There’s No One Like Mother | Stop Thinking about it and Just Do it
The Official Magazine of the Oregon District UPCI
| Fashioned for Purpose | NAM Giving
accent
Happy Mother’s Day
May 2014
Oregon District Apostolic Accent Volume 50, Number 5
www.ORUPC.com Editor……………………..........…………….Kassie Meyer kassiemeyer@hotmail.com (503) 689-3589 District Officials Superintendent……………......……………Ted Graves Secretary/Treasurer……..........……..Dan Sargeant Presbyters Section 1…………………......…..…………Gary Gleason Section 2……………………........…M. Dennis Johnson Section 3………………………......……..Kevin Goodwin Section 4…………………………......Steven L. Johnson Honorary Board Member M. David Johnson North American Missions Director…………………………….......…..Steve Hanson Secretary…………………….……….....…Virgil Alldritt Global Missions Director…………………………….......David Reynolds Apostolic Man Director……………………………..……......Mark Edday Ladies Ministries Director…………………………......….Geanice Langley Secretary…………………...…….....…….Rachel Sparks Sunday School Director………………………….…......…Darrell Sparks Secretary…………....………………….....…..Joe Higgins Oregon Youth President………………………….......…Shane Graves Secretary………………………………......……Kevin Neu Spanish Ministries Director……………………………………......Fito Avenia Life in Focus Coordinator…...........Bill Tittsworth Prison Ministry Coordinator….....….Doug Lethin Media Missions Director……......David P. Johnson A.C.T.S. President………...….......M. Dennis Johnson Senior Quiz Coordinator.…......…..Brian Huffman Junior Quiz Coordinator.…......…Jonathan Toews
Editors Note Several years ago my husband, son and I were taking a road trip down to West Virginia to a church service when we found ourselves on back roads covered with dirt and gravel. Our instincts had told us to stay on the freeway and that will take us there but we went ahead and did as the GPS said. We had thought that our GPS was going to get us to our destination the quickest way but we thought wrong. I remember those roads so well because all I could think about was, what if we get stranded out here? Who will help us? Some parts of the Mid-west give me the he-bee-jeebees and this was one of those times. As we were heading on the dirt road we vowed never to do that again. We did eventually make it to our destination but we traveled through parts of West Virginia that I never care to travel through again. You would think we would have learned from that experience… but when we were in Indiana it happened again. Although we were smart enough this time to turn around and head back after only a short time on the dirt road covered with pot holes. However, that one did end up costing us a lot of money as we needed like $900 worth of repairs after that trip from hitting one of those holes. I’m so thankful that our heavenly father is not like a GPS. A GPS is suppose to get you to your destination the quickest, most efficient way but sometimes it gives you the wrong route, it’s road maps are old, it loses signal, it actually takes you to the wrong place or that location cannot be found. When we are walking with God, He never directs us incorrectly… He is ALWAYS there guiding our steps…and He always knows how to get where we need to go. I’ve found that when I need direction in my life the best place to go is to my knees. He always meets me there whether I feel Him or not. He will never lead me astray! And when potholes do come along in life, He knows just what to do and empowers me to handle them or gives me the faith to stand strong. He equips! A GPS can be good but it can be bad too…Jesus is always good! His goodness and mercy endure forever! So, the next time you find yourself on an unfamiliar path and heading in a direction your instincts tell you is not right, pray and seek God’s face because He will direct you to the right path!
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Kassie Meyer
Inside this Issue Articles/Columns 2 Editors Note KASSIE MEYER 4 There’s No One Like Mother TED GRAVES 8 Stop Thinking About it and Just Do It JR MEYER 10 Fashioned for Purpose GEANICE LANGLEY 12 Single Parent - God Sees You! Right Where You Are DAVID REYNOLDS
Promotions
6 Missionaries in June
GLOBAL MISSIONS
10 Mother’s Memorial
LADIES MINISTRIES
14 NAM Giving NORTH AMERICAN MISSIONS
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There’s No One Like Mother By Ted Graves
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Verse 1 One touch of her hand and the world’s a better place Problems become smaller by the smile on her face I’ve seen a little child, watched his fears quietly calm When in a crowded room he sees her, there’s no one like Mom Verse 2 I’ve seen her on her knees, I’ve heard her call my name Her prayers live on in my memory and I’ll never be the same There’s a special place up in Heaven prepared for Mom alone There she’ll rest from all her labor in God’s eternal home Chorus There’s no one like Mother, and there never will be Her cooking and caring are still a part of me I’ll always remember my happy family But there’s no one like Mother, and there never will be -Words & Music by Terry Gunn
T
his month we celebrate a special day set aside for moms. Moms are some of the most influential people in the world. George Washington said, “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.” Even one of the greatest presidents gave credit to his mother. I believe we too, should give honor where honor is due. I heard a preacher the other day give his wife all the praise for his children’s ability to quote scriptures and the knowledge of the Word of God. In the day and hour in which we live, our children must be raised and trained in the admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). We must have children that know the judgments, statutes and mercies of the Lord.
When I was young, most moms were able to stay home to take care of the children and help train them. Sadly, today daycares and preschools get our children for many hours each day. Since children will adopt the values of those they spend the most time with, thank God for good Godly and moral teachers that are in place to invest in our kids. This present world is telling us that lying, cheating and immorality are ok. If we don’t have a generation that knows the difference from right and wrong, we are in trouble. In fact, we are there already. When I hear of a rape or killing, my heart is crushed for the destruction that is taking place. Today I want to thank Godfearing moms that are bringing their children up to know Him. I believe the days of this world are numbered and the coming of
the Lord is soon. So let’s bring up a generation that will do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.◊ ____________________________ Ted Graves is the Pastor of Apostolic Worship Center in Gresham, Oregon. He also serves as the Superintendent of the Oregon District.
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Date
Global Missionary Service In Oregon May 27th- June 1st
SHALM Allan & Georgene
Pakistan & Malaysia The Shalms received career missionary appointment in 1980. After becoming General Superintendent of Pakistan in 1994, Brother Shalm planned a series of major crusades which saw the work grow from 325 churches and preaching points to almost 3,060 churches and preaching points by the time they left Pakistan in January 2012. They helped raise the funds to buy property or construct 40 churches in India and Pakistan as well as funds to buy property for a Bible college in New Delhi, India, and build a new Bible college in Lahore, Pakistan. The Shalms moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in January 2012 and are now travelling throughout the Asia and Pacific regions, teaching, evangelizing and promoting end time Apostolic revival. This poster and other info is available online at www.globalmissions.com.
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July 2013
Date
In Oregon June 17th-22nd Global Missionary Service
Paul and Stephanie Rivero
Paul and Stephanie Rivero were appointed missionaries to Costa Rica in 2007. They began pastoring a church in Pavas, Costa Rica, near the capital city of San Jose. They also started a daughter work out of their church. Brother Rivero teaches in the Bible school, and Brother and Sister Rivero have served as the Sunday school coordinators in Costa Rica and have helped with the national leadership. They plan to move forward in discipleship, evangelism, and in training other ministers to help the work in Costa Rica reach new heights and have greater revival.
This poster and other info is available online at www.globalmissions.com.
January 2013
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Stop Thinking about it and Just DO IT! By JR Meyer
John 2:1-7 NKJV “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.” In this text, it records the first of countless miracles that Jesus performed. John the writer said at the conclusion of his book, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” And so with the first mention of his miracle we want to pay attention to foundational truths that are established. Mary the mother of Jesus spoke very profound words that still echo today and will forever resound in Eternity. She turned to the servants and commanded them, “Whatever He says to you, Do It” In essence, she said, Stop thinking about it, and Just Do it. Don’t question it. Don’t try to reason it. Don’t try to make sense about it. Just Do Whatever Jesus tells you to do. I’m all for planning and I think it is necessary to plan, to have vision, to have direction, to train. Let’s not confuse that with what this passage is teaching. When it comes
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to the Commands of Jesus, there is nothing to think about. Just do them, and God will take care of the rest!!!! There is Blessing in Obedience. Examples of People that didn’t think about it, but just did it!! Abraham – offered his only son, who he waited for over 25 years for, unto God as a sacrifice. Noah – built an ark without it ever raining before. No questions asked. His attitude was got to go get some gopher wood. We are going to do this thing!!! Joshua and the Children of Israel – Marched around Jericho for 6 days, and on the seventh day they let out a shout. Naaman – Elisha the prophet told the Namaan to go wash himself 7 times in the Jordan River, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean. Gideon and his army of 300 – took pitchers, put lamps in them and went out against the army Luke 17:14 “So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.” These lepers could have looked at their flesh, and said we have no right to go show ourselves to the priest. I can’t tell any difference. They could have reasoned themselves out of a miracle, but instead they said listen I don’t walk by sight but by Faith. Notice the next verse says, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned and glorified God.” The point that is taken from this context is that you will never see the Work of God, until you Stop Thinking about it, and you just do it!!
These signs SHALL follow them that Believe!!! In my Name…. Jesus said,” If you believe on me as the Scripture hath said, out of your belly SHALL flow rivers of living water.” Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you SHALL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) How many of us at Christmas time sit there and think about the gift that has our name on it? How many of you think, they spent time to go get this, they spent money to purchase this, they spent energy to wrap this, to bring this to me... NO, if you are a kid, you can barely have time to say thank you before the bow is ripped to shreds, before the ribbon is torn, and wrapping paper flying everywhere. We have forgotten what it’s like to be a kid in the Kingdom of God. For we serve a great Father, who loves us, and died for us, and rose again, and he promised us victory in him. He promised us joy, peace and righteousness in the Holy Ghost. Peter started to walk on water, but he was distracted and fell, but Jesus came and helped him up. Paul said, Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of my faith. If God has authored something in your life, and spoke to you from His word the truth, He can’t finish your faith until you stop thinking about it, and just do it What miracle do you need today? Are you out of wine? Are you blind and can’t see? Are you
lame? Deaf? James 5:13-16 NKJV 13 Is there anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone among you cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much Stop thinking about Praying, -Pray Stop thinking about Faith -Trust God Stop thinking about giving, -Give Stop thinking about teaching bible studies, -- Teach the Lost Stop thinking about submitting to God, -- Submit Stop thinking about Repenting, -- Repent Stop thinking about receiving the Holy Ghost, -- Receive It!!! Stop thinking about having revival, -- Have Revival◊ ____________________________ JJR Meyer is a North American Missionary and the pastor of Grace Point Ministries in Portland, Oregon. He also serves as the Section 1 North American Mission Director for the Oregon District. He graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree from Christian Life College in Stockton, California and has been in the ministry for almost 20 years.
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The 2014 Mother’s Memorial offering is due by June 20th, 2014. Please send your offering to Sis. Rachel Sparks. 6720 SW 198th Aloha, OR 97007 10 APOSTOLIC ACCENT May 2014
“Fashioned for Purpose” By Geanice Langley
We
would like to thank everyone that has given to Mother’s Memorial down through the years. Only time and eternity will reveal the souls saved or helped because of your giving. It is such a great privilege to take the Whole Gospel to the Whole World by your Mother’s Memorial dollars! Our theme this year is “Fashioned for Purpose.” We truly were designed for purpose in God’s Kingdom. Giving is the purpose Jesus came to this earth. He came to give the ultimate sacrifice, His life. So, in order to let the whole world know about this ultimate sacrifice, we must give of ourselves by service and by our sacrificial giving. We would like to encourage you to pray about your Mother’s Memorial offering this year. The Lord knows the needs that will be presented to the National Ladies Committee this year. We want to be able to meet all the needs that are presented. Every one is a worthy cause. Raising money is a necessary part of any endeavor. The world works hard to raise funds because they believe in their cause, and so many of their causes are contrary to the Word of God. But they believe in what they are doing. We have a cause that is the greatest cause in all the world – to evangelize our world, to take care of the widow,
the orphan, troubled young people, educate Foreign Bible Students, provide washers and dryers to our missionary wives and adopt babies into Apostolic homes. Our causes are worthy of your offering! We must believe that we are making a difference in lives of people. We must believe that we are fulfilling God’s purpose for us when we give. So be not weary in well doing for in due season, you will reap if you faint not. We are nearing the end of our age. The Lord is soon to return. He admonishes us to occupy until He comes. We cannot stop giving – He gave until He gave His life. We must give our
best until He returns. God bless you for giving again in our 2014 Mother’s Memorial offering. May you be blessed by Him abundantly!◊ ____________________________ Geanice Langley is a Pastor’s wife in Kalamath Falls, Oregon. She also serves as the Ladies President for the state of Oregon.
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Single Parent - God Sees You! Right Where You Are
By David Reynolds
“And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept� (Genesis 21:14-16).
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“I am a discouraged single
tragedy was not of God’s making, God in His infinite mercy saw parent with two small children. I Hagar’s tears and heard the voice feel so alone and inadequate to of the lad, where he was. raise these children. Can you help One of the things you have not me?” said, but I know is there, is a lot I hear your cry of frustration of shame and blame. Shame of and loneliness and you are not the mistakes you have made and alone. You are certainly not alone what you think others are saying in this problem for there are many about your situation. Blame for ‘Hagars’, male and female, just your former partner, of what he/ like you across this land that feel she did or did not do which caused just like you do—all alone. The the rift in your relationship. good news is you do not have to Divorce is never God’s plan, but continue in this loneliness. God it is certainly not God’s plan for you sees you right where you are! now to live with condemnation God may not choose to change and bitterness. God expects you your circumstances but He will now to make right the things you walk beside you and give you the can and accept the rest. God will wisdom and the strength to raise never shame you. He will accept those beautiful children. you, right where you are. “And God heard the voice of You may be the lad; and where you are due Divorce is never God’s the angel of plan, but it is certainly not to the mistakes of God called to God’s plan for you now to your own making, Hagar out of live with condemnation or you may be heaven, and where you are and bitterness. said unto because of no her, what aileth thee, Hagar? Fear fault of your own. It really doesn’t not; for God hath heard the voice matter now, God sees you now, of the lad where he is” (Genesis right where you are. He will have 21:14-15). mercy, right where you are. He Hagar, through no fault of her will deliver, right where you are. own bore this child by Abraham The church can be your greatest and then was cruelly cast out of friend during the struggle of his household with nothing but raising your children. In order for bread and water –along with a the church to help you, you must promise that God would take care stay very close. Don’t make the of her. The union was not God’s pastor chase you. will in the first place, and came Allow the body of Christ to about because of lack of faith in minister to you and to your God’s word and Sarah’s decision children. You will find many to do it her way. ministering angels—saints of This union was then broken God who will adopt you and your because of jealously, cruelty and children and you will feel wanted. selfishness. Today, the story is the Get active ministering to the same. The names of the players other ‘Hagars’ all around you. You just changed. Even though this
will feel needed and thus you will find healing for your own soul. You will experience streams in the desert. [Isaiah 35:6] Conclusion “Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer” (Genesis 21:1820). Arise. Get up yourself. Open your eyes. Fill your own bottle and drink yourself Share the water with your thirsty children.◊ ____________________________ David Reynolds has been the Minister of Discipleship at Portland Pentecostals since 2007. He is a graduate of Conquerors Bible College, Cascade College, Portland State University and post graduate work at the University of Oregon. He served as a teacher, assistant Principle & Principle. Since retiring from public education he has traveled extensively to over 37 countries preaching & teaching in Bible Schools and has written several books on Education, The Family & Parenting.
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North American Missions April Giving Apostolic Worship Center $50.00 Apostolics of Portland - Alldritt $50.00 Bend, True Gospel U.P.C. $90.00 Corvallis, United Pentecostal Church $25.00 Cottage Grove, Hope Fellowship UPC $25.00 Grace Point Ministries $25.00 Hillsboro, Bethel U.P.C. $50.00 Klamath Falls, United Pentecostal Church $50.00 Newport, Lighthouse U.P.C. $20.00 Redmond, Heights Pentecostals $50.00 Springfield, Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Ta $20.00 TOTAL $455.00
March Giving Apostolic Worship Center $50.00 Apostolics of Portland - Alldritt $50.00 Bend, True Gospel U.P.C. $90.00 Corvallis, United Pentecostal Church $25.00 Florence, Apostolic UPC $60.00 Grace Point Ministries $25.00 Hillsboro, Bethel U.P.C. $50.00 Klamath Falls, United Pentecostal Church $50.00 Oregon City, United Pentecostal Church $1,300.00 Redmond, Heights Pentecostals $50.00 Roseburg, Christian Life Center U.P.C. $40.00 Springfield, United Pentecostal Church $20.00 TOTAL $1,810.00 14 APOSTOLIC ACCENT April 2014