Propping Up Dagons | November Missionaries to Oregon | No Fear | Training Your Child - To Your Voice
The Official Magazine of the Oregon District UPCI
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October 2014
Oregon District Apostolic Accent Volume 50, Number 8
www.ORUPC.com Editor……………………..........…………….Kassie Meyer kassiemeyer@hotmail.com (503) 689-3589 District Officials Superintendent……………......……………Ted Graves Secretary/Treasurer……..........……..Dan Sargeant Presbyters Section 1…………………......…..…………Gary Gleason Section 2……………………........…M. Dennis Johnson Section 3………………………......……..Kevin Goodwin Section 4…………………………......Steven L. Johnson Honorary Board Member M. David Johnson North American Missions Director…………………………….......…..Steve Hanson Secretary…………………….……….....…Virgil Alldritt Global Missions Director…………………………….......David Reynolds Apostolic Man Director……………………………..……......Mark Edday Ladies Ministries Director…………………………......….Geanice Langley Secretary…………………...…….....…….Rachel Sparks Sunday School Director………………………….…......…Darrell Sparks Secretary…………....………………….....…..Joe Higgins Oregon Youth President…………………………..........…Shane Graves Secretary……………………………….....Jordan Orazio Spanish Ministries Director……………………………………......Fito Avenia Life in Focus Coordinator…........... Prison Ministry Coordinator….....….Doug Lethin Media Missions Director……......David P. Johnson A.C.T.S. President………...….......M. Dennis Johnson Senior Quiz Coordinator.…......…..Brian Huffman Junior Quiz Coordinator.…......…Jonathan Toews
Editors Note God’s love is amazing. I was saved at the age of 12 and as I grew into a young lady and went to Bible school, I began to be, not disappointed, but lacking in the assurance that I felt I need. As I looked around at many of my other colleagues I realize that many of them grew up in Pentecostal homes and knew each other from their districts. Yes I did take my eyes off of what was important but at that time in my life I felt that this was important to me. My identity. Between my freshman and sophomore year I went through an identity crisis and thank the Lord that the resolve of it was a continued relationship with him. But as I was looking around at my friends and realizing that I didn’t grow up with anybody and that I didn’t have anybody around, I grew discouraged. At that time in my life, I realized that God was and is concerned about my heart and what I need, no matter how little a thing it is. He gave me the sense of belonging and helped me to understand who I was and what I believed. It was my junior year of college and as I was pulling into campus I recognized a guy about my age…yes, the Lord heard my inner thoughts and sent a young man there that I had indeed grown up with. I was not in the church however when we were going to elementary school but he was. after I hit Jr. High school and began going to church, he had moved shortly thereafter. Just having him there filled something in my heart that said, hey God does love me and is concerned with my matters of my heart…Look I’m sending you someone from your past to let you know that you can relate to people in church and that you are special. Then while I was at ladies conference this year, I received another reassurance from the Lord. Many years ago when I did live in Alaska the Lord had sent a young man who had graduated from Bible college to youth pastor the church that I came to the Lord in. As a 12 year old, I remember sitting in his truck as he explained to me and drew a diagram for the plan of salvation and he showed me that I needed to repent, be baptized and receive the gift of the holy ghost. And I did. This man was my youth pastor for a year but I also stayed in close contact with them over the next several years (and continue to to this day). Well, this year while I was at ladies conference the Lord reminded me of how much He loves me.
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Inside this Issue Articles/Columns 2 Editors Note KASSIE MEYER 4 Propping Up Dagons DAN SARGEANT 12 Fall LAWNA
GOODWIN
12 No Fear FRANK VANDEVENDER 16 Training Your Child- To Your Voice DAVID REYNOLDS
Promotions/Photos 9 Upcoming Dates OR DISTRICT
14 Missionaries in November
GLOBAL MISSIONS
18 NAM Giving NORTH AMERICAN MISSIONS
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Propping Up Dagons By Dan Sargeant
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1 Samuel chapters 4 through 6 record a fascinating account of how the Ark of the Covenant was captured from the people of God by the Philistines. When they brought it to Ashdod, they made the brilliant decision to place the Ark of the Covenant in the house of Dagon beside the statue of Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose in the morning, their god had fallen from his pedestal and lay prostrate before the Ark. They found themselves picking their god up before the Ark which represented the presence of God. The next morning, Dagon was again prostrate on the floor before the Ark of God and this time Dagon’s head and hands were broken and severed from the rest of his body. One thing became apparent: Dagon and the presence of God were incompatible. They realized that the presence of God would ultimately destroy their god. They were forced to decide which god/ God to keep in their temple! The Philistines had thought that the presence of God would be a nice addition to their religion. Up until this time Dagon had no problems. Dagon had never fallen or broken before. There had been no need to recover Dagon from a fall or perform the continual task of piecing him back together. Never before had they suffered such a sever attack on their flesh with painful sores and tumors. Their beloved land was overrun with rodents! Why were they so concerned with preserving Dagon rather than seeking to make peace with the God who obviously had more power? Why had they foolishly decided to
send the presence of God away? Too many times we find ourselves frustrated in our quest for revival and our desire to see the demonstration of the Spirit and power. Every time we bring the presence of God into our “temples”, our Dagons fall and begin to crumble. The Spirit of God begins to crucify and devour our strengths, talents, abilities, and fleshly egos. We begin to wonder why our health and our wealth are suddenly devoured and corrupted. Why have struggles developed into serious problems. Maybe nothing really good was happening in the past, but at least nothing really terrible was happening! God must increase, we must decrease! Have you been startled by sudden decrease? Are your energies drained in an ever increasing juggling act trying to lift the Name of Jesus, prop up Dagons, piece things back together, reestablish your ego, feed the lusts of the flesh, and restore old sources of providence? Instead of learning to use our new spiritual armor we again resort back to the old familiar, carnal weapons wielded through the works of the flesh. We finally restore some level of “peace” and tranquility deciding that an old fashioned revival and move of God is just too painful and too much trouble. We’ve sent the Ark of God away! The charismatic movement will never be able to arbitrarily “capture” a covenant relationship with the presence and power of God! Wherever the presence of God takes occupancy, things must change! Decisions must be made. You must either become absolutely compliant in a full
covenant relationship with God or usher the presence of God out the back door! With the presence of God unceremoniously dismissed, we can once again substitute a move of God with talent, music, programs, lights, smoke machines, entertainment, and costly special effects. It is time for us in the Apostolic Pentecostal movement to make our resolve. If pursuit of the demonstration of the Spirit and power seems to cramp your style and causes your kingdom to crumble, just let it crumble. Let’s embrace the presence of God no matter what the cost! No more juggling. I’m through propping up and piecing together my old dagons. Let the fire of His Spirit devour this flesh! My faith must not stand on anything earthly, but exclusively in that which is from heaven! It is not time to compromise our doctrine or our lifestyle of holiness. It is an essential part of our covenant relationship with God! We must never stray from preaching the Acts 2:38 message! We must not allow intimidation to keep us from preaching separation for the world! Let every Dagon crumble, dissolve and come to ruin, but let us keep the power and presence of God among us! ____________________________ Dan Sargent is the pastor of Lighthouse UPC in Newport, Oregon. He also serves as the District Secretary for the Oregon District.
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Fall
is a wonderful time of the year. The temperature is cooler and the leaves are changing to vibrant reds, yellows and oranges. Fall seems to be the perfect time to get in the kitchen and create delicious recipes for all to enjoy. Pumpkin is a favorite flavor during the Fall season. Pumpkin has many health benefits as well. Pumpkin is a very low calorie fruit and contains no saturated fat or cholesterol. It is rich in dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Pumpkin is one of the food items recommended for those who are following a low cholesterol diet or trying to lose weight. It contains a storehouse of many vitamins such as: vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. Pumpkin is also a good source of the B complex group of vitamins. It is also a rich source of minerals. Following is a recipe that was given to our family several years ago by one of our daughter’s teachers after they made the recipe in class. The recipe is simple enough that even young children can make it. The recipe is made in a crock pot, keeping your oven free to use for something else. Please enjoy
the recipe and the memories that will be made while spending time with your family. Crock Pot Pumpkin Pie 1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin 1 (12 ounce) can of evaporated milk 3/4 cup baking mix 1 large egg, beaten 1 cup of sugar 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cloves 1/2 teaspoon ginger Mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Spray the crock pot with cooking spray. Pour the mixture in the crock pot. Cook on low for 6 hours. Top with whipping cream if desired. ___________________________________________ Submitted by Lawna Goodwin. Lawna Goodwin is a Pastor’s wife in North Bend, Oregon. She also serves as the section 3 ladies director for the Oregon District.
Upcoming Calendar of Events November 6th-7th: District Fall Planning (Continued...Editor’s Note) He sent a woman to share a story about herself and how when she was 17 yrs old, she had to go to work to pay for school and while she was in that factory working, she witnessed to a young man…this young man went on to Bible college and after college he heeded the call of God on his life to go to Alaska to youth pastor and later pastor. Yes, this man was my youth pastor. God said to me, I love you this much that I would use this young girl to reach this young man to send to you, to teach you the plan of salvation. And 23 years later, I would prove to you once again My love for you. I don’t know what His reasoning was but I think it made me realize just how much He loves me. He loves me so much that he would
November 17th-22nd: Christmas for Christ Banquets November 27th: Thanksgiving Day show me His love in ways that I could not fathom. He says, I am God and I care about you. This is my God who cares right where I’m at. He cares what I went through. He cares where I’m going. He loves me more than I will ever be able to fathom. This is the God I serve. And He shares His love with each of us in our own special way and the way that we need it. He is truly awesome!
Kassie Meyer
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NO FEAR by Frank Vandevender
While working with the Lord on the frontlines in Home Missions, there are many characteristics that show themselves in new converts, older established saints and everyone in between. Some of those characteristics can be fatal to a soul
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no matter how long we have lived for the Lord. Just to name a few characteristics that can surface are: misunderstanding; criticism; selfexaltation; unpliable; unteachable; fear; lack of respect for the house of God and or His light; unbelief; and mistrust. Among those characteristics we find FEAR! Fear, although not of God, is still very real in the hearts and minds of many “Christians”. We were not given the mind of fear, but of confidence and love toward the Lord and mankind. Fear takes up time where faith could prosper. Fear of the unknown, is just that – something we build within ourselves and allow it to grow. It literally pushes faith into the corner of our minds. Fear plays a large part in not
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only our physical life, but our spiritual life also. We often fear the unknown, rightly so. It is something we have not seen, nor gone through. Therefore, we do not know if we are strong enough to make it through what may come. Fear can be a motivator, or it can stifle personal growth, physically and spiritually. There was a General of the Persian Army who would give a prisoner the choice between a firing squad and the Black Door. Many times the General had watched fear of the unknown captivate the prisoner and they would choose the firing squad – the known instead of the unknown. The General stated that “it is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined, even when they are given the choice.” What was beyond the “Black Door” was
“Freedom” – sadly enough, only a few brave men had taken the choice of the unknown. In life and in the spirit realm, only a few have the courage to come alive, to stop being engulfed in a sea of weakness – humbled and dulled by failure to recognize their own potential. They lack the determination to stop living their lives in a mentally – unconscious condition in that shameful mass of humanity….the uncommitted. The choice is yours - Philippians 4:13 states, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” “By grace ye are saved through faith” found in Ephesians 4:28. “We live by faith, not by sight” found in 2 Corinthians 5:7. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…” found in Hebrews 11:1. The unknown is what we live in. James 4:14 states, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth
for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Then read Ecclesiastes 1:111 where Solomon speaks about life and its uncertainty… “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3 What profit hath a man of all his
REALITY OF FEAR:
labour which he taketh under the sun? 4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the You’re not scared of the dark. earth abideth forever.” You’re scared of what’s in it. We have no promise of You’re not afraid of heights. tomorrow. Only our faith in You’re afraid of falling. Jesus Christ and our trust in You’re not afraid of the people around each other will keep us ready you. for the unknown – here and You’re just afraid of rejection. in the world to come. We You’re not afraid to love. have to be wise as serpents You’re just afraid of not being loved back. yet harmless as doves in this You’re not afraid to let go. world we walk in (Matthew You’re just afraid to accept the reality that they 10:16). are gone. The unknown does not You’re not afraid to try again. have to be laden with fear. Isaiah 26:3 states, “You will You’re just afraid of getting hurt for the same reason. keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on service. And be not conformed to you: because he trusts in you.” ~ this world: but be ye transformed Talking about our minds being on by the renewing of your mind, that the Lord. And again in 1 John 4:18 ye may prove what is that good, where it states, “There is no fear and acceptable, and perfect, will of in love; but perfect love casts out God.” fear: because fear has to do with Our minds cannot conform to the punishment. He that fears is not fears and unbelief that this world made perfect in love.” wants to weigh us down with. We No matter what capacity must stay focused on Him and keep we have in the body of our hearts and minds pure before Christ, we must keep our Him. Life will still happen, but hearts clean from various when our minds are stayed on Him, characteristics that want we cannot fail. Again in Isaiah to make their way into our 26:3 we have a promise, “You will hearts. David said it well keep him in perfect peace, whose in Psalms 51:10 “Create mind is stayed on you: because he in me a clean heart, O trusts in you.” God; and renew a right ____________________________ spirit within me.” Then Frank Vandevender has served as a North again in Philippians 2:5 American Missionary and founded the the Bible states, “Let this church in Medford, Oregon. He serves as mind be in you, which was also the section 3 NAM director for the Oregon in Christ Jesus:” And we read in District. Frank and his wife, Kathleen, Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you have been married for thirty-eight years therefore, brethren, by the mercies and have served in the ministry . They of God, that ye present your bodies have four children and ten grandchildren a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable who are all working in the Kingdom of unto God, which is your reasonable God. October 2014 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 9
Global Missionary Service COMING TO OUR CHURCH
In Oregon November 4th-9th
Darry & Kathy As regional director, Darry serves as liaison between the missionaries in the South America region and Global Missions and the Global Missions Board. The Crossleys travel extensively throughout the continent, encouraging missionary families, visiting and preaching in churches and attending national conferences. They have been involved in missions since their missionary helper assignment in 1974. Prior to their current assignment as regional director, they spent 27 years in Argentina as fully appointed missionaries and raised 4 children on the field.
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This poster and other info is available in color online at www.globalmissions.com
January 2013
GLOBAL MISSIONARY SERVICE COMING TO OUR CHURCH
In Oregon November 18th-23rd
Eugene & Sherri Dominguez
Peru While pastoring in San Diego, Geno was introduced to one of our church officials in Peru and was invited to minister at a Holy Ghost crusade. This was the first of more than thirty trips taken to minister in Peru. During this time, the Dominguezes applied for and were appointed as AIMers to Peru. The Dominguezes received full missionary appointment in October 2012. When they return to the field after deputation, they plan to live in Trujillo, the third largest city in Peru, with the main focus of intense evangelism; multiplying new ministers, churches, Bible schools and seminars; developing national evangelists; increasing the fruitfulness of youth and Sunday school ministry and materials; and providing leadership and pastoral training. This poster and other info is available online at www.globalmissions.com.
April 2014
Training Your Child to Your Voice By David Reynold
The Lord called Samuel and he answered, here am I ...Speak for thy Servant heareth.� I Samuel 3: 4, 10
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ouldn’t it be wonderful if all our children, like Samuel, came running each and every time we called, eager and ready to obey us? What you are really thinking is that since Samuel was a “miracle” child, his attitude of obedience was a miracle also. Not so it was due to parental training. --Why, then did not Sampson have this same spirit? -For he also was a special child, with a special birth and a special calling? He certainly did not have this same attitude of obedience. Little Samuel, born to Elkanah and Hannah, was a normal little boy. I believe that his attitude was learned at the knees of a very special mother and father who knew that if he was ever to be used in the service of God he must learn to obey. They also knew that if he never learned to respect his parents authority he never would bow his will to God’s authority --or any other spiritual authority placed over him. We do know, that Samuel did not learn this attitude of obedience from Eli -for his own sons did not learn to obey. We can learn what not to do from the way Eli spoke to his sons when it was reported they were defiling the temple. His sons did not listen to him and they did not stop. Please note the ‘passive’ words used, and note the results. He said unto them: “Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all of the people. Nay, my sons: for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord’s people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the
judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Not withstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father...” I Samuel 2:23-25 Notice how nonassertive his words were. Eli asked them why they were doing what they were doing. This is a sure sign of helplessness and frustration on the part of the parent. Eli needed to tell them to stop sinning in the gates of the Tabernacle. Eli should have made a statement as to what he wanted them to do and what he wanted them to stop doing! He needed also to warn of the penalty if they did not stop. He needed to take some action. He needed to remove them from serving as priests until they repented and proved they could live up to the requirements of the Priesthood. Speech without action is weak. Children need ‘assertive’ parents who are willing to tell them exactly what conduct is needed, when it is needed and are willing to take action to enforce these requests. 1. Parents need to talk less and act more. 2. Parents need to allow the tone of their voice to reinforce the message. 3. Parents should never use the voice as a destructive instrument of punishment. 4. Parents should never use the voice to argue with a child. 5. A parent’s voice should always convey love and respect for their children, and expect the same in return. A parent’s voice should communicate what we expect,
when we expect it, and the reasons for our expectations. “ And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice... when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out...” I Kings 19: 12,13 We, as parents use too much wind, fire and earthquake, and not enough “small voice”; willing to act and demand action. 2◊ ____________________________ David Reynolds has been the Minister of Discipleship at Portland Pentecostals since 2007. He is a graduate of Conquerors Bible College, Cascade College, Portland State University and post graduate work at the University of Oregon. He served as a teacher, assistant Principle & Principle. Since retiring from public education he has traveled extensively to over 37 countries preaching & teaching in Bible Schools and has written several books on Education, The Family & Parenting.
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North American Missions Oregon’s October Giving to North American Missions Apostolic Worship Center $50.00 Apostolics of Portland $50.00 Bend, True Gospel U.P.C. $90.00 Cottage Grove, Hope Fellowship UPC $25.00 Grace Point Ministries $25.00 Hillsboro, Bethel U.P.C. $50.00 Klamath Falls, United Pentecostal Church $50.00 Newport, Lighthouse U.P.C. $100.00 Oregon City, United Pentecostal Church $450.00 Redmond, Heights Pentecostals $50.00 TOTAL $940.00
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