Editors Leo and Virginia Aguilera
2016 marked 75 years our church has had its doors continuously opened to all who seek salvation in
the city of Modesto. It is essential that our saints have the historical knowledge how our local church was founded. To achieve this it is timely that we give the testimony of our founding pastor and his wife, Brother J.E. Rode and Sister Lillian Rode. This historical record was first published in the Newsvine April 5, 1991. I interviewed their daughter Norma Lineberry, Pauline and Bill Cameron, Bonnie Ketner, Lana Fletcher, and three precious saints who are now in glory: Donald Powell, Gladys Madden and Reba Graham. Reader, prepare yourself to be enlightened and inspired with our rich legacy of historical significance. Maranatha, the Lord cometh! EDITOR Leo Aguilera
newsvine
“Aiming for Awareness!” Winter 2016 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 LEO AGUILERA
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Assist. Ed. Multi-media Business LiaisonS GRAPHIC DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHERS
Columnists YOUTH REPORTERS MAILINGS DISTRIBUTIONS
Virginia Aguilera Joshua Aguilera Charlene Wilson Leo & Virginia Aguilera Leo Aguilera, Grover Hunt Gabriel Chavoya, Jim Campbell, Carol Castillo Josh Aguilera Virginia Aguilera Norbert Feliciano
CHURcH SERVICES SUNDAY - 10:00 A.M. Sunday School-Children - Tuolumne 9:45 A.M. Sunday School - Adults - Sanctuary 10:30 A.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. Thursday - 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY - 10:00 A.M.
Starting Point for New Converts Morning Service - Sanctuary Spanish Service Prayer in Youth Chapel REVIVAL SERVICE All-Church Prayer Mid-Week Service, K.R.E.W Pulse (Youth Service) Spanish Service Saturday Morning Outreach
Church staff
PASTOR H. TODD JOHNSON BISHOP RANDY G. KEYES
assistant pastor assistant pastor youth PASTOR resident missionaries church secretary SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR RC Kingdom Kids K.R.E.W. Kids prayer ministries Word Ministry Choir world missionS ladies ministries (S.H.E.) discipling ministries L.E.A.D. director PURPOSE INSTITUTE OUTREACH connect groups community relations apostolic man ministry BUFF (Men’s 50+) HYPHEN (Young Adults) THRIVE (Young Marrieds) spanish services Nursing Home Ministry Food for Thoughts & Food PantrY
Uday Narayan Dana Le Blanc Jonathan Quinones Uday Narayan, Xenn Seah Charlene Wilson Mary Aguirre John & Amy Rodriguez Kim Johnson Charles Bispo Dana Le Blanc Kellee Hopper, Matt Aguirre Jerry & Andrea Powell Priscilla Gomez Chris Harris Carol Castillo Jerry Powell & Carol Castillo Leonard Alvarez Paul & Jenifer Winter Jeremiah Williams Alex Diaz Herb Jenkins Jeriann Powell Aaron & Shannon Gomez Antonio Gutierrez Joyce Jones Nancy Williams
NEWVINE 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 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.
by Editor Leo Aguilera
B
FROM RUSSIA TO AMERICA, J. E. Rode’s Beginnings
rother J. E. Rody was born in Russia near the German border in the year 1900. His father, Julius and his mother Julia were extensive land owners under Czar Nicholas Romanoff. They had many peasants tending the huge farm estate for them. Brother Rode remembered at the age of three visiting the peasant huts with his father. He was so intrigued by the simple life. He saw how they slept on slabs which appeared like bunk beds and asked his father, “Why can’t we have some of those?” There were 13 children born to the Rodes, but two died in infancy. Then Julius had a premonition around the year 1903 that great danger was coming to Russia. He decided to sell his land and migrate to America. He warned his other brothers, but they scoffed at his paranoia. That year Julius and Julia answered an ad for a “mail order farm” in Galt, California, just south of Sacramento. When they arrived, Julius found the land to be unfit for farming. He got rid of the land and bought another farm nestled in a large German community a few miles south in the town of Lodi. Lodi had a German Lutheran school where J. E. Rode attended. There he could continue to speak German. He also was fluent in Russian, and he soon began to learn to speak the English language. His father found success in growing produce on his land, and J. E. Rode helped translate for his father when doing business with vendors and grocery businesses. Then at the age of seventeen, J. E. Rode and his family heard the horrifying news that Russia was going through a brutal and violent communist revolution. All of his father’s brothers were sent to Siberia and perished in the Gulag camps during the purge of the dictator Joseph Stalin. His parents grieved for their loved ones. Yet J. E. Rode remembered his mother and father giving thanks to God that the move to America saved them from certain death. But something else happened when J. E. Rode was seventeen. It was in Lodi where the Rode family was invited to a oneness Pentecostal church. The church was pastored
Downtown Lodi, CA, at the time the Rodes bought a farm there in 1903.
by Brother Pair. The message preached in the small church was powerful and prophetic. His parents and J. E. Rode were baptized and received the infilling of the Holy Ghost. During his early twenties, Brother Rode went into partnership with his brother William, and they both bought a grocery store in Lodi they named the Eden Cash Market. It was during this time Brother Rode became concerned that many of the youth in the Pentecostal church were leaving or backsliding when they became teenagers. He spoke to Pastor Pair and asked if he could start teaching a young people’s Sunday school class. The pastor agreed and Brother Rode believed he had found his calling in life. He encouraged his young Bible students to stay faithful to the gospel, remain faithful in attendance to the church, and be faithful in holiness. The pastor also found Brother Rode to be an active soul winner, for the young man was not hesitant to share the gospel with all he knew. In 1928 something unusual happened in the leadership of the church that would directly affect Brother Rode’s destiny. Pastor Pair felt a calling to establish another work in another city and resigned. He made the astonishing decision to turn over the pastorship of the church to twin sisters who had been evangelizing as a team for twelve years. They had just held a series of revival meetings at the Lodi church. Their names were Lillian and Ethel Zimmerman. Lillian would become Brother Rode’s future bride! (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) WINTER NEWSVINE 2016 3
without any pay. At the age of 16, both the girls had had enough! They decided to leave the farm and move nearer to their mother in Sacramento, California. Grandma Zimmer tried to bribe them to stay, but to no avail. The twins arrived in the San Joaquin Valley a few months later. Both found employment as live-in maids in respective wealthy families. Lillian was hired as the housekeeper of a Presbyterian minister and his family. Unfortunately, he abused his wife and children mercilessly, but he never raised a hand against Lillian.
The Twins Are Called
The public school house in Victoria, Texas, where Lillian and Ethel attended up to the eighth grade.
FROM TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA, Lillian Rode’s Beginnings
The identical twins were born in 1896 in the small farming community of Victoria, Texas. When the girls started school their father became ill with tuberculosis. He decided he needed to move to the drier climate of Arizona for his health. He and the twins’ mother Josephine decided to leave the twin girls with Josephine’s mother, old Grandma Zimmer, until he recovered. He would die three years later. Upon her return, Josephine asked for her daughters, but Grandma Zimmer would not relinquish them on the grounds that they were better use to her on the farm. Josephine knew she could not bring them up herself and decided to move to the town of Victoria and find employment, leaving the girls with her mother. The Zimmer farm was 1,260 acres of cotton. Grandma Zimmer was a shrewd business woman, and she had a very dominating personality. She brought up the twins in the Catholic faith. Even before they started school, Grandma Zimmer worked them very hard with the field hands during the planting and harvesting of the cotton. They also had daily chores with the chickens and livestock Grandma Zimmer kept, making the farm selfsustaining. Before and after school and during the hot summers the girls helped out, Josephine remarried when the girls were seven, and she and her new husband came out to the farm and begged for the twins back. Again, Grandma Zimmer talked Josephine out of it. Josephine gave her weeping daughters a farewell hug, and the newly married couple left for California. The girls looked exactly alike. During school, they would switch dates and the boys couldn’t tell the difference. They both graduated from the eighth grade at the age of 14. At that time there was no public high school in Victoria for them to attend. Grandma Zimmer continued to work them 4 WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
After a few months, Lillian and her sister had a Sunday outing to see a silent movie in the local theater. They were watching the first feature when, suddenly, Lillian saw flames engulfed the screen. She grabbed Ethel by the hand and said, “Ethel, let’s get out of here! Everyone’s going to hell whose in here. We, too, if we stay in this place!” Her sister complied, but she later told Lillian that she had seen no fire. A few days later, Lillian went to the dentist who operated on her without cleaning his instruments. Within a day she contacted black smallpox and was rushed to the hospital with a high fever and hemorrhaging under the skin. Black smallpox is almost always a fatal form of smallpox. There in the hospital she literally died for a few minutes. Lillian later said she felt her soul going up towards heaven. A light shone all around her, and then she heard a voice say, “You are not fit for heaven. I still have work for you to do. You are going to work in my vineyard. I will tell you when the time comes, and your family will be as dead to you.” With alarm Lillian responded to the voice with this plea, “What about my sister Ethel?” The voice answered her, “She will come as a little lamb.” Suddenly, the doctors revived her and she was alive again.
The theater in Lodi that featured silent movies where Lillian saw her vision of fire.
A couple of weeks passed and on a Sunday afternoon after the morning service in the Presbyterian church, the minister’s wife asked Lillian if she would like to join her on an outing. Instead, she took her to the Assembly of God mission. Lillian was surprised by this, and even more so when she heard the minister’s wife during worship praise God in strange gibberish. A woman minister preached a sermon which convicted Lillian. Despite her embarrassment, for she was raised Catholic and had never been in a Pentecostal service, she felt compelled to make her way to the altar. There some drunks made room for her. Lillian felt like she had to repent of her sins, and in the process of doing so, she timidly raised her hands. The Holy Ghost fell on her! She began to speak in the same strange gibberish she heard from the minister’s wife. After she prayed, it was explained to her that she had spoken in tongues just like the Bible said. Suddenly it dawned on Lillian that this was the something that she had been looking for all her life. Now that Lillian had spoken in tongues, she remembered her heavenly vision a few weeks earlier. She rushed out of the mission and ran to her sister’s place of employment. As soon as her sister opened the door, Lillian asked to come in and Ethel allowed her. Suddenly Ethel asked her, “Why did you say that?” “Said what?” Lillian returned. “Why did you say hallelujah?” “Did I say that?” Lillian asked surprised. “You did the moment I opened the door. What does that mean, Lillian?” Ethel demanded. Lillian realized that she had no control over her mouth with his Holy Ghost blessing She began to explain to Ethel her need to get this Holy Ghost also. “What should I do?” Ethel readily asked. Lillian instructed her to repent that night and the next day she would take her to the mission. Later, Ethel told her that she did as she was instructed to do. She repented with tears and cried all night long. The next day Lillian took her to the mission and there Ethel received the baptism of the Holy Ghost almost instantly when she got to the altar. Lillian received a blessed assurance of her vision when she saw her sister respond to the calling “like a little lamb.” The girls quit their jobs and went to Mills College in Oakland, which at that time was a Bible school. They were determined to become evangelists with full credentials. It was there that they first heard about Jesus’ name baptism. This began to puzzle them, and they searched the Scriptures. Without making a new commitment to this doctrine, both girls decided to go back home to Texas to visit Grandma Zimmer. Before they left, they had already witnessed to an aunt and uncle who converted from Catholicism. They then went on their trip, discussing all the way the doctrine of the oneness of God. By the time they arrived in Hous-
Mills, College, Oakland, CA, where Lillian and Ethel enrolled to study and become fully credentialed evangelists. There they heard of the oneness doctrine sweeping the nation. ton, Texas, they had decided to be baptized in Jesus’ name. Brother O. A. Fauss, one of the future founders of the Pentecostal Churches, Inc., would not baptize them because he himself was being persecuted for making that decision to be baptized in Jesus’ name - at that time he was still congregating with the Assemblies of God. Instead, Brother A. O. Moore baptized them. The girls went home to Victoria to witness to the family. They witnessed to Grandma Zimmer for three days. She would not be persuaded. In fact, she told them that if they would give up this Oneness Pentecostal doctrine, she would deed them an ice cream parlor and a dance hall in each of their names. At the end of the third day, the unmoved, devout Catholic Grandma Zimmer, in a fit of rage, threw them out of her house right in the middle of a ferocious dust storm. The girls somehow made it back to town and decided to hold a revival. They bought a large tent and started having revival meetings. Many of the townspeople came to hear the two sisters preach, including two Catholic priests. From these meetings a church was established in Victoria that exists to this day. The girls began to evangelize throughout the Southwest. By the time the sisters had made their way back to Sacramento a few years later, Grandma Zimmer, upon retiring from her Texas cotton farm, had moved there to live with their aunt. The girls began to witness again to their grandmother and finally were able to convert her and baptize her. Coming out of the waters, Old Grandma Zimmer was gloriously filled with the Holy Ghost at the age of 75! She begged the girls for their forgiveness for all the mean things she had done. They graciously received her apologies. Josephine, their mother, would also be baptized at the same time. (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
5
feel the call. He was enjoying his thriving grocery business in Lodi. He felt that even though he was licensed to preach with the P.C.I., his ministry was to teach and definitely not to pastor. Sister Rode thought otherwise, for she knew that her husband was a great soul winner. She talked him into driving her down to see the property in Modesto. They took their only child Norma with them. Brother Rode prayed about it when he got back to Lodi. Within a few weeks, God gave him the same burden as his wife. Without selling the grocery store in Lodi, he moved down to Modesto with his famDowntown Modesto during the early 1930’s when Sister Lillian ily and reopened the church in 1941, seventy-five Rode and Sister Ethel Tool bought the property on Tuolumne Bou- years ago! levard two miles south of the arch. Today our present sanctuary is In 1945, the Pentecostal Churches Incorporated two blocks west from the arch depicted in the photo. converged with another Pentecostal organization called the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, THE RODE TEAM BEGINS, and the new formation was called the United Pentecostal Called to MODESTO Church International. The church on Tuolumne Boulevard In 1928, the twins were invited to hold a series of revival became a UPC church. By that time, the Rodes had been meetings in the Lodi church. That was when their appoint- blessed to pastor a growing congregation fueled by intense ment was made to become co-pastors. For one year, Lillian series of revival meetings, community outreach, and speand Ethel shepherded the Lodi congregation. It was dur- cial programs of providing for the poor in the area. These ing that time she fell in love with the young people’s Sun- are the same fuels that fire our congregation to this day! day school teacher, and she became the wife of Brother J. Brother Rode would prove to be true and faithful in E. Rode that same year. Ethel at a conference would meet his calling to build up a mighty church in Modesto in the Brother Earl Tool and she would marry him in 1933. That same year Grandma Zimmer passed away leaving the twins some money as an inheritance. In their first year of marriage, Brother and Sister Tool received a burden to start a home missions work in Modesto forty miles south of Lodi. They asked Brother and Sister Rode to come and see a piece of property in Modesto near Highway 99 not far from the 7th Street Lion’s Bridge. There on Tuolumne Boulevard the twin girls used Grandma Zimmer’s money to purchase a piece of property that already had two small houses on it. Almost immediately Brother Tool began to build a small church building that would house a sanctuary and a residence in the back. They named the church the Pentecostal Apostolic Church. In 1934, the The Rodes Pentecostal Churches Incorporated held their Western District Conference there. The congregation began to grow for years that followed, but the heroine of the founding of our the Tools labored faithfully for about seven years. How- church is Sister Lillian Rode. Her burden and vision of seeever, by late 1939, Brother Tool began to have a burden to ing a church established in Modesto was truly inspired by establish a church in Kerman near Fresno. Within months, the Divine. She lived long enough to prophesy that the then the church doors of Modesto were closed in early 1940. empty building on 7th and I, our present sanctuary, would Sister Lillian Rode did not want to sell the property with one day be the new site for the United Pentecostal Church the small church building. She knew there were some faith- of Modesto. ful saints in Modesto who needed a Jesus’ name church to We salute the Rodes, the founders of our church, for their exist. Among them were the Birches. She spoke to Brother legacy of their burden to win souls, and who struggled and Rode about pastoring the church in Modesto. He did not ultimately triumphed to build the kingdom of God. 6 WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
I
have won several souls to the Lord in the past few years, but having them make a commitment to attend church regularly has been a challenge. Many new converts today are thrilled to be baptized in Jesus’ name and be filled with the Holy Spirit. They will even be faithful during the period of discipleship, attending as many services as possible. Then it happens - the attendance stops, excuses are given, and the soul winner might get his convert to come only for special events. For those who win souls, it is still vital to cast the net and catch as many souls as possible from the fires of hell, but Jesus’ words gives us a reality check when he said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” This does not mean that the soul winner should be disheartened, for all Christians are divinely commanded to share the gospel. Jesus also commands us to, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” This is the commandment where Jesus will test us for it is He Who ordains the neighbors around us. “Neighbor” not only include the ones living next door, but also our loved ones, relatives, friends, acquaintances, and those we work with at the place of our employment. What better way to show that love by sharing with them our testimony and witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is also imperative to show through example attending church faithfully is essential for every Christian’s salvation. Here are FIVE reasons to share with the new convert during discipleship why Christians need to choose a church and attend regularly: (1) God commands it, therefore we must obey In Hebrews 10:25 (NLV), we read, “Let us not stay away from church meetings. Some people are doing this all the time. Comfort each other as you see the day of His return coming near.” The purpose of assembling ourselves with our fellow Christians is to encourage and comfort one another. Equally important in becoming a member of the local church is, (2) God commands that we have a pastor in our lives In Hebrews 13:17 (NLT) we are told to account and submit to spiritual leaders in the local church. “Obey our spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow.” These spiritual leaders include a pastor, assistant pastors, teachers, mentors, visiting evangelists or missionaries. If a convert thinks he can stay home and foster his own faith or church hop, that person is not allowing our Lord and Savior to protect him/ her from exposure to false doctrine or enabling spiritual growth. Being outside the church makes it more difficult to win souls who will need spiritual leadership, and if a Christian does not bear fruit, there is the danger of being cut off by God from the body of Christ which is His Church: “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit...” (John 15:1, 2) Finally, it is under spiritual authority the devout Christians give their tithes and offerings for the collective support of the minister and his family, the upkeep and expense of the
house of worship, and the support of evangelism, missionary works and outreaches: “Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the scripture says, ‘You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.’ And in another place, ‘Those who work deserve their pay!.’” (I Timothy 5:17, 18) NLT (3) God commands us to set aside a day of the week for Him Teach the new convert the fourth commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8) Let him/her know for the Jews this is sunset on Friday evening to sunset on Saturday evening. Then teach him/her the early Christians eventually were not welcomed on the Sabbath to worship in Jewish synagogues and the Temple. Therefore, they began to meet on Sunday, the first day of the week, to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, for that was the day He arose. The ancient writings prove the first generation of Christians met on Sunday to pray and worship together and to hear the preaching and teaching of God’s word. (4) A special visitation of the presence of the Lord is there Jesus promised all Christians He would make a special visitation of His presence whenever two or more are gathered in His name (Matt. 18:20). He is already in the hearts of every devout Christian as the Holy Spirit. Yet when we gather collectively in His name, He is in the midst of us anointing the preacher, the choir or singing groups and individuals, and He manifests the gifts of the Spirit that edify and minister to all who are assembled there. This is also the perfect setting to invite the sinner who needs salvation, for the altar call is a powerful means of attaining deliverance from the sinful life with a public confession of faith. Witnessing healings, salvation, and hearing testimonies of faith inspires collective worship that invites the mighty presence of our Lord to be with us when we have good church! (5) There is spiritual strength and power in collective prayer, worship and fellowship with other Christians Roman 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (KJV) Hearing the word preached or taught in a church setting strengthens the Christian’s faith to tackle the trials and challenges of every day life. In Matt. 18:19 we read, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” (NKJV) Wow! What a promise the Christian can achieve when he/she prays in unity with other Christians. In I John 1:7 we read, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (NKJV) Sustaining salvation for the Christian is to maintain fellowship with the brethren and to love one another. Attending church faithfully is good for the soul, so we must heed the warning found in James 4:17, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (NKJV)
WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
7
Some of our visiting missionaries and guests pose with others: (L to R) Dennis Moore, Luke Campbell, Don Demyan - Global Missions Director District 1, James Thomas, Jerry Powell - RC Missions Director, Julio Hernandez, Jeremy Holmes, and Steve Shirley
T
Stewardship Missions Conference
he theme Pastor Johnson selected for this year’s conference. was, “THY KINGDOM COME!” We were blessed this year to have several dynamic foreign and home missionaries, along with powerful guest speakers. The conference was different from those of previous years. Its intensity, sacrifice, and worship were unparalleled. Let us hold this conference as a landmark in our lives and forever return to its memories as an inspiration and legacy of faith. May God bless all who helped make it happen. May God richly bless all the missionaries and their families, whether home or abroad who took part during this great event. A special blessing for our speakers allowing God to anoint them and guide us to new plateau of spiritual enlightenment. The church stands in awe and with humble gratitude to the service of Pastor Todd Johnson and his wife, Sister Kim Johnson, for organizing the conference and spiritually leading us in prayer and acceptance to God’s will. All glory to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! 8 WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
It’s all about giving! On the final night of the conference Bishop Keyes and Sister Keyes pray over their offering, as do Jeremiah and Nancy Williams (left photo).
ANOINTED SPEAKERS (L TO R) Pastor Mike Williams of Apoka, FL: Pastor Paul Pamer of Barberton,
OH; and Evangelist Joshua Herring of Stockton, CA, were the dynamic conference speakers preaching to a full house every night of the conference.
(above) Ministers from the Bay Area who were ordained Saturday night pose with their leader Julio Hernandez and Pastor Johnson and Bishop Keyes. (below) Several baptisms occured during the services.
OUR HONORED GUESTS (L TO R) Teacher to Israel, Brother Dennis Moore; missionary to Costa Rica, Brother Luke Campbell; Home Missionary to Tracy, CA, Brother Juan Martinez-Saenz; home missionary to Compton, CA, Brother Joseph Gomez; home missionary to Ventura, CA, Brother Scott Shoemake; home missionary to Arden-arcade, Brother Gilbert Lozano; pastor and orphanage director to India, Brother James Thomas; missionary to the greater Paris area, France, Brother Kevin Wallace; home missionary to Las Vegas, NV, Brother Jeremy Holmes; home missionary to Barstow, CA, Brother Daryl Scott; missionary to Dominican Republic, Brother Steve Shirley. May God richly bless their ministries!
(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
9
S
ister Cheryl Shoemake Ventura, CA
S
ister Crystal Wallace Paris, France
S
ister Kari Shirley Dominican Republic
THE WOMEN SPEAK! Our missionary wives, pictured above, spoke during the Sunday morning service. Their heartfelt words touched our hearts as they described their burden to reach the lost in the cities and countries in which they serve. SISTER BROOKE PAMER (left), wife of Pastor Pamer and daughter of Pastor Mike Williams, was the morning speaker. Her moving testimony about their daughter born with special needs was an inspiration to have faith, even in the time of adversity. Her sermon was titled “God Pitches a Tent�.
ister Samantha Campbell Costa Rica
Sister Johnson and Sister Keyes pose with Sister Paymer and Sister Williams.
It is always a blessing to have the children of our guests, home and foreign missionaries join us for the conference. Special activities are planned for them during the weekend. During the Sunday morning service the children receive a cash offering just for them. This year, the cash fell from the ceiling!
MORE PHOTOS AT issuu.com/the newsvine or google thenewsvine
10 WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
S
D
uring the Saturday evening service, the choir sang a special song, “The Revelation Song”, in eight different languages, a beautiful tribute to our Saviour Jesus Christ, worshipped around the globe! A great thanks of appreciation to our music department for their anointed blessing in all the services!
(Left photo) Educator to Israel, Brother Dennis Moore, gave an informative seminar on the nation of Israel at a Saturday morning sit-down. (Right photo) The beautiful new pulpit built by Brother Jeremiah Williams for the remodeled sanctuary was unveiled during the Saturday evening service. Pastor Johnson immediately shouted Acts 2:38 over it after the unveiling. YES!
Awesome Remodeling!
F
or several months prior to the conference, Pastor and Sister Johnson spearheaded a massive remodeling of our sanctuary inside and out. There were many who assisted the following outstanding laborers: Jeremiah Williams, assisted by some of our youth (applying moldings, new pulpit, building four 22 ft. columns, placement of 47 ft. valance, construction details); Norbert Feliciano, assisted by Mike Shoffit (painting the refinished walls and molding details); Donnie Wilson, assisted by Herb Jenkins and Pastor Johnson (construction of flagstone posts for wrought iron fence around parking lot); Ronnie Wilson, assisted by Herb Jenkins (construction of iron handrails at main entrance); Jim Campbell (plumbing and electrical updates); Ernie Espinoza (audio/visual updates and new screens); Pranesh Narayan (lighting design, new platform chairs, and installing projectors); Lonnie Loftus (electrical updates, installation of exterior signs), Steve Medina (accent lights, installation of outdoor speakers, designed exterior signs); Daniel Warren (designing pastor’s office, overall interior features); Anthony Hernandez and Gabriel Reyna (coating and refreshing exterior awnings); general labor assistance - Chris Castro, Tim Cerros, Merle Fletcher, Dane Le Blanc, Tim Powell, Jonathan Quinones;. Sister Johnson was also wonderfully assisted by many of our women including Angela Warren, Tina Cerros, Aubrey and Amber Amador. All outdoor projects were monitored by newly appointed Director of Securtiy Eric Winchester. If we missed any- The beautiful remodeling of the pasone we apologize. On behalf of all our church members, may God richly bless all who made the tor’s office was a pastor’s appreciation gift from the congregation. monumental task possible!
WINTER NEWSVINE 2016 11
r e ecent
vents
Great Visitations T
wo great lions of God recently came to give us a mighty word from the Lord. Doctor James Hughes from the great state of Texas presented to us great teaching on the subject, “How Will You Handle Offense?” His keen understanding of psychology enlightens the listener to reflect on his/her strengths and weaknesses. Pastor Jeniva Mpofu, who pastors in Birmingham, England, and has outreaches in South Africa and Botswana, came to give us a powerful sermon titled, “Receive the Visitation”. We are looking forward to when these two great preachers can return in the new year.
Kidz Zone Thanksgiving Feast!
K
idz Zone, under the leadership of Mary Aguirre (pictured above middle), put on a Thanksgiving feast for our Sunday School children and their families complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie! Each family was also presented with a free turkey to take home and roast for
their own Thanksgiving celebration. A huge thank you to Sister Aguirre and her team of teachers and volunteers who labored long hours in order to make this event memorable for our Sunday School children. Pray for this very important outreach to our community.
BUFF Fundraiser
B
12 WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
uff Director Herb Jenkins (left) spearheaded a fundraiser for missions and the annual winterizing the cars of our single moms and widows of the church. Selling tri-tip sandwich meals after morning service was scrumptious. Larry Hall (right) was honorary chef.
Giving THANKS TOGETHER
W
ith a focus on giving back to the community and ministering to our Revival Center family, our church rallied together for a special Thanksgiving service. Above from the left, the choir leads the church in spirited worship. After Pastor Johnson’s heart-felt sermon entitled “The Antidote to Spiritual Amnesia,” the altar was filled with grateful souls for God’s blessings. Above right, a visitor is baptized in the wonderful saving name of Jesus Christ!
Food, Fun, & Fellowship!
T
he weatherman predicted rain, but the church prayed for clear skies for our Thanksgiving fellowship after the morning service, and God heard our cries. Although the skies were gray, it did not stop us from enjoying a meal of delicious Mexican food, finished with pumpkin pie and whipped cream. We even had hot coffee and cider. The children were kept busy with bounce houses and basketball, while the adults enjoyed a lovely afternoon of food and fellowship with their family and friends. The afternoon was a great opportunity to better connect with the newer
members of our church and to become acquainted with the many visitors who attended. The church was also able to give away approximately 200 turkeys. Thank you to Pastor and Sister Johnson and to all whose efforts made this event a great success. We are thankful for God’s great blessings for our church and families. May we never suffer from spiritual amnesia by focusing on life’s challenges, but may we always be conscious of His goodness, grace, and mercy.
WINTER NEWSVINE 2016 13
Sister Arti Narayan with her missionary parents Uday and Isneh Narayan
“Once we arrived, I was informed that we would be staying for an entire year! I was completely distraught and deeply hurt AT my parents...I was sad for days and depressed.” Sister Arti Narayan says in her own words how her missionary journey to Fiji left a powerful impact on who she is today.
I
was born in the Fiji Islands and was four months old when I came to the United States of America. I have lived in the U.S. ever since. I grew up in a very strict, sheltered and loving home. My parents wanted to raise my two brothers, Ashish and Edwin, and me to be productive individuals and, most importantly, to live for God. I attended our church school, Tuolumne Christian School, from elementary all the way through high school. In 1986, at the very young age of ten, my parents told us that we were going to be taking a trip to the Fiji Islands. I was excited to go back and visit my birthplace, and because I love to travel. However, once we arrived, I was informed that we would be staying for an entire year! I was completely distraught and deeply hurt AT my parents. How could they do this? How was I going to survive here, so far away from home, for an entire year - without my friends, my school and my church? I remember feeling completely imprisoned and out of control of the situation. I did not agree with the idea at all, and I was sad for days and depressed. We began to do the work of God in Fiji. I remember having “open-air” church services in the marketplace, on street
14 WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
corners and at the bus stops. My dad would make me sing in these public places. I remember feeling so embarrassed as tons of people would walk by and listen. We would preach the gospel wherever we could to gather souls and to begin a church. I remember going into villages and into people’s humble homes and telling them about the one and only true God. It was during one of these visits when we met my future husband’s family, Brother Bhoop and Sister Utra Narayan, who were our first converts, having received the Holy Ghost and were baptized. As a result, we started our first church in Waila, Nausori. The congregation started to grow, Brother Sam and Sister Chandra and their family started attending. I remember the struggles and discouragement of starting a church from ground zero. You win some and then you lose some, but you just have to keep pressing on. There were moments when it was really dark and we struggled. Yet there were occasions when souls would come, receive the Holy Ghost and get baptized in the name of Jesus. What glorious times!
Young Arti with her father and brothers on a boat traveling between the Fiji islands with their host, Brother Jack.
We We worked on the island of Viti Levu for several months and then travelled by boat to the other main island in Fiji Vanua Levu. I remember that it was there in Labasa when we first met Sister Evangeline Naicker’s family. Her father was a trinitarian pastor. We started preaching in his church, and I can remember when his entire congregation was baptized in the name of Jesus. We met Brother Venket Raju (David) and his family, and the church in Labasa begin to explode with Pastor David’s leadership. He is still there today and doing a tremendous job. I highly admire and respect Pastor David and his wife for devoting their entire life to preaching the gospel and doing the work of God. He is one man that has made a lasting impact in my life. He truly is an amazing servant of God. At the end of our one-year stay in Fiji, we had to leave and return to the U.S. I remember there was a host of people who went with us to the airport because they wanted to see us off. I remember them crying, sobbing, holding us and telling us not to leave. They did not want us to leave them. I can’t even explain the pain I witnessed coming from the deepest part of their souls. It made me so sad and I cried with them. It was utter distress and calamity! How was I going to leave these poor people? I felt so bad that words cannot even describe the pain. To this day, I can hear their cries and see the pain in their eyes as we boarded the plane. During my year in the Fiji Islands I learned so much. I learned to appreciate the smallest things that we take for granted each day here in the United States: a nice home, hotrunning water in showers, clean bathrooms, washers, dryers, paved roads, adequate doctors and medical health facilities, schools, music in our churches, sound systems in our churches, pews, instruments, and I could go on and on. I learned that the world is so different in various places. I learned that there are so many souls in this huge massive world who need Jesus and the gospel of salvation. How are we going to reach them? How can we get preachers, missionaries and workers of the kingdom into all the four corners of this earth? Again, I cannot tell you enough how much of an impact this trip has made in my life and how much it has caused me to be the person who I am today. As a result of this journey to Fiji Islands, I made up in my mind at a young age that I was going to pursue higher education in college and attain a career where I would make enough income to support the work of God in Fiji and also in India. I started working at the age of 14, and from the first job that I have ever had, I have always paid my tithes and given to missions every single month. With my hard work, determination, perseverance, grit and integrity, I have reached my goal. However, I am never satisfied, and I cannot be content with just the status quo. I keep reaching higher so that I can be MORE of a blessing to the kingdom of God. My desire is to support those native pastors because they sacrifice their ALL for the work of God. They live sacrificially not only with their finances, but they travel to places that most of us would not even think of ever going - they put themselves and their family’s lives in potentially fatal situations - all for the advancement of God’s kingdom and to save souls. I cannot describe to you how hard
they work and the sacrifices they make. You really have to witness and experience it to really understand. I would highly recommend that each and every individual take a missions trip to experience the phenomenon that I have shared with you. It is an experience that is indescribable and cannot be replicated. It is life-changing and well worth whatever expenses necessary to take the trip. I also want to say that there are so many who go through a fast food drive through or buy Starbucks, or purchase anything on a daily basis. If we saved that purchase for one month and accumulated the money to send to missions, it would probably support a pastor so that he could do the work of God. They can live on $250.00 - $300.00 a month and do the work of God. Can you imagine what kind of a difference we could make if we each supported a pastor in the mission field by sacrificing frivolous things? What kind of an impact can you have on the lives of souls and people for the kingdom of God? I am telling you there is power in giving and sharing this gospel and knowing that through you’re giving you are saving lives. Editor’s note: Today Sister Arti is a vice-principal at a local public elementary school and holds college seminars for high school students. She is married to Brother Pranesh Narayan who is owner of America Auto Depot in Modesto. Both are active in church and faithful givers.
Sister Arti and Brother Pranesh pose before a Stewardship Missions service. Sister Arti is wearing a traditional Indian dress called an Anarkali with a head band. WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
15
r e c ecent
vents
ontinued
RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE
C
ongratulations to Kiah Jones who recently graduated from Colorado Technical University with a bachelor of arts degree in Business Administration with a concentration in management. She is presently employed as a paraprofessional, working with special needs children at Hanshaw Junior High in Modesto. Kiah is also very involved with the Revival Center choir and praise and worship team.
W.O.W. - WOMEN OF WORSHIP!
A
recent addition to our church is W.O.W., Woman of Worship. This ministry led by Sister Joyce Jones and Sister Kay Hall is for young ladies 50 and above. Its focus is to provide opportunities for fellowship and service. Recently, W.O.W. caroled at several local retirement homes, follow by lunch and an afternoon of Christmas shopping. If you are interested in participating in W.O.W., please
see Sister Jones for more information. We women need each other, so please set aside time out of your busy life to join us at the next event. Below are photographs from our caroling outing at Valley Comfort Care Facility which specializes in caring for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Above top row from left: Residents and visitors come out for a time of Christmas carols and a message about the true meaning of Christmas; Sister Joyce Jones along with Sister Donna Beard prepare to sing “Silent Night.” Bottom row from left: Sister Kay Hall, Sister Reynolds, and Sister Nancy Hernandez listen as Sister Jones tells of the story of the Christmas Truce when WWI soldiers on Christmas Day joined together, both Germans and Allies, to celebrate Christmas; Sister Leana Brisco accompanies the group on the piano Photography by Virginia Aguilera 16 WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
REVIVAL SERVICE WITH EVANGELIST LUTHER SANCHEZ “ C r e a t ed to Praise”
Evangelist Sanchez was raised in San Juan Puerto Rico. He is a great preacher of the word, welcomed by our congregation with a great altar service!
Break Down - or Break Through?
I
nventor Thomas Edison worked tirelessly to find a reliable, commercially feasible way to keep light bulbs burning more than a few minutes. When asked by a New York Times reporter how he managed to persevere through the difficulties of continually failed experiments, he famously replied, “I have not failed 700 times. I’ve succeeded in proving 700 ways how not to build a light bulb.” Edison is an example of what financial advisor and entrepreneur Dave Ramsey describes as the key to building successful momentum: “Focused intensity over time.” Rare is the person who can maintain focus and intensity over time, but they are ones who achieve extraordinary results. Most of us fall short on at least one part of the equation. Take focus, for example. At birth, no one can focus or has much range of vision beyond 12 inches. Normal vision takes 3-5 years to develop; unfortunately inward vision takes much longer. Some never develop it and waste their lives with unfocused flitting from
one thing to another. The Bible describes such a person as doubleminded and unstable in all they do. (James 1:8) Some learn to focus on a goal, but fail to maintain intensity. Intensity is the strength and passion that propel us toward the goal. The love of God is so intense that He laid down His life for the entire world (John 3:16). Jesus expects our Christian service to be no less passionate. “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, “ He told the disciples, “and the violent take it by force.” (Matt.11:12). Perhaps we’ve checked the boxes for focus and intensity, but what about “over time”? And there, as Hamlet said, is the rub. The resolutions embraced in January are tired by March. Attending church loses its excitement, and people start missing service. The goal to pray daily gets buried beneath a hectic life. Focus and intensity break down. If we want successful outcomes, we must maintain discipline in the face of multiple distractions. Edison focused on one goal, not a dozen at the same time, and he didn’t stop until he succeeded. Focus and intensity done with regularity and persistence will guarantee results. Break down - or break through? The outcome is in our hands. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.: (2 Pet 1:10 KJV).
WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
17
K.R.E.W. AND KIDZ ZONE! S
ome great fall photos taken this fall in our children’s church KREW services headed by Sister Johnson.
“But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
18 WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
Matthew 19:14, New Living Translation
Giving THANKS TOGETHER - More!
M
ore photos of our special Thanksgiving weekend event with a special service, activities and refreshments given to our community.
WINTER NEWSVINE 2016
19
The Newsvine
REVIVAL CENTER United Pentecostal Church of Modesto 825 7th Street Modesto, CA
Recent Nuptials
C
ongratulations and God’s blessings on two great couples in our church who recently tied the knot in holy matrimony. (Left photo) Brother Jim and Sister Bonnie Campbell; Brother Campbell has been on the Newsvine staff since its inception. (Right photo) Brother Tony and Sister Leila Martinez entered into holy union and were faithful youth and Hyphen members.