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Announcing - Church of God of Prophecy

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announcing<br />

International Leadership Development Institute<br />

Cleveland, Tennessee<br />

April 26–29, 2011<br />

(the week following Easter)<br />

Why be there?<br />

• Senior pastor focus<br />

• Addressing needs <strong>of</strong> local pastors<br />

• Top leadership will be sharing from a wealth <strong>of</strong><br />

firsthand experience. Your interaction will be recorded<br />

and used to help others for years to come. (We plan to<br />

record and <strong>of</strong>fer to others who will not be able to join<br />

us. You will help shape this material by your presence.)<br />

• Sharing from a <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong> perspective<br />

• Special guests will be sharing from their perspective for<br />

our context<br />

• Other leaders are invited to teach, train, and share with<br />

their local church/state/regional/national counterparts,<br />

such as women, stewardship, heritage. This year, a new<br />

Communications/Media track will cover using media in<br />

worship, social media (Facebook, Twitter), and more.<br />

The fellowship is returning to Cleveland, Tennessee. While<br />

there, you can visit the White Wing Bookstore. Also, you<br />

can have fellowship with our General Overseer, General<br />

Presbyters, State/Regional/National Overseers, and<br />

International Offices personnel.<br />

Load up a van, and bring the entire staff!<br />

2 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

Special Guest<br />

Bryan Cutshall<br />

Senior Pastor <strong>of</strong><br />

Twin Rivers<br />

Worship Center


Contents<br />

February 2011 • Volume 87, Number 7<br />

6 The High Cost <strong>of</strong><br />

Harvesting<br />

by David Bryan<br />

8 Youth Harvest<br />

Focus in Africa<br />

by Sherman Allen<br />

10 Empowering<br />

Women in Botswana<br />

by Phillip Segadika<br />

MINISTRIES<br />

17 Central America Leadership<br />

18 News From South America<br />

19 Youth: Conference Update<br />

20 Children’s Ministries:<br />

Around the World<br />

22 CBL Update<br />

23 Heritage: Fields <strong>of</strong> the Wood<br />

24 Stewardship: How Past Market<br />

Rallies Have Shown Staying Power<br />

26 Harvest Partners: Bicycles for<br />

Missions<br />

27 Women’s Ministries:<br />

Colombia Women’s Conference<br />

w w w w<br />

12 Tour <strong>of</strong> the<br />

South Pacific<br />

by David Browder<br />

14 Impacting<br />

Ukraine<br />

by Vitaly Voznyuk<br />

16 Haiti Rebuild<br />

by David Bryan<br />

Bringing honor to the WORD by the printed word, the White Wing Messenger<br />

strives to inspire Christian thought and practice as it imparts the “good news” <strong>of</strong><br />

the Gospel while serving the connectivity needs <strong>of</strong> our church community.<br />

Visit us online—www.whitewingmessenger.orgs<br />

White Wing Messenger Editorial Board: Londa Richardson, Chair; Daniel Chatham;<br />

Hanny Vidal; Cervin McKinnon; Perry Horner; Tapio Sätilä; Shaun McKinley; and Adrian Varlack<br />

Executive Editor/Publisher: R. E. Howard, Managing Editor: DeWayne Hamby, Copy Editor: Elizabeth Witt,<br />

Editorial Assistant: Ingrid Calcagno, Graphic Artists: Perry Horner and Sixto Ramirez,<br />

International Offices (423) 559-5100, and Subscriptions (423) 559-5114<br />

Please submit all material to the White Wing Messenger; Managing Editor; P. O. Box 2910;<br />

Cleveland, TN 37320-2910; phone (423) 559-5128; e-mail us at Editorial@cogop.org.<br />

The White Wing Messenger is the <strong>of</strong>ficial publication <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong>.<br />

FEATURES CALENDAR OF EVENTS<br />

EDITORIALS<br />

4 Facing Forward:<br />

To All People<br />

by Randall E. Howard<br />

31 Messages:<br />

Love Is Not . . .<br />

by DeWayne Hamby<br />

UPDATES<br />

5 News: Local <strong>Church</strong> / Connect<br />

28 Local/State/International News<br />

Continued • In His Presence<br />

Upcoming Events<br />

February 1–4, 2011<br />

CBL School <strong>of</strong> Practical & Advanced Studies I, II<br />

Dominican Republic<br />

February 3–6, 2011<br />

Youth Harvest Training—Costa Rica<br />

www.operationomega.org<br />

February 7–11, 2011<br />

CBL Leader <strong>of</strong> Leaders<br />

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic<br />

February 16–19, 2011<br />

CBL School <strong>of</strong> Practical & Advanced Studies I<br />

Mexico (South)<br />

February 16–19, 2011<br />

CBL School <strong>of</strong> Practical & Advanced Studies II<br />

North Carolina<br />

February 18, 19, 2011<br />

Children’s Minister’s Intensive Training<br />

Brooksville, Florida<br />

children.cogop.org<br />

February 18–20, 2011<br />

European Ladies Retreat<br />

Cyprus<br />

February 23–26, 2011<br />

CBL School <strong>of</strong> Practical & Advanced Studies I<br />

Tennessee<br />

February 26–March 5, 2011<br />

Rebuilding Haiti Work Trip<br />

March 1–4, 2011<br />

CBL School <strong>of</strong> Practical & Advanced Studies I<br />

Kananga, DRC (French)<br />

For more information, visit www.cogop.org unless<br />

otherwise noted.<br />

White Wing Messenger (ISSN 0043-5007) (USPS 683-020) is published<br />

monthly as the <strong>of</strong>ficial publication <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong>, 3750<br />

Keith St NW, Cleveland, TN. Send all materials for publication to Editorial<br />

Department; PO Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910; e-mail: editorial@cogop.<br />

org, fax: (423) 559-5121. For subscription rates, visit wwm.cogop.org; call<br />

(423) 559-5114; e-mail: subscriptions@cogop.org. Subscription rate: $18.00<br />

per year, payable to White Wing Messenger by check, draft, or money order.<br />

Periodical postage paid at Cleveland, TN 37311 and at additional mail <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />

Donations for the White Wing Messenger may be sent to the above address.<br />

All scripture references are from the King James Version unless otherwise<br />

indicated. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to White Wing Messenger,<br />

PO Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910.<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 3


Nations<br />

from every<br />

continent<br />

are rising<br />

up to send<br />

missionaries in<br />

numbers never<br />

known before.<br />

4 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

To All People<br />

Christianity has known its mandate for<br />

centuries now. We have been called “to<br />

all people.” We proclaim it, celebrate it,<br />

consider the scope <strong>of</strong> it, and work to fulfill<br />

it constantly. And we are in awe <strong>of</strong> the <strong>God</strong><br />

who has a heart for every nation, tribe,<br />

and tongue on the face <strong>of</strong> this planet. His<br />

all-nation passion has been sewn into<br />

His people, his body, as a seed from day<br />

one. Perhaps today we are seeing that<br />

expressed more fully than at any other<br />

time in the history <strong>of</strong> Christianity.<br />

Certainly the apostles did scatter out<br />

after Christ’s commission, but, to a great<br />

extent, this young movement remained<br />

a Jerusalem movement and a Jewish<br />

sect. Paul was born out <strong>of</strong> due season<br />

and pushed the envelope further into<br />

the Gentile world, but there was still<br />

much geography to penetrate. For many<br />

centuries, the Roman covering for the<br />

Gospel became as great a hindrance to<br />

world outreach as the previous Jewish<br />

dominion had been. Christianity was<br />

Roman, not Asian or other ethnicities, and<br />

so it was surprisingly limited by the largest<br />

and most powerful government <strong>of</strong> the day.<br />

After the fall <strong>of</strong> Rome, devoted Monks<br />

carried the message <strong>of</strong> Christ to the<br />

barbarians <strong>of</strong> the north, such as the<br />

Druids, Goths, and Vikings. After the new<br />

world was discovered, Jesuits launched<br />

ambitious projects to convert the natives<br />

<strong>of</strong> North and South America to faith.<br />

Later, William Carey was stirred to take<br />

the message to Africa, and Hudson Taylor<br />

was gripped with the passion that China<br />

should hear.<br />

And so the thrust “to all people” has<br />

been working in and on the people <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>God</strong> for many centuries. Possibly history<br />

might describe the pinnacle <strong>of</strong> this<br />

momentum when Great Britain and the<br />

younger United States were the bastions<br />

<strong>of</strong> faith and thus bore the burden <strong>of</strong><br />

spreading the “good news” across the<br />

earth. Great inroads were made; still, most<br />

observers and mission enthusiasts have<br />

longed to hear <strong>of</strong> true global sweeping<br />

reports doing far more than winning<br />

token numbers <strong>of</strong> natives.<br />

In all the illustrations I have mentioned<br />

from the history <strong>of</strong> Christian missions,<br />

there is one common thread. The<br />

missionary force was always being sent<br />

from a strong, central nation or culture<br />

with the idea <strong>of</strong> converting the rest <strong>of</strong> the<br />

world to faith. This was true <strong>of</strong> the early<br />

Jewish Christians, Rome, Britain, and, most<br />

recently, the United States. Today I would<br />

like to share with you that <strong>God</strong> has moved<br />

His mission strategy ahead to a new phase<br />

<strong>of</strong> operation that could be the actual<br />

world-sweeping force for which many<br />

have hoped.<br />

Today and into the future, <strong>God</strong> has<br />

shifted away from one central strong<br />

Christian culture responsible to reach the<br />

world. Now He is pouring out His Spirit all<br />

over the earth, and people <strong>of</strong> every culture<br />

are picking up the mandate and surging<br />

out into the world <strong>of</strong> darkness carrying<br />

the light. Nations from every continent are<br />

rising up to send missionaries in numbers<br />

never known before.<br />

Korean missionaries can now be found<br />

on many continents. Latin American<br />

missionaries are finding great success<br />

penetrating the Islamic cultures <strong>of</strong> the<br />

world. Philippine servant workers are<br />

spreading the Gospel in hard-to-reach,<br />

persecuted lands forbidding “<strong>of</strong>ficial”<br />

missionaries. Nigerian missionaries are<br />

planting huge churches in unlikely places.<br />

Missionaries from India are stepping out<br />

<strong>of</strong> this nation isolated in both culture and<br />

economics for so many centuries. Brazil<br />

is the largest mission-sending nation in<br />

Latin America. And China may be the<br />

rising giant <strong>of</strong> missions where a vision<br />

and passion to mobilize millions <strong>of</strong> Gospel<br />

missionaries is already being spread.<br />

This should come as no surprise to<br />

Bible believers. The <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> all nations<br />

is mobilizing all nations to finish the<br />

unfinished task, proclaiming Christ “to<br />

all people.”


COGOP Pastor, Daughter<br />

Reunite in Iraq War Zone<br />

Lawrence Jackson, pastor <strong>of</strong> the Lexington, North Carolina,<br />

COGOP, recently reunited with his daughter, Brooke, on the<br />

frontlines in Iraq, pr<strong>of</strong>iled in the article “Father, Daughter<br />

Continue Special Bond in Iraq” by Edward Daileg <strong>of</strong> the United<br />

States Department <strong>of</strong> Defense media department:<br />

“Brooke and her father, Master Sgt. Lawrence E. Jackson, the<br />

communication and information systems noncommissioned<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficer in charge for Task Force Troy have a special bond that<br />

always kept them together for the past 29 years, but this year<br />

they both deployed to Iraq and haven’t seen each other<br />

since January. . .<br />

“On October 1, Lawrence went to work and found Brooke<br />

waiting in his <strong>of</strong>fice. They greeted each other with hugs and<br />

happy smiles. The special bond between them showed as<br />

Lawrence introduced his daughter to the soldiers he works<br />

with. For Lawrence, who has made time to travel to Brazil and<br />

Paraguay with Brooke, a day in Iraq with her meant everything.<br />

“Lawrence, a combat veteran and a soldier for more than 24<br />

years, said that leaving his family for long periods <strong>of</strong> time has<br />

been the hardest part <strong>of</strong> his military career.”<br />

The Word Speaks<br />

Our Facebook friends shared a Bible verse<br />

that has spoken to them lately:<br />

”. . . Launch out into the deep, and let down<br />

your nets for a draught” (Luke 5:4).<br />

Tony Comer<br />

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really<br />

love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold<br />

tightly to what is good” (Romans 12:9 NLT).<br />

Britta-Marie Nielse Kilby<br />

“And I will put my spirit within you, and<br />

cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye<br />

shall keep my judgments, and do them”<br />

(Ezekiel 36:27).<br />

Kerena Campbell<br />

“Lord, how are they increased that trouble<br />

me! many are they that rise up against me;<br />

Many there be which say <strong>of</strong> my soul, There<br />

is no help for him in <strong>God</strong>. Selah. But thou,<br />

O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and<br />

the lifter up <strong>of</strong> mine head. I cried unto the<br />

LORD with my voice, and he heard me out<br />

<strong>of</strong> his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and<br />

slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained<br />

me. I will not be afraid <strong>of</strong> ten thousands <strong>of</strong><br />

people, that have set themselves against<br />

me round about” (Psalm 3:1–6).<br />

Westralyn Ferguson<br />

“Make every effort to live in peace with all<br />

men and to be holy; without holiness no<br />

one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NIV).<br />

Themba Mavimbela<br />

”And <strong>God</strong> is able to make all grace abound<br />

toward you; that ye, always having all<br />

sufficiency in all things, may abound to<br />

every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).<br />

Sue Nichols<br />

”. . . Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter<br />

1:16 NIV).<br />

Joan Herrera<br />

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is<br />

gain” (Phillipians 1:21 NIV).<br />

Keshia Peters<br />

Connect to White Wing Messenger on Facebook<br />

for ongoing discussions—www.facebook.com/<br />

whitewingmessenger.<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 5


One <strong>of</strong> our faithful leaders from a nation in Asia<br />

wrote to us recently. His words were a gripping<br />

reminder <strong>of</strong> the cost <strong>of</strong> obeying our mandate<br />

to reach the harvest. They give a glimpse into the<br />

emotional trauma:<br />

6 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

This is a very bad event and news . . . that 6<br />

November, 1:30 a.m., some people came by<br />

motorcycle at front <strong>of</strong> our main gate, and,<br />

suddenly, they did gun firing, and gate became<br />

full <strong>of</strong> holes. Two [bullets] came in my <strong>of</strong>fice, but<br />

thanks [be to] <strong>God</strong> who saved me. [My son’s]<br />

wife was moving for some reason, and two<br />

[bullets] pass[ed] very near from her head but<br />

[did] not touch her.<br />

We make call to police after firing. Police came<br />

and saw every hole at main gate and my <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />

Now we are going to police station [to] register<br />

the case.<br />

Please remember my family in your prayers in<br />

this hard time.<br />

Your Brother in Christ<br />

Overt violence directed at a Christian for no other<br />

reason than following the teachings and life <strong>of</strong> Christ is<br />

an unusual experience for most <strong>of</strong> us living in Western<br />

nations. But it is the norm for many Christians in other<br />

parts <strong>of</strong> the world. Why do good, godly people who love<br />

Jesus suffer this kind <strong>of</strong> vicious attack? Is this normal for<br />

global believers to face this kind <strong>of</strong> virulent opposition?<br />

One <strong>of</strong> the most uncomfortable truths about the way<br />

<strong>of</strong> Christ is that persecution <strong>of</strong> His followers is normal.<br />

Jesus included persecution as one <strong>of</strong> the “benefits” <strong>of</strong> a<br />

life <strong>of</strong> discipleship: “But he shall receive an<br />

hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren,<br />

and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with<br />

persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life”<br />

(Mark 10:30). Jesus, the early apostles, the first-century<br />

believers, and Christians in many lands since have<br />

died at the hands <strong>of</strong> the enemies <strong>of</strong> the Gospel. Lest<br />

we segregate their experience from our expectations<br />

and think <strong>of</strong> persecution as for some select spiritual<br />

heavyweights, Paul generalized in a way that is actually<br />

quite stunning: “Yea, and all that will live godly in<br />

Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12,<br />

emphasis added).<br />

Our brothers and sisters are not being<br />

attacked because they are a bit too<br />

fanatical in their evangelistic strategies<br />

or upset their neighbors by being<br />

boorish and unpleasant. They live for<br />

Christ and share Him faithfully. That is<br />

their only crime. Couldn’t they just tone<br />

things down and not be such aggressive<br />

evangelists to avoid this kind <strong>of</strong> vicious<br />

attack? The truth is that persecution is<br />

a difficult but normal part <strong>of</strong> Christian


experience because the Gospel is light,<br />

and the forces <strong>of</strong> darkness (Satan,<br />

demons, evil spirits) are resolutely<br />

opposed to it—they will use every<br />

means to resist its spread.<br />

We have a mandate to share the Good<br />

News with everyone, regardless <strong>of</strong> their<br />

religious, ethnic, cultural, or political<br />

identity. Living as faithful Christians<br />

in places where opposing religious,<br />

political, or personal philosophies are<br />

antagonistic to the faith inevitably means persecution<br />

will be part <strong>of</strong> the package. I wish this was not the case,<br />

but the biblical facts and the experience <strong>of</strong> our brothers<br />

and sisters are undeniable.<br />

We seek the salvation <strong>of</strong> all human beings regardless<br />

<strong>of</strong> whether it is easy or not. Christians around the<br />

world are paying a great price to share the Gospel. In<br />

some nations, they are dying or their homes are being<br />

destroyed, their children taken from them, or they are<br />

being imprisoned. This is painful, but it is not a reason to<br />

stop preaching the Gospel. We do not seek martyrdom,<br />

but if we die for the cause <strong>of</strong> Christ, it is not a reason for<br />

despair but for rejoicing that we are counted worthy to<br />

suffer for our Lord.<br />

Pray for the safety <strong>of</strong> our precious brothers and sisters<br />

who are living as faithful disciples <strong>of</strong> our Lord Jesus in<br />

these difficult and extremely dangerous places, but do<br />

not be discouraged by the challenges they must make<br />

to follow our Lord. They are true soldiers <strong>of</strong> the cross,<br />

and they bring honor to the name <strong>of</strong> the Lord Jesus by<br />

sacrificing their lives to make Him known.<br />

Fulfilling the mandate to focus on the harvest may<br />

mean death for some <strong>of</strong> our faithful brothers and sisters.<br />

It may, one day, mean that we may make that sacrifice.<br />

We pray for governmental leaders so that respect for<br />

basic human rights will be a reality everywhere. Such<br />

an environment allows us to proclaim Christ without<br />

the threat <strong>of</strong> reprisal. But this conflict rages. We preach<br />

the Gospel in an arena <strong>of</strong> conflict between the forces <strong>of</strong><br />

light and darkness. There will be casualties.<br />

Pray to the Lord <strong>of</strong> the harvest to raise up more<br />

courageous harvesters. Give to support the work <strong>of</strong><br />

these faithful servants who share the Gospel despite<br />

the dangers, obstacles, and opposition. May we be as<br />

faithful to them as they are to the cause <strong>of</strong> Christ.<br />

David Bryan<br />

Director, Global<br />

Outreach Ministries<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 7


8 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

Youth Harvest<br />

Focus in Africa<br />

New Leadership in Sierra Leone<br />

Sierra Leone has been in the news<br />

recently because <strong>of</strong> the tragic loss<br />

<strong>of</strong> five <strong>of</strong> our stalwart leaders in<br />

this nation from a motor car accident. This<br />

time around, Sierra Leone is once again<br />

in the news because <strong>of</strong> some positive<br />

happenings that will certainly impact the<br />

work in this nation for the better.<br />

The Third Biennial National Convention<br />

for Sierra Leone was held from Friday,<br />

October 29, through Sunday, October 31,<br />

2010. In order to give maximum support<br />

to the work, the Africa Administrative and<br />

Finance Committee decided to convene<br />

its finance meeting to coincide with this<br />

convention. This meant that all members<br />

<strong>of</strong> the said Committees had to travel to<br />

Freetown (the capital) to do two days<br />

<strong>of</strong> leadership training with all pastors and<br />

national workers prior to the opening<br />

<strong>of</strong> the convention. Subjects from the<br />

Ministry Policy Manual were taught by<br />

Bishops Levi Clarke (Africa Area Presbyter),<br />

Stephen Masilela (assistant to the General<br />

Presbyter’s Office), and Cyril Odendo<br />

(member <strong>of</strong> the Africa Administration).<br />

The national convention began on<br />

Friday morning with great anticipation.<br />

National Overseer Sherman Allen opened<br />

the convention with some timely and<br />

encouraging words. The sense <strong>of</strong> loss due<br />

to the loss <strong>of</strong> our five leaders was present<br />

from the very start, but the Lord had other<br />

things planned for this gathering and sent<br />

His Holy Spirit to cheer and comfort the<br />

church in a marvelous way.<br />

It was refreshing to see the brethren<br />

responding to the Spirit’s call to rejoice<br />

as several began to cry aloud with great<br />

rejoicing. In one session on Saturday<br />

morning, the moderator called for all the<br />

young people to form a line and asked the<br />

visiting senior bishops to pray for them.<br />

Again, the Lord was kind to His people and<br />

blessed them mightily.<br />

The Sunday morning session was unusual<br />

in that although the children were not<br />

included on the program, the moderator<br />

gave space and time to them. What these<br />

children provided to the convention was a<br />

unique blessing as many <strong>of</strong> them worshipped<br />

the Lord in songs and Scripture verses.<br />

National Overseer Bishop Allen used the<br />

occasion to announce the appointment<br />

<strong>of</strong> a director to the specialized ministry<br />

<strong>of</strong> ministering to the young harvest. He<br />

emphasized that no longer will the needs<br />

<strong>of</strong> children be neglected in Sierra Leone as<br />

the new director will be working with the<br />

International Children’s Director’s Office<br />

to formulate plans for the development <strong>of</strong><br />

this ministry.


Financial Accountability<br />

The national treasurer, Brother Mark<br />

Sesay, gave a financial report covering the<br />

two years from the last convention. The<br />

report was very transparent and accurate.<br />

Every detail <strong>of</strong> funds received into the<br />

national treasury and how they were<br />

spent was handled with integrity. At the<br />

end <strong>of</strong> the treasurer’s report, the National<br />

Overseer and moderator commented, “One<br />

day, all national treasurers’ reports will be<br />

given in similar fashion.”<br />

It is interesting to note that although<br />

Sierra Leone is one <strong>of</strong> the poorest nations<br />

in the world where most <strong>of</strong> its citizens live<br />

on less than a dollar a day, it paid into the<br />

international account <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Church</strong> more<br />

than US $400 in tithes and <strong>of</strong>ferings. This is<br />

highly commendable for a nation gripped<br />

by such a terrible economic plight.<br />

New Overseer Appointed<br />

On Sunday, October 31, during the<br />

convention, General Presbyter (and<br />

current National Overseer) Sherman Allen<br />

appointed Bishop Levi Clarke (Africa Area<br />

Presbyter) as National Overseer to the<br />

country <strong>of</strong> Sierra Leone.<br />

Evangelism and Discipleship<br />

Agenda Background History<br />

In 1797, the British Parliament freed<br />

the slaves it had working on its sugar<br />

plantations and in its coal mining industry.<br />

These freed slaves, suddenly coming into<br />

a lifestyle where they were not forced to<br />

work but having time to do whatever they<br />

wanted, ended up in mischief and crime.<br />

They had no jobs to go to. The British<br />

government decided to use the colony <strong>of</strong><br />

Sierra Leone as a home for the freed slaves<br />

and sent them to live there.<br />

Embarking from their flotillas, these<br />

former slaves wept tears <strong>of</strong> joy and delight<br />

to be in a land where they would now<br />

have to determine their own destiny. They<br />

gathered under a cotton<br />

tree in what is now the<br />

center <strong>of</strong> the city and called<br />

the town Freetown. This is<br />

the <strong>of</strong>ficial name <strong>of</strong> the<br />

capital to this day.<br />

When eventually Sierra<br />

Leone took independence from Britain in<br />

1961, the population was overwhelmingly<br />

Christian and <strong>of</strong> traditional religion. Today,<br />

however, Islam has made inroads from the<br />

North into Sierra Leone, changing totally<br />

the demography <strong>of</strong> this nation. Islam<br />

has now risen to become the majority<br />

religion (70 percent) while Christianity<br />

has decreased to third position behind<br />

traditional ethnic with 11.72 percent <strong>of</strong> the<br />

population (taken from Operation World<br />

21 st Century Edition, p. 563).<br />

Islam will stop at nothing until it takes<br />

the very heart and soul <strong>of</strong> this nation.<br />

Knowing this, the Africa Administration, in<br />

conjunction with the present leadership<br />

in Sierra Leone, has decided on a plan <strong>of</strong><br />

action to train two teams <strong>of</strong> locally based<br />

missionary workers to witness to Muslims.<br />

Much thanks to the Global Outreach<br />

Department and Director David Bryan,<br />

who has been instrumental in providing<br />

some funds to train and equip these teams<br />

<strong>of</strong> missionary workers. They will be trained<br />

by qualified <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong><br />

missionary-overseers such as Peter Koyea<br />

and Koissi Antoine, who are presently<br />

working in strongly Islamic nations in<br />

the northwestern sector <strong>of</strong> the African<br />

continent. They have gained invaluable<br />

experiences in their ministry efforts.<br />

It would be appreciated if the general<br />

<strong>Church</strong> could make this project a<br />

prayer priority.<br />

Sherman Allen<br />

Africa General Presbyter<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 9


10 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

Empowering<br />

Women in Botswana<br />

In the past four years, we have come up with<br />

several initiatives to help church women in<br />

Botswana to be economically self-sufficient.<br />

There are at least four programs that are<br />

currently available, which include mentoring<br />

<strong>of</strong> younger ladies by older women, short-term<br />

training through seminars and workshops,<br />

long-term training (one year), and special<br />

skills impartation.<br />

We were first inspired to assist our faithful<br />

members who do not have a chance to go for<br />

further education, who are unemployed, and<br />

who are vulnerable to abuse but continue to<br />

faithfully serve the Lord. Women in Botswana,<br />

like elsewhere, are <strong>of</strong>ten having many<br />

dependents as children, relatives, or elderly<br />

parents. Much research has shown that all<br />

over the world, women are <strong>of</strong>ten forced into<br />

ungodly relationships and habits because <strong>of</strong><br />

economic dependence.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> the women who has benefited from<br />

this project is Maduo Dube, age 46, who is also<br />

a local church pastor <strong>of</strong> the Molapowabojang<br />

<strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong> in Botswana. Even<br />

though Sister Dube had done a three-year<br />

pastoral training course, the challenges <strong>of</strong><br />

planting a non-sustaining church in a poor<br />

and rural area meant that she had to keep<br />

two other jobs—a full-time job as an assistant<br />

teacher in a nursery school and managing a<br />

kiosk in order to make ends meet. Things were<br />

not easy because, at the time, her husband was<br />

also unemployed, meaning that she had to be<br />

a bread winner for the family, which includes<br />

her three children.<br />

The Botswana Women Empowerment<br />

Program received Sister Dube’s application<br />

for assistance after Sister Josephine Carty<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Virgin Islands contributed $1,000 in<br />

funds for her nursery school training. Sister<br />

Dube showed great commitment; she had to<br />

suspend her kiosk work and engage in a daily<br />

evening study, pursuing a one-year course in<br />

nursery school training, while she continued<br />

with her daily assistant teaching post and<br />

pastoral work.<br />

Sister Dube stated, “I had been working as an<br />

unqualified teacher in a nursery school for ten<br />

years when this scholarship was given to me. I<br />

had no option but to quit my other engagements<br />

because I knew the training would have longterm<br />

benefits for my career and family.” She<br />

stated further, “I could not afford to pay for<br />

myself because we had three children to take<br />

care <strong>of</strong>, and they were a priority.”<br />

After one year, Sister Dube was able to get a<br />

distinction from the accredited nursery school<br />

teacher’s course. “It was not easy; there were<br />

many assignments, so in the evening, I and my<br />

children were all students doing homework.”<br />

However, on completion, she immediately<br />

got a job as a qualified teacher in a Catholic<br />

mission school where she has been working<br />

for three years now.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> the beneficiaries <strong>of</strong> this project,<br />

Gomolemo Chirongwe, is not working as a<br />

teacher but attests to the fact that she outcompeted<br />

others on her current job (in a<br />

government department) because she now<br />

possesses something extra to show, apart<br />

from the O Level certificate. However, Sisters<br />

Chirongwe and Dube are currently registering<br />

a nursery school business so as to open<br />

their own nursery school in partnership with<br />

the Lobatse COGOP local church. “With the<br />

experience I have from working so long in the<br />

nursery schools, and especially now that I am<br />

qualified, I am more than prepared to open my<br />

own school, <strong>of</strong>fer a service to the community,<br />

and employ other women,” states Sister Dube.<br />

Asked if she is discouraged by the lack <strong>of</strong><br />

capital to begin, Sister Dube responds, “Look,


I am not discouraged. Some years ago, my<br />

husband was not employed, we did not have<br />

a proper house, and now look at the provision<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Lord.” As she points to her newly built<br />

house, she states, “My husband is now working,<br />

I am now a qualified teacher, I have a stable job,<br />

my son completed his training as a plumber, and<br />

Pendani [daughter] has just started University.”<br />

Overseer Phillip Segadika has this to say:<br />

“We thank brethren who have heeded our<br />

call for assistance, especially Sister Josephine<br />

Carty from the Virgin Islands through whose<br />

assistance we have now trained four women.<br />

However, we have many still waiting to be<br />

assisted and whose lives can be transformed<br />

by $1,000 US dollars, which covers tuition and<br />

fees. As I once mentioned, this project is not about<br />

giving fish to the people. It is empowering<br />

women to take care <strong>of</strong> themselves, their families,<br />

and to restore their dignity in society.”<br />

Regarding the future <strong>of</strong> the project, Overseer<br />

Segadika says, “We started with our members,<br />

but we see even more serious problems out<br />

there <strong>of</strong> dispossessed, disempowered women<br />

who are, however, trainable. . . . We are currently<br />

doing research to see if we can’t open a whole<br />

school where the church actually runs the whole<br />

preschool teacher training<br />

program. The thing is that in<br />

Botswana, pre-schools are<br />

privately run, meaning that<br />

they are an open business<br />

opportunity for people who<br />

have some capital to start<br />

their own businesses. We want<br />

to help these women help themselves.<br />

We have our church buildings that are not<br />

used throughout the week when there are<br />

unemployed women and many children in<br />

these communities. That’s wasteful.”<br />

Even though the local town council has now<br />

introduced stringent rules meaning that part<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Lobatse <strong>Church</strong> building will need to be<br />

renovated to make it “kid-friendly,” the vision<br />

is not abandoned. The renovation includes<br />

adding kindergarten-size toilets and building<br />

a separate kitchen and eating area, which adds<br />

up to at least $20,000 US dollars in materials<br />

alone. For this, we need some assistance as we<br />

train a few more women.<br />

Reported by Neo Segadika and Seboneso Bantusitse<br />

Phillip Segadika<br />

Overseer <strong>of</strong> Botswana<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 11


I<br />

12 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

Tour <strong>of</strong> the<br />

South Pacific<br />

want to invite you to go with me to the<br />

South Pacific through the means <strong>of</strong> the<br />

following word picture. As you read, I<br />

believe you will understand why Patricia and<br />

I love this part <strong>of</strong> the world to such a great<br />

degree. <strong>God</strong> has truly blessed us to work in<br />

the Asia/Oceania area, and He is doing great<br />

things through the faithful people <strong>of</strong> this part<br />

<strong>of</strong> the world.<br />

As we board the plane in Atlanta on October<br />

23, 2010, we can feel the great anticipation<br />

<strong>of</strong> being able to see the “happy people” <strong>of</strong><br />

the South Pacific. Of course, the only thing<br />

that could make it better is if Patricia and the<br />

children could be on the plane as well.<br />

When we land in Honolulu, Hawaii, Bishop<br />

Gary Langley is there to take us to his house<br />

where we will stay for the next five days. Bishop<br />

Langley will spend part <strong>of</strong> that time catching<br />

us up on things that are developing in Hawaii.<br />

For example, we have mission possibilities on<br />

the Big Island that are very promising. There is<br />

also a pastor from Oahu who has become very<br />

good friends <strong>of</strong> the church, and his family is<br />

attending our services at Reunion.<br />

On Sunday morning, we go to the Reunion<br />

church service where the crowd continues to<br />

grow, and lots <strong>of</strong> new faces are seen. Of course,<br />

it is good to see the friends and members<br />

that Patricia and I made while we lived there.<br />

Brother Gary and I discuss some business<br />

matters and come up with a strategic plan for<br />

dealing with them. Then, on Thursday evening,<br />

it is time for us to leave Hawaii and head for<br />

American Samoa.<br />

As is typical with the two flights each week<br />

that go to American Samoa, our flight will be<br />

leaving at 5:00 p.m. and arrive in Pago Pago<br />

at about 9:30 p.m. Pastor Noni Que, one <strong>of</strong> his<br />

leaders, and Bishop Asalemo Kuka, the National<br />

Overseer, greet us at the airport. By the time we<br />

get to the room, it is well after midnight. After<br />

contacting Patricia to let her know I made it okay,<br />

it is time for a little rest.<br />

The next morning, we walk about two miles<br />

to the Tafuna <strong>Church</strong> where we see that they are<br />

erecting a new sanctuary. This is very interesting<br />

to see since Patricia and I began having services<br />

in a little hurricane house in 1993. The building<br />

is constructed by manual labor, and there are<br />

no cement mixers or other machines to help in<br />

getting the work done.<br />

The next day, we borrow Pastor Noni’s car and<br />

drive to Faga`alu where we look at the property<br />

on which they are going to build a multipurpose<br />

building. On Sunday morning, we attend church<br />

at the English-speaking church, where Pastor<br />

Noni is the lead pastor. They are in a fairly new<br />

warehouse-type building that they have rented<br />

and turned into a really nice sanctuary.<br />

Next, we travel on to Samoa (Western) where<br />

we only have one day but manage to visit with<br />

our Sinamoga pastor, Elisaiah Kelemete. The<br />

church is growing, and the pastor and his wife<br />

are very happy to be serving the Lord in this<br />

village.<br />

From Samoa, we fly across the International<br />

Date Line to the islands <strong>of</strong> Fiji. Once again, the<br />

flight is a night flight, so we don’t leave Samoa<br />

until midnight and arrive in Suva, Fiji, at 6:00 a.m.<br />

on Wednesday. Remember that we left Samoa<br />

on Tuesday morning, flew about one-and-ahalf<br />

hours, and landed in Fiji on Wednesday<br />

morning? Are you confused yet? After getting<br />

some rest, that afternoon I work on answering<br />

e-mails and trying to get my thoughts together<br />

for handling the business in Fiji. On Thursday<br />

afternoon, we meet with key leaders to discuss<br />

the strategy that needs to be implemented. The<br />

pastors are very receptive and help more than<br />

they could ever imagine.


Since Friday is a holiday in Fiji, very little<br />

can be done. Of course, Saturday is also a day<br />

when the government <strong>of</strong>fices and many <strong>of</strong><br />

the businesses are closed. I work on some<br />

documents that need to be written. On Sunday<br />

morning, we go to church with Pastor Jason<br />

Verma, and I am the guest speaker for that<br />

service.<br />

Following the service, we go to McDonald’s<br />

for a burger, fries, and Coke. Once again, I finish<br />

the day by working on documents that need to<br />

be completed. When Monday comes, we are at<br />

the government <strong>of</strong>fices bright and early where<br />

we begin to tend to the business at hand. It<br />

takes us from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to get the<br />

necessary information from the one <strong>of</strong>fice that<br />

we have been to. We learn that there are other<br />

<strong>of</strong>fices and documents that are necessary in<br />

order for us to complete our task.<br />

It is at the end <strong>of</strong> the day that we find out<br />

we have to make a trip to Nadi to check about<br />

another point <strong>of</strong> business. Nadi is a threeand-a-half<br />

hour drive from Suva on a winding<br />

highway, which winds along the shoreline.<br />

We have to spend the night in a hotel and get<br />

up early the next morning to complete our<br />

business in Nadi so that we can return to Suva<br />

in time to finish the business there.<br />

We arrive back in Suva at noon on Tuesday.<br />

We go straight to the bank where we wait<br />

again until about 3:00 p.m. before we finish our<br />

business. Then we go for a quick lunch at Pastor<br />

Jonathan Lakshman’s house before going to<br />

the airport for the flight back to Samoa.<br />

The flight leaves Suva at<br />

6:00 p.m. and arrives in Nadi<br />

at 6:30. The flight to Samoa<br />

leaves at 9:30 p.m. and arrives<br />

in Fale`olo at approximately<br />

11:00 p.m. When we have<br />

cleared customs and<br />

immigration, it is well after midnight. Then we<br />

have a 45-minute drive into Apia where we will<br />

be staying.<br />

Bishop Asalemo is at the airport to drive us<br />

to the hotel. We rest a few hours, and then we<br />

and Bishop Asalemo begin our tasks that need<br />

to be completed before we leave Samoa on<br />

Thursday morning.<br />

The work is still growing in Samoa.<br />

I ask you to please pray for the Asia/Oceania<br />

area. This part <strong>of</strong> the world has some <strong>of</strong> the<br />

most hostile people in the world toward<br />

Christianity. Even in Samoa, which has been<br />

considered very much a Christian nation, the<br />

Islamic people are beginning to set up their<br />

homes and mosques. So we really need your<br />

prayers. Remember that we are praying for you<br />

as well.<br />

David L. Browder<br />

General Presbyter for Asia,<br />

Australia, and Oceania<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 13


14 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

Women’s Ministries<br />

<strong>God</strong> gave us the opportunity to host two<br />

women’s conferences in different cities <strong>of</strong><br />

Ukraine. A wonderful women’s conference was<br />

held on June 1 where Pastors Tatiana Voznyuk<br />

and Irina Voznyuk, along with eight sisters <strong>of</strong><br />

the Emmanuel <strong>Church</strong>, hosted an evening <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>God</strong>’s love, anointing, healing, and questions<br />

and answers for women <strong>of</strong> the local church<br />

in Vasilkov.<br />

On June 12, at the <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> Living Faith<br />

in Alexandria, Kirovograd region, a unique<br />

women’s conference was held where sisters<br />

gathered from more than 20 churches,<br />

including several different denominations—<br />

Orthodox, Pentecostal, Baptist, Greek Catholic,<br />

and others. The main speaker <strong>of</strong> the conference<br />

was Pastor Tatiana Voznyuk.<br />

Summer Outreaches<br />

Impacting<br />

Ukraine<br />

My team and I ministered in conferences in<br />

Donesk (southeastern Ukraine) and Bobrinets<br />

(central Ukraine hometown <strong>of</strong> the pastor)<br />

as well as mission outreaches in Armenia<br />

and Georgia.<br />

In the city <strong>of</strong> Donesk (southeastern Ukraine),<br />

we hosted a regional conference <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Church</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong> <strong>of</strong> Ukraine. In Dimitrov,<br />

we gathered the largest number <strong>of</strong> pastors,<br />

many <strong>of</strong> whom are pastors <strong>of</strong> new churches<br />

that have opened up, and the Kingdom <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong><br />

continues to expand.<br />

In Bobrinets (central Ukraine), Kirovograd<br />

region, on July 9, 10, 2010, we hosted a<br />

conference with the participation <strong>of</strong> a group<br />

from the Emmanuel <strong>Church</strong>. On July 9, an<br />

evening service for women was led by Pastor<br />

Tatiana Voznyuk. Her messages were about<br />

Christian women in today’s society as well as<br />

the family.<br />

On Saturday, July 10, the service was attended<br />

by the pastor <strong>of</strong> the church <strong>of</strong> Bobrinets as well<br />

as pastors <strong>of</strong> the Emmanuel <strong>Church</strong>—Alexander<br />

Voznyuk, Irina Voznyuk, and Oleg Molar. I was<br />

the main speaker there and after the message,<br />

I prayed for the church and imparted blessing<br />

for all pastors and members in attendance.<br />

Also, I was able to lead a mission team from the<br />

Emmanuel <strong>Church</strong> to minister to churches in<br />

Georgia and Armenia. In Georgia, the host was<br />

Pastor <strong>God</strong>erzi Todadze where the Georgian<br />

churches continue to grow and develop. <strong>God</strong><br />

is working mighty miracles and helping to<br />

restore post-war actions in their country.<br />

Local <strong>Church</strong><br />

On June 12, in Kiev, the capital <strong>of</strong> Ukraine,<br />

the Dnieper River became the site <strong>of</strong> our<br />

baptism service for new brothers and sisters<br />

making a decision to serve <strong>God</strong>. Nine young<br />

people, including the daughters <strong>of</strong> both myself<br />

and Pastor Alexander Voznyuk, committed their<br />

lives to Christ. During the Sunday morning<br />

service, our new church members were presented<br />

the Bible and, for the first time, took part<br />

in communion.<br />

Youth Ministries<br />

In August, we hosted a youth conference.<br />

<strong>Church</strong>es from many different parts <strong>of</strong> Ukraine<br />

sent delegates from their churches, youth<br />

leaders, and active participants in ministry to<br />

participate in this conference. Representatives<br />

from Kyiv, Ternopil, Odessa, Alchevsk,<br />

Dnepropetrovsk, Bobrinec, Krasnodon, Poltava,<br />

Priluki, and Chernigov participated in this<br />

conference. Also in attendance from Tbilisi<br />

was Georgia Todadze Juliet, the daughter<br />

<strong>of</strong> the bishop <strong>of</strong> Georgia. One-hundred and<br />

five participants were registered. During<br />

the whole week, the young people were in<br />

<strong>God</strong>’s presence, after which no one remained<br />

the same. As the delegates were leaving the<br />

conference, there was a desire and passion to<br />

serve <strong>God</strong> and people.


Miraculous Testimony<br />

We have to share about the miracle that<br />

<strong>God</strong> has done in one family from our church.<br />

Dmitriy and Inna Evdokimova, who have long<br />

been members <strong>of</strong> the Emmanuel <strong>Church</strong>,<br />

rejoiced in the birth <strong>of</strong> their fourth son. The<br />

doctors had given them a disappointing<br />

diagnosis: the child’s lungs had not opened,<br />

and he couldn’t breathe independently. The<br />

child, from the first minutes <strong>of</strong> his life, was<br />

connected to a respirator; doctors predicted<br />

his chance <strong>of</strong> survival was close to impossible.<br />

The church and the pastors prayed for the<br />

child, praying over his clothes and passing it<br />

on to the hospital, where he was kept. Two<br />

days later, the child was healed! The respirator<br />

became disabled because the child began to<br />

breathe on his own. A day<br />

later, the child began to eat,<br />

and now doctors are fully<br />

confident in his complete<br />

and full recovery. His parents<br />

and the church thank the<br />

Lord <strong>God</strong> for showing this<br />

miraculous power!<br />

Throughout the summer, we saw the hand<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> over all the ministries and our travels.<br />

We thank you for your prayers and support.<br />

May <strong>God</strong> bless you!<br />

Your Partner in the Harvest,<br />

Bishop Vitaly Voznyuk<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 15


16 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

Haiti Rebuild:<br />

Forging Ahead<br />

Tim McCaleb, project coordinator, led his<br />

first construction team to Port-au-Prince, Haiti,<br />

on September 6, 2010. Buoyed by the amazing<br />

generosity <strong>of</strong> our members and churches<br />

from around the world who have given an<br />

unprecedented <strong>of</strong>fering <strong>of</strong> more than $516,000<br />

in response to the Haiti earthquake, the<br />

International Offices provided emergency aid<br />

as well as funds to help Haiti rebuild.<br />

The five team members who accompanied<br />

Brother McCaleb were deeply touched as they<br />

gave a week <strong>of</strong> their lives to the Haitian people.<br />

Brother McCaleb reported on a busy week<br />

<strong>of</strong> work including surveying the orphanage<br />

property in Leogane and rebuilding a large<br />

section <strong>of</strong> the wall around the orphanage,<br />

extending from the front entrance north to the<br />

sea wall. The wall had collapsed, exposing the<br />

property to outsiders in the aftermath <strong>of</strong> the<br />

January trembler.<br />

The team worked hard, digging out the<br />

old foundation, laying rebar, and pouring<br />

the concrete footer. The plan calls for placing<br />

concrete columns every three meters to<br />

reinforce the wall, which will be approximately<br />

ten feet high. The team also tore down walls <strong>of</strong><br />

one <strong>of</strong> the major buildings on the property and<br />

inserted steel posts.<br />

There are a number <strong>of</strong> bungalows that were<br />

not destroyed in the earthquake. They cleaned<br />

and installed screens over the windows in<br />

preparation for using these for future teams<br />

who will stay onsite. The orphanage is close to<br />

an area where numerous churches collapsed<br />

since Leogane was the epicenter <strong>of</strong> the<br />

earthquake. Brother McCaleb commented,<br />

“Overall, it was a great trip, and many good<br />

things were accomplished. I learn more every<br />

trip I make, and I anticipate greater successes<br />

each time I go.”<br />

Six churches are also being rebuilt. The<br />

national church on Truman Boulevard<br />

sustained some damage to the walls and is<br />

being restored. Other church buildings in<br />

Canope Vert, Main Street, Cite Soleil, and Sans<br />

Fils are being reconstructed. Brother McCaleb<br />

plans to begin work soon on two more church<br />

buildings in Dufort and LaSalle.<br />

So many wonderful groups are seeking to<br />

make a difference in Haiti. Representatives<br />

<strong>of</strong> Samaritan’s Purse will be bringing in<br />

a bulldozer to remove the rubble <strong>of</strong> the<br />

collapsed buildings at the orphanage site.<br />

G.A.I.N., the relief and development arm <strong>of</strong><br />

Campus Crusade for Christ, has already begun<br />

work clearing rubble, renovating bungalows,<br />

and promising to provide help with<br />

reconstruction <strong>of</strong> the orphanage.<br />

The passage <strong>of</strong> Hurricane Tomas through<br />

the Caribbean delayed the arrival <strong>of</strong> the second<br />

construction team led by Brother McCaleb, but<br />

he and a team <strong>of</strong> brothers from Alabama and<br />

Mississippi are in Haiti at press time. Future<br />

trips are planned for March and May 2011.<br />

David Bryan<br />

Director, Global<br />

Outreach Ministries


On November 3–6, 2010, more than 200 key leaders from Mexico, Central<br />

America, and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean met in Santo Domingo to<br />

discuss the vision and mission <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Church</strong> in this area.<br />

Most <strong>of</strong> the time was dedicated to discuss the VISION 2020 documents<br />

(featured in the August issue <strong>of</strong> the White Wing Messenger). The dialogue<br />

was coordinated by Bishop Don Brock from the International Administrative<br />

Committee, with the participation <strong>of</strong> Bishops Randall Howard, E. C. McKinley,<br />

Gabriel Vidal, Paul Holt, and Ben Feliz, General Presbyter <strong>of</strong> Central America.<br />

Additional special guests included Bishop Sam Clements, who brought a<br />

challenging word to the attendees, Dr. Hector Ortiz, Bishop Elias Rodriguez<br />

from CBL, and Bishop Esteban Rodriguez from Kissimmee, Florida.<br />

On Saturday, November 6, Bishop Howard delivered a powerful word<br />

at the installation service <strong>of</strong> new General Presbyter Bishop Feliz. The<br />

installation service was open to the churches.<br />

Ben Feliz, General Presbyter for Mexico,<br />

Central America, and Spanish-Speaking Caribbean<br />

For Such a Time As This<br />

2011 International Pastors Summit<br />

September 26–29, 2011 • Tegucigalpa, Honduras<br />

Shared at Central American<br />

Leadership Conference<br />

Pastors and spouses, join us for this historic gathering to see what <strong>God</strong> is doing in Mexico, Central America, and the<br />

Hispanic Caribbean. This Pastors Summit will include four days <strong>of</strong> challenging teaching, preaching, and inspiration. We<br />

are expecting to host one thousand pastors, and there will be special ministry targeted to pastors’ wives as well.<br />

Sessions will address topics such as “Pastoring and Discipleship,” “Pastoring and <strong>Church</strong> Growth,” “2020 VISION,” and<br />

“Pastors and the Young Harvest.” Speakers will include Randall Howard, Trevor Reid, Kathy Creasy, Cathy Payne, Mario<br />

Vega, Renee Peñaba, Dr. Hector Ortiz, and José Garcia.<br />

Sponsored by the General Presbyter’s Office <strong>of</strong> Ben Feliz and Global Outreach<br />

In the next issue, more information will be provided, including hotel accommodations. For more information, e-mail<br />

dfeliz@cogop.org or bfeliz@cogop.org.<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 17


Advances in the West-Central<br />

Region in Venezuela<br />

We glorify the name <strong>of</strong> the Lord for<br />

the change in attitude and mentality<br />

<strong>of</strong> the ministers and pastors in our<br />

region. We rejoice in the presence <strong>of</strong><br />

the Lord because He has allowed us<br />

to have 17 new fields, ten <strong>of</strong> which will<br />

be organized by the time this report<br />

is published. The Lord’s work does not<br />

stop. Our region is, first, standing in the<br />

18 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

News From South America<br />

Venezuela<br />

promises <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong>, and second, we are<br />

counting with most <strong>of</strong> our young people<br />

to work in establishing new fields.<br />

This is the fulfillment <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong>’s Word<br />

in Acts 2:39 (NKJV): “For the promise is<br />

to you and to your children, and to all<br />

who are afar <strong>of</strong>f, as many as the Lord<br />

our <strong>God</strong> will call. ” This scripture was<br />

We are grateful to the Lord for His blessings.<br />

This van is owned by the <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> Uruguay<br />

<strong>Prophecy</strong> in Uruguay, which will help to extend<br />

the Kingdom <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> in this blessed nation.<br />

We are happy to inform you that last night we received<br />

a mission team composed by Ronald Bland and brethren.<br />

Sherene Kelly, Starlyn Murphy from the state <strong>of</strong> Missouri,<br />

United States, as well as Pastors Angel Vasquez and<br />

David Rose from Peru, will be collaborating with the<br />

work in Uruguay for ten days. This is the first team we<br />

have received for a long time. Our Lord knows we need<br />

the help, and we are grateful for the ministry <strong>of</strong> our<br />

brothers and sisters who have come to give us a hand.<br />

read and declared by our brother Luis<br />

Gomez, national overseer <strong>of</strong> Venezuela<br />

at the time <strong>of</strong> his participation during<br />

our meeting in November 2010. At<br />

this meeting, a tremendous presence<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> was present, and the people<br />

praised and glorified the Lord with<br />

enthusiasm and a joyful noise.<br />

Pedro Pablo Gutierrez<br />

Regional Overseer<br />

We would like to take this opportunity<br />

to invite our brothers and sisters <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong> to come to Uruguay<br />

and help us rebuild the church in our nation. Uruguay<br />

is the most secular country in Latin America. We are<br />

committed to break that statement for the glory <strong>of</strong> our<br />

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please come to Uruguay.<br />

Milagros Travieso<br />

—Submitted by Gabriel Vidal,<br />

General Presbyter for South America


Update<br />

In just a few weeks, we’ll be together in Orlando, Florida, kicking <strong>of</strong>f the EMERGE<br />

Conference. We’re so glad you’ll be with us. We are praying earnestly for this<br />

conference that each attendee will have a divine encounter with the Holy Spirit.<br />

We trust that you will also join us in prayer for the event.<br />

Here’s the latest information:<br />

CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES: Several unique activities are planned for this conference. On Friday morning, we will host a Christian College Fair.<br />

High School juniors and seniors and their parents are encouraged to arrive early (Thursday) to participate in the college fair. Workshops on<br />

college admissions and financial aid will also be <strong>of</strong>fered. Also, there will be a Youth Leaders and Parents training track from Friday through<br />

Saturday morning. In addition, there will be Bible Challenge and Sports competitions among states. Look to download both the Bible<br />

Challenge info and Sports competition guidelines on December 1. All teams will have exactly three months to prepare. Come represent!<br />

WORKSHOPS: There will be several workshop tracks <strong>of</strong>fered for students, young adults, parents, and leaders. Of note, our guest worship<br />

artist, Freddy Rodriguez, will <strong>of</strong>fer a worship track. Participants in this track will join Freddy for Sunday morning’s worship set.<br />

We are looking forward to seeing you in Orlando!<br />

Pre-Conference Activities, Friday<br />

College Fair*<br />

10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.<br />

Bible Challenge<br />

*Letter given for school attendance.<br />

Tentative Conference Schedule<br />

Friday Night<br />

General Session featuring Harris III, Chris & Conrad,<br />

Freddy Rodriguez, and Robert Madu<br />

Saturday Morning<br />

General Session<br />

Workshops<br />

State/Regional Basketball/Volleyball<br />

Competitions<br />

Mission Encounter<br />

Enjoy the resort on your own.<br />

GUEST WORSHIP ARTIST<br />

Did you know you can be<br />

part <strong>of</strong> Freddy Rodriguez’s<br />

worship team? Attend his<br />

workshops on Saturday, and<br />

you’ll be part <strong>of</strong> his team on<br />

Sunday morning.<br />

Saturday Night<br />

General Session with William McDowell, Freddy Rodriguez, and Jerry Chalk<br />

Saturday Night Live!<br />

Sunday Morning<br />

General Session with Conference worship team led by Freddy Rodriguez and Trevor Reid<br />

• Visit www.operationomega.org for the latest information.<br />

Trevor & Aileen Reid<br />

Co-Directors, International<br />

Youth Ministries<br />

MISSION ENCOUNTER<br />

Missionaries Jerry Chalk from<br />

Ukraine and Hopeton<br />

Buchanan from Dominica as<br />

well as many others will be<br />

onsite to share about how<br />

you can partner with their<br />

nations in prayer and giving.<br />

Operation Omega Youth Ministries<br />

• Special room rate <strong>of</strong> $109 per night available until February 23. Reserve your room today at 1-800-228-9290 or 1-800-621-0638.<br />

Mention group code “COG.”<br />

• It’s not too late to register early and save with the group rate! Online registration is open until March 10.<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 19


Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 16:9 remind me that there is<br />

an open door <strong>of</strong> evangelism and discipleship <strong>of</strong> children and<br />

youth. This open door is great because <strong>of</strong> the abundance <strong>of</strong><br />

children around the world.<br />

• Children under the age <strong>of</strong> 18 make up 32 percent<br />

<strong>of</strong> the world’s population.<br />

• Forty-three percent <strong>of</strong> Africa’s population is below<br />

the age <strong>of</strong> 15.<br />

• Twenty-seven percent <strong>of</strong> all the world’s children<br />

and youth live in Asia.<br />

This open door allows for effective ministry. Between the<br />

ages <strong>of</strong> 5–12, lifelong habits, values, beliefs, and attitudes are<br />

20 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

Around the World:<br />

Evangelizing Kids<br />

“A Great Door for Effective Work Has Opened . . .” (1 Corinthians 16:9 NIV).<br />

formed. Whatever beliefs a person embraces while young are<br />

unlikely to change as the individual ages (Barna). Therefore,<br />

if we evangelize children, they will be saved adults. If we<br />

disciple children, they will be spiritually mature adults. If we<br />

equip children, they will be commissioned adults.<br />

This door is now wide open because <strong>of</strong> the receptivity<br />

<strong>of</strong> children to the message <strong>of</strong> the Gospel. Several mission<br />

organizations are adopting a 4–14 mission strategy that<br />

focuses on reaching children from 4 to 14 years <strong>of</strong> age. Why?<br />

The majority <strong>of</strong> people who will ever come to Christ do so<br />

between the ages <strong>of</strong> 4 and 14. With every year after age 14,<br />

people become less receptive to spiritual things and less<br />

receptive to the Gospel.


The door is also now wide open because <strong>of</strong> the ability to<br />

reach children in even the most remote regions due to the<br />

presence <strong>of</strong> media—radio, television, cell phones, and the<br />

World Wide Web.<br />

But Paul continued with these words: “. . . and there are<br />

many who oppose me.” This is definitely true <strong>of</strong> the open<br />

door <strong>of</strong> evangelism to children and youth. This opposition is<br />

seen throughout the world.<br />

• Governments prohibit or oppose Christian evangelism<br />

<strong>of</strong> children. One-third <strong>of</strong> the world’s countries have<br />

high or very high restrictions on religion. Many <strong>of</strong><br />

these countries refuse to allow children and youth to<br />

be evangelized.<br />

• Media worldwide promotes negative images <strong>of</strong><br />

Christians and/or Christianity.<br />

• Many children are victimized in the Western world as<br />

well as in developing nations<br />

—There are 42 million abortions throughout the world<br />

each year (Center for Bioethical Reform).<br />

—Worldwide, 40 million children are subjected to abuse<br />

each year (World Health Organization, 2001).<br />

—Twenty million children have been forced to flee their<br />

homes because <strong>of</strong> conflict and human rights<br />

violence (UNICEF).<br />

—There are children living in abject poverty, orphaned<br />

children, children sold into slavery, children dying<br />

with treatable diseases, and children infected with HIV.<br />

• The church in the Western world is <strong>of</strong>ten apathetic,<br />

and the church in developing nations lacks<br />

necessary resources.<br />

While many individuals, governments, and organizations<br />

contribute to the victimization <strong>of</strong> children and opposition to<br />

child evangelism, we must fully grasp that this is a spiritual<br />

battle. The spiritual battle for godly seed (children) began<br />

in the Garden <strong>of</strong> Eden when <strong>God</strong> said, “And I will put enmity<br />

between you and the woman, and between your <strong>of</strong>fspring<br />

and hers . . .” (Genesis 3:15 NIV). This spiritual battle for<br />

the minds, emotions, and desires <strong>of</strong> children is increasing<br />

in intensity as we come nearer to the end <strong>of</strong> this<br />

present age.<br />

What can we do as individuals and congregations to fully<br />

engage in this battle?<br />

Pray<br />

Jeremiah spoke so clearly <strong>of</strong> the plight <strong>of</strong> children when<br />

he said, “This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears.<br />

No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit.<br />

My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed”<br />

(Lamentations 1:16 NIV).<br />

How did Jeremiah confront the fact that “the enemy had<br />

prevailed”? He recognized that it was a spiritual battle, and he<br />

demanded that the Israelites “Arise, cry out in the night, as the<br />

watches <strong>of</strong> the night begin; pour out your heart like water in<br />

the presence <strong>of</strong> the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives<br />

<strong>of</strong> your children . . .” (2:19 NIV). He called the people to prayer.<br />

If we are to bring the good news <strong>of</strong> the Gospel to<br />

children—children in nations around the world and children<br />

right in our own homes—we must pray. We must cry out to<br />

<strong>God</strong> for their salvation.<br />

Understand and Embrace <strong>God</strong>’s<br />

Instruction Toward Children<br />

As parents, children’s ministers, pastors, and leaders in this<br />

body <strong>of</strong> believers, we can develop a good understanding <strong>of</strong><br />

what <strong>God</strong> says about the value <strong>of</strong> children in the heavenly<br />

kingdom and <strong>God</strong>’s heart toward oppressed children. We can<br />

seek to understand what the Bible says about child evangelism<br />

and discipleship. We can embrace the roles <strong>of</strong> the family and<br />

the local church in evangelism, discipleship, and “sending out”<br />

<strong>of</strong> children into the work <strong>of</strong> ministry. There are many questions<br />

that must be asked and answered so that we can align our<br />

ministry practices with what <strong>God</strong>’s Word says about children.<br />

Minister<br />

Ministry is an action word. As we pray and develop a correct<br />

belief system based on <strong>God</strong>’s Word, we will act. For individuals,<br />

those actions may include interceding for a particular child,<br />

building relationship with a child, or meeting a need that a<br />

child may have. For congregations, those actions will include<br />

evaluation and sometimes rebuilding our ministries to<br />

include prayer for children, relational ministry to children,<br />

and programs and events that effectively evangelize and<br />

prepare children for works <strong>of</strong> ministry. Regional, national, and<br />

continental leadership will develop leaders who can effectively<br />

serve children, children’s ministers, and families. They will<br />

include the evangelism and discipleship <strong>of</strong> children in vision,<br />

strategizing, and goal-setting. They will continually speak <strong>of</strong><br />

the value <strong>of</strong> children in the kingdom <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> and the urgency<br />

<strong>of</strong> reaching them with the Gospel message.<br />

Sometimes it seems that the opposition to worldwide child<br />

evangelism is too great and our resources are too small. But<br />

<strong>God</strong>’s Word clearly states that our “Father in heaven is<br />

not willing that any <strong>of</strong> these little ones should perish”<br />

(Matthew 18:14 NIV).<br />

When we align our actions (prayer, sound theology, and<br />

ministry) with <strong>God</strong>’s Word and His will, we can be sure that He<br />

will work with us. We can be sure that He will provide all that is<br />

needed to reach and disciple this generation <strong>of</strong> children and<br />

youth.<br />

Kathy Creasy<br />

Children’s Ministry Director<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 21


22 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

CBL Update<br />

School <strong>of</strong> Practical and Advanced Studies<br />

Since our last report in the White<br />

Wing Messenger, the School <strong>of</strong> Practical<br />

and Advanced Studies (SOPAS) has<br />

conducted ten schools with 939 students<br />

receiving certificates <strong>of</strong> completion.<br />

Schools were conducted in Jamaica,<br />

Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador, Brazil,<br />

Alabama, Colorado, New York, Mexico,<br />

and Puerto Rico.<br />

CBL staff members Dr. Hector Ortiz<br />

(CBL Director), Mark Menke, Adrian<br />

Varlack, and our newest faculty member,<br />

Elias Rodriguez, served as instructors. Phil<br />

Pruitt, Jesse Yañez, and Rahadames Matos<br />

served as adjunct faculty.<br />

Each host overseer provided excellent<br />

hospitality and organization, and <strong>God</strong>’s<br />

presence was manifested in each school.<br />

Three <strong>of</strong> the schools were marked<br />

by notable encounters with the Lord.<br />

In Honduras, two students were filled<br />

with the Holy Spirit. In El Salvador,<br />

electrical power went out during an<br />

evening session, and the power <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong><br />

descended as the students worshiped<br />

and prayed. As a result, Overseer Bishop<br />

Miguel Flores reported 1 sanctified,<br />

8 Holy Spirit Baptisms, 14 healed, 29<br />

renewed in their ministries, 9 receiving<br />

prophecies, and various others who had<br />

callings confirmed in their lives. In Brazil,<br />

during a special move <strong>of</strong> the Spirit, two<br />

people were filled with the Holy Spirit,<br />

one reported healing, and various people<br />

were sanctified and renewed.<br />

We are thankful to <strong>God</strong> for His<br />

blessings and visitations!<br />

Mark Menke<br />

CBL Instructor<br />

School <strong>of</strong> Practical & Advanced Studies (SOPAS) 2010 Attendance<br />

SOPAS I Jamaica 198 March 25–28<br />

SOPAS I Argentina 84 April 28–May 2<br />

SOPAS I Honduras 271 August 10–13<br />

SOPAS I El Salvador 31 August 15–18<br />

SOPAS I Brazil 181 September 3–7<br />

SOPAS I Alabama 85 September 15–18<br />

SOPAS II Midwest, Denver, Colorado<br />

(16 English, 23 Spanish)<br />

39 September 23–26<br />

SOPAS II Northeast Spanish Region<br />

(First Term, 66; Second Term, 52)<br />

118 September 30–October 3<br />

SOPAS I Mexico Central 77 October 13–16<br />

SOPAS I Puerto Rico 37 October 28–30<br />

Total SOPAS Attendance: 939 (848 for First Term; 91 for Second Term) from March 2010 to October 2010.


Heritage Ministries<br />

News From<br />

Fields <strong>of</strong> the Wood<br />

Minister Revisits Site <strong>of</strong><br />

Dramatic Conversion<br />

On October 14, Rev. Rick Moyers<br />

(pictured at right) returned to the<br />

Fields <strong>of</strong> the Wood theme park for an<br />

anniversary <strong>of</strong> his dramatic conversion.<br />

Rick and his wife, Danna, were at the<br />

“road’s end” <strong>of</strong> their marriage when they<br />

had a “last chance weekend together,”<br />

the minister remembers. They stopped<br />

in Murphy, North Carolina, to spend the<br />

night, and Danna noticed a brochure for<br />

the Fields <strong>of</strong> the Wood biblical theme<br />

park. She suggested a trip, downplaying<br />

the “biblical” aspect.<br />

Before leaving the hotel, Moyers got<br />

high and later went “ballistic” when he<br />

saw the Ten Commandment Mountain.<br />

Wanting to leave, he conceded to at least<br />

go to the top <strong>of</strong> the mountain to admire<br />

the view. The couple came out <strong>of</strong> their<br />

car to sit at a picnic table.<br />

“I looked down at the shrubs that say<br />

‘Jesus Died for Our Sins,’ and the Spirit<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Lord began to move me,” Moyers<br />

said. “It felt like the concrete I was sitting<br />

on was moving. I sensed <strong>God</strong> speaking to<br />

me in a still, small voice. I fell down to the<br />

ground and asked <strong>God</strong> to save me. In that<br />

moment, I knew I was a changed man.”<br />

Feeling instantly delivered from a tenyear<br />

drug and alcohol addiction, Moyers<br />

drove back to Georgia with Danna,<br />

telling her they and their daughter<br />

would be attending church together that<br />

Wednesday night for the first time.<br />

Ironically, the pastor <strong>of</strong> the church<br />

Moyers visited was a pastor he’d<br />

previously cursed at and forced <strong>of</strong>f his<br />

property for trying to witness. In the next<br />

few weeks, all three family members<br />

would be baptized at church,<br />

and Moyers would begin a<br />

journey into ministry.<br />

Moyers is a licensed minister<br />

in the Baptist church in<br />

Loganville, Georgia, and has<br />

served as youth pastor, drug<br />

addiction counselor, and bus<br />

ministry volunteer. Since his conversion,<br />

Rick has returned to the park every year<br />

to celebrate his transformation.<br />

A Dying Wish to Visit Fields<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Wood<br />

A dying man made a final trek to<br />

Fields <strong>of</strong> the Wood in September, a<br />

dream fulfilled by Second Wind Dream,<br />

affiliated with Regency Hospice <strong>of</strong><br />

Hiawassee, Georgia.<br />

Everette Payne, 82, wanted to return<br />

to Fields <strong>of</strong> the Wood, where he had<br />

dated his wife. In accordance with his<br />

other last wishes, Payne and his family<br />

were transported to the park in a private<br />

luxury tour bus and received a phone<br />

call during their visit from country singer<br />

Steve Wariner. The staff <strong>of</strong> the park,<br />

including managers Wayne and Jenna<br />

Allen, provided Payne and his family with<br />

a meal and gave him a T-shirt and photo<br />

plaque from the park.<br />

Closing out the day, Payne realized<br />

the fulfillment <strong>of</strong> a more personal wish,<br />

baptizing three <strong>of</strong> his children in the<br />

park’s baptismal pool.<br />

Payne’s visit was chronicled in the<br />

September 23 edition <strong>of</strong> The Clayton<br />

Tribune newspaper.<br />

Wade Patterson<br />

Heritage Ministries Director<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 23


It is not my intention to try<br />

to spiritualize the stock market.<br />

However, history clearly shows a<br />

cyclical pattern. At a time when I<br />

was in a very interest-rate-sensitive<br />

business—real estate and homebuilding—the<br />

bank <strong>of</strong>ficer said that<br />

over a period <strong>of</strong> many years, we see<br />

about a six-year cycle.<br />

Being a Sunday school teacher<br />

who loves the Old Testament<br />

principles, patterns, and lessons, I<br />

thought <strong>of</strong> the Sabbath year that<br />

<strong>God</strong> established with Israel. They<br />

actually experienced three years <strong>of</strong><br />

24 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

provision—in the sixth year, the sixthyear<br />

crop, the seventh year, when the<br />

land would rest, and the eighth year<br />

until the harvest. It was a tangible<br />

reminder that <strong>God</strong> is our provider<br />

and is in control <strong>of</strong> everything. “But in<br />

the seventh year shall be a sabbath<br />

<strong>of</strong> rest unto the land, a sabbath for<br />

the LORD: thou shalt neither sow<br />

thy field, nor prune thy vineyard”<br />

(Leviticus 25:4).<br />

The 70 years Israel spent in<br />

Babylonian captivity were the exact<br />

number <strong>of</strong> Sabbath years they<br />

refused to keep. “To fulfill the word<br />

Stewardship Ministries<br />

How Past Market Rallies<br />

<strong>of</strong> the LORD by the mouth <strong>of</strong><br />

Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed<br />

her sabbaths: for as long as she<br />

lay desolate she kept sabbath, to<br />

fulfill threescore and ten years”<br />

(2 Chronicles 36:21).<br />

Cycles tell us that a bad year in<br />

the market most <strong>of</strong>ten is followed<br />

by five positive years. No one is giving<br />

any guarantees, but history is a<br />

great indicator.<br />

After the stock market lost much<br />

<strong>of</strong> its value in 2008 and early 2009,<br />

many investors fled the market,<br />

only to miss out on one <strong>of</strong> the most


Have Shown Staying Power<br />

dramatic rebounds in history. After<br />

hitting a low on March 9, 2009, the<br />

market soared 72 percent during<br />

the following 12-month period.<br />

What lies ahead? Although we<br />

can’t predict the future, a look at<br />

what’s happened in the past <strong>of</strong>fers<br />

a worthwhile perspective.<br />

Some investors worry that the<br />

stock market can’t possibly sustain<br />

itself after such a remarkable rally.<br />

Yet an examination <strong>of</strong> seven periods<br />

reveals how rapidly the market<br />

can rebound after bottoming out.<br />

From 1929 through 2009, losses<br />

varied widely in intensity, length,<br />

and frequency, but, in many cases,<br />

they were followed by years <strong>of</strong> gains<br />

interrupted by only the occasional<br />

down year.<br />

As this chart indicates, the stock<br />

market has produced an average<br />

gain <strong>of</strong> 55.95 percent in the first<br />

year following a major drop, 16.14<br />

percent in the second, 10.26<br />

percent in the third, 15.15 percent<br />

in the fourth, and 11.70 percent in<br />

the fifth. Some rallies have lasted<br />

even longer. (These figures are past<br />

results and are not predictive <strong>of</strong><br />

results in future periods.)<br />

A regular investing program can<br />

help take some <strong>of</strong> the emotion<br />

out <strong>of</strong> financial decision-making<br />

by reducing the temptation to<br />

abandon the market after a big<br />

gain and then trying to guess<br />

the best time to re-enter. With a<br />

systematic investment plan, mutual<br />

fund shareholders invest the same<br />

amount at regular intervals—$500<br />

a month for example—regardless<br />

<strong>of</strong> whether stock prices are<br />

rising or falling. While this<br />

strategy, known as dollar cost<br />

averaging, does not ensure a<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>it or protect against loss,<br />

it does make it possible for<br />

investors to purchase a greater<br />

number <strong>of</strong> shares when prices<br />

are low and a smaller number<br />

when they are high. It also limits<br />

the tendency to lock in losses<br />

during downswings and helps<br />

ensure participation in any<br />

eventual recovery.<br />

Jan Couch<br />

Stewardship Ministries Director<br />

1 The percent decline is based on the index value <strong>of</strong> the unmanaged Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index excluding<br />

dividends and/or distributions. Each market downturn reflects a period <strong>of</strong> more than 80 days and a decline <strong>of</strong> about<br />

15% or more in the S&P 500}s value.<br />

2 The returns shown include reinvested dividends and/or distributions but do not reflect the effect <strong>of</strong> sales charges,<br />

commissions or expenses.<br />

3 This figure represents the average <strong>of</strong> the 16 returns shown directly above.<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 25


Helping native missionaries<br />

(COGOP pastors/ministers)<br />

go farther and faster with<br />

the Gospel <strong>of</strong> Jesus<br />

Christ has been the<br />

cry from the nations for<br />

many years. Can you<br />

imagine walking as<br />

your only means <strong>of</strong><br />

transportation to carry<br />

the Good News into<br />

your community or<br />

city? Think for a<br />

moment about sore<br />

feet, blisters, cuts, bruises,<br />

dust, or mud-covered<br />

feet from monsoon rains!<br />

Would you be challenged if<br />

this was your only means <strong>of</strong><br />

transportation to share<br />

the love <strong>of</strong> Jesus with<br />

your neighbor?<br />

26 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

Most <strong>of</strong> us are safe and secure within<br />

our comfort zones and never even<br />

think in such terms. However, many<br />

<strong>of</strong> our <strong>Church</strong> family live out these<br />

circumstances on a daily basis. So<br />

you may ask, “How can I change that<br />

scenario?” or “What can I do to help?”<br />

The answer is as simple as helping<br />

to provide “Bicycles for Missions.” All<br />

around our globe, the necessity for<br />

such simple transportation is prevalent,<br />

and missionary ministers are overjoyed<br />

when <strong>God</strong> uses you and me to supply<br />

such meager needs.<br />

Recently, National Overseer<br />

Ntambwe Beya was able to purchase<br />

75 bicycles for ministers in Democratic<br />

Republic <strong>of</strong> Congo because <strong>of</strong> the<br />

contributions given through Harvest<br />

Partners and Helping Hand Ministries.<br />

Applause, thanks, and deep gratitude<br />

are certainly in order to all those who<br />

have participated in this project.<br />

However, this is only the beginning!<br />

Most especially across the vast<br />

continents <strong>of</strong> Africa and Asia, there<br />

still remain massive needs to provide<br />

bicycles to assist our pastors, district<br />

superintendents, and evangelists who<br />

are willing to carry the Gospel on<br />

two wheels in order to impact<br />

Kingdom ministry.<br />

To take a spin <strong>of</strong>f the words <strong>of</strong> a<br />

familiar credit card commercial that<br />

has been embedded in our minds:<br />

“Bicycle—$100. Smiles on pastors’<br />

faces—immeasurable. Spreading<br />

the Gospel on wheels—priceless.”<br />

Get inspired! Think about the many<br />

ways that you can involve your<br />

congregation, youth, and children<br />

to provide “Bicycles for Missions.”<br />

Follow through!<br />

“But this I say, He which soweth<br />

sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and<br />

he which soweth bountifully shall reap<br />

also bountifully. Every man according<br />

as he purposeth in his heart, so let him<br />

give; not grudgingly, or <strong>of</strong> necessity:<br />

for <strong>God</strong> loveth a cheerful giver. And<br />

<strong>God</strong> is able to make all grace abound<br />

toward you; that ye, always having all<br />

sufficiency in all things, may abound<br />

to every good work: (As it is written,<br />

He hath dispersed abroad; he hath<br />

given to the poor: his righteousness<br />

remaineth for ever. Now he that<br />

ministereth seed to the sower both<br />

minister bread for your food, and<br />

multiply your seed sown, and increase<br />

the fruits <strong>of</strong> your righteousness)”<br />

(2 Corinthians 9:6–10).<br />

Contact our Global Outreach Office<br />

for more details on providing “Bicycles<br />

for Missions”:<br />

Phone: (423) 559-5205<br />

E-mail: harvestpartners@cogop.org<br />

Online donations: www.cogop.org.<br />

Click Global Outreach tab; go to Harvest<br />

Partners or Helping Hand tab; click<br />

Donate Button to respond online.<br />

Annette Taylor<br />

International Director,<br />

Harvest Partners Ministry


National Bishop Benjamin Aldana and his wife, Sister Juddy,<br />

began to share the vision for ministry scheduled for the weekend<br />

in October 2010 for the nation <strong>of</strong> Colombia. A capacity crowd<br />

was expected for the weekend, and a capacity crowd was the<br />

exact response.<br />

Friday morning began the weekend <strong>of</strong> ministry with a pastoral<br />

marriage seminar for all the pastors in the nation. The Lord met with<br />

us during the morning through worship, instruction, communication<br />

exercises, and an amazing time <strong>of</strong> prayer and healing.<br />

The Friday evening session was the conference opening service,<br />

and it began with an explosion <strong>of</strong> worship as the national worship<br />

team led us in celebration to the Lord. The power and presence <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>God</strong> was mighty throughout the evening, and more than 40 people<br />

responded to the invitation to know Christ as Savior.<br />

Saturday was a full day <strong>of</strong> ministry as young women shared the<br />

Word <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong>, worship, and the dance ministry as well as other<br />

forms <strong>of</strong> creative and anointed ministry.<br />

Again, at the day’s end, there was an<br />

outpouring <strong>of</strong> the presence <strong>of</strong> the Lord<br />

through ministry.<br />

Colombia<br />

Sunday was an amazing day as it seemed<br />

our people from the entire nation began<br />

pouring into Bogota for this specific time <strong>of</strong> ministry. In the morning,<br />

the Word came for the necessity <strong>of</strong> the indwelling <strong>of</strong> the Holy Spirit.<br />

In response, more than a hundred women came to receive the<br />

baptism, with many receiving this wonderful gift.<br />

In the afternoon, there was a wonderful dramatic presentation<br />

followed by the Word. That evening, in an incredible response during<br />

a miraculous prayer line, we witnessed the outpouring <strong>of</strong> the Holy<br />

Spirit with the evidence <strong>of</strong> tongues, instantaneous physical healings,<br />

salvation experiences, other healings, and the move <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> in so<br />

many areas <strong>of</strong> need.<br />

Thank <strong>God</strong> for His servants Benjamin and Juddy<br />

Aldana and for the anointed work <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> they are<br />

contributing in the nation <strong>of</strong> Colombia. Thank<br />

<strong>God</strong> for Felicia Payano, who is an anointed vessel<br />

<strong>of</strong> ministry and translation. And I thank <strong>God</strong> for<br />

the opportunity to have been a<br />

participant and witness to the<br />

anointing and work <strong>of</strong> the Lord<br />

in Colombia.<br />

National Women’s Conference<br />

Cathy Payne<br />

Women’s Ministries Director<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 27


<strong>Church</strong> News<br />

Dedication <strong>of</strong> New Worship Center at Harvest Ministries <strong>Church</strong> in Roanoke, Virginia<br />

On August 8, 2010, Senior Pastor Milton Atkins led 340 people in dedicating the new Harvest Ministries Worship Center:<br />

• To the honor and glory <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> the Father, <strong>God</strong> the Son, and <strong>God</strong> the Holy Spirit<br />

• To the carrying out <strong>of</strong> the Great Commission<br />

• To the teaching <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong>’s Word<br />

• To the preaching <strong>of</strong> the Gospel<br />

• To the worship <strong>of</strong> the Lord<br />

• To be a house <strong>of</strong> prayer<br />

• To the fellowship <strong>of</strong> believers and the communion <strong>of</strong> the saints<br />

• To the service <strong>of</strong> mankind<br />

• To the preservation and proclamation <strong>of</strong> divine truth<br />

This landmark day was accompanied with great rejoicing and praise to the Lord for His faithfulness during this stage<br />

in the history <strong>of</strong> this local church. It began five years earlier, when the Holy Spirit moved upon the church to purchase<br />

23 acres <strong>of</strong> land just a couple <strong>of</strong> miles from their existing church. The congregation had outgrown that building, and,<br />

with only five acres, that property presented real challenges to any additions.<br />

But <strong>God</strong> had a great plan! After the church stepped out in faith and obedience and purchased property sufficient to<br />

accommodate growth, <strong>God</strong> sent a buyer for the old property just at the right time. And not just any buyer—it was the<br />

specific one who fit into His overall plan. The old church was sold to a Seventh Day Adventist congregation, with whom<br />

Harvest Ministries entered a lease agreement permitting them to continue to worship in their familiar surroundings on<br />

Sundays and Wednesdays while their new building was being constructed.<br />

The new property included a 3,410-square-foot brick ranch house, which was ideal for conversion to <strong>of</strong>fice space.<br />

That building was renovated to accommodate church <strong>of</strong>fices, and the staff was able to continue their duties there and<br />

oversee construction <strong>of</strong> the new facility. The Worship Center contains 9,490 square feet on the upper level and 8,800<br />

square feet on the lower level. The combined square footage <strong>of</strong> the two buildings is 21,700, almost twice the size <strong>of</strong> the<br />

old church.<br />

After the site work was completed and the contractor was ready to begin pouring concrete for the building, the<br />

church gathered for a very memorable outdoor service at the site on September 20, 2009. A Bible was placed in each<br />

<strong>of</strong> the four corners <strong>of</strong> the building, symbolizing the commitment to <strong>God</strong>’s Word. Each person wrote their name on a tile<br />

that was later covered in concrete, thus becoming a part <strong>of</strong> the foundation <strong>of</strong> this building.<br />

Every Sunday now, the new Worship Center bustles with activity. Both levels are filled with activities designed<br />

especially for kids, youth, and adults. The loving congregation welcomes visitors who come to check out the new<br />

building, and many <strong>of</strong> them have decided they like it so well that they have become part <strong>of</strong> the family.<br />

Praise <strong>God</strong> for all He has done in this stage <strong>of</strong> our journey and for the future into which He is leading us!<br />

28 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

Veronica Venable<br />

Roanoke, Virginia


<strong>Church</strong> News continued<br />

Altoona, Alabama<br />

On Sunday, September 12, the Altoona<br />

<strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong> presented a<br />

check for $250 to the Pine Grove United<br />

Methodist <strong>Church</strong> to be used for building<br />

a new church. The Children’s <strong>Church</strong><br />

raised the money for the church. Pine<br />

Grove’s building was destroyed by a fire<br />

several months earlier, due to arson. It<br />

was a beautiful, 150-year-old church. The<br />

money was given in memory <strong>of</strong> Maria<br />

Leighann Patterson, who was a member<br />

<strong>of</strong> our Children’s <strong>Church</strong> when she died<br />

on June 24, 2010, at nine months old.<br />

Dora-New Haven, Alabama<br />

Our youth had free shaved ice for the<br />

housing community <strong>of</strong> Sumiton. This was<br />

done as a means <strong>of</strong> outreach to invite<br />

youth to come to church. Everyone had<br />

a good time, and the youth witnessed to<br />

several individuals.<br />

Hackleburg, Alabama<br />

Hackleburg is determined to help<br />

reform America! <strong>God</strong> has called us to<br />

pray and fast for a breakthrough. He has<br />

brought revival to our city. We witnessed<br />

many miracles in September services with<br />

Guests Tim Sheets, Dutch Sheets, and<br />

Eddie James. Our faith is growing as we<br />

pledge ourselves to be a house <strong>of</strong> prayer!<br />

We have begun to pray against<br />

strongholds such as drug and alcohol<br />

abuse in our city. Local law enforcement<br />

have found more than five meth labs<br />

and arrested several individuals this<br />

month alone. We refuse to let the enemy<br />

continue to corrupt our friends and<br />

families. <strong>God</strong> plans for us to CONNECT<br />

people to Jesus, GROW them into<br />

disciples, and release them to SERVE.<br />

Thank you, Pastor Clint, for your vision<br />

and leadership.<br />

Winfield City Family Center (WCFC):<br />

Organized October 3, 2010<br />

Wow, what an awesome day yesterday<br />

at WCFC! From the very first opening<br />

prayer to the last amen, the presence <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>God</strong> was upon us. You know, without the<br />

anointing, we’re not much anyway. Three<br />

years in the making, and we now have<br />

a local <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong> in<br />

Winfield, Alabama. Praise the Lord!<br />

We were so honored to have local<br />

Area Presbyter John B. Butler, State<br />

Overseer L. V. Jones, and North America<br />

Presbyter Sam Clements with us for this<br />

momentous occasion. Bishop Clements<br />

brought an outstanding message. He<br />

preached from Acts 20:32. What a timely<br />

word to build us up! Brother Clements<br />

also came bearing gifts, a check for<br />

$3,000. Wow, what a day! These monies<br />

will be applied to the purchase price <strong>of</strong><br />

the property located on Highway 129 just<br />

north <strong>of</strong> Winfield and <strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> I-22. One day,<br />

our goal is to erect a church building on<br />

this property. After the message, we then<br />

went into the conference and formally<br />

organized the church. I still like the old<br />

term, “We set her forth.”<br />

I am still rejoicing over the 23 members<br />

we accepted yesterday. Already several<br />

others have approached with a desire to<br />

become part <strong>of</strong> this family. Great things<br />

are ahead! I’ll leave you with what Bishop<br />

Clements said to us: “Think big, very big.”<br />

Pastor Dewayne Smith<br />

Winfield, Alabama<br />

Covington Drive <strong>Church</strong> Small<br />

Group Leadership Training<br />

and Development<br />

Moving away from the same old<br />

methods <strong>of</strong> maintaining, serving, and<br />

exhorting ourselves and moving toward<br />

outreach, evangelism, and meeting<br />

the needs <strong>of</strong> our communities was<br />

the theme emphasized at our first<br />

Small Group Leadership Training and<br />

Development Seminar held on May<br />

7, 8 at the Covington Drive <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong>. We were honored and<br />

blessed to have as our guest instructor<br />

Bishop David Bryan, our Global Outreach<br />

Director from Cleveland, Tennessee. The<br />

seminar was moderated by our pastor,<br />

Lloyd G. Phipps, Sr., and consisted <strong>of</strong> three<br />

sessions.<br />

In his presentations, Bishop David<br />

Bryan expressed that, in order to<br />

minister effectively and fulfill the Great<br />

Commission Christ gave the church, we<br />

must build relationships based on trust<br />

and respect. He emphasized that those<br />

kinds <strong>of</strong> relationships cannot be built<br />

solely through large group activities,<br />

such as what occurs mainly on a Sunday<br />

morning, but through the intimacy <strong>of</strong><br />

small, vitally functioning, ongoing small<br />

groups that are meeting the needs <strong>of</strong><br />

the whole man spiritually, emotionally,<br />

and physically. In order for this to be<br />

accomplished, Bishop Bryan stated that<br />

we must get out <strong>of</strong> our comfort zone<br />

and truly start to minister. He shared<br />

that this must be a conscious effort on<br />

everyone’s part.<br />

Berchard Jacobs<br />

Georgia<br />

State Children’s Intensive at<br />

Lynchburg, Virginia<br />

The Lynchburg <strong>Church</strong> recently hosted<br />

our state children’s intensive workshop.<br />

On Saturday, April 10, Kathy Creasy and<br />

Sandy Knowles blessed us with a wealth<br />

<strong>of</strong> information and ideas for children’s<br />

ministry. They challenged children’s<br />

workers and pastors from across the state<br />

to examine the current program and<br />

ministry at the local level to make sure<br />

we were indeed raising disciples, future<br />

leaders, and strong Christians. We prayed<br />

and believed together for revival with our<br />

children’s ministries.<br />

Member News<br />

Laura Kline Jackson<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Hamlet<br />

COGOP in Virginia<br />

recently released<br />

the radio single<br />

“Teach Me to Pray”<br />

to 1,300 radio<br />

stations through Higgins Music<br />

Group <strong>of</strong> Nashville, Tennessee.<br />

Since 2008, Jackson has had<br />

two songs on the country<br />

gospel charts, including “In<br />

the Fourth Watch,” which was<br />

number 10 and “Teach Me to<br />

Pray” at number 56. To learn<br />

more about Jackson’s music,<br />

visit www.myspace.com/<br />

lauraklinelarkmusic.<br />

WWM FEBRUARY 2011 29


Testimony <strong>of</strong> Healing<br />

My granddaughter, Jennifer, became ill around Easter 2010. She went to the doctor<br />

complaining with headaches that became more intense each day. On Monday,<br />

the doctor treated it as a sinus infection with antibiotics and pain medication. On<br />

Wednesday morning, the headache was more intense, and her left arm shook for a<br />

few seconds. She was admitted to the hospital for tests. That afternoon, the results<br />

showed a blood splatter on the right side <strong>of</strong> her brain.<br />

Many believers were praying for Jennifer, including a prayer phone line and<br />

Christians from other churches. On Friday, the doctor ordered another CT scan that<br />

showed no blood leakage. The doctors decided this must have been an artifact,<br />

something they could not explain.<br />

The Lord healed my granddaughter, and she had no more blood leakage in the<br />

brain. Still, she had urinary problems with great pain so the doctor ordered another<br />

blood test to check the adrenal glands. Because <strong>of</strong> medication that Jennifer was<br />

on, she was unable to go back to work. All she could do was stay in the bed. The<br />

following Monday, the results from the blood test came back negative for the<br />

adrenal glands with pain and headaches continuing. Since no specialist appointment<br />

could be made for weeks, we were all concerned that she would become addicted to<br />

this pain medication. Also, she wasn’t eating.<br />

In His Presence<br />

MINISTERS<br />

Marion Alva Wilson<br />

Marion Alva Wilson <strong>of</strong> Owensboro,<br />

Kentucky, passed away on Friday,<br />

November 5, 2010.<br />

Bishop Wilson, husband to Joyce,<br />

served as State Overseer in West<br />

Virginia, an international evangelist,<br />

state youth leader, and pastor <strong>of</strong> various<br />

churches in Kentucky, Ohio, Florida,<br />

and Georgia. During his lifetime, he<br />

preached more than 12,000 sermons<br />

and saw thousands <strong>of</strong> conversions. He<br />

was a licensed minister for 60 years.<br />

30 WWM FEBRUARY 2011<br />

David M. Arias<br />

David M. Arias, 71, <strong>of</strong> Sylmar,<br />

California, passed away on Thursday,<br />

November 11, 2010.<br />

Bishop Arias, husband to Gloria<br />

O. Arias, was a licensed minister for<br />

39 years, serving the <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong> as State Overseer for<br />

California Spanish as well as National<br />

Overseer in Uruguay and a member <strong>of</strong><br />

the Questions and Subjects Committee.<br />

Iris Davis-Walker<br />

Fort Lauderdale, Florida; July 2, 2010;<br />

licensed minister for 25 years.<br />

MEMBER<br />

Gertrude Phipps Persinger<br />

Trion, Georgia; March 22, 2010.<br />

My daughter, Peggy (Jennifer’s<br />

mom), came to work with me the next<br />

morning, crying, saying, “Mama, what<br />

are we going to do?” After we prayed,<br />

I told her we were going to go pray<br />

until the Lord healed Jennifer.<br />

That afternoon, we went to<br />

Jennifer’s house. We prayed for<br />

approximately an hour without<br />

stopping, and the Lord began to bless.<br />

Jennifer was slain in the Spirit, and the<br />

Lord healed her. Her husband, Danny,<br />

was also slain in the Spirit.<br />

Jennifer went to work Thursday<br />

and took no more pain medication.<br />

But, praise <strong>God</strong>, Jennifer wanted us<br />

to come back and pray for her on the<br />

following Monday. Her father, Ronnie,<br />

was there. He put oil on his hands<br />

just like the rest <strong>of</strong> us, and he prayed<br />

for her. You could not hear him say a<br />

word, but the tears were rolling down<br />

his cheeks. He was able to witness<br />

the power <strong>of</strong> the Lord. Jennifer was<br />

touched again right before his eyes,<br />

and he could see the difference.<br />

Since then, Jennifer has had<br />

no more problems. Through this<br />

experience, however, she and Danny<br />

have received the Holy Ghost, and her<br />

father now goes to church. We praise<br />

Him every day for this miracle and all<br />

His blessings. What an awesome <strong>God</strong><br />

we serve!<br />

Betty Bennet<br />

Member <strong>of</strong> Valdosta, Georgia, <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>God</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prophecy</strong><br />

New <strong>Church</strong>es<br />

Franklinton, Louisiana<br />

organized on October 19, 2010;<br />

Pastor Shirley Vicks.<br />

Winfield, Alabama<br />

organized on October 3, 2010;<br />

Pastor Cecil Dewayne Smith.<br />

Olivehurst, California<br />

organized on August 27, 2010;<br />

Bishop William E. Gunter.


MESSAGES<br />

DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor<br />

While this line <strong>of</strong><br />

thinking is commonplace<br />

in the business world, it<br />

Love Is Not . . .<br />

“Though I speak with the tongues <strong>of</strong> men<br />

and <strong>of</strong> angels, but have not love, I have<br />

become sounding brass or a clanging<br />

cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1 NKJV).<br />

unfortunately also makes<br />

inroads into our personal<br />

relationships. You attend church with a<br />

group <strong>of</strong> people you love and care for<br />

and one misspoken comment or lack<br />

<strong>of</strong> appreciation sends you to retreat<br />

As I drove to work early one morning, a and you vow to never again “darken<br />

radio commercial came on spotlighting a those doors.” A perceived cold-hearted<br />

local restaurant. Being back in Tennessee Facebook comment riles your political<br />

for a few months, we had already heard or moral sensibilities and you click<br />

friends talking about this hip new lunch “de-friend,” and you’re done. A friend’s<br />

spot. At first, they sang its praises, talking supposed apathy toward you drives you<br />

about how they’d enjoyed several<br />

further into isolation, creating a problem<br />

delicious meals there. Soon after, the where there may not have been.<br />

service and the food didn’t seem so<br />

We don’t tend to clean up these<br />

good, so it began to slide down on their messes because we don’t have to. We can<br />

collective culinary totem pole. Before my move on, carrying only bitter memories<br />

wife and I would have had a chance to and feelings. But it shouldn’t be that<br />

join the bandwagon, the former fans are way. In the familiar “love” chapter <strong>of</strong> 1<br />

already poised to move on.<br />

Corinthians 13, among other things,<br />

You could have dozens <strong>of</strong> wonderful love is characterized as not being “easily<br />

experiences, but, for some reason, one angered,” according to one version. The<br />

misfire is what you’ll remember. In our Message <strong>of</strong>fers up the “love” checklist<br />

town, we have shells <strong>of</strong> businesses, retail this way:<br />

shops, and restaurants that once had a “Love never gives up. Love cares<br />

good thing going, only to be cut short more for others than for self. Love<br />

by a bad experience and word-<strong>of</strong>-mouth. doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love<br />

We are less likely to stick with a company doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled<br />

through difficulties today because we head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t<br />

don’t have to. We have choices. We can always ‘me first,’ Doesn’t fly <strong>of</strong>f the<br />

easily close the door on them and open handle, Doesn’t keep score <strong>of</strong> the sins<br />

the door with another.<br />

<strong>of</strong> others, Doesn’t revel when others<br />

grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering <strong>of</strong><br />

truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts <strong>God</strong><br />

always, Always looks for the best, Never<br />

looks back, But keeps going to the end”<br />

(1 Corinthians 13:4–7).<br />

For me, relationship is the key. If<br />

you constantly “fly <strong>of</strong>f the handle”<br />

with someone in particular, chances<br />

are they’ve cashed in every bit <strong>of</strong> love<br />

currency you gave them, or maybe they<br />

didn’t have any to begin with. The closer<br />

we are, the more likely we are to work<br />

past the disappointments and difficulties<br />

and believe the best about the other.<br />

We shouldn’t purposely provoke our<br />

friends, but on the other hand, the strong<br />

bond <strong>of</strong> love we share means we don’t<br />

completely shut the door on someone<br />

because <strong>of</strong> a perceived <strong>of</strong>fense. We walk<br />

through it, however uncomfortable it<br />

may be.<br />

I know . . . it’s easier said than done.<br />

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child,<br />

I understood as a child, I thought as a<br />

child; but when I became a man, I put<br />

away childish things. For now we see in<br />

a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.<br />

Now I know in part, but then I shall<br />

know just as I also am known. And now<br />

abide faith, hope, love, these three;<br />

but the greatest <strong>of</strong> these is love”<br />

(1 Corinthians 13:11–13 NKJV).<br />

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WWM FEBRUARY 2011 31


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