January.February.March 2017 Edition
It Is Time 4
CALLED OUT OF COMFORT
IPHC Women’s Publication
19
PACK
YOUR BAGS 20
23
Book Study
8
12
Kingdom Sisterhood
Testimony
10
14
Meta Russo
Healthy Life
24
SOHL
Human Lives
True Unity
Laughter Conquers
2017
Love Challenge
28
At Home Summer Sneed
Designer: Lindsey Snider Photo Credits: Fotolia.com, Lynn Jones, Madeline Sanderson, Esther Nix
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A Note From Sam Samantha Snipes
Director IPHC Women’s Ministries Ssnipes@iphc.org As we begin this New Year, with all of our resolutions at the forefront of our minds, let’s remember who gives us the strength to accomplish them. It is in Him we live and move and have our being. It is by His Spirit that we have the power to do what He has called us to do. With this in mind, can we just take the one step forward in faith and put into action what is in our hearts to accomplish? Yes, we can! By faith, we do. We are ignited for purpose. It may just surprise us what one step does for our momentum. Life is a journey and not a destination. Each step is progression and can be cherished as a building block to what He is creating in us. We are progressively becoming who He sees in us and it happens synergistically with His Spirit in us. We are doing this life with God and we are doing it together! We are linking arms in this journey and encouraging each other on to be the ultimate reflection of Him on this earth. Have a most awesome New Year and take that step with expectancy that you will be given the next and filled with power to fulfill God’s purpose! Let’s be Ignited for Purpose Together!
Connect with Us! IPHCWM
IPHCWOMEN
IPHC.ORG/WOMEN
IPHC WOMEN’S MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT EMAIL: women@iphc.org PHONE: 405-792-7132 www.facebook.com/iphcwomen ADDRESS: P.O. Box 12609 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 www.twitter.com/iphcwm www.pinterest.com/iphcwm
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It is Time...
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I
t is time to take the one step into fulfillment. Only one step forward and you will be what God has called you to be. What a powerful thought. One step brings us into alignment with the very purposes of God in our lives. Faith to fly. Faith to know that He has got this. He knows the future. He knows the details that have to come into alignment to make it happen. He knows the connections that have to occur. And He knows the learning and creativity that we may need for this season. He knows. How then do we shrink the almighty God to our location and spot on planet earth when He is so much bigger than that? He knows the beginning and the end and chooses to invest into our lives. Regardless of our choices, He has a plan. His plans prevail. (Isaiah 14:24) Now let us place ourselves in obedience to them by His grace. It is time to take the one step that will bring us into the very place where He can pour out His blessings on us. We reveal Him when we walk out His created purposes in our lives. The world can try to distract us but focusing on Him is the answer. Listen to Romans 12:2 (AMP), “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” Why would we conform when He is telling us not to? Let’s look at it for what it is. A false life that will not bring us fulfillment. A pseudo life to the one that He has in mind for us. As we renew our mind, we prove for ourselves the will of God, which is good and acceptable and perfect in His plan and purpose for us. Reiterating the amplified version of that verse: Renew. Then, we listen to James 1:25 and put into action what we have learned. “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” There are other verses in James that speak to what happens when we do not do this. When we divide our hearts between belief and doubt, we are thrown and tossed by the waves of life. This doesn’t sound too appealing. We know life happens but we also know who our Rock is. Some people who took a step of faith are recorded in Hebrews 11:8, “By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Continuing on later in this chapter in verse 32, “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets,
who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” What will the record say of us? Did we or didn’t we take our step forward in faith? It is time!
What will the record say of us? Did we or didn’t we take our step forward in faith? It is time for us to rise up and be who God has called us to be. He had a plan laid out for our lives before the foundations of the earth were put in place. If God had this plan for us, who are we to say that we know better. If this is the case, it seems that it would take less faith to just do what He says. No matter the cost, it takes faith to take a step. It takes faith to take the next step and the next one, and then pretty soon we realize we are flying. It feels as if He has grabbed our feet off of this world and placed them on another. Not to live in fantasy, but to call heaven down to earth. Your will be done Lord, on earth as it is in heaven. It is time for us to realize He has given us dominion on this earth to rule and reign. It is time for us to take our place and fulfill our purpose. We are blessed, when we do what He says. (James 1:25) We can overcomplicate things in this life. It all begins with knowing we only have one life to live. We only have this moment and one step forward to take. We take that step in absolute faith. That’s it. Take the step. Let’s do this together!
Samantha Snipes
Director IPHC Women’s Ministries Ssnipes@iphc.org
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2017
IPHC WOMEN’S MINISTRIES THEME www.iphc.org/women
Kingdom Sisterhood G
enesis 2:18 NLT reads, “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” As women, our very first calling in the Word is to be helpers. God saw it to be good to assign women the duty of helping. I can’t speak for all women, but as for me sometimes life gets tough. We wear so many hats as women. I am a wife to my husband, Jerrad, and we just celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary. I am a mother of two young children; Reese, who is 7, and Rhett, who is 5. I am a business partner, a teacher in a public school, and am currently pursuing my master’s degree. Not to mention, all of the unspoken hats like lord of the laundry, referee of the children, faithful church attendee, church helps ministry, friend, etc. However, my passion is ministering to women. I love to speak the word of God and watch Him touch lives. Balancing all those hats becomes weary at times. This is why our calling from the beginning, one of our anointing’s, helper, is so important today. Sadly, in the world we live, women are seen as each other’s competition. Most of us are willing to be their friend, BUT in the back of our minds, we are always thinking about things like; she stole our Pinterest idea and tried to beat us to the punch of making Facebook history with it. We do more guarding ourselves from women who are supposed to be our friends than we do genuinely befriending them. I believe that one of the greatest accomplishments that a woman in the day we live in can achieve is to look at who should be her competition and cheer them on! I believe that God is calling His women to have a heart for one another, and to begin to empower one another to accomplish mighty things for the Kingdom of God. This is how we live out a kingdom sisterhood. Also, as women, we somehow made up this unspoken rule that we are not supposed to need help. That we are to be like Super Woman, who flies through life without tears, tantrums, or meltdowns. Well, I am here to tell you; that is not God’s expectation. God wants us to know that there is a season for
everything. You may be in a season where you NEED help. You may find yourself overwhelmed with young children at home. You may just need an extra pair of hands because you are battling a sickness. Guess what, that’s ok! Don’t allow your pride to keep you in bondage to the chaos of this world. God has placed a woman in your life who would be more than willing to come over, bring you dinner, load your dish washer, and probably paint your toe nails. Somehow, Satan tries to convince us that when our lives seem chaotic and out of our control, we should pull away and isolate ourselves until we can get it under control. God wants us to know that he created us to need help. That’s why he sent us Jesus, because we needed help. Likewise, we as the women in the body of Christ should be that “helper” to those in need around us. We should be God’s hands and feet. We can all take a lesson from Ruth, when she tells her mother-n-law, Naomi, “Where you go I will go” (Ruth 1:14). We need women in the church today who are not afraid to take the hand of the other women in their lives and say, “Where you go friend, I will not let you go alone.” This is true unity!
Ashley Pendley
Ashley and her husband, Jerrad, and have been married for 10 years. They have two children; Reese (7), and Rhett (5). She taught middle school for seven years. She is currently working as an emergency certified counselor in a small school, while she pursues her master’s in school counseling. She and her husband own and operate PenCo Heating and Cooling in their hometown, Morris, Oklahoma. My hobbies include being with family, jogging, reading, and shopping.
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Laughter Conquers
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I
love the song, “Gray skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face.” When something is not going right, I often times begin singing this little jingle to reassure myself that “this too shall pass”, God is still on the throne, so I can go ahead and come out from my hiding place under the covers. Now, I realize we have painful and discouraging situations in life when we never want to come out from under the covers again, and I don’t mean to make light of that. But, we should also realize that God never intends for us to get stuck there. Where we put a period, God puts a comma, because there is “more” to come. We know that when we begin to praise the Lord, satan (yes, I know satan should be capitalized, but I refuse to do so) has to flee. In the same way, when we begin to sing and face our situation with a cheerful heart, knowing “God’s got this”, our situation will begin to change and the “more” begins to appear. It is important for us to realize how unhealthy it is for us to stay in a place of discouragement … unhealthy both physically and spiritually. God knew this before the beginning of time, so He told us in His word, “Laughter is the best medicine” (Proverbs 17:22), “Encourage yourself in the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6), and when He addressed Samuel, He said, “So, how long are you going to mope over Saul … Fill your flask with anointing oil and get going” (1 Samuel 16:1 The Message). The many physical benefits of laughter: reduces heart disease, natural pain killer, improves breathing, helps you lose weight (WooHoo), gives good sleep, decreases stress, and, this is my favorite, ladies, makes you look younger. Okay, now right here, I can just see us all doubled over with laughter in order to experience the “looking younger” benefit. Go ahead, because while you’re looking younger, laughter also defuses the painful emotions of fear, anger and apathy. Spiritually, laughter lifts us up and makes life more worth living and more joyful (the joy of the Lord is our strength). Laughter stops conflict, eases tension, and helps us to see another’s point of view, so that we operate more in unity and harmony with one another. Joyfulness is a gift of the Holy Spirit that enables us to face all of the possible problems in life with confidence of a favorable outcome. The decision is emotional, but the process is physical, because the body and the mind are so closely inter-connected. When you do good, you feel good! Your motion creates emotion. So that, being joyful and doing good actually changes the body chemistry and fosters a healthier state of being. So, don’t mope (as Eugene Peterson puts it); rather, be filled with the joy (laughter) of the Holy Spirit (the anoint-
ing oil) and get going. Joyce Meyer wrote: “A strong woman knows how to keep her life in order. Even with tears in her eyes, she still manages to say with a smile, “I’m OK.” We can be strong women of God (conquerors) because God hears our prayers and assures us of victory over the hard times, conquered with laughter, and out from under the covers!
The many physical benefits of laughter: reduces heart disease, natural pain killer, improves breathing, helps you lose weight (wooHoo!), gives good sleep, decreases stress, and, this is my favorite, ladies, makes you look younger.
Dr. Brenda Grasty
Assistant Director IPHC Women’s Ministries
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My Testimony
Russo Family,1995
G
od takes ordinary lives and makes them extraordinary. I am an example of this miracle. I was an ordinary woman living a blessed life, with a Godly husband and two beautiful children. We were very active in our local church and my son and daughter, ages 8 and 12,
were attending a community Christian school. Busy doing the work of the Kingdom, we led worship, taught Sunday school and children’s church, and filled in at school and church when necessary. Then one afternoon, as I was driving the children home from school, a vehicle made a left turn in front of me and forced
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me off the road into a deep ditch. I didn’t even have time to call on the name of the Lord, but He was there with us. Our lives would never be the same. We were transported to the hospital and each taken to separate trauma rooms. My left femur, broken in two places was in traction, my right arm was fractured and my right heel was crushed. As the nurses rushed in and out, I kept asking where my children were. I kept pleading with my family to tell me how Josh and Annette were, but they did not answer. Finally, they encircled my stretcher, and the answers came. Josh was very critical, bleeding internally and having difficulty breathing. They were taking him to surgery immediately. Then they told me that Annette was gone, she had not survived her injuries. What? How could this be, and how could I go on? I couldn’t even imagine life without my daughter, she was the light of our lives, and loved God with all her heart. Josh survived his surgery with broken ribs, punctured lung, lacerated spleen and liver, and a crushed kidney. After 33 days in ICU with his life hanging in the balance, the doctor said it was a small miracle. He was able to come home and eventually go back to school. He finished school that year at the top of his class. No small miracle……gigantic! I required multiple surgeries to repair the damage to my leg and foot. My heel was so badly crushed that the doctor said even after the repair, I would probably never walk again. I spent the next two years in and out of a wheelchair. With many months of rehabilitation and much prayer, I took my first steps assisted by a walker, then a cane, then unassisted. Another gigantic miracle! Physical healing was visible, but the emotional healing ran deep. I struggled with fear, doubt, and insecurity. But my family and friends, our church and school family were praying, and we serve a God who hears and answers prayers.
I am forever grateful to those who were obedient to God’s voice and were used as, “ministering angels” sent to help us. God surely placed me in the most loving, caring family in the world! My friend, Kathy, hung a poster in my hospital room of Philippians 4:13. Each time I struggled, those words, “I can do all things through Christ….”, were there to remind me that I was not alone. Our local bank staff went beyond the call of duty. You see, when my husband went to make our mortgage payment a few days after our accident, he was told that the payment had already been made. He tried to explain what had happened to our family and the bank teller said, “Yes, Mr. Russo, we know about your tragedy. But you don’t have to worry about your mortgage this month. The employees here have paid it for you,
just take care of your family.” My husband could not contain his emotions! Due to the extent of his injuries, Josh had to miss over two months of school. Under normal circumstances he would have to repeat his grade and further compound an already difficult situation, but God had another plan. His teacher, after teaching in her classroom all day, would come to our home and tutor Josh so that he would not fall behind in his studies. Again, he completed the year at the top of his class! The devil attacked my mind, planting seeds of doubt about where my daughter, Annette, was spending eternity. After all, she did not have time to pray or repent before she died. These thoughts depressed me and sent my mind reeling. Then, as were going through her things, we found her Bible textbook from school. On the very day of our accident, she wrote these words, “I believe in God and all His testimonies. I am thankful for my family and all that He has given me and I know that one day I will be in Heaven with Him.” Praise God for the assurance that she is in the presence of the Lord and we will be reunited with her again! There is not enough space here to tell you all that God did to heal our family. He took care of our finances, strengthened our marriage, took away my fear and gave me peace. Through this tragedy He even led me to work with young women in our church. Revelation 12:11 says, that we overcome Satan by the blood of the lamb and by the word of our testimony. So, let me testify to the fact that God is my healer and deliverer. He has taken my ordinary life and made it an extraordinary example of what He can do to those who remain faithful.
Meta Russo
Meta Russo resides in Tryon, North Carolina and serves in the Upper South Carolina Conference where she is the conference Women’s Ministries Director and her husband Bob, is the Men’s Ministries Director. Meta currently serves on the General Girls Ministries Board. They pastor the Easley First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Easley, SC.
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Love Laughter and Loyalty
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I
LOVE to hear laughter! Everyone in my family has a distinct laugh and it makes my heart glad to hear it! How about you? Do you laugh? What makes you laugh? Laughter is a must in our household! “We must learn to recognize that there can be no relationship unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, laughter, patience, and persistence.” - Unknown 1 Corinthians 13, known as the love chapter, states in verse 13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Everyone longs for love! The Lord places within us a desire to love and to be loved. Our most precious moments come from those we love, those with whom we can laugh, and those that will walk with us through the deepest valleys of our life. At the end of the day everything that matters comes down to people and relationships; the people we love and the people who love us. We call those people our friends and family. Love is more than a feeling, it’s a way of life. Paul tells us in John 15:9-11, “If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full.” In Galatians, joy is even mentioned as one of the nine fruits of the spirit. I am convinced that a person who has joy is going to be someone who can laugh! Remember the iconic scene in the movie Mary Poppins when the cast was singing “I love to laugh?” It’s one of my
favorites. Who doesn’t love a good laugh? In today’s times, we need to laugh! According to medical researchers, humor and laughter strengthen our immune system, boost our energy, diminish pain, and protect us from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, a cheerful heart as the Proverbs writer wrote long ago, is good medicine. Even William Shakespeare penned, “We don’t laugh because were happy; we’re happy because we laugh.” Loyalty is a close relative between love and laughter. There is nothing more valuable, more rewarding, and more needed today than loyalty. It is more valuable than money or power. You cannot buy loyalty because loyalty is never for sale. Loyal women are trustworthy, honest, consistent, reliable, trustworthy, corrects & challenges those she loves in private but defends them in public, honorable, honors her word and commitments. Love, laughter and loyalty are the wellspring of our life! Who can live without them? Who would want to? I encourage you to work on these three things! Living this life with love, laughter and loyalty.
Michelle Drake
Board Member IPHC Women’s Ministries
DownTIME Michelle’s Book Recommendations
How to Develop Your Child’s Gifts and Talents Elementary Years
Desperate Marriages Moving toward hope and healing in your marriage
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called out of comfort “When I called you to serve Me in Kenya, I had your children in mind. Don’t let your own fear limit what I want to teach them as they grow up here.” These words entered my thoughts so clearly and powerfully one afternoon four years ago. I was pregnant with my daughter Abigail and consumed with concerns and questions about giving birth and raising a child in Kenya. The prospect of motherhood and all the changes that would occur in my life and ministry routine was a huge step out of my comfort zone. I felt unsure stepping into the uncharted waters of parenting, but those words filled me with peace and reassurance as I began my journey as a new mother on the mission field. My husband and I have tried to remember those challenging words as we make parenting choices. One of the first choices we felt God directing us toward was to encourage our children to interact and connect with people—even people who look, speak, dress, and worship differently than our family. This has not always been easy for me, particularly as an introvert. However through this process of setting aside fear and obeying God, our children, who are definitely little extroverts, have provided new opportunities for us to interact with people in our community and build meaningful friendships with them. It has been amazing to see how God is already using our young children in the process of people accepting Christ, and I know it is only the beginning of how He will use them throughout their lives to impact the world. Raising children in Kenya presents unique challenges, especially being separated from grandparents and other extended family. Holidays can be a particularly difficult time as we are learning to make our own traditions and adjust how we celebrate. Technology advancements and having a strong missionary support group here have been a great help. Another blessing is receiving the annual Christmas 4 Missionaries offering from our organization, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC). This gift helps us purchase a few extra nice gifts for the children or even go away for a short vacation during the holiday season. As our children grow and develop, the choices we encounter as their parents will also change. I remember when I shared with my own parents about God’s call to move to Kenya as missionaries. They gave me unwavering support and encouragement, even when it was not easy
to do so. My mother even said, with tears in her eyes, “I would much rather you live thousands of miles away from me, fulfilling God’s plan for your life, than have you living down the street in disobedience.” My mother’s sacrificial and faith-filled response inspires and challenges me as I raise my own children. My continual prayer is that God will help me teach them to hear and follow His voice no matter where He leads them, and that I will say, “Yes,” to what He wants for Abigail and Nathaniel, even if it is a stretch of faith for me as their mother. Perhaps the choices God asks you to make as a parent will be different from ours, but I imagine there will be times when He leads you to cross the boundaries of your own comfort zone. There is a natural inclination within parents to insulate our children in a controlled environment where they are completely dependent upon us. God desires us to entrust our children into His sovereign and capable hands, and to teach them by our example to be completely dependent on Him.
Catch articles like this and more in HomeFront magazine! iphc.org/homefront
Summer Sneed
Kevin and Summer have served as IPHC missionaries in Eldoret, Kenya since April 2009. They are the directors of East Africa Bible College. Summer also works with women to develop Girls’ Ministries. They have two children, Abigail and Nathaniel, who were both born in Kenya. Blog kevinandsummersneed. wordpress.com
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Pack your bags! You have one week to go anywhere. What would your adventure look like?
Lynn Jones
Esther Nix
If I had one week
I would pack my bags and head to Italy. Go to all the amazing places in Rome, visit the museums, cathedrals and take a gondola ride. Eat all the pasta I can and not gain a pound (remember this is a dream). After exploring Rome I would go to the North part of Italy where my ancestors are from, see the beautiful mountains. That’s what I would love to do with my one week of adventure!!! -Extension Loan Fund Office Administrator
Madeline Sanderson
My adventure would be attached to a four wheeler in the mountains. There is something about the hidden places within their trails that puts any post card to shame. The mountains are much like the word of God in that one can explore the same place hundreds of times and discover something significant and new each time. -Administrative Assistant to the Director of Global Outreach and Leadership Development
I would have
to choose Helsinki, Finland. While there I would travel east to the medieval town of Porvoo to take a walking tour through the cobbled Old Town, and admire the 15th-century cathedral, old Town Hall and traditional, red-painted store houses along the riverside. And who could be in Finland and not indulge in a traditional Finnish sauna experience? To top it all off, take a cruise to unearth the history and legends of Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. -Executive Assistant to the IPHC General Superintendent
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20 B O O K 17 S T U D Y
W
hen looking for the 2017 Women’s Ministries Book Study, my desire was to find a book that would inspire women to be exactly what God had in mind when He created us. God made a way to find just what I was looking for when a board member recommended the book, The Esther Anointing: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Courage and Influence. I am so thankful to work together with people to accomplish what God has in mind! This book teaches about the Esther anointing, and captures the reason we are here for “such a time as this.” From the introduction “You Were Made for More” to the final chapter “Designed for Influence, Michelle McClain-Walters powerfully communicates a message of purpose. When we look at our lives through the lens of another person, we realize the potential to be more than we could have imagined. Michelle says, “The Esther anointing is a grace that
the earth. The question is: Will we submit to the process of being trained and commissioned to fulfill these purposes?” As you read further, she explains, “prayer and action will be two major keys to women influencing their spheres of authority.” We will be women motivated by the love of God, leaning on His strength and abilities. We will not be intimidated by natural laws or deterred by the opinions of man. The fear of the Lord and hatred for the enemy will be the driving forces as we walk in our “Esther anointing.” At the end of each chapter, there is a section titled, Declarations and Prayers to Activate the Esther Anointing. Any of you who know me, know I love activation steps. They catapult us into the next place we need to be. I encourage you to read this book. It may help you determine the difference between where you are to where you know you want to go. As the book states, let’s all declare: “This
is being bestowed upon women to influence the current culture for the purposes of the kingdom of God.” Enough said. As this year is about Christ’s Kingdom,
is my time and season to accomplish and live in God’s ordained purpose and destiny.”
this book shows us how we are anointed to run with the vision – kingdom vision. As we are focusing on our 2017 Women’s Ministries theme, Ignited for Purpose - Kingdom Purpose, what better way than to declare this as a new day and new year to walk in that purpose for our individual lives. Michelle states , there was a “pivotal time in Esther’s story when her past
and present converged and her anointing was pressed out and revealed. At that point of convergence was where God ... took all of the bitter and sweet experiences of Esther’s life and crushed them together under the oil of the Holy Spirit to produce what I’m calling in this book “the Esther anointing.” What a beautiful place… where we real-
ize the pain of our lives and the beauty combined make up the anointing that God uses to advance His Kingdom. There were many useful points that stood out to me while reading this book! For example, Michelle states, “The Lord is releasing His favor and grace upon us to fulfill His purposes in
Now, let us agree in prayer, “Lord, Your Word says, ‘Loose thyself…O captive daughter of Zion’ (Isaiah 52:2, KJV), and in the name of Jesus, I loose myself from every limitation, barrier, obstruction, and demonic mind-set that has kept me from meeting my full potential. No longer will I be deceived and trapped by traditions and the opinions of men. I was created for greatness! I was created to be God’s glory carrier throughout the earth.” What better way to end a book review than will all of us free from our limitations, and carriers of His glory throughout the world!
Samantha Snipes
Director IPHC Women’s Ministries Ssnipes@iphc.org
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Because every life matters. SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE
january 22, 2017
I
n just a few weeks, Washington, DC will be the site of a major event. Thousands will gather to participate in what has become a great tradition. While it is an historic event in itself, I am not referring to the inauguration of the president of the United States which is scheduled for January 20. While that event carries major significance to the future of our nation, the event the following weekend carries significance for the future of every unborn child. On the heels of the inauguration is the annual March for Life which four years ago drew a record crowd of 1.8 million people. As politicians and special interest groups prepare to participate in the inauguration of the highly controversial president-elect, pro-life advocates are preparing to converge upon DC to march for an equally charged and controversial issue that has divided our nation since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973. The march has grown from 30 concerned citizens who gathered in a Washington D.C. home years ago, to the present day march that draws hundreds of thousands of people from all fifty states and countless countries! Both the March for Life and Sanctity of Human Life Sunday are held in January to coincide with the anniversary of the decision that legalized abortion. I attended my first March for Life in 2015 just days after
burying my 89-year-old mother. My mother had lived a long and very fruitful life. She was the baby in a family of 11 children. As I made the drive from my mother’s house in Bristol, Virginia, up to Washington, DC, my heart was grieving. But the grief was for more than my mother. It was for the thousands of babies who were never allowed to make the choices my mother made. They would never know the touch of a mother’s tender hug or kiss. They would never hear the voice of a father saying, “I love you.” They would never have the opportunity to make the literal hundreds of thousands of life choices that she made. Those things had been denied because of one thing–abortion. That one word has divided our nation now for more than four decades. Yet on that day, I was one person joining forces with thousands of strangers and several fellow IPHC marchers who gathered at the rally with the Washington Monument in sight.
The 2017 March for Life is gathering this year with the theme of “The Power of One!” While that phrase at first sounds rather trite, think about it. Martin Luther King, at the age of 34, galvanized the nation with his “I Have A Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The very next year, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. One man. One dream. Dr. King’s dream lives on today even after his
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tragic assassination. He became the catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement that led America through some major changes. Another dream began brewing in the heart of Nellie Gray and in 1974, she orchestrated the first rally and march around the nation’s capitol building. She continued to organize and run the March for Life for the better part of a century. Nellie dedicated all of her energy to advocating for the most vulnerable in society. As abortion clinics began to spring up across America, abortions became all too common. Since the Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton, it is estimated that more than 58 million babies have been aborted to date. That number is staggering. So how on
earth can the power of one make a difference? Just ask the people involved in the ministry at the IPHC Marvin and Joyce Whitfield Life Campus in Falcon, NC at The Royal Home. Rev. Whitfield had a dream of his own. He was disheartened every time he passed an abortion clinic and began to formulate a plan and vision that has spanned several years and phases. ATAM (Alternative to Abortion Ministries) was birthed as a pro-life ministry that offered a home where girls could stay during pregnancy. In late 2015, the Marvin and Joyce Whitfield Life Campus was dedicated. It not only provides housing during pregnancy, but for any mother needing a home after her child is born. This maternity and mothers & babies program offers mothers and their babies the necessary safety, support, care, and encouragement to ensure healthy prenatal care, birth, and aftercare. They provide opportunities for the mothers to set appropriate goals and make wise decisions for their future. Girls’ Ministries began supporting this pro-life ministry nearly 17 years ago when one person, Linda Riddle, who was serving as the national Girls’ Ministries Coordinator, developed Baby Hope Club. It was introduced as a way for girls in churches to help raise fund which were then used to set up a store at The Royal Home. Expectant mothers could use points they earned to purchase items for the baby. Because of Linda’s vision, thousands of dollars have been raised for this ministry. In fact, when I participated in the 2015 March for Life, it was to represent Girls’ Ministries and Baby Hope. I arrived on Friday evening and had dinner with a most unlikely group of guys. They represented a group called M25, a branch of Evangelism USA. They had ridden their motorcycles to Washington from The Royal Home in Falcon, NC, to lead us in the march. Rev. Gary Burd is another individual who represents the power of one! He had a dream to reach a group of people that many overlook. As a pastor, IPHC Conference Superintendent, and motorcyclist, he has led the way in many unique ventures with bikers. The most recent is the Diaper Run where motorcyclists went cross country to collect diapers for The Royal Home.
At this year’s Harvest Train during Thanksgiving week, we were privileged to witness the dedication of the Burd’s Nest Boutique, which is a store where mothers can shop for their babies. It is named in honor of Gary and Carolyn Burd who are personally leading the way in numerous ventures for supporting the life-giving efforts of the Whitfield Life Campus. Baby Hope funds will continue to help purchase supplies for this boutique. The more we give, the more we can bless the mothers who boldly choose life! As we gathered for the Harvest Train service the next morning, it was apparent as awards were given that there were so many others whose individual stories could be told, but one stood out to me. A nine-year-old girl named Reagan Gurley uses a giant baby bottle to collect money at her church, Christian Life Worship Center in Athens, GA. Her mother, Shakeenah, is the Girls’ Ministries director at the church. This year, Reagan collected $1,230.79 and brought it to Harvest Train. One girl. One congregation but many people getting behind her dream! Last year, one of our Girls’ Ministries groups solicited the help of the church and raised more than $5,000 for Baby Hope. Reagan is another great example of the power of one. Clearly, I could go on naming individuals who have stepped out in faith to fulfill a vision. As others catch hold of those visions, the growth is amazing. Exponentially speaking, the powers of one are always one. So in theory, the Power of One, might be considered an oxymoron. Yet, indicated by the stories shared, the power of one has led to some great and mighty results. Look no further than The Trinity for the greatest illustration of the Power of One: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So here’s the challenge! As we begin this new year and think about how sacred life really is, what can you do? Ride a motorcycle into Washington, DC? Participate in the March for Life by walking with thousands of others? Join with your church in recognizing Sanctity of Human Life on January 22, 2017? Will you join Reagan and scores of others who collect money in baby bottles for Baby Hope? The choice you make might seem insignificant at first, but never doubt the Power of One!
Irvina Parker
iparker@iphc.org Director IPHC Girls’ Ministries
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TOOLS for the FAMILY HomeFront Magazine
>>QUESTION
What are some alternate options for disciplining my child without grounding them from youth group? >>ANSWER by Student Ministries Leader, Pastor Stephen Jones Disciplinary consequences are a lot like a pair of jeans—rarely does the same pair fit two people the same way. Options for disciplining your teen, then, are as unique as your teen. Set boundaries as a parent, communicate them clearly, and enforce them consistently. From a youth pastor’s perspective, “grounding” teens from youth group... 1) sidelines an important member of your team as a parent. I’ve heard many students around a small-group table share about their recent conflicts with their parents. I’ve watched my exceptional small group leaders listen empathetically as the teens share their frustrations, I’ve listened as their peers then opened up about their conflicts at home, and I’ve heard those leaders attempt to process those disciplinary moments with the whole group from a loving and Biblical perspective. Pulling students out of the youth group program as disciplinary consequence can short-circuit a valuable moment of growth in their faith, and removes the influence of a powerful parenting ally. 2) sends one of two wrong messages. If you make them stay home from church, your child learns that attending church is minimally different than all the other extracurricular activities in which they are involved. If you make them sit with you in the “main service” instead of youth group, then your child may learn to view the main service as punishment! The church and the home were instituted as a strategic partnership to build the Kingdom of God here on earth. Since the church and the home are a team, make every effort to help reinforce the correct role of the church in your student’s life. Choose disciplinary actions that enforce your boundaries, demonstrate your values as a parent, and convey the importance of your faith community.
Send your questions to kids@iphc.org!
IPHC Discipleship Ministries is excited to partner with Homefront Magazine, a digital and/or printed magazine full of articles, ideas, and encouragement for parents, grandparents, and anyone with opportunities for influencing kids. Each magazine is divided into two sections: Family Time and Inspire, Equip, Support. Family Time articles are created to equip parents to engage with their children on a weekly basis.- striving to make each gathering unique and remembering to have fun! Inspire, Equip, and Support articles are parenting stories, devotions, and ideas to encourage parents as they take on the role of the spiritual leader of their children’s faith. This is a FREE RESOURCE for the entire IPHC church family. To download this free resource, go to iphc.org/homefront
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at home
with SUMMER SNEED
Meet Summer! Summer is currently serving as an IPHC missionary in Eldoret, Kenya. She and her husband Kevin have been teachers at East Africa Bible College since 2009. Her favorite role, however, is being a mother to Abby (3) and Nate (1), who were both born in Kenya. Find out more about Summer in our interview with her!
Items You Will Find In My Purse:
Favorite Scripture:
Favorite Junk Food:
My Personal Motto:
If I Could Have A Superpower:
I Love To Shop For:
As A Kid, I Wanted To Be:
I Can’t Leave Home Without:
I’d Do Anything To Avoid:
Favorite Item Of Clothing:
If I Could Live Anywhere, It Would Be:
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