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Bishop Clyde R. Stephens Jurisdictional Bishop State of Alabama Victory Praise Fellowship International Bishop Joie Johnson Presiding Bishop
www.lightoftheworld.us 3
PHOTO CREDIT B. STEPHENS
BISHOP CLYDE STEPHENS – A VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS BY T WILLIAMS
Bishop Clyde R. Stephens has been doing Street Evangelism for over 38 years. He started out in the streets of Oakland California and San Francisco in the early 80s then he moved to Denver Colorado and ministered there for 10 years. After 10 years of Street Evangelism in Denver Colorado Bishop Stephens was led to relocate to Atlanta Georgia and has been doing Street Evangelism in Atlanta for more than 23 years. He believes that as the Body of Christ we have forgotten some of the key things needed to do effective ministry which is prayer and evangelism. Bishop stated that we have to go back and begin to witness. For him he believes that he has a John the Baptist call on his life and has a call to go out and share the word of God on the streets.
Everyone may not be able to do it like he does but he encourages all believers to go out and do as Jesus said and go into all the world and preach the gospel so that those who are lost can be saved. Bishop Stephens went on to say that we have to be the warriors in the Kingdom of God remembering that only what we do for Christ will last. You may reach Bishop Clyde R. Stephens (Jurisdictional Bishop for State of Alabama) at www.lightoftheworldnetwork.us
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INSURANCE FOR PASTORS BY J. MEEKS
If you’re looking for a way to take care of your pastor’s health care expenses, you have a few options. When group health insurance isn’t an option, many small businesses and churches offer a health insurance stipend for health care costs. These churches simply offer the pastor a certain amount of money that the pastor can then use to spend on whatever health care services they like. While this option is probably the easiest, there are several disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage is that the health care stipend would be taxable income and therefore wouldn’t be tax-free for your church or for the pastor. If your church has more than one employee, you can apply for group health insurance in any state. Some states also allow you to apply for group health insurance even if your solo pastor is the only employee. Given the rising cost of group health insurance, though, this isn’t always an option for churches.
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INSURANCE FOR PASTORS (continued) BY J. MEEKS
A one-person stand-alone health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) is a good option if your solo pastor is your only employee. This benefit would allow you to reimburse your solo pastor up to a set allowance each month, tax-free. Another advantage of the one-person stand-alone HRA is that the recipient can use their allowance only on health care expenses, so you can be sure they're using it correctly. If your church has other employees aside from the solo pastor or is growing, a qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement (QSEHRA) is a great fit. The QSEHRA allows you to help your employees with their health care expenses, including individual insurance premiums. With this benefit, employees purchase the health services they need and you reimburse them for it tax-free up to their set allowance. If you’ve found that traditional group health insurance is not an option for your church and you need the tax savings you wouldn’t get with an informal stipend, a reimbursement benefit like the one-person stand-alone HRA or the QSEHRA is a great option. Both you and your solo pastor will save on taxes, your pastor will get their preferred insurance coverage, and you’ll be able to adjust the amount you offer based on your budget. 10
VBS 2019 Themes The VBS 2019 themes are here! Explore the most trusted new Vacation Bible School programs for 2019 and learn about each theme. We have overviews, videos, music samples, and special offers on starter kits. Our team is here to walk with you from theme selection to post-VBS followup, with the best tools, products, and advice. Everything VBS...From Start to Finish.
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Learn about and compare every course, see what's inside every kit, get easy-to-use order forms for every theme, plus get exclusive tips you won't find anywhere else...and it's all free! 11
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PHOTO CREDIT GOOGLE PHOTO
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LUKE 10:1-12 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE PERSONAL EVANGELISM BY JIM ERWIN
The process of personal evangelism is described in these verses. There are a variety of ways in which we can share the Gospel. We can start with the most impersonal fashion or form and move to the most personal. IMPERSONAL TO PERSONAL STEPS OF EVANGELISM SPECTRUM 1.Hosting an event at the church 2.Reaching out to the community 3.Sunday School 4.Going door-to-door 5.Personal evangelism PROCESS OF PERSONAL EVANGELISM 1. Pray (Luke 10:2) “He told them: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2, HCSB) The reality is that there will always be more lost people than Christians who want to share the Gospel. Anyone who says that we have reached everyone is wrong. Every successive needs to reach their generation. Because of this reality, we need to pray. Jesus said to pray for workers. Because He knows that we don’t want to work in sharing the Gospel. He knows that we are lazy. If we can get away with most impersonal form of evangelism, we will do it. So we need to pray for workers.
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LUKE 10:1-12 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE PERSONAL EVANGELISM… BY JIM ERWIN
2. Go (Luke 10:3) “Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves.” (Luke 10:3, HCSB) The way is dangerous and so are the people whom we will meet. Not everyone is open to the Gospel. Many are hostile to it. 3. Trust (Luke 10:4) “Don’t carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road.” (Luke 10:4, HCSB) God wants us to trust Him. We don’t just trust people – they may detract us. We don’t just trust products – they may prevent us. We trust in God. He will provide the way to share the Gospel. There are mechanisms, models, and methods which work. Some work better in different environments than others. 4. Remain (Luke 10:5-8) “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t be moving from house to house. When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you.” (Luke 10:5–8, HCSB) 18
The process here from Jesus is to find someone who is receptive to Gospel – a man of peace. Someone who is not hostile to the Gospel. From this home, you go out to other people and share the Gospel. The disciples would stay at this home of the man of peace. They would trust him to provide and pay for what the disciples needed. It is a strategic decision. When it comes to personal evangelism, you don’t trust everyone. You find people who are receptive to the Gospel. People who will let you in. People who will let you share the Gospel. They will give you hospitality and a hearing of the Gospel. Jesus never said that everyone would accept you. As a matter of fact, later He will warn that there will be whole towns which will not be receptive. That is true in every context (Luke 10:10-12). “When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘We are wiping off as a witness against you even the dust of your town that clings to our feet. Know this for certain: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.” (Luke 10:10–12, HCSB)
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5. Share (Luke 10:9) You share two things: you share (1) God’s power and (2) your testimony God will use you. You earn the right to share the Gospel. Maybe you prayed for healing for someone, or you provided a meal to someone. Once you have provided a need, people will be open to hear about spiritual things. You get the chance to share the Gospel. “Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’” (Luke 10:9, HCSB) There will be people who won’t accept the Gospel. You watch for people who will not accept the Gospel. You still share the Gospel with them, even if they won’t accept it. But you don’t worry about it. Just warn them.
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6. Warn (Luke 10:10-12) “When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘We are wiping off as a witness against you even the dust of your town that clings to our feet. Know this for certain: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.” (Luke 10:10–12, HCSB) Now you are not responsibility about what the people do with the Gospel. You are responsible with sharing the Gospel. If they don’t accept the Gospel, then you warn them. It doesn’t mean you rain down fire and brimstone on their homes. You warn the people that they have a right to hear the good news of Jesus. You warn them that Jesus is coming back and that time is short. Jesus said that Sodom will receive a more positive review from God than this community that won’t listen. It is great privilege to have the chance to hear the gospel shared with you. “I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.” (Luke 10:12, HCSB) The warning is for the people who don’t accept the Gospel that comes from personal evangelism.
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g3conference.com
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The Auxiliaries in Ministry (AIM) Convention, the annual summer convention of the Church of God In Christ, Inc., is geared toward spiritual enrichment, training, education and fellowship. The goal of AIM is effectiveness in ministry. The Convention, a family involvement experience, brings together five auxiliaries of the Church: Music and Youth, Missions and Evangelism and Sunday School, as they share three conventions in one setting. The triad conventions operate simultaneously during the week in day sessions, and unite each evening for a combined session.
WWW.COGIC.ORG/AIM 24
www.ministryvoice.com
The ABC's Of The Bible BY David Padfield A is for Abraham, the father of the faithful. B is for Baptism, the way believers get into Christ. C is for Christ who died on the Cross. D is for the Deacons who serve in the Lord's church. E is for the Elders who oversee the work of the church. F is for Faith which comes from hearing the word of God. G is for God who created this world. H is for the Holy Spirit who revealed God's word. I is for the Israelites who were God's chosen people. J is for Jerusalem, where the church was established. K is for the three great Kings of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon. L is for the Love God showed when He gave His only Son. M is for Moses who led God's people out of Egypt.
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The ABC's Of The Bible continued‌ BY David Padfield N is for the Narrow road which leads to heaven. O is for our Obedience which pleases God. P is for Peter and Paul who preached God's word. Q is for the Quaking of the mountains when God gave the Law. R is for the Rainbow God gave Noah after the Flood.
S is for Satan, the enemy of God's people. T is for the Ten Commandments given to Moses at Mt. Sinai. U is for the Unity of God's people. V is for the Victory that will be ours. W is for the Word of God revealed in the Bible. X is for the Exodus of God's people from Egypt to Canaan. Y is for the Young who must always remember God. Z is for the Zeal shown by Christians.
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Grants for Pastors T. Gipson
Photo Credit/Google Photos
Grants for Pastors Campus Ministry Theological Exploration of Vocation is a nationwide initiative to help campus ministries working to support the intellectual and spiritual exploration of vocation with public university students. The campus ministries reflect diverse Christian traditions, and their programs take a variety of approaches, including faithsharing groups, mentoring, internships, and national and international travel experiences, among others. Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) is a leadership incubator that inspires young people to make a difference in the world through Christian communities. Since its founding in 1954, FTE has promoted resources, events, networks, grants and fellowships to cultivate leaders, pastors and theological educators. FTE provides a forum through which gifted, purposeful students, young adults and partners explore their passion, purpose and call. 28
Grants for Pastors continued‌ High School Youth Theology Institutes are designed to help students in high school and college explore how God is calling them to meaningful work, including possible careers in professional ministry. Programs based in colleges, universities, congregations, denominational offices, service agencies and youth ministry organizations identify, ignite and cultivate the gifts of future Christian leaders. NetVUE, the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, is a nationwide network of more than 220 colleges and universities formed to enrich the intellectual and theological exploration of vocation among undergraduate students. It seeks to examine the role of vocational exploration in a variety of institutional contexts and share knowledge, best practices and reflection on experiences across participating campuses. NetVUE is administered by the Council of Independent Colleges.
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Vacation Bible School
The Urban Ministries, Inc. (UMI) 2019 Vacation Bible School (VBS) program offers contextualized Christian content that is Bible-based and relevant for preschool, primary, junior, teen and adult students. It is designed to strengthen and prepare students to launch full-blown superhero-like attacks that send the devil running! More now than ever, it is important to truly understand the power of Jesus and how to experience victory. Just like Jesus led the disciples, UMI’s S.T.U. Super Training University with Jesus curriculum will assist in training students of all ages to be more than conquerors—to be superheroes who master the powers of praise, prayer, boldness, truth and justice.
urbanministries.com
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Hey There! My name is Martika and I’m so happy you decided to stop in at my blog! Coffee Time With Him is a Christian Lifestyle blog where you will find almost anything and everything that deals with life issues. I’m a firm believer in Jesus Christ and I enjoy reading my Bible to find inspiration. In this blog, you will find posts about the hardships Christians face and how to overcome them. Many of the posts are personal experiences of mine that I like to share because I know I’m not the only one going through it. Also on Coffee Time With Him, there will be more posts on other topics such as relationships, blogging, lifestyles such as food & drink, travel, organization, and much more. So a little about me. I’m a young new wife, who has been married for a year and a half. I’ve met my husband in college at the age of 19. He too is a Christ-believer. Our relationship with Christ has been so wonderful and meaningful that I feel I’ve known him my whole life. When I first met him, at that time I wasn’t interested in dating anyone. A friend of ours had introduced us and right away she said: “You two are going to get married”. I thought she was crazy but, 4 years later we said our “I do’s”. WWW.COFFEETIMEWITHHIM.COM
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Community spot Community It's more than a video player. It's an agreeing-in-prayer, real-life, aroundthe-world community builder. With Chat, Live Prayer, and synced video streaming, Church Online Platform is all about doing church together. Simplicity spot Simplicity By drawing the components together into one easy-to-manage tool, the Church Online Platform makes it possible for churches of every size to reach the world for Christ.
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