Eye 2 Eye: When Church is Not Church

By Bishop Charles Scott
She forgot what she came for. She had left behind her valued possession. She was running faster and faster and could not contain her emotions. She felt a dry thirst in her mouth but an eternal satisfaction in her soul. She had just met Him, and she had to tell others about Him. She had but one simple message, “Come see a man . . . is not this the Christ?” She was not in church, but she was having church.

She released the aroma of the pungent perfume until it filled the air. She broke the box and released the fragrance until every drop of the atmosphere was drenched in the odor. She did not care that she was being criticized for her extreme worship. She refused to stop with the precious ointment; she continued the lavish expression of praise by wiping His feet with her hair. She was not in church, but she was having church.

He felt no pain for the first time in years. He could see the scars from the cuts and bruises, but he knew he was healed. He did not want to leave Him. He wanted to stay with Him forever. He was a little afraid of the future, but he knew he was free from the past. He had a long trip ahead, but at least his mind was clear, his spirit was free and his soul had peace. He began to compose how to tell others what had happened. He had been bound for so long. He had hurt for so long. He had been alone for so long. He knew he could not wait until he reached his home; he had to tell someone, anyone and everyone what He had done for him. He was not in church, but he was having church.

He fell among the flopping fish. He could not believe what he had seen. He saw the empty net suddenly become full. He felt the cool water begin to fill the boat, but he knelt anyway. He had to get it out. He had to say it. He had to confess, “I am a sinful man.” He was being reborn. He was finding a new life. He was accepting his destiny. He was not in church, but he was having church.

We have a hard time with it. We struggle to accept it. We try, but once we have been in church, it seems like church ought to be church. We get used to the natural and miss the supernatural. We get used to the method and forget the message. We get used to system and miss the Spirit. We know how to talk inside the church; we know how to act inside the church; we know how to fulfill Christian expectations in the church; but when will we start being the Church when we are not in the church?

We need to be the Church. We need to be absolute—there is only one true way to eternal life and His name is Jesus Christ. We need to be global—there is a world around us dying for the message we hear and take for granted. We need to be connected—there is one validation that we are children of God and that is that we display love one for another. We need to be relevant—there is a cry for hope in this generation: the hope we have when we declare Christ is in us, the hope of Glory. We need to be the Pentecostal Church of God: a Church that is the Church even when we are not in church.

Not long ago our family walked down one of the most notable intersections in America. As thousands of people passed by, two men and one woman stood on the corners preaching, witnessing and distributing tracts with a fervent passion proclaiming the gospel. Their efforts did not seem to make much difference to the hustle and bustle of the city. But they were there. They were not in the church, but they were having church. Maybe it’s time for us to connect as the Church when we are not in the church. Maybe it’s time for us to be absolute as the Church when we are not in the church. Maybe it’s time for us to be global as the Church when we are not in the church. Maybe it’s time to be relevant as the Church when we are not in the church. Maybe we can see this eye to eye, even if we are not in church.

Reaching Into the Box: Implementing a prison ministry in the local church

By Michael C. Nadraus
"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." (Matthew 25:36)

I sat in a crowded visiting room a bit impatient, eagerly waiting for my friend. Every few minutes the loud click of the metal doors echoed and I would glance over to see who was coming out. Would I recognize him? Would he recognize me? I had never met him face to face, but we were brothers. I saw his face from old news clips and photos. I knew about the people he murdered, and how his life was almost taken by an inmate years ago. This time, David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam serial killer, was coming for me.

Prison ministry is a golden opportunity to reach out to inmates who have hit rock bottom. Spiritually hungry and looking for something, these prisoners truly open up their hearts and minds to the Word of God when it is preached. They are alone, lost and in need of love, a church that truly cares and of Jesus Christ.

Whether it is a county jail or a maximum-security penitentiary, these inmates are searching for something. They know they messed up and have to pay the consequences. Except for being on death row for murder or a smaller charge like marijuana possession, they are just like us, only behind concrete walls and locked cells. If we don’t reach out to them with God’s Word, who will?

To get a prison ministry on its feet is really simple. A desire in the heart of just one person, or even a few of the church members, to go and plant gospel seeds in the department of corrections in their area is the first step. A plan of action needs to be set up to make sure all the bases are covered in this ministry. Over time a core of faithful servants will emerge as those who will continue to serve in this ministry.

Present the idea to the church and begin praying for doors to open and laborers to come forth and serve. Prayer is the key to a successful ministry. The results are literally tripled on prison service days when we hold a prayer meeting the day before we go. The carnal Christian might say it’s just coincidence, but the faithful can call it by its true title, the power of God unleashed by going to Him in humble prayer. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Next, compile a list of area juvenile homes, federal penitentiaries, county jails and state prisons. Depending on how far your church group is willing to travel will determine the radius in which you look for them. Typically, the prison ministries I have been in will travel up to three hours away in any direction.

The Internet is a valuable tool in finding the addresses and phone numbers that are needed. Key words to look up in the search engine are “department of corrections” and the state where you live. Actual jail names will also bring up information that should get the right website where you can find the contact information. If that doesn’t work for you, a quick phone call to Information will get you the numbers needed. Playing the part of an Internet detective can score you tons of much-needed information.

Once you have a complete list of prisons, begin to call them one by one and ask for the chaplain’s office. Write down the chaplain’s name and remember it. Be personal and friendly and open with him. Let him see the enthusiasm you have, and let him hear your smile over the phone. A joyful spirit is hard not to like.

Let the chaplain know who you are, where you’re from and what you have to offer for his inmates. Anything from a one-man service and up can be done. Tell him what a service will consist of, such as special music, with possibly a guitar included, preaching, testifying and Scripture reading. The more interactive you make it sound, the more enticing it is, and the more chance you have with him. Once a chaplain is on your side, you have a key piece of the puzzle. A great friendship with a chaplain can provide you with many years of services in his prison. Once a good reputation has been established, you will be able to use it when you approach other prisons.

Over a 9-year time span at Maranatha Baptist Bible College, the Lord has blessed us with the opportunity to see 199 men and women inmates saved in over 100 church services. There have been numerous assurances, major decisions in lives made, hundreds of Bibles given to men and women who didn’t have their own copy, tens of thousands of tracts on salvation handed out and message upon message preached. It all started with one phone call leading to our first service. The flood-gates opened, and within the next few years we got involved with the death-row population.

DEATH ROW: THE OTHER SIDE OF PRISON MINISTRY
“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

Death Row is currently home to almost 4,000 inmates. Day after day they sit in a cell waiting for their appointment with death, the dreaded execution date. On that day they meet one of these five dooms: lethal injection, electrocution, hanging, firing squad or the gas chamber. Some are innocent of the crimes they are accused of committing, but many are hopelessly guilty of murder.

Another opportunity for ministry that any Christian can do is to be a pen-pal. Men writing to men and women to women is the best format for this. There are only about 50 ladies on death row, so often we choose ladies with long or life sentences. These ladies can be found on the Internet just as the death row inmates can. (Anyone who needs names of inmates to write to can also contact me for free lists). Death-row inmates are the best to write to since they are in prison for life and are the closest to death.

Death row was renamed “life row” by convicted “pick ax” murderer Karla Faye Tucker a few years back. Death row is not the end of the journey for these inmates, but the beginning. Faith in God helps many of them get through the ordeal. Some outsiders call it “prison religion,” a fake religious awakening created to impress or fool guards and others around them. Prison religion is real, but it would be foolish to think it was the only kind. There is true genuine repentance and faith found in prison. Death row inmates have one thing that we don’t have—a set time and date when they know they are going to die. One convicted murderer/drug addict was quoted minutes before his lethal injection as saying, “I lived by the needle, and now I die by the needle.”

A few things to remember when corresponding with the prisoners: always place their DOC# (department of correction) number on the envelope next to their name. Always place your return address on the envelope and on the inside of the letter to insure they will get it. Each envelope going out to an inmate for the first time can be stuffed with tracts and John, Romans or whatever seems fitting. Hand-sign all typed letters; it personalizes the letter. Never send money. (If you give to one you had better have enough for all.) Never be scared to be personal or open. They are on death row, so there is no worry of them ever getting out legally unless they are innocent. Common sense and some good judgment will help you to make some good choices with what to and not to do.

Using the church address as the return address is fine if the person does not want to use his/her home address. Purchase some stamps and envelopes. Find church members who would like to participate and have them begin with a letter bearing their personal testimony and a little bit about themselves and why they are writing the letter. I find the more open you are with them, the more open they will be with you. Maybe a night could be devoted to writing letters, or have a youth activity of addressing and stuffing envelopes. Be creative in getting everyone involved in some aspect. Letting everyone have a part brings a sense of teamwork. When souls begin to get saved, everyone rejoices.

The first letter should be just one page long so as not to overwhelm the person. Always write Bible verses out; don’t just use Scripture references. The inmate may not even own a Bible in which to look it up. Be sure to accurately copy the Scripture. Hand sign the letter and be sure to refer to yourself many times in the letter to personalize it. The secret to writing many letters is to type up a great first letter. You can use the same first letter again when writing to other inmates. Just use the CTRL-H function on Microsoft Word to replace the inmate’s name. I find that with my main letter, for every ten I send out I get back about five or six responses. Anyone stuck at what to write can email me at Mnadraus@aol.com and ask for a copy of my first letter, and I will send it to you.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). I have seen this in my own life and the lives of the men and women who have tried the prison ministry. You need to sink your teeth into it and experience it first hand. Once you get a taste of it you will see how good it really is. But to taste it, you need to get involved and have a part in it.

Convicted cannibal killer Jeffrey Dahmer is a prime example of Christ’s saving grace. Dahmer said after his salvation, “Thank God, there will be no more harm that I can do. I believe that only the Lord Jesus Christ can save me from my sins.” David Berkowitz once said, “I didn’t want to only hurt them; I wanted to kill them.” And “I am the Monster Beelzebub, the chubby behemoth. I love to hunt.” Now he is a born again Christian and can be seen daily in prison preaching the gospel to lost souls. We as born again Christians need to teach these people how to build their lives around and upon the Word of God and to be faithful in all areas, both big and small. They can learn that they don’t need to have a perfect past to live by faith. Paul was an accomplice to murder when he stood by and held the coats at Stephen’s killing. He was imprisoned after his conversion and sat locked up rejoicing in the Lord. God can and will do mighty things with anyone if they open up their life to Him.

The implementation of the death row and pen-pal ministries is simple and can be a great asset to any local church. One of the end results my team has seen, besides the saving of souls, is a bond between the men that went out on the ministry. They come back with closer relationships to each other. People besides the pastor get a chance to preach and testify in the prisons. A fire is set in each one of them to serve God. There does not seem to be a downside to the ministry. It does take a good deal of time and sometimes an entire day is given up to go, but it can hardly be called a sacrifice when there are such eternal rewards. There is just too much blessing and rejoicing going on afterwards to call it a sacrifice.

At last the metal doors opened and I saw his smiling face. He hurried over to me and gave me a giant bear hug. I shook the hand that once pulled the trigger. I saw the scar on his neck from when he was almost killed by a fellow prison inmate. Reality struck. I was taken back by the thoughts of David Berkowitz’s past, but then refreshed by the man he had become—a born-again Christian. He was once a child of the devil but now a child of God and my brother in Jesus Christ. David gave his life to God while in prison. He knew Ephesians 2:8-9 was true: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

A few years before, I wrote David and explained the gospel. I waited patiently, not knowing if I would ever hear back from him. I just wanted him to know that God could/would forgive him. I was in college and loved to check my mailbox for mail. When I saw David’s letter I got chills! I waited a few hours for the anticipation to build before opening it and showed the letter to basically everyone I passed in the halls. I read it in private and found out he was saved already and learned his testimony. Praise God! That was the beginning of a great encouraging friendship that almost spans a decade. There have been scores of letters and frequent visits. On these visits I get to treat my brother to a special meal from the vending machine and speak of the blessings God bestows to us daily. I truly count David as a dear friend. People I meet think I’m crazy or just don’t see how God can change such a person. I think of Saul in Acts who got saved and became Paul. Is there really a difference between him and David Berkowitz? It began with the idea that I would do this to minister to the prisoners, when in reality they are an encouragement to me.

[David Berkowitz, known as the the Son of Sam, is now known as the Son of Hope. In 1987 he dropped to his knees and asked Jesus to be his Lord. To read his compelling story and to learn more about his world wide ministry visit his website: www.ariseandshine.org.]

God on Death Row is a book I wrote a few years back that answers some tough questions. Could convicted cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer get to heaven before you? If I shot 13 people, could I still get to heaven? These and other questions are addressed in this book. It’s a journey in the lives of murderers and their amazing stories of finding faith in God, and salvation, as told through their letters— 19 convicted murderers in all. God on Death Row includes tons of personal letters, photos, last statements, last meals, etc. Be prepared, this book will change your life! (See page 21 for details.) You can always email me at Mnadraus(at)aol.com or call me at 920-220-3093 with any questions about prison ministry or my book God on Death Row.

About the Author:
I am Michael Nadraus. I’m 31 years old with a deep passion for souls behind prison bars. I grew up Catholic on Long Island, NY and became a born again Christian on February 8, 1995. I went to a Bible college in Wisconsin in 1999 and ultimately came back to NY on fire to serve God. I currently teach in junior church, preach to the children and help run youth group weekly at New Hope Baptist Church, where my beautiful wife Hannah and I attend.

Harvest Impact: Different Strokes for Different Folks!

By Wayman Ming Jr., General Secretary
“Different strokes for different folks”! Have you ever heard that saying before? If so, you know that it is often used to describe the reality that everyone is different. What a liberating and freeing fact! We didn’t all come off of an assembly line looking and acting the same. We are God’s custom design.

I believe that one of our greatest assets in effective evangelism is reaching different people in different ways. Is it possible that we have not been able to get “outside the box of evangelism” because we have operated with some misconceptions toward the dreaded “E” word?

Allow me to illustrate! What image comes to mind when you think of the word “evangelism?” Does it invoke enthusiasm for reaching your friends and family members? Or does it overwhelm you with negative connotations? Are you excited about sharing your faith? Or do you think of infamous televangelists, known primarily for extracting large sums of money? The stereotypical street preacher, megaphone in hand, blaring and bellowing out indictments about the end of the world? Or the “never say no” Mormon at your front door seeking to proselyte you?

The enemy of our soul has literally hindered the expansion of God’s kingdom because we haven’t realized that evangelism is not built upon a “megaphone in hand,” but a commitment to strategically being ourselves in evangelism.

Some people may be a megaphone blower while others may not. Some may be a door-to-door knocker while others may not. Some may be an apologist or someone who can merge faith with fact while others may not. Some may be a servant who provides random acts of kindness to win others to Christ while others may not. Yet, the important truth is allowing God to use our gifts, talents, personality and temperament in expanding His kingdom. Different strokes for different folks!

Simon Peter used a “confrontational” approach. On the Day of Pentecost he proclaimed the gospel with such boldness that he confronted his own people with crucifying the Messiah! He reached 3,000 for the Lord in one day. Some people in our world today won’t come to Christ until someone like Peter confronts them with the gospel.

The Apostle Paul used an “intellectual” approach. Read any of his letters in the Bible, especially Romans, and you will see that he was a master at laying out a sound explanation concerning the truths of God. In his writings his natural tendency was to argue point-counterpoint with imaginary foes who might challenge his positions. He was a master at crafting a road to Christ. Without a doubt, there are people who must connect with an evangelist like Paul who will not give them easy answers or platitudes such as “You’ll just have to accept everything by faith.” In our educated society today, some people need to hear the gospel not only declared, but defined and defended.

The blind man used a “testimonial” approach. The blind man was effective just like Peter and Paul; yet, he refused confrontation like Peter and intellectualism like Paul. He simply spoke from experience and said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see.” How many people will come to Christ simply because someone is able to say, “I don’t understand a lot of things, but one thing I do know; I once was blind, but now I see.” They don’t need confrontation or debate; they simply need a testimony.

The Samaritan woman used an “invitational” approach. When she experienced Christ, she immediately went to her town, loaded up her van, and brought a bunch of people to hear Jesus for themselves. Her simple invitation brought salvation to her city. How many people in America would experience Christ if someone would just go to the special effort of inviting them to a credible life-giving church or outreach event?

Dorcas used a “service” approach. She was constantly performing loving acts of service to those who were in need in her community. In fact, her work was so special to God that when she died a premature death, God sent confrontational Peter to raise her from the dead and put her back into the evangelistic ministry. Although the service approach to evangelism tends to get less press than the others and is often longer in producing fruit, it is one of the most important of all the evangelistic approaches. Dorcas is able to reach people that nobody else can reach.

Friend, your greatest asset in the kingdom of God is to strategically be yourself! You may preach it from the housetops like Peter. Or define and direct people into the Kingdom like Paul. Or testify from experience like the blind man. Or bring a van full of people to church like the Samaritan woman. Or draw people to the feet of the Master with your kindness and generosity like Dorcas. Or perhaps . . . you may simply reach people in your own unique way like none of the above. Remember, when it comes to evangelism, there are “different strokes for different folks”!

We Need the Body: The story of how the body of Christ rallied around a hurting Miss America.

By Debbie Snodgrass
Not long ago, I shared my Miss America experiences with 5th and 6th graders at a small school in my area of Missouri. Some of the students were required to write a small report about my presentation. Here is what one of the young men wrote about me: “She does not look like a Miss America. She looks like a normal person.” Of course, he was expecting that Miss America would display her evening gown, crown, scepter, and bigger- than-life persona. Other comments from the students included: “She really didn’t seem stuck on herself at all, like I thought she would be. Best of all, I got out of seventh-hour Math!” Also: “I learned from her that the crown isn’t really the most prized possession of her life. She wasn’t that old-looking. It was amazing that she still remembers some of the experiences.” Lastly: “I thought she would have had plastic surgery since she was Miss America once, but she’s just a normal person.”

When being measured in the category of “pageant successes,” I might stand out of the crowd, but when the classification is “needy normal person,” I fit the average description. I’m so thankful that God has placed this needy normal person in the Body of Christ where we “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2, NKJV) and “pray for one another” (James 5:16, NKJV). The love of God through my brothers and sisters in Christ has been my lifeline to sanity during desperate times.

As it appears in The Message by Eugene Peterson, 1 Corinthians 12:26 reads: “If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.” Throughout my Christian life, there have been times when I have ministered to others. There is nothing more richly rewarding than being used by the Lord to bring comfort or encouragement to one who is needy. However, it is humbling and ego-shattering to be the needy one; to be on the receiving end of sacrificial prayer, love and support.

Even before I accepted Jesus as Savior, Christians were praying for me. While traveling as Miss America I would receive notes in the mail expressing that God loved me and had a plan for my life. Individuals I had never met would shake my hand and say, “I’ve been praying for you!”

Growing up in the church, I always believed in God and that Jesus died on the Cross, but had never heard the plan of salvation— that I needed to acknowledge my sin and that Jesus’ death on the Cross was payment for my sin. I had never admitted that I needed a Savior, I thought I could get to heaven by being good. Living a good, clean life and being kind to others, I thought that surely God would look favorably on me and let me go to heaven.

The Miss America Pageant and all it provided was a wonderful experience, but I can remember walking out of Convention Hall in Atlantic City after having crowned my successor, knowing that all the spotlights, glamour, excitement and travel still hadn’t met many needs I had within.

As I settled into Pittsburg State University (Kansas) to finish my degree, I explained away my feelings of unrest and questions about life; everything would surely be all right when I had completed my education, married, and had a family and some security.

I was married in January of 1969, moved to Jasper, MO, and in 1970 we had our first daughter. Outwardly, everything seemed to be going perfectly for my life; inwardly, however, the unrest and emptiness grew. What more could Miss America want? Happy family, plenty of money, education, home, possessions? Nothing really satisfied.

A neighbor invited me to a “Lay-Witness Mission” on June 29, 1971 where I realized through the testimonies of visiting lay-people that I needed to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. He was what I was missing! As you can see, the body of Christ was at work in my life!

The influence of loving Christians in my life certainly did not stop with my salvation experience. I can think of countless times when my family and I have desperately needed healing, finances, friendship, car repair, emotional support and lots of prayer. Jesus met our needs through His body every time. We were short a certain amount in order to pay our taxes one year, and a brother in Christ, not knowing the circumstances, gave us a check for the exact amount. Our daughter needed surgery. Because of the prayers of our church, she was healed before the surgery could take place. During her teens and early 20s, one of our daughters spent some time in rebellion and damaging life-styles. Our brothers and sisters in Christ just kept loving her, praying for her, contacting her, supplying her needs until she came back to the Lord. Words will never express the gratitude of heart toward these Christian soldiers who sacrificed their time, resources and efforts to come to our rescue.

But, will the body of Christ stick with me through divorce? In 2004 my pastor husband of 35 years left the ministry and left me. I was blind-sided by the whole thing. The rejection and shame were overwhelming. There were days when I cried constantly and didn’t want to get out of bed. I grieved and hurt and mourned and vomited. King David describes my emotions in Psalm 38: 8-10: “I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me” (NKJV).

The 11th verse states what I feared would happen: “My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, and my relatives stand afar off.” Wouldn’t people think that this was surely my fault? “If she had been a good wife, he would have stayed. What did he need that she didn’t give him?” Would my Christian family reject me too? Would I be able to stay at my church? Would I ever be allowed to minister again?

Praise God, they didn’t reject me, but loved me, prayed for me, listened to my anger, cried with me, and hugged me on a continual basis. I’m so thankful for my church body that didn’t exclude me, but wrapped their arms around me in Christian love. They repeated to me, “The Lord’s grace is sufficient. You will get through this!” until I really believed it was true.

There were so many Sundays and Wednesday nights that I didn’t want to go to church. I was ashamed. I wanted others to care how I was doing, but dreaded them asking. I didn’t know what to say. However, I didn’t let myself stay at home, because I had already learned how important it is for every Christian to hear the Word of God and worship with other believers.

The Word of God brought life to me, because it “is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV) The New Living Translation says, “It exposes us for what we really are.” During difficult times, each of us needs to hear the truth about our circumstances from God’s perspective. It’s very easy to be deceived when our perspectives are influenced by our emotions.

For me, God used His Word to go right to the heart of the matter, which was the condition of my heart. Here are some things I learned:

1. “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9, NLT). I must acknowledge the sin that hurt me, or I can never forgive it. I had been mistaken in thinking that to forgive another was to “excuse” him. God doesn’t excuse my sin, but allows Jesus to take the punishment for it. Likewise, I cannot excuse the sin of another toward me. I must purposefully relieve that person of his punishment (let him off the hook), because Jesus relieved me of mine.
   
2. “Be angry, and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26, NKJV). Anger, as we all know, is almost never the first emotion. Usually hurt, fear, shame, etc., come first. It didn’t take long for my anger to surface, but I tried to stuff it inside. Should Christians express anger? If so, how? I thought of running over my ex-husband and his new wife with my car. That would be the “be angry” part, but probably wouldn’t qualify for the “but don’t sin” part. I finally realized that the emotion of anger must be directed toward the sin. However, I must not assume God’s authority to dispense the punishment for that sin.
   
3. “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten . . . ” (Joel 2:25, NKJV). God’s desire is for restoration. As I watched the hurt this divorce caused to our daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, church and friends, I was hopeless that even God could pick up the pieces. I had underestimated His sovereignty, love and grace. Even though none of us are the same as before the divorce, we are experiencing restoration in every area.

I experienced the same fears as most who experience divorce. Where will I live? How will I tell my parents and sisters? What about Christmas, birthdays, etc.? How will I make a living?

The “making a living” thing was of great distress to me. Even though I taught piano part-time at Missouri Southern State University, the main breadwinner of the family was my pastor-husband. Again, the church blessed me with a salary as their music director, and I returned to school to obtain my Master’s degree.

Many circumstances connected with my “journey to gainful employment” were obviously miraculous. Having received my Bachelor of Music degree in 1970, I re-entered college in 2005 (at age 57), and actually passed all of my entrance exams! I completed my Master’s degree in 3 semesters and some summer classes with straight A’s. The last semester, I was enrolled in 19 hours, taught a full-time load at MSSU and gave my graduate piano recital. I won the Concerto and Aria competition at Pittsburg State University, and played Chopin’s 2nd Piano Concerto with full orchestra. This would not have been possible at age 59 without God’s grace!

Then, what I think is the greatest miracle of all, a fulltime, tenure-track, assistant professor position opened in the Music Department at Missouri Southern. I was hired! I have a real job! And, who was it that prayed for me throughout this stressful time? Right! The body of Christ! I could feel the prayer support during every test I took, every note I played in performance, and every time I feared the task was impossible.

Now, five years later, I can say that I am mostly healed. God has dealt with my heart, my relationships, my family, my job and my church. He has also added to my life a blessing so great that it is exceeding abundant above what I could ask or think! (Ephesians 3:20). The Lord has blessed me with a husband who loves Him, loves me and loves our grandchildren. Bill Snodgrass is Professor Emeritus from the University of Texas at Arlington. We attended Pittsburg State together in the 1960s and renewed our friendship after my divorce. He is a faithful man of integrity, and I have learned so much from him about unconditional love.

My story isn’t unusual, I’m sure. All of us go through difficulties. I survived this desperate time in my life because the love of Jesus was poured out to me through His body, the Church. This love is real, genuine, and inexhaustible! The best part is, this love is available to all!

If you would like to have Debbie to come and share her story, you can
contact her via email at debs(at)suddenlink.net.

Eye 2 Eye: What Does It Matter?

By Bishop Charles Scott
The aroma of the smoked fish lying on the coals wafted through the sober atmosphere. The water laid silent where moments earlier multitudes of the flopping fish had broken the surface filling the fisherman’s nets to abundant capacity. Their eyes could not escape Jesus; it was the third time they had seen Him since Calvary. Their ears could not believe they were hearing Him speak. Their minds could not conceive that He was now here, eating fish and teaching the matters of the Kingdom. The conversation grew even more intense as Jesus spoke three times directly to Peter with a piercing, probing, penetrating question: “Lovest thou Me?” Each one felt the agony of the question, for each knew the question did not belong to Peter alone; they all knew that the answer to Jesus’ question is all that really matters.

It had been one of those days. The calls were polite but indifferent to facts. The letters were harsh, critical and unfounded. One letter was going to receive a four-page reply, just to set the record straight and put them in their place. It was late. No one else was in the office. They left hours ago. Then the phone rang. Not now; don’t they know what time it is? A few small-talk sentences, then the bomb fell. The youngest daughter had been attacked. The felon stabbed her repeatedly. She was brutally raped. He left her for dead. Her 3-year child slept during the violence. Between the sobs, the moans and the tears as the story unfolded, it mattered. It mattered that someone was there. It mattered that someone listened. It mattered that someone cried. It mattered that someone prayed. It mattered that someone loved. It is all that really matters.

The shelves are lined with books and manuals. The web folders reveal the sites where the best resources can be located. They all tell how to build preaching ability. They all give insight to vision, faith, management skills and leadership essentials. They provide inspiration, motivation and rationalization. They engage the mind to think with success. They build the soul and its self-esteem. They challenge the spirit to achieve excellence. They fortify the vocabulary with buzz words. They develop the leader. They leave something out: “How do you know what really matters?”

If the Pentecostal Church of God is going to be a significant voice in this generation expressing biblical truth, then it must know what matters. It must know that it matters to be absolute in a culture of gray. It must know that it matters to be relevant in a culture of exponential change. It must know that it matters to be global in a culture of segregation. It must know that it matters to be connected in a culture of isolation. Its leaders must know what really matters.

What matters is Jesus, not political correctness. What matters is the Kingdom, not personal security. What matters is truth, not expression of opinion. What matters is integrity, not appeasing the crowd. What truly defines leaders is a deep spiritual knowledge of what matters. Quasileaders, or those who hold a position without the qualifications, spend time and energy and that of others on things that do not matter. They use tears and snot to attract emotional sympathy. They use fear and “concern” as smokescreens for personal platforms. They build alliances to their positions. They use bullying techniques of intimidation to control people. They talk about accountability but take no affirmative action. They take small things and make big issues. They think they are all that matters.

Peter’s eyes fell on John. What about John? Was John going to face the same demise? Was John going to be spared? Jesus’ words were tender but pointed, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.” Perspective. Priority. Parity. Paradigm. Proficient. Persuasion. What did it matter about John? You have an assignment: follow Me. Nothing else matters.

The phone was placed back in the cradle. The four-page letter of rebuke and rebuttal was reduced to two paragraphs. What does it matter? When you take a course of action, someone is always going to tell you it was wrong; what does it matter? When you serve with all your heart you never get it all right, what does it matter? It matters only when you do what you do because you do it for Jesus Christ. It matters only when you do what you do because Jesus did everything for you. And that is all that matters. We should see that eye to eye.

Harvest Impact: What Pastors Would Like to Say, but Probably Won't

By Wayman Ming Jr., General Secretary
As I view the spiritual dynamic of these last days, I see a wonderful phenomenon occurring in the Church—the tearing down of destructive walls between pastors and people. Like never before, a wave of armor bearers are rising to protect their leaders, and in turn, church leaders are pushing themselves to transparency and accountability. Even though the journey is arduous, pastors are seeking to step forward and share their struggles, needs and imperfections. I believe that one of the greatest gifts we can receive is a better understanding concerning the life of pastors. Perhaps these few insights may “enlighten the eyes of our understanding” even more.

Pastors: “We also require spiritual care.”
Many Christians realize that a church’s zeal and stamina are largely connected to a pastor’s spiritual health. Yet, do they ensure that their pastors are operating on a full spiritual tank or are staying spiritually fit?

Our current “ecclesiastical landscape” is strewn with many shocking examples of bankrupt churches and spiritually compromised pastors! The body of Christ is filled with pastors who have been burned out and burned up.

In his book, Your Pastor is an Endangered Species, H. B. London states that 40 percent of all pastors think of giving up every week, and 40 percent of those presently serving will not be doing so in 10 years. Although most pastors may seem to don the cape of Superman at times, many of them spend most of their time as Clark Kent with very real needs.

Do your church a gigantic favor by finding ways to resource your pastor.

• Send your pastor to a pastor’s conference every year.
• Encourage your pastor to get in a support group of other pastors.
• Urge your pastor to take 1-2 day retreats on a quarterly basis for prayer and reflection.
• Give your pastor a book allowance to read current books and magazines.
• Allow room for experimentation and creativity in ministry
• Develop a prayer team that will keep your pastor spiritually vibrant and accountable.

Pastors: “Our family and ministry are tied together.”
Some people do not understand the degree of pressure that pastoral families live under. Whether consciously or unconsciously, undo expectations are placed upon them as they constantly live in a fish-bowl environment. Here are a few thoughts to protect pastors’ families from viewing ministry and the church in an adversarial role:

• Don’t expect perfection of the pastor’s family.
• Families are unique and should not be expected to be like any other family. Resist words like, “Our former pastor’s family did it this way.”
• Encourage pastors to set weekly time blocks for marriage and family.
• Don’t expect the pastor’s spouse or children to play the piano, head a highly visible ministry or have all the answers.
• The pastor’s family needs a surrogate extended family—uncles, aunts and grandparents.
• Offer them massive amounts of affection and affirmation.

Pastors: “Criticism wounds deeply!”
Why can’t pastors be more thick-skinned? Why are politicians satisfied with a 51 percent approval rating while pastors are troubled when one person criticizes or complains? Pastors are sensitive to criticism because they live with it continually. From the man who wants to debate one sentence in the sermon to the lady who squawks because you missed shaking her hand!

As a pastor I once had a family leave the church because we were too Pentecostal, and another family leave the church because we weren’t Pentecostal enough… all in the same week. One Nervous Nellie or Ned stirring up criticism can do as much damage as a careless mechanic spilling gasoline on a hot engine. Allow me to suggest that you double the affirmation of pastors and watch the result. They will preach better, pray better, serve better and care better.

Pastors: “We are stressed-out with finances.”
Except for the reasonably well-paid pastors in larger churches, most pastors’ wages are not adequate to cover family needs. In many situations, the spouse’s outside income is what makes it possible to continue in ministry. Unfortunately, the frustration for many pastors is that their financial support is often placed quite low in the church’s economic priority list.

Whether we want to face the truth or not, money talks about how much churches really care for their pastors. What kind of message does it send when the finance committee or the members of the church ask periodically, “Pastor, is there anything that we can do for you financially?” It sends a wonderful message.

In our American culture, we can pay athletes and rock stars millions of dollars, but we can’t seem to provide for our pastors. God will bless those churches that are looking for ways to bless their pastors.

Unlike any other line of work, pastors live with the daily challenge of eternal accountability. The health of a church is often reflected in the health of the pastor. Let’s keep them healthy and life-giving. At times, let’s even listen to “What pastors would like to say, but probably won’t.”

Don't Die Until You Die: Don't give up; don't give in; keep fighting; and keep moving.

By Boyd Crook

And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. (Genesis 37:34-35).

Jacobs’s sons brought him the bloody coat of many colors, the evidence of what Jacob perceived was the death of his beloved son. Joseph was the elder son of his first love, Rachael. Now the evidence was staring him in the face—Joseph was gone, dead. All of Jacob’s dreams were in Joseph.

Jacob had received an erroneous report; he believed a lie and it led him to a life of mourning. He could not be happy when grandchildren were born or when sons or daughters were married. Although he was the patriarch of the family, no one wanted to go near him because of his attitude, which was steeped in grief. He had died before he died!

Nothing more is mentioned of Jacob until the time he tells his sons they are starving and that he heard there was corn in Egypt. He did not do as David did when he knew his son was dead. David rose from petitioning the Lord for the baby’s life, washed himself and asked for food, saying the child can no longer come to me but I can go to him (2 Sam 28:23).

You know the story well, but Genesis 45:27 says, “And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.” All the false reports his sons had brought him were demolished in a second; when he saw the wagons, his spirit was revived. His spirit was dead for perhaps 17 years. When Jacob arrived in Egypt he was 130 years old and he was 147 when he died. He was able to see Joseph’s children and to bless them. His spirit revived, the dead parts of his heart were raised and God gave him another 17 years.

In the year 2000 my mother had to have a leg amputated; she was 86. It seemed life was over. She soon realized things would be different; she had already given up driving, but could still get around some in her home. She could no longer do the things she had done, dressing antique dolls and making quilts, keeping her hands and mind busy.

She had lived in the same home for over 30 years, living alone for 25 of those years. Finally, there was no choice; a convalescent hospital was the last resort. To her, like Jacob, life was over. It took several different nursing homes and a couple of years, but her family kept working with her, encouraging her. My sister Neva bought beads and materials for her to make bracelets and necklaces. Neva, being an evangelist, would then take these items out and show them. Several were sold and Mom became excited; she could do something! As Mom worked with those beads, making sets for grandchildren or friends and a few to sell, her spirit revived and she began to regain muscle and be strengthened. She even went out Christmas shopping for her seven children!

She also got a promise box and began to use it to minister to the staff. As each would come by, pick out a card and read it, they asked Mom for the meaning.

Mom continued to minister until she died at the age of 93. An additional seven years of life, real life. Don’t die until you die!

What are some things you can do?

Have a plan
Have a schedule, start your day with devotions, make a prayer list, honor God, give Him praise, spend time in worship. The first part is the Lord’s so give Him the first part of the day; don’t delay, thinking you have to do this or that because it is so important. Nothing is more important or necessary than spending time with God. Make it a practice; put it into your schedule; plan and do it. Your day will be much more profitable if you put Him first.

Eat right
Maintain a good nutritional diet. We are what we eat. Watch what you eat; count carbs and calories.

Exercise
(Make sure you have your physician’s OK before doing exercise). Physical exercise is necessary for good health, and good health includes not only diet and exercise, but good mental exercise too. Read, get a hobby, make friends. Plan it and do it.

Ministry:
Every one of us is called to minister.
“Even so send I you,” were Jesus’ words (John 20:21). Regardless of your physical or mental condition, everyone can pray.

Do some worthwhile volunteer work.
Use the life-skills you have and offer to help the pastor. There are many things you could help the pastor with; just ask him or her.

Get involved with the senior adult ministry in your church.
If your church does not have an official Senior Adult Ministry, ask your pastor to start one. (Check out the Ministering to Senior Adults Training Manual available at messengerpublishing.com or 1-888-444-4674. The cost is $10.00. The item number is 150114.)

Make phone calls to help raise funds or to get others to volunteer.

Go to a rest home and visit with the residents.
A touch or a smile will do wonders for these shut-ins. Every one wants to feel loved and to know someone cares about them.

“The truest lengthening of life is to live while we live, wasting no time but using every hour for the highest ends. So be it this day.” – Charles Spurgeon

Harvest Impact: And Both Are Preserved

By Wayman Ming Jr., General Secretary
What a contrast! In the previous edition of The Messenger, the focus was “next gen. ministry.” In this edition, senior adult ministry! One of the greatest tensions existing in every generation is ministering to the younger generation and the older generation. And yet, Jesus brought such a simplistic answer to this generational issue when He uttered the words: “and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:17).

Of course, Jesus is speaking here about wine and wineskins. Unfortunately the contextual pitfall is to only focus on the wine and miss the attention that Jesus gives to the wineskins. The reality is that we can’t have new wine without new wineskins and old wine without old wineskins. The wineskins are necessary to preserve the wine.

We’ve got to have the new wineskins, and we’ve got to have the old wineskins. We’ve got to have the new, and we’ve got to have the old. We’ve got to have both. Both must be included. Both must have a place. Both must have a part. Both must be preserved.

The strife that exists in next gen. ministry and senior adult ministry exists because of exclusivity. The exclusive mind-set declares, “The new wine and new wineskins are better so we don’t need the old wine and the old wineskins.” Or, “The old wine and the old wineskins are better so we don’t need the new wine and the new wineskins.” In truth, Jesus is addressing that very attitude when He declares, “and both are preserved.” Nowhere do we see the implication that Jesus desires any of the wine to perish. Allow me to make two simple observations . . . .

We need the new wineskins or we will run out of wine.

Unless we have new wine and new wineskins, we run out of old wine and old wineskins. If we don’t have next gen. ministry, we run out of wine. If we don’t train our Joshuas and Elishas, we run out of wine. If we don’t include our Joshuas and Elishas in the decisionmaking processes, implementation and planning strategies, vision casting and ministries of our churches, we will miss out on the new wine. Some may say that the old wine is better, but that doesn’t change the fact that we still need the new wineskins and the new wine or we will run out.

We need the old wineskins to add value to the wine.

The older the wine skin, the more valuable the wine! Winston Churchill once said, “The farther one looks back in history, the farther one sees into the future.” Methods and programs are not longterm, but the foundational principles that created them and supported them are. The more we affirm the principles of the past, the more we build on a foundation for the future.

Continuously throughout Scripture, we are reminded of the truth that God is a generational God—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There are lists of entire families, such as found in Genesis 5, “This is the book of the generations of Adam” (verse 1). And in 6:9: “These are the records of the generations of Noah.” Scripture obviously took the theme of generations seriously and affirmed the different nature of generations—particularly that some generations were more responsive to the gospel than others. What is more, the Bible affirmed that there is a natural succession of generations: “A generation goes and a generation comes, But the earth remains forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4, NASU). The point is: every generation has value and adds value.

Allow me to close with the brief example of television. Televisions first became available in 1939. The battery-powered television arrived in 1950. In 1956 the first portable black-and-white television set was introduced. NBC began broadcasting all programs in color in 1966. By the early 1980s, 98 percent of all homes in the United States owned at least one TV set, and some even more. Today we have HDTV (high-definition television), and some predict that we will soon have hologram televisions where three-dimensional figures acting out scenes on our living room floors. The reality is that if there had not been a 1939 television, there would not be a 2009 television.

When we connect this example to a ministry perspective, we understand that if there had not been a 1939 generation of ministry, we would not have a 2009 generation of ministry. In other words, we need the old wine and wineskins and the new wine and wineskins. Or, in the words of Jesus, we must value the importance of “and both are preserved.”

Eye 2 Eye: When Seasons Change

By Bishop Charles Scott
It is inevitable. The seasons will eventually change. Regardless of the warmth of the summer breezes it will give way to cool fall nights. And the winter chills will not last forever; spring will announce its arrival with gentle warm winds, soft green shoots pushing themselves from the cold ground and birds that refuse to hush their singing. The Bible declares it: “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22) This is an absolute.

It is frustrating to be in the wrong season at the wrong time. A recent trip to the Northwest proved this point as our family went prepared for 90-degree weather. We forgot to check the Weather Channel and discovered 65-degree weather. Someone commented to us, “Oh, you must have enjoyed the cooler weather.” We smiled and nodded, but truthfully, no, we did not enjoy the cooler weather; we did not have a jacket or a sweater or a hoodie or a blanket. We were in the wrong season, prepared for the wrong season, expecting the wrong season and suffering in the wrong season. No one can enjoy being in the wrong season. You can pretend, you can put on, you can act, you can make believe, you can confess, but you know when you are unprepared for the season. This means you are not relevant.

Nestled away in the annals of Israel’s history is a powerful verse of Scripture: “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment” (1 Chronicles 12:32). An understanding of the times means that these individuals knew the season, had insight into the proper response to the season, and possessed the leadership credibility to lead others through the seasonal transitions of life. These men matured beyond pretense, refused to live in denial, faced the facts and led others to do the same. This means they were connected.

It is entirely possible to get older but remain immature. It is tragic to anesthetize ourselves with the busyness of religious activity, inebriate ourselves with contradictions, and distract ourselves with non-essentials and miss the next season. It is tragic to age but never move forforward; to get closer to retirement but not closer to a productive life; or to advance in years but refuse to advance in spiritual growth. That tragedy is global.

I must admit that it happened to me. I never thought I would see the day. It came in the mail. The application to join AARP arrived just the other day. I tore it to pieces and threw it away, smirking that I am way too young to start ordering off the senior menu. Then I found myself retrieving the invitation in order to learn just exactly what opportunity I had discarded in my state of denial. And then I heard the Lord ask, “What are you missing because you do not know your season, and what have you thrown away because you did not agree with the season?”

As I pondered the unfair below-the-belt questioning of the Lord, I reflected that we are made in the image and the likeness of God. And our Father God is a creator. From the opening lines of Scripture, the Bible declares the creative power of God. Therefore, we who are made in the likeness of God were birthed to be creative. We were born to kill giants, subdue devils, shout down impregnable walls, cross briny seas, preach life into graveyards, see into the eternal, touch the invisible, do the impossible and perform the unimaginable because we are the people of the Most High God. It requires maturity of thought to embrace the next season.

We will fail if we cannot shift with the seasons. We will become crystallized by doing outward religious duty without experiencing inward Godly transformation. We will become formalized by stagnated thinking that is not transformed by the renewing of the mind of Christ. We will become institutionalized by endeavoring to hold to a season that has passed rather than reaching for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Our last days, our next seasons should be better than the last. For those of us who declare, “WE ARE PCG,” we sense a shift is coming in the seasons. There is an expectation that the glory of the latter will be greater than the glory of the former; the anointing will be a double portion; the fruit will be increased; and the last days will be the best days. But when it arrives, let’s pray we can see it and not throw it away. I hope we see that eye to eye, because we are PCG.

Fight Like a Girl

By Teena Skiles, National Youth Ministries First Lady
One of the best sports movies, “The Sandlot,” pegs the saying from Ham Porter, “You play ball like a girl!” as an insult. But we know better, don’t we girls?

Racheal Alexander runs like a girl (first filly in 85 years to win the 2009 Preakness). Mia Hamm kicks like a girl (famous soccer player). Lisa Leslie dunks like a girl (famous basketball player.) Jennie Finch throws like a girl (famous softball player). Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh spike like girls (famous volleyball players).

And you, my girlfriend, what do you do? You fight. Yes, you fight like a girl. Everyday you wake up in the ring of life. You have one opponent and one opponent only. His name is Satan. His goal is to beat you down and to knock you out. He pulls cheap shots. He keeps hitting you even after the bell has rung. You have an enemy that is seeking to devour you, your mind, your thoughts, your heart, your body, your purity, your dreams, your soul. What are you going to do about it?

This is what you’re going to do! You are going to join other fighters in St Louis, Missouri on April 9-10, 2010 for the National Girl Talk Conference. We are going to begin your training on how to really fight like a girl. This is going to be a spiritual workout. You will be surrounded by trainers and managers (spiritual mothers/mentors) that will be there to share some key moves, key exercises, key routines you will need to be a great and victorious fighter.

We are blessed with godly ladies that are willing to put on their boxing gloves and fight for you . . . but you must fight your own fight. We can’t fight your fight for you. It is our responsibility to train you. You must be willing to put on your gloves, step in the ring, stand toe to toe with the enemy and fight.

Impact Student Ministries and Women’s Ministries are partnering together to win this fight. We are in your corner! If you are bruised, if you are cut, if you are tired, if you are ready to throw in the towel — DON’T. We have the equipment to clean you up, to strengthen you, to patch you, to quench your thirst — it’s the Word of God, our fighting manual and rulebook. God has not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and sound mind. He’s the ultimate fighter and He is your example. You can wear His robe of righteousness, His belt of truth and, you can crown Him the champion of your life!

Don’t be a wimp. Toughen up. Bring your friends! When you leave Girl Talk 2010, you will say, “Hi. I’m (insert your name here) and I fight like a girl!”

Place: Millennium Hotel, St Louis, MO
Date: April 9-10, 2010
For more info: http://www.impactym.com/

Girl Talk began in Southern Missouri District in 2006. The goal was for women and teen girls to establish relationships and to begin a mentoring ministry in local churches. This event is full of powerful praise and worship, dramas, break-out sessions for teen girls and for mentors, and inspirational speakers. This year we are honored that the Southern Missouri District has allowed the National Youth and Women’s Ministries to partner with them so we can reach more girls and women across America. We believe training must take place in our local churches, so you can impact your community.

Eye 2 Eye: When Doves Cry

By Bishop Charles Scott

“How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world so cold?
Maybe I’m just too demanding,
maybe I’m just like my father, too bold.
Maybe you’re just like my mother
she’s never satisfied.
Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like when doves cry."

The story has been told that a boy of 10 years and his mother were walking down the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the little boy reached to hold his mother’s hand and saw wounds on the back of her hands. When the boy asked her about the wounds she explained that the boy’s father and she were not getting along. She tried to rationalize their behavior to the child and make sense to him that sometimes it is best for everyone if a family allows each other to go their separate ways. The boy knew all too well the atmosphere of domestic violence perpetrated by his father. He was a victim of the constant chaos of a home affected by drunken rage and immorality. His mother made sure he was in church every Sunday and that he knew about Jesus Christ. The boy suffered from epilepsy but one day told his mother, “I am not going to be sick anymore, because an angel told me.” He knew that doves represented peace, purity and protection. He knew that doves are not supposed to cry.

Sixteen years later that child had reached adulthood and became an accomplished songwriter and musician. His lyrics admitted that he had grown into what he despised as a boy. The boy had become like his father, living out what he hated as a child. He had inherited his father’s lust for women, cravings for euphoric highs and uncontrollable temper. He personified carnality; he proclaimed cynicism; he portrayed chauvinism. He was now known as Prince and he knew that doves are not supposed to cry.

The song “When Doves Cry” was voted Billboard’s number 1 single in 1984 and ranked number 5 by VH1’s “The Greatest Songs of the 80s.” Why did the song have such mass appeal? It could be that perhaps a generation can identify with the message of dysfunctional families and disillusioned innocence. And, perhaps because everyone knows that, in spite of the tendencies of society, doves are not supposed to cry.

Each of us carries three generations: the past, the present and the future. We have in us the seed — that which has been passed down from our natural and spiritual fathers and mothers. We have in us the deed — that which we are performing in the now. But we must take heed — the lineage of tomorrow depends on the action of today. It has been well said that God is a generational God: He is the God of three generations — the past, the present and the future. He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Perhaps this is why the doves cry: a generation has forgotten their responsibility to the next generation. Doves cry when they are pacified not parented, pimped not protected, partitioned not perceived, pampered and not pastored. Doves cry when the past is more important than the future. Doves cry when the present is spent with no investment for tomorrow. Doves cry when safety is more important than salvation. Doves cry when acceptance, applause and accolades are desired more than the assurance that there is someone to carry the mantle in the next generation. No wonder so many doves are crying.

The Church of Jesus Christ should be committed to stopping the tears of the dove. We can dry the doves’ tears by focusing on becoming a mentoring church. We can dry the doves’ tears by ensuring each next generational leader has a spiritual coach. We can dry the doves’ tears by determining to have a powerful Christian college. We can dry the doves’ tears by repenting of our materialistic attitudes. We can dry the doves’ tears by returning to the basic foundations of Spirit-filled living. We can dry the doves’ tears by exemplifying the nature of Jesus Christ.

We cannot dry the doves’ tears without changing ourselves. We cannot stop the doves’ tears unless we do some things differently than the way we are now. We cannot stop the doves’ tears by trying to make this generation lose their identity and be like our generation. We cannot stop the doves’ tears without becoming transparent. We cannot stop the doves’ tears without taking a risk.

Somewhere today a little boy or girl is reaching out to find a hand to hold, a heart to love and a church to embrace. We should be that hand. We should be that heart. We should be that church. And we should see that eye to eye.

Harvest Impact: Fighting the Other War on Terror!

By Wayman Ming Jr., General Secretary
Since September 11, 2001, America has been engaged in a focused war against terror! At the time of the writing of this article, 4,906 lives (4,296 in Iraq and 610 in Afghanistan) have been given and approximately 858 billion dollars have been spent since September 11, 2001 in the war with Iraq and Afghanistan. These sacrifices certainly cannot be minimized. And yet, underneath the surface of our culture, another war on terror is raging— for the hearts and minds of our children.

There are about 71 million young people (including an estimated 33 million teens) who make up what is currently the largest generation in American history (John Walker, “Family Life Council Says It’s Time to Bring Family Back to Life,” June 12, 2002). Whether we like to admit it or not, the culture machine has a strategy to capture our youth through video games, websites, music, television and movies. Age 13 has been called the branding age, because many decisions are made for life-long buying habits and practices. If the so called “media moguls” can capture our kids by the age of 13, they believe they have captured our kids for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, these media moguls thrive on the assumption that most parents are irresponsible or completely ignorant of what the media is selling and what the kids are buying. Is it possible that their assumptions are correct and we have allowed the media of our culture to kidnap and brainwash our kids while they sit in our own living rooms? Is it possible that we have allowed another war on terror to enter our own homes?

While some naïve Christians seem to think we are winning the war for our kids, the statistics show otherwise. According to Thom S. Rainer and the book The Bridger Generation…

• Builders (born 1927-1945): 65% Bible-based believers
• Boomers (born 1946-1964): 35% Bible-based believers
• Busters (born 1965-1983): 16% Bible-based believers
• Bridgers (or Millennials, born 1984 or later): 4% Bible-based believers

Consider the ramifications of these statistics. While the majority of Americans today call themselves “Christians,” only four percent of today’s 71 million young people affirm their commitment as Bible-based believers!

Recently, I had the privilege of spending some time with Ron Luce, the president and founder of Teen Mania. Ron made an interesting statement that burdened me deeply when he said that this present generation will be the first generation raised by technology outside the home rather than their parents inside the home. Ron also went on to say that 88% of our teens in church are leaving the church after graduation. The reality of statistics above and the result of “graduation evacuation” should concern us deeply. Today’s teens will soon be entering their 20s and setting the pace for American culture.

So where do we go from here? Onward Christian Soldiers! Let us not grow apathetic or numb to the battle. Let us not become weary of taking a stand against the media moguls that are seeking to capture our children’s innocence.

Let us not get tired of showing up at school board meetings, desiring “a say” in what our children should hear and read in the classroom.

Let us not get frustrated at being dismissed as lightweights because we want our children to learn solid truth and biblical values.

Let us not grow weary of championing the pro-life cause and being branded as bigoted, right-winged, fanatical, conservative fundamentalist pigs.

Let us not become so hardened by the violence, the killing, the teenage pregnancies, the drugs, the alcohol, the deaths and the suicides that we retreat to the comfort of our churches and just hope it all goes away.

Parents…do not surrender your kids to pop culture.

Pastors…do not disengage from youth ministry and subcontract out your pastoral involvement to your youth pastors and directors.

Churches…do not give the leftovers of your church budgets to the youth ministry department.

LET US ENGAGE IN THE OTHER WAR ON TERROR!

The Good Kids: Interview with Cindy Loven

The following is an interview conducted by The Pentecostal Messenger with PCG pastor’s wife Cindy Loven (AR) concerning “the Choking Game.”

PM: What exactly is “the Choking Game?”

It is a game where kids cut off their oxygen supply for a bit, to get a head rush. It is often called the “good kid's drug” because they can get a buzz without using illegal drugs

PM: What happens when you play this “Game?” Are there side effects?

Well, you get a buzz, a headrush type feeling, but the dangerous thing is, every time you deprive your brain of oxygen, you cause brain damage, irreversible damage.

PM: How did you become aware of the Choking Game?

I had heard of it, but didnt know much about it, but we really became aware of it when the police informed us that they were ruling it as the cause of our 14-year-old son's death.

PM: Can you briefly tell us your story?

On January 22 we were ending up our 21-day Daniel fast, had a day in town, including lunch with my husband and a really nice dinner. After dinner everyone in the family just headed to hang out and do whatever it was they wanted. At 9 our youngest son, John, went in to take his shower. After a hour of hearing water run, our older son started banging on the bathroom door, telling him, he had been in there too long. When he got no response he got my husband and I, and my husband kicked in the door where we found our son hanging by his robe belt. For all intents and purposes, John was dead when we found him, however, the EMTs were able to get his heart beating and rushed him to the hospital where he was then med-flighted to Childrens Hospital. He had been without oxygen too long and died within 24 hours. Our world was turned upside down in one hour. One hour, the time of two 30 minute sitcoms, changed our world so drastically. The pain, the questions and the hurt is often beyond bearable, but God sees us through each day, each minute.

PM: What are some of the warning signs, parents or friends can watch for?

Marks on your child's neck, sullenness, lots of time alone (like in the restroom or in their room), belts, strings or ropes found hidden in odd places.

PM: What do the kids call the Game?

There are all kinds of names for this game. The Choking Game, The Passout Game, The Good Kid's Drug, Flatliner, Funky Chicken, The Fainting Game, 5 Minutes of Heaven; there are tons of names for the game.

PM: How can people find more information?

A really informative site, with lots of information and support groups is www.chokinggame.net

PM: Is there anything you would like to add?

Kids know about this game — parents do not. As adults we have to make sure we educate ourselves, and make sure our friends know about this, so we can all be aware of the things going on with our children. Don’t ever think your kids are exempt. We are a homeschooling family who didn’t get out much, and our boys didn’t have lots of friends outside of the homeschool group and youth group at church. This can affect anyone — even a pastor's family, as we have sadly found out.

One of Our Own: Edith Heard

The following is excerpted from Rev. Edith Heard’s new book, Little Lady from the Tribe of Gad, which will be available at General Convention.

During the General Board meeting immediately following the 1955 Pentecostal Church of God General Convention, I was asked to work with the ladies of the Pentecostal Church of God in organizing a nationwide and worldwide service auxiliary.

With the Lord as our Guide, we started out on an uncharted course. Ideas poured into the general office, and at each service where the new program was mentioned, the ladies showed a great desire for this new program of helping others.

One could say I was a “courier” as I traveled from one district to another gathering and passing on ideas.... Our first national project was for Susan King, a daughter of one of our Brazilian missionary families. We bought an accordion costing $125. Although the dollar amount was minimal compared to projects that would follow, it was a big step for the PLA general office as it tested our ability to cooperate and succeed nationally.

We soon realized we needed national guidelines. A working format for a constitution and by-laws was mailed to representative ladies across the United States who were serving in various areas of ladies’ work. Ladies’ groups were functioning under titles such as “Willing Workers,” “Missionary Band,” “Missionary Ladies,” and others. Working alone in their localities, all were interested in the promotion of the gospel, with some assisting pastors in building programs and in raising finances for missionaries.

During the 1959 General Convention the constitution and bylaws for the Pentecostal Ladies Auxiliary was accepted. The official red and white banner displayed a tilted cup; the motto “JESUS, OTHERS, YOURSELF” with the Scripture reference Mark 9:41 written on the inside of the tilted cup. The slogan “Laborers together with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9” was written across the top. The bottom line of the banner carried the name of the local PLA group. Red and white were chosen as the official colors—red representing the blood of Christ that saves us from our sins; and white for purity, depicting a life of holiness unto the Lord.... With the basic organization and logistics in place, our ladies were ready to progress. They took to new programs with dedication and enthusiasm.

Probably one of the most unifying programs was that of foreign missions. PLAs joined forces across the United States and in foreign countries to help build churches, sponsor foreign workers, and purchase needed equipment such as generators and medical supplies.

During the 1950s and ’60s trading stamps such as S & H Green Stamps, Blue Chip and Top Value became a remarkable way of providing vehicles and other expensive equipment for missions. Through trading stamps the PLAs purchased nine automobiles and refurbished one boat in Indonesia. As I traveled about the nation, ladies’ groups gave us sacks of loose stamps. Brother Heard and our daughters, Beth and Alice, and even two of our granddaughters, Nannette and Melissa “licked” untold numbers of stamps and filled up literally thousands of stamp books. We really felt we had hit pay dirt when we were presented already filled books. It was a great program and blessed in every way.

Dorcas Boxes, containing a 4-year’s supply of linens and other household goods furnished by PLAs were always appreciated by missionaries preparing to leave for the land of their calling. Bible schools in foreign countries have been blessed by the PLAs. through the “M & M” program—”Machines for Missions” (washing machines and sewing machines). Bible courses were typed and furnished to Haiti and Jamaica.

The Pentecostal Ladies Auxiliary also assisted the Indian Missions Department in the provision of household supplies, appliances and clothing. Each December special fund-raising drives were promoted for the Indian missionaries and their families, along with our Christian Indian families. [Other projects of the PLAs were the children’s homes, Bible colleges and the Great Plains Boys’ Ranch.]

To all of my coworkers, I encourage you with Hebrews 6:10. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister.”

Our Future Legacy -- Guarding the Destiny of the Next Generation

Penned by Sir Jon Jennings
In February of this year I had the privilege of traveling to Michigan and preaching the funeral for my paternal grandmother, Margaret Jennings. The experience did several things for me, one of which was impart a greater appreciation for the winter weather we enjoy here in central Arizona. (Maybe the Michigan constituency of the PCG can help me identify the cold, white substance that fell from the sky that afternoon–it’s foreign to us native “Phoenicians.”) More importantly, I was impacted by the legacy that she left behind: 12 children, 11 living–all of whom are serving the Lord–and 40 grandchildren, a vast majority serving the Lord. It’s a family testimony that is almost unheard of in our culture today.

As we prepare this month to celebrate the 90th anniversary of our movement, we cannot take for granted the legacy that has been left with the Pentecostal Church of God. The Pentecostal Messenger has done a tremendous job in recent months relating how this legacy has impacted our movement. Thousands of leaders, ministers and constituents have contributed to this legacy throughout the decades with the sheer determination to follow the call of God and fulfill the Great Commission. A legacy is simply “something that is handed down from the past–from an ancestor or predecessor.” Legacies are left by someone to someone, and then it becomes the responsibility of those who have been entrusted with it to steward it, guard it, and pass it on to the next generation. The fact is, however, if a legacy is going to continue, there has to be an heir. There has to be someone to leave the legacy to or else the legacy will die with the current generation.

Much has been discussed over the past 10 years of the “graying” of the PCG and the lack of younger ministers coming up through our ranks. It is a well-documented trend not unique to the PCG. Other Pentecostal and Evangelical movements across our nation face the same problem and are diligently and prayerfully searching for answers as to how this phenomenon can be reversed. I submit to you that if we want our legacy to continue in the Pentecostal Church of God, we have to be passionately committed to guarding the destiny of the next generation.

In Genesis 3:15 God gave Adam the promise of a Seed that would be carried from generation to generation culminating with the birth of Messiah. I’m not sure that when God called Abram several generations later and gave him the promise of the Seed, that he fully realized how God would guard the destiny of his Seed. Every natural seed has destiny to become something great, but the seed cannot release the destiny within unless it is properly guarded and given what it needs to succeed (soil, sunlight, water, fertilizer, etc.). The Seed promised to Adam in the Garden was preserved 42 generations from Abraham to Christ spanning 2000 years. This is nothing short of miraculous when you consider wars, famine, oppression of other nations and other circumstances that could have killed the seed’s destiny.

When David became the second Monarch of Israel, it placed the Messianic Seed in an even more vulnerable position, because the enemies of Judah became focused on eliminating the royal line. The enemies of God’s people knew that if they could eliminate the royal lineage it would throw the nation into anarchy and severely cripple their ability to stand strong against them. The princes of Israel survived because there were certain people who committed themselves to guarding the destiny of the Seed–the destiny of the next generation.

For us today, every young man and woman who makes up the constituency of the PCG could be looked at as the princes of the Church who will one day become the leaders–the kings, if I may use that metaphor. The seed of destiny in them is ordained for great things, but just like a natural seed, it has to be guarded, nurtured and given what it needs to succeed.

We live in a culture where our young princes are vulnerable. Everything in the kingdom of darkness has set its sights on trapping and killing the seed because it knows that if the royal lineage can be taken out, it will severely cripple us in our quest to advance the kingdom of God–and dare I say, if the kingdom of darkness can take out the princes of the Pentecostal Church of God, it will severely cripple our ability as a movement to continue our legacy into the next generation and beyond. What we need are “Kings,” fathers in the faith who will lay it on the line and commit themselves to guarding the destiny of the next generation.

In the 400 years or so of Judah’s history, the destiny of the Seed was preserved in many ways, but in the following instance its preservation goes beyond description and leaves a profound truth for us as we seek to guard our princes and see them fulfill their destiny as kings.

When Ahab and Jezebel were wreaking havoc in Israel, Jehosaphat was king over Judah. Toward the end of his reign, Jehosaphat made a decision that nearly set up the Messianic Seed for destruction. He entered into a ship-building contract with Ahab that turned disastrous. In the process of this unholy alignment, his son (and heir to the throne) Jehoram married Athaliah, who was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Jehoram and Athaliah bore a son named Ahaziah, a prince who became heir to the throne of Judah. There was one problem, however: God had instructed a man named Jehu to destroy the entire house of Ahab and rid the land of its influence. Because of the unholy alliance formed by Jehosaphat, his grandsons (the Seed) were now part of the house of Ahab. Ahaziah and his 42 brothers were slain by Jehu. Athaliah then tried to finish off the Seed forever.

2 Chronicles 22:10
Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah.

There was no one to protect the princes and guard the destiny of the Seed. Now all of the heirs are apparently dead and Athaliah thought her evil plot had been executed to perfection. But God had two people in place who saw what was happening in the land–two people who understood the current culture and the legacy that had been handed down from God to Abraham–two people who were willing to risk everything and do whatever it took to guard the destiny of the next generation and see that the legacy was preserved. I absolutely love the next part of the story.

2 Chronicles 22:11-12
But Jehoshabeath... took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath... hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Ahaziah’s sister, Jehoshabeath, and her husband Jehoiada took the only remaining prince of Judah, Joash, and hid him from the destruction that was being levied on the Messianic Seed. For 6 years they risked their own lives to guard the destiny of the next generation. Joash was the only remaining heir to the throne, but the Seed was still alive! Her husband Jehoiada, the priest, then made four bold moves that ended up releasing the next generation (Joash) to fulfill his destiny.

He Strengthened Himself
2 Chronicles 23:1 — “In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself.”

This means he became fixed on a purpose. He became full of resolve that the legacy was going to continue for generations to come. This priest of God made up his mind that the enemy was not going to win and that the young prince and heir to the throne was going to take his rightful place as leader and king. Dare I say that if the legacy of the Pentecostal Church of God is going to continue, the current generation is going to have to strengthen itself and become fixed on a purpose? Are we ready to become full of resolve that even though the enemy is attacking our princes we will see to it that our young princes will one day take their rightful place as kings and fulfill their destiny?

He Made a Covenant with the Captains of Hundreds
2 Chronicles 23:1 — “...and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds.”

He gathered the warriors–the battle-tested soldiers of Judah–together. What a strategic move this was. Jehoiada knew that Athaliah wouldn’t take the news of a rightful heir lying down. He knew the enemy would stand toe to toe and fight to protect its perceived gains. If the legacy was going to continue, it had to be defended by the voice of experience in battle.

We must realize that our young princes need the battle-tested soldiers of our movement to step to the plate, believe in them and fight for them. They want the captains of hundreds who have been in the trenches planting churches and raising up leaders surrounding them and going to war for their destiny. The cry for help from the next generation is going out across this land to the previous generation, and if we truly believe in the destiny of our young princes, we the battle-tested captains will be the first ones to grab a sword, look the enemy in the eye and say “I dare you to stop us!”

He Gathered the Priests and Fathers
2 Chronicles 23:2 “And [they]... gathered the Levites... and the chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.”

The need for spiritual fathers and mothers is great in this day. Joash
was a boy whose father had been killed and his uncle recognized that
if the young Prince was going to succeed as a king, he would need
fatherly influence and protection in his life. The young princes of the
Pentecostal Church of God are no different. Many of them have never
had a true spiritual father or mother in their life to mentor, speak wisdom, influence and protect them. They need fathers and mothers consistently speaking into their lives, reminding them who they are and
what the seed in them represents.

He Made a Covenant with the King
2 Chronicles 23:3 — “Then all the congregation made a covenant with the king...And he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said.”

Sacred bonds were formed. A covenant was made. The declaration was loud, to the point, and in the face of the enemies of the Seed: “Behold, the King’s son shall reign.” This was all done for the sole purpose of guarding the destiny of the next generation. Jehioada, the captains of hundreds, the priests and fathers of Israel were fully committed to an unknown 7-year-old boy who had been protected for 6 years as Athaliah further drove Israel into the worship of Baal. It begs the question for us today in the Pentecostal Church of God: How committed are we to protecting the destiny of the next generation? To what lengths are we willing to go to preserve the seed and insure that the legacy will continue? All God needed was one Seed and two people willing to risk everything to keep the destiny of the prince alive while culture and society was trying to kill it.

When my oldest son, Chris, was 11, my wife and I noticed he was starting to go down the wrong path. He wasn’t a bad kid, but we saw that he was being influenced by the wrong people and knew we had to go to battle for his destiny. I scheduled some time and went to the World Prayer Center in Colorado Springs for three days to fast and pray for family and ministry. The second day I prayed long and hard for Chris. During that time of travail, something rose up in my spirit and I made a bold declaration to the enemy. I said, “If you want to get to my son, you’ll have to go through me!” I made a decision right then and there that no matter what, I was going to guard his destiny and not let the enemy cut off the seed inside of him. Later that summer, Chris had turned 12, and at youth camp he entered our cabin after an evening service saying God had called him into ministry to be a youth pastor. He is now nearly 16, leading worship, active as a student leader in our youth group, and moving forward toward what God has called him to do.

At the end of the day, Jehoiada along with the captains, priests and fathers surrounded Joash on every side, brought him forth in the midst of hostility and made him king–all the while daring Athaliah and her hordes to try and stop them. I believe the seeds of destiny within the Pentecostal Church of God are many and great. After 90 years the legacy is with us, but it will be up to subsequent generations to see that it continues another 90 years. That will only happen if we, the captain, priests, fathers and mothers of this great movement rise up and say in the midst of enemies who seek to destroy: “If you want to get to our princes, you have to go through us! We are full of resolve and committed to guarding the destiny of the next generation.”