC congregations in other nations are giving in this offering, including some Christians who make as little as two dollars per day. Only eternity will reveal all that has been done because of the faithfulness of global givers. After half a century, the river of the Global Outreach Offering is still flowing and branching out in many streams to introduce lost humanity to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for prayerfully considering what your part will be in this great effort.
IPHC congregations in other nations are giving in this offering, including some Christians who make as little as two dollars per day.
OCTOBER 15TH 2017 AT FO U N TA IN O F LIF E
GLOBAL OUTREACH OFFERING
75% of the Global Outreach offering is given to World Missions Ministries for ministry projects led by missionaries and national workers, churches, outreaches, developing new works, and promotion. The remaining 25% of the Global Outreach offering is used by Evangelism USA to plant and develop churches in America. 100% of your donation is used to make a difference! Please pray about giving a day’s wage or more to our Fountain of Life GO Offering.
glossary of missio PEOPLE GROUP
“For evangelization purposes, a people group is the largest group within which the Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance” (Jason Mandryk, Operation World, 7th ed., 2010).
UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP
A people group with no indigenous community of believing Christians who have extremely limited or no access to resources for evangelization (source: joshuaproject. net).
ITINERATION
A missionary’s itinerary of visiting and building relationships with the local church and individuals, establishing prayer partners/covering, and raising support for the missionary’s upcoming term of service on the field.
CAREER MISSIONARY [STATUS]
One who is approved and assigned to a term of service on a foreign mission field by the WMM Council. Each term of service is for a minimum of three years. A Career Missionary’s compensation package is guaranteed. They are the backbone of IPHC’s missionary force.
MISSIONARY [STATUS]
One who is approved and assigned to a term of service on a foreign mission field by the WMM Council. The term of service may be for a period of one to 3+ years. The compensation package is not guaranteed.
SHORT-TERM MISSIONARY [STATUS] One who is approved by the WMM Leadership Team and commits to serve on a foreign mission field for a minimum of four weeks a year. Support is used to fund ministry expenses only.
CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY “Full-time Christian workers sent by their churches to work among peoples of a different culture, either cross-culturally within their own nations or abroad” (Jason Mandryk, Operation World, 7th ed., 2010).
RESTRICTED ACCESS GREAT COMMISSION
The mandate of any missions ministry. “Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: ‘God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, MSG).
GLOBAL OUTREACH OFFERING IPHC’s annual offering purposed to provide
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funding to help fulfill the Great Commission globally. This offering is used to plant churches, develop Bible schools and training centers, and support new laborers and National Missionaries. This offering is a major resource for World Missions Ministries’ initiative to the nations and Evangelism USA’s ministry in America.
“States that limit or prevent Christian ministry by expatriates [a foreigner in another country] as missionaries. Alternatively they are called creative-access nations, where expatriates must seek secular avenues of entry – business, medical work, teaching, etc. Most countries in this category have been Communist or Muslim, but today are predominately Muslim” (Jason Mandryk, Operation World, 7th ed., 2010).
CREATIVE ACCESS
“A country that limits or forbids the entry of Christian missionaries and for which alternative legal means of entry are required to enable Christians to witness for Christ”
ons terms BY: BISHOP TALMADGE GARDNER & KATHERYN SHEPHERD
(Jason Mandryk, Operation World, 7th ed., 2010). Coffeehouse Ministry and medical clinics are examples of a creative means to enter the country.
CULTURE SHOCK
What a missionary experiences once one has crossed the barriers of geographical location, politics, language, cultural practices, and religion that differ from one’s known culture.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
A well-established, multi-generational community within a country (source: joshuaproject.org), capable of being self-supporting, self-governing, and are not dependent upon outside resources.
INDIGENIZATION
In missions, this is the process of developing ministries (communicating the gospel and discipleship) that fit naturally into the indigenous environment. “The term indigenization is one of those buzzwords in missions that people like to talk about. But what exactly do we mean when we say that our goal is the indigenization of our missionary work on the field? The word indigenous is a botanical term which signifies “native to the soil.” (Bob Jones University, Aug 22, 2014).
PASSPORT
Entry level missions training provided by the WMM team and skilled professionals.
SCHOOL OF MISSIONS
A gathering of missionaries for fellowship, spiritual enrichment/impartation, training, and resourcing.
WORLD MISSIONS MINISTRIES COUNCIL
A governing council of 10 members who give oversight to IPHC’s expansive missions ministry.
FURLOUGH
When a missionary returns to their home country to itinerate (raise funds) for a pre-determined length of time after a term of service on the field. This is also a time for missionaries to visit with friends and family.
10-40 WINDOW
This refers to the Middle East, Asia, and portions of North Africa between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude with just under 5 billion individuals and is home to some of the largest unreached people groups. (source: joshuaproject.net)
CLOSED COUNTRY PEOPLE TO PEOPLE
The benevolence arm of World Missions Ministries, providing Child Sponsorship, Feed the Hungry, Disaster Relief, Water Wells, Ministry of Medicine, and Micro Businesses.
FAITH COMMITMENT
A monthly contribution to a missionary. Faith commitments do not depend on our ability to give, but on our faith in God to provide the means to give.
There are no closed countries to God; however, from man’s point of view, this term is defined as “nations where it is nearly impossible for missionaries to move to and where following Christ is not just frowned upon or unpopular – it is illegal” (source: internationalproject.org)
NATIONAL MISSIONARY
An individual called by God from a country outside of the United States that serves in a nation other than their own. This ministry in WMM is designed to help missionaries from developing nations minister cross-culturally in other nations.
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