Wisconsin District neWs May/June 2011
“...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance...� Galatians 5:22-23
Wisconsin District News WDN EDITOR Craig Lundt PO Box 688 Beloit, WI 53512 editor@wisconsindistrictnews.org WDN SECTIONAL REPS Section 1: Loretta Lundt Section 2: Carole Keller Section 3: - Open Section 4: Frank Ritchie Section 5: Kathy Fry WDN Proofreader: Dede Sharp DISTRICT OFFICERS Superintendent: Rev. J.E. Putnam Secretary-Treasurer: Rev. E.A. Kaske Honorary Board Member: Rev. J. Grant PRESBYTERS Section 1: Rev. C. Welch Section 2: Rev. A. Tamel Section 3: Rev. E. Herman Section 4: Rev. J. Sindler Section 5: Rev. P. Bennett DEPARTMENTS Foreign Missions: Rev. M.W. Rogers Home Missions: Rev. R. Keilley Media Missions: Rev. S. Jacobs Ladies Ministries: Sis. J. Schumacher Youth Ministries: Rev. Tim Vik Revival Commission: Rev. M. Hook Sunday School: Rev. W. Rehbein Prayer Force: Rev. Don Rogers Men’s Ministry: Rev. S. Rogers Music Ministry: Sis. Darlene Boyte Purpose Institute: Rev. J.D. Putnam Deaf Ministry: Renee Thomas FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINE The basic and fundamental doctrine of this organization shall be the Bible standard of full salvation, which is repentance, baptism in water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. We shall endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit until we all come into the unity of the faith, at the same time admonishing all brethren that they shall not contend for their different views to the disunity of the body.
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Excitement is in the air, and also in the hearts and minds of the people throughout the state of Wisconsin. It is exciting to see new events and ministries reaching out to different groups of people in different ways… new methods, but the same message through events such as the Fearless Conference, Rock the District, Hyphen and Unity Services, which are being held in several counties throughout the district. My personal passion, as editor, is ‘promoting the positive’… Do you have a unique ministry? Want to share your passion? Please send us your story, name, contact info, photos (if applicable) and tell us what church you attend. This can be sent to: editor@wisconsindistrictnews.org Thank You and God Bless, Craig Lundt
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
“KNOCK, KNOCK - WHO’S THERE?”
around the world, of nuclear meltdown in Japan, the entire Middle East in an uproar, and the world’s economy on the Revelation 3: brink of collapse, coupled with our own 20 Behold, I political strife and economic woes, it stand at the door, would appear, at least to my compreand knock: if any hension, that there is an urgent “knock” man hear my taking place! The moral downfall of voice, and open Western Society, the acceptance and the door, I will encouragement of the reenactment of come in to him, Sodom and Gomorrah, coupled with and will sup with the weird weather patterns, and wars him, and he with and rumors of the same, prompts me to me. 21 To him that overcometh will I believe our Lord and Savior is “knockgrant to sit with me in my throne, even ing” loudly to gain our spiritual attenas I also overcame, and am set down tion. Jesus said... Luke 21: 28 And when with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear these things begin to come to pass, then what the Spirit saith unto the churches. look up, and lift up your heads; for your It was 6:00 AM on Saturday morn- redemption draweth nigh. (KJV) Just like the man trying to get our ing when the knock at our front door attention that early Saturday morning, occurred. The knock was heavy, and so is the Lord Jesus trying to get our atquickly turned into a pounding as I scrambled out of bed, grabbed some tention. It is He that is standing at the door of our individual hearts, knocking, jeans to put on, and ran to the door. By the time I reached the door, the and knocking... trying to get us to recognize who it is that is at the door! He man was yelling, “Your car is on fire!” Immediately, I looked out the front is the answer to window, and sure enough, flames were our soul’s needs! jutting through the windshield and up He is our peace, into the tree that was hanging above joy, and the love and over our car. Our family had just of our life! He is suffered a personal attack by someone our provider and destroying our automobile. The point keeper! He is I want to make though, is that there our ever present was an individual that cared enough to help in the time “knock” persistently to arrest our atten- of need! And tion to open the door, accept his help, the way things and to thank him for his effort in put- seem to be going around the world, ting out the fire. I know that we all have heard and we all need Him have told the proverbial “knock, knock” NOW! His promise stories. We snicker and perhaps laugh a to each of us, if little at the humor involved in these we will but open jokes; however, the “knock, knock” that our heart’s door is happening in our world right now... to Him, is that is NO JOKE! He will come in In listening to the reports from and He will “sup” by John E. Putnam District Superintendent
or feast with us, and we with Him. Don’t be fooled, my friend, to think that by self effort and living according to “me, myself, and I” that that will be sufficient. Jesus said without Him we can do nothing! ( John 15:5) He wants to help us; He wants to save us! We just need to recognize who it is that is beckoning at our heart’s door, trying to get us to open up our eyes, and to be about His business. Wisconsin, it is high time that we awaken out of sleep, and realize that the coming of the Lord is at hand! We need to be His arms, legs, and His voice in knocking on the doors of others, who seemingly do not know the truth. They may see you and I standing there knocking, but in reality it is Jesus Christ that is really trying to help them and their families. As the last verse of Revelation chapter 3 states: 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Knock! Knock!
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By Loretta Lundt “Oh! Be careful little ears what you hear…” In a sense, this was the underlying message of the Fearless Conference. This two-night conference was hosted by Meadowbrook Church of Green Bay and was held at West High School on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12. Over 600 people came to learn more about the agenda of the music industry each night. Pastor Phil Endris of Gary, IN told of the dangers in secular music and showed video after video to prove that the danger is real! It is not a secret that music has power. Some have even killed or “committed suicide to the grip of music.” Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and
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blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” It’s in the Book, folks! The devil desires to control our music and our culture. One of Satan’s biggest tools, which he has used from day one in the garden of Eden, is deception. “He’ll lose his power to deceive once we expose who he is…” proclaimed Pastor Endris. This was the main goal of the conference. We NEED to be careful what we allow our children and ourselves to hear (and, for that matter, watch). This is not just a suggestion! There are spirits attached, and they rob our children of their purity. Singers like Kanye West and Jay-Z believe they are controlled by the power of the devil. Others claim a dual personality like Beyonce with her stage presence, Sasha Fierce.
Eminem also alludes to this duality as he chants during his concert that he is now “Reign Man.” Rihanna depicts a possession of the devil in one of her videos and Eminem’s song “My Darling” talks of Satan’s possession. Though the singer of the music you listen to might not claim to have “sold his soul to the devil” or be demon possessed, he/she is most likely influenced by these forces. The devil attempts to get his music into ALL genres. Many artists use the symbols of the church of Satan in their concerts and in the clothes they wear. Many times the color black is worn as a sign to block out God’s light. Many symbols come from or relate to the Egyptian trinity: Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Some symbols to beware of are the triangle symbol with the first fingers and thumbs put together. This is seen often and there are concerts where most of the audience is also making this sign. It is a satanic hand sign for control. Also, watch out for the A-Okay sign over one eye or doubled over both eyes; the face of Alistair Crowley, once dubbed “the wickedest man in the world;” the hexagram; and the skull with horns (the face of Baphomet), which is the seal of the church of
Satan. These are “symbols that conjure up demonic spirits” and are used by Freemasons and other secret orders. These groups are “true occult heritage” where “followers of the occult will not even know they are being initiated!” The VMA awards in 2009 are an extreme example of the evil being portrayed by MTV and the singers and videos they show. The award night opened with a blatant prayer to Satan. Later in the show Lady Gaga performed a mock blood sacrifice and Pink acted out an initiation similar to the one you might go through to become a Freemason. The MTV studio is even located in a Masonic Temple. Don’t be lulled to sleep by the melodic beat, but open your eyes and wake up to the fact that singers like Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, and others in the secular music industry are promoting hidden agendas through their songs. The de-
ception doesn’t end with music. Oprah even says how she empties herself and allows the spirits she “knows” to enter into her. Even an episode of Hannah Montana reeks of satanic undertones when she has an idol named ‘Isis’ and ends up in a place called ‘Crowley’ Corners. So how do you know? When music comes into the home, look at the lyrics. If they don’t glorify God, then it is NOT Christian music! Look at the clothes that the artist wears or the symbols they make with their hands. We have a depressed, oppressed society that is being influenced by those who have “sold their souls to the devil.” What can you do? “Get rid of all the stuff that hinders you from drawing closer to God,” instead SING UNTO THE LORD! “…for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little
ears what you hear!” Each evening ended with the wonderful move of the Holy Ghost as youth committed their lives to Jesus and determined to get rid of music that does not exalt Him. Mario Mouser along with the Meadowbrook praise singers and other Continued on page 18
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Journey from Torment to Triu By Tim Beimal
not a healing because I still had trouble walking - but I was alive!” Dale Cook has a story to tell - a story Doctors eventually made a diagnoof sorrow and setbacks overshadowed sis of Cerebellum Ataxia, but later found by miracle power and divine purpose. A that this was not exactly correct. Cook childhood characterized by tragedy has explains that what had affected him was given way to a life of triumph and trust a virtually untraceable disorder that was in God. caused by an allergic re“As children, we all action to the immunizaneed immunization shots tion shots he received as to start school. I went in a child. and got my shots, and “The vaccinations soon after I began fallcaused these issues - aping and stumbling quite parently I was allergic to a bit,” Cook recalls. “I some of the medications was about five years old they gave me as a child. at the time, and it was It was an honest misdecided that I should take,” he said. have an X-ray. After seeThroughout his ing the results, doctors childhood, Cook expedeclared I had a brain tumor and I was rienced setbacks that put him in wheelgiven just a few weeks to live. The doctors chairs, forcing him to re-learn how to offered to admit me and try to extend my walk on two different occasions. He also life, but after a couple weeks, nothing had battled fevers and walking pneumonia as changed.” a child, and also had to overcome lead “At this point, my dad decided he poisoning. didn’t want a crippled kid, so he left. My As his life progressed, Cook knew he mother was left to raise three kids on had experienced a miracle, but hadn’t yet her own - and taking care of me was like come to know the Miracle Giver. double-duty. It was a very difficult time,” “I was living in Wisconsin until about said Cook. age 35, and life was just so hum-drum. I “The doctors couldn’t do anything knew I had to do something, find somefor me, so my mother made a choice that thing that enthused me,” Cook stated. “I changed my life, my family’s life, and every started looking for jobs. I went down south life I have encountered since. We went to to work for a while, and then headed west see the Master Physician, God Almighty. to the Grand Canyon. I don’t know why, I Pastor McClain and the church at Pasa- just felt I needed to go there.” dena Apostolic Temple laid hands on me “Then one night, while reading my and prayed for healing,” continued Cook. Bible, everything just hit me. I received the “We went back to the hospital. I had an- Holy Ghost, and from that time, I knew other X-ray. The same doctor came back I had a mission to complete. God told me and said he could not find any sign of a I was to share my testimony - that was brain tumor. Now, some people say it’s my new beginning. I didn’t know where
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it would lead, but I got to witness to so many people-drunks, devil worshippers, people of all walks of life,” states Cook. “Eventually, I went to Texas for some time, and then back to the Grand Canyon. I returned to Wisconsin in 2008.” “I just want to get the message out there,” Cook says. “Many people think the biggest issue is ‘Do you know God?’ But to me, it’s ‘Does God know you?’ We have to know for ourselves that He knows us. You’ve got to know Him and be known of Him.” “There were countless times that I wondered if there was a purpose for all of the struggles,” Cook said. “I always wondered, ‘Why me?’ I didn’t figure it out until I started reading the Bible. One day, I started reading John chapter 9, about the blind man, the Rabbi and the disciple. ‘And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.’ That was the most profound statement I have ever read.” Cook, a member of Calvary Apostolic Church in Clintonville, currently holds an Associate’s Degree in Biblical Studies and is pursuing a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree. In the meantime, he reaches out to people through speaking, preaching, sharing his testimony, and helping raise money for the Tour de Cure, an effort organized by the American Diabetes Association. Cook, who enjoys riding his bike, finds the Tour de Cure to be a great opportunity to share his testimony, raise money for diabetes research, and enjoy
m Honoring umph the Bells one of his favorite recreational activities. “The way I see it, God gave me not only a testimony, but also the gift of my legs. I thought I had lost the use of my legs a couple times, but God gave the ability back to me, so I want to give my legs and that ability back to God.” “I also see a great need for missions work here in America,” he states. “There is so much we can do here in order to get God’s word out there to a hungry world. I’ve come to the realization of all the blessings I have in my life. I want to help people understand all the blessings Christ can show them as well. People can see His gifts in my life very easily, and I’m just proof that even if you’re in a troubled situation, God can still reach you.”
In the fall of 1995, Pastor and Sister LeRoy Bell accepted the call of the Lord, which had been spoken to them through His word, to return to the land of their fathers. From October 1995 to May of 1996, the Bells traveled to La Crosse from Cedar Falls, Iowa each weekend and began holding services in the community room at Valley View Mall. In July of 1997, the Lord opened the way for Calvary Apostolic Church to purchase and take possession of the current church building, where they have worshipped for the last 14 years. The congregation honored Pastor &
Sister LeRoy Bell for their many years of service. An open house reception was held on Saturday, March 19. There was a special worship service on the following day, Sunday, March 20. Thank you, Pastor and Sister Bell, for being obedient to the call of the Lord, allowing you both to affect countless lives.
Originally published February 2011 in the County Post East. Used with permission.
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The Rock the District event was held Friday, March 25th at The Pentecostals of the Fox Cities in Menasha. It was organized by their new music director, Mario Mouser. There were about 275 people in attendance that night. There was quite a variety of songs, styles, and music throughout the night. Many of the artists sang songs they had written themselves. The Wisconsin District is blessed with tremendous talent! A lot of time and effort was spent preparing for Rock the District, and the reward was seen in the worship of young people giving their all to the Lord. The night started with a concert feel and transitioned into a time of praise and worship. Then Tim Vik (Wisconsin Youth President) shared a thought, “Get the Frogs out of Your Life.” Pharaoh says get rid of the frogs ‘tomorrow.’ Are you fostering ‘frogs’ – holding on to sins? God can take care of it today! Replace them (frogs) with joy and pure things. The Pool of Bethesda was a place where God performed some great miracles, but they couldn’t hesitate to respond! We are on the threshold of a miracle! In Acts, they were in the Upper Room… and SUDDENLY! If you are waiting for a miracle, you don’t need to wait until tomorrow. The Bible says to be
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“born of water and Spirit.” Don’t wait another day. The night ended with an altar call of healing, deliverance, and salvation with six receiving the Holy Ghost! What a great night of RTD! Featured Artists: • Elysha Narlock (Clintonville) • Maggie Mattheson (Milwaukee) • Andy Vik (Milwaukee) • Seth Boyte (Oshkosh) • Mario Mouser (Menasha) • Andy Ferguson (Gate City, WV) • Ryan Johns (Atlanta, GA) • Johnathan Dean (Alexandria, LA)
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Photos by: Craig Lundt
By Melissa DeLuc I’m a 23 year-old Apostolic female. I just finished my bachelor’s degree. I’m no longer a youth that gets excited for senior camp, but I don’t yet feel like an adult who can fit in at Ladies’ Retreat. I had a general plan for my life, but I’m not sure that it is God’s plan for my life. I have vague direction and an even more vague future. What do I do now? Do I get married? Do I pursue a career? Do I focus on my ministry? Who is the right person for me to marry? How do I balance a career and a ministry? How do I best use my skills and experience – job or ministry or both? Overall, what is next? And, am I the only one who feels like this? The 20-somethings age is a transitional period. Young adults are starting or finishing post-secondary education. Young adults are getting married or having children. For the first time, young adults are stepping into the uncertainty of
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the job market and now experiencing an increased income. Overwhelmed by the many changes and opportunities available to them, young adults need guidance about how to make their lives fit the plan that God has for them. The solution? Hyphen. Hyphen is a UPCI young adult movement that “connects young adults to service, with purpose, through resources for a mission.” In
other words, it is advice, encouragement and the word of God that is relevant and hand-crafted for the 20-somethings age. The Wisconsin District introduced the first Hyphen Conference on March 1112, 2011 at Calvary Gospel Church in Madison. Hyphen District Coordinator Tim Peters said, “There was/is a need for a state-wide Hyphen ministry in Wiscon-
sin. The need stemmed from the current culture that Apostolic young adults live in. Kids no longer leave Sunday School, get married, and stay in the same church for the rest of their lives. Young adults today live in an ever-growing period. God gives us all a dream, and I hope this Hyphen conference has been an epic landmark in the lives of Wisconsin Apostolic young adults.” The Hyphen conference launched with an introductory message from Rev. Tim Peters, Hyphen Coordinator. Bro. Peters spoke about the young man, Joseph, and the dreams that God gave him while living in his father’s house. Reaching the dream was not an easy process for Joseph, but Joseph could never become Pharaoh’s second in command without going through the events that led up to the achievement of the dream. Bro. Peters encouraged young adults that God has a way of setting us up for the dream, and that sometimes our problems are really stepping-stones to the dream. “Sometimes we must go through God’s given nightmare to get to God’s given dream. Stay ready for when the dream comes.” The next session was a message by Rev. Rick Bailey about building a strong foundation in a young adult life by return-
ing to the basics: prayer, fasting, and Bible reading. Bro. Bailey stated that dreams take off when our foundation is strong. To wrap up the evening, Rev. Avery Ritchie spoke about being vulnerable. Although it is unnatural and uncomfortable, young adults need to be vulnerable to their God and His plans for their lives. The next morning, District Youth President Tim Vik opened with a session about morals and money, explaining that young adults cannot change a culture that they have succumbed to. Just following, the youth committee formed a Q&A panel and answered a variety of questions about fornication, modesty, media, and living for God without encouragement or consent from family. Concluding the entire event, District Superintendent John E. Putnam preached a message entitled, “Don’t Slay the Dreamer.” He warned young adults that their God-given dreams could be
killed by themselves. He explained that young adults give up on their dreams of ministry and kingdom work because life is too hard or things don’t go as planned or because they lack direction. Echoing Bro. Tim Peters’ opening message about Joseph, Bro. Putnam said that the adversity Joseph faced was all part of achieving Joseph’s dreams. Overall, the Hyphen conference was a refreshing and encouraging time for young adults to realize that they are not alone in their questions of “What is next?” Young adults left the conference with the direction of staying grounded in praying, fasting and Bible reading and knowing that their problems are really stepping-stones to the fulfillment of their God-given dreams. District Youth President Tim Vik said, “I look forward to, in a few years, looking back at this weekend and seeing a turning point for this generation of Wisconsin young adults.” May/June 2011
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Wake up…
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
A soul-winning training seminar was held Wednesday, April 6th and Thursday, April 7th at Christian Life Center in Neenah. The speaker, Rev. Tim Downs, is an international evangelist, author, and pastor of Atlanta Hope Center. The attendees took Bro. Downs seriously concerning soul-winning. They hit the streets, and in less than forty minutes, had three baptized. Later that evening, two more were baptized. • Equipping Churches to Reach the Lost • Personal Evangelism Training • Powerful Crusade Services • Effective Outreach Missions • Proven Tools for Successful Evangelism
Proverbs 10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. A Soul-Winner’s Job Description
I. Prayer
• Every soul-winner and saint needs to learn the value and importance of personal, fervent prayer. This is not an option; you will need to learn to pray. Prayer guides can help you learn. The Apostles asked of Jesus, “Teach us to pray!”
“If you’re not fishing for men, who are you following?” – Evangelist Tim Downs
The seminar was followed by a revival with Rev. Morton Bustard (Renowned International Evangelist from Alexandria, LA) on Saturday, April 9th and Sunday, April 10th.
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By Tim Downs
• Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. • James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
II. Passion
• Passion for the lost is not a special gift. Every person who receives the Holy Ghost receives the power to witness. Most people have allowed this power to become non-effective in their walk with God. We need to go before God each and every day and seek with all of our heart a fresh passion for souls! Some people
Soul-Winning Series
p… It’s Time to Go to Work may relate to this form of passion. While I was seeking the Holy Ghost, I can remember nothing else mattered in this world; I had to have the Holy Ghost! We need to seek for passion for lost souls with this same fervency and fire!
• Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. • Matthew 22:36-40 • Master, which is the great commandment in the law? • Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. • This is the first and great commandment. • And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. • On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Who Is A Neighbor? When Jesus was asked by someone who his neighbor was (Luke 10:29), Jesus responded by telling the story of the Good Samaritan -- who helped a stranger in need by the roadside. Then, in verse 37, Jesus told the man to go and do like the Good Samaritan. • A neighbor is someone who is nearby wherever you are. • How can we pass by people every day, knowing they are going to hell and not love them enough to try and reach them? • We must get a passion for the lost! The scripture gives us a plain answer on what will happen if we fail to reach the
lost!
• Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. • We must put aside all else and reach the lost souls of this world! The time is short, the trumpet shall soon sound, we will stand before our God in judgment, and I pray He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!”
III. Giving • This one is so important! Have you ever heard the message of prosperity? There are so many TV preachers claiming God wants you to drive a Rolls Royce! Let me help you with this. The Bible says, “GIVE and it shall be GIVEN.” To understand this, God gives to those that will return and give to others! He is not trying to help us lay up treasures! The Bible also says, “He that gives to the poor shall not lack!” We need to get a spirit of giving in these last days!
cause of blessings, God will continue to supply every need!
IV. Presentation • This one is just as important as the rest. We must learn to present ourselves and the Gospel in a way that people want what we have. It is very important to learn how to SMILE! Why would someone want to have what you have if you don’t look like you want it?! • Take care of yourself! Make sure when you leave your home, you look nice! Fix your hair, brush your teeth, wear nice clothing; look like a Christian! This is a mistake of so many Apostolics. People dress like they are going to the farm! Come on folks, let’s look like we are blessed enough by the God we serve to look nice! This is the job of a soulwinner; we need to work as unto the Lord! • When you present the Gospel, do not argue; do not be rude or self-righteous! We are blessed to have this truth; we are not given this to be better than others, but to help others! Never use the sword to kill!
IV. Being Prepared
• We must look at our life and see what we have laid up! What could you sell and follow Him? The revival we are looking for will cost us plenty. We must forget about the cares of life as they are and humble ourselves to a place of giving!
• Everywhere you go you need to have some type of information about your church! It’s important to have a card, flyer, Bible study, or something that tells about your church and where it’s located!
• There is not one soul to my knowledge that I have been able to reach and see them become born again, that didn’t cost me something! We are given blessings to bless others! If we can learn the
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• When you become a soul-winner, you have to be prepared! Everywhere you go you will want to meet people, or at least hand them something about your
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WI District Ministers Conference The WI District Ministers’ Conference took place Tuesday through Thursday, March 29-31, 2011 at the Osthoff Resort & Conference Center in Elkhart Lake. This year’s conference was again a great success and was a wonderful time of refreshing and anointing of the Spirit. We had 63 Wisconsin pastors and 85 ministers and their families, along with many out of state guests and missionaries. Bro. T. F. Tenney was our guest speaker for the conference. He challenged those in attendance to go beyond the required and reach deeper in every aspect of their ministry. Each message he preached
BRO. T.F. TENNEY
Bro. Lenny and Sis. Kathy Smith
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SIS. Thetus TENNEY
applied directly to the growth and to where Wisconsin is at as a district. Sis. Tenney ministered to the ladies during the Wednesday morning Ministers’ Wives session. Thursday evening was a wonderful time of giving, as $26,650 was raised for Bro. Lenny and Sis. Kathy Smith, who pastor Praise Tabernacle in Antigua, and $15,400 was raised for Bro. and Sis. Denny, missionaries to the Philippines. What a privilege it is to be able to give to these wonderful people who sacrifice their lives, away from family and comforts of home, to spread the gospel in other parts of the world! If you made a pledge to support either of these fine couples, please send it to the WI District office and clearly mark which missionary it is for. A big “thank you” to Bro. Andy and Sis. Andrea Soto, who not only provided the sound system for District Conference, but continued to minister to the youth by providing after-ser-
Soul Winning Seminar Continued from page 13
church! Listen, this works! The more people that you reach, the more will come to your church! People are not going to just start lining up outside our churches! We must go and COMPEL them to come in! • 2 Corinthians 9:6 • But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. vice activities for them. We thank them for their burden to keep our youth positively engaged at these events. Bro. Larry and Sis. Diana Livengood, of Apostolic Faith Church in Racine, once again provided a great Children’s Church service for children ages 6-12 during the evening conference services. The Livengoods do a great job and had more than
70 children to minister to this year. They were so packed in that we moved Children’s Church to a larger room! Bro. and Sis. Livengood are wonderful children’s ministers with a deep burden to see ALL children saved! They can be contacted through Pastor James Schumacher in Racine, if you are interested in having them minister at your church. The results of the elections that took place during the conference are as follows:
WI District Secretary Rev. E. A. Kaske Home Missions Director Rev. Rick Kielley
Bro. Richard Denny
Sunday School Director Rev. Ward Rehbein Ladies’ Ministries Secretary Sis. Aloma Turner Youth Ministries Secretary Rev. Phil Demos The following appointments were made:
Prayer Coordinator Rev. Don Rogers WI District Appeals Council Rev. Jim Schumacher Purpose Institute Director Rev. John D. Putnam
• Be prepared spiritually (prayer/ fasting), mentally (have a good attitude)…this is very important; you will see the need for this as you grow in soul-winning! • Be prepared for the harvest of souls! In many cases, we have all prayed for revival, we have begged God to send it; however, when it comes, we find that we were not prepared for it! Ask yourself these questions! • Are you prepared for 50 new kids in your Sunday school class? • Are you prepared to baptize someone at any given time? (in the middle of the night) • Do you have a new convert plan of action? • Do you know that as new people come in, we have to be responsible to love them and make them feel they are a part of us? • Are you ready to serve in any way possible to reach the lost? • Are you prepared to give up your comfortable seat for a sinner? You will find that the job of retaining new converts is as important as reaching them! We must be stewards of what God has given us!
www.GoWinSouls.com May/June 2011
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By JEFF CONTRERAS The Men’s Ministry Department, led by Bro. Steve Rogers, held their 2nd Annual “Men’s Ministry Madness” basketball tournament on April 16th, 2011. The 5-on-5 tourney was held in Greenfield, WI at the local high school. Bro. Jeff Contreras, Section 3 Men’s Rep, organized and ran the tournament. Once again, there were four teams present at this year’s tournament. Three of those teams were representing Section 3, giving them the clear edge to once again take home the District Trophy. Calvary Gospel Church of Madison brought two teams and The Rock of Jesus Church of Elkhorn/Delavan brought a team, all representing Section 3. Elim Tabernacle was the sole team present for Section 2. Calvary’s Blue Team, the defending champs, came out hot. They won their first game against Elim to advance to the semi-final, where they would face The Rock, who had beaten Calvary’s Green Team to advance. The semi-final would be a rematch of last year’s Champion-
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ship, where Calvary came back from the loser’s bracket to defeat The Rock with relative ease. This year’s first rematch, however, would not be so easy. The teams went back and forth, both fighting for a guaranteed spot in the Championship. The Blue Team would come out on top though, securing the win by two points in the final moments of the game. The Rock bounced back by beating the Green Team yet again in the loser’s bracket, to advance to the Championship Game for one last chance to finally beat the Blue Team. In a complete role reversal from last year, The Rock finally defeated the Blue Team in the Championship Game. The Rock came out on fire and never let up, making multiple three-point baskets, and ultimately winning by more than ten points. The tournament ended with the much hyped Toilet Bowl, a game between the last place teams, to give at least one of those teams the honor of saying “at least we’re not last.” Displaying true grit and determination to never give up, the Green Team faced off with Elim in an epic battle.
The game was close, but the Green Team came out on top, securing 3rd place in the tournament’s final standings. So to no one’s surprise, Section 3 defended their title and is still the District Champ. It’s hard to lose when you represent 75% of the teams, a clear strategy that Calvary and The Rock use in a combined effort to ensure that Section 3 is always on top! Any challengers? Section 1, 2, 4, or 5??? Beyond the competition, there was great fellowship amongst the men, the true motivation behind Men’s Ministry Madness. Some new friends were made, old friends visited, and there were a handful of lost men present that were effectively ministered to by some of the great men within our District. It truly was a Spirit-led event, and everyone involved was blessed. If you or somebody you know would be interested in participating in the next Men’s Ministry Madness tournament, start planning now! The next tournament is already scheduled for August 27th, and it will be held at the Greenfield High
School again. Feel free to contact Rev. Jeff Contreras with any questions at (262)745-3986. As always, all glory be to God! And remember, strong men lead to strong families, strong families lead to strong churches, and strong churches can reach a lost world! In Jesus Name, The WI District Men’s Ministry Team
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Fearless Conference Continued from page 5
musicians led everyone in powerful worship. “Our God IS greater!” For the churches out there, this is a great way to get the name of your church out into your community. The conference was at a neutral location and sponsored by many area businesses. Outside the auditorium were sponsors and church ministry booths. Some booths spotlighted different ministries such as children’s church, Bible studies, youth and single ministries, and buttons were passed out with the dates of the Vacation Bible School. There was a ‘Kid’s Church’ provided for children under the age of 12 with songs and a puppet show. Five children were filled with the Holy Ghost for the first time. There was also a prize giveaway on Saturday that included gift certificates, CD’s, movies, bikes, and a GPS. A big thank you to Meadowbrook members for all of their hard work and area sponsors like WPFF, Q90… All of this could not have been possible without your help! (Pastor Phil Endris also did an interview on 90.1 FM in Green Bay, WI called “Has Music Gotten Darker?”) A member of Meadowbrook Church Photos by: Craig Lundt and Angela Schlough
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reported about what transpired from the Fearless Conference. There were around 650 people at the Fearless Conference on Friday night! There were Apostolics, Baptists, Lutherans, and even a witch (who, by the way, wants to change). We had an awesome move of GOD! The truth set many people free! We had approximately 600 to 650 on Saturday night as well and five children received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Thirty people signed up for Home Bible Studies. Out of the 30 Bible Studies, 10 of them were from our UPC churches and, praise God, 20 of them were non-UPC people. When we contacted them via phone, a couple of them asked if they could bring others to sit in on the Bible Study. To God be the glory! We also had a gentleman that was at the Fearless Conference that came out to visit the church on Sunday morning, and was touched by the Lord. We have now set up a Bible Study with him as well. Fearless Conference DVD sets can be ordered at http://therockchurch.tv/ webstore
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Wisconsin District Campgrounds Shawano, WI
Morning Bible Teacher Rev. David Bernard, UPCI General Superintendent
Evening Evangelist Rev. Bill Davis Atlanta, Georgia
WI District UPCI
Children’s Events... Morning Power Hour Bro. Larry & Sis. Diana Livengood Evening Evangelist Bro. Mike & Sis. Vickie Oliver
Choir & Music Ministry Director
Sis. Darlene Boyte with the WI District Praise Team
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Purpose Institute Graduation Ceremony
Sunday, July 3 at 7 p.m.
Forms available from your church office or at www.wiupci.org WIMay/June District2011 Campgrounds—W7895 St. John’s Church Rd.—Shawano, WI 54166
Junior Camp 2011:
CORINTHIANS
Camper fee: $125 ages 9-12
NO. 2
5:18
18-22 July
Closed Campus
**No weapons or dog tags permitted** Registration: 1300 hours, Monday, 18 July Pickup: 1400 hours, Friday, 22 July
For Camper info: gobernie05@hotmail.com or 715-735-6378 For Staff info: kbcministries@juno.com or 262-679-8875
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