Billy & Bettye Nickell

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TIDINGS MAY 2014 VOLUME LXVIII NUMBER 5 From the Heart of the Glenn & Betty Beaver PRAY FOR MORE LABORERS In Luke 10, Jesus acknowledges three things: First, the harvest IS great; Second, the

Verse one of this chapter tells us that Jesus would send these laborers into every city where He would later visit. I believe that the Lord is laying out a principle here for us to follow today.

He did not say it will be great but rather it is presently.

Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Matthew 9 records that Jesus told the disciples, the harvest is plenteous.

1 TIDINGS MAY 2014 VOLUME LXVIII NUMBER 5 From the Heart of the Glenn & Betty Beaver PRAY FOR MORE LABORERS In Luke 10, Jesus acknowledges three things: First, the harvest IS great; Second, the laborers are few; Third, we must pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers. Verse one of this chapter tells us that Jesus would send these laborers into every city where He would later visit. I believe that the Lord is laying out a principle here for us to follow today. First of all, we must recognize that the harvest is presently upon us. Not some day in the future. Notice that Jesus said that the harvest IS great. He did not say it will be great but rather it is presently. As we consider the millions of people who have never had an adequate presentation of the gospel, we must be moved with compassion, even as Jesus was, in order to reach them with the love of Christ. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Matthew 9 records that Jesus told the disciples, the harvest is plenteous. There are too many people who need to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ for us to spend our time doing other things that does not impact our world for eternity. Secondly, Jesus stated, the laborers are few. Jesus told a parable, which Matthew records in chapter 20, concerning a vineyard owner who went into the marketplace to hire workers. He went on five different occasions, early in the morning, at the third hour, at the sixth hour, at the ninth hour, and at the eleventh hour. Each time he found laborers standing idle, not doing anything. When he asked them why they were not working, they responded that no man had hired them. The vineyard owner told them, Go into the vineyard. As followers of Christ, we must recognize that the Lord of the Harvest is still seeking workers. Let s make ourselves available and not stand idle in the marketplace. Thirdly, we are to pray that the Lord will send more laborers. The obvious reason for more laborers is that the time is short and the work is great. It is the eleventh hour. We are living in the end of the last days. As Mark records the words of Jesus in chapter 10 verse 29, the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come. John gives us a glimpse of Jesus heart for the harvest in chapter 4 verse 35 when Jesus admonished His disciples, Don t say, there are yet four months, and then comes the Glenn R. Beaver harvest? Behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. Let me encourage you today to consider once again the words of Jesus and pray that the Lord will send more laborers into His harvest. Pray earnestly for our missionaries, evangelist, pastors and teachers. Pray that the Lord will empower you to be a more effective witness for our Lord. Pray for More Laborers! West Plains Presbyter Robert Burns, (Lead Pastor, First AG, Levelland), has faithfully served for the past two years as the Presbyter for the West Plains Section. Upon deciding to further his education, he felt it was beneficial for the section for him to step aside as the Sectional Presbyter. We express our appreciation to Bro. Burns for his faithful service as a Presbyter and for the wisdom he contributed while serving on the Presbytery Board. Nelson Gonzalez, (Lead Pastor, First AG, Plainview), was elected to serve as the new Presbyter for the West Plains Section. We look forward to working with him on the Presbytery Board. 2014: The Year of Prayer! Pray Without Ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Billy & Bettye Nickell District Secretary/Treasurer Tapping Into the Riches of Scripture Psalm 19:7-11 cally, while the Bible continues to be the most influential and the best-selling of all literary works in history, it is also the most neglected by those who claim to be its friends. Biblical illiteracy is quickly becoming more pronounced in the USA, including the church. Preaching and teaching continues to fall from favor with a growing number of individual believers and congregations de-emphasizing the need for accurate and solid Bible knowledge. The trend these days calls for a brief devotion marked with interesting stories, a liberal dose of humor, a slight sprinkling of Scripture, blended with personal opinions and experiences - even when personal experience blatantly contradicts the Bible. The psalmist devotes five verses of Psalm 19 in which he lists a number of bonuses and benefits that belong to those who love and honor God s Word. Here are some of the benefits that can be expected as a person becomes a hearer and a doer of God s truth. The truth of Scripture is one of the advantages the writer gives when he announces in verse 7, The law of the Lord is perfect... the testimony of the Lord is sure. Those two adjectives, perfect and sure, come from two different Hebrew words, both of which speak of the Bible s veracity. Perfect speaks of that which is, complete, whole, entire, sound, and entirely in accord with truth and fact. Oxford University Press Dictionary defines perfect as, free from flaw, faultless. Sure refers to that which is, firm, lasting, established, reliable, and to trust. In His prayer of John 17, Jesus says in verse 17, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. It is truth that makes the Bible the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct! It is God s truth that trumps every dream, vision, revelation, belief and doctrine, and it is truth that gives the Holy Canon preeminence over the pope, the pastor, the parishioner, and even angels. That was the basis of Rev. John MacArthur s statement as a panelist on CNN responding to New Age mystic, Deepak Chopra, You and I are in two different universes. You are exactly right. A second benefit shown in this text is the treasure of Scripture. Verse 10 says, More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. That sentiment has been echoed over the millenniums from the White House to the poor house. America s sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln, expressed the Bible to be, the best gift God has given to man. The famous philos- If the twenty-first century church is to experience a fresh Pentecost, two of the essential ingredients that will characterize the divine visitation will be a return to biblical prayer and a recommitment to God s Word. Like the two wings of a bird for flight, both prayer and the Word are the twin pillars for spiritual advancement. Ironiopher, Immanuel Kant said, The Bible is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced. Patrick Henry made this observation of God's Word, It is worth all other books which were ever printed. Several years back, FedEx ran a Superbowl commercial parody on the movie Castaway, with Tom Hanks, that was being shown at that time. The movie is about a FedEx employee who s stranded on a desert island with a FedEx package he never opens. When he finally is rescued, he delivers the package, never knowing what it contains. In the FedEx Superbowl commercial that year, the rescued survivor delivers the FedEx package and can t resist asking the recipient, If I may ask, what is in the package? The woman opens the package and then says as she shows the FedEx employee the contents, Oh, it s nothing, really. Just a satellite telephone, a GPS, a compass, a water purifier, and some seeds. Everything he needed to survive was in that box, but he never opened it! Someone has taken the word Bible and made an acrostic that says, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. A third blessing shown in the verses of this text is the transformation of Scripture. Starting at verse seven, we are told God s Word is able to convert the soul. The Hebrew word that is translated convert means, to restore, recover, deliver, repent, refresh. The soul is the mind, the will, and the emotions - the part of us that must be brought into spiritual alignment following the spirit being made alive at salvation, (James 1:21). David rejoices in Psalm 23 of this blessing when he writes, He restores my soul. The list of transforming benefits continues by including, making wise the simple, rejoicing the heart, enlightening the eyes, and the warning of danger. Psalm 119 expands the list of transformational provisions even further by adding other available bonuses. Twenty-four year old Danny Simpson didn t realize what he had in his possession when he committed armed robbery for only $6,000. He was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to six years in prison. After his trial was over, the gun he d used for the robbery was donated to a museum. It was a.45 caliber colt semi-automatic made by the Ross rifle company in Quebec City in 1918 and valued at $100,000! Danny Simpson s life would probably have been much different had he known the value of what he possessed! Our lives will also be much different as we discover and tap into the riches of God s Word!

Director of Church Ministries Men s Ministries God s Game Plan For the last few months, I ve directed our attention towards what a healthy church looks like.

The Book of Acts still gives us the best description of what a Model Church looks like.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer, (Acts 2:42). The Early Church spent time praying with each other and for one another.

When the church gets on its knees God begins to move and the Gates of Hell began to shake. The last element is the Presence of the Supernatural.

In Acts 3, a lame man was healed as Peter and John were on their way to the Temple. In Acts 5, people were lining the streets so that Peter s shadow might fall on them.

In Acts 9, Peter heals a man who had been paralyzed for 8 years and later he raises a woman from the dead. Apart from the supernatural power of God there was no way to explain what was transpiring.

If the Holy spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop and everybody would know the difference.

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47b). This sounds like a church that we would all like to be a part of and we can be as we stick to God s Game Plan.

Grover, Floydada, TX 79235 806.983.3918 Lubbock, Faith AG Contact: Aaron McFadden 5426 50th Street, Lubbock, TX 79414 806.438.

2 Director of Church Ministries Men s Ministries God s Game Plan For the last few months, I ve directed our attention towards what a healthy church looks like. Acts 2 gives us a portrait of the Early Church, which serves as an example of how the church should operate today. The Book of Acts still gives us the best description of what a Model Church looks like. We have already discovered three elements that the church should be involved with and now we will take a closer look at the last two. The fourth element of a healthy church is Powerful Prayer. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer, (Acts 2:42). The Early Church spent time praying with each other and for one another. Prayer is the fuel by which God operates. We should pray individually, but something powerful happens when we pray corporately. When the church gets on its knees God begins to move and the Gates of Hell began to shake. The last element is the Presence of the Supernatural. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles, (Acts 2:43). Miracles were a part of the everyday experience for the Early Church. In Acts 3, a lame man was healed as Peter and John were on their way to the Temple. In Acts 5, people were lining the streets so that Peter s shadow might fall on them. In Acts 8, Philip goes down to Samaria and many were set free from demon possession and healed. In Acts 9, Peter heals a man who had been paralyzed for 8 years and later he raises a woman from the dead. Apart from the supernatural power of God there was no way to explain what was transpiring. When was the last time God did something in our midst for which there was no logical explanation? A.W. Tozer Tracy & Cara Lynn once commented, If the Holy Spirit McWilliams was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop and everybody would know the difference. The Early Church Preached the Word, Promoted Fellowship, Worshipped Passionately, Prayed Powerfully and Experienced the Presence of the Supernatural. All of this resulted in Phenomenal Growth. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47b). This sounds like a church that we would all like to be a part of and we can be as we stick to God s Game Plan. Open Churches Available for Ministry Canadian, Abundant Life AG Contact: Clydene Pittman P.O. Box 1367, Canadian, TX Floydada, Trinity Assembly Contact: Jimmy Marquis 809 W. Grover, Floydada, TX Lubbock, Faith AG Contact: Aaron McFadden th Street, Lubbock, TX Lubbock, Church of the Harvest Contact: Adelle VanOstrand th Street, Lubbock, TX Odessa, Faith Tabernacle Contact: Wyly Brown P.O. Box 13147, Odessa, TX Odessa, Victory Temple Contact: Terry Hammett P.O. Box 70137, Odessa, TX *Spur, First AG Contact: Presbyter Vance Mitchell 519 South Ayrshire, Crosbyton, TX *District Affiliated Church Gene Benningfield Danny Bisbee Larry Boyd Kelly Breckenridge Larry Elder Jannetta Fairbanks Charlie Garcia Dale Griswold Byron Jones Tracy McWilliams Vance Mitchell Z.A. Myers J.C. Owen Joe Robinson Forest Srader Marcus Tanner Sergio Uttutia (Bilingual) Kevin Vander-Plas George VanHoose BIBLE INSTITUTE of WEST TEXAS Courses for May 3rd Certification Level Prison Epistles License Level Romans Courses for June 21 Certification Level Intro to Hermeneutics License Level Intro to Homiletics WEST TEXAS MEN S MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT Billy & Robin Snider Men s Director Ministers & Churches Transferred Out: Diana Lou Choi (CM) North Texas Stephen Williamson (CM) Pen Florida Newly Credentialed: Mark Jones (CM) Meghan Snider (CM) Leticia Hernandez (Provisional CM) New Pastor: Plains, First AG, Lacy McAdams WEST TEXAS ASSEMBLIES OF GODDISTRICT OFFICIARY Glenn R. Beaver, grbeaver@sbcglobal.net Tom Lakey, Assistant tlakey@lubbockag.org Billy D. Nickell, Secretary/Treasurer fantastic1316@gmail.com SECTIONAL PRESBYTERS Cliff Houghton, Danny Williams Vance Mitchell, Nelson Gonzalez Mike Hanks, Eddie Lee Web site: wtaog.org TRACY MCWILLIAMS TIDINGS EDITOR tracy.mcwilliams@sbcglobal.net 5504 Wayne Avenue, P.O. Box Lubbock, TX, 79464, Phone: Please notify editor of any change of address. Third class postage paid at Lubbock, TX. Published monthly. Visit our NEW website at Up to date info on WT Men s Ministry Online Event Registrations Men s Ministry Resources

Announcements Celebration 2014 Larry Moore Arkansas Combined 84th District

Beaver West Texas June 9-12 Larry Moore Robert G.

Light for the Lost Banquet 7:00 pm Celebration Service - Larry Moore

12:00 noon Southwestern AG University Luncheon 2:00 pm District Council

Honoring Newly Ordained Ministers following service Wednesday, June 11 9:00

Robert Slaton 4:30 pm Speed the Light and BGMC Grand Club Banquet 7:00 pm

pm Celebration Service - Larry Moore Former West Texas Hosted by Harvest

Women s Director Stormy & Jessica Martin Speakers Women s Ministries HONOR

3 Announcements Celebration 2014 Larry Moore Arkansas Combined 84th District Council & Camp Meeting Glenn R. Beaver West Texas June 9-12 Larry Moore Robert G. Slaton Arkansas Former West Texas 2014 Schedule Monday, June 9 5:00 pm Light for the Lost Banquet 7:00 pm Celebration Service - Larry Moore Tuesday, June 10 9:00 am Prayer 10:00 am Memorial Service - Glenn Beaver 12:00 noon Southwestern AG University Luncheon 2:00 pm District Council Business Session 7:00 pm Ordination Celebration - Larry Moore Reception Honoring Newly Ordained Ministers following service Wednesday, June 11 9:00 am Prayer 10:00 am Women s Ministries Service 2:00 pm Session Speaker - Robert Slaton 4:30 pm Speed the Light and BGMC Grand Club Banquet 7:00 pm Missions Celebration - Larry Moore Thursday, June 12 10:00 am Brunch 10:30 am Women: Fellowship Robert G. Slaton Men: Healthy Church Panel Discussion 5:00 pm Fellowship Dinner 7:00 pm Celebration Service - Larry Moore Former West Texas Hosted by Harvest Christian Center 1345 New Harvest Place El Paso, Texas Becky & Joe Nenstiel Women s Director Stormy & Jessica Martin Speakers Women s Ministries HONOR CELEBRATION EXTRAVAGNZA AUGUST FIRST FAMILY CHURCH AMARILLO CONNECT SERVICE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 10:00 am Harvest Christian Center El Paso Tyler Hines Speaker CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER OCTOBER 3-11 Mindy Hines Speaker

Youth Ministries WEST TEXAS DISTRICT COU

crossing us over into a season of going through the open door. Psalm 24:7-8, Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

! Mark your calendars for a free event we will be having in the Midland/Odessa area Friday night, June 20 and all day Saturday, June 21.

4 Youth Ministries WEST TEXAS DISTRICT COUNCIL OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD 5504 Wayne Avenue P.O. Box Lubbock, TX RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Around West Texas Chi Alpha Upcoming Event: Reyna Little, Director I believe in May, God is crossing us over into a season of going through the open door. Psalm 24:7-8, Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Watch Him open up doors you never even imagined!! Mark your calendars for a free event we will be having in the Midland/Odessa area Friday night, June 20 and all day Saturday, June 21.We have a special guest coming in to minister a supernatural school of ministry. I have a desire to see Christ s Body stirred again to desire to walk in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, reaching the lost! I hope you can make it! Prayer Requests: Rebecca Barnhill, (daughter of Michael Barnhill, Ordained, Lubbock), recovering from appendectomy; Billy Nickell, (Leader Pastor, First AG, Amarillo & District Secretary/ Treasurer), knee replacement surgery; and Vance Mitchell, (West Plains Presbyter), neck surgery. The West Texas District has a Hammond organ (model C-3) with a Leslie speaker (model 21H) for sale for $2, If you are interested you can call Tracy for more information. NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LUBBOCK, TX PERMIT NO. 138

in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make Billy & Bettye Nickell

in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make Billy & Bettye Nickell TIDINGS District Secretary/Treasurer The Call, Cost and Compensation of Sacrifice Genesis 12:1-3; 13:7-17; 21:9-13; 22:1-18 VOLUME LXVIV NUMBER 3 MARCH 2015 From the Heart of the Superintendent Glenn R.