2023 Fall Newsvine

THE NEWSVINE

Every page an altar to His works!”

FALL 2023 REVIVAL CHURCH

UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

825 7th Street, Modesto, CA 95354 Business Phone: 209-522-5365

email us at thenewsvine@gmail.com

google us at: the newsvine or follow us on: issuu.com/thenewsvine

EDITORS

BUSINESS LIAISON

CHURCH LIAISON

GRAPHIC DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHERS

CREATIVE TEAM

LEO AGUILERA

VIRGINIA AGUILERA

Charlene Wilson

Lindsay Castro

Leo & Virginia Aguilera

Leo Aguilera and Creative Team

Joshua Aguilera, Jocelyn Powell, Alexis Diaz, Autumn Amador, MaKayla Johnson, Devina Aguirre, Emma Zuniga, Angel Torres Colin, Russ Campbell, Andrew Mazon, Brooke Montes, and assisted by Vaughn Mellow

Recently, it was an extremely trying season for our church. Unexpectedly, we lost to glory two of the most faithful, well-loved godly men in our church: Brothers Mark Fletcher and Floyd Havner. They passed within a week's time of each other. In this issue, we include memorials to each of these great men, men who faithfully served with dedication, prayer, and integrity. We will miss them both, but celebrate that they have finished their race.

COLUMNIST

YOUTH REPORTER MAILINGS DISTRIBUTION

Carol Castillo

Alexis Diaz

Virginia Aguilera

Norbert Feliciano

CHURCH STAFF

PASTOR H. TODD JOHNSON

BISHOP RANDY G. KEYES

ADMINISTRATIVE PASTOR - JONATHAN QUINONES

CHURCH SECRETARY - CHARLENE WILSON

CHURCH MINISTERS

RESIDENT MISSIONARIES

SPANISH MINISTRY

STREAMING MINISTRY

HYPHEN

GROWTH TRACK

Matthew Aguirre

David Amador

Dana Le’Blanc

Noah Wells

STUDENT PASTORS

MUSIC MINISTRY

K.R.E.W. KID’S MINISTRY

B.U.F.F. (MEN 50+)

PRAYER MINISTRIES

LIFE GROUPS

APOSTOLIC MAN MINISTRY

MATURE LADIES MINISTRY

NURSING HOME MINISTRY

BIBLE QUIZZING

PUBLIC RELATIONS

LIGHTING, GRAPHIC ARTS

Uday Narayan, Xenn Seah

Antonio & Gloria Gutierrez

Joshua & Jeannette Aguilera

Chris & Lindsay Castro

Moses Burciaga

Jerry Powell

Jeremiah Williams

Vinnie Zapien

Tim & Jeriann Montes

Kellee Hopper, Matt Aguirre

Nancy Holston, Tim Montes

Sujay Diaz, Mary Aguirre

Herb Jenkins

Charles & Joyce Bispo

Jonathan Quinones

Alex Diaz

Joyce Jones

Joyce Jones

Joshua Williams

Jeremiah Williams

MaKayla Johnson

SERVICE TIMES

SUNDAY - 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m.

MONDAY - 7:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY - 7:00 p.m.

THURSDAY - 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY - 7:00 p.m.

SATURDAY - 10:00 a.m.

Spanish/Service - Youth Chapel

Pre-service Prayer

Morning Service - Sanctuary, KREW

Growth Track - Youth Chapel

All-Church Prayer

Mid-Week Service, KREW

Spanish Service

Revive Youth Service

Saturday Morning Outreach

THE NEWSVINE is published quarterly (first week of January, April, July, October) by Revival Church, United Pentecostal Church, 825 7th Street, Modesto, CA 95354-3414. Any submitted articles to The Newsvine are subject to pastor’s approval and editing by The Newsvine staff.

Celebrating thirty-four years of publication ministry, The Newsvine's cover story this issue is the honoring of Bishop Randy G. Keyes by the United Pentecostal Church, International. He was awarded, at a luncheon during General Conference, the Order of Faith for his "outstanding achievement and exemplary service to the UPCI." His remarkable biography is included, along with photos. Congratulations, Bishop Keyes, for an honor well-deserved.

Along with coverage of the many events and activities of Revival Church is the miraculous--and I truly mean miraculous--healing of Brother Oscar Hernandez. Given virtually a death sentence by his doctor, God heard his desperate prayer and that of others and intervened, completely eradicating the cancer! Whose report will you believe? I will believe the report of the Lord!

Featured also in this issue is a report from Elder Chacko Thomas, pastor of many churches in India, about his recent trip to Fiji. You will rejoice to read, that many years after Elder Uday Narayan's first missionary trip to Fiji occured, the churches are still going strong. Praise God!

Be sure not to miss Carol Castillo's article titled, "Sometimes Miracles Hide." We are blessed to have such a gifted writer on our staff.

In this issue there is a reminder of this year's Missions Conference, complete with dates and times. This conference is open to all RC members, daughter works, granddaughter works, and to anyone else who wants to attend. Don't miss this great event!

Although we honor many individuals in this publication, all glory and honor goes to the one true God, Jesus Christ who is "above all, and through all, and in you all." For 34 years, we have tried to fulfill this mission, and God has blessed us all the way. Thank you, Lord. Marantha! The Lord is coming!

ALL CHRISTIANS NEED TO KNOW: HOW BIG IS YOUR STONE?

THE BURDEN OF THE ACCUSED

It is one of the most affecting narratives in the New Testament, a most beautiful rendering of Christ's grace and compassion.

In John 8:1-11, Jesus is teaching to an audience in the Temple in Jerusalem when a group of scribes and Pharisees bring before Him a woman caught in the very act of adultery. They allude to the law of Moses that she must be condemned and stoned to death. They ask Him, "But what sayest thou?" This is a question they hope will entrap Him. If He shows mercy and pardon, the audience He has been teaching will make an outcry that the Law does not pardon her. If He agrees with the Pharisees to execute her, then He will contradict His own teachings to show mercy and love and even take the risk of being arrested by the Roman authorities, for they only can legally perform executions in Judea at the time. Instead, Jesus stoops down and begins writing in the dust of the ground, seemingly ignoring their persistence. What He writes, the Bible does not reveal. He then stops, raises Himself up, faces her accusers and pronounces the words that have echoed through the centuries: "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (NAS) He again stoops down and continues writing on the ground. The Bible says her accusers become convicted of their conscience, and in a most peculiar fashion, from the eldest to the youngest, they walk away, leaving her and Christ alone. If they had stones in their hands and released them, the sound of stones hitting the ground must have caused the heart of the woman to pound in profound relief. Christ then rises, looks around and asks her, "Woman where are your accusers? Has no man condemned thee?" He is making reference to the Law of Moses that the witnesses who caught her in the act must cast the first stones. She responds, "No man, Lord." Jesus then answers her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

Christ did forgive her, and did not condemn her if she on her part followed the true act of contrition with his command to "go and sin no more." She was free to have a new start in her life, a pass to live more righteously. I like to connect her with the unnamed woman in Luke

7:36-50 who came to Jesus in the house of Simon, the Pharisee, and anointed His feet with tears of sorrow and seeking forgiveness. This is not Mary who would do the same thing to Jesus after He raised her brother Lazarus from the grave mentioned in the book of John, chapter 12. This unnamed woman could be the adulteress woman who now is formally asking forgiveness, or this is another unknown woman who also sinned in the flesh. The Pharisee Simon tells Jesus He should thrust her away for she is a sinner. But Jesus admonishes him to leave her be, for her sins are many. Then Jesus turns to her and says, '"Thy sins are forgiven, thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

THE BURDEN OF THE STONE

There are many lessons that can be learned from the story of Jesus and the adulteress, and it is necessary and obligatory that we look at her accusers. Theologians speculate that Jesus wrote on the ground the names of

19th century Gustave Dore etching of "Jesus and the Adulterous Woman"

the accusers and their sins equal to that of hers. Some say her accusers themselves had committed the same sin as her and Christ reminded them. Regardless, the question Christ asked them was soul-searching and piercing to their inner core and sinful nature. They became convicted and walked away.

We Christians today must never take on the role of accusers, whether our targets are of the brethren, the members of the church, or those outside the church. The Lord spoke against taking on robes of self-righteousness. We must all remember we are all sinners and Christ died for all of us. The Lord loves the saved and the unsaved. We who are saved are the children of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the unsaved are God's children of the earth whom we must love and seek to save. The House of God is for the saint and sinner alike. Both should be welcome by the body of Christ. Never should the church be an exclusive club for members only. Dead religion will be the result.

Jesus referred to the stone ready to be thrown at the adulteress woman. The Lord reminded each of the accusers that if he had no sin, he had the right to take the first throw. All Christians are not free from sin. We can sin everyday. If we weighed our sins with the size of the stone some of us are so eager to throw at others, we may not have the strength to lift up that rock. The recognition of sin and weaknesses in others is not an excuse to calling them out publicly or in gossip circles. "If you have anything bad to say about anyone, I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW IT!" Wow! Such a remark should not be among us. Paul says in Romans 2:1 (NIV), "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Character assassination can kill a soul. There is a lot to contemplate in an old saying from the South: "Murder starts in the heart, and its first weapon is a vicious tongue!" We must strive to show kindness and compassion to the sinner and lovingly show him or her the way to an altar of repentance, as the Lord did for each of us. Showing contempt to a sinner contradicts how Christ saved us: "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, and realizing God's kindness leads you towards repentance?" Romans 2:4 (NIV). As Christ forgave us, we can forgive others and do so with patience, compassion and KINDNESS!

How we witness to others determines the success of conversion. Our first mission field is our home. Our immediate family, then relatives, and finally close friends

watch us and look to us for love, acceptance, companionship, fellowship, and spiritual guidance. If we are a blessing to them, they will show their gratitude because of the patience and kindness we show them. Yes, it may take months and maybe years before they respond to our witness for the gospel, but they will cherish our attention and above all our prayers when they are requested.

A FINAL WARNING!

You will lose the power and even the anointing of your witness with unkind words, contention, interfering with unwelcome barbs, taking sides between unsaved loved ones, causing strife, hypocrisy, vicious slander, and unbridled anger. Such iniquities adds to the weight of your stone. You have no right to throw it at anyone. A backslidden son or daughter, an unsaved spouse, a worldly cousin, or a non-believing friend will never respond toward an altar of repentance if they witness the aforementioned coming from you. It is not our place to cause anyone to feel rejection or pain.

Treat others the way you want to be treated. As Roman 12:10 says, " Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." And we must adhere to the words of our Lord and Savior in John 13:35: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Let us remember His Great Commandment in Mark 12:31 to "Love thy neighbor as thyself."

So let's all of us put down our stones and raise our hands in praise to our mighty Lord Jesus Christ Who taught us first how to truly love one another.

DETAIL: 1532 painting by Lucas Cranach, the Elder "Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery"

Table of Contents

Guest Preacher - Jeff Morgan

Hyphen Week

Volunteer of the Month - Vinnie Zapien

Back to School Service

Miracle Testimony - Oscar Hernandez

Floyd Havner, in Memoriam

Mark Fletcher, in Memoriam

Wisdom Begins with a Word - Carol Castillo

Logan D'Aquino, 5th at Bible Quizzing Nationals!

Testimony of Faith - Floyd Havner

Bishop Keyes - Honoree of UPCI Order of the Faith

Growth Track - New Director, Moses Burciaga

Life Groups - Mature Ladies & BUFF

Update - Jeremiah Williams, Modesto City Councilmember

Focus on Missions - Elder Chacko Thomas Travels to Fiji

Volunteers of the Month - Joshua & Jeannette Aguilera

RC Ministerio Español

Children's Ministries

Revive Youth

The Word - RC Preachers

We Appreciate our Pastoral Family

Jeff Morgan

"The Wonder of the Insignificant"

"There is a deliverance that CAN ! There is a shout that CAN ! There is a breakthrough that WILL !"

Whata blessing to have Reverend Jeff Morgan, pastor of Hope Center Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas, preach for us in July. Although not the young preacher he was when he was our youth pastor many decades ago, he still preaches with passion and greater anointing. "Don't rule out your life of insignificance," he said. "Don't let what hell has done to you disqualify you. Don't let the mistakes of yesteryear disqualify you. Jesus is able to take the insignificant of your life and set you up in heaven-life places!" It was a powerful message, with a powerful response. Thank you, Pastor Morgan, for your faithful example through the years.

Photos provided by media team and Brother Don Mello

Hyphen Week in July!

Danny & Crystal Gregory

Withgreat anticipation, our college and career young adults awaited Hyphen Week, a special week focused on just them. On Monday night, Danny and Crystal Gregory spoke to the Hyphens about being disciplined and consistent. Tuesday Night was a crazy day at the park, leaving everyone bursting with color. Wednesday night featured Hyphen speakers Chloe Espinoza, Ethan Hunt, and Hailey Torres. Thursday was a night of food, fun, and fellowship. Friday night was a very special service with Pastor Taylor Fairbanks preaching and visitor Draylin Young ministering in music. The week ended with a Q&A session on Saturday morning with Taylor and Mehgan Fairbanks and Draylin Young. Wow! What a week!

Volunteer of the Month

Vinnie Zapien

Vinnie Zapien was recently recognized by Pastor Johnson as July's Volunteer of the Month. "This young man," said Pastor Johnson, "not only is a licensed minister, but he has a servant's heart, and he is willing to help anybody in need." Brother Vinnie is one of the teachers for Growth Track, our weekly Sunday afternoon Bible study class for new and seasoned members of the church. He has also been a public elementary school teacher for many years in Modesto, as his wife. Vinnie and Cindy (pictured above) are valued members of Revivavl Church. We are very thankful for members like Vinnie who are willing to go beyond what is expected. God bless him and his family as they serve the Lord.

Back to School Service

Annually at the start of each school year, our church sets aside a time to pray a covering over our students, teachers, support staff, and administrators. "This is the future of our church," said Pastor Johnson. He said our students need to know there is place they can go to hear the Word of the Lord. "If you ever needed anything to pray about, you need to pray for what you see lined up at this altar and along these walls." He said to pray the blessing of the Lord on their lives. He spoke of all the perverse influences to which that our young people are exposed. "Protect their minds from the lies of the enemy," prayed Pastor Johnson. He urged the church to continue to pray the covering and protection of God over all our students and educators. "God, watch over them, he prayed. Don't let any harm come to them."

Oscar Hernandez' Miracle Healing!

THE IMPOSSIBLE MADE POSSIBLE!

(Editor's note: This is the miraculous testimony of Brother Oscar Hernandez who has been a faithful praise team singer in our main services and worship leader in our Spanish services. He was told by his doctor that he had cancer and had only a short time to live, but God had other plans.)

Almost two months ago, Brother Oscar Hernandez went to the emergency room for a stomach ache. He thought he had food poisoning. He was there about 12 hours in the hospital. "What’s taking so long?" he thought. The doctors did CAT scans and checked everything. At about 3:00 in the morning the doctor came in with a serious look. He asked if Oscar is had seen his CT scans yet. Then the doctor said, "I need you to brace yourself. I have really bad news. You have colon cancer. You have a tumor the size of a pool ball in your colon and it is not looking good." Oscar was shocked. "My whole life just shattered into a million pieces," Oscar said. The doctor told him that he has needs to get his family here right now and start to get his affairs in order because it’s not going to be long. Stunned, Oscar asked the doctor if it could be something else wrong with him, that the results could be a mistake. Somberly, the doctor said no. The radiologist checked the scans three times, and was certain it was cancer. Oscar called his wife. "I was in disbelief and shock," he said. They set him up with an oncologist to determine what stage the cancer was in and to let him me know how long he had to live. Oscar called everyone to pray. His good friend Brother Keenon Rochester who, himself was healed from serious health issues, sent him a special scripture--Psalm 27. When Oscar started reading this passage, he felt was taken aback. " I studied it, talked about it, and preached about it, but it never meant so much to me before," he said. This is how he interpreted this Psalm for his dilemna.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation. The Lord is the stronghold of my life, whom shall I be afraid. When the cancer advances against me to devour me, it is my enemies and foes who will stumble and fall. Although an army of cancer cells besiege me, my heart will not fear. Though war breaks out against me, even then I will be confident. But

"I need you to brace yourself. I have really bad news."

one thing I ask of you Lord, and I do seek is that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. I just want to come back to the church to worship you and serve you as much as I can until my last day is up, God. To gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe right here in this church. He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me. At his sacred tent right here in Revival Church I will sacrifice the shouts of joy. They just told me I am about to die and now you want me to shout with joy. How does that even happen? I went back to the scripture: sacrifice with shouts of joy. Sacrifice is something you do, but you really don’t want to do. You’ve got to do it anyway, because something is going to happen. I will sing and make music to the Lord. God, how did you know I am a musician and I sing also in church. God is just speaking to me, right? I will remain confident in this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord be strong and take heart. Wait on the Lord. Help me wait, please, God, I need you to heal me."

leave me alone. I’m praising God." But that joy only lasted a couple of minutes because doubt began to creep in. Needing to be sure, Oscar asked the doctor to double check the results. The doctor told Oscar that he had checked three times. He said, "I already took biopsies of every single part of your colon. You are going to be OK."

Oscar had to wait two more weeks for the results of his biopsies to see if any cancer cells were somehow still lurking in his colon. "I knew God was working something in me," said Oscar. Two weeks later his wife called him with the results of his biopsy. She teasingly said, "I will have to deal with you the rest of my life." The biopsy report came back saying there were no cancerous cells in his body. I didn’t even make it to the cancer doctor for chemo. When the oncologist called, Oscar told him he didn't need him anymore. But this was not the end of Oscar's miracles. While I was praying one day, God spoke to him and said, “I’m barely getting started!"

God spoke to him and said, “I’m barely getting started!"

Weeks passed. Imagine having a death sentence and having to wait weeks to find out what your death sentence will be. And so he waited. Two weeks later he had further tests. When Oscar woke up from the anesthesia, the doctor looked at him with a little smirk on his face and asked, "Are you joking with me?" Oscar asked him, "What’s going on?" The doctor proclaimed, “There’s no cancer!” Oscar confused asked, “What do you mean? How do you miss a tumor that big inside my colon?" The doctor said, “I don’t know what the doctors had seen, but it is not there anymore. It must have disappeared." Overjoyed, Oscar shouted and started speaking in tongues right there in the hospital. "I was screaming and crying and the doctors were asking, 'Are you OK?' I said, just

About 10 years ago, something happened that injured his back. For the past couple of years, his back had really caused him alot of pain. A couple of tumors had grown on his spine which caused him to have great difficulty sleeping. In fact, he was only able to sleep about one hour a night. Exhausted, he started missing a lot of morning church services. He had to stop leading worship for the Spanish morning services because he couldn’t safely drive. He needed and prayed for a miracle. He hung on to God's words to him, "I'm, barely getting started!" Oscar said, "The next thing I know, I woke up at 7:00 in the morning rested, and I’m there leading worship."

I just want to speak to someone today. I want to encourage somebody today whether they’ve been in church for 20 years, or if they’ve been in church two days. Never stop believing in the God of the impossible. There is nothing impossible for God. Nothing is impossible for God! God has the final say. Sometimes the tests in our lives are testimonies.

"I just want to come back to the church to worship you and serve you as much as I can until my last day is up, God."

Floyd

Havner 1946 - 2023

A Man Clothed in Humility

Floyd Havner was born on May 4, 1946, to Lee and Jewel Havner in Danville, Arkansas. He was married for 37 years to his precious wife, Jeanette. He was blessed with six children, one who preceded him in death; 29 grandchildren: and 20 great-grandchildren.

Brother Floyd was a beloved member of Revival Church United Pentecostal Church of Modesto for decades. He was a quiet man, never pushing himself to the forefront. A faithful BUFF member, he attended a fellowship for our church men 50+ just a few days before he was hospitalized. We, the editors, sat behind him and Sister Jeanette in church for years. He was always an active worshiper, even in his latter years when it was more difficult for him. It was common for one of the younger men to put his arm around Brother Floyd's shoulders, and dance for Jesus. He was a father figure for many of our younger men who greatly respected and loved him. Brother Floyd was faithful. It was rare for the Havners to ever miss church, even though physically it must have been difficult for him. Musically, he was gifted. He was known for his outstanding talent on the guitar and other stringed instruments. After he accidentally cut off one of his thumbs, he was unable to play on the guitar, and switched to the steel guitar. You just can't stop the music! After serving on the church board for many years, he and Jeanette were honored as Seniors of the Year. Personally, I used to get aggravated with my husband, because he and Floyd would often whisper during services. Both lovers of the Word, they would often share scriptural insights during the preaching--and sometimes something would tickle their fancy.

Brother Floyd loved his family. He had such a burden for each one of them. Nothing pleased him more than for his family to fill the pew next to him and Jeanette. Thank God for men like Brother Floyd, whose prayers went up like a sweet savor to the Lord.

We grieve your passing as we loved you dearly, Brother Floyd, but we know you are blessing heaven now with your guitar picking and your Holy Ghost dancing. Thank you for your godly example of humility and faithfulness. We carry on until we see you again...

Pastor Johnson recognizes the Havners as Seniors of the Year.

Brother Havner with his musician buddies, Brother Bill Cameron and Brother Paul Winter.

Brother Floyd spent many years faithfully playing his guitar for the choir.

The following are excerpts from what was said by Bishop Randy G. Keyes and Pastor Todd Johnson at Brother Floyd's service. It was obvious that Brother Floyd was deeply loved and respected by both.

Bishop Keyes - The first time Bishop Keyes met Brother Floyd was when they both were attending Bible College at Western Apostolic Bible College in Stockton. Bishop Keyes was astounded when he heard Brother Floyd playing hymns on his guitar. "I was captivated," he said and compared his picking to that of Chet Atkins. Years later, Brother Floyd moved to Modesto and joined the membership of Revival Church, United Pentecostal Church of Modesto. "He sunk his roots down," said Bishop Keyes. "He made friends. People began to notice his faithfulness, his godliness. They loved him. They embraced him. He became a very vital, intricate part of this church." Bishop Keyes spoke of Brother Floyd's special way of dancing in the Spirit. "When he got happy in Jesus," he said, "I would be blessed watching his Arkansas two-step shuffle." Bishop Keyes read from I Peter 5:5, speaking of clothing oneself with humility. "It was a suit of clothes he wore everyday," he said. He wore humility which God considers one of the greatest traits of humanity."

Pastor Johnson - He recalled that during the Easter service this year, he said that for some this would be the last sermon some of them would hear. "Little did I know," he said, "that God would take two of the greatest men in the history of this church." He said, "There are people you can't help but love, and Brother Havner was a man like that. We can't replace men like this. Here lies a great man. He is one of the greatest men I had the privilege to know and pastor." Brother Havner was a giving man. Pastor Johnson then ended his message by relating a phone call he had received from a pastor in Plainview, Arkansas. In 1966, Brother Havner had sent a tract on Jesus' name baptism to this pastor's mother. She subsequently started the church where his man now pastors. "There were over 300 people in attendance this past Sunday," the pastor said," and it is because of the man Floyd who sent a tract." Pastor Johnson ended his remarks by saying, "This is the life and legacy of a great man."

Read his Tesitmony of Faith on page 26.

Pastor Johnson's uses Brother Havner to illustrate his sermon topic, "I've Come Too Far to Turn Back Now."

The Havners, always faithful givers, pray over their sacrificial offering at a RC Missions Conference.

Brother Havner was a faithful RC church board member for over 30 years. He is pictured here (from left): Chuck Winter; Michael Torres, Sr.; Charlie Bispo; and Daniel Sandoval.

The

love story continued for 37 years. He loved her cooking, she loved his guitar playing, and they both deeply loved each other, their family, and God.

Brother Havner with his family. The Havners were blessed with 6 children, 29 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Pastor Keyes hands the newly wed Havners their wedding license. Twenty-five years later, the Havners celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with a ceremony in their backyard presided over by Pastor Johnson. On the right, the happy couple are pictured with Pastor and Sister Johnson.

Havners'

Mark

Tribute to a Faithful Man!

MarkFletcher was born to Donald and Ruth Fletcher on March 16, 1966, in Modesto, California. Mark was the third of five children. After graduating from Modesto High School in 1984, he worked an assortment of jobs until He was hired at Hogan Manufacturing, where he worked for 32 years. In 1991, Mark married his precious wife, Mary Lou. During their 31 years of marriage, they were blessed with three children: Bethany Renee, Brianna Rachelle, and Brandon Mark; and three grandchildren: Paisley Nicole, Hudson Malachi, and Oliver William.

Since a young child, Mark was always involved in the church. He sold peanut brittle, ran a fireworks stand, drove a Sunday school bus, was head usher, and was active in prison ministry, praying prisoners through to the Holy Ghost and baptizing them in Jesus' name. He taught Bible studies, was faithful to church and to prayer. One could not enter the sanctuary without being warmly greeted by Brother Fletcher. He came early to unlock the church for services, left late after making sure the church was secured after services, and was ever ready to check the church - even leaving his dinner - when the alarm company called. We can thank Mark for the church being cool during the hot summers and comfortably warm in the winter as he made sure it was so. He took his job as head usher seriously, quickly dispatching the other ushers where and when needed. You knew that Mark lived by the motto, if it is to be done, it must be done with excellence. He was an amazing Christian, a loving father and husband, and an example of faithfulness to all who knew him.

I googled Mark, and was shocked to see that such a great man was virtually nowhere to be found. This man who touched so many lives, who was held in such esteem by our church, was not one to desire attention. He was a humble man, always seeking out what he could do to help others. Mark, you may not have held public office or had countless articles about you published on the Internet, but you were a man who impacted his world, providing an example to all of us how to live as a Christian. As Pastor Johnson said at your going home service, you are His, but you were also ours. We will miss you greatly, but we know you have finished your race and have now received your reward. Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord (Matthew 25:21).

(Continued on page 20)

Mark and Mary Lou Fletcher

Mark, always the soul winner, looks for someone to pray for in the altar.

Mark and Mary Lou Fletcher with their children (from left): Brandon, Brianna, and Bethany.

The following are excerpts from what was said by Bishop Keyes and Pastor Johnson at Brother Fletcher's going away service.

Bishop Keyes - "A great man of God, a pillar in this church, a stalwart soldier who had been here many years. The kind of man that churches are built on." Bishop Keyes went on to describe the kind of young man Brother Fletcher was. "He was just a boy, but he was not an ordinary boy. From the beginning, he had an exceptional hunger to please God. He would do whatever he thought was the right thing to do, and he would do it with all his heart, and all his might, and all his strength, and with all diligence. Always faithful. Always accountable. That was evident from his youth."

Bishop Keyes went on to recount how Mark, as a young boy of 10 or 11, would fill up his wagon with peanut brittle, and sell it for the church. He would get paid 25 cents for every bag he sold, and would use much of this money to help out his family. "He sold more peanut brittle in his lifetime," said Bishop Keyes, "that he needs to be in the peanut brittle hall of fame. He was the greatest peanut brittle salesman in the world!" Bishop Keyes then went on to talk about how Brother Fletcher, instead of becoming bitter of his lot in life, "he became a great man, a great person, a great friend, but most of all, a stalwart, mighty man of God."

Pastor Johnson - "Mark loved his family, and his God, and souls. He was a constant encourager without fail. He always talked about God, always about goodness, always about how many people were being baptized in Jamestown. He was a there and a pastor's friend. He left people better that he found them. He was authentic, and reliable, and faithful, and dependable, and loyal, and sincere, an encourager." he went on to commend Brother Fletcher for his steadfastness and loyalty. "Through thick and thin, better or worse, good days and bad days, in the times of scarcity and in times of abundance, Mark was there. He was not a counterfeit. He was not double-minded. He was not inconsistent or bitter, or jaded, or cynical, or a problem. In my 30 years of ministry, I have never pastored or known a man like Mark Fletcher."

Mark with his siblings from left: Mike, Mark, Sharon, Nathan, and Tim

Mark with his fellow Sunday School bus drivers, Donny Wilson and Robert Jackson

For many years, Mark ministered at the Jamestown prison, preaching to, praying for, and baptizing inmates in the life-changing name of Jesus Christ.

Mark and Mary Lou on their wedding day

The Fletchers with their three grandchildren: Paisley, Hudson, and Oliver

"...we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done."

(Psalm 78:4b ESV)

Still in love after 37 years of marriage!

Mark with each of his three children (from left): Bethany, Brianna, and Brandon. Mark has passed on his love for God and faithful service to his children who follow in his footsteps.

Wisdom Begins with a Word

by Carol Castillo

Sometimes Miracles Hide

Hebrews Chapter 11 takes us on a journey through the Old Testament, unveiling the extraordinary faith of God’s people, and we love to read about it. From Enoch to Noah, and Moses to Abraham and beyond, these heroic stories are indelibly woven into the tapestry of faith, reminding us that in the face of adversity, miracles can be born.

Until, that is, we come to the closing verses (Hebrews 11:35-39).

There we learn that not all people of faith received miraculous deliverance. Some were subjected to destitution, persecution, and mistreatment in their pursuit of righteousness. Others experienced cruel torture, constant hardship and unimaginable pain. Stoning, death by sword, being sawn in two; all can seem like the cruel punishment of a disinterested deity who was deaf to pleading prayers for rescue.

Sometimes we wonder why bad things happen to those devoted to God and our faith can crumble beneath bewilderment. We pray for healing, and we’re still sick. We pray for justice, blessings, peace and prosperity, help and deliverance for ourselves and others with passion and consistency, yet tragedy strikes and heaven seems silent.

We know that God demonstrates His power and presence and responds generously to our faith and praise. We pray with expectation but when miracles don’t come, we fear we are deficient, or sinning, not good enough to merit His attention, or

lacking faith.

We might even question His love for us.

In those crucial, painful moments, when answers are hard to come by, it’s important to look to the Bible.

The Bible is full of miracles. Jesus healed the lame and the blind and even raised Lazarus from the dead. The walls of Jericho fell with just a shout and a trumpet blast. When Paul and Silas praised God in prison, their chains fell off and the prison doors swung open.

Indeed, God worked unusual miracles through the hands of the Paul (Acts 19:11-12):

• Paul healed a man with crippled feet (Acts 14:8-10);

• He resurrected Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12); and

• He cast out a spirit of divination. (Acts 16:1618)

With a track record like that, no one would accuse Paul of being on the deficit side of the faith ledger sheet. Yet when Paul himself was stricken with “a thorn in the flesh,” he was unable to obtain release from his affliction despite pleading with God repeatedly (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

There was no miracle deliverance for Paul. Yet Paul did not despair. He understood his affliction in light of God’s greater revealed purpose: to im-

part grace during suffering, and provide strength during weakness. Suffering invested Paul’s life with deeper meaning.

Even Jesus didn’t heal everyone during His ministry. His purpose as God incarnate was far greater than straightening out a leg or unstopping deaf ears. He came with one ironclad mandate: to save souls.

• “For the Son of Man has come to seek and

to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

• "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (I Timothy 1:15).

Jesus worked miracles not to make people happy and comfortable but to substantiate his claim of Sonship and to fulfill prophecy. Miracles were a sign to the Jews, to let them know they were on the right road to the Messiah, but they needed to keep traveling to get there. No driver would pull

"The Apostle Paul" by Rembrandt (1606–1669)

This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights.

My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need.

James 1:2-4 (NCV)

Bible Quizzing Final Results - Logan D'aquino PLaces 5th in the nation!

Congratulations to Logan D'Aquino who, with his teammates from Lighthouse of the Valley in Stockton, California, placed 5th in their division at Nationals this summer. We are so proud of this young man! Above, Administrative Pastor Jon Quinones praises young Logan for his outstanding accomplishment. Nice trophy, Logan!

Testimony of FaithELDER FLOYD HAVNER RECEIVES THE REVELATION!

AS TOLD TO EDITOR LEO AGUILERA

(Editor’s Note: I have personally known Brother Floyd Havner for over 50 years. He was there when my wife and I were baptized. He always was a faithful and sincere Christian. He was a humble, gentle man who loved music and loved the work of God. We ran this great saint's testimony in The Newsvine in the January 1, 1992 issue, and upon his passing, are running it again in his honor. Until I see you again, my dear brother...)

name of the Lord Jesus Christ. When he asked the Assembly of God preacher about it, he was told, “that was just for the Jews so they would believe on Jesus.” My father wasn’t satisfied with the answer he got, but there was not a church or preacher anywhere around that believed such truth.

My folks continued to grow and become established in the measure of truth they knew. They always took us to church and taught us to be faithful to the house of God, even though we either had to walk or depend on someone else for a ride because my folks never owned an automobile.

My earliest memories were of going to church. I remember sleeping on a pallet under the bench (we didn’t have pews back then), and people shouting and dancing all around me. At an early age I could see in my father the importance of being faithful to God and His house. I could see his love for the things of God. He instilled in me the necessity of being separated from the world and living holy before God.

I remember my father praying for me many times. Whatever the need was, Dad always prayed. I’ve been healed of the flu, toothaches and many other things.

Ifeel that I have been especially blessed by God to have been raised in a godly home by parents who took me to church beginning at my birth. I thank God that he kept me from the world, and sin never got the opportunity to leave its scars on my life.

I am the youngest of six children and was born and raised in a small community in Arkansas. In the middle of the Great Depression before any of the children were born, my father lost one of his legs trying to “hop” a freight train to get to Oklahoma to find work. Needless to say, the early years of my parents’ marriage were not easy.

When their oldest child was just a baby, my parents both received the Holy Ghost in an Assembly of God brush arbor meeting and were baptized in the titles. Thus began a lifetime of living for God. Thrilled with their experience, my parents began to spend much of their time reading and studying the Bible. Right away, my father read where all the New Testament converts were baptized in the

My faith was really lifted high when I was nine years old. I had a large wart on my hand. One night when we were having our family altar at bedtime, my folks prayed for my hand. In less than two days the wart had completely dried up and fallen off and didn’t even leave a scar.

I started to develop my musical talent when I was eight. Even though I had not yet received the Holy Ghost, as I grew through adolescence, I began to form my own convictions and establish a love for the things of God. However, music became the focus of my attention. By the time I was fifteen, I was developing a great desire for a career in music. When I was eleven, I received the Holy Ghost, but by pursuing my love for music and my association with friends who shared the same interest, I soon realized that I had let slip away from me that wonderful experience.

I was deeply involved in worldly music which my folks did not approve of at all. I continued on this course until I was eighteen and was just a month away from graduating from high school. I was about to get what I thought was my “big break,” but my mother was praying, and it never happened. The man who was going to get me started was

Brother Havner with Newsvine Editor Leo Aguilera

convicted of a crime and went to prison. I was devastated but somehow life went on.

A few weeks later I graduated. Suddenly, I realized that I was an adult, and my whole life was before me. I wanted it to turn out right. I realized in order for that to happen I had to go back and embrace the things I had been taught from my youth. I turned my life over to God and He refilled me with His Spirit.

I was unable to find a job in our small town. Finally, my mother consented for me to go and live with my brother and his wife who had just moved to Kansas City, Missouri. My brother and his wife also had received the Holy Ghost and were attending the Assembly of God church. We visited several churches and none had a standard of holiness.

I had always been taught that Jesus Christ was the same yesterday, today and forever, and that what was once sin still is and always will be. I just knew that somewhere there was a church that taught and lived a separated life from the world. We started to pray that God would lead us to that church.

One day while my brother was at work, my sister-in-law and I went looking for a church. We just started driving and praying. In a few minutes, we drove right up in front of the United Pentecostal Church. We looked at the service schedule and came back the following Wednesday to visit. I was thrilled beyond measure by what I saw, heard, and felt. We started to go there every service, and soon we were brought face to face with the truth of baptism in Jesus’ name and the oneness of God. First my sister-in-law was baptized in Jesus’ name, but I hadn’t received the revelation yet.

While at the UPC General Conference in San Antonio Texas, God gave Brother Winfred Black, the pastor, a dream. In his dream, he saw a hearse in the parking lot of the church. It was covered with dust and had been there for a long time. As he looked closer, he could see bodies inside of it. He awoke and asked the Lord what the dream meant. The Lord said you have some dead bodies in your church that haven’t been buried. When he shared his dream with the church, I knew God was talking to me, and I was baptized in Jesus’ name. For the first time in my life, I experienced the power to live above sin. My new birth was now complete.

When my folks got the news, they thought we had fallen into false doctrine. About a year later,

my folks came to visit us and our church. They went home truly amazed. My mother started to pray about being baptized in Jesus’ name. About a month later I saw my mother, after 30 years in the Assembly of God church, be baptized in Jesus’ name. I quit my job in the city and moved back home to help my mother get to a United Pentecostal Church and to help her get established in the faith. But then there was my dad.

It was very difficult for me to tell the man who had prayed for me so many times and had lived such a shining example of uncompromising faithfulness and holiness before me that he needed to be baptized in Jesus’ name.

Soon there were others from my mother’s former church who had been baptized in Jesus’ name. The closest United Pentecostal Church was about 30 miles away. I spent several months at home studying the word with my father and trying to guide him into the truth. Finally he told me, “Son, don’t worry about me. I’m praying and studying and, if God reveals it to me, I’ll accept it."

When I felt that my mother and the others were established in the faith. I moved back to the city and to my home church. For the next one and a half years, my mother worshiped faithfully at the United Pentecostal Church while my father continued to attend alone the church he and my mother had gone to for years.

Then one day I got a call from home. Mother said, “Dad’s gonna be baptized in Jesus’ name Sunday.” That was 25 years ago. God added other souls to that number, and today there is a Jesus’ Name Apostolic church right there in their hometown!

I believe that holiness is an integral part of truth. I was praying that God would lead me to a church that taught and practiced holiness, and God led me into this glorious truth!

The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

Proverbs 20:6-7 (NKJV)

Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

UPCI, ORDER of the FAITH Randy G. Keyes

Bishop Keyes Honored by UPCI

Atthis year's General Conference, our beloved Bishop, Randy G. Keyes, was entered into the United Pentecostal International's Order of the Faith. This recognition was established in 2002 to honor "outstanding achievement and exemplary service to the UPCI." Bishop Keyes faithfully served as pastor to Revival Church (formerly Revival Center) for many decades. During many of those years, he also served in numerous UPCI committees and was elected to the position of Assistant General Superintendent of the Western Zone. Congratulations, Bishop Keyes, on this great honor!

The following is the biography that was presented at the luncheon that honored Bishop Keyes at this year's UPCI General Conference:

Randy G. Keyes was born October 7, 1950, in Fresno, California. He was raised in nearby Kerman. He came from modest means. His father, Isaac Keyes, was a barber and a veteran of World War II. Bonnie, his mother, was a homemaker. Both were devout Oneness Pentecostals.

In the first few months of his life, Randy Keyes could not keep food down. The doctors were baffled. He was slowly dying of starvation. But

after fervent, desperate prayer by his parents, he was miraculously healed!

Randy Keyes recalls growing up with parents who were prayer warriors and soul winners. They weekly brought a carload of local kids to Sunday School, including future UPCI General Secretary Jerry Jones. Randy Keyes grew up with devotional family altars. He and his older brother, Rick Keyes, were baptized at an early age in the San Joaquin River. At age eleven Randy Keyes was filled with the Holy Ghost!

When he was fifteen he was in deep prayer long after service was over, and there he received a vision of an endless harvest field stretching into Bonnie and Isaac Keyes

General Superintendent David K. Bernard presents the plaque honoring Bishop Keyes as an inductee to the UPCI Order of the Faith.

Bishop Keyes, as a child he was miraculously healed.

Young Randy Keyes with his parents Bonnie and Isaac, and his older brother Rick.

the horizon. He knew this represented unsaved souls. He felt the call to the ministry and began to preach as youth leader of his local church. Being an A student and earning a life membership in the California Scholarship Federation, his high school counselor encouraged him to enter pre-med school. Randy Keyes also applied for the only annual Sheaves for Christ Scholarship to the Western Apostolic Bible College in Stockton, California. He won the scholarship, and there he met Sharon Langford who “accidentally” bumped his chair with a vacuum cleaner while he was studying in the library. They were married and quickly embarked into the evangelistic field. He recalls being invited to small congregations with meager wages and church classroom accommodations, but blessed with full altar calls as he preached spiritual revival.

Keyes cleaned motel rooms while expecting and was grateful how generous her employer was to them with groceries. They were blessed when their only child Kimberly was born. During this time he held the office of Sectional Youth Director.

The Mendota-Firebaugh church in the Central Valley of California elected him as pastor when he was twenty-one. He supervised a new church construction, sometimes working alone. Sharon

After his first pastorship, he evangelized for three years. Then he was elected pastor in Prescott, Arizona, doubling the size of the congregation in two years and elected Conqueror’s President for the State of Arizona. He knew he was more fulfilled evangelizing and resigned his pastorship. Four years they evangelized, invited by many churches across the country for great revivals. He feels this

was truly his graduate studies’ experience by being mentored and holding revivals at the churches of these anointed pastors: Orlin Fauss, J.T. Pugh, David Gray, Paul Price, James Kilgore, and Clyde Haney. But it was in Modesto, California, he was invited several times to preach by Pastor J.D. Dansby, who then encouraged him to apply for the pastorship. Three other churches, larger and more generous, called, but the Keyes chose Modesto because it had more potential growth.

The Keyes with baby Kimberly

Sharon and Randy Keyes on their wedding day.

The Mendota-Firebaugh church Bishop Keyes built, the first church he pastored

The young Keyes on the road evangelizing

With a second vision of a great harvest field, he felt he had made the right decision for the congregation’s rapid growth in four years. An abandoned, large theater in downtown Modesto was purchased and refurbished twice to accommodate a congregation numbering over 1500. The church was named Revival Center, now called Revival Church. Many ethnicities from every creed, color, and walk of life were represented, and remain so to this day.

Inspired by the vision, he established a Spanish-speaking ministry and financed outreaches to Mexico, Central and South America, Russia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. He started daughter works in neighboring towns of Modesto. Then his burden expanded to the Bay Area. He partnered with new convert Julio Hernandez and eventually planted thirty-three daughter works and preaching points there and beyond. Many are thriving to this day. Two of his greatest missionary outreaches were to India and Fiji. He partnered with Uday Narayan, a son in the gospel, planting numerous churches, resulting in countless Hindi-speaking converts. Sixteen trinitarian pastors and their congregations were converted to the Oneness Pentecostal movement in Central and Northern India. He also partnered with Xenn Seah to develop and sponsor crusades in Singapore and Malaysia. He honored the memory of his father by building with Rick Keyes, the Isaac A. Keyes Memorial UPC Center for Christian Studies, a Bible college in Northern Thailand.

Bishop Keyes preaching at a crusade in Ethiopia.

Bishop Keyes preaching with Missionary Uday Narayan in the country of Fiji

Bishop Keyes moved the church from Tuolumne to 7th and I Streets in Modesto and then expanded the building to seat over 1,000.

Bishop Keyes with Brother Gordon Mallory at a crusade in the Philippines

AIMers with Elder Uday Narayan visit the orphanage in India overseen by Pastor Chacko Thomas.

Back at home he founded the annual Stewardship-Missions Conference held every October since 1989 to raise substantial funds for missionary works. At the same time he established The Newsvine ministry, the quarterly international magazine of Revival Church, distributed world-

tors at Revival Church. He joyfully welcomes his great-grandson, Atlas Clay Fairbanks, to his family. Serving now as bishop of Revival Church, he and Sister Keyes continue to mentor young ministerial couples and evangelize.

wide.

Randy Keyes has served on the Western District Evangelism Committee. He was the Western District’s Board Presbyter for nine years, Camp Meeting Chairman, and National Home Missions Western Zone Pastoral Advisor for the Administrative Committee. In 2001 he was elected UPCI Assistant General Superintendent, serving on the Executive Board for nine years. Presently, he serves as an honorary General Board member. He cherishes the spiritual legacy of his family. He has passed the torch to son-in-law Todd Johnson and Kim, who now pastor Revival Church. His granddaughter, Mehgan, is married to Pastor Taylor Fairbanks of Vessel Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Granddaughter, MaKayla Johnson, is a worship leader and one of the multimedia direc-

Revival Church Pastor Todd Johnson and his wife, Kimberly, Bishop Keyes' daughter

The Keyes at the dedication of the Bible college

Bishop Keyes, having a burden for missions, started an annual missions conference.

Bishop Keyes with his granddaughters, MaKayla Johnson and Mehgan Fairbanks

Bishop Keyes with his great grandson, Atlas Clay Fairbanks, son of Taylor and Mehgan Fairbanks who pastor Vessel Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

...and behind every great man is a GREAT WOMAN!

Sister Sharon Keyes

GROWTH TRACK NEWS

Dana Le'Blanc passes leadership to Moses Burciaga

Growth Track, classes held for new and long-time members who want to dig deeply into the scriptures, has grown tremendously under the leadership of Reverend Dana Le'Blanc. He feels confident at this time to turn over this role to a long-time GT instructor, Reverend Moses Burciaga. All the regular GT teachers remain and are excited to support Brother Burciaga in his new role. Growth Track is accepting sign-ups for the next semester of classes which will focus on the epistles written by the Apostle Paul. See Brother Burciaga with any of your questions. He looks forward to seeing you in Growth Track. "Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11 NKJV).

Senior Life Groups Mature Ladies

Our Mature Ladies Life Group (for ladies 50+), led by Sister Joyce Jones, met in August for a great time of food and fellowship. These monthly gatherings are a blessing, creating strong bonds among our ladies. In August, a small group of our ladies had lunch with a house-bound member at her home.

BUFF Men

Our BUFF men, led by Herb Jenkins, met in July at the Aguilera home. Reverend Josh Aguilera was the special speaker. He spoke on the powerful influence the elders have on the younger members of our congregation. Little did we know that this would be the last BUFF meeting for our dear brothers Floyd Havner and Mark Fletcher. BUFF is important, not only for the fellowship it provides, but also for the service it provides for our widows and single ladies. In October, they met to help Mary Lou Fletcher, a recent widow, with yard work. Thank you, men, for sacrificing your time and sweat to help others.

UPDATED REPORT

Councilmember Jeremiah Williams

It is nearly a year since Brother Jeremiah Williams was elected as a city councilmember for District 5 in Modesto. His goal in working with the other council members is to "make sure we all get along. If we all get along, we can get things done."

For years, Jeremiah has been getting things done by being involved with a number of community service organizations. He now has transitioned into city government and has the opportunity to focus his love for the community and its city in a greater way. As one can see from the list of his committee and liaison committee assignments, he is very busy. Jeremiah believes every person should have equal treatment regardless. "The municipality and the citizens of Modesto should always have the opportunity to feel as though they are heard, respected, and served," he said. "I am going to be fair-minded with everyone."

When asked how his Christian faith has affected him as a council member he said, "The wonderful thing about a spirit-led government official is that I have the opportunity and privilege to pray for everyone in my city, and everyone I work with." He went on to say, "I pray for God to guide my decisions and the decisions of the city, and for peace in our community."

God bless Brother Williams as he fulfills the duty of his elected office.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Safety and Communities Committee - Member

Appointments Committee - Member

LIAISON COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

City-county Airport Advisory Committee (Alternate)

Citizens Housing and Community Development Committee (Alternate)

City's RDA Successor Agency / Stanislaus County (Alternate)

Housing Rehabilitation Loan Committee

Mid-domestic Water Policy Board

North County Corridor JPA (Alternate)

Stanislaus Regional Transit JPA (Alternate)

Jeremiah Williams and his wife Nancy look back at his past year as Modesto City Councilman. On the previous page, Jeremiah looks over the city from his 10th Street office.

Above: Jeremiah Williams and Modesto Mayor Sue Swahlen at a recent function.

(Left) Jeremiah Williams and Newsvine editor Leo Aguilera, pose with California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil and her local office representative, Lauren Hernandez, Brother Aguilera's cousin.

Elder Thomas' Missions Trip to Fiji

U S O N M I S S I O N S

Dear brethren,

Greetings in Jesus name! I hope this finds you well in the Lord! Many years back, Elder Narayan, Pastor Venkat and Pastor Nileshwar visited us in India, from Fiji. We had wonderful fellowship with these godly men and they invited me to minister in Fiji. Elder Narayan's burden for his homeland's Fijian Indian community encouraged me to visit Fiji and meet our fellow Indians there and share the Gospel with them, and fellowship with the UPC saints there.

Accordingly, this June God gave me the privilege of visiting Fiji on a mission trip with my wife Susan. The trip was planned for last year but, due to post Covid regulations, Susan's health, and delay in getting our passports renewed, we were not able to make it before hurricane season. So God allowed us to plan and travel this year in His time. A short layover in Singapore gave us time to visit our Oneness friend pastor Mathew and fellowship with his family.

We reached Nadi airport on 11th June, a Sunday morning. Pastor Nileshwar drove for hours and picked us from the airport and on the way to his house we stopped for lunch at a sister's house where we got our first

taste of delicious Fijian food and hospitality. Pastor Nileshwar was our wonderful host and guide, a very humble and amazing man of God. He and his wife Jeshween and two beautiful daughters made us feel at home with their warm hospitality and sacrifices. He had made our schedule and planned our three weeks meticulously, making time for ministry as well as sight seeing in the beautiful, tropical, paradise island.

The next three weeks were full of prayer services, visiting families, meeting local believers and encouraging churches. God gave us the privilege of visiting the UPC HQ there, and Apostolic College of Theological Studies (ACTS) UPC Bible College. We were able to participate in the Leaders and Wives' Seminar at UPCI HQ and have breakfast together. It was a great time of being with the leadership, sharing testimonies and visions for the church growth and work among the indigenous community. We drove and took ferry to Suva, another island where Pastor Venkat has his big church and ministry. Pastor Nileshwar and his wife Jeshween accompanied us throughout the mission trip and gave us insights into the island culture, and ministry. It was a pleasure and joy to meet Rev. Shyam Narayan, local UPC missionaries and parents of sister Jeshween, and also Pastor Navnesh and his family. We visited Sawani where the church has a beautiful property, Labasa, Makoi, Sigatoka, Raiwaqa, Savusavu and other places. After a refreshing time both spiritually and physically, we left for India on Saturday, 1st of July, arriving right in time for our church service in Mumbai on Sunday, 2nd of July, where I shared the testimony and experience of the blessed Fiji misison trip.

It was a very memorable and enlightening trip, specially to see fellow Indians, same food, language and culture on the other side

Elder Chacko Thomas and his wife Susan were welcomed to Fiji with Salusalu, beautiful leis.

of the planet. I found a new burden for the lost Hindu souls there who are still deeply rooted in their Indian idolatrous beliefs and traditions, that their ancestors carried from India to Fiji as slaves of the British a couple of centuries ago. I am very glad and grateful for the local missionaries Pastors Nileshwar, Venkatesh, Navnesh and Rev. Shyam for their service to the Lord in the island and winning souls for Jesus! The people and the island are both beautiful. May the Lord bless the land and send more labourers as the fields are ripe and ready for harvest. My heartfelt thanks again to Rev. Johnson, Elder Narayan, Pastor Venkat and Pastor Nilesh for arranging and providing for this trip. May God reward them all for their hard work and sacrifices! Thank you church for praying for us and supporting our missions. In God's time we will surely see the fruits added into His eternal Kingdom! Maranatha!

In Christ's service,

Chacko & Susan

The Thomases stand in front of a memorial celebrating Fiji's 50 years of independence from British colonial rule.

The Thomases welcomed at Pastor Navnesh's Pentecostal Church with traditional Salusalu garland.

Welcomed at Pastor Nileshwar's home with a gift basket by his in-laws, Pastor Shyam & Sister Chandra

Right: The Thomases are pictured at an open air evangelistic meeting outside Pastor Shyam Narayan's home.

At Pentecostals of Nadi Church, after service, with Assistant Pastor Bari at extreme right

Ministers at Makoi church praying for Pastor Chacko.

Service at Makoi at Pastor Navnesh Naicker's church

Sister Susan Thomas worships with the congregation at Pastor Venkat's church at Labasa.

The Thomases visit Apostolic College of Theological Studies in Fiji.

With Pastor Nileshwar and Pastor Venkat at his church in Labasa

Preaching in an open air service outside Pastor Shayam Narayan's house in Nausori

Ministering at Labasa church

With Nadi hosts Pastor Nileshwar and his wife Jeshween at their home before leaving for church service

With Labasa hosts, Pastor Venkat and his wife Suman

Praying for the new souls before baptism in Labasa

Praying for a brother at Nadi

Leaders and wives seminar at UPCI

Volunteers of the Month Joshua & Jeannette Aguilera

Our Volunteers of the Month for August are Joshua and Jeannette Aguilera. Pastor Johnson recognized them for their many years of selfless service to Revival Church. "They served not only the youth for many years without any compensation," he said, "now they are both licensed ministers. They are running the live stream, and they are preaching youth meetings all over the state of California." The Aguilera are also very involved in the Spanish services at our church, and Joshua is a member of the praise team and is a worship leader. On top of all they do for the church, Joshua is a 6th grade teacher and Jeannette is presently working toward her teaching credential. God bless the Aguileras as they labor for the Lord.

RC Ministerio Español

¡Ven y adora con nosotros!

Domingos a las 9:00 am, Jueves a las 7:00 pm

¡Estamos ansiosos por verte!

¡Hay libertad en la casa de Dios!

Pastor Antonio Gutiérrez

¡Estamos muy agradecidos por el ministerio del evangelista Danny Becerra!

!Suscribete a nuestro canal de Youtube para ver nuestra transmisión en vivo de nuestro Servicio Dominical.

Children's Ministries

Sister Gloria Sadeddeen teaches an illustrated lesson during KREW service. "Let's be fishers of men!"

The younger KREW kids pose with their teachers. We are thankful for a dedicated staff who has a burden for our children to learn the word of God.

Administrative Pastor Jon Quinones preaches for KREW service.

Teacher Eleanor Lira teaches a lesson to the older KREW kids about the name of God.

JAM teacher Lindsay Castro with her class. God bless her and her helpers!

Revive Yth

Youth Pastors Tim and Jeriann Montes leading Revival youth in worship. REVIVE YTH is a youth group specifically tailored to our junior and high school students. Most Friday nights there is either a REVIVE NIGHT at the church in the youth chapel at 7:00 for a time of worship and the word, or a planned and chaperoned activity at the church or at another location. On Monday nights, the youth meet for prayer at the church at 7:00. Parents, get your young person connected. They are at an age where they face many influences, especially by their peers. Revive provides them with godly leadership, an opportunity to serve and to make friends with other church young people, and most important, avenues in which to deepen their relationship with God. Contact Tim and Jeriann with any questions. A bonus is that there is now a Friday night prayer meeting at the church at 7:00. You can drop off your young person and spend some time in prayer so you don't have to make two trips to the church. Do yourself and your young person a favor, make Friday nights a REVIVE priority.

Preparing for Missions Conference with

The WorD

As we prepare for this year's Missions Conference, Pastor Johnson chose the theme of September's messages to be "Elevate." We were encouraged to elevate our expections and to posture ourselves to be ready for what God wants to do.

Deuteronomy 28:1

If you indeed obey the Lord your God and are careful to observe all His commandments I am giving you today, the Lord your God will ELEVATE you above all the nations of the earth.

Pastor todd Johnson "Elevate Your Expectations"

https://www.youtube.com/live/ZsQgQKHEq-8?si=zEeCnnmbe9-aw_EF

reverend Joshua aguilera "Return to the Mountain"

https://www.youtube.com/live/I7zWMoZRWF4?si=Or9nbI_BO4JX1nJg&t=1857

reverend matthew aguirre "Elevate Your Sound"

https://www.youtube.com/live/OMu4xiDJBoY?si=tDfAEowbW5NfFxXe&t=2620

admin. Pastor Jon Quinones "Miracles in Unlikely Places"

https://www.youtube.com/live/5Si7hS3H5mE?si=G7yorYhvFoQ7Fq8f

reverend moses Burciaga "Hanging on a Promise"

https://www.youtube.com/live/fcpyYM2iZd4?si=qUQuJ6RO7dvjF8Tt&t=2181

reverend chris castro "Postured to Elevate"

https://www.youtube.com/live/USXVmQW8-3Y?si=KABG6WIRoutGQbQ8&t=1731

reverend vinnie ZaPien

Midweek Service - Exodus 2,3

https://www.youtube.com/live/BMMYv4boLNo?si=LeoIj4F6qSmVdcUi&t=1944

2023 revivaL church sTeWarDshiP Missions conference

Special Guests - North American and Global Missionaries

PROCLAIM

Location:

Revival Church, 825 7th Street, Modesto, CA

Dates:

October 20-22, 2023

Service Times:

Friday Night - 7:00 pm

Saturday Night - 6:00 pm

Sunday Morning - 10:30 am

Special Speaker - Tim Gaddy

We appreciate our Pastoral Family!

At the end of September, we honored our Pastor and his family for their dedication to our church of their time, talents, leadership, love, and prayers. Thank you, Pastor and Pastora Johnson and MaKayla, for making Revival Church a place where people feel welcome, appreciated, and given opportunities to connect and serve. We love you!

Noah Wells speaks words of appreciation to the Johnsons on behalf of the church, Pastor

(Left) After

Johnson praises Noah for the fine young and accomplished man he has become.