Pastor and Mrs. Dean Sanford, Welcomee to Michigan!

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1 December, 2013 A Monthly Publication of the Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists From the officers of the Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists Pastor and Mrs. Dean Sanford, Welcomee to Michigan! Pastor Sanford has an MA in Biblical Studies from the Maranatha Baptist Seminary in Watertown, Wisconsin; MM in Music Education and Supervision from Central Michigan University; and BS in Music Education [classical saxophone proficiency] from Bob Jones University. He has experience in teaching music at the elementary, junior high, senior high and college level for 25 years. He has also taught weekly Bible Studies to teens, college/career, and adults, as well as preached at his home church and other churches. Pastor Sanford s theological position is as follows: Salvation is by faith alone in the finished work of Christ and is a glorious and secure position for the believer. The secure position is conditioned upon continuing faith in the work of Christ (Col. 1:23). Faith is empowered by God s sufficient grace (Eph. 2:8-9) and evidenced by a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17). Therefore, the believer has great confidence, because of his great God who provides salvation (Phil. 1:6). Mrs. Sanford has a degree in sacred music, piano proficiency. The First Free Will Baptist Church of Comstock has called Pastor and Mrs. Dean Sanford to be their pastor. The Sanfords come to Comstock from the Twin Falls Free Will Baptist Church in Madison Wisconsin, Rev. Carlie Lloyd is the pastor. The Sanfords have four children and two grandchildren. Pastor Sanford states, Families are under attack and need to be strengthened in the local church setting. We welcome Pastor and Mrs. Dean Sanford to the state of Michigan, the West Michigan District Association, and to the First Free Will Baptist Church of Comstock.

2 The Michigan Free Will Baptist MENORAH Page 2 Tiger Great Tanana & Turkeys at Ten Mile Frank Tanana, native Detroiter, and former pitcher for the Detroit Tigers spoke at Ten Mile last Sunday. Although he racked up 240 major league wins and was a three time all star in a 21 year career, his greatest achievement has been off the baseball diamond as he and his wife Cathy have devoted themselves to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and furthering HIS kingdom. He spoke from Colossians 1, reminding us that Jesus is before all things, holds together all things, and is preeminent in all things. All believers have Christ present in their lives. For some believers, Christ is prominent in their lives. Very few believers have Christ preeminent in their lives the baseball great challenged us. It really is all about Jesus! Thanks to Frank for his zeal for the Lord and his application of the Word! Nov, 22nd marked the 14th year of our Thanksgiving giveaway. Partnering with Webster elementary school in Hazel Park (Pastor Thrasher's old elementary school),the church gave away eighty baskets with Honeysuckle turkeys and all the fixins. Many have been introduced to Jesus thru this program. Thank God for all of the volunteers who make this happen. Special shout out to Central FWB for their help and food donations including $400 from their classic car club! Lets keep up the great work for HIM (Neh. 6:3, I Cor. 15:58)!! There is a Diamond on My Baby s Finger This past Sunday our church had its annual Thanksgiving candlelight service. Dad (Pastor Calvin Brown) has been doing a candlelight service as long as I can remember. I went forward and lit my candle and was thankful for my salvation and for the support from the church that was given to my family this year. As I went back to my seat and listened to others and what they were thankful for such as thankful for their pastor and his wife, for their kiddos Sunday school teacher, and many other things; it hit me like a ton of bricks how truly important Sunday school teachers, youth workers, and our pastors and their wives are to our children. I am a Sunday school teacher, a youth leader, and a preacher s kid. I don t take my jobs lightly, but I do think I have at times forgotten the importance of my jobs. These are little souls we are dealing with that grow up into big souls, and we have no idea where God is going to put them when they grow up. In 1985 during my teenage years God lead my family to Garden City Free Will Baptist Church in Garden City, Michigan, where my dad pastored a small group of about 25 people, including our family of 5. I always felt that God put us there because a few years later I met my future husband; but God had a multitude of reasons. My parents, as leaders of the church, taught all the teens what God expected of us as young men and women. They also let us take over the living room floor every Sunday night. So Dad was feeding us the Word of God during church, and mom would feed us warm homemade biscuits and apple butter after church. One family in the church had a son that was a teenager too, he hung out at our house with us, and you can say we all grew up together. As we all got older and started going different our ways. This young man met and married his wife. He stayed at Garden City Church with his new wife, and a few years later he and his wife started a family. They had 2 sons; one which I will name Joshua. Joshua was in my mom s Sunday school class when he was just a little peanut. My mom sang songs with him like Jesus Loves Me, and the B.I.B.L.E. She taught him Bible stories like Mary and Baby Jesus, and Jonah in the Whale. The list could go on with what and how my parents taught, mentored, and influenced this family. They never took their job as pastor and pastor s wife lightly. During this time while Joshua was being taught about God here in Michigan. Rob and I lived in Washington State with our daughter Nicole where we were taking Nicole to church, and she was in Sunday school being taught songs like, Jesus Love Me and the B.I.B.L.E. and Bible stories like Mary and Baby Jesus and Jonah in the Whale. When Nicole was 7 years old God moved us back to Michigan. Again I thought I had it figured out. It was so Nicole could grow up with her cousins. But as God would have it He had more than that planned for her. Several years later Joshua and Nicole crossed paths and began dating. My story leads me to this; we had big news that happened in our family last week. Joshua asked Nicole to marry him. Yes the same Joshua that my mom taught in

3 The Michigan Free Will Baptist MENORAH Sunday school and my dad had pastored for years, while Nicole was 3000 miles away. announce their engagement... I tell you all of this is to say NEVER take your job in the church lightly, NEVER forget the influence you may have on a young soul. Never forget the importance of your job in the church. You NEVER know that little one you re teaching may one day be putting a Diamond on your baby s finger. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 Mrs. Sherry Young, Daughter of Pastor Calvin Brown, Pastor of the Trinity FWB Church in Ypsilanti New Hope District December 14, 9:00 a.m. Liberty Free Will Baptist Church 2415 Wendell Street, Detroit, MI Rev. Milford Byrd, Moderator WOLVERINE DISTRICT Page 3 I am not writing this to December 14, 9:30 a.m. Friendship Freee Will Baptist Church 7110 Davison Road, Davison, MI Rev. Cody Mansfield, Pastor Rev. Michael Hill, Moderator Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Rally February 25, Courthouse in Detroit No decision; Michigan same-sex marriage lawsuit to go to trial. Judg ge says he will hold trial before deciding on Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage. Judge Friedman said a trial will be scheduled for Feb. 25. There will be more details about the Rally in the January Menorah. In 1966, the Michigan Legislature amended the Michigan s statutes governing marriages to make it clear that marriage is only between one man and one woman in this State. Public Act 324 amended MCL to provide as follows: Sec. 1. Marriage is inherently a unique relationship between a man and a woman. As a matter of public policy, this state has a special interest in encouraging, supporting, and protecting that unique relationship in order to promote, among other goals, the stability and welfare of society and its children. A marriage contracted between individuals of the same sex is invalid in this state. Antioch, TN Geneva Poole, veteran heavenly home early this morning, lung cancer in April 2012, Mrs. Poole began However, eventually the cancer spread to cancer raged, her trust in the Lord and His determination to continue to serve Him as He.Geneva Poole Welcomed Home Bobby and Geneva were appointed to missionary service in Brazil in April They were married in September and entered Brazil as newlyweds in December The couple has served faithfully through the tenures of all six of the Mission s general directors. When the Pooles entered Brazil, less than 2% Christians. Today, that number has risen to an educational center in the state of São service since February They started missionary to Brazil, entered her November 20, Diagnosed with an aggressive regimen of treatment. other parts of her body. Even as plan for her remained firm as did her provided strength. of the people claimed to be Protestant approximately 23%. Ribeirão Preto, Paulo, has been the Pooles' place of four churches in the area. Geneva

4 The Michigan Free Will Baptist MENORAH Page 4 continued to plan, develop, and prepare vacation Bible school materials and teach in the seminary over the last year. Geneva accepted Christ when she was 13 years old at Lebanon FWB Church in Effingham, S.C. At a young age she developed a conviction that God wanted her on the mission field. That conviction was confirmed while at Welch College. Bobby and Geneva have garnered 53 years of faithful missionary service and have spent the last few months in transition in preparation to retire on December 31, [Editor s Note: One of the highlights of my 60 years of ministry was when Riverside Fellowship sent me on a mission trip to Brazil, and I had the privilege of staying in the Poole s home. I visited one of the churches they established and met their son, John, who pastors a church in the area. I was also privileged to attend Free Will Baptist Bible College with Bobby and Geneva. I remember Bobby and Gerald Mangham playing ping-pong in the Ping-Pong Palace on campus.] Good News from Spain "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." (Psalm 46:1-2) When we came to Spain, we spent our first year in language school learning Spanish. Our second year was dedicated to university studies, which included Spanish literature, art, history, geography, and more. Our worldview was changed during that year, as we not only learned more than our minds could possibly retain about the interesting culture and art here, but also about the long history which led Spain to where it is today. While Catholicism is a huge part of that history, the role that evangelicals have played in Spain's history has been relatively short. Over the centuries, there were a few believers here, but they weren't allowed to freely worship together until the Constitution of In fact, just this past month, the Evangelical Council of Madrid (Consejo Evangélico de Madrid) celebrated its 20-year anniversary of being officially recognized by the Spanish government. One event that the Evangelical Council sponsored this year was a special Reformation Day celebration on October 31st at the Complutense University, the very same one where we attended many years ago. Kristi was invited to play the piano and accompany the Evangelical Choir of Madrid as they sang "A Mighty Fortress is our God" and Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus". Imagine our surprise when we arrived and realized that this event took place in the very same auditorium where we were given our diplomas when we graduated from the University many years ago. We could never have imagined back then that one day we'd listen to the famous words penned by Martin Luther being sung by an evangelical choir right there in a public university: A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal. Based on Psalm 46, Luther wrote this song during a challenging time in his life. But the words still ring true today for the people of Spain, who need Christ in their lives more than ever. Pray with us that they will place their faith in God and will turn to Him as a "very present help in trouble". Tim, Kristi, Alejandro, and Ana CHANGE OF ANDERSONS FROM MISSIONARY SERVICE WITH FWBIM Dear Friends of Faith,

5 The Michigan Free Will Baptist MENORAH Page 5 Your faithful support and stewardship kept our family serving in Cote d Ivoire with Free Will Baptist International Missions for over 16 years. Thank you for standing with us faithfully and willingly through many hardships and three civil conflicts. The investment we made together now begins to bear fruit beyond what our previous relationship through FWBIM can maintain and grow. As we age and see the direction God moves across W. Africa, we desire to be more useful to Him by concentrating our entire efforts on training Africans in Community Health Evangelism (CHE) with Free Will Baptists and others. Not only are three FWB churches quietly using this approach to enter unreached villages and begin establishing churches, but two larger and two smaller Protestant denominations in Cote d Ivoire have asked us to help them regularly train CHE teams. Recently your support facilitated the training of faculty for the premier secular university in Ivory Coast to use CHE in public health work for the nation. It is now likely that there will soon be more churches being planted by those using Community Health Evangelism strategies than by those dedicating themselves to only church planting, as is already true in Cambodia. Also, a new West African CHE internship in Ghana desires that we help them in training and project development. The workload entailed to serve in these capacities is full-time and beyond. It simply is not possible for us to continue with FWBIM and do what we are certain the Lord has called to be done in Cote d Ivoire. Debbie and I are currently in candidate process with two mission agencies that use Community Health Evangelism to win and disciple new converts to Christ. One group s focus is medical intervention; the other is a mission dedicated to stimulating Church Planting Movements (CPM). Our activity when we return to Cote d Ivoire will not change with either agency, just the address of overseers to whom supporters of this ministry send contributions. The medical-based ministry could begin to receive funds for us to continue in December 2013; the CPM mission could not facilitate this until May Please join us in prayer as we discover and walk together along the path the Lord has opened for us. Multiple denominations, clinics, Ivorian government officials, and university leaders coordinate to continue programs and plan for our return. We foresee being in the U.S. and making multiple short-term trips during this time as our financial support structure changes and our youngest son completes high school to begin his first year of college. In the meantime, we invite you to listen to Brian Fikkert, Stan Rowland, Greg Seager, Stephen Merry and other speakers of the 2013 Global Medical Health Conference ( Download podcasts or listen online to find how God is multiplying the church s witness effectively and efficiently. Blessed to be a blessing, in no small part through you, How Important is YOUR Bible? Verlin & Debbie Anderson Fox News reported this week As many as 80 people were publicly executed in North Korea earlier this month, some for offenses as minor as watching South Korean movies or possessing a Bible. That s right, for possessing a Bible. The report went on to say Wonsan authorities gathered a crowd of 10,000 people, including children, at Shinpoong Stadium and forced them to watch the killings. I heard from the residents that they watched in terror as the corpses were (so) riddled by machine-gun fire that they were hard to identify afterward, the JoongAng Ilbo source said. Most of the Wonsan victims were charged with watching or illegally trafficking South Korean videos, involvement in prostitution, or possessing a Bible. Relatives or accomplices of the execution victims implicated in their alleged crimes were sent to prison camps. To think that possessing a Bible would be cause for the forfeiting of your life! Yet, in North Korea it is as in other places. We take for granted many times the privilege we have in possessing and reading our Bible. Because it is the Word of God, many hate the very existence of the Bible. Others try to marginalize the Bible by seeking to discredit it. It is a hated book by many.

6 The Michigan Free Will Baptist MENORAH Page 6 However, to the child of God it is precious. It provides for us spiritual food. It is where we can go daily for spiritual strength. It also provides for us guidance. The Psalmist said Thu word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalms 119:105) Surely no one would want to take away and be afraid of a book which gives guidance to the weary soul. But strength and guidance is not why so many hate the Bible. You see, the Bible also has convicting qualities. It cuts right to the heart of man and convicts man of his wicked deeds. That is why it is hated and wicked men seek to destroy it. Maybe that is why many do not want to read it or hear it preached. What about you??? Reprinted from The Manna The publication of First Free Will Baptist Church, Auburn Hills, Michigan Winter Men s Retreat January 26-28, 2014 Youth Haven Ranch, Rives Junction, Michigan Theme: Lay Leadership Cost: $ Please send your reservation to Rev. Gene Norris at gnorris4166@gmail.com Court Holds Ministerial Housing Allowance Unconstitutional In a ruling that came early, but that was expected, Federal District Court Judge Barbara Crabb of Wisconsin struck down a law that allows ministers a tax-free housing allowance. In a decision issued on Thursday, November 21, almost two months earlier than a decision was expected, Judge Crabb wrote that the housing allowance provision for ministers "provides a benefit to religious persons and no one else, even though doing so is not necessary to alleviate a special burden on religious exercise. The ministerial housing allowance provision, commonly known as Section 107 and included in the tax code since at least 1954, has been under attack as providing a special benefit to ministers that is not available to other taxpayers. Section 107 allows ministers to have a portion of their income designated as tax-free housing allowance or live in a parsonage without having to pay taxes on the fair rental value of the parsonage. The ruling does not affect parsonages but declares the housing allowance provision unconstitutional. Under Section 107, active credentialed ministers are able to have a portion of their ministerial compensation designated as tax-free housing allowance. Further, retired ministers who participated in their church-sponsored pension plans, like the Free Will Baptist Retirement Plan, can have some or all of their retirement distribution designated as ministerial housing allowance as well. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit before Judge Crabb, led by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, contended that the housing allowance provision granted ministers an unfair benefit that violated the U.S. Constitution. In her ruling, Judge Crabb noted that a lot of tax revenue was at stake. The tax savings to ministers over a five year period of time was estimated to be more than $2.3 billion. While the decision by the court was not unexpected, the timing was earlier than the anticipated ruling that was originally expected in January For now, the Court's decision only impacts the Western District of Wisconsin - the district in which Judge Crabb serves. However, it is expected that other courts across the country could follow suit and issue similar rulings when this provision comes before their court in the future. Judge Crabb's decision is expected to be appealed to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago - but the decision to appeal will have to be made by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Treasury, the

7 The Michigan Free Will Baptist MENORAH Page 7 defendants in the lawsuit. Ultimately, it is expected that this matter will reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Although for now only the Western District of Wisconsin is impacted by this decision, the impact could eventually touch the entire nation. The Board of Retirement, in conjunction with other denominations, will continue to fight to keep the housing allowance available to our active and retired ministers. To read the entire decision, you may click on the following link: D. Ray Lewis President and CEO Free Will Baptist Board of Retirement THP Position Vacated Antioch, TN International Missions recently made the extremely difficult decision to vacate the position of stateside administrator for The Hanna Project due to ongoing financial difficulties. Current Administrator Darren Portell will be employed through January 31, 2014, after which the Mission s NGO (non-governmental organization) will operate without this position. Developing and executing projects will become the responsibility of the director of field operations and regional directors. Our love and regard for Darren Portell could not be greater, said Jeff Turnbough, director of field operations. Darren and his wife Dana have been valuable members of the IM team and family for more than a decade. We hope and expect the Portells will return to serve with IM in some capacity in the near future. Their service has been exemplary. Unfortunately, as we analyze our current financial challenges, we believe temporarily eliminating this position is a wise course of action. In approaching the 2014 budget year, International Missions faces ongoing financial challenges. In preparation for the December IM board meeting, the Mission leadership is challenged with presenting a plan and budget that accomplishes two objectives: 1. Live within the means the Lord provides through Free Will Baptist people, 2. Restore financial health by creating an operating surplus. To develop this plan, the leadership team (stateside and field) met for three days in October to pray and plan. We knew we needed the Lord s direction and would have to make some painful decisions, explained Clint Morgan, the Mission s general director. We asked the IM family and supportive friends to pray for wisdom and direction. We believe God provided this for us. Darren and Dana have served with The Hanna Project since 2002 as project workers targeting unreached people groups in southern Europe and in North Africa. Upon their return to the States in 2010, the Portells learned they would not be allowed to return to the restricted access country in which they were working. Darren assumed his current role in August 2012 Darren has served well in this role, facilitating and leading Free Will Baptist people in projects in Côte d Ivoire, Japan, Mongolia, Central Asia, Bulgaria, and other countries. His obvious passion for unreached people and his skills as a logistician and planner have been an asset to us all, Morgan says of Portell s work with THP. We will miss Darren on a daily basis, but we expect to be engaged with him wherever the Lord leads him from here. The Hanna Project was established to access countries where traditional missions activities are restricted. THP also serves as a means to provide humanitarian and other material assistance in places IM workers serve around the world. Although the position of stateside administrator is vacated indefinitely, THP will continue to operate and fulfill these vital purposes. Please distribute through your typical channels. Feel free to contact me with questions or other needs. Leadership Conference, December 9-10 Nashville, Tennessee

8 The Free Will Baptist MENORAH 4166 Maplewood Meadows Avenue Grand Blanc, Michigan Welch College Hosts 101 Visiting Students for Fall 2013 Welcome Days NASHVILLE, TN One hundred one prospective students representing 17 states attended Fall 2013 Welcome Days November 7-9, at Welch College, according to Debbie Mouser, director of enrollment services. The 70 young ladies and 31 young men who visited the campus attended classes and chapel and interacted with current Welch students. Seniors, parents, and sponsors also met with President Matt Pinson during a Friday morning reception. The visiting students toured the campus, enjoyed a time of comedy and entertainment with area youth minster Jon Forrest, and closed out the night cheering on the Welch College Flames basketball teams and playing dodge ball. Exit evaluations completed by visiting students indicated that for well over half, this marked their first visit to Welch College. The students praised the hospitality and helpfulness of the Welch College faculty, staff, and students during their visit. Mrs. Mouser said, I was very pleased with the number of visitors on campus for Welcome Days and am thankful we had the opportunity to present Welch College to them. This marks the highest number of visiting students for a Fall Welcome Days in quite some time. We look forward to future correspondence with these students, parents, and sponsors as they consider this important step. Welch College will host Senior Days February 6-7, 2014 and Spring Welcome Days April 17-19, For more information, contact the Enrollment Management Office at recruit@welch.edu. The Michigan Free Will Baptist MENORAH is the monthly publication of the Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists and is sent free online upon request; Rev. Ron Helms, moderator; Rev. Joseph Jones, assistant moderator; Rev. Allen West, clerk; Rev. Jeff Isaacs, assistant clerk; Rev. Steve Thrasher, treasurer; Rev. Rick Locklear, assistant treasurer; Rev. Gene Norris, editor and Promotional Director. News for publication must be received by the 25th of the month.

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