THE newsvine “Every page an altar to His works!” WINTER/SPRING 2019 REVIVAL CENTER UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH 825 7th Street, Modesto, CA 95354 Business Phone: 209-522-5365
email us at thenewsvine@gmail.com
Google us at: thenewsvine or follow us on: issuu.com/thenewsvine EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR Assist. Ed. Multi-media Business LiaisonS GRAPHIC DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHERS CREATIVE TEAM
ColumnistS YOUTH REPORTER MAILINGS DISTRIBUTION
LEO AGUILERA Virginia Aguilera Joshua Aguilera Charlene Wilson Leo & Virginia Aguilera Leo Aguilera, Grover Hunt Gabriel Chavoya Autumn Amador, Tim Burciago, Alexis Diaz, Jocelyn Powell Jim Campbell Alexis Diaz Virginia Aguilera Norbert Feliciano
Church staff PASTOR H. TODD JOHNSON BISHOP RANDY G. KEYES
PULPIT STAFF MINISTERS Dana Le Blanc Ravind Narayan Uday Narayan
Administrative pastor church secretary resident missionaries Youth LeadER SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR K.R.E.W. Kids director prayer ministries Choir world missionS advanced modesto initiative director OUTREACH director Life groups public relations apostolic man ministry B.U.F.F.(Men’s 50+) HYPHEN (Young Adults) THRIVE (Young Marrieds) spanish services Nursing Home Ministry BIBLE QUIZZING GROWTH TRACK SUNDAY - 9:30 A.M. 9:45 A.M. 10:30 A.M. 12:15 P>M> 2:00 A.M. 5.30 P.M. 6:00 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.
Jerry Powell Jonathan Quinones Jeremiah Williams Jonathan Quinones Charlene Wilson Uday Narayan, Ravind Narayan, Xenn Seah Joshua Aguilera Mary Aguirre Kim Johnson Charles Bispo Kellee Hopper, Matt Aguirre Jerry & Andrea Powell Carol Castillo Leonard Alvarez Jonathan Quinones Jeremiah Williams Alex Diaz Herb Jenkins Jeriann Powell Aaron & Shannon Gomez Antonio Gutierrez Joyce Jones Sujay Diaz Dana Le Blanc
Sunday School-Children - Tuolumne Sunday School - Adults - Sanctuary Morning Service - Sanctuary Growth Track Spanish Service Prayer in Youth Chapel REVIVAL SERVICE All-Church Prayer Mid-Week Service, K.R.E.W Spanish Service Pulse (Youth Service) Saturday Morning Outreach
THE NEWSVINE is published quarterly by the United Pentecostal Church of Modesto, Inc., 825 7th St., Modesto, CA 95354-3414. Postage paid at 825 7th St., Modesto, CA 95354-3414. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Newsvine, 825 7th St., Modesto, CA 95354-3414. Any submitted articles to The Newsvine are subject to Pastor’s approval and editing by The Newsvine staff.
2 WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
THE
Word From the Editor
FRONT COVER STORY
“THERE IS SUPERNATURAL INCREASE!”
P
astor Johnson preached the above quote during Watch Night New Year’s Eve. It was a service quite different from any other. We could sense from the beginning it would be special. When he announced the theme for 2019 was THE YEAR OF INCREASE, the presence of God, through His mighty Holy Spirit, was moving powerfully through the congregation. When each member of the congregation took communion shortly thereafter, just prayerfully holding that cup and wafer gave us all the sense that surely in 2019, we would see miraculous fruits born in this service. God is ready to increase His blessings, spiritual gifts, and to give us more new converts. Good intentions are not enough. We need to increase our faith with actions when hearing the Word preached to us and allow Him to guide us. We need to witness, give, devote, and above all pray so that the latter rain will fall upon us with signs, wonders, and miracles. God is ready to anoint us, but as the Spirit spoke to us this year, it is up to us to ACTIVATE that anointing. We need to increase our home Bible studies, spearhead a life group, pray with a needy soul at the altar and, as our pastor has focused on since the start of 2019, DISCIPLE a new convert this year. If each us would lay it on our hearts to win and disciple just one soul this year, what tremendous growth we would see in the church. Our effort of evangelism determines how much we love our neighbor. As we spiritually peer at what lies ahead of us in 2019, let us defy the ordinary and go beyond our normal expectations. Maranatha, the Lord is coming!
Leo and Virginia Aguilera, EDITORS
OUR HOLY BIBLE IS PROPHETIC!
While speaking with one of my good friends and gym buddy, Tim, who is also an avid reader of The Newsvine, he became intrigued with the prophetic verses I was quoting him regarding how the Bible predicts current events and modern day inventions. I explained to him that the word of God is prophetic and will ultimately be fulfilled when the current age ends. Here are some verses I shared with him.
AUTOMOBILES:
“...The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation…The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings” (Nahum 2:3).
TELEVISION:
In the Book of Revelation two prophets of the Lord will be murdered during the Seven Year Tribulation and their bodies left on the streets for three and a half days on the streets. Then in chapter 11, verse 9, incredible words say: “And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations SHALL SEE their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.” This is a viewing done all at once - the power of our news media today! Also, in the Book of Revelation, during the Seven Year Tribulation, a city symbolized as Babylon will be destroyed by fire and all the leaders will be shocked at the same time when they see it: “And the kings of the earth...will weep and lament over her WHEN THEY SEE the smoke of her burning” Revelation 18:9.
AIRPLANES AND SPACE EXPLOITS:
The following verse can read as end time prophecy and as one of the last signs of the end: “Though you soar as high as eagles, and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you plummeting down,” says the Lord” (Obadiah 4). The literal imagery of this verse is uncanny when we see airplanes and helicopters today. It is also interesting to note that the lunar landing module was named The Eagle. But the next words in the same verse have a fascinating twist; we have four exploratory rovers nestled on Mars, three Venera spacecrafts nestled on Venus, two Mariners and one Messenger probe circling Mercury, four Voyager probes have passed Jupiter, and one Voyager, has passed Pluto and is now traveling beyond our solar system having entered into the interstellar medium. We have definitely set our nests in the stars with
talk about sending humans to Mars within ten years!
THE INTERNET
“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4). This verse intrigues Bible scholars because it accurately describes our modern times. The ignorance of the Dark Ages lasted a thousand years, and even though knowledge increased during the Renaissance and Reformation, most of the populace in Europe and Asia did not travel. But the Lord spoke to Daniel and said at the time of the end a great deal of traveling would be going on by many. In Daniel’s time only a few could travel by ship or caravan. With automobiles, trains, jets, and huge cruise ships, millions travel everyday in these modern times to all points of the globe. Then there is the recent invention of the Internet. Never in the history of mankind has the vast majority of citizens on this planet have access to an infinite amount of knowledge through their computers, smart phones, laptops, etc. Notice Daniel predicted knowledge would increase, not the more vital virtue of wisdom.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
When nuclear weapons are released, they come down from the sky to hit their targets: “the stars of heaven fell to the earth” (Revelation 6:13). When nuclear weapons hit, as witnessed to the unfortunates in the nuclear strike of Hiroshima in 1945, the catastrophic trauma to the human body happens in a split second. Now read in Zechariah 14:12: “... Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” The word “consume” conjurers up the devastating effects nuclear heat is released when detonated - five times hotter than the center of the sun. When God allows the plagues spoken of in Revelation to be unleashed at the end time, the description of the third plague is comparable to a nuclear strike: “... a third of mankind was killed — by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone” (Revelation 9:18). And such is the destruction of the great city of Babylon in Revelation 18:9. It is amazing that these prophecies were predicted over 2,000 years ago and remarkably are alive in message in these contemporary times. The Holy Bible “is sharper than any two-edged sword” and awesome in its scope of prophecy fulfilled! WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018 3
Watch Night Service The year started with an explosive service. As mentioned in the word for the editor, Pastor Johnson (right photo) declared the theme, and there was already evidence of an increase of blessings that night. Bishop Keyes (above photo) blessed our Holy Communion. The other photos are moments from the service which included a multimedia presentation of 2018 in review prepared by Newsvine Assistant Editor Joshua Aguilera. May God greatly increase our blessings in 2019.
A Landmark Women’s Breakfast Fellowship A big hearty thanks to Sister Joyce Jones for organizing a women’s breakfast at the beginning of the year with main speaker, Sister Sharon Keyes. The breakfast was held at a local restaurant attended by many of our ladies. Our bishop’s wife expounded on the value of a Christian woman and her vital connection to God’s kingdom. This inspirational gathering spawned a women’s prayer meeting every Tuesday at noon. Sister Joyce Jones is to be commended for leading these important women’s ministries in addition to her being director of our senior outreach. A big thanks to Nicole Evans for these photos. 4
SPRING / WINTER NEWSVINE 2018
FOCUS REPORT
MISSIONARY SIT-DOWN WITH OUR SWITZERLAND MISSIONARIES Since this year has
begun we have had several missionaries visit our church. Let us focus on one missionary couple who were hosted at the home of Sister Barbara Seah with a Missionary Sit-down organized by Missionary Director Jerry Powell. Brother Nathan and Sister Halley Hulsman are on deputation, gathering support for their calling to the beautiful country of Switzerland. They will be working with Missionary Superintendent Charles Robinette in charge of Central Europe. They will be centralized in the capital city of Bern. Though the cost of living is very high, the Hulsmans believe this will not hinder their success in evangelizing. May God bless the Hulsmans with an end-time harvest of souls.
Great Ministerial Support The church is blessed by a strong team of ministers and gifted women who support Pastor Johnson. These leaders help preach, teach, work in the altars, and head up church ministries. Thank you, (clockwise from top left) Elder Rick Keyes, Bishop Randy Keyes, Administrative Pastor Jon Quinones, Youth Director Joshua Aguilera, and Choir Co-director Matthew Aguirre for your dedicated service. Not pictured are: Dana Le Blance, Evangelist David Amador, Chris Harris, Jeremiah Williams, Jerry and Andrea Powell, Carol Castillo and Barbara Seah.
WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
5
KREW Ministry Thrives!
T
his children’s ministry was started in January 2016, spearheaded by our own pastor’s wife, Sister Kim Johnson. Three years later it is even stronger than ever. She has tremendous support from an outstanding staff. Teacher Leaders are: Josh and Jeannette Aguilera, Thomas Barker, Chris and Lindsay Castro, Ethan and Suzanne DeMoss, Sujay Diaz, Danny Gregory, Eleanor Lira, and Tim Powell. The teachers are assisted by: Adrianne Chavez, Abigail Dominguez, Kellee Hopper, MaKayla Johnson, Jocelyn Powell, and Kiah and Josh Williams. A big, hearty thanks to all!
Teacher leaders Tim, Danny, and Ethan (standing right) are joined by Merle Fletcher and Ethan Hunt for a cowboy skit for the KREW kids.
6 WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
JAM Has Started!
S
ister Shannon Gomez (above) has spearheaded JAM, a ministry for toddlers held at the same time as KREW. JAM is an acronym for Jesus And Me. She is assisted by Sister Florence Stephens and Sister Lena Jackson, buried in the back with all the loving kids in the photo at the left. God bless this new, dynamic ministry.
Resurrection Sunday Extravaganza
“Happy Resurrection Sunday,” greeted each member and visitor as they entered the doors of Revival Center on Easter. There was exuberant worship as we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. The KREW kids led by Sister Johnson, gave a spirited presentation of what Jesus did for us. They sang and used body language in delivering the good news that He carried our sins for us. The cross was symbolically displayed behind them. The choir led the church in worship and then Pastor Johnson delivered the Easter message entitled, “On the Third Day.” The photo on the right showed it was a full house. The Johnsons posed for the camera in the above right photo. Sister Joyce Jones wears her annual Easter hat (a different one each year) smiling with her husband Willie.
WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
7
Pastor Johnson preaches on Watch Night, this year’s theme: The Year of Increase!
Above, the church honors Pastor Johnson on his birthday.
8 WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
Above, Pastor and Sister Johnson are honored on their anniversary.
More photos of our Men’s and Women’s Fellowships
L
eft, BUFF men meet for fellowship and to plan their next service project. They have been an invaluable asset in such tasks as building handicapped ramps for some of our elders, winterizing the cars of our church single ladies, and assisting in remodeling and maintenance projects around the church. Thank you, men, for your willingness to serve others.
A
bove our some more photos of our Women’s Breakfast Fellowship organized by Sister Joyce Jones (left). We were very fortunate to have Sister Sharon Keyes as our guest speaker. She is pictured with Sister Jeannette Aguilera and Sister Donna Whorton. At right, the ladies after breakfast, excitedly opened their gifts. Thank you, Sister Jones, for your burden for our ladies.
T
his year kicked off another semester of Life Groups. Pictured on the left, Brother Leo Aguilera leads a Bible study during his Scriptures and Scholars Life Group. On the right, Brother Dana Le Blanc and Pastor Johnson stand with the latest graduates of Growth Track, a weekly class which teaches biblical principles of being an Apostolic Christian.
WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
9
A PILGRIMAGE TO THE
HOLY LAND
P
astor Elias Limones and his church called the Pentecostales of the Bay Area organized a fantastic Apostolic conference to the land of Israel called Tiempos de Refrigerio which in English means Times of Refreshing. The conference was in Jerusalem and many ministers and their wives from across America joined the Bay Area church. Nearly 300 made the pilgrimage, including from our church, Pastor and Sister Johnson and their daughter MaKayla, Joshua Aguilera, Ravind and Suman Narayan, Prenesh Narayan, and Steven Parks, his wife Vanessa, and their daughter Kennedy. (The Parks were even baptized in the River Jordan!) The journey was life changing for all as they spent over eight days there. This editor visited Israel with my grandmother a few decades ago and was thrilled that my son Joshua was able to go. (Photos from the top left, clockwise): A two thousand year olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane; Joshua takes a selfie with the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in the distance; Brother John Hopkins prays for a Bay Area saint; an Orthodox Jew with his son; Prenesh takes a selfish with our pastor, Josh, and Ravind. The Israelis know how to spread out a buffet at the hotel for their Apostolic guests.
10 WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
(Top photo) The beautiful Sea of Galilee; (above left) our church group eats lunch in Jerusalem; (above right) a beautiful vista looking toward Jerusalem from the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum; (below and left photos) the scaled model of Jerusalem and the Temple at the time of Christ, which is a popular site near another museum of history.
WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
11
a pilgrimage
continued
T
op photos show the places where our Lord made the extreme sacrifice for our salvation. The street scene is called the Via Dolorosa, where our Lord carried the cross from the judgment seat of Pilate to Golgotha, “the Jews called the Place of the Skull,� as mentioned in Matthew 27:33. Many scholars believe this hill is outside the walls of Jerusalem. During certain times of the day, the shadows from the sun will form what looks like a skull, as you can see in the photo Joshua took. The above photo is the beautiful Valley of Elah, where David killed Goliath. The photo on the left is Joshua standing in front of the museum called The Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem. It is here where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept. When you enter into the building, the entire book of Isaiah is displayed for all the world to see; an incredible find because the scrolls were written several hundred years before Christ was born!
12 WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
(From top photo clockwise): Pastor Elias Limones, Brother Steven Parks, Pastor Paul Pamer, Brother Prenesh Narayan, and Brother Josh Aguilera take a selfie before the Western Wall, sometimes referred to as the Wailing Wall; Brother Ravind Narayan and Brother Parks pray at the wall the next day; Sister Sullivan Pamer is courageous to mount a camel; the dungeon below the ancient house of the High Priest Caiaphas was recently uncovered by archaeologists. This is where Jesus was kept overnight before His day of crucifixion.
Sister Suman Narayan said this trip changed her life forever. She was thrilled to walk in the places where our Savior walked. In the left photo, she stands in front of the church built near the river Jordan where the Parks were baptized. In the right photo she poses with her husband at the shore of the Dead Sea.
WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
13
More Memories of Israel
The Johnsons at the Dead Sea
Masada overlooking the Dead Sea where Herod built his winter palace
The Sea of Galilee
The Empty Tomb
14 WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
The Garden of Gethsemane
Jericho
I
n these difficult times, Revival Center of Modesto is a haven for the preaching of God’s word. Pastor Johnson arranged great preachers of our fellowship to start the year with divine messages. It is a tradition here! Above, Evangelists Mark Drost and David Smith stir up revival flames. Photo at right shows Brother Smith’s dedication in praying for the lost. In the left photo an always welcomed speaker is Evangelist Greg Godwin. In his three services, he reached out for the lost and got results!
A RECORD-BREAKING REVIVAL!
E
vangelist Joshua Herring delivered a mighty message for sinners, anointed by the Holy Spirit. During a Sunday morning service in January, the Spirit spoke to the congregation before Brother Herring came to the pulpit. The Spirit declared that our church had gone through pruning and cutting to bear fruit even with great pain, BUT NOW the pruning was over! It was time for increase and growth! When Brother Herring preached his prepared sermon on water baptism, our church record was broken for baptisms in a single service--33 were baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus that morning. When Brother Herring left, 52 had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost! Since then, salvation at our altars has continued constantly. Truly 2019 is proving to be THE YEAR OF INCREASE!
WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
15
More Revival Photos
R
evival continues in Modesto as in evidenced in these photos. There is a sincere desire to connect with the Almighty God. This passion draws visitors to our altars. May God continue to bless our church with increase in every area until He comes...
16 WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
A Passage to India
O
ur Resident Missionary Ravind Narayan just returned from his second trip tp India. Again he was hosted by Pastor Chacko Thomas at the Lighthouse Ministries Orphanage. Together they invited 90 Trinitarian pastors and their wives for a second leadership seminar at the orphanage (top photo). The photo (left) shows with the red pins the different regions from where the pastors came. The week long seminar ended with Brother Ravind teaching the Apostolic doctrine declared in Acts 2:38. The two seminars resulted in 31 pastors and their wives being baptized in the glorious name of Jesus Christ! (Top right photo) Brother Narayan was also able to visit 15 churches supervised by Brother Thomas (right photos). On one Sunday he preached to five different congregations. He said it was exhausting but exhilarating. The right photo, with the large congregation, is thriving after only a few months of ground breaking of their new church. The photo below left is in one of the small church buildings of 10 x 10 feet that still fills with hungry souls. The photo below right was sent to me by Pastor Thomas of the orphans presenting a Christmas program for the local community. God bless Pastor Thomas and his efforts to evangelize Central India and Brother Ravind Narayan, our spiritual liaison to India. AMEN!
WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
17
E
lder Robert Enney was born in Concord, California, on May 15, 1928 to George and Lou Enney. Elder Enney died peacefully in his sleep on April l7, 2019. Elder Enney was raised in the cattle and dairy industry. It was at a dairy that 17 year old Robert met the firey redhead Geneva Loring while playing softball. Eighteen months later they were married on September 23, 1947. Elder and Sister Enney moved to Modesto and started their family. On Sunday, November 10, 1957, the Enney family started attending Revival Center. On May 15, 1958, Elder Enney was born again, baptized in Jesus’ name and received the Holy Ghost on his 30th birthday. Revival Center became the center of his life and his home. Elder Enney served on the church board for 29 years. He taught Sunday School for 30 years and drove the Sunday School bus. Elder and Sister Enney were blessed with 6 children, 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great grandchildren, and 54 nieces and nephews. Pastor Johnson spoke at Elder Enney’s Celebration of Life Service, remembering how faithful the Enneys were. He said not once did he hear the Enneys complain to him or have a gripe with anyone in the congregation. They were never a problem for him, but always a support and dependable help when needed. Pastor Johnson praised him as a spiritual hero and example to the younger generations in the church as a saint “whose heart is fixed” on the things of God and His righteousness.
18 WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
W
The above photo is the last one taken of Elder Enney just a few weeks before he passed. He was called up to testify, and Bishop Keyes was moved to pray for him. The love of the congregation for this great saint is captured in this photo.
These photos show how much the Enneys gave to their Lord and Savior. The above photo are the Enneys with family members faithfully manning their fireworks stand. Below left, the Enneys faithfully give their missionary offering. Below right, the Enneys give praise for God’s healing of her painful arthritis.
hen this editor and his wife first started attending this church in 1989, I remember distinctly Brother Enney and his wife Sister Geneva, were chosen that year as Seniors of the Year. I quickly understood why because they were always busy supporting the fundraising projects of the church and were some of the most faithful people in the congregation. For years, Brother and Sister Enney manned a fireworks stand in the sweltering summer heat--never with a word of complaint. What a privilege to have known such wonderful saints of God! Brother and Sister Enney were members of Revival Center for over 50 years. They had just celebrated 60 years of marriage shortly before Sister Enney’s passing. At their last annual family reunion they attended together with 229 family members, they were honored by their children and their spouses. The following is a poem that Brother Enney composed in 2008 while at the hospital with Sister Enney as she made her final journey home.
My Precious Pearl, My Love One day while I was out playing baseball, I found a beautiful, precious pearl. Two weeks later in June of 1945, I asked this precious pearl if she would be my precious pearl, my wife. She said, “yes,” but I would have to wait for one year. I agreed. In 1946, I gave her an engagement ring, a beautiful green emerald birthstone. On September 23, 1946, the love of my life became my beautiful, precious pearl. God gave me my beautiful pearl for sixty-one long years. And together we had five precious stones: three daughters and two sons; One of whom God took home shortly after birth. One night, shortly after retiring to bed and saying our prayers, God began the journey of calling my precious pearl home. The Lord told me, “I want your pearl.” I said, “Yes, Lord. You can have my pearl, but, Lord, remember I am coming to reclaim my pearl someday.” I, God’s other pearl, will join her in heaven; I will claim my precious pearl once again, when God calls me home! Elder Robert George Enney has claimed his pearl and has entered into everlasting life with His Savior Jesus Christ!
WINTER / SPRING NEWSVINE 2018
19
The Newsvine
REVIVAL CENTER United Pentecostal Church of Modesto 825 7th Street Modesto, CA 95354
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens
C
ongratulations to newlyweds, Athol and Florence Stephens who were recently married at our church. May God bless and keep the Stephens in His love and care.
Baptized in Jesus’ Name!
D
uring the great revival of water baptisms at the beginning of the year, Sister Natalie Diaz was strongly convicted to take that step of salvation. Pastor Johnson did the honors as the Holy Spirit enveloped her. Sister Johnson poses with her afterwards, congratulating her for making this vital decision in acquiring full salvation.