Youth Convention Photos | Submission | Bible Quizzing Photos | Missionaries in Oregon | Bring Me the Children The Official Magazine of the Oregon District UPCI
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April 2012
Bible Quizzing Extravaganza
Oregon District Apostolic Accent Volume 48, Number 1
www.ORUPC.com Editor……………………..........…………….Kassie Meyer kassiemeyer@hotmail.com (503) 689-3589 Graphic Assistance............................Jason Di Senso Photographs.........................................John Van Beek District Officials Superintendent……………......……………Ted Graves Secretary/Treasurer…….......……..Randy Langley 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…………………………….....…Dan Sargeant Global Missions Director……………………………….......James Bigelow Apostolic Man Director……………………………..……......Mark Edday Ladies Ministries Director…………………………......….Geanice Langley Secretary…………………...…….....…….Rachel Sparks Sunday School Director………………………….…......…Darrell Sparks Secretary…………………………….....…..Loren Brown Oregon Youth President…………………………….......…Stan Gleason Secretary………………………………......……Kevin Neu Spanish Ministries Director……………………………………......Fito Avenia Life in Focus Coordinator…...........Bill Tittsworth 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
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A Note From the Editor Isn’t it great to know that we are all human and we all make mistakes? I say this because God continues (for over a year) to deal with me about being a person who builds others up and to be someone who loves people. And I do love people but there are times I find myself not lifting others up like I need to or not showing God’s love when He has called me to. The beauty of it all is that God forgives us and we need to strive to improve in those areas He deals with us in. God has called us to lift one another up, to love one another and to be a strength one to another. This is the kind of person I want to be! James 1:19 says, “Wherefore, my bretheren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” So, in those times when my mouth begins to open and I go to say something that is not uplifting, I pray that I will constantly be reminded of that Scripture! The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself...if it was not important to love others, why would this be the second greatest commandment? It is important! In Romans 12:3-10 it talks about how we are all a part of one body and all have different functions. We must lift one another up, serve one another, honor one another and be kind one to another no matter what their function is. Sometimes people do not treat us in this fashion but you will have the greater reward when you respond back with kindness, love and lifting others up. It is hard at times but the Bible teaches us to encourage one another and to love our enemies and pray for them. We are a family, the church family. We are all called to different ministries and to different walks of life and we need to honor and respect one another. No matter how a person upsets us, says evil against us or is rude to us, we are still called to love our neighbor! I know that when we apply these Scriptures into our lives, we will never be the same....we will be forever changed. I pray that God will help me to work on lifting others up…my husband, son, friends, family members, etc. and see what He does in my life. What a change that will be! Kassie Meyer
Inside this Issue Articles/Columns 2 A Note From the Editor KASSIE MEYER 4 Submission TED GRAVES 6 Go A Little Further STAN GLEASON 9 Love’s Way
YVONNE HANSON
12 Bring Me the Children DAVID REYNOLDS
Promotions 5 ACTS Student Convention
6 Youth Convention Pictures
YOUTH DIVISION
8 Missionaries in Oregon
GLOBAL MISSIONS
10 Bible Quizzing Pictures
BIBLE QUIZZING
14 District Conference
OREGON DISTRICT
Submission By Ted Graves At a wedding several years ago, I heard the preacher ask the bride to repeat after him. When he got to the words, “…and to obey,” there was silence. After repeating himself the silence continued. By that time the preacher realized that she had no intention of saying those words. He finally proclaimed, “Well folks, that is the hard part.” Our human nature does not like to submit in general. We often want it our own way and no other. Someone recently said that if the Bible was summed up into one word, that word would be submission. James 4:7-8 tells us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” I personally believe that drawing near to God goes hand in hand with submission. I once heard a story about a girl whose jaw was not straight. She was teased and ridiculed about her appearance and often complained to God about how she was made. One day someone told her that God made her just like He wanted her, so she began to thank God for the way she was created. Shortly after this, she was in a bad car accident in which her jaw was broken. When the doctor set her jaw bones in place… you guessed it…she came out completely normal! God does not want us
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to complain about our circumstances. He wants us to accept and submit to His perfect will. Trusting God seems to be at an all time low. When difficult times come, we tend to abandon God immediately. When things became difficult for the Children of Israel during their journey to the Promised Land… no water, no food… the first thing they wanted to do was go back to Egypt, back to bondage. This attitude upset God and the man of God greatly. The Bible teaches us that all things work together for good. Jesus assures us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20) Usually after the devil takes everything from a person, he decides, like the prodigal son in Luke 15:14-20, to come back to God. When everything is going our way it is easy to trust God, but when things do not go our way it is easy to stray from Him. I believe that if you put your trust in God and in the man of God in your life, there is a tremendous blessing that will come. I have seen men in our church who, when they needed a job, were on their knees calling on the name of the Lord. But after receiving a job and getting comfortable, how quickly they forgot Who had given the job. Deuteronomy 8:1718 reminds us that God gives us
the “power to get wealth.” The Bible tells us in Psalm 20:7 that, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” Let us have a Joshua and Caleb spirit that will cause us to claim the Promised Land. Revival is hindered due to the lack of commitment to God and His cause. People get in a position where they do not like church, the pastor or a separated lifestyle. I have seen entire families suffer because husbands have chosen to leave their wives, the church, and God. Soon whole families are lost without God or in false doctrine. I am encouraging men to stand up for truth and show their families a life submitted to God. Let’s show our families the blessings that will follow them all their days if they live a life dedicated, consecrated and submitted to Jesus Christ.◊ ____________________________ Ted Graves is the Pastor of Apostolic Worship Center in Gresham, Oregon. He also serves as the Superintendent of the Oregon District.
Director Dennis Johnson
ACTS CALENDAR May 2-4, 2012 WCA Student Convention at... Palace of Praise 6750 SW 198th Ave Aloha, OR For more info go to www.oregonacts.org May 4, 2012, 9:30 p.m. ACTS Business Mtg at... Palace of Praise 6750 SW 198th Ave Aloha, OR
Secretary Darrel Sparks
Convention Coordinator Shane Graves
Take time from your busy schedule to come aside and experience the outstanding achievements and anointed ministry of end-time generation Pentecostal youth! All of the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday WCA Convention events are open to visitors. Come expecting a mighty move of God in the evening rallies with Evangelist Stan Gleason. Wednesday, May 2 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Track Competition held at Hare Field 2:00 p.m. BBQ at Palace of Praise 3:00 p.m. Orientation at Palace of Praise 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Volleyball and Basketball Pre-finals Competition, place TBA
Thursday, May 3
8:30 a.m. Prayer 9:00 a.m. Devotion/Judges Meeting Motels 10:00 a.m. Begin Junior Performance events & other activities America's Best Inns and 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Evening Rally with Evangelist Stan Gleason 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Junior Awards Suites, $64.99 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Top Ten Junior performances, 3333 SW 198th Ave, Basketball/Volleyball Finals following the service Aloha, OR 97006 (Rally, Awards & Top Ten streamed live at www.oregonacts.org ) 503-642-1124 Breakfast, 5 minutes away
Friday, May 4
Beaverton Comfort Inn & Suites, $79.99 13455 SW Tualitin Valley Hwy, Beaverton, OR 97005 503-643-9100 12 minutes from the Convention. (Ask for business rates.)
8:30 a.m. Prayer 9:00 a.m. Devotion 10:00 a.m. Begin Senior Performance events & other activities 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Evening Rally with Evangelist Stan Gleason 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Senior Awards 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Top Ten Senior performances (Rally, Awards & Top Ten streamed live at www.oregonacts.org )
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Go a Little Further
By Stan Gleason
When Jesus went a little further He saw James and John mending their nets. He called them and they followed Him (Mark 1:19-20). I want to go a little further like Jesus. We can miss out on so much when we stop short. Jairus prayed for Jesus to heal his daughter, and Jesus began to move. Ever prayed and been encouraged when Jesus began to move? However, while Jesus was on His way to Jairus’house, his girl died. Somebody said: don’t bother the Master any further. But Jairus went a little further. He continued to believe and Jesus raised the girl from the dead. Go a little further. Don’t despair. Keep believing. Jesus didn’t go 100 miles. He just went a little further. I’m not asking you to finish your journey today. I’m just asking you to go
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a little further. Somebody said: A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Pray one more prayer, make one more decision to do right, serve one more person today. Jesus didn’t stop with James and John, but 2,000 years later He went a little further and found me. He did that through His body – the church. Now, I want to, as a member of His body, take Jesus a little further and find somebody else. Witness to one more, teach another Bible study, or pray with one more person. Let’s go a little further today.◊ ____________________________ Stan Gleason is an Evangelist from Oregon City, Oregon. He also serves as the Oregon District Youth Presisdent.
Yout h Convent ion
Stan Scism Richard & Coral Denny
April 10-15 (Sun AM- Oregon City)
RD Pacific
Dwayne & Linda Abernathy April 24-29 Belize
May 22-27 So Asia/UK
Robert & Elizabeth McFarland Jun 5-10 Israel/Pal
Jayson & Nellie Long
July 10-15 (Sun 2PM- Gresham: Spanish) Nicaragua
Crystal Reece July 24-29 Tonga
James & Stacy Marse
August 28-September 2 (Tue- Tigard) Bolivia
Kevin & Lolita Vacca May 1-6 Philippines
Cynthia White September 4-9 Middle East
Steve & Loy Bennett November 6-11 Israel/Pal
Keith & Elizabeth Ikerd
November 13-18 (Sat/Sun AM/PM- Oregon City)
Namibia Information on each missionary and country, plus many helps, can be viewed or downloaded at www.globalmissions.com Pastors can place their request for specific missionaries to visit their church by contacting James Bigelow at: 541.756.7141 or 541.217.4310 jamesLbigelow@hotmail.com
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Love’s Way By Yvonne Hanson
“BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” ROMANS 5:8 Did you know that human love begins in the brain using transmitters called dopamine? Dopamine brings pleasure, neurological ‘fireworks’ that motivate us to connect with other people. Many different kinds of hormones must be released to the brain over a period of years for lasting love to occur and survive. Our emotions are very complex! I wonder what powerful agape transmitters must have been zinging through the atmosphere when our wonderful Creator planned His ‘emergency rescue plan’ for mankind’s salvation! It was all about love. No wonder Jesus emphasized the importance
of love to His followers. He even instituted a new commandment: that we love one another. Our love will be tested. Love will overcome embarrassment to our reputation, and bring forgiveness from any offense. Love will bind us together. Hey! Don’t let those vibes be intercepted! Its what keeps the family of God healthy. It’s what draws people to us, and in turn, we introduce them to Jesus! ◊ __________________________________________ Yvonne Hanson is a Pastor’s wife in Portland, Oregon. She also serves as the Section 5 Ladies Director for the Oregon District.
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Bible Quizzing Extravaganza Teams from Oregon, California, Washington, Montana and British Columbia were represented for the Quizzing Extravaganza held in Aloha, Oregon at The Palace of Praise, where God moved in a mighty way. Not only were the children quoting the word of God but they were also touched in service. Children were praying at the alter and seeking the Holy Ghost. It was a beautiful sight! It’s amazing what planting the word of God in a child’s heart will do. For more information please visit: OregonBibleQuizzing.org
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Bring Me the
Children
And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the kings seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the kings palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. Daniel 1:3,4
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Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, defeated it, sacked the temple and took the golden Holy vessels from Jerusalem to Babylon. He also scattered the skilled men and took the best of the children back to Babylon to train them as leaders in his kingdom. Notice he targeted that which was holy--scattered the men and compromised the children. Satan is using the same tactics today. Families within the church are under attack and under siege. It is the children who suffer the most when any society is under siege. In the siege of Samaria in II Kings chapter six it was the children who were consumed. Satan’s goal is to indoctrinate our children and change their language. He wants to take our holy vessels to his temple. Satan is attempting to break up our marriages and scatter our families. Even the institution of ‘marriage’ itself is being devalued. A front page New York Times article reported that more than half of births to mothers under age 30 occur out of wedlock. Children still need both parents. Childhood has disappeared with the advent of the media. Children are now seeing and experiencing things that would cause most adults to blush. Respect for intimacy and sex within marriage is out of vogue. Respect for human life is sacrificed on the altar of ‘women’s rights’ to be selfish. God is banished from our courts and from our schools.
Satan is after our best. He wants the children of the King of Kings. He wants our innocent children— children without blemish, well favored, skillful in wisdom and cunning in knowledge. He wants those amongst us who are intelligent and have the ability to stand before kings. Satan is trying to subvert them by teaching them the values and the language of this culture. He wants to educate them away from their family and their church and so making them question their faith and their values. Pharaoh told Israel that they could go and worship as long as they left their wives and their children in Egypt. His plan today is still to defeat the parents by dividing them. He gets to the children by keeping the parents so busy and stressed they fail to train. He gets to the children by encouraging parents to compromise their standards. He gets to children by getting parents to grow cold spiritually. Satan seizes our children while they are outside their city of refuge. Moving them to Babylon by enrolling them and indoctrinating them while in the public schools. He captures our children by introducing them to ungodly friends and feeding them worldly entertainment. Satan captivates our children right in our homes through computers and through cell phones. We as parents would never let a stranger say and do in our homes what we allow TV to do right in front of our
children. Satan is giving our children daily portions of the food of this culture— “kings meat, and kings wine” --daily doses of this world’s philosophy, daily portions of this world’s values and daily doses of this world’s godless media. The problem is --it is still ‘Foreign food offered to a Foreign God’. So—Satan captures the minds of our children by breaking up our families, invading their cell phones and infiltrated their Public Schools. “Lest Satan should get an advantage for we are not ignorant of his devices” [2 Corinthians 2:11]. ◊ ____________________________ 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.
Next Issue: “No! You Can’t Have Our Children!”
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