Miles vol 12 iss 2 by Miles Magazine

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Volume 12 - Iss. 2

an icon of faith Bishop L. Reader

HOW TO WIN THE MONEY GAME TROUBLE IN PARADISE!!!

THE AUDACITY OF FAITH AND MUCH MORE INSIDE... WWW.MILESMAGAZINE.CA

CANADA’S #1 CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS 23

Biography Bishop Ransford C. Jones

Family Wealth Who is teaching our children about wealth

Events Graduation and Ordination Ceremony

Christian Education The Challenge

34 How we Relate Your Best Friend

Feature Bishop L. Reader - An Icon of Faith

38 Systematic Theology The Unity of the Bible

Consider This The wounds of Honour are self inflicted

39 The Shepherds Heart Judgement of the Believers Work

Financial Column Winning the Money Game

40 In Focus The last days Pentecostal Ministries

Psalms Column Joy in the Fellowship of God

42 The World in Focus

45 Community News CENTENNIAL MEDAL

Beyond the Pulpit The Game of Thrones

46 Youth Initiative Rise Above for Excellence

Perspective of Faith It will Come to Pass

48 Directory

Events Bishop Dr. Kingsley Osayande

51 Word from our Father Called to Serve

Events Gospel Concert St. Annâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

52 From the BFGV Jesus Christ - Fruit of Belief

Album Launch ENI - ENOYANMWAN

54 Last Word Time to Raise your Standard

Healthwatch Living a Healthy Life 5

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MILES Magazine is published by The Believers’ Full Gospel Vineyard Min. 1885 Wilson Avenue L100, Unit 11 Toronto On. M9M 1A2 Canada

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Website: www.milesmagazine.ca Nigerian Office Vineyard Villa – Ikorodu Lagos Nigeria Editor In Chief Rev. Dr. Don Ifepe Nigerian Coordinator Iyen B. Irenen 234-8037232412 Spain Coordinator Bishop E. Onyeghara (34) 630536509 United Kingdom Coordinator Pastor Harry (44) 7949 208908 Contacts Sales@milesmagazine.ca Editor@milesmagazine.ca

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Progress Report!

MILES is a Lifestyle publication, featuring people, events and current issues of our day, worldwide. We are the publishers of Miles Magazine, for the past twelve years this publication has been in existence, teaching, profiling and inspiring individuals all over the world. Miles began as a purely Christian magazine in 2003 and in 2009 we took it a step further, making it now a life-style inspiring magazine. It is our vision that by reading this magazine people will be better informed motivated and inspired to achieving their life goals.

• Miles is now available online: www.issuu.com/milesmagazine • You can like us on Facebook: Milesmagazine • Expansion is happening, this year we look to be in at least two Caribbean cities. • You can subscribe also and receive the Miles directly to your home, simply email us.

We invite you as an individual or Cooperate body to partner with us by advertising or subscribing to the miles magazine. Our production is currently at twenty-five thousand copies with a distribution network that spans through Canada, United States of America, Spain, London, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. Miles deals with everyday inspiring issues which includes profiling individuals and cooperate bodies who are excelling in their various professions, community news that made deference in people’s life. Finally, Miles will afford your company the exposure and recognition it deserves while announcing your product and services to the world. Go the Extra Mile Today and Advertise in Miles Magazine

Finally, Exciting New Columns and writers are coming on board every issue, keep reading and advertising in the Miles as we chase our goal of becoming the Times magazine of the Christian community.

Contents Copyright © by Miles Magazine. All our rights reserved. NO part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this publication, but the publisher is hereby excludes liability for errors and omissions. Opinions expressed in the publication are those of the contributors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Miles Magazine makes every effort to ensure the information contained in these pages are accurate and up to date but we cannot guarantee that inaccuracy will not occur. Furthermore, we cannot provide warranty nor make any representation regarding the accuracy or completeness of the content. Believers Full Gospel Vineyard Ministries accepts no liability for any such loss, damage or inconvenience and it is up to the reader to satisfy themselves of the suitability of the information and use it entirely at their own risk.Printed in Canada.

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Editorially Speaking

THE AUDACITY OF FAITH â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Is The Ability To Rise Above Your Story And Challenge Assumptionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

tions against you, you must arise when they think you are already finished, your strength must be inside you and hidden in God Almighty, you cannot do what is expected of a person in your situation rather you must leave a spiritual and invisible channel of communication open between you and your maker so that at all times both of you communicates and you receive encouragements and directions from Him. Greetings to you my dear readers, we are onto the summer edition of the Miles Magazine for this year, you know it's funny and amazing how the sun finds a way to overcome the snow and wintry breeze of the winter months. Think about it, wouldn't it be amazing if our spirit man can be like that always? Knowing that no matter how cold and cruel life may be at some stage, it is just a season that would come and go. Maybe then we would not give up any more or cry over spilt milk, rather we would do our ultimate best to make sure that one, the milk does not spill again and two, that even when it does spill, it does not spell the end of the world for us. So I came up with the audacity of faith, you know it is easy to be strong on paper or when you observe somebody else going through the trials, they lost their job, a loved one or got kicked out of a house after paying mortgage for ten whole years, it's very easy to encourage them but when it hits you, that is a different story. But that is where you must employ the audacity of faith, to be a success in life you must challenge the negative assump-

1 Samuel 30:6

"Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons, and his daughters. But David encouraged himself in the LORD his God" Here was a man who led the people to fight against God's enemies only to return and find that they have been raided and all their family members taken away captive, the people were distressed, they needed somebody to blame and vent their anger, anything was possible, what was the fate of their families, they may have benn killed by now or their wives might have been raped? So they chose David as their object of blame, they turned mightily against him, he too was distressed but not hopelessly, he still had a powerful key in his spirit and thank God he used it at the right time. First

he encouraged himself, and secondly he ignored all physical assumptions of what might be or might not be by focusing on God's opinion regarding the situation and alas God told him to pursue after the enemy, overtake and recover all that was taken from them. I must tell you that he recovered far more than what was taken. What about the woman who had a sickness of blood for twelve whole years, the assumption was that her case was over, that was the story told of her life but when she encountered Christ, she rose above the story and assumptions, yes she could have easily accepted her fate as a smelling, and sick woman but she rose above it. I can go on if you will but let me bring it home, last year we at Miles Magazine went through a very tough season, the assumption was there in the mind of some unscrupulous elements who thought this was their opportunity to take over, but boy were they so wrong because we came back with a holy venom, and now we are in a far stronger position than we have ever been. You must employ the audacity of faith and challenge all negative assumptions over your life. Listen where they say you are cast down; you must arise and declare through your action that there is a lifting up. God bless till next issue, remain above the story, and always remember "What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger"

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Christian Education

THE CHALLENGE The challenge of Jesus to believers is to reach the entire world with the Gospel (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). Today we live in a growing world. Thousands of new human beings are born each day. The population of the world is increasing rapidly. There are many unreached people groups in the world who have never heard about Jesus. These groups consist of millions of individuals who have not yet been reached with the Gospel. Many villages and communities have no church. In many nations, there are not enough trained pastors for the churches that do exist. How can we ever achieve this great challenge of Jesus to reach the whole world with the Gospel? GOD'S PLAN God has a special plan for reaching the world with the Gospel. Jesus summarized it when He told His disciples... “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Here is God's plan: The Holy Spirit is the divine power behind the multiplication process, Jesus Christ is the content of the message, and the whole world is to be the recipient of the message. Disciples are the agents of multiplication. God's method is for each disciple to bear "witness" of the Gospel message. To "witness" is to tell

what you have seen, heard, or experienced. In a court of law, a witness is one who testifies about someone or something. As a witness, you are to testify about Jesus and His plan for the salvation of all mankind. There are two kinds of evidence presented by witnesses in a court of law. One is testimony which is verbal witness about the subject. The other is evidence which is visible proof. The Holy Spirit helps you bear witness to the Gospel both verbally and through the demonstration of God's power. DIVISION BETWEEN CLERGY AND LAITY God's plan is for each disciple (believer) to be a witness of the Gospel. The early church grew as they followed this plan. Each believer shared the Gospel and was reproductive spiritually. Their homes became centers of multiplication (you will learn more about this in a later chapter). The church grew and multiplied as individual believers bore witness to the Gospel. As the church grew, God called some people to serve full-time as pastors, evangelists, prophets, teachers, and apostles. Over a period of time, believers became part of one of two divisions in the church. They were either "clergy" or "laity.” The word "laity" comes from a Greek word which means "belonging to the chosen people of God.” The basic meaning of the word is "all the people of God.” The

terms "layman" or "laity" came to be used for those who were not serving in special full-time functions in the church. The term "clergy" developed to identify professional ministers in the church. Clergy refers to those who consider the ministry their profession and who usually are employed full-time by the church. They may or may not be ordained by a denomination. Over a period of time in church history, a gradual separation developed between clergy and laity. Many laymen stopped reproducing spiritually. They began to leave the challenge of reaching the world to the full-time clergy. No professional clergy can ever accomplish what the entire Church was commissioned to do. This is one of the reasons we have not yet reached the world with the Gospel. Believers have shifted their personal responsibility to the clergy. The Bible does teach division of labor in the Church, but every person is to be involved in the spread of the Gospel. (Read Acts 6:1-6). As the church at Jerusalem multiplied, it became necessary for a division of labor to meet all the needs in the church. The leaders gave themselves full-time to study of the Word and prayer. Laymen performed duties like ministering to the widows and other such tasks of serving. But although believers served in different offices in the church, they were all involved in the spread of the Gospel. Stephen was one of

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the laymen chosen for serving tasks, yet he bore powerful witness to the Gospel (Acts 6:8-11). Philip was another layman chosen for serving tasks. He shared the Gospel with the Samaritans (Acts 8:5-12). When persecution came in Jerusalem and believers scattered to other cities they continued to be witnesses of the Gospel: “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4) For true believers, there is no division between sacred and secular because Jesus is Lord of all. THE CALLING OF THE LAITY If you are to really understand the spiritual call of the laity, you must go back to the Old Testament. God's plan was for the entire nation of Israel to be "priests" or ministers: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation... (Exodus 19:6) As priests, each person in Israel was to be

a witness of the one true God to unbelievers around him. The establishing of an official priesthood did not change God's plan for Israel. The priesthood was like the "clergy" of today with special leadership roles. But the entire nation was still to serve as ministers of the message of God to heathen nations. In the New Testament, believers are given a similar calling. They are to be priests or ministers of the Gospel: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praise of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (I Peter 2:9) The calling of believers is to bear witness of God who has brought them out of spiritual darkness into the "light" of Jesus Christ (John 9:5). Believers are told to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:1). There is one calling and that is to bear witness to the Gospel mes-

sage. It is the vocation of all believers. Each person is accountable for their response to this call. The call is not based on education or natural ability. God uses ordinary laymen in order that He alone may receive the glory: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are. That no flesh should glory in His presence.” (I Corinthians 1:26-29) Church people, we have a mandate that must be fulfilled before the coming of our Lord and Savior, let’s stop the bickering and face this great challenge.

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Feature Article

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...he has achieved this by living an exemplary life of faith, compassion, integrity and commitment to the calling of the Lord upon his life.â&#x20AC;?

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From Humble Beginning Bishop Reader is the presiding bishop of the International United Bethel Assembly Church in Toronto Canada, a humble man of God, Father to many both biologically and spiritually, a husband to one wife for over thirty years, a man of love, compassion and grace. He adorns the cover of this edition and this is his story; With no intentions of starting a church, Lascelles Reader left the beautiful island of Jamaica in 1973 in search of a better future for himself. Getting saved, serving the Lord and being a pastor, were not on his to-do-list. Little did he know the plan God had in store for him, of course, he pursued his dreams for a while until the day came when he had no other choice but to answer the call of God. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long after the Lord saved him

that He gave him the vision of becoming a Sheppard; and so in 1981 that dream became a reality and the Church of God was born. Bishop Reader became affiliated with the Bible Church of God under the leadership of Bishop Annan, who was very instrumental and a tower of strength in his work of faith. With a membership of seven people, Bishop Reader and his humble wife, Sister N. Reader, the church was established on that humble beginning.

the Lord. However, because of governmental standards that name was already in use and could not be duplicated. This official registration started the church on its way to international ministry and today through the amiable vision, hard work and leadership of Bishop Reader, the church now boast of an ultra-modern property for worship right in the heart of Toronto on 24 Sable Street Toronto On.

His Heart of Gold Glory to God! Within the first month, the membership doubled. Things began to look brighter in 1984 when a divine connection linked Bishop Reader with Evg. Kilgore who introduced him to a powerful and dynamic woman of God, Overseer V. Walker, who so graciously assisted the church in obtaining ministerial licence under the name â&#x20AC;&#x153;The International United Bethel Assembly. The Nazarene church of God was the original name given to her by

Bishop Reader is a true Icon of the modern day Christian body; he has achieved this by living an exemplary life of faith, compassion, integrity and commitment to the calling of the Lord upon his life. This man of God continues to be a father to both the young and old alike, his love for the lost soul goes beyond the borders of just Christians, as he has in so many ways and so many times helped to deliver the youths

Bishop L. Reader

An Icon of Faith who are left on the street with no direction. As the editor in chief of the miles magazine, I met this man of God in the year 1998 through a mutual friend, and since then he has ever remained a close, friend, father and colleague in ministry, he was the man that God used to commission me into the way and till date I hold my ministerial license under his ministry. Through the years of knowing and working with Bishop Reader, he has been there for me when no one else will even bother to give me a chance, he was with me in my days of trials and his voice and sound counsel still resounds in my soul every day. Bishop Reader continues to champion the course of Christian growth in Canada by educating, ordaining, and mentoring young ministers, he is known to have

ordained and sent forth over five hundred men and women of God who have gone on to either establish their own ministries as pastors, evangelists, gospel singers, or associate pastors in other ministries in Canada and other countries in the world. Bishop Reader has achieved all these in ministry while maintaining a full time circular job, he remains a man who will go around picking up people for church on Sunday, personally receiving new-comers to the country and stooping so low as to help them carry their luggage as testified by pastor Grace Nugget. Indeed, we need More of Such men if we are to make any significant head way in reaching the world for Christ.

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Appreciation Dinner in Honour of Bishop Reader

The members of the International United Bethel Assembly on Saturday the 17th of May hosted an appreciation dinner in honour of Bishop L. Reader for his immense leadership and pastoral guidance spanning over 30 years and counting. In attendance were men and women from all works of life, pastors, bishops, ministers, evangelists, and gospel singers. Overseer V. Walker all the way from Las Vegas led a strong delegation from the United States.

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Consider This

The Wounds of Honour… It is very popular to hear people say, “He/She brought it upon themselves”, and as a young minister I always feared that being said about me. It became a stigma that prevented me from exploring the full potential of my abilities, I did not want to do something, fail and hear people around me say to me, “you brought it on yourself”. All that mentality changed when I actually heard some great men say in my hearing that all the wounds and scars of honor are self-inflicted. Greatness comes with some risk, and a risk is simply a risk for the obvious reason that it might go either way. Someone once said that life is hard and another replied, yes but compared to what? That you might really want to think about it, what do you really compare life to before coming to that conclusion that life is hard, for example you can say that a jet is faster, when compared to a car, or living in a house entails more work (Cleaning, cutting the grass, tending to the flowers, paying utility bills), compared to living in a condo where you need only worry about the maintenance bill. So what can you really compare to life, Death? I do not think it’s any easier to be locked down in a casket buried and have no opportunity to ever come back to life. So who can we look at and use as an example of a man of honour who self-inflicted wounds on himself in order to achieve his goals in life. What about Nelson Mandela, who gave up his freedom for twenty-seven years in order to free a nation. Mother Teresa who chose to live amongst the poor in India in order to help the helpless, Martin Luther King who had a dream of a free America and paid the ultimate price. What about mothers all over the world who knowing fully well the pain and agony of carrying a baby for nine months and the pain of delivery, yet for the love of humanity choses to do it again and again. The fathers who go through sleepless nights working to provide for their families, pastors and ministers of the gospel who give up the pleasures of a normal life just to build the house of God.

But Ultimately, Jesus Christ, who voluntarily gave up His glory, power and dominion just to save mankind. Many people often ask me, if Jesus Christ is God why would He allow himself to go through such a humiliating experience that ended in His death. My reply is that “The wounds of honour are self-inflicted”, not only did Christ allow that to happen to fulfill the requirements of the law, but it was also to set an everlasting example for us believers that we can willing lay down our lives for what we belief and love. It also taught us that we have the power over physical death; it helped to preach the gospel of selflessness.

self”, just take it on the chin and gladly be proud of yourself. Believe that God who sent you will equally make a way of escape for you; I am a strong believer in the chasing of dreams, I honestly do not see the need to live life without a sense and the urgency of an adventure geared towards the fulfilling of a destiny. I have a dream, and I am aware that there are many who are very close to me that will challenge my boldness, but I am willing to take their noise making and somehow block my ears and close my eyes to their ranting while chasing my dreams. I am bold enough to accept the good, the bad and the ugly that might come out of my decisions in

are Self-Inflicted the course of chasing my dreams.

John 10:17-18 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." Now we know that the journey was not all dandy and sweet for Jesus Christ, at some point He cried out for His Father, the Almighty God. It was not easy but He counted it worthwhile to die for the sins of the whole world. He accepted to carry out the task, to bear the pain and to die for our sins but not before He had blessed assurance that the Holy Spirit will be there to raise him up again. You see to know that you have no way of surviving and yet take on the task is called suicide in all ramifications of the world, and our Lord and savior will never do that. In your personal decisions in life, it is very much necessary to make and take some steps that would require a bit of pain but you must be sure that you have the blessed assurance that Jesus Christ is with you. You should not be afraid or weary of someone telling you, “Oh, you brought it on your-

What about you, what do you want to be remembered for, the hero that did your best to reach your best, or the coward that did not and as a result achieved nothing? Think about the mother that goes through nine months of discomfort, a delivery that comes with so much pain only to have a child that grows up not to even respect, let alone appreciate the mother that went through all that for their sake. Will you then term that mother to be a failure? No, the baby was delivered; therefore she broke the cord of barrenness. You must chase your dreams at all cost, that is what life is all about, you must be remembered for something, a legacy peculiar to you, for me I have a dream called the Miles Magazine. I thank God for the vision bearers that God has brought my way, I am determined to achieve the goal, sometimes there are so much pains and thorns on the way but I am determined to put this vision on the world map. Chase your dream, burn the bridge of retrieve, and declare your mission to succeed as with no retrieve, and no surrender… l

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FINANCIAL COLUMN

I was almost done with this issue of the Miles magazine when I really had a sober reflection on the contents, knowing what I know now we must begin to plan ahead of time in order to win and achieve our life dreams. You know people always want freedom and time to enjoy their life or to spend with the family but the problem is that most times you can’t eat your cake and also still have it. What I mean by this is that most people who have money are so busy working that they do not have time to spend the money while those who have time are so broke because of lack of money that life is so miserable. I believe that you can actually have both, yes, it is very possible, it just takes planning and learning how money works and how you can ultimately get money to work for you because while the rich get money working for them, the poor works for money. Who is better to work for more money than money itself? If you are to go in for a dental check-up, who would you prefer to do the checking for you, your family doctor who you really like, or a dentist who is trained and better equipped to take care of your tooth? The answer is a no brainer, in this series about winning the money game; my goal is to teach readers how to play in the money game and actually come out a winner. Which Group Do You Want To Belong? 1. Working For Money – the first group of people are the ones I call the traditional mentality people who believe in go to college come out and get a job, work and get paid for it. It is simple and easy until you do it for so long that you realize that everyday seems to be like you are on a treadmill, wasting energy, gaining fitness but really going nowhere. You do this because you feel that you have ‘Job Security’ but the truth is that there is really nothing like ‘Job Security’ as we have seen downsizing happen just like that with no warning or fairness. 2. Having Your Own Business – this is where you have your own business and so

Winning The Money Game Series

you determine what goal you want to set and how much time you want to put into it. This group is nearer to the top than the first group, they obviously make more money and get to do certain things more than those working for money, they are their own boss, they set their own hours etc. But there is still a problem, no time for yourself, so you make all the money but when you take a vacation, your business also takes a vacation, so you see you might now have the money but no time to spend or enjoy it.

3. Investors – these are the Donald Trumps, The Warren Buffets, The Bill Gates of this world and so many others that wish to join them. You can be one of them too, yes, maybe not at that level of multi-millions but if you dream big, you can achieve big as well. These are the ones that have money working for them; they have people like a brokerage working for them, and so even when they are on vacation, because people are working for them

in their business’, they continue to make money. So, you tell me where you would love to belong, I want to start in the second group and work my way to the third group where money works for me. I want you to know that ordinary people like you are making that transition every day, they get themselves on the right vehicle, they work hard for a few years either part time or full time and live to enjoy the fruit forever. If you are interested in changing your destiny, then give me a call and I will introduce you to a system that can transform your life from a place of so much debt to a place of financial liberty!!! For more info, please call 416.576.3775. Join Me In The Next Issue As I Look At The Two Pains That Must Occur In Every one’s life, but you get to choose which one you will encounter…

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Psalms Column

Joy in the Fellowship of God A Psalm of David When He Was in the Wilderness of Judah.

4. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

8. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

1. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

9. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

6. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

10. They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals.

2. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.

3. Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.

7. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

11. But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

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Beyond The Pulpit

The Game Of Thrones Apostle, Prophet, Bishop, Doctor, is all good butâ&#x20AC;Ś I grew up believing and indeed dreaming of having all these titles attached to my name but I never thought in my wildest imagination that there will come a time in this life when people can just decide and ascribe any name and title to themselves, unfortunately there we are today, where people in the Christian community take up any title they like for themselves. I must confess that it has been coming for a while now, but I believe that we are in that era right now when as sad as it may sound; illiterates and novice in the word of God now answer doctors of divinity and theology. It dawned on me a few weeks back when one particular pastor or would I say so-called pastor, because he cannot even truly explain one verse of the scripture. Any way he wrote me an invite to his up-coming program and to my amazement, he had already awarded himself a doctorate degree. What a mess, it is embarrassing, shameful and unbelievable that these things are happening from the very house of God. Listen to me, there are a number of ways to attain a title like doctor, bishop, apostle, prophet etc. but you must agree with me that you cannot wake up and take any title you want to yourself. Peter, Paul, James, Kenenth Haggin, Rev. Don Ifepe, Bishop Reader, and so many other men and women of God were called into the office, served and went through promotions and maturity in the eyes of not just their mentor as the case maybe but in the eyes of the public as well.

Today the position of prophet, has become a necessity for money making, you need it so that blind men and women can come to you in their vulnerability and be readily exploited, the office of a bishop is taken up by people that think that they are due one, I was amazed when one colleague of men while attending a consecration service with me here in Toronto, told me that he think he is due for the position of an archbishop, another colleague when I told him that I was actually involved in a college of bishops and that they were proposing to consecrate me a bishop but I was still praying over it at that time, he replied that I should not join but instead I should consecrate myself a bishop. This guy actually holds a so-called doctorate degree from some invisible college in the states and yet he advises me to take the honor and title to myself. You cannot imagine how bad this trend had gotten, in my personal opinion most times I feel much more comfortable just being addressed as Reverend because that is the title that is above all other titles, and the rest are there just to fulfill all righteousness. A title in the body of Christ is actually supposed to carry the weight and burden of more responsibilities and compassion, we are actually supposed to be careful of how many titles we go and gather out there, because to whom much is given, my dear much is also expected. I have a wife who will demand that you justify your position and why you think you should bear that title. It makes me think very carefully before I take up any new titles; it makes

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me answer these questions to myself before I embark on any escapade in terms of coronations and consecrations as the case maybe. We must judge ourselves, and make corrections before we step up and step out, you must not lie and take it by force, it is not in our place to decide when promotion is due us but in God’s holy hand to appoint a man or woman of God who in all sincerity will anoint you to the higher office and before you accept, you must first ask your-

self if you are qualified, if you know anything in the bible, if you are willing to learn, and as a bishop which organization not just church but which vision have you birthed that affects life beyond your locality? As a prophet what word have you given to this generation that brought about liberation to the community, nation or even the whole world? I rest my case, I am a reverend by my calling, a doctor by achievement and a bishop by his grace, it has taken me twenty-two

years, three shipwrecks in life and more than a million tears to get here. You, what did it take you? Or are you just playing the game of thrones, or you think it is all about what name and what title you can acquire? The Kingdom of God is not a fleshly affair, it is spiritual and demands His grace to occupy and there is only one throne, and Jesus Christ sits on it. l

“As a prophet what word have you given to this generation that brought about liberation to the community, nation or even the whole world?”

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Perspective of Faith

It will Come to Pass! 1 Thesalonians 3:3-4 “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselfs know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and you know” KJV

Afflictions can be put in the same category as death, it is a well-known truth that every living thing including human beings must die one day, but yet we are all afraid of death. When we go to a funeral home for a viewing at the passing of someone, you notice the fear that seems to envelope the whole atmosphere, you hear the silent voices asking, the question, who will be next? I believe that the sooner one gets over the fear, be ready to accept it as a necessary occurrence that is bound to happen irrespective of your lifestyle, the better for humanity as well as the individual. I want to place afflictions and tribulations in that same category; there is simply no way around them. God never promised anyone immunity simply because you are a Christian, nor did He promise anyone that because of your obedience and righteousness you are exempted from the trials of this life. You must go through them as it is not ‘if’ but of ‘When’. Your time of promotion in life attracts a time of tribulation and afflictions.

What Does ‘It’ Stand For? – The answer is a list that is very inconclusive and very diverse in nature, namely tribulations, afflictions, pain, failure (Temporary), Trials, Persecutions, Lack, Shame, and all the Nearly Syndrome. It can go on and on, you can always include yours as it affects your life, waiting for a breakthrough that seems never to arrive is another one. Broken marriages and family problems, the list like I said earlier is very inexhaustible. I thought I have heard it all until I sat with an elder statesman in Canada who hosted me to tea in his big house. I praised the setting of his property as well as the size of it; he smiled and began telling me the story of how turbulent the early days of their moving into the neighborhood was. As the first black family in that area of Pickering, Ontario, the other residents tried everything from setting their car ablaze, to breaking their sitting room windows with a rock. They even called the city authorities on them for various alleged violations of the city code. Yet through it all, he and

his family against all advice refused to move out of the area. Today, they have their mortgage paid off, and remains one of the original landlords still in the area. So you see their own ‘IT’ was intimidation and danger of loosing their life investment. I don’t know what yours might have been or is, but it’s all covered in God’s plan for your life. You Must Develop ‘Right Character’ Through ‘It’ To Win ‘It’ Romans 5:3-5 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” NKJV I can go through so many scriptures that clearly assures us, of the truth that we must and will surely go through one form of tribulation or the other. For example in Psalm 23, the bible talks about when you

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go through the valley and shadow of death, that you should not be afraid because He is there with you. God does not exempt you from it but rather gives a promise that something good must come out of it pertaining your life and prosperity. The big thing then is what exactly one can expect to gain from a turbulent season in life. We will use the scripture in Romans 5:3-5 for our reference in this study. The bible in this particular place as underlined tells us first of all to glory that is to be proud as we confront our tribulation. In the case of Job, we saw his friends accusing him of committing some grievous sin hence the tribulation and the predicament that he found himself going through. This of course was a false statement, God ordered them to apologize and ask for deliverance from Job.You must not let your head and shoulder drop in your time of trials, it is not because you have been found guilty that God is allowing you to go through your tribulations, it is a process of life that is inevitable for anyone, and it does not matter how yours came, just glory in the fact that it will work out a better you eventually. Allow Your Tribulation To Produce Perseverance/Patience In You â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so now you know that it might as well not be your fault that you are where you are today or even if it was your fault, God will surely deliver in due time. So you must be patient and persevere, it is actually interesting that while the New king James version says let tribulation produce perseverance in you, the Original King James version says allow tribulation to work patience in you. Patience and Perseverance can then be the same because they are all about waiting and seeing out your situation. When you cannot wait to see it out, you make more mistakes in haste and panic. Then Patience/Perseverance Will Produce Experience/Character - as you patiently persevere through your trials, you will begin to develop what the bible calls experience in the KJV and Character in the NKJV. You cannot gain experience when you are not settled, humble and calm. There is something new that God wants you to learn from your present predicament. One time in the not so distant past, a man that I thought I knew to be a man of integrity and wisdom from old age led me astray concerning where my ministry should be. I thought he had my back, but it happened that he was being led by his own greed. I went through that very uncomfortable situation but remained calm, and today I can say I have learnt what never to do concerning the church and ministry that God had entrusted to me. Your tribulation if you persevere and remain patient will produce a resilient character through experience in you. With Character You Will Have Hope And Hope Never Disappoints â&#x20AC;&#x201C; once you have a resilient character, you never give up because you already know from experience that you are just going through a passing faze in your journey to the top. You are not bothered about how much phys-

ical pain or discomfort you have to endure because at the end of it all, you are more than a conqueror through Christ who strengthens you. You are never going to fail, and that keeps you going until the victory point. Always Remember, It Must Come But It Will Pass John 16:33

â&#x20AC;&#x153;These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." To say that there will not come a time when your world may seem so dark from the outside is a big lie, but you must be strong and hopeful that God who allowed you to go through the dark tunnel knows your strength, your spirit and also has the keys to your breakthrough. All you need do is to develop the right character, have hope that He who began the good work in your life, will surely finish the work. It will come to pass, know that your pain will turn to joy, barrenness will come to pass and like Anna you shall have children. It shall come to pass that the dry bones in your life shall receive life. Even as you read this, I prophesy life back into your death situations, I reject every form of shame for you, it will come to pass child of God, it will come to pass, just believe and have the character that is ever hopeful and never consider giving up.

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Biography Column

BISHOP RANSFORD C. JONES growing church in the city of Markham, Ontario. He is the CEO of the Destiny Community Outreach Program Inc. He is one of the founders and meeting chair of the York Region African Canadian Community Alliance. Bishop Jones serves as a Member of the Roland Michener Public School Community Council, where his children attend. He also coaches his son’s soccer team in the summer. Bishop Jones is known to be a passionate, visionary, dynamic and anointed leader, preacher and motivational speaker. He is a conference speaker, evangelist and teacher. He has travelled to several countries preaching the Gospel and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Ransford C. Jones was born in Stewart Mountain, St. Mary Jamaica. He is the son of Delroy and Sybil Jones which is the fourth of eight siblings. He gave his heart to the Lord in 1984 under the leadership of his Spiritual father and mentor, Dr. W.A.Blair, at the Portmore New Testament Church of God. He migrated to Canada in 1992 where he felt the higher calling of God to pursue Pastoral Ministry. He pursued ministerial development programs with the Church of God in Ontario, completing the exhorter, MIP, Ordained Minister Program and in 2007 he was ordained as Bishop.

Education: He has a diploma in Management and Accounting from Duffs Business College. A bachelor’s degree in Theology from Canada Christian College, He worked for many years in the corporate world; in the automotive industry; and served in several managerial positions such as: Lease Portfolio Manager, Financial Services Manager and Sales Manager. This he did bi-vocationally and then transitioned to full time ministry in February 2014. AWARDS: 1n 2009 he was awarded the Prestigious International “Weins Canada award of Excellence” in Yokohama Japan, a Toyota affiliate. In 2010, he received the City of Markham citation, in conjunction with the Markham African Canadian Caribbean Association from the Mayor, for outstanding leadership and contribution to the community development. In 2012, he was awarded the prestigious African Canadian Achievement award for excellence in Religion.

Bishop Jones served in many capacities in the Church of God in Ontario. He served on the Regional Youth Board, Regional Men’s Discipleship Board. Youth Pastor. District Youth Director, and Associate Pastor under the leadership of Bishop Delton Fraser at the Agincourt Church of God for twelve years. In 2014 he was appointed the Missions Coordinator for the Church of God in Ontario.

In 2015, he received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Canadian International Chaplain Association University/Seminary.

In 2008 he found the Destiny Gospel Centre; a thriving

His Motto is a “devotion to God and a duty to humanity”

ABOVE ALL, HE IS ALSO A FAMILY MAN; He is married to his wonderful wife Janett for fifteen years; they have two beautiful children, Jessica and Jude. Bishop Jones enjoys spending quality time with his family, he is a soccer enthusiast, a passionate scrabble player and loves to read a good book and he is sold out to Jesus.

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Events

The bishop Consecration & Doctorate Award Ceremony of

Bishop Dr. Kingsley Osayande July 11th and 12th 2014, are dates that Mount Zion Ministries would always cherish in their history, because Friday the 11th witnessed the conferment of Doctorate degree and the 12th was the consecration ceremony as well on their Spiritual Leader Bishop Dr. Kingsley Osayande. The Ceremony was under the auspices of the Kingdom Connection Fellowship Inc. headquartered in the United States of America. Officiating Bishops were; most reverends Charles A. Ross S.R (Chief Celebrant), Ed Nelson Isibor, Leonard D. Love, Kermit Saunders SR. and Samuel Ocheja. Both days were full of grace and splendor, the church proved to be a great host to all the men and women of God, as well as the general public comprising of friends and well-wishers that honored the event. Miles magazine wishes the celebrant a very joyous and fulfilled journey in his new position.

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Events

GOSPEL CONCERT

ST. ANN’S SPIRITUAL BAPTIST BASILICA The Church under the distinguished leadership of Archbishop Brinsley Dickson hosted an anointed night of gospel fest tagged ‘A Night of Anointing’ in the church auditorium located @ 1855 Danforth Ave. Toronto On. As the pictures reveal, it was a full house and they were not disappointed as the gospel fest delivered an atmosphere of fun and blessings.

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Album Launch

Osagbaekhoe Ministries Releases Brand New Album Titled

“Eni-Enoyanmwan” (The Name Of The Lord)

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Awesome was the word to describe the atmosphere at The Blue Diamond Banquet Hall on April 3rd, as Rev. Dr. Benjamin and Deaconess Elizabeth Osagbaekhoe launched their latest album. The event was very well attended by Nigerians from all works of life, showing their support and respect to this great couple who have labored tirelessly and honorable in the growth of not only the Christian community but in the pioneering of the Christian music industry in Canada Evident at the occasion was joy, laughter, celebration and above all thanksgiving to God Almighty. We will let the pictures speakâ&#x20AC;Ś For more information on how you can purchase your own copy please call: 416.939.1062 or Email: osagminmusic@gmail.com

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Healthwatch

LIVING A HEALTHY LIFE

Janet Cox Sales and Marketing Manager at Liquid Green Products Inc. Contact Janet at jcliquidgreen@gmail.com

Eight Simple Ways to Get Started

It is a common adage that the family that prays together stays together, but it is also imperative for the family to adopt healthy lifestyle choices to sustain longevity. In our family, I give thanks to my partner for making sure we take the right supplements to maintain our immune systems and also we stay cleansed by drinking various roots, herbal teas and purified water. My contribution is to make sure we keep the sugar content to a minimum, cut out all the white stuff like bread, flour and rice and use only 'good oils' and make sure there is enough fruits, veggies and nuts in the house.

Staying healthy as a family does not need to be an expensive venture, nor does it need to be a chore. We all know our financial means and we can stay healthy within our individual family budgets. One lady I asked how she could possibly afford to buy everything organic for her family of three, for over fifteen years, had a simple response. "I make my food choices the most important decision when feeding my family and I give up some of the other things, like designer shoes and bags.” Here are eight simple things to do if you are looking to get started on the path to maintaining a healthy family lifestyle;

Stay Spiritually Connected: whatever your belief, a family will realize a more harmonious relationship if they spend time together in prayer or meditation, recognizing that there is a Supreme Power in the world that is bigger and more powerful than our mortal selves.

Get Regular Physical Exercise: The type of activity is irrelevant, what is important is that it raises your heart rate. Getting a little out of breath and sweaty is the mission. This is an ideal way for all the family to do something together.

Eat Healthy: This can be quite a challenge if you follow the advice of the various health practitioners and the gamut of conflicting information as to how to eat for optimum health. The confusion is real and my advice is to keep it simple. Eat a balanced diet. Make choices from all the food groups and eat when you are hungry. Eliminate the obvious offenders like white flour, white rice and saturated fats. Splurge infrequently and drink lots of water.

Reduce Alcohol Intake: As the ad says, know your limits and stay within it. Don’t drive if you drink, since the consequences could be disastrous in many ways. If you are pregnant, try not to drink at all. There is certainly no harm if a family uses alcohol to celebrate special occasions.

Know What Chemicals You Bring Into Your Home: Something that many families overlook is the chemicals that are brought into the home. We wouldn’t knowingly allow our children or our pets to play with chemicals and we also wouldn’t knowingly harm the environment by throwing chemicals down the drain, but we do so inadvertently on a daily basis depending on the

choices we make in our household products. Read labels, understand the jargon and start immediately doing small things to detoxify your home like getting rid of harmful chemicals in your cleaning products rather than waiting till they are finished.

Don’t Smoke: The verdict has been out on this one for decades, yet many still find it difficult to quit and even worse, some are just beginning to start smoking. Families can support each other in this area and there are many sources of help. Do the research and butt out. Get Enough Sleep: Sleeping has myriad health benefits from improving your mood to getting rid of bags under the eyes. Getting enough sleep is one of the best remedies for maintaining a healthy lifestyle as it improves weight, heart health, improves memory, curbs inflammation, spurs creativity and reduces stress to name a few. The entire family can sleep together camp-style in the living room once in a while. This is a real treat for younger kids.

Demonstrate Love: The family that loves each other will look out for each other. This often starts at the helm, with the parents. Children who grow up in a family where hugs and kisses and compassion and kindness are evident, will often value the contribution that each makes to the family and will carry this with them in their other relationships outside the family.

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Family Wealth

Who Is Teaching Our Children About Wealth When We Are Not? Our children are our heritage and as parents we invest enormous time and effort to create a legacy of wealth for their benefit-both now and in the future. Yet, are we investing enough time into teaching our children how to create and support their own wealth and their own lasting legacy? What steps must we take to lay the right foundation for their financial success so they can live the wellbalanced, successful life they choose? The answer is simple. We must begin the conversation with our children about the principles of wealth when they are young and build on these ideas as they grow. We must also be mindful that wealth is far more than money; it is the total lifestyle we choose to lead and support physically (outwardly), spiritually (inwardly) and financially. No matter what age our children may be, we can begin today to prepare these precious people for a responsible financial future with knowledge that fully supports them in actively creating wealth. From just a few months old through preschool, children can be taught nursery rhymes that share words and concepts about wealth - young children can learn “A is for Assets the things that we own” as easily as they can learn “A is for Apple a fruit that we eat”. As our children grow, the same words and concepts that they learned in rhyme can then be explained in greater depth to match their age level. Remember, fun and playful repetition is key in making the concepts we desire to share with our children more meaningful. As parents, we must commit to being consistent in bringing these concepts to light in our everyday activities; we must also commit to creat-

ing more opportunities to bring these concepts to life for our little ones. To get started today, here are 6 fun and innovative activities to help parents begin and continue the conversation about wealth with the entire family:

Felicia Joly

Six Innovative Ways to Get Your Entire Family Talking About Wealth 1. Make a “Wealth Word” List: Make a list of 10 words that relate to wealth (i.e. Credit, mortgage, stocks, ownership, etc.) and take the time to explain one word from this list to your children each week for 10 weeks. Talk about these words in the car, over dinner or during a family walk. Put the “Wealth Word of the Week” up on the fridge and explain it in simple terms to your younger children. Ask your older ones to look up the meaning online and write down their interpretation in their own words. Make learning fun and interactive by playing games with the words like “who can use this word the most this week” and keep score for a fun reward on the weekend. Need a list of words? Find over 130 words in The ABC’s of Wealth children’s book, (available on www.Amazon.com)

have them each identify what they would get with $1,000,000. Help each child create a written wish list of items he or she would purchase (toys, trips, houses, cars, pets, special foods, or even a business like an ice cream store) and show them how to create a budget for how they plan to invest their first $1,000,000. This is a great way to dream build as a family and inspire the children's imagination. Be sure to point out which items on their list are true investments that create a return and which items are purely purchases that cost them money. Update each child’s list each year (or as often as they like) and enjoy the surprise of which list items change and which remain the same as your children’s understanding of their wealth matures.

2. Invest $1,000,000 Together:

Take a joy ride to an exclusive neighborhood where children can see wealth in the form of real-estate. Take them to open

Go online with your children or review multiple magazines and catalogues and

3. Research Real Estate for Fun:

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houses in different locations to view different types of real estate (city, suburbs, rural /commercial condominium, mansion or cabin retreat, etc.) with a list of questions of their own for the real estate agent. Let the children ask the real estate agent for themselves how to invest in real-estate in that area, what steps are necessary to buy a home, commercial space for a business or investment property and how to secure a mortgage.

4. Pay Bills as a Team: Give each child the responsibility of paying a bill for your home for 12 months. Let them be the one to open the bill, tell the family how much it is and remind parents of the due date. This way, they become aware of the cost of living and the importance of paying commitments on-time and with consistency.

5. Meet with a Money Manager: Take the children to the bank to meet with a money manager with a list of questions about the financial tools available for them to build their wealth with that financial institution.

6. Interview an Entrepreneur: Arrange for the children to interview a business owner to find out why and how they started their business and how they make money doing what they love to do. Children have an amazing capacity to learn so why not present them with ideas and experiences that will inspire them for a lifetime? The more information we share with our children the more opportunities they will recognize throughout their lives– including wealth building opportunities! *Felicia Joly is a Mother, Marketing Professional, Creator of the Power@Play Children’s Book Series and the Author of The ABC’s of Wealth, (available now on www.Amazon.com, Key Word: Felicia Joly) Visit PowerAtPlay.org to learn more.

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How We Relate

r u o Y d n e i r F t s e B

‘Is One Who Brings Out The Best In You’

Life is a stage with many phases, your success or failure depends on how you act at each phase, when you are opportune to study, if you do, then you have education to any level you desire, when it’s time to get married and build a family then you must act well and accordingly in that season to achieve what is demanded of you at that time. But I find an evil upon the earth, one that is called company and association, ever heard the saying “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you really are?”

Do you believe that or you think it’s not true? The truth is that, the company you chose to keep will dictate the life you live, I never want to hang around people that do nothing but praise me for whatever they think I have accomplished in my past. Yes, remember that yesterday is in the past, or sorry, even a minute ago lives in the past and you are in the present so do something with the present so that tomorrow will be brighter.

We all desire to succeed but I always say that ‘Desire and Want is only a dream that action can give birth to’ so you can desire and want all the world but are you ready to step up to the plate and make it happen. Amongst so many other factors that can make one successful in life, one that stands out for me is the friends that you keep. They matter so much in your life, so much so that the bible spoke extensively about the need for us as wise children of God to choose our friends carefully.

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Proverbs 27:17 ‘As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” Based on this scripture a friend is therefore one who brings out the best in you. If you come across a person that you notice is not moving you on, driving you and pushing you to your next level then you must run or else sooner than later, you will find yourself becoming more like them, lay back thinking that all is well when your house is literally on fire. You must find strength and encouragement to go on and achieve more from a friend. As a student, your friend must be your study mate, your research mate, your classmate, if you are a pastor then make friends with ministers of the gospel that are excelling in their areas of calling so that you can learn how to excel in yours as well. Your Friends Are A Reflection Of Who You Really Are As hard as this may sound but so you know that your friends are the mirror of who you really are because for you to be able to hang with this person, for you to be proud

to call them your friend truly means that you agree that both of you have many things in common. I am particularly very careful about complainers, gossips, back-bitters and the likes of them because as they slander others to you so they will do to you at your back. Learn To Isolate Yourself From Negative People And Ideas My choice to change my closest associates was the turning point in my life because when you surround yourself with the right kind of people, you enter into the God-Ordained power of agreement; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

You must look carefully at your closest associates because it’s an indication of the direction you are heading!!! Are they moving on well, are they there for you as you are willing to be there for them? What experiences in life do they have that you can draw from, would you consider them responsible enough or are you busy making excuses for their failures and lapses in life? Always remember that friendships are there to fill a need, drawing from the scriptures; 1. To Encourage you 2. Give Support 3. Keep You Warm 4. Give You Strength In Times of Weakness 5. Increase Your Resources 6. Comfort You Now tell me, is your friendship solving these needs for you? If your answer is NO, then it’s time to look elsewhere for true quality friendship.

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THE COUNSELOR

Graduation & Ordination Ceremony at The I.U.B.A Ministries

It was double ceremony and celebrations on Sunday the 24th as The Greater Works Bible Training Program graduated its first set of students from their diploma program. The dean of the school is pastor Winsome Stewart. The I.U.B.A church under the able and anointed leadership of Bishop Reader ordained another set of ministers into the mission field. All these are in line with the vision of the church to find, train, educate, equip and send forth laborers into the world. In his message to the graduates, Pastor E. Anderson (Keynote Speaker), urged them to serve with compassion, love and integrity, employing them to make the work of God, their priority in all their life endeavors. Bishop Reader on the other hand urged the newly ordained ministers to be careful and mindful of what they do in their capacity as ministers of the gospel of Christ, urging them to work in humility and the fear of the Lord.

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Systematic Theology

THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE When we speak of the unity of the Bible, we mean two things: ONE: THE BIBLE IS UNITED IN CONTENT: Even though the Bible was written by many writers over many years, there are no contradictions. One author does not contradict any of the others. The Bible includes discussion of hundreds of controversial subjects. (A controversial subject is one that creates different opinions when mentioned). Yet the writers of the Bible spoke on such subjects with harmony from the first book of Genesis through to the last book of Revelation. This was possible because there was really only one author: God. The writers only recorded the message under His direction and inspiration. For this reason, the content of the Bible is united. TWO: THE BIBLE IS UNITED IN THEME: Some people think the Bible is a collection of 66 separate books on different subjects. They do not realize that the Bible is united by a major theme. From beginning to end, the Bible reveals God's special purpose which is summarized in the book of Ephesians 1:9-11: “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; That

in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him; In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” The Bible reveals the mystery of God’s plan which is the unifying theme of the Bible. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Savior of a sinful mankind. Jesus explained how the Old Testament centered on Him: ”And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me.” (Luke 24:44) With this introduction, Jesus continued and . . . . . . opened He their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. (Luke 24:45) What was the key Jesus gave them to understanding the Scriptures? The fact that its major theme focused on Him: “. . . Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; And that repentance and remission of sins should

be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And Ye are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:46-48) The Old and New Testaments both tell the story of Jesus. The Old Testament prepares us for its happening and the New Testament tells how it happened. This unites the Bible in one major theme. The people who looked forward to Jesus under the Old Testament were saved from their sins through faith in God's promise. Everyone who looks back to it as having been fulfilled in Jesus Christ is saved in the same way: Through faith that it happened just as God promised. DIVERSITY OF THE BIBLE - When we speak of the "diversity" of the Bible we mean that the Bible has variety. It records different ways in which God dealt with people and the different ways in which they responded to Him. The Bible is written in different moods. Some portions express joy while others reflect sorrow. The Bible includes different types of writing. It contains history, poetry, prophecy, letters, and adventure, parables, miracles, and love stories. Because of its variety, the Bible has been further divided into major groups of books. Join me in the next issue as we look at the different groups of books that make up the bible.

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The Shepherds Heart

Judgement of the Believer’s Works (pt. 1)

9:26 There are biblical assurances that there will be a judgement of every Christian’s work. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:1011 (NKJV) – God has designated Jesus to be the One by whom all men will be judged, it is imperative that all be made aware of their destiny. All will be held accountable for their behavior on this earth. How do you do your work as an Apostle, Apostles wife, Pastor, Pastors wife, Deacon, Deaconess, councilor, Senior elder, Usher, Caretaker, Treasurer, etc.? Do you do it knowing that our works will be judged? Do you do it knowing that in the ultimate, the various works we do now within and outside the church are just opportunities given to us by God to decide where we will spend eternity?

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…..” The Venue For This Judgement will be HEAVEN; the Bible, therefore advises Christians to: 1. Run the race with focus on the crown: “Run in such a way that you may obtain it” – 1 Corinthians 9:24 2. Compete with passion: “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.”-1 Cor.

Delivered From The Spirit of Death I first met Rev. Don Ifepe, whom I call Daddy in Nigeria in the year 2012 at a church of one of his spiritual sons in the Lord. After that event, I lost contact with his ministry as he travelled back to Canada. In 2013, I became very sick and went from one doctor to another with no cure in sight. I was eventually diagnosed with HIV AIDs, my whole world fell apart and I began seeking spiritual help. I even came in contact with a pastor who told me that I was going to die because there were demonic forces killing me slowly. My world was devastated, I became more confused and frightened, and it was in this state of my life that I saw a flyer with Rev. Don ministering in one of the nearby churches in Lagos Nigeria. I quickly made up my mind to travel about seven hours to be at that meeting. I was at the meeting, sleeping in the church for the three days that the program lasted and finally when I got a chance to speak with daddy (Rev. Don), he told me that he did not see death in my life and that all will be well at the end of the three days by the special grace of God. I testify that my life has never been better, my health is great and the doctors claim that the test result that showed that I had the HIV virus was a mistake. I now have my life back and I truly give God the glory for this great man of faith. Sister Helen – Nigeria

3. Fight With Purpose: “Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air,” –1 Cor. 9:26 4. Have mastery over your flesh; the flesh must not rule you. “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” – 1 Cor. 9:27 If athletes, footballers, etc., who are working to receive a perishable trophy put in so much planning and practice in what they do, shouldn’t believers who look forward to eternal rewards be more disciplined? Join me in the next issue of Miles for the conclusion….

testimonials Your Powerful Teaching Liberated Me For many years, my family and I had been trapped in a financial mess, we had prayed, fasted and attended various church events concerning the best way out of a financial mess like ours. But recently a friend invited me and my family to a convention in which Rev. Don Ifepe was the guest speaker. My world was changed! At the end of the service; he spoke like a true oracle of God, bringing out unbelievable revelations from the Word of God. I thank God for a man gifted and anointed with the power of God like him. Sister B, Toronto Ontario.

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IN FOCUS

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Pastor Joseph Prempeh of the Last Days Pentecostal Ministries is a man of prayers and great anointing. He has through prayers brought about an atmosphere of miracles, deliverance and prosperity to his congregants. The church is located at 1181 Finch Ave. West Unit 18 North York Ontario, and it is at this venue that many people continue to see and witness the power of God. *Are you suffering from Depression, Sickness, and Incurable Disease? *Do you need Spiritual Deliverance from Demonic Attacks, Suicidal Thoughts, Witchcraft, Addictions, Sleepless Nights, Evil Dreams, Generation Curse, Chronic Pains, Anger or Bitterness? Stop Suffering, Come, see and experience the power of the Holy Spirit! For help or more info please call; 647.891.2722 or 416.514.1541

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The World In Focus

Trouble in Paradise as America is Found Out As America elected her first black president, the world reacted in different ways, while some were not happy and actually voiced their disappointment at such development; the rest of the world celebrated this great unprecedented development. Barak Obama became the first black president of America, it was a good sign of good things to come, or so we all thought. Looking back from 2008 till date at the events that have happened since then, it seems clearly that racism and resentment have become the order of the day in America. The politicians are not left out of this mess; they have shown so much resentment towards the president. One that comes to mind is the gesture and giggling witnessed in parliament while the president delivered the state of the union or would I dare say, while he delivered the state of the (dis)union address. We have seen America exhibit so much negativity in terms of race crimes, police shootings and killing of African Americans. Another is the shut-down of government, an utter disregard and undermining of the president’s authority among others. Some say it’s just politics, it may well be, but from my point of view, it seems to have a lot to do with the man in power. I guess time will tell. No matter what the case maybe, I believe that for once there is trouble in paradise. America was viewed in the pre-Obama presidency as the symbol of equality, dignity, freedom and unity within, but things have changed so much, the view is so different now. The vibes are different and even though one may not claim to know it all, I believe that Canada is slowly emerging as the true symbol of equality, unity and freedom.

Are South Africans Killing the Rainbow after Madiba Nelson Mandela’s South Africa was known as the Rainbow Country signifying the various races and people that make up the country. It was a place of peace, so much more that citizens of other countries of the world especially other African and indeed European countries flocked in and made a home in South Africa. When Madiba (Mandela), died I indeed wrote about keeping a close eye on the developments that might develop out of this great nation. It has not all been bad, so many good things have happened since then, but one ugly event by a few ugly people has made the news. The attack of fellow African citizens resident in the country is not one good to report, but unfortunately it is a major ugly development, which had Madiba still been alive, we all know that this kind of event will never come out of South Africa.

Nigerians make a Statement of Change as Democracy Matures Nigerians are used to make believe elections, never do they expect that an incumbent president would ever be ousted in an election or has it happened that a president in power would lose an election let alone being totally removed from power. But it happened; history was set when President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated by Rtd. General Buhari in the recently concluded general elections in Nigeria. Okay, it is one thing to be unpopular amongst the people but it is definitely amazing for an incumbent to relinquish power and accept defeat without making any fuss about it. Some say he had no choice, but I say he created a legacy for himself. This does not change the fact that I personally believed that he could have done better as a president, but that does not counter the fact that he willingly avoided the shedding of innocent blood and so on that account, I give kudos to the formal president of Nigeria in the person of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. It’s a new dawn in Nigeria (At least so we expect), the new government promises to eradicate poverty and corruption in the land, a nation so rich and yet so malnourished. We look to hearing positive stories of change and better standard of living for Nigerians, as we are non-partisan, we want to believe that Nigeria is heading in the best direction ever!!! Time will tell.

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Community News The Hon. Judy Sgro a member of Parliament representing York West while presenting this award to the Toronto resident pastor of the church pastors Jonathan and Regina Nnaemeka on behalf of the general overseer Most Senior Apostle Joshua E.E.O Osasuyi JP. MFR, commended the hard work and dedication of the church over the years that have helped in no small way in shaping the York West into a wonderful place to live, work and play.

She touched on the fact that the government cannot build a strong community without the help of organizations like this, stating that with more of such, the world would truly be a better place.

The Church also marked the birthday of the Spiritual Leader Most Snr. Apostle (Dr.) Joshua Osasuyi JP M.F.R

A man of integrity, passion and heart for the Kingdom as well as lost souls, and it is with this in mind that the church celebrates the life and gift of this great man of God. “Daddy, * we your children in Canada want you to know that we love and cherish you as a great father and pray that God will grant you many more joyful and prosperous years on earth God bless You Sir.”

CHRIST’S CHOSEN CHURCH OF GOD INTERNATIONAL (TORONTO BRANCH) RECEIVES THE

YORK 100 CENTENNIAL MEDAL AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF COMMUNITY BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT

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YOUTH INITIATIVE

J.R THOMAS INITIATIVE Growing up I was inspired by individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr. Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan to name a few. The question then became what contribution I can make in helping to influence others and pave a way that would make it easier to overcome obstacles and challenges for those who are less fortunate. I grew up without having any role model to look up to, so with that in mind I made a firm resolve in my mind that I would do my best to be that role model to the youths. We are here to make history, create a legacy and help establish an organization that brings our community together. By doing so, we will pool our resources, abilities and strength's that will help provide the positive impact and growth our community needs. By supporting our youth and serving families, we will help individuals to accomplish levels of success that will play an important role in the lives of the future generation. RISE ABOVE FOR EXCELLENCE is a community mobilization movement that aims to educate, inspire and empower people. We primarily target youths from the ages of 16-21 and young adults who are looking to achieve success in Canada. Our goal is to help in the molding of our youths and young adults into becoming good and productive citizens of Canada. We offer weekly workshops and networking events in the following areas; FINANCIAL LITERACY: Understanding money management and best practices in helping create a culture that avoids bad credit and debt. We will show you how to create better returns on your investments. HOME OWNERSHIP / REAL-ESTATE: Helping families make the transition from renting to owning properties, utilizing an educated knowledge of the real-estate market to create generational wealth by building assets and equity as one plans for the future. PERSONAL GROWTH / MINDSET: Providing information and insight to the laws and principles that will guide you to success and fulfillment. These and many more are the goals and aims of this initiative and we invite you to join either as a participant or as a mentor/sponsor as we build our youths and empower them for success. Contact Info: JR Thomas 647-527-7588 jr@riseaboveteam.com www.riseaboveteam.com

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