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National Minister’s Conference July 22-24, 2013 Embassy Suites Norman, OK (580) 310-0222
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Biennial Business Meeting July 24, 2013 - 9:00am Embassy Suites Norman, OK
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Interstate Fellowship Meeting August 12, 2013 Grove Christian Center Grove, OK Rev. David Knox North Texas Fellowship Meeting August 16, 2013 Victory Temple Church Grand Prairie, TX Rev. Leland Hall
did you move? If you are planning on moving or just recently moved, please contact the offices of the Independent Assemblies so that we may update your contact information. Also, keep us up to date with your current email and phone number. PO Box 1546 • Ada, OK 74821 • (580) 310-0222 2 • connection
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Contents
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4 Living Up to Your God-Given Potential 6 Losing Young Adults 8 She’s Only 13
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9 Philippines 2013 11 Board Members
Independent Assemblies PO Box 1546 Ada, OK 74821 (580) 310-0222 www.independentassemblies.org
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Living up to Your God-Given Potential by: Mickey Keith
Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” KJV The Message paraphrase says, “ If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” God gave Abraham a picture of a blessed, prosperous future. When he was 75 years old, and his wife Sarah was 65, God promised that they would have a child. (Gen. 12:2,3) A vision was painted on the canvas of his heart by the Holy Spirit that would carry him through difficulty and build his faith in God. Paul said about Abraham’s faith in Romans 4: 18- 22 that hoped against hope, didn’t weaken in his faith or waver through unbelief. God saw the potential that was in Abraham and He sees dormant potential in us as well! 1 Cor. 2:9-10 NIV “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him, but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” Helping others discover, discern and develop their untapped gifts and abilities is a joyful experience. To realize the potential in another person is to unfold vistas of opportunity for them. Examine and celebrate the handiwork of God in your neighbor. God made the greatest artist who ever picked up a brush. He formed the voice of the greatest singer, and the most talented musician owes his creativity to our Creator God. God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, but 4 • connection
couldn’t get the Egypt mentality out of them! How many Christians are the same way? They don’t see the grapes hanging in clusters from a pole, they see giants. Friend, you were born to taste the grapes, and kill the giants! When Moses told the people that they wouldn’t be allowed to cross over, due to their unbelief, they cried day and night. The promise was just across the river. They could see into their inheritance, but would never get to touch it. They listened and believed an evil report! Now whose report will you hear and believe? Will you fulfill God’s plan and live up to your potential? Samson, the powerful leader, was called to judge God’s people, but he never lived up to the call and potential of God on His life. He lost his consecration by enjoying the pleasures of sin. Judges 16:18 KJV “And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines...” He showed her all that was in his heart. It was evil. He failed to be all that God created Him for. In each of these stories, the people who lost out were saddened and weeping, etc…The saddest people around are those whom God has given an opportunitydream- privilege-vision..but they stopped short. Don’t settle for second best! Christian writer Philip Brooks says, “Sad is the day for any man when he becomes absolutely satisfied with the thoughts he is thinking, the deeds he is doing, the life he is living, until there ceases to be forever beating at the very door of his soul a desire to do something greater for the glory of God!” Are you satisfied with the thoughts you are thinking? The life you’re living for God? Let Him give you plans…Let Him paint His dream on the canvas of your heart. We all have great potential, but some of us are wasting our lives. Some of you have lost children…Maybe your marriage is not all it could be. We all have so much to offer,and there are great opportunities for ministry every day- Whether on a mission field, working in a nursing home, teaching in jails, visiting hospitals, or witnessing in your neighborhood. Today, picture your desired future, work hard, place your trust in God, and see great things happen in your life! •
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losing young adults The Millennial generation, those born between 1980 and 2000, now outnumber the Baby Boomer generation. They’re America’s largest demographic and with 78 million of them driving the future of economics, politics, and religious expression, everyone is keeping a close eye on them. David Kinnamon, author of the book, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church and Rethinking Faith, gives readers powerful insight into the attitudes of young adults age 16-29, a demographic that the American church has all but lost. President and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, Thom S. Ranier and his son, Jess Ranier are the authors of The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation. While Kinnaman focuses intensely on the culture itself, Ranier provides ministry tips in
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addition to their own research. Millennial generation member, Jess Ranier told Crosswalk.com, a website devoted to enriching Christian faith, that 85 percent of Millennials are not Christians. He said, “Churches need to understand they’re not on the radar of non-Christian Millennials. It will take an intentional effort to reach our generation.” Kinnaman explores the different ways in which young adults consider experiencing faith, and both Ranier and Kinnaman point to some surprising clues about what they’re looking for. Amidst the consumerism culture which Kinnaman said mega churches serve, Millennials tend to be turned off by the bigger-is-better idea of church. “I think we’re living in a period of post institutionalism,” said Kinnaman. “That doesn’t mean that institutions are past but it does mean that they’re interacting with Christianity, literacy, or institutions differently.” He also went on to say that this generation is “sort of transient.” Fellowships are meeting in homes, parks, or coffee shops as more Millennials feel disconnected to institutions in general. Music stores, book stores, and movie rental businesses are being replaced by a mobile culture accustomed to instant downloads and fluid applications or locations. “There’s a real sense in which they’ve lost their connection to institutions and that’s why they’re renegotiating their relationships with local congregations,” said Kinnaman. Jess Ranier offered advice from what he and his father said their research of more than 1,200 interviews revealed. “Churches need to start with deep biblical teaching,” he told Trevin Wax of Crosswalk.com. “Watering down spiritual truths will only cause Millennials to look for another church. There has to be an outward focus as well. Churches need to invest in their communities, love the nations, and direct revenue outwardly.” Ranier also warned that they’re looking for authentic leaders who are transparent, humble, and radically following Christ. “Millennials want to be radically committed to something. There’s nothing more radical than a true follower of Christ.” Kinnaman’s research also reinforced their
mistrust of internally focused corporate models. A young man in Kinnaman’s interview said, “Church has fallen into this consumer, corporate model of putting on a show. Part of me doesn’t want to go to church to be entertained. I want it to cost me something; I actually want it to cost me something.” Ranier found that Millennials tend to have a “can’t we all just get along mentality” alongside strong convictions. “Millennials are weary of screaming voices and lack of civility in work, politics, family and religion,” he told Wax. “Millennials that enter church only to find infighting and lots of negativity will become frustrated, leave, and avoid the church altogether.” Kinnaman’s primary concern for Millennials? “In this digital age, it’s very easy to lose a sense of Scripture’s great arc and what it means to us and how to apply it. I think we sometimes fail to challenge young people whether it’s scripture memorization or reading the wisdom of church history and present leaders.” Ranier said Millennials are returning to a focus on family and relationships but leave religion out of their lives almost entirely. With 85 percent of non-Christian Millennials, the evangelical church has an opportunity to win an entire generation to Christ. Both Ranier’s and Kinnaman’s books are available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com •
Thom s. Ranier
David Kinnaman
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she’s only 13. by: Mindy Wood
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o at h M
ark Elam started what seemed to be an insurmountable task: stop human trafficking in his own backyard. As pop culture glorifies the sex trade through music, parties, and drug habits, pimping has become big business in the U.S. Three years ago Elam courageously started Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans (OATH) and he’s finally seeing some promising changes. When he started churches weren’t opening the doors because Elam said they didn’t see it as a ministry or evangelism mandate, but rather as a law enforcement issue. IA President Mickey Keith opened his doors and so did other IA pastors. From there he persisted to spread the word, network with law enforcement agencies, schools and now whole denominations are standing behind him. Elam said there’s still a lot of work to be done. “Groups like ours have been working hard to raise awareness,” said Elam. “Most people have heard something about it and understand this is here and it’s a reality. Now we have people who think they know what it is because of movies like Taken but they really don’t.” The biggest misconception is that less than one percent of victims are kidnapped. “The FBI said it’s so rare it’s not worth preparing people for it,” said Elam. The number one cause of trafficking in the sex trafficking is recruitment through social media as pimps find children compromised by poor family systems, prior sexual abuse, poverty, and poor education. That makes Oklahoma, which ranks high in those factors, one of the hottest states to find girls and boys willing to sell themselves. “You don’t find as much of the actual activity in Oklahoma,” he stressed. “But do you know what you find in all across the nation? A lot of the slaves are from Oklahoma.” Easy targets are everywhere, however. The most vulnerable are children raised in the drug culture. When parents run out of money, when their rap sheet is full of arrests and drug
trafficking becomes too risky they will do anything to get high. “It’s called ‘Intimate Partner Trafficking.’ The boyfriend pimps his girlfriend or wife, then becomes a baby daddy and then sells his kids. Parents who don’t have money but have to get high realize they’re sitting on a gold mine and they can get high for the rest of their lives for free.” The church seems to have stopped blushing and started rushing to the battle front. Youth groups and women’s groups are leading the way in their churches, schools and universities raising money for rehabilitation efforts and spreading awareness. Their newest campaign is on billboards and on Youtube called, “She’s Thirteen,” pointing to the national age for a child in trafficking. Young people are especially passionate about the issue. Lucy Mahaffey started a club at her Norman, Oklahoma high school. Three years later, the University of Oklahoma freshman built a team, applied for and received a $10,000 grant. They are working with OATH to create awareness objectives for schools, churches and youth groups that will be more interactive in a digital world. “Our goal is to create something that any teacher or civic leader can present so I don’t have to physically be there.” A curriculum writer for the Southern Baptist’s women’s association is also working with Elam to create 8 week courses designed for the faith community. “We hope to have it ready by the end of this year,” said Elam. OATH has also helped changed an Oklahoma law which allows a trafficking victim’s record to be wiped clean for a chance at education and better jobs. There is also now a task force devoting to shutting down trafficking operations full time, thanks in part to OATH. Elam continues to work with groups all over the nation and overseas. For more updates on OATH visit www. oathcoalition.com or call 405-418-8445. •
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Philippines For Life Community Church (LCC) Senior Pastor Mickey Keith, who is also President of the Executive Board of the International AssembliesU.S., the 2013 mission trip to the Philippines was as rewarding as any of the mission trips he’s made to this island nation since he began traveling there in 1992. “I am always delighted and grateful to be among my brothers and sisters in the Philippines and this year the experience was really overwhelming,” Pastor Keith said. With the exception of last year, Pastor Keith has made at least one annual mission trip to the Philippines over the past 20 years. In addition to representing the International Assemblies-U.S. at events held by the International AssembliesPhilippines in the City of Dumaguete on the island of Negros Oriental, Pastor Keith also spent time with leaders of the Charisma Bethel Children’s Home (CBCH) in the City of Surigao on the island of Mindanao. The 2013 mission trip, which began after LCC Easter Service on March 31, ended on April 17 when a weary but exhilarated Pastor Keith returned home to Ada, Oklahoma. “This trip was especially important to me as I traveled with the support and wonderful encouragement of our International AssembliesU.S. organization. I had the opportunity to be there with Reverend Robert Johnson of Clarion World Ministries, who is the IA-U.S. Director of World Missions. Some of you may know that Reverend Johnson -- at the request of my father Reverend John W. Keith -- travelled to the Philippines 25 years ago to help establish what is now the Independent Assemblies-Philippines,” Pastor Keith said. The IA-Philippines is now led by President Bobby Pino and the organization includes approximately 90 independent Christian churches. The IA-U.S. provides a monthly contribution to
the organization and it’s used for programs, such as the IA-Philippines Asian School of Christian Ministry (ASCM). During the trip Pastor Keith and Reverend Johnson, who are both members of the IAPhilippines Board of Directors, held a board meeting with President Pino and others. They also participated in the 2013 ASCM Bible School graduation with Reverend Johnson delivering the commencement address and Pastor Keith participating in the commencement ceremony. “Why do I continue to go to the Philippines again and again,” Pastor Keith rhetorically asks. “They seem to think I’m there to preach and carry the Word, and I certainly do a lot of that while I’m there, but if you could see the devotion on their faces and the dedication in their Christian lives, you would see, as I do, that we have much to learn from them,” Pastor Keith said. Of equal importance, Pastor Keith believes the Philippines is of great strategic importance in the evangelical mission of Christianity. “From the Philippines, you are within five flight hours of a significant percentage of the world’s population. Couple that with the fact Philipinos are a people who migrate to many population centers seeking overseas work opportunities. And finally, it’s their ability to blend into whatever culture they’re in that gives the Philipinos an amazing opportunity as 21st Century evangelicals,” Pastor Keith said. Summing up his continued interest and enthusiasm for the Asian nation, Pastor has said, “As a member of the IA-Assemblies and as Pastor of Life Community Church, “I believe in the ‘Great Commission’ (Matthew 28: 16-20). It tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Pastor Keith said. “Each time I go there, I go with joy and return with even more.” •
executiveBoard
Regional Representatives
Mickey Keith
President PO Box 1546 Ada, OK 74821 (580) 310-0222 mickey.keith@gmail.com www.life623.com
Dr. Ted Estes
Vice President PO Box 2248 Claremore, OK 74018 (918) 341-8344 pastorted@lifechangerchurch.com www.lifechangerchurch.com
Ken Anderson
Secretary/Treasurer PO Box 1120 Lexington, OK 73051 (405) 527-6030 kda@valornet.com www.libertygospelok.org
Robert Johnson
Director of World Missions PO Box 978 Blackwell, OK 74631 (580) 363-2734 roj@clarionmissions.org www.clarionmissions.org
Jerry Edmon
Board Member PO Box 862 Elgin, TX 78621 (512) 281-5316 Jedmon1234@aol.com www.fwcelgin.com
Southeast Oklahoma District Rev. Billy Hunter Antlers, OK (580) 298-2740 Southwest Oklahoma District Rev. Donnie Miller Cyril, OK (580) 464-2224 (580) 512-3657 Northeast Oklahoma District Rev. Mac Blackwell Locust Grove, OK (918) 479-6057 North Texas District Rev. Marc Jones Denton, TX 75751 (903) 675-6011 Southeast Texas District Rev. Herb Hawthorne Baytown, TX (281) 723-2278 South Central Texas District Rev. Jerry Edmon Elgin, TX (512) 281-5316 Midwest Regional District Rev. Mark Maynard Granite City, IL (618) 931-4106 Arkansas District Rev. Charles Kendrick Alexander, AR (501) 303-0831
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Independent Assemblies P.O. Box 1546 Ada, OK 74821