The Early 1900’s JOHN REVEREND SCHAEPE

Reverend John Schaepe, the year 1903 in Hawaii without Christ in his life and unable to find work decided to commit a crime. There on the waterfront of Honolulu a mugging was about to take place as a sea captain was soon to pass him. John with a 38-caliber pistol on his person ready to excute his plan, was stopped by God who had another plan for his life. A sound struck his ears, a sound of music, and instead of executing a crime, he followed that sound and found a Salvation Army Mission. There he heard testimonies that made him desire “a better way of living.” He returned to his room where he was converted and then quickly joined the Salvation Army.

On February 3, 1906 Schaepe testifies that God “baptized me with the Holy Ghost,” and he spoke in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. This would have placed his experience occurred prior to the Azusa Street revival. It is probable, however, that it was actually in 1907 when he received his “baptism,” since he was apparently working in Southern California, breaking horses, at the time the revival broke in Los Angeles.

April, 1913 at the Apostolic Faith World-Wide camp meeting held in the Arroyo Seco valley of Los Angeles, while the young minister Schaepe listened, heard Robert E. McAlister revelation sermon. McAlister observed that in the Book of Acts, the apostles always baptized the newly converted, “in the name of Jesus Christ.” He emphasized that the Matthew 28:19 Trinitarian formula was not used. After hearing this revelation knowledge concerning the baptism in Jesus’ name, Schaepe was sufficiently inspired by the message that he spent the entire night in prayer. Toward morning, this “would-be preacher” raced throughout the camp shouting out his revelation on the power of the name of Jesus. The “revelation” on baptism, that the “name” of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was “Lord Jesus Christ.”

The name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost was the name Lord Jesus Christ which name was part of the baptismal command posited by Peter in Acts 2:38 - i.e., baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ”- was the fulfillment and counterpart of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 constituting baptism “in the name (singular) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (which “name” Oneness believers hold to be that of Jesus.)”

This conclusion was accepted by several others in the camp and given further theological development by a minister named Frank J. Ewart who came to accept it, were rebaptized, and began to share their beliefs from the pulpit. Out of these beginnings came the Oneness Pentecostal movement.

In 1917, Schaepe was living just blocks from the Arroyo Seco comp ground at 6340 Arroyo Seco Avenue. He remained in that general area, moving a short distance to 3810 Eagle Rock Boulevard, where he remained until his death. He is buried in Valhalla Cemetery in Burbank, California.

(To be noted: the name Schaepe is often misspelled Scheppe in a number of sources)

References:

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 1916-2015 (100th Convention Celebration) Souvenir book apostolicarchives.com

APOSTOLIC ARCHIVES INTERNATIONAL INC.

The Bible Trinity, and Matthew 28:19 & Nicaea and the Nicene Council of AD 325

By Rev. Marvin M. Arnold, D.D., Th.D.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that all translated versions of the Bible are not equal. For example, when we consider one of the most continuous controversial Scripture of the Bible, Matthew 28:19 which states:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” is still under so much scrunity and debate among monotheistc and trinitarian believers. This difference of belief in doctrinial teaching has caused great division in Christendom that has occurred because of it. Why? Many believe these were the spoken words of Jesus, Himself.

However, a man by the name of Shem-Tob was a Hebrew who possessed an ancient Hebrew Gospel of Matthew that dates to early time. Shem-Tob’s Hebrew Book of Matthew is the most accurate text of the First Gospel now existing. It contains a fullness of readings that are not in any of the Catholic Greek Bibles. Its fullness of monotheistic reading adds to its immense value. This book underwent a different process of transmission than the Greek, since Jews preserved it, and thus independent from the Catholic Community. (George Howard, Hebrew Gospel of Matthew, Mercer Uni Press, Georgia, 1995, p.190). When we say independent it is meant Catholic scribes did not have access to it, it was in Jewish hands and protection.

Therefore, this Scripture reads as follows in the Hebrew Book of Matthew: [Matthew 28:16-20] states:

“(16) After this when his twelve disciples came to Galilee he appeared to them in the mountain where they had prayed. (17) When they saw him they worshipped him, but there were some of them who doubted him. (18) Jesus drew near to them and said to them: To me has been given all power in heaven and earth. (19) Go (20) and (teach) them to carry out all the things which I have commanded you forever.”

Verification, that Shem-Tob, F.C. Conybeare, and Eusebius of Caesarea, all verified that St. Matthew 28:19 ended with Jesus’ wording like this: “Go, make disciples of all the nations in My Name, teaching them to keep all things which I have commanded you.” Therefore, no one in the entire Bible was ever baptized using the formula of baptism found in our Bibles today according to Matthew 28:19 so when did the change occur?

The Catholic Church has admitted that its leaders changed the wording in St. Mt. 28:19. It admits that its founders inserted the Triune Titles. The Catholic Encyclopedia II, page 263, states: “The baptismal formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ to the words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by the Catholic Church in the second century.” (Joseph Ratzinger, Introduciton to Christianity, pp. 50-51, 53)

The Lord Jesus of a purely orthodox Hebrew culture would not have uttered a plural Godhead sentence like Mt. 28:19, it would have conflicted with singleness of the Godhead in Isaiah 43:11 and Deut. 6:4. Even today the pious Jews consider the Trinity Godhead and the Triune baptismal Formula in Matthew to be blasphemous.

DIOCESAN BISHOP ELLIS FARRINGTON, OBE, CM, JP

A Man Called, Chosen and Sent by GOD

“Be thou faithful until Death and I will give you a Crown of Life.” Revelation 2:10

Bishop Ellis James Farrington was born to the proud parentage of Victoria Farrington nee Leadon and Robert James Farrington on 8th September, 1934, in the settlement of Cargill Creek, Andros.

BISHOP’S FAMILY

Bishop Farrington married his life partner Mother Daisy Farrington nee Mackey of Bowen Sound Andros in 1955. They were married for 67 years. This union were blessed with twelve (12) children. Carolyn Farrington, Philip Farrington, Minister Rosalie Farrington Wilkinson, Victoria Mackey Farrington, Suffragan Bishop Dr. Sharon Rolle, District Elder Ellis Farrington, Evangelist Sharmie Farrington, Suffragan Bishop Dr. Anthony Farrington, Pastor Derek Farrington, Arnette Farrington, Kenwood Farrington, and Kirkwood Farrington. Bishop and Mother Daisy considers District Elder Dr. Roosevelt Kamiller Whyms as a blood son.

Call And Sent By God To Sacred Ministry

Bishop Ellis Farrington began to evangelize by boat and foot, the next settlement, Bowen Sound. He walked 9 miles through the sea at low tide many times to reach his destination. He suffered great hardship and personal prosecution but preserved for 8 years as an Evangelist transporting the faith and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to that Settlement. This was especially hard since his Mother-in-Law was a staunch Anglican Catechist. He often endured death threats and his siblings often became very concerned for his life. However, the Lord granted him favor with his father-inlaw and some of his brothers-in-law and after eight years of hard work, he established the Bowen Sound Pentecostal Church, Bowen Sound Andros, Bahamas in 1967.

CHOSEN TO BUILD THE LORD’S WORK

While Bishop was training and working as a Captain the oneness Apostolic Movement came to Andros Island. His older uncle Austin Leadon had moved to Nassau. His uncle worshipped with Bishop Simeon and David Dawkins. While in Nassau the Lord spoke to the Late Pastor Austin Leadon to come back home to Andros. Bishop Farrington and his older Uncle, the Late Pastor Austin Leadon, his brother Bruce Farrington and others accommodated the Late Bishop Ellington Forbes, Late Bishop David Dawkins and others who came to establish the faith in Cargill Creek, Andros. The first Church Little Power House was built from the pine forest.

Bishop Ellis Farrington wanted his elder cousin Wilfred ‘Preacher’ Mackey to lead the church but Preacher insisted that he would follow Bishop Farrington. He served as Assistant Pastor under the Pastorship of his Uncle Pastor Austin Leadon. Bishop Farrington had a great desire to spread the faith. He turned the Assistant Pastorship to his brother Bruce Farrington who became the Assistant Pastor.

Bishop Farrington along with his brother Suffragan Bishop Bruce Farrington, Suffragan Bishop Wilfred Mackey, Bothers-in-Laws District Elder Thomas Mackey and Assistant Pastor Nathaniel Mackey became known as the “Jesus Only” People. Their names became synonymous with the “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” movement. They turned the Andros Community upside down with their fiery and charismatic sermons.

Bishop noticed an outstanding brother in the Church who he viewed as a potential leader, and they built the Highway Pentecostal Church. Elder Nathaniel Curtis was ordained as Pastor of that Church, in Blanket Sound Andros.

An opportunity presented itself to establish the work in BARC Community, North Andros and he established the worked under the Pastorship of another outstanding religious son, District Elder Wilfred Mackey. Further, he established New Highway Pentecostal Church under the Pastorship of his Cousin Pastor Dolly and Leroy Hanna.

Bishop David Dawkins, appreciated and noticed the valuable contribution of Bishop Farrington, therefore, when the opportunity came to promote to the Office of Suffragan Bishop, Bishop Dawkins, without reservation, promoted him to the Office of Suffragan Bishop citing his loyalty, commitment and accomplishments within the Diocese.

In 2003, Diocesan Bishop Farrington started a work in Nassau. Transformation Ministries was established in January, 2003 under the leadership of his daughter Suffragan Bishop Dr. Sharon Rolle and his son District Elder Ellis Farrington and along with his adopted son District Elder Roosevelt Whyms established Faith In Christ, Long Island.

Bishop Ellis Farrington, sat as the Chairman of the Andros District Council over 48 years.

In that capacity he overseed five (5) churches in Andros, Bahamas. Further, he also served as the President of The Andros Christian Council. He is a respected member of The Bahamas Christian Council and his advice was often sought on national issues.

He was mentored and worked very closely with Bishop David Dawkins who sought his advice in resolving complex religious issues. In 2007, he was elevated as Diocesan Bishop of The Bahamas State Council of the Pentecostal Assemblies of The World at their summer Convention in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Under his leadership the Council spread to Turks and Caicos, Florida and Jamaica. In 73 years he never missed more than one Annual General Convention and Council Meeting.

Diocesan Bishop Farrington was a man of outstanding spiritual legacy. He passed this legacy onto his children. His children remain dedicated to the building up of the Kingdom of GOD. Among his household are seven ordained spiritual leaders: Suffragan Bishop Dr. Sharon Rolle, Suffragan Bishop Dr. Anthony Farrington, District Elder Ellis Farrington, District Elder Roosevelt Kamiller Whyms, Senior Pastor Derek Farrington, Evangelist Sharmie Austin, and Minister Rosalie Farrington

A Chosen Man Of God

Many are called but few are chosen. Bishop Farrington was a CHOSEN man of GOD. The hand of GOD on his life was evident. He walked humbly before GOD. GOD was with him. His character was unblemished.

There is no question that Bishop Farrington was a stalwart of the faith. His name will be added to the Hall of fame of faith alongside Abraham and the faithful saints. He was a friend of GOD.

SUNSET - A CALL BACK TO THE SEA AND GLORY!

As it is in the beginning. So shall it be in the end.

On Sunday, 9th of October, 2022, Bishop Farrington heard another call and he returned to his beloved sea. He told the church on that day that GOD had visited him Saturday 8th October, the night before. He said GOD changed everything. He said he wanted a big celebration and he wanted everyone to come. Later that day, he insisted that he be taken to Adelaide Beach. Carried away by a wave of Glory. Bishop was pronounced dead at 4:55pm.

There is a new name written down in GLORY!

Mission accomplished!