JUNE 2012 JUNE\12 ~ 1

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1 JUNE 2012 JUNE\12 ~ 1

2 2 Apostolic Witness

3 C O N T E N T S EDITOR S PERSPECTIVE Rick Hilton... 4 July 6, 1929 ~ April 17, 2012 by Mark Johnson FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT Robert Martin... 6 EVANGELIST Mark Bishop...11 WORLD MISSIONS 8 Hope Elkins, Toby Frake...15 WOMEN S ESPRIT George Akers MISSIONS AMERICA George Akers KIDZQUEST Nathan Roberts by Toufic Azar, Middle East Regional Supervisor MENISTRY Mark Stumbo APOSTOLIC CRUSADERS Daniel Taylor...28 N A T I O N A L D E P A R T M E N T D I R E C T O R S World Missions M.L. Walls Missions America George Akers Menistry Kenny Carpenter Women s Esprit Penny Carpenter Apostolic Crusaders Chad Erickson KidzQuest Nathan Roberts Evangelist Department Mark Bishop Christian Schools Department Joe Nelson

4 The EDITOR S PERSPECTIVE RICK HILTON Would You Rather Emcee or Preach? It is Sunday afternoon when my mobile device makes that all too familiar chime. Somehow in the unwinding of our eventful Sunday schedule, the phone has found its way onto the kitchen countertop. Our family of four has run the race to prayer, then Sunday school, followed by worship, the drive home, pot roast waiting in the oven and then the finish line. The kids are playing as Tonya and I are in full repose. I am on the couch, and she is in the recliner. My mind wanders from its restful state as I lay there helplessly zoning in and out of sleep. The single tone of a text message has altered the rhythm of my exhaustion: sleep, snoring, then the snoring awakens me, and the cycle repeats. You gonna check that? she asks. Her barely audible words crush any hope I had of denial. I shake off the cobwebs and make my way into the next room. The text says pastor will be flying out tomorrow on church business and will be leaving two ministers in charge of midweek service. He wants to know if I d rather emcee or preach. To emcee or to preach? That is the question that has been asked of so many lay ministers. Each is an important role with similarities and differences. And while it is naïve to think that the pulpit is a lay minister s primary duty, it is nonetheless an office that should be approached with deliberate preparation. Understanding the purpose of your ministry and the ministries of those around you is essential in effectively yielding to the will of God for a particular service. For me, it has always been an easy answer. I d much rather preach. Yet, as I began to ask others their preference, it became clear that not everyone universally accepts my choice or my reasons. Certainly, there are more than a few pastors that would be okay with emceeing every once in awhile. Preaching three times a week is not as easy as many of them make it appear. Still, there are probably a large number of faithful lay ministers who, like me, relish their opportunity to be used as the oracle of God. Let s explore the dynamics of both duties. First, the pulpit preacher is responsible for setting aside an extra season of time for prayer, study, fasting and sermon preparation. Seeking after the heart of God, the minister can draw closer to His will for that moment in time. Having had the privilege of approaching that sacred desk, I am always amazed at the process of procuring the message. I start in oblivion, that expansive void where I begin to lay aside my own thoughts, emotions and tendencies until I am left with nothing. Then, quiet time is spent in meditation on God and His people. Hopefully, the next step is a moment where, seemingly out of nowhere, inspiration begins to infuse my mind, my heart and my soul. Inspiration turns to fascination and the study begins. God s Word unfolds as His passion and mine intersect. It is here that I have to be careful to keep it simple and not try to do too much. Making notes, more meditation and some form of fasting transform His Word into hot, fresh bread ready for delivery. What began as a reply to a text message has ended as, well, a text message. For the emcee, the process is similar, but the emphasis is entirely different. It is said that the emcee who does the best job goes completely unnoticed. As an emcee, I strive to be as invisible and utilitarian as possible. The best emcee is a precise facilitator allowing the service to flow seamlessly. He, too, must pray, fast and prepare. An order of service, a list of songs, prayer requests and announcements, selection of ushers to receive the offering, introduction of the pulpit minister and the closing of the service are necessary components to achieve the function of the emcee. His study occurs mostly within an hour or two prior to the service. A pencil and notepad are the emcee s best friends. Although he must strive to stay a step ahead, the emcee must be poised, quick on his feet and in control. But not too much. He must approach the pulpit confidently yet cautiously allowing the maximum opportunity for God to meander throughout the congregation. So what do you think? Would you rather emcee or preach? Write me with you thoughts and insights on this question. And if you do, we might share some of them as letters to the editor. Please your correspondence to HiltonR@aljc.net. I look forward to hearing from you! 4 Apostolic Witness

5 ASSEMBLIES of the LORD JESUS CHRIST I have been reading your magazine over the past year. I am very much thrilled over the layout and the news placed throughout the magazine. We look forward to reading the articles submitted by Dennis Croucher. You have a very great magazine. It is a classic! Keep up the wonderful work that you are doing! Pastor Kenneth Mendenhall Ironwood UPC South Bend, Indiana DOCTRINAL TRUTHS The Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ asserts that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that the fundamental plan of salvation consists of these major doctrinal truths: Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the one true God; Repentance from sins; Baptism by immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ; Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. EXECUTIVE BOARD GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT Robert Martin SOUTHERN REGIONAL Assistant Mark McCool northern REGIONAL assistant Tim Gill western regional Assistant Charles Hancock GENERAL SECRETARY Roger Gray Soul s Harbor Community Pentecostal Church of Burlington, Kentucky is looking for a couple to assist with building its youth department. This will initially be a non-paying position but will work into a paid position in time. Please send resume information to pastorofshcc@yahoo.com. ALABAMA DISTRICT James Knight ARKANSAS DISTRICT Larry Davidson FLORIDA DISTRICT Stephen Reed GEORGIA DISTRICT Nathan Carrell GULF COAST DISTRICT James Johnson HEARTLAND DISTRICT Edward MacDonald ILLINOIS DISTRICT Francis Farney INDIANA DISTRICT Danny St. Clair DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS KENTUCKY DISTRICT Joel Clemons LOUISIANA DISTRICT David Poole MICHIGAN DISTRICT Shannon Scott MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT Jonathan Vazquez NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT Lisle Lindsay NEW YORK/MID ATLANTIC DISTRICT Eugene Dayton OHIO DISTRICT Robert Fries OKLAHOMA DISTRICT Curt Green SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT David Akers TENNESSEE DISTRICT John Robinson TEXAS DISTRICT Peter Gray TRI-STATE DISTRICT Billy McCool WESTERN DISTRICT Clarence King WEST TEXAS/NEW MEXICO DISTRICT Dale Bostic WEST VIRGINIA DISTRICT Ralph Tisdale World Missions - monthly offering Missions America - monthly offering Children s Ministry - Piggy Bank Offering (August 31) Apostolic Crusaders - Talents (October 31) Evangelist Department - Missions Evangelism (January 31) Christian Schools - Scholarship Fund (March 31) Women s Esprit - Channels of Blessings (May 31) WORLD MISSIONS DIRECTOR M.L. Walls MISSIONS AMERICA DIRECTOR George Akers EVANGELIST DIRECTOR Mark Bishop CHILDREN S MINISTRY DIRECTOR Nathan Roberts DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS GENERAL YOUTH PRESIDENT Chad Erickson WOMEN S ESPRIT PRESIDENT Penny Carpenter MENISTRY PRESIDENT Kenneth Carpenter CHRISTIAN SCHOOL DIRECTOR Joe Nelson HONORARY SUPERINTENDENTS David Mayo Raymond Bishop Don Johnson Steve Wilson APOSTOLIC WITNESS 875 North White Station Road PO Box Memphis, TN Phone: Fax: EDITOR Rick Hilton MANAGING EDITOR Robert Martin GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kayla LeBon APOSTOLIC WITNESS (V 60 #6) JUNE Apostolic Witness is the monthly publication and official organ of the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, TN (USPS # ) and additional mailing offices. To order reprints call POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Apostolic Witness PO Box Memphis, TN SUBSCRIPTIONS Individual subscriptions $24 per year; bundles of $2 per copy. Send subscription info and check to: Apostolic Witness, P.O. Box 22366, Memphis, TN Advertising 1/8 page - $100 1/4 page - $200 1/2 page - $300 Full page - $500 Discounts for multiple month ads. For info vopnbr@aol.com LETTERS Fax: vopnbr@aol.com Letters may be edited.

6 From the SUPERINTENDENT ROBERT MARTIN Bishop Don Johnson touched all of our lives. His influence on his world became legendary. He was larger than life. Brother Johnson lived his 82 years with purpose and passion. Among all his major accomplishments, he wrote and sang the classic, I Can t Complain. It has been sung all around the world and has become an anthem to many. Brother Johnson left us with no complaints. Brother Johnson was a powerful preacher, able to move us to laughter and tears. We didn t sit long when he was preaching. We simply had to get involved. Brother Johnson was a tremendous leader in the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ. The simple fact that he served for 18 years as General Chairman/Superintendent (the title changed during his administration) is evidence of how revered and respected he was. We wanted him as an ambassador for the ALJC. And a great ambassador he was. One of the greatest testimonies about the nature and character of Brother Johnson is that he not only preached and sang in influential places like Harvard University but also in the poorest regions of the world. From the pristine halls of Harvard to the remote villages in Nigeria. And, remarkably, he was always the same. He never met a stranger, whether the person dwelled in the White House or in a hut. Bishop Johnson was always Brother Johnson, even to young, developing preachers. He did not keep us at arm s length; he embraced us and welcomed us into his world. I can personally relate to the young preacher part. I was elected National Youth Director of the ALJC during Bishop Johnson s service as General Superintendent. As a young novice (a single 23 year old), I had a lot of learning to do. Brother Johnson wasn t real sure about me at first. But, then again, neither was I. However, he was longsuffering and kind. Through it all, we accomplished a lot of great things together. When I was later elected Assistant General Superintendent and eventually General Superintendent, Brother Johnson was so, so kind and supportive. As his health decreased the last few years of his life, I would call Brother Johnson just to chat. He would always end the conversation by saying, You are a good man. You are doing a great job. How honorable for such a great man to say that about someone much lesser. But Brother Johnson was like that. He made us all feel important and wanted. Brother Johnson will always live on in our hearts. And in our ears. That voice! Truly unique, anointed and powerful. Who else has a voice like that? The Singing News reported on Brother Johnson s death. Here s part of their article about him: Back in the 70 s, 80 s & 90 s, Don did a lot of singing and writing. Groups like The Spencers, the Cathedrals, the Florida Boys, the Mid-South Boys, The Lamar Sego Family and others recorded his songs, as well as soloists like Laverne Tripp and Timothy Spell. A few of the songs he penned include His Hand Reached Further Down (Than I Could Reach Up), Let the World Go By, My Day Will Come, We ve Got the Best There Is, More Than Enough, Totally Devoted and I Can t Complain (also known as I Won t Complain ). The last song has basically become a hymn in African-American churches. It was sung at the funerals of Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Ray Charles and Luther Vandross. On YouTube the song can be viewed as performed by Marvin Winans, Stevie Wonder and John Legend (on The Oprah Show). We will never forget that voice. The sermons. The laughter. The songs. As we remember and reflect, Brother Johnson is alive now more than ever. He quickly discovered first hand what he had sung to us for years - It s Already Paid For. I can see Brother Johnson stepping through the gates, straight and tall. He makes a mental revision of one of his famous songs. Then, with a sparkle in his eyes, he opens his mouth and begins to sing. As he told us they would, the angels listen as he sings his song. The sweet refrain of My Day Has Come echoes down the golden streets. The long-awaited voice has finally arrived. No complaints. 6 Apostolic Witness

7 Day / Time Meeting / Seminar Speaker Monday 6/ pm Education Missions Meeting 7:30 pm General Superintendent s Dinner MC: Robert Martin (Includes all National and District Officials) Host: George & Annie Akers Tuesday 6/ :30 am General Board / Executive Board Meeting 8 am Noon World Missions Board Meeting / Breakfast 8:30 10 am Missions America Board Meeting / Breakfast 9 11:30 am Evangelists Meeting Speaker: Danny St. Clair 10 11:30 am Missions America Church Growth Strategies Facilitator: George Akers 10 am Noon WE Leadership Brunch 1 5 pm General Business 1 2 pm WE Business Meeting 2 3 pm WE Session To Be Continued... Speaker: Jamie McCool 7 pm WE Presentation Directed Prayer 7:30 pm Evening Service Speaker: Raymond Bishop Spotlight: Missions America KidzQuest (dismissed during service) Director: Nathan Roberts Wednesday 6/27 8 am Noon World Missions Board Meeting 9 9:30 am Morning Prayer 9:30 10:20 am Seminar: Apostolic Doctrine Speaker: Billy McCool 10:20 11:10 am Seminar: Continuing in Prayer Speaker: Matthew Ball 11:10 am Noon Rally Speaker: Robert Wimberley 2 4 pm Apostolic Crusaders District Presidents Meeting 2 pm District Secretaries Meeting 7 pm TOPS Presentation Directed Prayer 7:30 pm Evening Service Speaker: Robert Martin General Superintendent s Address Thursday 6/28 9 9:30 am Morning Prayer KidzQuest (dismissed during service) Director: Nathan Roberts 9:30 10:20 am Seminar: Apostolic Fellowship Speaker: Billy McCool 10:20 11:10 am Seminar: Continuing Apostolic Fellowship Speaker: Tim Gill More GMC info on back cover 11:10 am Noon Rally Speaker: Virgil Harris 2 6 pm General Business 6:30 7 pm Live International Radio Broadcast Speaker: M.L. Walls 7 pm Directed Prayer 7:30 pm Evening Service Speaker: Steve Wilson Spotlight: World Missions KidzQuest (dismissed during service) Director: Nathan Roberts JUNE\12 ~ 7

8 Bishop Don H.Johnson July 6, 1929 ~ April 17, 2012 by Mark Johnson Don and Jean Johnson From a very humble beginning, Bishop Don H. Johnson wove his way into the hearts of multitudes of people. His sweet spirit and down to earth personality, along with his anointed preaching and singing, endeared him to people throughout the world. He was born on July 6, 1929 at the beginning of the Great Depression. He left school at the 8th grade because his older brothers were at war, and his father needed help running his blacksmith shop in Ripley, Mississippi. Marvin Johnson, Bishop Johnson s father, was also a Jesus name lay preacher, who opened up a house church in Ripley where many received the Holy Ghost and were baptized in Jesus name. One of these converts was the beautiful Jean Rooker, who Bishop Johnson married in They were married for 62 years, and were blessed with three children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Another important date in the life of Bishop Johnson was January 9, This is when God filled him with the Holy Ghost at Blue Mountain Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bishop J.L. Pipkin was his pastor, and under this leadership, he served as a musician, youth leader and Sunday school teacher. Also during this time, he served as the Mississippi District Youth Director. In 1958, Bishop Johnson and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to become the pastor of Grey Road Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Upon arrival, they took a church that had a skeleton building with mostly dirt floors, a tarpaper exterior and no restrooms. Now, sitting on Grey Road is a first-class Apostolic church with a beautiful campus and an auditorium that seats several hundred. Grey Road was Bishop Johnson s heartbeat, and he led and loved the church and its people until the day he died. The anointing in Bishop Johnson s singing and song writing was indescribable. He sang and wrote songs that transcended the lines of generation, organization and even race. Some of the songs he wrote include, I ll Stand For Jesus, It s Already Paid For, My Day Will Come, His Hand Reached Further Down Than I Could Reach Up, and many others. His most popular song was probably I Can t Complain (sometimes sang as I Won t Complain ). It has become almost an anthem to many and has been 8 Apostolic Witness

9 With President Ronald Reagan With President George H.W. Bush sung at the funerals of Luther Vandross (performed by Stevie Wonder), Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King and Ray Charles. Recently, the popular artist John Legend sang the song on the Oprah Winfrey Show to millions who were watching. One accomplishment that Bishop and Sister Johnson were very proud of was the opening of Apostolic Bible College in The college impacted many students and through them has reached untold people all over the world. The Johnsons loved every student and loved hearing about all the things that they were doing for the kingdom of God. Brother Johnson s travels and connections with many people of different Pentecostal groups stood the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ in good stead when he was selected as the organization s General Chairman in 1981 (the office was changed to General Superintendent under his tenure). Bishop Johnson would serve in this capacity for 18 visionary and progressive years. Under his leadership, the ALJC entered a time of unprecedented growth. In this time, he preached in the majority of states and six of the seven continents, representing the organization and the Jesus name message. Baptizing in Nigeria Executive Board during his tenure (standing: Steve Wilson, Dwight Cook; sitting: Everette Mayo, Don Johnson) Preaching at Grey Road Church JUNE\12 ~ 9

10 Preaching at a conference in Chile The Johnson Family Under Bishop Johnson s leadership, the ALJC tripled its number of ministers. Furthermore, for the first time, the organization reached into the countries of Canada, Nigeria, Taiwan, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Japan, Norway and Russia. He believed that one key component to having revival in America s churches was to support foreign missions. Another highlight of Bishop Johnson s years in leadership was when he, along with Reverend Stan Wachtstetter, was invited to the Oval Office. He was a part of several inaugurations and was able to meet with both Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Bishop and Sister Johnson loved the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ. He felt honored to have been its leader for the years that he served. They both prayed daily for the ministers, pastors, churches and every district. In September of 2011, Sister Jean Johnson passed away. While looking down at her, Bishop Johnson told her that it wouldn t be very long until he would see her again. On April 17, Bishop and Sister Johnson had a wonderful reunion with the Lord. They will be missed by many, but their work will live on through eternity. Mark Johnson is a grandson of Bishop Don Johnson. He pastors The Bend Pentecostal Church in Harrisonburg, Louisiana. Thank You From the Johnson Family The family of Bishop Don Johnson wishes to say Thank you for all the expressions of kindness that we have received during the illness and passing of our beloved one. Over and over again our hearts have been touched by the sweet cards, phone calls, flowers, memorial gifts and online messages. Many people traveled hundreds of miles to attend the viewing and funeral. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for all you have done. Those who were closest to him miss him most. He was truly a good man, a humble man of great distinction. We appreciate the love and kindness shown on his behalf to those he left behind. May God bless you. Rev. David Johnson and family Karen Johnson Kirk and family Rev. Charles Johnson and family The DVD of Bishop Johnson s funeral is now available. Cost of $15 includes shipping and handling. DVDs of Sister Jean Johnson s memorial service and funeral are still available, each at a cost of $15 or $25 for both. Send order to: Church of the Lord Jesus Christ Attn: Kelli Neier 4248 Grey Road Memphis, TN Please remit payment to CLJC. We will be re-formatting some of Brother Johnson s earlier recordings. When they are available, it will be announced on the Grey Road Church Facebook page. 10 Apostolic Witness

11 James Chessor Jr by Mark Bishop, Evangelist Department Director Jonathan Fortner attrition ə tri sh ən noun 1 the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure: Chris Leach rev.leach@yahoo.com leachministries.com Michael Maupin MichaeljMaupin@hotmail. com Cody Mayo c_mayo_la@yahoo.com David Walker ARM2outreach@gmail.com This could very well be the devil s middle name. He works hard to gradually reduce the strength of the church by targeting one person at a time. He tries to weaken the saint and the ministry with the sustained pressure of the cares of this world. If he can get us to prefer the pleasures of self to the presence of God, he can distract us from the battle against him. I am reminded of Uriah when he had the opportunity to take a breather from the battlefield to bunk with Bathsheba but refused because his heart was on the battlefield. Even after a few drinks from the king, he still would not partake in the pleasures while the ark of the Lord was at unrest. His focus was on the presence of the Lord as opposed to his personal wants, needs or satisfaction. Even though the devil is trying to wear the church down with constant distractions, there are still great men and women that will not be preoccupied with amusements, entertainment, sports or festivities. Reports of revival are bombarding the social networks daily. I am constantly hearing of baptisms, outpourings of the Holy Ghost and miracles from every state and from around the globe. The church is experiencing revival like never before, and God is using those that are willing to focus on the elements of revival. Men and women are giving themselves to prayer, fasting and total dedication believing God is wanting to pour His Spirit out on all flesh. Extended revivals of three, four and five weeks are becoming the norm rather than the exception. Our evangelists are giving of themselves traveling from coast to coast and from north to south to preach the Word and minister to the saint and sinner alike. The evangelist sacrifices time, money and resources to fulfill the commission of Christ. The command of Jesus to Go ye into all the world starts at home. We can t evangelize the world without evangelizing our city, our community and our state. Let s support our evangelists and their mission to spread the Gospel. Your prayer and support is much needed for revival to continue. The lack of funds, lack of prayer and lack of desire for revival serve as attrition. It handicaps the much needed ministry of our evangelist. Thanks be to God, though, because He has given us evangelists to hold the line against the attack and the pressure that the enemy brings. The evangelist is the answer when attrition tries to make the church ineffective. Thank God for our evangelists. JUNE\12 ~ 11

12 by Toufic Azar, Middle East Regional Supervisor Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. Isaiah 29:17-18 In spite of the wars and the rumors of wars we re hearing, God is continuing to move in an amazing way throughout Lebanon and the Middle East region. People are being filled with the Holy Ghost and being baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins. The atmosphere in the Middle East is charged with revival. We re living a fulfillment of endtime prophecy and endtime revival. The spiritual hunger we are seeing throughout the Middle East is fertile ground for a mighty spiritual outpouring! 2012 Latter Rain Conference The 2012 Latter Rain Conference in Lebanon was a great success. God moved in a powerful way during the week long conference. God filled 15 people with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and ten were baptized in the name of Jesus. Our churches were strongly edified through powerful Apostolic preaching and a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost. One of the most moving events I experienced while there was when a first-time Muslim Shiite visitor came to the altar. While praying with her, the Holy Ghost came upon her and she started crying, I love you Jesus. I love you Jesus. Then, she began speaking in another tongue as the Spirit gave her the utterance. After the conference, we went to Egypt along with our Lebanese minister, Pastor Fadi Ghosh. We were invited to preach a service to many of the men he had witnessed to on-line. The Lord led me to preach that night about the Revelation of Jesus. In the middle of the message, my interpreter, a doctor, saw the revelation and started shouting and praising God. The altars were full and several were baptized in the name of Jesus. Despite the extreme spiritual darkness that is surrounding that part of the world, the Lord is revealing Himself in a powerful way to the people in the Middle East. Our first speaker at the Latter Rain Conference was Steven Solomon from Maryville, Tennessee, who visited Lebanon with his wife, Elaine. They were a great blessing and strongly displayed holiness as a young married couple on fire for the Lord. His powerful message was entitled Demonstration of Doctrine. It revealed that long-lasting revivals are not only the results of spiritual manifestations but also of sound doctrine. Evangelist James Chessor blessed our conference tremendously by preaching three services, two in Beirut and one in Byblos. His first message was I Must First Change. The altars were full at the Byblos church with seekers and several were filled with the Holy Ghost. In Beirut, his anointed message was I Must Be Buried with My Father. After this message, the altars were again full with repented souls and seekers wanting to be buried in baptism with their Father, Jesus. 12 Apostolic Witness

13 Josh Wilson from Carmel, Indiana also preached a powerful message about The Promises of God. He explained how God told him not to expect anything because his expectation would not reach what God is going to do. Several that night received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. John Hodum, from Collinwood, Tennessee preached an anointed, faith building message in Beirut entitled According to Your Faith. A great move of the Holy Ghost hovered throughout the congregation. Altars were filled with seekers slain in the Spirit while others received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and were physically healed. Kenny Chessor from Baton Rouge, Louisiana also preached a powerful message about The Path to the Promise Land. This broke through many visitors and newcomers hearts that night emphasizing the path God took Israel through to the promised land and the need for repentance, water baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Altars were filled with repenting hearts that night, and many were filled with Holy Ghost! Trip to Egypt The following week, we left to Cairo, Egypt with our Lebanese minister, Fadi Ghosh and an Egyptian minister, Brother Zakaria. Fadi Ghosh had been ministering on-line to him as well as several other men in Egypt. Fadi Ghosh has already taken several trips to Egypt baptizing people in the name of Jesus. The Lord led me to preach that night about the Revelation of Jesus. Our Lebanese Ministers I appreciate the burden and the vision of our Lebanese ministers. I call them heroes of the faith because they truly risk their lives daily for the sake of this Gospel and are willing to sacrifice all for the sake of souls. Although Lebanon is Christian friendly, anytime you are working with the Muslim population, there are risks. We are grateful for the work of Pastor Roger Kandalaft, Pastor Charbel Louka, Pastor Fadi Ghosh and Pastor Simon Saliba for the burden for souls and for the zeal for this Apostolic message. And to all our U.S. ministers who left their families and churches to go to this conference to be a blessing to the mission work and churches in Lebanon and Egypt on this trip, thank you for your sacrifices! Comments from speakers at the Latter Rain Conference I am so thankful the Lord allowed me to experience the great revival that is taking place in the Middle East. This was one of the most impacting mission trips I have ever been on. God poured out His Spirit in a mighty way and He is revealing Himself to Muslims in dreams and divine visitations. We had one Muslim woman come into our Apostolic service for the first time, and she left filled with the Holy Ghost. The promise of the Holy Ghost is for all who are called. I was most impacted by the people of Lebanon and their tenacity to contend for the Apostolic Faith. They are not afraid to preach the Gospel. I was blessed by their experiences of going and preaching outside the dance clubs and in the streets. I truly felt like I was walking in the book of Acts on this mission. If you ever have the chance to take a mission to the Middle East, do not hesitate. If the Lord leads you to go, don t look back. Your life will be forever impacted. God bless the ALJC and the work in the Middle East. Thank you, Toufic Azar, for your passion and leadership. God is going to send a mighty revival to this region of the world. - Josh Wilson JUNE\12 ~ 13

14 My recent trip to the Middle East was incredible. Toufic Azar and the men in Lebanon inspired me. They are consumed with truth and a desire to see it preached everywhere. There is such a hunger for truth and revival in this region. They are building churches and raising leaders. In the short time we were there, 15 received the Holy Ghost, and 10 were baptized in the name of Jesus. I was honored to work with these men, and I will never forget this experience. I recommend everyone that can, should go and experience this great revival God is sending to the Middle East. - James Chessor The Middle East is blessed to have such a man of vision as Toufic Azar to head up a work in that region. His efforts have already left a lasting impression on the area. My wife and I were privileged to be a part of the Latter Rain Conference in Lebanon, and the Lord was at work. Many were filled with the Spirit. The Word did not return void! Additionally, it was quite an experience to visit such historic sites as the cities of Tyre and Sidon and to see the cedars of Lebanon. Even the snowball fight with Toufic Azar at the cedars was invigorating! Elaine and I will forever cherish our time in Lebanon. We are so thankful to have been part of the first ever Latter Rain Conference and to know that under the guidance of Toufic Azar, the Middle East will be won for Christ! - Steven Solomon Upon arriving in Beirut, I really didn t know what to expect of the country, culture or the churches. Toufic Azar met us at the airport and began to take us to our hotel in Byblos. As we traveled through Lebanon, he pointed out which neighborhoods were Muslim strongholds. Then, to my surprise, he began to tell us of the Christian influence within many communities. I was caught off guard by how tolerant Lebanon was to Christians. I never once felt unsafe in this country. I was also amazed at the beauty of the land. From the majestic snow-capped mountains covered with cedars to the gorgeous beaches that frame the famous rocks of Rawsha, Lebanon 14 Apostolic Witness is rich with breathtaking scenery. Perhaps what impressed me more than anything was the liberty experienced in their churches. Every service was power-packed and ended with someone s life being changed. In short, this great work deserves your prayers and support. Also, if you re blessed with the chance to visit this country, go. - Kenny Chessor Church growth is a natural occurrence when a church is healthy. Some of the major attributes of a healthy church are the structure of the leadership and the organization of the local assembly. As a pastor visiting and participating in the Middle East Conference 2012 in Lebanon, I was greatly encouraged by the health of the churches in Byblos and Beirut, Lebanon due to the structure and organization that I observed. Not only is God moving in this area right now but also these churches have cast a wider vision for the work of God as they reach into the surrounding countries. This vision is more than just a concept for them. They are extremely proactive in that they are aggressively pursuing this type of outreach on a consistent basis. It is my estimation that they have the structure and organization in place to be able to receive the outpouring of God upon this country and the regions around them. - John Hodum I would like to give a special thank you to World Mission s Director M.L. Walls, as well as World Missions Secretary Russell Elkins, for their shared vision and great support of this work. In addition, I would like to thank Pastor Kenneth Carpenter of Maryville, Tennessee, Pastor James Kirk of Heath, Ohio and Pastor John Hodum of Collinwood, Tennessee as well as the many others that helped support the conference both financially and prayerfully. - Toufic Azar

15 St. Petersburg is home of the czars, Venice of the North and is the birthplace of the Russian revolution. It is a mecca for the arts and a city built on violence and oppression. It is also the home of Mark, Wanda and Luke Stumbo. The Stumbos came here in August 1996, and after years struggling with a communist mentality, an alien language and the culture of poverty have built a stable or rather a flourishing work for God. We visited them during the first week in March to assist in teaching their Bible college s winter intensive courses. Flying north from Frankfurt, Germany, it was easy to see we were heading toward the Arctic Circle. Vast plains of ice replaced the open waters of the Baltic Sea. Below us, the snow-covered land looked cold and lifeless. Mark Stumbo met us at the airport and took us to the hotel for some much needed rest. We had a delicious dinner prepared by Wanda Stumbo, a good night s rest and the next morning our work began. Mark and Wanda Stumbo have worked miracles with the ancient building from the time of the czars that now serves as a combination of home and Bible college. They have spent hundreds of hours cleaning, painting and repairing until the family side is comfortable and cozy and the school rooms and worship area are spacious and attractive. When he told us of the condition of the building when he bought it, we could only marvel at the results of their work. What a team effort for the work of God. During the entire week while Mark Stumbo managed the school, Wanda, with wonderful humor and grace, along with the women of the church, provided the food and fellowship for the rest of us. Their hard work and unfailing kindness were an inspiration. The International University of Biblical Studies was started in The on-line program began in The winter intensive was a first effort to bring on-line students together on site. We had no idea if the plan would be successful, but Mark Stumbo s fearless faith once more rose to the surface in an effort to reach others. As we know, only the sham of state approved religion was allowed during the Communist Era. Most younger people in Russia were raised as atheists, but, thank God, a spark remained. Russia - Could It Be? by Hope Elkins When the Communist government fell, a hunger for God was quickly rekindled. Many returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, but many had a desire for something more genuine than formal religion. Russia became an open door to all religions, and missionaries flocked from the States. The interesting challenge the Stumbos found when they came was that people who were hungry for God were basically unchurched. It is now a searching and sampling time in terms of religion. This situation is delicate because the Stumbos must draw people to the church by leading them patiently to the truth without alienating them. It has been a difficult task, but God has blessed. Even though our students were taking courses with the Bible college, they were not yet fully committed to the whole truth of the Gospel. We had to win them first and then win them to the truth. The ten students arrived from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Belarus and the Ukraine. They were from all walks of life: a doctor, three teachers, a street sweeper, a receptionist, two pastors, and two, young church workers. Russians are accustomed to much more formal instruction than in American schools, and for the first two days the students seemed bewildered and somewhat distrustful of our American openness. We continued to pray that by the time our classes ended, the group would be a true community of learners. Thanks be to God, that prayer was answered. After two spirit-filled church services and two days of class, we began talking seriously to one another about the course topics on the third day. By the last day, we felt like true friends as we wept with one another and said goodbye. Not a day goes by that we don t think of those precious students and fervently hope they continue to grow in the Lord and plant the seeds of revival in their cities. Just as St. Petersburg was the birthplace of Russian communism, could it also be the birthplace of a mighty, Apostolic revival that will fill the land with truth and power? Let us pray for the Stumbos and their work. JUNE\12 ~ 15 Hope Elkins is the wife of Russell Elkins, World Missions Secretary.

16 General Conference by Toby Frake, World Missions Promotions Director Recently, I was blessed to represent the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ and the World Missions Department at the annual conference in Chile. Our missionary, Nacho Fuentes, is bishop and president of the works there. I traveled with Peter Gray, Regional Director for South America. Having known Bishop Fuentes for over 30 years, I was delighted to travel to see his work for the first time. After a lengthy flight, we were greeted by two congenial brethren who took us to our hotel for a short rest before the Friday afternoon service. We were picked up that evening and were taken to a 4,000 seat arena that was packed to near capacity where the music and praises could be heard from the street. After going through security and receiving total access passes, we were escorted backstage then out onto the seats reserved for their organization officials and honored guests. Peter Gray, who speaks fluent Spanish, was right at home. Honestly, though, I was drowning in a sea of Spanish. I could pick up a few words here and there, but thankfully he interpreted the main thoughts of the message for me. They had three keyboards playing, a six-string bass with orange florescent strings, a drum set, bongos, accessories and a set of huge wooden drums played with their hands. There were two guitars, five saxophones and a trumpet. The place was really jumping. There were about eight backup singers and three lead singers who took turns leading. The music was loud, awesome and anointed. What an experience it was! Bishop Nacho Fuentes could not have been a more gracious host. After about 30 minutes of the altar service, we were taken to a VIP room and served snacks. He then took us to his home where his wife, Maria, had prepared a delicious meal for us and the guest evangelists. We were then taken back to the hotel for a grateful night s rest. The next day, services started at 10 am where we enjoyed singing, special songs and more excellent preaching. That evening, Peter Gray brought a wonderful message which blessed and encouraged the Chilean church. The services concluded on Sunday with the installation of 47 new deacons, 11 evangelists and 12 new pastors. After that, we heard more wonderful singing and outstanding preaching followed by a large altar service. The result of the Felix and Maria Fuentes, Peter Gray 16 Apostolic Witness

17 in Chile conference was more than 130 souls filled with the Holy Ghost with hundreds refreshed and renewed in the Spirit. We were blessed by the attendance of Bishop Nacho Fuentes father, Apostle Jose Fuentes, who is 94 years young. It was impressive to see the love, honor and respect the church has for these two men. Bishop Fuentes carries a heavy burden by pastoring the Central Church and serving as president of the organization. Everyone comes to him for leadership and guidance. Yet, with all things demanding his attention, he still found time to spend with Peter Gray and me. The day after the conference, Bishop Fuentes took us out to a fantastic lunch with his family, the evangelists and some associates. He has surrounded himself with honorable and hospitable, friendly men. The respect they showed for us and the ALJC was impressive. We are blessed as an organization to have the largest Oneness work in the whole country of Chile. I would love to return some day and minister in some of the local churches. I would encourage all churches and ministers to continue or increase support for this worthwhile work which runs from the north, all the way to the south of Chile. Please pray for the work there, for Bishop Nacho Fuentes and for his family. He needs our prayerful support for his labor in this field. JUNE\12 ~ 17

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20 INTRODUCING HOME BIBLE STUDY 101 by George Akers, National Missions America Director I winning the lost in my city. I am as sincere as I know feel the call of God. I know that God called me to pastor. But I am frustrated trying to find effective methods in to be. Prayer and fasting and Bible study are strong Christian disciplines in my life, but witnessing the critical transaction of actually harvesting souls is my greatest challenge. If this quote describes your ministry, we have what you need: If you get frustrated in finding a tool in your hand to win souls this is for you. If you want to be more effective in establishing a knowledge of the Word of God in the heart of the lost this is for you. If you desire to see God use you to win lost souls this is for you! So many that are called of God into ministry want to be equipped and have the tools in their hands in order to achieve that for which they have been called of God. No doubt there are times we feel like Thomas Edison who tried 2,000 ways to make an incandescent light bulb. You try and try and try, and it seems as though you have discovered so many ways that it doesn t work. When you poll all successful ministries and growing churches in the Oneness Apostolic movement in the world, you will find that the number one method of winning souls and growing churches is teaching home Bible studies. Acts 6:7 says, And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly. When we plant the seed of the Word of God into lives, God s Word is more effective and powerful than any other means of reaching the lost. It s not enough that we teach home Bible studies, we must also have the proper motivation and method in place. While we are not dismissing home Bible studies that last only one or two lessons, it is the continued teaching of the Word that converts a soul from being a sinner to a faithful, church-attending, tithepaying, loyal child of God. Sinners have issues in their lives. They are held in bondage. In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus said, And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. The first sign Jesus said would follow the believers is that they would cast out devils. The second sign is that they shall speak with new tongues. Before the speaking in new tongues comes, there must be casting out of devils. The word devil is translated from the Greek Word daimonion. It means spirits that are superior. Evil spirits that have dominion. Before one can speak in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, one must first have all other spirits that rule their lives cast out. And it is the Word of God that drives spirits of bondage from sinners lives. There are many spirits of hell that have hold on lost souls. Just as Jesus defeated the temptation of Satan in the wilderness with the Word of God, so we also drive spirits of dominion out of lost souls with what is written in the Word of God. We can free the sinner from bondage by declaring to them it is written. By starting in the beginning where God started in Genesis chapter one, you can drive one spirit after another out of a sinner s life. If there is a dominion of atheism over them, that is driven out in the very first lesson. If it s a dominion of the misconception of marriage, it is addressed in the second lesson. The dominion of bitterness that holds so many lives in captivity is addressed with what is written in the story of Joseph. If it s a dominion of dishonesty, stealing, adultery, fornication, covetousness or one of many spirits of dominion, it is driven away by what is written in the Ten Commandments. The motive for teaching a home Bible study is to drive away every evil spirit of dominion in lives by what is written in the Word of God. By the time you get to the salvation experience and Acts 2:38, your student has been repenting all along the way and is ready for baptism in the name of Jesus along with the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Even if they have already been baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost, they still need this knowledge in the their life in order to address any issues that may still linger. Notice the signs that follow the believer are that they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues and they shall take up serpents. Even after one has been born again of water and Spirit and has received the Holy Ghost, they still have serpents or evil spirits that will try to retake dominion. And the way to take up serpents is the same way to cast out devils. It is done with what is written. Home Bible Study 101 is a series of 26 lessons that will take you from Genesis to Revelation. It is intentionally designed to be so simple that one could literally just read it word for word to a sinner and let God s Word do the work. Thus, it is called Home Bible Study 101. It is easy for the teacher to teach and easy for the student to understand. Anyone can teach Home Bible Study 101. Home Bible Study 101 is made available to you on a flash drive and can be purchased through the National Missions America Department. The lessons are on pdf file. Our goal is to win the soul of America to the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Missions America is that America is the Mission! 20 Apostolic Witness

21 NEW BOOTS ON THE GROUND Kenneth Noles Panama City, Florida Apostolic Gateway of Panama City started in November My wife and I are retired after more than 20 years of active duty in the United States Air Force. We retired out of Fairbanks Alaska back to the hills of Tennessee. After being there for only a little more than a year and a half, the Lord placed a burden on our hearts in 2009 that He wanted us to relocate to Panama City, Florida. This is a place where we were once stationed at in the 1990 s. Upon moving back to Panama City, my family and I were very blessed to assist two other churches and two great men of God. I count it a privilege and an honor to have worked with two great pastors and ministers of the Gospel who shared so much of their knowledge and expertise with us. We are forever indebted to them. In the early morning hours of October 2, 2011, while praying and studying for a Sunday school lesson I was to teach that morning, the Lord began dealing with me in a way He had not dealt with me before. The burden on that morning will be one that would forever change our life. After praying about this burden God had placed on me, I awakened my wife to let her know that it was time for us to move forward with starting a home missions work in Panama City. We were both scared but knew the Lord had everything under control. We prayed for the next three days and asked Him to show us this was His will even though I had my doubts. The Lord began opening doors that we could not open. The current building we were able to rent was a blessing from God. He was the One who provided this building for us. Currently, we are in the process of reaching the whole community surrounding the building and have knocked many doors, passed o ut leaflets and will be having a summer block party for the community in June. Once a month, we are having fellowship Fridays for the members and the community. This has become a great success for us. Our vision is to provide a place of worship for people to come into His presence not feeling threatened and to reach the children of the community through a thriving Sunday school program and a youth group. Currently, we have a few families enrolled in Search for Truth Bible studies and offer those to all we come in contact with on our outreach events. David Mackowiak Mount Washington, Kentucky Mount Washington is a city in northeast Bullitt County, Kentucky. It is one of several cities that surround Louisville, Kentucky and has experienced a sharp rise in population in the past two decades. Population is approximately 13,500. God gave us a vision for this city last year. There has not been an Apostolic church in Mount Washington in more than 20 years. Apostolic Church of Restoration started in our home with just our immediate family. My wife, Penny and my son, Jonathan, along with two members our extended family were there from the beginning. On Easter, we had 11 in attendance. There is a young, single dad that is bringing his two children. One of his sons is 12 years old. He asked our son, Jonathan, who just turned 13, about being baptized and the Holy Ghost. We are going to start a Bible study with this family. We are so proud of how our son lets God move through him. Also, we heard that two families in the Mount Washington area have been looking for an Apostolic church. They are planning to visit us. So the word is getting out that there is an Apostolic church in town. Even the landlord of our building said she would love to visit us. She even held the building for us and told us that she didn t want anyone else in there but us. That is how God works. She is very sick and is on dialysis. We had the opportunity to pray for her when we spoke to her regarding the building. Our church also sent her a card and told her she was in our prayers. Her son, who does the maintenance and business for her on this building tells us, You and the church are all mom talks about! Also, we have had several guests come who have said that they would definitely be back. God is moving in Mount Washington, Kentucky. We are looking forward to what He has in store for His church. Thomas King Monterey, Tennessee My name is Thomas King. We are originally from the church in Harriman, Tennessee which is pastored by Norman Mullins. We labored with Pastor Mullins for 25 years. My wife is Serena King. She and my children, Steven and Clarissa King, are the pastoral team of Monterey Apostolic Church. Although we have always known that it is the will of the Lord for us to be here, there have been some trying times. Through it all, God has shown His approval. The main thing about our ministry is that we are kingdom minded. The term kingdom minded is something we inherited from our pastor. A good example of this is when we recently received an from someone who saw our website. This lady began to reach out for help. I am trying to find a pastor in her area because we love souls. We really love the people in Monterey and intend to give everyone possible a chance to experience this Holy Ghost power. Some of our methods of outreach are monthly food boxes, home Bible studies, coats and blankets distribution, door knocking, dinners and Sunday school drives. Last October, we packed the house with 60 people almost all first time guests. From that service, we picked up one new family. The following week, we got another new family as a result of distributing coats and blankets. We have another new family that has started coming in April due to door knocking and food box distribution. We had several first time guests on Easter Sunday, too. God is doing great things in our town. In the month of February, we baptized five people in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. Please pray that we will be able to continue to serve the Lord Jesus as soul winners. JUNE\12 ~ 21

22 2012 Annual Prison Chaplains Retreat The 2012 Chaplains Retreat was held in Gibson City, Illinois. Such a tremendous spirit emanated from Pastor John Koonce and the congregation as they hosted this annual event for our Prisoner s Friend Ministry. On Thursday night, Indiana District Superintendent Danny St. Clair preached the keynote address. What a powerful presence of God that moved in the house! Throughout the day on Friday, we were so blessed to hear report after report of what God is doing through our chaplains ministry. Tina Osborne from Sidney Apostolic Temple in Sidney, Ohio reported that 38 had signed up for baptism in one juvenile detention center. She provided a live feed into the Women s Prison of the Ohio District Women s Esprit Conference. She has plans to show the DVD of the conference also. 47 women signed up for baptism. Tina has received permission to hold a conference in the Women s Reformatory in Madison Ohio Penitentiary. They expected women. She told the moving testimony of how one woman who is diagnosed as bipolar and has abused her own children came to her and asked, Can your Jesus help me? Then, Tina blessed us all so richly with her rap that she uses to reach those teens in detention. One chaplain drives 200 miles one way to get into one of the penitentiaries in Arkansas. There are so many more reports of hundreds of prisoners that have received the Holy Ghost in our prison ministries in this past year alone. We were amazed and moved deeply with a heart for prison ministry. Please pray for the Prisoner s Friend Ministries and consider what you could do monthly to financially support these very deserving efforts to minister in America s prisons. 22 Apostolic Witness

23 2nd Annual Sunday School Conference Reaching the World One Little Life at a Time February 28 - March 2 Bethlehem Church Potts Camp Mississippi Clinicians: Travis and Dawn Pace, Maren Perdue, Terry Vik, Nathan Roberts and Josh Wilson We want to extend our invitation to everyone in the ALJC to join us on a mission to the nation of Uganda. We will joining up with our very own ALJC licensed minister, Bishop Jon Wayabire. The estimated cost of this mission is $1,800 - $2,500. The dates are January 2-12, We will be conducting a four-day Holy Ghost revival and Vacation Bible School in the villages of Kekebu and Kachomo. The group will be staying in the city of Mbale, which is about 40 minutes away from the villages at the Mt. Elgon Hotel and Resort. This mission is open to everyone of all ages. If you have ever felt a burden for the orphans of Africa, or you want to expand your children s ministry experience to include an international mission, this trip is for you. Everyone on the trip will be involved in ministry. During the Vacation Bible School we will have several different groups to accommodate the 1,100 children that will be in attendance. If you would like more information please contact Josh Wilson at or jwilson149@hotmail.com. We hope you are able to make this mission with us. Your life will never be the same. Don t Forget! National Piggy Bank Offering Deadline: August 31 JUNE\12 ~ 23

24 by Nathan Roberts, National KidzQuest Director I ve talked with several churches that do special youth and children s services. At Apostolic Faith Chapel in Gilbert, Louisiana, every Sunday morning and Wednesday night we have simultaneous services for our teens, preteens and toddlers. On every 5th Sunday, these groups come together and take over the Sunday night service. Below is an account of our April 2012 service written to give you ideas and hopefully inspire you to try something different with your children. Our TADpoles started things off with a very contemporary version of One Little Boy Named David. Note that TAD stands for Tiny Armed Disciples. Obviously, they got a great response and a lot of folks came out to see their babies and grandchildren do their thing. Then, our youth band played. It is made up entirely of teens and preteens. They helped usher us into the presence of the Lord. We also had one of our teens as the emcee for the evening. The FROG Squad was up next. FROG is an acronym for Fully Relying On God. They ministered with two musical drama pieces, Not Guilty and I m A Pentecostal. They brought the house down as they ministered through signing, drama and music. If you re wanting to start a drama team, sign team or youth choral, you can start with your children. They are not too young to learn music, signing, music instruments or drama. When you begin to use them, be ready to uncover hidden talent and find some diamonds in the rough. Tithes and offering were received by our preteens as they, too, served as ushers and hostesses for the evening. Our youth pastor, Clay Nichols, ministered using many of our children in his message. He showed us through illustration that the devil is a hunter and he s trying to hunt us down. Even though the enemy uses many methods to lure us in, Jesus is there and provides a way of escape through the cross. Our young people, children and adults were touched, moved and blessed during this 5th Sunday Youth Takeover Service. We can t wait to see what happens in our next 5th Sunday service. If your church does something different or special with your children, please share it with us so we can share it with others. We look forward to hearing from you. Contact me at nathanjroberts@ yahoo.com or Apostolic Witness

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26 Don t Kill by Mark Stumbo Just six hours after arriving from the animal shelter, Lee and Elizabeth Littler s home was rescued by their new St. Bernard dog they called Hercules. It appeared that the stray canine was going to be euthanized, and this Ohio couple wanted to give him a chance at life. The usually robust St. Bernard looked sickly due to injuries he received by a recent coyote attack. They took him to their house to nurse him back to health and then hopefully find him a good home. It was not their intentions to keep him for a very long time. However, all of that changed when they saw their precious pooch dart off the back porch to chase an intruder. Hercules saw the robber when he had cut wires to their house in order to enter the basement. The burglar was barely able to get away from this fearless fluff of fur but will doubtfully ever return again. Lee Littler now says, I think Hercules has definitely earned a permanent place in our home. I think we could all sleep a little easier knowing such a true hero was curled up at the foot of our bed. We would have confidence that in times of danger a howl would alert us to awake. Really, it would be senseless to give such a valuable protector away. I am not trying to appeal to dog lovers around the world but would just like to take a few moments to write about another friend that is just as needed. A companion that is ever so valuable. Some would like to give him away, but for us it is imperative that he is always within our reach. Always ready to defend us when an intruder tries to break through our defenses and bind us with man s goals; standing ready like a good watchdog to stop the thief of immorality. This unusual compatriot I am talking about is called conviction. Charles Spurgeon said, He is a fool who kills the watchdog because it alarmed him when thieves were breaking into his house. If conscience upbraids you, feel its rebuke. It is your best friend. Jonah was headed in the wrong direction. God told him to go to Nineveh and 26 Apostolic Witness

27 preach the Word to their wayward enemies, but instead he bought a ticket to travel in the opposite direction. What was it going to take to get this rogue man of God back on course? God knew how to speak to him, how to get his attention. He sent a storm to stop him and the belly of a fish to convict him. Here is Jonah, in his secret place, in the middle of a giant fish. However, it was here where God was finally able to get him to listen. He had to throw him into the sea, then wrap him in seaweed, dissolve him in digestive juices and engulf him with the stench of carcasses until Jonah would at last say, I will look again toward thy holy temple. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD. I will pay that that I have vowed (Jonah 2:4,7,9). This is the end result of conviction, a changed life. The Apostolic man should cherish conviction and allow it to be a dear companion because by the world s decree its voice has been muffled long ago. Conviction and conscience can be so readily scorched like the overcooked hot dogs on the Saturday afternoon grill. Sin becoming so seared that it loses its taste of repulsion while washed down with some loose philosophy of if it feels good, do it teaching. We may not go through the same ordeal as Jonah, but conviction is still a powerful force. It can take hold of our heart and rip it out with all the skill of a martial arts expert. It gets our attention. It makes us realize that we need to be more than who we are. It shows us the way to our knees crying out to our Maker to make us again. Conviction is our friend. It is that which watches out for our soul. A famous sermon by David Wilkerson, A Call to Anguish, says, Whatever happened to anguish in the house of God? What ever happened to anguish in the ministry? It s a word you don t hear in this pampered age. Anguish means extreme pain and distress. The emotions so stirred that it becomes painful. Acute deeply felt inner pain because of conditions about you, in you or around you. You search the Scriptures and you will find that when God determined to recover a ruined situation, He would find a praying man, and He would take that man and literally baptize him in anguish. Conviction works in the heart of the Apostolic man like a faithful watchdog sitting on the back porch. So, don t kill the watchdog even if he barks in the middle of the night. We ought not to avoid conviction but be thankful that our hearts are still soft and pliable in the hands of our Lord. Until the pain of our thoughtless deed becomes greater than the momentary pleasure, there will be no change. Conviction is that pain; it is the watchdog that barks out to us. It awakens us to remember the sorrow of sin and the grief of the wayward path. It beckons us to walk in those footsteps no more. Romans 8:1 says, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Some have tried to change the meaning by clumsy Christian theology to mean that there is no more conviction. Therefore, when conviction tries to sound the alarm, they are gently sleeping in the arms of self-consolation not grasping the idea that the pricking in their heart is trying to save them from spiritual destruction. In the UK Daily Mail, January 2005, there is a story of a little boy named Ben with a life threatening physical problem. He was the 33rd person to have ever been diagnosed with this condition. What was this aliment? He simply felt no pain. Once, he picked up a piece of scorching hot food from his father s plate. He felt no pain but received blisters on three of his fingers. Then, he fractured his heel while playing at home. Still, he felt no pain, but his leg was limp behind him. His mother says, We have to be on our guard every minute of the day. I m always terrified that he is going to put his hand in the fire or burn himself. If we could never feel the pain of conviction, then we would dwell in an even more dangerous state. There would be no correction for actions that lead to death. We would go on in oblivion unaware of our willful acts until we awakened in eternity undone before God. In conclusion, conviction works in the heart of the Apostolic man like a faithful watchdog sitting on the back porch. So, don t kill the watchdog even if he barks in the middle of the night. Pet him. Praise him. Even throw him a T-bone steak because he is saving you from the robber of your soul. Mark Stumbo is an ALJC missionary to St. Petersburg, Russia. JUNE\12 ~ 27

28 The Road Less by Daniel Taylor Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14 Recently, a young man visited our youth service while I was preaching on baptism in the name of Jesus. In my area, this is a very touchy subject as it probably is in yours. I hate to admit it, but I was a little nervous about how he would take the message. After service, he told me that he had slipped into the back of our main sanctuary a couple of Sundays ago and enjoyed the service. I was hoping I didn t lose him on the baptism subject. He said, I have been to church after church in this town trying to find someone who preached out of the Bible and didn t add all of their man made doctrine. I think I just found it. Establishing students in biblical truth is no easy task. Just ask the frustrated youth worker at the First Apostolic Church of Anywhere, and he will tell you that student pastoring is getting more and more challenging. The denominal church world has developed appealing programs, flashy gimmicks and so called cultural relevance while it seems that Apostolics everywhere are holding to Old Paths and what some would be called unpopular methods. As a youth worker, I have experienced just about every frustration a youth worker can, and the greatest among them is not being able to do what everyone else is doing. It s not wrong to want students to be happy and content with your youth ministry. However, we should be careful about wandering off the path in search of a super highway to success. The truth is that there are no super highways to success. There are only the paths blazed by men before us. There have been some trails that have already been mapped out for this generation to have revival. They aren t easy paths, but they are the right paths. Isaiah 35:8 says, And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not 28 Apostolic Witness

29 pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. Our forefathers had world-shaking revival. We can, too, as long as we don t stray off the path. Destruction awaits all who dare leave the paths of safety. When I was a child, my father worked in Wyoming for awhile as a welder. While he was there, he came across the Old Oregon Trail. When the settlers were traveling the Oregon Trail, they went the exact route that the wagon before them went. As a result, the wagon wheels cut deep ruts into the rocks along the path. The ruts were so deep that they are still visible today. Even time has not removed the marks of that old path. There is safety in traveling the paths that are already laid out for us. Not everyone is called to be a trailblazer. Perhaps it is your job to be sure your students survive the journey. It is important to remember that we are in the business of building people. We shape the minds of our students every time we step into our pulpits and classrooms. As a student pastor, you are entrusted with guiding each student down the path. The secret is no secret. A move of God will require the same things that were required of the early church and our fathers. We have to submit to our elders. We have to pray, fast and seek the face of God. Having a move of God is going to take leaders who are willing to choose the right paths. According to Jeremiah 6:16, Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Growing up in the church, I had a hard time being okay with what I thought were old men who didn t want to see progress. As I matured in my ministry, I realized that the men whom I had accused of being stiff necked were just doing their job by being watchmen on the wall. Everyone understands that progression is inevitable. Society is changing for the worse. What used to be taboo is now the norm. The Word tells us that with each generation the world will get worse and worse so we have work to do. We have a lot of truth to distribute. Student pastor, it s okay to actually preach to your students in a youth service. A demonstration of God s power is probably the coolest thing you could deliver to your youth group. I believe very strongly in using icebreakers, videos and any other tools that will get the point across. But, the best thing we can give them is an Apostolic voice, a voice sounding with the love and compassion of the Savior. Your students can t afford for you to sugar coat or bow to political correctness. We re not preaching a general doctrine; we re preaching a specific doctrine. This is the Apostle s doctrine, and we must get it right when building students. The students that God wants to put under your ministry are looking for something real and substantial. You don t have to feed them spiritual junk food when God has given you truth. We don t have to fall prey to the identity crisis that many are facing today. I am convinced now more than ever that the world is looking for a demonstration of power. The lost and confused are looking for the God that answers by fire. God has already ordered our steps in His Word if we will follow it. Revival is not something that we create. Revival is a result of hard labor in the fields. Revival is reaping the harvest that is the result of your sweat and tears and the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Revival in your youth group will be found down the road less traveled. The last few lines of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost are familiar and worth repeating: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. I believe that the identity that we are looking for will be found down the road less traveled. Let the denominal church world do what they will, but we are Apostolic and must continue in the Apostle s doctrine or we will lead our students down the paths of destruction. Don t be afraid to preach truth. Don t be afraid to promote Pentecostal worship. Exercise the gifts. Build your students into powerful Apostolic people of God. Try to remember that you are the head and not the tail. Let others who insist on walking down the path of mediocrity, walk. Narrow is the way and few there be that find it. Let s show our students the way. Daniel Taylor is the Assistant Pastor of the Apostolic Church of the Rock in Wilburton, Oklahoma and serves as the Oklahoma District Youth President. JUNE\12 ~ 29

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