The Decoration of Praise Central Oregon with Topic Revival | Mother’s Family Conference Feature Topic Number One| Ransom | Feature|Topic Number Twoon| Fire Feature Number Three Memorial | Feature |Topic Number Four
The Official Magazine of the Oregon District UPCI
God
accent
July 2012
America Bless
A Note From the Editor 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 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……………………………….......James Bigelow Apostolic Man Director……………………………..……......Mark Edday Ladies Ministries Director…………………………......….Geanice Langley Secretary…………………...…….....…….Rachel Sparks Sunday School Director………………………….…......…Darrell Sparks Secretary…………....………………….....…..Joe Higgins 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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When the Apostolic Youth Corps, landed in Portland , I didn’t know what to expect. How would the week turn out, how would the services go, would many people receive the good news of Jesus? After that first night, when the prayer ignited in that hotel conference room I had no doubt that God was going to do great things in the city of Portland . These young people poured their hearts into that prayer and poured their hearts into an amazing week! I had never had the privilege of being part of a mission’s trip and even though I was over 8 months pregnant, it was still an experience I will never forget. Realizing that others can get a burden for a city like ours really gave me hope that the young people of this day do still have a passion for the things of God and want to labor in His fields. When our first service was held downtown at the PSU Lincoln Hall , I got a glimpse of what the services will look like when that church begins right down in the heart of Portland and it made me so excited . We are getting out of the box...out of the mediocre . Portland is a unique city and it is reachable! It was also amazing to experience being in my first park service and seeing all the support of over 9 churches represented there in that service . We truly are part of a great district! There were many healings and even a few from the AYC group got their healings that night. Something was birthed in Portland this past week and we know that there are many accross this nation praying for Portland ...praying for laborers, praying for souls, praying for us! I encourage each person out there to get a burden for your city, think outside the box and get something birthed in your city today. If we step out in faith , take that first step, God will reward and souls will come to know Him! Build relationships with people that will draw them to God because He lives in You! Kassie Meyer
Inside this Issue Articles/Columns 2 A Note From the Editor KASSIE MEYER 4 The Decoration of Praise KEVIN GOODWIN 6 Sacraficially Go STAN GLEASON 8 Ransom JAMES BIGELOW 12 Central Oregon on Fire with Revival KEVIN SEIBOLD 14 Teens: What about all this Modesty Stuff? DAVID REYNOLDS
Promotions 8 Mother’s Memorial
LADIES MINISTRY
11 Ladies Conference
LADIES MINISTRY
GLOBAL MISSIONS
12 Missionaries in Oregon 16 Family Conference
OREGON DISTRICT
MM Poster.indd 1
8/23/11 6:29 AM
The Decoration of Praise By Kevin Goodwin
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Decorations serve a purpose… they tell a story. It is very common to see yards in residential neighborhoods decorated for seasonal purposes. Retail stores decorate for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and the Super Bowl. Cities and towns decorate for July 4th parades and other community festivals. Office décor sets the tone for a company and demonstrates the purpose of the business. Decorations have a definite purpose. Many years ago I was privileged to visit the office of Bro. C.M. Becton, former General Secretary of the United Pentecostal Church International. At that time one of the walls in his office was decorated with three different pictures. Each picture was taken at a different place and time in his ministry. Two of them were taken by churches that he had pastored. The third picture was of him and his wife looking off into the distance. Bro. Becton told the group I was with the story behind each picture. The first two pictures told of where he had been. The third picture told of an uncharted, unknown, and unfolding future. These pictures… these wall decorations…told a story. They told the story of ministry…the story of service… the story of dedication…the story of faithfulness…and the story of total reliance upon God to carry the Becton’s into an unknown future. The military also realizes the importance of decorations. According to the website Military.com, service members are decorated for extraordinary heroism, exceptionally
meritorious service, and outstanding achievement that goes above and beyond what is normally expected. The Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart are just a few of the military decorations…and each medal given to a service member tells a story. Psalm 66 1 “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.” The New Living Translation (2007) translates the last phrase of verse two “…tell the world how glorious he is.” In other words, we are encouraged by the Psalmist to tell a story about the greatness of our God through the avenue of our praise. I am a firm believer that our lives should be decorated with praise. Our church services must be decorated with praise. We are commanded by scripture to “… make his praise glorious.” We are further instructed by scripture to “…shew forth the praises of him…” God likes praise…elaborate praise…exuberant praise… enthusiastic praise. Praise is like a decoration…it tells a story. What was King David doing when he danced before the ark in 2 Samuel 6:15-16? He was telling a story. He was decorating God with praise. He was making God’s praise glorious. At the dedication of the temple in 2 Chronicles 5:12-14 the music team consisted of 120 priests blowing trumpets, and an untold number of musicians playing cymbals, harps, and lyres. What were they doing? Telling
a story with their praise…making God’s praise glorious…decorating God with praise. Miriam, what are you doing with that timbrel in your hand? Ladies of Israel, what are you doing playing timbrels and dancing? Decorating God with praise… telling a story of deliverance with praise…making God’s praise glorious. “Heart worship and spiritual joy render praise more glorious than vestments, incense, and music could do. “ Charles H. Spurgeon Jesus Christ is our extraordinary hero. Let’s decorate Him with praise. Jesus Christ has performed exceptionally meritorious service on our behalf. Let’s decorate Him with praise. Jesus Christ has gone above and beyond what is normally expected in purchasing our salvation. Let’s decorate Him with praise. Our praise tells a story. It tells the story of God’s goodness… His faithfulness…His kindness… His power…His majesty…His might…His deliverance…His greatness…His holiness…His mercy…His compassion… Our praise tells a story. Battles won in prayer are demonstrated in praise. Each one of us has a story that only we can tell, and the only way we can tell it is through our praise. Let’s “make his praise glorious.”◊ ____________________________ Kevin Goodwin is the pastor of Landmark UPC in North Bend, Oregon. He also serves as the Section 3 presbyter or the Oregon District. July 2012 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 5
Sacrificially Go By Stan Gleason In Genesis 8:20-21 scripture says – Noah took of every clean beast and sacrificed (burned) them to the Lord. Burning flesh is nasty! However, the Lord smelled a sweet savor. What stinks to us (sacrifice) smells good to God. Philippians 4:18 records that the sacrificial offering the Philippian church sent to Missionary Paul smelled magnificent to God. Giving money and sacrificing to raise an SFC offering may not be pleasant for us, yet it ascends like
perfume before God. It naturally follows that we are looking at a direct relationship. The more odorous our sacrifice is to our flesh, the more aromatic it is to God. When our carnal man is screaming – surely something is definitely wrong here. Without doubt this is too much to give and even God would not want me to go this far. It is at those moments that our spirit knows with assurance that something is definitely right.
Things you’ll never hear your dad say... “Well how about that?.....I’m lost! Looks like we’ll have to stop for and ask for directions. Here’s a credit card and the keys to my new car---GO CRAZY! Your mother and I are going away for the weekend... you might want to consider throwing a party. Well, I don’t know what’s wrong with the car. Probably one of those doo-hickey thingies -- you know -- that makes it run or something. We’ll just have to have it towed to a mechanic and pay whatever he asks. Whaddya wanna go and get a job for? I make plenty of money for you to spend. Provided by Kandi Brown
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Thank God for the sacrifice of pastors, youth workers, young people, and adults towards the cause of Sheaves for Christ. If you start to smell an odor arising all across our state, it is not what you think :). It is a district sacrificing for SFC 2012.◊ ____________________________ Stan Gleason is an Evangelist from Oregon City, Oregon. He also serves as the Oregon District Youth Presisdent.
July 2012 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 7
By James Bigelow
Rev 5:6-9 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
worthy one. The Lamb of God had been slain to redeem [ransom] them by his precious blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. “He gave himself a ransom for all”. The debt is represented not as cancelled but as fully paid. The propitiation for sin had been provided; the atoning sacrifice had been made; redemption from sin, demonic oppressors, and the power of death had been made available to all. The Amplified Bible rendering of Rev. 1:5b is “To Him Who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood.” That’s true independence! Christ laid down his life in exchange for the many that are still held hostage. He came not only to seek and to save but to serve and to be the supreme sacrifice. In Matthew 20:20-28, Ransom. That’s the theme for Jesus pointed out to Salome and the Global Missions service at our to her two sons, James and John coming General Conference. The that greatness in the kingdom of passage from Revelation not only heaven is measured by servitude conveys that theme but it also ties and sacrifice. In acceptance of in with Independence Day and the men’s profession to be able with my newsletter series “A Look to drink of his cup, he prophesied Back from the Future”. The apostle its fulfillment by saying, “Ye shall John saw a vision of a rejoicing drink indeed of my cup, and be multitude around the throne baptized with the baptism that I of God singing praises unto the am baptized with.”
James first shared in Christ’s baptism of blood, being murdered by Herod. He was a martyr in will and deed. John did not undergo a violent death, but he stood by the cross and felt his Master’s sufferings; he lived a long life of persecution, banishment, and distress; he saw all his companions drop off one by one, until in extreme old age he was left solitary, with nothing to comfort him but the memory of vanished years, and the glorious hope of an eternal future with his Lord. The Kingdom of God which Christ proclaimed was quite diverse in character from that which Salome and her sons anticipated. They seemed to be looking for dazzling splendor, with distinguished places of power for each eager aspirant; it was, contrariwise, to be a spiritual home for redeemed sinners. Men held captive by sin needed to be ransomed that they might be free to become subjects of the Kingdom; therefore, the ransom work must lie at the very foundation of that Kingdom. The need of ransom presumes life forfeited; the ransom paid procures life and liberty; the life which Christ gave comes through His ransoming death.
When the New Testament speaks of ransom with reference to the work of Christ, the idea is not one of transaction, as though a deal is arranged and a price paid; rather, the focus is on the power of the cross to save. There is no need, then, to ask the question: To whom was the ransom paid? It is not possible to consider payment to Satan as though God were obligated to meet Satan’s demands or “asking price.” In Christ, God took upon himself the release from bondage of his people. He met the just demands
of his own holy being. No human power or skill, no forfeit in money or service or life can avail to ransom any soul from the doom entailed by sin. But in Job 33:24 God spoke, “Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.” This divine eureka is explained in the light of Jesus’ utterance in Matthew 20:28; it finds its realization through the cross: “I have found a ransom,” for “the Son of Man” has given “his soul a ransom for many.” The ransom price for all was sinless blood; the ransom power
for all was the cross. These disturbing questions are raised in scripture: “How shall they hear without a preacher, and how shall they preach except they be sent?”◊ ____________________________ James
Bigelow
Oregon District
is
the
Global
Missions Director.
Will you help send our missionaries that are serving and sacrificing? Cynthia White
Jayson & Nellie Long
September 4-9 Middle East
July 10-15 (Sun 2PM- Gresh-
am: Spanish)
Nicaragua
Steve & Loy Bennett
Crystal Reece July 24-29 Tonga
November 6-11 Israel/Pal
James & Stacy Marse
Keith & Elizabeth Ikerd
(Tue- Tigard)
Namibia
August 28-September 2 Bolivia
November 13-18 (Sat/Sun AM/PM- Oregon City)
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
July 2012 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 9
Classes at Family Conference 2012
Schedule of Events
Daytime Bible Classes Thursday & Friday 11:00am to 1:00pm Ages 2 to 11 Youth Class Ages 12 to 25
Holy Ghost Crusade Ages 6 to 11
Thursday Evening following the Worship Service in the Main Auditorium
Presented by the Oregon Sunday School Department orsundayschool.com
United Pentecostal Church International Oregon District Family Conference July 25- July 27, 2012 Salem Conference Center 200 Commercial St. S.E. Salem, OR 97301
Rev. Joe Ellis
Rev. Paul Mooney
Canton, Ohio
Indianapolis, Indiana
Day Teacher
Evangelist
Directions: From I-5 Northbound (Eugene) take Exit 253. Turn left onto Highway 22 and continue on to Liberty Street. Turn right on Liberty Street. Move into the far left lane. Enter the parking garage on the left immediately after Trade Street.
From I-5 Southbound (Portland) take Exit 260A to Salem parkway. Salem Parkway will turn into Commercial St. Continue on Commercial to Trade St. Turn left on Trade and then left onto Liberty to enter the Parking Garage @ The Grand Hotel.
Family Conference Schedule
Departmental Schedule
Wednesday - Friday 7:30 p.m. Evangelistic Service
Wednesday Wednesday
7:00 p.m. - Spanish Ministries 7:15 p.m. - Ladies Ministries
Thursday Thursday Thursday
6:45 p.m. - Men’s Ministry 7:00 p.m. - Sunday School 7:15 p.m. - Pentecostal Conquerors
Friday Friday Friday
6:45 p.m. - ACTS 7:00 p.m. - Home Missions 7:15 p.m. - Foreign Missions
Thursday Evening—Children’s Holy Ghost Crusade Thursday - Friday
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Day Teacher
Thursday - Friday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Youth Service Thursday - Friday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Sunday School Activity
Headquarters Hotel Reservations: The Grand Hotel, 201 Liberty St. S.E., Salem, OR (adjacent to the Salem Conference Center)
Room Rates: $119 Deluxe King Single - $129 Deluxe King Double - $129 Deluxe Double Queen Single $139 Deluxe Double Queen Double ($20 charge for each additional adult) (Complimentary Hot Breakfast included) Phone Reservations - 1-877-540-7800 On-line Reservations - www.grandhotelsalem.com Use Group Name: Oregon District Family Conference
(Blocked rooms will be released after June 27, 2011. After this date, it will be by availability only )
Parking
Salem Conference Center & The Grand Hotel - Complimentary Underground Parking - Pringle Parking Garage Complimentary SCC Roof Top Parking (Access off High Street) Liberty Parking Garage (Access off Liberty Street (Evenings & Weekends only)
For Information Contact: Dan Sargeant ∙ PO Box 547 ∙ Newport, OR 97365 ∙ Cell (541) 730-9102 danesargeant@msn.com
Central Oregon on fire with revival! By Kevin Seibold
Many people wonder about the will of God for their lives. Others know what that will of God is supposed to be, but wonder when God will orchestrate that will into reality. In the summer of 2011 this writer was such a person. There was a promise from God 20 years prior about pastoring a church, but service to the kingdom was by serving other men. In a conversation at this time with a friend the comment was made, “What God needs to do is place this preacher in a nice city in the mountains with a lake nearby.� A few weeks later Bro. Steve Johnson, section 4 presbyter, posted online that the church in Redmond, OR was in need of a pastor. No action was taken until the end of August when Bro. Johnson again posted the opening and stated that no one had inquired about the church. Thoughts began to run in the mind of this preacher wondering what was wrong with the church that no one was interested. Research was done only to find a beautiful church that was paid for, a wonderful city of over 26,000 people, in the mountains with many lakes nearby. Just 2 weeks later this preacher was in Redmond, OR preaching his first sermon and becoming acquainted with the people. Three weeks later an election was held and Bro and Sis Kevin Seibold from Illinois were elected as pastor. They arrived a few days after Thanksgiving and since that time have seen several Home Bible Studies taught, several new visitors, 6 people filled with the Holy Ghost, and 6 baptized in Jesus Name.
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We received a call from one of our members who had not been able to be in church for several weeks due to a back injury, and was having s o m e financial difficulty as a result. He told his pastor that He remembered a man preaching many years before who had been in his situation had given $1,000 to God. As a result God had taken care of all that man’s need. The brother said he felt to do the same thing. He had made that decision 2 days prior to his pastor calling him, and the next day in the mail he had received a letter from the hospital that told him that his bill of over $71,000 was no longer his obligation; they were writing the bill off the records. In January the church in Prineville was in need of a pastor and even had to close for 2 months until Bro. and Sis. Keith Whorton, from California became pastor. They had 1 remaining member of the church. Their first service was on Easter Sunday with an attendance of 25 (which included 11 from a neighboring church). Since that time they have set a record attendance of 28 on Mother’s Day, and are currently averaging 18. In just 4 months they have seen 1 receive the Holy Ghost, 1 baptized in Jesus Name, and 9 recommit their lives back to God and involved in the church
activities. They sold fireworks this year, borrowing money to do so, and sold out for the first time in the churches history. Wo n d e r f u l things are happening in Prineville with more to come soon! Section 4 would not be the section it is without the wonderful pastors that have served faithfully here for many years. Bro. Steve Johnson, and Bro. Randy Langley have both been a great help to the new pastors in this section and God is doing great things in their ministries. Bro Langley reports that last year they had 4 receive the Holy Ghost, and 15 were baptized in Jesus Name. This year so far they have seen 3 baptized, and 3 receive the Holy Ghost. They are reaching out in their community making an impact upon the police and sheriff’s departments, medical clinics, the Klamath Youth and Development Center, and the Birthing Center at the local hospital. They entered the 4th of July parade with a decorated float and won first place! Bro. Steve Johnson reports that
a family they are reaching out to took in a 17 year old young man to live with them. He had received a broken collar bone and broken ribs from his father prior to his arrival. The young man began to attend services at the Bend church and was recently baptized in Jesus Name! Bro. Johnson is teaching him a Bible study as well as in his 8th year of teaching Bible studies in the city of Madras, and has started one in the city of Fossil, with the goal of starting churches there. Central Oregon is on fire with revival! God is doing great things here in our churches, yet we have so much more to do for the kingdom. Matthew 9:38 says, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” KJV We need men who will allow God to perform His will in their lives by answering the call to Central Oregon.◊ ____________________________ Kevin Seibold is the pastor of Redmond Heights Pentecostals in Redmond, Oregon. He also serves as the Section 4 North American Missions Director for the Oregon District.
July 2012 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 13
Teens: What About All This
Modesty
Stuff?
By David Reynolds
“And it came to pass in an evening tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon” 2 Samuel 11:2 “Why all the fuss about my clothes—or the lack of them?” If you have noticed [and I’m sure you have] –men and women are not the same. We certainly do not look alike. We do not think alike, we do not value the same things and we do not react alike. If you do not know all this by now—you certainly will learn it after you are married.
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“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” Genesis 1:27. It was a ‘God thing’ –not a ‘Man thing’. God did not create ‘Adam and Steve’--He made Adam and Eve. Adam did not need a duplicate, he needed someone to compliment and complete him. We now live in a ‘unisex’ world. The feminist movement has impacted our culture with the idea that we are all alike; but the more scientist have studied humankind—the more the evidence that male and female are very different –physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually. As Christians we need to celebrate and glory in our unique sexuality. Many Christians have given in to this world’s trend and dress in clothes that are not distinctive. In most nations of the world one can identify which restroom to use by the symbol on the door—dresses on the women, and pants on the men. God’s Word is very plain in male and female uniqueness--by the style of hair. Short hair on males and long hair on females. [I Corinthians 11]
modest apparel. If the dress is too revealing or is too tight it will attract the eyes of all the men around her. Our society knows this and uses this ‘weakness’ in men to sell all kinds of merchandise. Have you noticed the magazines at the checkouts –all those nearly nude pictures are not by chance. Girls-- Do not be the cause of a man’s lust. Men can also draw attention to their bodies by overly tight pants—or pants that are suggestive, by allowing them to droop down.
without dishonor; for God will judge and punish the unchaste and adulterous” Hebrews 13:4 [Amplified] Young men, also, need to understand, that girls are stimulated sexually through romance and soft touch. Christian young men must limit areas of touch, the amount of touching –including deep kissing until marriage. Holding hands and showing affection is natural –for those engaged to be married.
“I made a covenant with mine In our scripture text we find King eyes; why then should I think David, who should have been at upon a maid?” Job 31:1. war with his army, walking on his “I will behave myself wisely in roof-top in the evening. He looks a perfect way. O when wilt thou over the wall and sees Bathsheba come unto me? I will walk within undressed and bathing herself. my house with a perfect heart. I What God made beautiful to will set no wicked thing before attract her husband -- produced mine eyes: I hate the work of them lust in the heart of another man. that turn aside; it shall not cleave David’s lust led to adultery, to me” Psalm 101:2,3.◊ which then led to murder. This ____________________________ sin became the pivotal point of David Reynolds has been his life. This sin influenced and the Minister of Disciplereproduced itself in his family and ship at Portland Pentedefined the rest of his reign. costals since 2007. He is a Bathsheba, very likely, was graduate of Conquerors innocent –yet the story illustrates Bible College, Cascade the power of a woman’s body upon College, Portland State University and post a man. Young ladies –keep your graduate work at the University of Oregon. There is another issue that body as gift for your ‘special’ life He served as a teacher, assistant Principle & needs to be addressed. Men and companion. Sex, within marriage Principle. Since retiring from public education women are stimulated sexually, is beautiful. “Let marriage be he has traveled extensively to over 37 coundifferently. Men are sexually held in honor –esteemed worthy, tries preaching & teaching in Bible Schools simulated primarily through precious, of a great price and and has written several books on Education, the eye gate. This is why we especially dear –in all things, And The Family & Parenting. advise young ladies to wear thus the marriage bed is to be kept
July 2012 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 15