Higher Way 104-2 by Rodica Musgrave

Vol. 104-2

Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jude 3

Signs of the Times

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VIEWPOINT

Darrel D. Lee Superintendent General

The crisis in Haiti is well-documented in frequent news reports, but what those reports generally overlook is that many churches are reaching out to Haitian citizens with humanitarian aid and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our church is among them. Rolland Deler’s testimony (page 16) reminds us of how the Lord shows His goodness in times of adversity. As I write, Brother Deler is traveling from his home on the island of St. Maarten to Haiti, where he will spend the next two months laying the foundation of our fourth church building in that country. This one is in the Mirebalais community where he grew up. Ten years ago, there was one Apostolic Faith Church in Haiti, and it was housed in very humble quarters. Today, we have thirteen church groups, with ten of them meeting in primitive structures with dirt floors or under the shelter of palm trees. The remaining three groups meet in beautiful churches accomodating over one hundred members. Spreading the Gospel there has not come without sweat and tears, but the efforts of Brother Deler, the Haitian saints, and those who have financially supported this work remind us, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126:5). Even before the earthquake of 2010, the economic and living conditions of most Haitians were at poverty level. While much of the world’s relief aid has yet to reach the people, we are grateful that the assistance from our organization has arrived and benefitted them in a variety of ways. The earthquake and its aftermath were devastating to the entire nation and impacted our church people as well—not a family was untouched by the devastation that occurred. Offerings sent provided for the burial of our six church members who perished, and aid for the injured. In addition to helping the people complete two church buildings and begin construction of another, the operating costs for three of our church schools have been covered for this academic year. With a national literacy rate of only about 53 percent our schools, taught by many of our pastors, give us the opportunity to introduce hundreds to the Gospel as well as improving the lives of these students in a material way. Thank you for your continued prayers for the work in Haiti and all around the world where souls still need to be reached with the Good News of the Gospel.

Help in Adversity

Table of Contents

Details Matter!...........................................3 A New Reason to Play................................6 Signs of the Times................................... 11 A Heart for Haiti....................................... 16 The Master of Restoration......................... 19

Day to Day.............. 9 Evidence............... 14 Today’s Youth....... 17 Highlighting our Heritage................ 21

Higher Way (ISSN #1084-9807) is published quarterly by the Apostolic Faith Church, 6615 SE 52nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97206, U.S.A. and is mailed out subscription free. Periodicals postage is paid at Portland, Oregon. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Higher Way, Apostolic Faith Church, 6615 SE 52nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97206, U.S.A. January—March 2004 2

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Details Matter!

od calls His followers to disGod. The first seven chapters give cern between what is clean details of the many different types and what is unclean, between of offerings that the Children of what is holy and what is not holy. Israel were to bring Him. Chapters God wants us to That responsibility is clearly pictured 8 – 10 address the priesthood. maintain a clear for us in the Book of Leviticus. Chapters 11 – 15 give details distinTo get a sense of the context of guishing between what was clean distinction between the Leviticus, it is helpful to review the and what was unclean, what was two books of the Bible that precede holy and the unholy. holy and what was unholy. Chapter it. The Book of Genesis describes the 16 focuses on the most holy day, the creation of the world and humanDay of Atonement. Chapters 17 – 26 ity, focusing within a few chapters From a sermon by cover holiness in daily living, holion Abraham and his descendants. It Darrel Lee ness in the priesthood, holy days, was with this family that God chose holy feasts, holy oil, holy bread, to establish His covenant, calling how to treat God’s holy Name, and them to represent God to the world. even holy years—the Sabbatical The Book of Exodus relates the deliverance of Abraham’s year and the Year of Jubilee. descendants from bondage in Egypt, and gives an account The tabernacle in the wilderness was called the of the events on Mount Sinai—the thunder, lightning, Tabernacle of the Congregation, or “tent of appointment” quaking, and the voice of God speaking. It also tells of in the Hebrew language. The Children of Israel had an Moses going up to the Mount where God established a cov- appointment with God. He told them where and when that enant between Himself and the Children of Israel. appointment would take place. In Leviticus 9 we read that The Book of Leviticus follows Exodus, and it relates “all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord” instruction on how the people should approach a Holy (verse 5), and watched while Aaron made an offering for Higher Way

the people, as the Lord commanded. Then we read that When Moses met with God on the Mount, God told him “the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people” (verse to tell Israel, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, 23). Fire came down from God and consumed the offering, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto and all the congregation of Israel saw it. In response, they myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, shouted and fell on their faces before the Lord. God indeed and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure had met His part of the appointment. The people under- unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye stood that it paid to observe the details of the Law that had shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” been given to Moses on the Mount, for when they obeyed, (Exodus 19:4-6). Here the promise was extended: not only God blessed. would Aaron and his descendants be priests, but the whole In chapter 10, we read of an event that contrasts viv- nation would represent God to the world. idly with what happened when Aaron made the offering That promise was not limited to the Children of Israel in according to the instructions of God. Nadab and Abihu, Old Testament times. In the New Testament, the writings two of Aaron’s sons, offered “strange fire” of Peter reveal that God’s promise avails before the Lord, and fire came down from for you and me today. Peter wrote: “But God and devoured them. ye are a chosen generation, a royal priestWesley taught One wonders what they did wrong. We hood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” are not told the exact nature of the strange (1 Peter 2:9). The apostle goes on to say that holiness fire that they offered. It is possible that that we are called to show forth the praises was not only an of God. We are called to discern between they brought counterfeit incense. They may have said, “What difference does the what is clean and what is unclean, what is instantaneous incense make?” However, the Children holy and what is not holy. experience, of Israel had been given instructions on In some respects, it is easy in America to how to compose the incense, and God was be a Christian. Believers in other parts of but also very particular that it be done just that the world face severe persecution—they way. Possibly Nadab and Abihu obtained pay a price to declare openly that they a way of life. the fire from a different source than the are Christians. Since we do not face that Golden Altar, thinking, What differtype of opposition here in America, it is ence does it make where we get our fire? easy to claim Christianity. In our society, Perhaps they used different censers than the ones that had Satan has succeeded in blurring the lines between serving been consecrated for that purpose, or brought fire at the God and not serving God, between what is holy and what wrong time. is not holy, what is clean and what is unclean. However, it Whatever the nature of the strange fire that was offered, makes a difference to God how we live! events that day made it very clear that attention to the Our roots, and in fact the roots of many American relidetails of the Law was not a light matter. If Nadab and gious denominations, are in the Wesleyan view of entire Abihu thought that the difference between holy and unholy sanctification. John Wesley lived from 1703 to 1791, during was unimportant, they found out that it was very impor- the period of time when our nation was born and the tant to God. In a moment of time, they stepped into a lost Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were eternity! All of those who observed what happened there written. There was a great revival in America during those realized the importance also. decades, and our laws were significantly shaped by the God has ordained that there always be a difference influence of Biblical teachings upon the statesmen who led between clean and unclean, holy and unholy, those who our nation. serve Him and those who do not serve Him. He told Wesley taught that holiness was not only an instantaAaron that the Children of Israel were to “put difference neous experience, but also a way of life. He is given credit between holy and unholy, and between clean and unclean; for founding the Methodist Church, and he emphasized and . . . teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the need for Methodists to distinguish themselves as the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses” Christians by their avoidance of such things as preten(Leviticus 10:10-11). That difference matters to God! tious dress, gambling, dancing, cosmetics, and the wearDuring the time of the plagues, when the Children of ing of jewelry. He cited 1 Peter 3 and 1 Timothy 2, as well Israel were about to be delivered from bondage in Egypt, as other Old and New Testament writings, to demonstrate God put a difference between the Children of Israel and the difference between the way of holiness and the way of the Egyptians. When it came to that last plague, God made carnality. it clear that if the people did not obey what God had The saved and sanctified individuals who formed the instructed, the eldest in every household would die. That initial core leadership of the 20th century Pentecostal moveis exactly what happened. Death occurred throughout all ment, which began in Los Angeles in 1906, had a strong of Egypt, but not among the Children of Israel who had Wesleyan persuasion. Those leaders included Florence obeyed the Word of the Lord. God was making it very clear Crawford, who came to Portland with the Latter Rain that “the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians Gospel and established the Apostolic Faith organization and Israel” (Exodus 11:7). here, back in 1907. 4

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It is important to learn from history. We have heard it said Today we see the Lord’s Day desecrated. When our counthat those who do not learn from the mistakes of the past are try was founded, Christian teachings led to the forbidding doomed to repeat them in the future. For decades Wesley’s of buying and selling on the Lord’s Day. What has happened successors held to the high standard of their founder, as did over time? Somewhere along the line people said, “What the entire holiness movement. But with time, church leaders difference does it make?” But it matters to God when we offered what were viewed as “minor concessions” to appease pay attention to details! the objections of some. At first those concessions could have When we go down on our knees, the Spirit of God is been seen as insignificant, but with time came the erod- faithful to speak to our hearts and to bring to our attening of nearly every standard of modesty, to the point that tion the things that we need to tend to, or areas in our lives church members eventually became indistinguishable from where we have grown lax. There is no room for negotiating the world. Holiness churches became something that would on those points. We must give it to the Lord! He made us; have been unrecognizable to their founders. He owns us; He redeemed us; and He has the right to point We can learn from history! We can out details in our lives where He wants us learn that consecrations need to be kept. to line up. We can learn that when we sense the The Children of Israel perhaps did not Spirit of God in a meeting, there is a fully understand the offerings they were If we want the reason we experience that. We can learn instructed to make—the burnt offerings, blessing of God, the sin offerings, the trespass offerings, that if we want the blessing of God, we must pay the full price. We can learn, the offerings of consecration. However, we will need to from the example of Nadab and Abihu, they were reminded every time they that details do make a difference. Those came that there was an appropriate way align our lives sons of Aaron may have thought, Incense to approach God, and a way to approach so that we can is incense, and a censer is a censer. Why Him that was inappropriate. They had to do we have to do it the way Dad did it? have it in their minds and hearts to do it receive it. They chose not to, and we see the results. right, exactly as God prescribed. The penToday we can choose to view the need alty for not doing so was severe and it was for holiness in a completely different sudden. manner than Wesley viewed it. We can Today, the penalty for not following reject it outright, or we can merely tone it down a bit and God is not always sudden, and in the short term, it is rarely not be so serious about it. May God help us not to do so! severe. If we go to prayer and the Lord brings something to May God help us to realize that the details matter! I want our minds, we may say, “Well, I’m not so sure about that, the next generations, if Jesus tarries, to sense what I sensed Lord.” We may get up from prayer and go our way with when I stepped into my first Apostolic Faith meeting. I did the expectation that we can come back and address it later not know the price that had been paid so that the Spirit of with the Lord. However, that may or may not happen, so God would rest upon that meeting. I still do not know the we must not delay in making a consecration. We must not consecrations that had been made by those who sat there. think it is unimportant. Make it! We will be glad we did But I remember what I sensed, and I know what I sense in because the blessing of God will come down when we do. these meetings today. And I know that the presence of the We know what God requires of us. There is a difference Spirit of God comes with a price. between the holy and the unholy, and one of these days, We can read history and observe what happens when everyone will see the difference. The trumpet will sound, an organization or an individual says, “Let’s moderate our and the dead will be raised incorruptible. Those who have view of a life of holiness.” Let us determine to emphasize been living for God with all their heart, soul, mind, and holiness! Let us determine that we will pay attention to the strength will be raptured out of this world. Then the whole details. If we want the blessing of God, we will need to align world will know who fell short and who made the goal. We our lives so that we can receive it. want to be counted among those who made it! God makes clear in other Scriptural examples the necesWhether the power of God descends upon us as a consity of differentiating between the holy and the unholy. gregation that comes to worship God together, or the Spirit For instance, the word of the Lord came to the Prophet of God meets with us as individuals, God will be with us Ezekiel saying, “Her priests have violated my law, and have when we meet His requirements. Let us purpose to be careprofaned mine holy things: they have put no difference ful to observe the details, to maintain a clear distinction between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed between the holy and the unholy. Then, when we drop to difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid our knees and yield ourselves to God, we can be sure that their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among His Spirit will witness to our hearts that He has heard our them” (Ezekiel 22:26). Those priests may have thought, prayer and accepted our sacrifice. What difference does Sabbath observance make? The Sabbath is just one day among seven. However, it mattered Darrel Lee is Superintendent General of the Apostolic Faith to God! They may have considered it a small detail, but it organization, and pastor of the headquarters church in matters to honor God. Portland, Oregon. Higher Way

God met the need of his soul, and gave a purpose to his passion for music.

ÂŠ iStockphoto.com | anouchka

S By Gary Riler

6â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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tanding in front of my high school band and choir students, I felt like a hypocrite. While I was encouraging them to make good choices, I was not doing so myself. The life that I lived at that time was not beneficial physically or spiritually. Most nights I found comfort in alcohol and had started turning to drugs on the weekends. My mother had raised me to know right from wrong, and took me to a

church where I learned to honor God and that Jesus was His Son. However, I was not taught that it is necessary to have a change of heart. I was led to believe that attendance at that church organization and following its tenets would prepare me for Heaven. When I realized that some changes needed to be made in my life, I started searching for a church. For several reasons I was not interested in attending my previous one. I was looking for

something that could be a sustaining influence in my life. Over a period of time, I attended several different places, including one where those who were Christians were asked to stand. Because I believed in God and that Jesus was His Son, I stood, but I began to sweat and tremble. At that moment I realized that something was wrong; I was not right in God’s eyes. A couple months later, I went forward in another meeting to give my life to the Lord. As I repeated the prayer that was prayed, I meant it with all my heart. However, when the man leading the prayer was done, I wasn’t. He told us that we were new creatures in Christ, which I wanted so much to believe, but in my heart I felt there was unfinished business. I left that meeting confused, but believing that I had received the Lord in my heart. Before long, a friend invited me to a service during the annual camp meeting of the Apostolic Faith Church in Portland, Oregon. I was not prepared for what I was about to experience. I had never been in a church service with so many people, nor heard testimonies of victory, the stirring hymns that were sung, or such preaching. I loved what I heard, but I wanted out of there. That unfinished business was coming back to haunt me. A year-and-a-half later, through circumstances that I believe God brought my way, I found myself attending the Apostolic Faith Church again. This time, I was ready for a change. I knew that I was still in need of God’s salvation, and was prepared to get serious about it. After attending several meetings, I finally knelt by a pew and surrendered my all to God. A great load was lifted, and I felt relief that was beyond description. God made a miraculous change in my life. At the time, I was ready to ask a girl to marry me, and I shared my experience with her, hoping that she would come and see for herself. She asked me to go to her church, so we did. During the entire service, the minister never mentioned salvation, and no one was encouraged to come forward and pray. Fresh from my born-again experience, I was very discouraged by this. I told her that I could not attend her church,

and she never came to mine. We broke up two months later on New Year’s Eve. As hard as that was, I felt a peace about it. I knew that I was following God’s will in my life. This lesson would become the theme of my walk with the Lord. Seeking God’s will was a new thing for me, and a difficult task. There was still a great deal of my own will that drove

I realized that what God was asking from me was not mine to begin with; it was something He had given me. me in my job and also in my passion for music. As I learned about sanctification, I realized that my relationship with the Lord needed to be closer still. Without completely understanding the experience, I knew that I needed it. Pouring my heart out to God at an altar of prayer, I recognized that my will needed to conform to His. The Scripture in Matthew 7:7 helped; I kept telling the Lord that I had sought Him, and that I was now knocking and asking. Every time that Scripture came up in prayer, I felt the Lord draw more out of me and I did not resist. Soon I walked out of the sanctuary with a life fully consecrated to the Lord, and my heart cleansed with the experience of sanctification. Our church orchestra rehearsed on Wednesday evenings, and often I went to observe. Just listening and watching their conductor, Don Wolfe, work with them was enjoyable. I told anyone who would listen that the music in this church was not something to take for granted. However, since I played the saxophone, which is rarely used in an orchestra, I never expected to participate. The camp meeting in 1991 was my first as a child of God. It was exciting to meet people from many different

places. Also, there was a new purpose in my heart—to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. While there was some fear because I had never seen someone receive it, I knew I needed to press on spiritually and receive what God would want me to have. The first Friday youth service found me close to receiving it, but I pulled back out of fear, and also because God was asking me for a couple of consecrations that I was reluctant to say yes about. He wanted me to give Him my music. I was a band director and had been playing the saxophone for a long time. By that evening, however, I realized that what God was asking from me was not mine to begin with; it was something He had given me. At the moment I gave “my” music to God, He gave me the beautiful gift of His Holy Spirit. My fear had been conquered by His love. A few days later, as I was sitting in the tabernacle watching the youth orchestra rehearse, one of the music directors came and asked me to sing in the choir. What I had given the Lord would now be used for Him. As time went by, new opportunities opened up—singing with the adult choir, sharing my testimony, and one day the invitation to play my horn in church. God began to show me how the talent He had given me could be put to His use. One weekend I was asked to go to our branch church in Yakima, Washington, with a male quartet. There God gave me a special Scripture that has been important in my life many times since, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Concerts in various other branch churches followed, and while working on one for Chehalis, Washington, I became acquainted with Kristi King, who was our piano player. Soon I began to take an interest in her, but by then I had come to the realization that dating was not a casual thing. That concept took me longer to figure out than it should have, but my interest in Kristi would need to have direction and confirmation from the Lord before I would pursue her as anything more than a friend. God was faithful to give me the confirmation that I Higher Way

needed, and now, seventeen years later, I am still confident that God brought us together. As a couple we have been through some difficult times. Seven months after we were married, Kristi’s eighteen-year-old brother was killed in a skiing accident. During the following months, there were times of frustration when I did not understand the pain she was continuing to feel. In addition to this, we were told that we could not have children and that we were in that twenty-percent group of couples who have no explanation as to why. These two issues could have torn apart marriage partners who were not trusting in the Lord. Even with Him, we had challenging times. However, God proved to us that He can give beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning. Four years into our marriage, a job opening came up in Chehalis. In a previous situation, our pastor had assured me that when we seek for God’s will, He will lead in a plain path, so I submitted an application and then waited on the Lord. The gentleman who asked me to apply was concerned about my demeanor during the interview; he felt that I was too calm and did not show enough excitement about the opportunity I might have in landing this job. I assured him that I would love to have this job, but only if it was where the Lord wanted me to be. The job was given to me, and before we could move, an older couple asked if we might be interested in buying their house. Kristi also accepted a job there, and was working two weeks prior to the time that we could move into the home. God even helped me to be truly happy in a small town! After we had been married for seven years, we felt that God was directing us toward adoption. We could not afford the thousands of dollars that most adoptions cost, so we took the more risky road of foster adoption through the State of Washington. Although this did not end up being an easy route, God has blessed us with three beautiful, intelligent, and amazing children. He had to carry us through some dark places in the process with our first placement, our daughter Amanda. 8

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At one point we had to give her back to family members. It felt to us as if she had died, but what made matters worse, we were left to wonder if she was all right. Through the prayers of the saints, God gave us strength. Eventually, by a series of miracles, Amanda ended up back in our home, and we adopted her in December of 2002.

Just when we were ready to say “no more” because of the emotional toll, we received a call about a little boy who was only one month old. By March of 2002, we had adopted our older son, Ethan. Through another set of circumstances, we took in a beautiful two-year-old Filipino girl, but had to give her to a family member only a month after receiving her. Then we had a cute three-monthold Hispanic girl, but after having her for three months, she was returned to her mother who was in rehab. Just when we were ready to say “no more” because of the emotional toll on us, we received a call about a little boy who was only one month old at the time. We went for a visit and immediately fell in love with him. We adopted Jaron in December of 2007. Through all of the necessarily quick decisions, court dates, and family visits, God was our strength and defender. It is wonderful to serve such a powerful, yet loving Father. Recently the Lord has been helping me see that walking with Him is not always predictable. Many times I said that I taught middle school because that is where I felt the Lord wanted me to be. In my own mind was

a determination that I would teach middle school until I retired. However, the Lord sent me a reality check about a year ago when our high school director was killed in a motorcycle accident. To help keep the program going, I began rehearsing the woodwind ensemble and conducting them at a couple of festivals and their final concert of the year. It was my responsibility to search for teacher replacement candidates, and I called and e-mailed several people. Then one of them asked if I would consider being the high school director myself, and then he would contemplate teaching at the middle school. The more I thought about it, the more the realization dawned that I needed to ask the Lord for direction. I had started the search for a candidate by leaning on my own understanding, but I needed to trust Him. The Lord made it very clear that it was time for me to become the high school band director. He brought in a wonderful Christian man to take the middle school job, and I could not be more excited about what He has in store for me and my family next. I am so thankful for the faithfulness of God, the counsel of godly men in our organization, and the prayers of the saints. When we walk with the Lord, we are not alone. That decision I made in 1990 altered the course of my personal history. Many times I wonder if my life would even have lasted this long if I had turned my back on that opportunity to serve God that He gave me. Today my prayer is that I can influence as many as possible to commit their lives to the loving Savior that I serve. It is my purpose to stay true to Him until I see Him face to face. Gary Riler is a minister in the Apostolic Faith Church in Chehalis, Washington. He currently teaches band at the W. F. West High School and is also the Southwest Region President of the Wa s h i n g t o n Music Educator’s Association.

DAY TO DAY

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

hich career should I choose? training, paid relocating, and multiple That was my dilemma a number worksites enabled me to answer the call to of years ago when I was enterbe a pastor. God saw my desire to please ing into the business world and searching Him and guided me in the decision. for God’s plan regarding employment. I “How can I know God’s will as I make was working in a growing business that was decisions?” is a common question asked by opening stores in the area, and there was Christians. God’s Word contains instrucan opportunity for me to be a manager. tions and promises to help us, and the At that same time I was also looking into Spirit will guide us if we truly want Not all choices in Holy another field as a career opportunity. to follow His leadership. James 1:5 states: I spoke with a successful Christian busilife are easy or “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of nessman who I thought could help with my God, that giveth to all men liberally, and decision. He was rather forceful in encour- obvious. How do upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” aging me not to take the second choice, but In Romans 12:1-2, the Apostle Paul we find the to become a manager in the business where gave a beautiful picture of how Chrisguidance we I was employed, since that would afford tians should live: “I beseech you therefore, better financial opportunity. His advice brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye need? made good business sense if my goal was to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, make money, yet I still felt unsettled. acceptable unto God, which is your reaBy Mark Worthington Seeking further input, I went to my sonable service. And be not conformed to pastor and discussed the choices with him. He did not push this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your me in either direction, but he gave me some Biblical tools mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, that the businessman had not mentioned. He advised me and perfect, will of God.” This tells us that Christians can to take into consideration the Lord’s work, attending eve- be transformed by the Holy Spirit and have renewed minds. ning church services, and even working on the Lord’s Day. This transformation and renewal helps God’s people know Which choice would give the greatest opportunity in serv- His good and perfect will. With faith that God will answer, ing God? we must humbly pray and seek His guidance. After praying and thinking about what the pastor had In our lives, each day brings new experiences and new said, it did not take much time to see the best choice of challenges where we need God’s direction. All Christians the two. I knew managing a store would entail Sunday and can know that every new day is in His hands and He will evening work, so I chose the other career. I did not know guide according to His eternal plan, providing we follow that in the future the first business would go big and then His instructions. collapse, and the second would give me great leave time The Children of Israel are a good example. When they and hours to spend doing the Lord’s work. Years later, the needed to cross the Jordan River to enter the Promised Higher Way

Land, God told them to follow the Ark as it was taken father made a sacrificial decision. Late in his life he found across. The Ark was a symbol of God’s presence, and it was Jesus as his personal Savior, and I expect to see him someto be treated with the utmost reverence. The people were day in Heaven. The Biblical principle that my mother followed is found warned not to get closer than about a thousand yards to it, and then they were to believe and trust the power of God. in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourTheir human reasoning, desires, and decisions were to have selves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approachno part in God’s master plan. A second instruction was given in Joshua 3:5. They were ing.” Opportunities and open doors come and go, but they to sanctify, consecrate, and purify themselves. They were to must align with the principles of the Bible and God’s will. There may be times when Christians must choose prepare their hearts before the Lord through prayer, rededication, and recommitting their lives and families to God. between two good options. In order to make the right When the Israelites obeyed God, He miraculously opened choice, one’s heart and total desire needs to be submitted to God’s perfect will. the Jordan River and led them across. Similarly, as we pray and follow Here are some steps that can help in God’s instructions, we can know the finding God’s will: God wants to reveal way He wants each one of us to go. Remember that God has promGod’s general will for all the human ised to show His will. God wants to His will to you even race is revealed in the Bible as an reveal His will to you even more than more than you want you want to know it. God will speak imperative or a command. For example, Jesus commanded, “Ye must be through His Word, His people, and to know it. born again.” His specific will regardthrough prayer. ing individual situations is revealed Be patient. At times it may be necesin the Bible through principles. These sary to choose to postpone a decision. principles are basic guidelines that must be followed with Often God’s will becomes evident after a period of time, common sense, discretion, and much prayer. As we read and rushing into a decision can make it needful to backand obey God’s general will as explained in the Bible, we track. During the waiting period, it is important to keep become spiritually sensitive to how God may alert us to seeking God’s will. His specific will. Keep praying. Commit to praying through on the matter, The Lord uses various ways to reveal His specific will, even if it takes a length of time. such as His written Word, the leading of the Holy Spirit, an Reflect on times when God has guided. List the major inner peace, the counsel of mature Christians, and circum- decisions that you have made in the past and the results stances. His specific will is seldom revealed through just of those decisions. Ponder the decisions that you believe one of these methods, but usually through two or more. God directed, and look for ways that what you learned then Also, we must keep in mind that God’s specific will never might apply to your current decision. contradicts His written Word. Evaluate your options. Write down your options, and Just because a door or an opportunity opens, that does scrutinize them carefully and prayerfully. Are any of those not necessarily mean that God has anything to do with it. options automatically outside the will of God? For examConversely, sometimes a door may look closed, but in real- ple, are any illegal, immoral, or would they keep you from ity God may only be using that circumstance to test our dil- the work of God? How does each option align with Biblical igence and faith. We should not impulsively walk through principles? every door that is open, but we should take into considerObtain wise counsel. Solicit advice regarding this deciation the other ways that God reveals His will. sion from a trusted Christian friend or pastor. Study how While I was growing up, our family lived on a very that counsel fits with the Word of God. modest income. My father, who was not a Christian at the Consider whether you truly want to know and obey time, was a good businessman and an opportunity opened God’s will. God is faithful to lead us, but we must have a for him to manage a large department store. The increase wholehearted desire to know what He wants and a comin income would have solved our financial problems. My plete willingness to follow His leadership. mother was a Christian, and she felt it was imperative to Make the decision. After going through the above steps, raise us children near a church that was Biblically sound. if you have a settled peace in your heart concerning your The city where the job was located did not have a church decision, accept it as God’s will and follow through with it. that she was sure preached the whole Gospel. Even though When we have sought God’s will and then seen Him the open door looked good, my father did not take the job. work in our lives, it gives us faith that He will answer in That decision caused a series of events down the road that future decisions. impacted our family positively in our spiritual life deciMark Worthington is pastor of the Apostolic Faith Church sions. I look back to that time and am so thankful that my in St. Louis, Missouri. 10

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Signs of the Times Worldwide events are fulfilling the Biblical prophecies of Jesus’ second coming. © Goodsalt.com | Lars Justinen

By Cheryl Downey

esus said to the Jewish religious leaders of His day, “O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:3). These men could determine the weather forecast, but they neglected to recognize the signs surrounding Jesus’ first coming. Today, as we approach Jesus’ second coming, we can see that the world is teeming with prophetic activity. And yet, there is indifference in the nominal church and most of the world concerning the Bible’s warnings about the last days. Jesus said in Mark 13:35-36, “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, . . . lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.” Several world developments happening right now are fulfillments of Bible prophecies, and as Christ’s Church, we are to watch for those signs and be ready for His return.

A Great Falling Away Referring to the Tribulation period, Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first.” The Greek word for falling away is apostasia, and

it means “a standing away from, in the sense of turning away from the truth.” In other words, a sign of the Lord’s return will be a great turning away from the truth of God’s Word. Although the Gospel is being embraced in some areas of the world, it is taking a back seat in countries that are major players on the world’s scene. A number of Christian revivals occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe and America, and many people were saved. The final great spiritual awakening began in 1904 and spawned the modern Pentecostal movement which blazed into the Christian world during the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, California. However, not long after these waves of revival, the Church and its influence on a sinful world began to decline. One example of this trend is seen in the United Kingdom. By 2015, overall church attendance there is projected to have declined to around 5 percent of the population. That figure is expected to drop even further since most churchgoers in the United Kingdom belong to nominal churches and are in the older age brackets, with relatively few young people attending.1 Research

indicates a similar trend in most of the nations in the European Union.2 At one time Christianity played a significant role in the lives of people in Europe, but today, Christian beliefs and values are no longer considered a factor in determining the direction of those countries. In contrast, after two generations of high birth rates and immigration, Muslim communities have expanded in European nations, and Sharia Law now challenges their Judeo-Christian foundation. In the United Kingdom, Islamic imams outnumber Christian pastors, and empty church buildings are being converted into mosques.3 Mohammed is currently the most popular name for newborn boys in England, surpassing the name Jack, which has held first place for the past fourteen years.4 In France, where an estimated seven million Muslims reside, the government is no longer in control of the densely populated Muslim communities.5 At times, traffic comes to a standstill in Paris as Muslims take over the streets to pray.6 By 2015, the Netherlands will become Western Europe’s first nation in which a majority of its citizens are Muslim,7 Higher Way

and Britain has at least eighty-five Islamic Sharia courts that are recognized by the British legal system.8 Similar trends of a great falling away are appearing in America as well. A growing number of Americans are rejecting God’s truths. A 2008 poll titled the “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey” indicates that 70 percent of church-affiliated Americans believe many religions can lead to eternal life.9 In a 2009 poll, 71 percent of American adults said they would rather develop their own religious beliefs than accept what is taught by a church. Only 34 percent of Americans said they believe in absolute moral truth, and of those who profess Christianity, just 19 percent agree with a traditional Biblical worldview. Even more sobering, less than 0.5 percent of those in the 18-23 age group hold a Biblical worldview. 10 Studies indicate that currently only 18-20 percent of Americans attend church regularly.11 When divided by age, the percentage of young people who attend is even less.12 Moreover, many churchgoers belong to mainstream churches in which the word “sin” is avoided in order not to offend, and the tendency is toward counseling-type sermons rather than Biblical sermons that exhort righteous living. This leaves only a small percentage of Christians in the United States who attend sound, Bible-believing churches. Sinful behavior has become rampant among churchgoers, and the overwhelming majority believe that as long as they bear the title of Christian, God will overlook their sin. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4 we read, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” This verse describes the state of the nominal church today, and the storm clouds of God’s judgment are hovering over those who have turned away from the truth of His Word.

The Interfaith Movement The Apostle Paul indicated that in the end times the world would cry for “peace and safety,” and then would 12

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come “sudden destruction” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Today, with the modern technology to produce nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, combined with power-hungry nations that are vying for global domination, our world is becoming a very unstable and unpredictable place to live. Religious tensions have intensified the volatility, and as a result an interfaith movement has sprung up seeking peace in an unstable world. The interfaith movement is causing unprecedented alliances to be formed by religious leaders of all faiths. The United States government has identified the interfaith movement as a major public policy goal, and a government inter-religious dialogue and cooperation taskforce has been created, which includes members from all the major religions.11 Some of the biggest benefactors of the interfaith movement are the Muslim governments of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan.13 Former Prime Minister Tony Blair formed an interfaith foundation in London to show how faith is a powerful force for good in the modern world, and several other governments have taken similar action.14 The United Religions Initiative (URI) is an interfaith network founded in 1995 in the San Francisco Bay area. Active in seventy-eight countries and boasting more than 320,000 members, its goal is to contain religiously motivated violence, and to deal with economic, social, and environmental crises. URI leaders equate evangelism of any kind with coercive proselytizing and believe that all religions should declare a truce, in which they will not attempt to gain new converts.15 In June 2010, the World Religions Summit, including delegates from more than twenty countries, was held in Canada. Their goal was to create a sustainable global future by addressing religious, environmental, and social problems around the world. The unifying theme for all interfaith dialogue is tolerance, and a result has been that a growing number of churches and Christian individuals are caving in to the philosophy that all religions are equal. Those who uphold the truths of the Bible will increasingly

be looked on as bigoted and intolerant. Current legislation is being considered that would regulate what Christians can do and say concerning hot-button social issues where the Bible and society clash.16 If Jesus tarries, it is likely that many more of our Christian freedoms will be challenged. Through the interfaith movement, our world is being conditioned to accept the one-world religion that will be initiated by the false prophet described in Revelation. As tensions continue to escalate around the world, not only will there be an increasing demand for a global government to solve political and economic problems, but there will also be a greater call to create global religious harmony and acceptance. This endeavor will eventually lead to the worship of the Antichrist himself. The greatest obstacle to the world’s quest for religious harmony will finally be removed when the true Church is raptured.

Fascination with the Supernatural In Luke 21:11 we read that one sign of the end will be “fearful sights and great signs” in the heavens. It is reported that 70-80 percent of Americans believe in some type of paranormal activity, and many in this percentage believe in the existence of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) as well as extra-terrestrial life. It is possible that Satan is propelling this intensifying interest to deceive the masses after the Rapture has taken place. A recent New Delhi Chronicle article stated that it is amazing that the two mightiest nations on the face of the earth—the United States and China—have seen increased sightings of UFOs in recent months.17 In July 2010, a UFO reportedly hovered over the Chinese city of Chongqing, compelling officials to shut down a major airport in that area for several hours, and causing hundreds of flights to be canceled. Eyewitnesses said the object stayed in the sky for almost an hour and then vanished away.18 On September 11 and 21, 2010, airports were closed in Baotou, Mongolia, and Beijing, China, due to a reported UFO,19 and UFO sightings more than tripled

in Britain during 2009.20 In September 2010, a group of former United States Air Force officers, armed with declassified documents, claimed that they personally witnessed UFOs visiting the bases where they were stationed in the 1960s, causing the temporary malfunction of nuclear weapon systems.21 Even some religious leaders are beginning to soften their stance on life outside the earth. The Vatican recently announced that the existence of intelligent, extra-terrestrial life might be possible. Also, schools in the United Kingdom are now holding UFO crash drills in which they are teaching eight-to-ten-year-olds how to handle such a scenario, including how to gather the wreckage. Hollywood has capitalized on the UFO phenomenon as well, with several movies scheduled for release in the coming year. This fascination with the paranormal is causing the world to be more open to the possibility of a vanishing scenario, and could be used by Satan and the Antichrist to explain the sudden disappearance of millions of people when the Rapture takes place. One thing is certain: Satan will be the great deceiver of the end times, and God’s people need to stay focused on the reality of His Word while remaining in the center of His will.

Mounting Crises Down through the ages of time, people have succeeded in building and establishing remarkable kingdoms and civilizations, and they have made mind-boggling accomplishments in the areas of technology, industry, and science. But even at this advanced point in history, the world is being confronted by a magnitude of crises, which the Bible indicates will shake the foundations of civilization (see Isaiah 24). Experts state that exponential population growth has become a major crisis in day-to-day sustenance. The current world population is around 6.8 billion and projected to reach 9.2 billion by 2050. Overpopulation is a real threat to many regions of the world where the existing resources may not be adequate to sustain a rapidly increasing population.22 Wealthier

countries pose an even greater risk to the depletion of resources; the United States comprises only 5 percent of the world’s population, and yet consumes 26 percent of the world’s energy.23 Another major dilemma is the agricultural crisis. Widespread droughts and floods have caused vast crop failures. As a result, prices for vegetables and staple foods have reached record highs. Many officials are concerned that food shortages in certain parts of the world will lead to rioting. Numerous experts claim that food production, especially grain, has declined over the past five years, and the world population is being threatened with severe food shortages.24 The Book of Revelation states that worldwide famine will occur during the Tribulation, and we can see it looming on the horizon. In Mark 13:7 Jesus warned the disciples that there would be “wars and rumours of wars” before the end comes, and certainly we see that happening today. The 2010 Global Peace Index lists the five most unstable regions of the world: Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Pakistan. Other tense situations exist between North and South Korea, Japan and China, and Israel and the Arab nations. The drug war in Mexico and the apocalyptic aspirations of Iran are also destabilizing factors. Several unstable regions currently possess nuclear weapons, as well as other chemical and biological weaponry, causing great concern among the nations of the world. Man’s solution to these crises is to create a “New World Order” that will operate on a global level. That administration will one day be run by the Antichrist, yet his reign will be shortlived and will fail to prevent the massive destruction and loss of life that will occur during the Tribulation.

Be Ready! Though the world is steadily moving closer to the day of God’s wrath, there is also something wonderful to look forward to—the Rapture of the saints of God! Those who are part of the Bride of Christ will not experience God’s judgment on the world, but will meet Jesus in the sky and enjoy a great reunion at the Marriage Supper of the

Lamb. May we be ever more vigilant to make our calling and election sure as we see that day approaching. Cheryl Downey is a member of the editorial staff at the Apostolic Faith headquarters office in Portland, Oregon. WhyChurch, “How many people go to Church in the UK?” www.whychurch.org.uk/trends, accessed 10-15-2010 2 FR Mark, “European Church Attendance,” Via Integra: FR Mark’s progressive Anglo-Catholic take on European Christianity, 09-03-2009, www.viaintegra. wordpress.com/european-church-attendance 3 BillionBibles.org, “Sharia Europe,” www.billionbibles.org, accessed 10-15-2010 4 Jack Doyle, “Mohammed is now the most popular name for baby boys ahead of Jack and Harry,” MailOnline.com, 10-28-2010, www.dailymail.co.uk 5 BillionBibles.org, “Sharia Europe,” www.billionbibles.org, accessed 10-15-2010 6 Ibid. 7 MINA Breaking News, “Islamization of Paris in Full Swing,” Macedonian International News Agency, 09-05-2010, www.macedoniaonline.eu 8 Steve Doughty, “Britain has 85 Sharia courts: The astonishing spread of the Islamic justice behind closed doors,” MailOnline.com, 04-29-2009, www. dailymail.co.uk 9 The Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life, “U.S Religious Landscape Survey,” Pew Research Center, ???????????? 10 Barna Group, “Christianity is No Longer Americans’ Default Faith, 1-12-2009. ?????????? 11 Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, “How many North Americans attend religious services (and how many lie about going?),” 08-10-2007, www.religioustolerance.org/rel_rate.htm 12 The Last Days, “The Decline of Christianity in America,” 06-30-2009, www.signsofthelastdays.com 13 The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, “President Obama’s Advisory Council on FaithBased and Neighborhood Partnerships,” The Pew Research Center, 09-09-2009, www.pewforum.org 14 Julia Duin, “Interfaith movement gains new strength,” The Washington Times, 04-05-2010, www. washingtontimes.com 15 Christopher Landau, “Tony Blair’s faith in new mission,” BBC News, 04-13-2009, www.news.bbc. co.uk/news 16 Lee Penn, “A Summary: The Case Against the United Religions Initiative,” www.Fatima.freehosting.net, accessed 10-15-2010 17 Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, “Description of U.S. hate crime legislation, from all viewpoints,” 01-30-2011, www.religioustolerance. org/hom_hat1.htm 18 New Delhi Chronicle, “UFO sightings 2010: from China to Manhattan and beyond,” 10-31-2010 www. ndchronicle.com 19 Xinmsn, “Second UFO sighting baffles China,” MediaCorp Pte. Ltd. and Microsoft, 07-16-2010, http://xin.msn.com 20 Menchie Tiongan, “China’s UFO Sightings Increase,” Seer Press News, 10-07-2010, www.seerpress.com 21 Caroline Grant and Vince Soodin, “Brit UFO reports triple in 2009,” The Sun, 01-12-2010, www. thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2804537/Brit-uforeports-triple-in-2009.html 22 Ledyard King, “Ex-Air Force officers discuss UFO sightings,” Great Falls Tribune, 09-27-2010, www. greatfallstribune.com 23 John Yemma, “As world population heads toward a peak, Malthusian worries reemerge,” Christian Science Monitor, 02-07-2011, www.csmonitor.com 24 Maria Colenso, “How much power does the world consume?” How Stuff Works, www.science. howstuffworks.com, accessed 03-04-2011 25 Catholic Relief Services, “Frequently Asked Questions: The Global Food Crisis,” www.crs.org, accessed 03-04-2011 1

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EVIDENCE It is a great privilege to give my testimony of victory. I was not raised in a Christian home and I was not brought up in the church. Yet God did not leave me in a place where I would not know anything about Him. God saw my heart and he heard my simple prayer. All I knew how to pray was, “God, help me to be a good girl.” All I wanted to be was a good girl. I am so thankful that God sees an honest heart. God kept me and He helped me be that good girl. I would take the bus to school in the morning and get off about two blocks before the school and walk to a nearby church. I was just a young teenager and I would go into that church and pray, and ask God to help me be a good girl. Nobody told me how to pray. I did not know about salvation. I did not even know why Jesus was on the Cross—and nobody told me why He was there. Forty-four years ago, I found out when I bent my knees. It was after my husband came home from a revival meeting. He said he was saved and I wondered, What is saved? I had never heard that before. I thought, Saved from what? He tried to explain it to me so that I could understand, but I didn’t. I went to one of the revival meetings, but when everyone went to the altar to pray, I ran out the back door. I looked up into the sky; the stars were so bright and shining so clearly. As I looked up, the tears ran down my face. I told God that I didn’t understand anything they were saying and I didn’t know why they were praying the way they were. I said it scared me. I wanted to go to Heaven, though. I did not want to go to Hell. We went home and put our kids to bed. They were just little. Danae was two and Dwayne was about three-anda-half. I put them down and then knelt and said to Jesus, “They said You have 14

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to come into my heart for me to make Heaven my home. Would You please do that?” I am here forty-four years later, still praising and thanking God for the victory that I have. I thank God for that victory, and I thank Him for the love that He has put in my heart and the hope that I have of seeing Jesus and my heavenly Father. – Berda Northup (Port Angeles, Washington)

My heart is thrilled with what God has done for me over the years that I have been serving Him. The Lord found our family almost seventy years ago in the town of Centerville, Iowa, and led us into this glorious Gospel. My first experience with the Gospel was as a boy of six, when my parents came into a Medford, Oregon, church service on a Sunday evening. My brother and I were just barefooted little boys; we lived out in an orchard for three months during the harvest. That night I saw something I had never seen in my life. I saw a lot of people around what we call altars, praying. I had never seen a sight quite like it. On the way home that night, I was thinking to myself, I’ve never seen that before, but those are certainly happy people. I thank God that, as a sixteen-yearold boy, on January 6, 1953, I found out why they were happy. God gave me a peace that night in my heart that passeth all understanding. My Sunday school teacher was across the altar from me on that Tuesday night. In just a few moments I looked him in the eye and began to beat on my chest, and I said, “I’ve got it.” God gave me something in my heart that I knew was real. The devil told me, “You will never be able to keep it,” so

I went home and put an X on the calendar to signfiy I had been saved for a whole day. I had heard an old brother testify that he got down beside his bed after he was saved and thanked God for a whole day of victory. I ran home from North Medford High School clear to the west side of town at 4:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday and thanked God for another whole day of victory. For two weeks I put X’s on the calendar wondering how long this was going to last. Then one day I reasoned that if God could keep me for two weeks, He could keep me the rest of my life. There is a fire burning down in my soul, thanking God for this glorious Gospel. – Nolan Roby (Medford, Oregon)

Though I was a backslider, I thank God that when I was fifteen, the Lord got hold of my heart. I was at home and it was in the middle of the night. I woke up my parents and told them that I needed to get saved. They prayed with me and the Lord saved me. He has kept me since then. That same year, He sanctified me during a young people’s service at camp meeting. That was ten years ago. For ten years I sought for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The whole time, I felt I was seeking the Lord and I could not understand why He did not baptize me. Then, earlier this year, I was at home praying—trying to get ready for our upcoming combined meetings. I was struggling with something in my heart that I had tried to give to the Lord many times. During the struggle, I realized that through all those years, I wasn’t waiting for the Lord; He was waiting for me. I told Him, “Lord, it is okay if I have to wait for You, but I do

PERSONAL TESTIMONIES OF THE POWER OF GOD

not want You to have to wait for me.” He baptized me right then, at home. It has been such a wonderful blessing in my life since. – Andrew Jensen (Woodlake, California)

We serve a very mighty God. I am so thankful that at a young age, He saved me. I grew up knowing that God was always there—that He was looking out for me. Last year, right after camp meeting, I got sick. I knew I was not well, but I made a doctor’s appointment for the following Monday, because I did not have a babysitter. That week, I ended up having unexpected company and I told my husband, “I am not up to having company.” I prayed about it and the Lord told me, “I will give you strength; you just need to do this.” The Lord knows what we need. The company came and I didn’t sleep that night, because I was in terrible pain. The next morning, the Lord spoke to my heart, “You have somebody here to watch your kids,” so I went to the doctor. Within a couple of hours, I was in surgery. I had an infection in my heart that had spread through my whole body. The doctor told me that I would not have lived until Monday. I probably would not even have lived until the next day. I thought, Isn’t that the way God works? He knew what I needed and He knew that I kept putting off going in, so He just brought a babysitter to me and He worked it all out. Over the next four months, I had three surgeries and I was in and out of the hospital. I am so blessed to belong to the family of God. I had people all around the world praying for me and sending me notes of encouragement. It lifted my spirits and gave me peace.

It is very scary thinking that you are on the brink, that you might not make it. You start worrying and making plans for your kids and your husband. I remember thinking, How is he going to make it with four kids? However, in every single situation that came up, before I could even take a step to try and work something out, somebody from the church would come to me and say, “We are going to take care of this.” All along the way, the Lord just worked out every step. I serve a mighty, wonderful, awesome God. I love the Lord with all my heart and I am going to go all the way with Him. – Jillian Luka (Seattle, Washington)

When I was fourteen years old, the Lord saved me in this church and I am so thankful for that. I had a wonderful Sunday school teacher who faithfully prayed for her class. The Lord really sent conviction my way. Donna Copko was my teacher. The Lord kept talking to me and asking me to give her a call. I had never been to a Friday night service, but it was on a

Friday night that she came and got me. I had a heavy load of sin in my heart. I went forward to the altar and prayed and asked the Lord to come in and forgive me. He wonderfully forgave me and He completely changed me. Later, He sanctified me. It was in the youth chapel on a Sunday that the Lord gave me my baptism. I was so hungry for it. We had a young people’s meeting on Sunday afternoon, and then a night service followed. I had prayed many times in my home for the Lord to help me receive my baptism. I had never seen anybody receive it, but I was hungry for what the Lord had for me. I am thankful that He was there. It was just a regular service, but I had such a hunger. The Lord wonderfully gave me my baptism. I spoke in a language that I didn’t know; He gave me that witness. I am so thankful for that experience; it really grounded me in the Gospel and it taught me how to pray. I am thankful for the Apostolic Faith church. The Lord led me to know that it had the truth. I am thankful that I can worship the Lord where His truth is preached. I love Him with all my heart. – Lisa Butler (Van Buren, Arkansas)

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? Acknowledge “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Confess “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Repent “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).

Forsake “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him . . . for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). Believe “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). If you are a new Christian, write us and request the tract entitled, “Starting Out.”

www.apostolicfaith.org

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A Heart for Haiti

hen I was a child, my parents were idol worshipers. One night, when I was ten years old, my dad took me to the cemetery where his father was buried. At the gravesite, he prayed to my grandfather, asking him to guide and protect me. Then he gave me a lit candle to place on the grave. We returned home before dawn so that no one would know that we had been out. Later that year, the Lord sent an elderly Christian man to our house to share the Gospel with us. My mom was at the market, but the man spoke with my dad as I listened in. My dad said that he would wait for my mom to return before making a decision. When she came home, they both agreed to accept the Gospel. They had a concern, though. Their house was built on my grandmother’s land, and she was an idol worshiper. The Lord laid it on the elderly man’s heart to give my parents a portion of his land. Within just a few days, my dad built a little house on that land without my grandmother’s knowledge. Then we fled our home during the night and moved to the new location. After we were in the new house, my parents received Christ. The Lord also helped me, at that time, to understand enough of the Gospel to be saved. From then on, He kept His hand on me for guidance; He kept me from doing wrong things as I grew up. Truly, God protected and loved me. I received sanctification at the age of twenty and then was water baptized. After I finished school, I became a tailor. Then in 1973, I married my wife, Rosita. The Lord blessed us with seven children. Eventually I became a Sunday school superintendent at the church I attended. One day, I became very ill. A group of people from the church came to spend the night praying for me. While they were praying, I fell asleep and had a dream that the pastor of the church came and offered me a plate of sweet potatoes. As he did, he said, “Brother Rolland, the Lord has sent this to you. Take it and eat it.” I ate what was on the plate. Then the pastor said, “Your work is done, but God has something extra for you to do.” He showed me a plate with a sweet potato on it that was bigger than any I had ever seen. He said, “The Lord says that you will eat around it, but you will never finish it.” When I awoke, I shared my dream with those who had been praying. One of them said, “The Lord has some bigger responsibility for 16

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you.” A few months later, I became the pastor of the small church that the elderly Christian man who first witnessed to my family attended. After becoming a pastor, my financial situation suffered and I began seeking God’s help in prayer. In 1980, He opened a door for our family to move from Haiti to St. Maarten, where I found work as a land surveyor. We attended a church for five years, but felt we had to leave because they were doing some wrong things. During the time that we were not attending church, I started a prayer meeting in my apartment. The first meeting was attended by sixty-four people, and within two months, we had built our own meeting place. We did not have a name for our church, so we prayed about it. During this time, I met a man who talked to me about the Apostolic Faith Church. I realized that I was not teaching the true doctrine, so I began meeting with the pastor of the Apostolic Faith Church in St. Maarten to study doctrine. I have not regretted that decision for one day. In 1986, a missionary came to visit our group and teach us the doctrines that the Apostolic Faith Church adheres to. He also taught me how to seek God’s favor, and while we were in a prayer meeting, I was filled with the Holy Ghost and received the witness of speaking in tongues. In time, our building became too small, so we built a bigger church that could hold four hundred people. While in St. Maarten, the Lord continued to speak to my heart to do something for Haiti, so I wrote a letter to the General Overseer of the Apostolic Faith Church asking him to establish churches in Haiti. He wrote back that the leaders of the church would pray about it, and if it was God’s will, it would be done. Then he passed away. When his successor made a trip to St. Maarten, I brought it to his attention and he agreed to help me carry the work to Haiti. We started the Apostolic Faith work in Haiti in 1995, and dedicated our first church there in 2003. Our second church was dedicated in 2010 and our third in February 2011. The Lord has blessed and continues to prosper the work in Haiti. The Lord has had his hand over me personally as well, sparing my life many times. In January of 2003, as I was working on our first church building, the brakes went out on a truck I was driving. I was at the top of a hill, so I began looking for the best place to die, but the Lord told me to shift into first gear. I did what the Lord said, and the truck stopped in the middle of the hill. My heart is, and always will be, consecrated to God. Rolland Deler is head of the Apostolic Faith work in Haiti, and pastor of the church in St. Maarten.

Today’s Youth Wonderful things can happen at youth camp!

I Found the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy!

rowing up, I knew my parents loved me, but I knew very little about God’s love. We went to church twice a year: a Catholic church each Christmas and a Lutheran church each Easter. Then, when I was in third grade, a neighbor girl and I became close friends. One Saturday night she wanted me to sleep over, but said I would have to go to Sunday school with her in the morning. I had never been to Sunday school and was actually excited. I did my best to dress up, and we hopped onto the Sunday school bus. I enjoyed myself and kept attending with my friend. Then the Sunday school teachers started telling us about the annual youth camp and how much fun it was going to be. Of course, I didn’t want to miss out, so I raised enough money to go. I was nervous but my friend and I stuck together and had fun. What really impressed me was how much the counselors loved me. I remember asking my counselor if she was paid a lot of money. She said, “Nope. I do it for free because I love youth camp.” I was shocked and didn’t understand

why kids like me would be so important to her. Throughout the following years I continued to go to Sunday school—mostly for the treats the teachers would bring—but as I got older I went less and less. In middle school I became more interested in parties, boys, and worldly things. I got good grades and looked like a good kid, but I had a lot of turmoil deep down. I ignored those feelings thinking there was nothing I could do about them. Each year just before youth camp, I would start attending Sunday school every week so I would be allowed to go. Then, the summer before my freshman year of high school, my friend decided not to attend, and I really debated staying home. Eventually I decided to go, and when I got there a little excitement set in. I had always looked forward to chapel services, but that night as we sang those songs that I had sung probably one hundred times before, I realized for the first time

By Cassy Czupryk

that they didn’t apply to me. I didn’t have the “joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart” and I didn’t really even know what “thank You, Lord, for saving my soul” meant. I could not relate to the words and it bothered me. The service was kind of a blur after that; my mind was consumed with my own thoughts. I only remember the last sentence the minister said: “If you aren’t saved, tonight can be your night!” After the service, we were given the option to stay and pray or go back to our cabins. I turned around, got on my knees, and began to pray at that metal Higher Way

chair. Jesus began to speak to my heart. He showed me that the reason I hadn’t been happy was because I had sin, but assured me that He could take care of that. Events in my life flashed before my eyes and I felt awful for them. I poured my heart out honestly to God and told Him I was so sorry for all the things I had done that displeased Him, that I wanted to be done with all that sin, that I wanted a new start, and that I wanted to serve Him. Instantly, I knew I was forgiven. No one was praying with me, and I didn’t even think I really knew how to pray, but somehow the Lord helped me. I felt clean, a deep peace in my heart, and such joy that I cannot even explain. I told the Lord that I didn’t ever want to go back to the person I had been. He gave me my first promise; that He would never leave me. As long as I wanted to be kept, He would be by my side. That was Monday, July 28, 2003. I left the chapel, ran down the rocky, star-lit path, threw open the cabin door, and yelled, “Jesus saved me tonight!” What a perfect way to start youth camp— and the rest of my life! The rest of that youth camp was so fun, and I was excited to pray after every chapel service. Just two or three days after I was saved—as I was praying that the Lord would help me when I went back and faced school, friends, and family—the Lord sanctified me. He showed me that experience took away the desire for sin and would make it easier to stay saved. Even though I would still be tempted, my heart would want Jesus instead of sin. In the years that followed, God was faithful to keep me and help me grow in Him. There were a lot of changes in my life after I got saved but none that I regret. I started attending church regularly and learned about the annual camp meeting. I heard a “camp meeting song” called “The Blood-Washed Pilgrim” which became my favorite. Soon I learned about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and I began to consecrate and seek that experience. I sought for seven years. At times I was confused about why I hadn’t received it yet. I wondered if there was

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something wrong with me or something I was holding back. But I knew I wanted the real deal, as it is described in Acts chapter 2, and as my church family had experienced it throughout history. The more I sought God, the more I grew to love Him. Once as I was praying, the Lord gave me a promise that I never told anyone. I asked Him, “What is it going to be

I left the chapel, ran down the rocky, star-lit path, threw open the cabin door, and yelled, “Jesus saved me tonight!”

like when I receive it? Will it be at my house by my bed, at church, in the car, at camp meeting, or youth camp?” I wanted any details He was willing to give me. I remember the Lord showing me that the night I prayed through to that experience, the song “The Blood-Washed Pilgrim” would be sung, I would testify in the service, and my testimony would be mentioned in the sermon. The thought seemed quite random and specific, so I brushed it aside thinking to myself, Oh Cassy, you’re daydreaming again! When a friend and I were asked to put together the theme and devotionals for youth camp 2010, I felt completely inadequate without my baptism. I didn’t want to refuse the privilege, though, so I began to earnestly pray for wisdom. I wanted God to speak to hearts and change lives through our efforts and prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide us. The first night of youth camp, I testified because it was exactly seven years since the Lord had saved me. A guys’ group sang a song that is not usually sung at youth camp, “The

Blood-Washed Pilgrim.” I thought, Oh I love this song; it’s my favorite! During his message, the minister mentioned my testimony, but I didn’t think anything of it because he mentioned other testimonies as well. Then, all of a sudden, I remembered the promise the Lord had given me years before. After the service I began to pray with the campers, but after some time everyone left and I was in the chapel by myself. It’s beautiful to get alone with the Lord and I just began to thank Him for all He had done for me and for how He had helped me with the camp devotionals. He showed me that His Spirit had led me as I wrote them—just as I had asked. I tarried there in prayer, just praising and fellowshipping with the Lord. Then I suddenly had such a confidence, appreciation, and release knowing that God always keeps His promises, and at that moment He came down and baptized me with the Holy Ghost and fire, just as He had promised. I knew it without a shadow of a doubt. And just then, some people came back into the chapel and they witnessed me receiving my baptism. The Lord is so faithful and He made it so special! I have learned a lot since the Lord saved me. I was a Sunday school girl and now I am a Sunday school teacher. I used to wonder why counselors would take a week off work to go to youth camp and now I have not missed a year since fourth grade. There has been a lot of growing, but I have learned that Jesus will always be with me, that the best part of me is Him, and that He always keeps His promises. Asking God to change my life was the best decision I have ever made. I am looking forward to what He has for me in the future and seeing Him someday. Cassy Czupryk is a college student and a member of the Apostolic Faith Church in Portland, Oregon.

aster of M Restoration The

estoration is a concept that we are familiar From a sermon While restoration specialists work to preserve with in our society. Recently, the City of physical objects and structures, we serve a God by Tacoma, Washington, where I live, began who specializes in restoring lives. He is the Master Gary Bertram the task of restoring a historical bridge in our area. of restoration! He not only has the power to The Murray Morgan Bridge connects downtown renew, heal, and rebuild, but His whole purpose Tacoma with the tideflats where the ships come in. It was revolves around doing so. He sees value in individuals that built in 1913 to replace an 1894 swing-span bridge, and it man might view as hopeless or damaged beyond repair. crosses a beautiful waterway where the boats are all nestled. Scripture records many examples of Jesus’ power to The bridge has some unusual features: it is higher above the restore the physical body. In the Gospel of Matthew, we find water than most lift bridges, was constructed on a variable an account of how Jesus healed a man with a crippled hand. grade, and has an overhead span designed to carry a water We read, “And when he was departed thence, he went into pipe. The view from the bridge is gorgeous; I remember their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had crossing it many times in the car when I was a boy. his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful The Washington State Department of Transportation to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. closed the Murray Morgan in 2007 due to deterioration And he said unto them, What man shall there be among and structural deficiencies. For a time, the City of Tacoma you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on did not know what to do with the bridge. At one point, a the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? decision was made to tear it down, but the city officials How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore forgot to ask those of us who have lived there all of our lives it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he how we felt about that. Recently, plans were put in place to to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched restore the bridge, because concerned individuals saw value it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other” in preserving this historical structure. When the work is (Matthew 12:9-13). done, vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be allowed to travel Jesus faced much opposition as He walked this earth. The across the bridge once more. Pharisees did not believe that He was the Son of God. They Higher Way

actually hated Him, and tried to discredit or trap Him on mend the effects of years of destructive behavior. We were numerous occasions, but they failed every time. This was going our own way, and we should have suffered the effects one of those occasions. However, in the middle of all that and anguish of our misdeeds for the rest of our lives, but opposition to His ministry, Jesus reached out to one who God had mercy. Thank God for that! needed restoration. After Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, MatMatthew’s account states that this man was in the syna- thew relates that He “withdrew himself from thence.” Howgogue on the Sabbath day. We are not told if he knew Jesus ever, great multitudes followed Him, and the Bible tells us, was in the area, or if he had any expectation that Jesus might “he healed them all” (verse 15). Healing was not Jesus’ prishow up at the synagogue. Whether or not he had any hope mary mission when He came to this earth. Salvation of lost of seeing Jesus, that is exactly what happened. souls was His number one priority, but in His great love When Jesus told the man, “Stretch forth thine hand,” and mercy, He undertook for those who came to Him for He was asking him to do something that was completely healing. That is our Lord. He wanted to save their souls, but impossible in the natural. The man might have thought, He had such compassion and mercy for them that He also I don’t know if I can obey this comresponded to their physical needs. mand—is it even possible for me to In verses 18 and 20, Matthew quoted stretch forth my hand? The Bible does from Isaiah 42:1, “Behold my serIt does not matter if vant [Jesus], not tell us how long the man’s hand whom I have chosen; had been withered. It gives no details as your situation looks my beloved, in whom my soul is well to whether he had suffered a stroke or I will put my spirit upon him, hopeless. Faith and pleased: an injury, how old the man was, or how and he shall shew judgment to the long he had been in that condition. It obedience will always Gentiles. . . . A bruised reed shall he not just tells us that he had a hand that was break, and smoking flax shall he not bring results! inoperable; he could not use it. quench.” Commentators note that the The details about why he could not reed was a symbol of weakness. Isaiah use his hand did not matter to the Lord. referred to a “bruised reed,” which sigWhat mattered was that the man with a withered hand met nifies something bordering on death. Oh, the divine gentlethe Master of Restoration. When he stretched forth his ness of Jesus that ministers to those who are bruised and hand in faith and obedience to the One who stood before damaged by sin! him, something happened. Glory to God! That is the way Maybe life has not been very good to you, and you it works. In a moment of time, Jesus restored that withered wonder if there really is a God in Heaven who cares. You hand and it became as whole as the other. are like the bruised reed, but the Lord offers restoration. A Today, Jesus’ power to restore is just the same. The Bible bruised reed was something without value, but you are not tells us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. He worthless. Jesus loves you! He gave His life for you! is still in the business of restoring lives. Those of us who If you have ruined your life by sin and the enemy has have been born again through His power know that He has told you that you are beyond help—that you have done so done that in our lives. He will do it for you if you are not much wrong that you can never be forgiven—that is not born again. It does not matter what you have done or how true. Jesus can restore you today. He wants to restore you! long you have been in your sinful condition. It does not That restoration will not take months or years. It will not matter if your situation looks hopeless. Faith and obedience take a man-made process or a ten-step program. The power will always bring results! You can have an assurance down of Jesus can come down today and make you whole in an deep in your heart, settled and anchored, that you have instant of time. He wants you to be whole! been received by God. You will know that He has touched The peace and assurance that He will give you will not your life and transformed it. You will know that you have deteriorate or grow old. It will remain fresh and new in received something worthwhile, something of great price. your heart, because He will give you the power to keep it. And that assurance will carry you through every opposing None of us can serve God in our own strength, but He gives factor, every hard place, and every trial you face in the days the strength day by day as we keep our hands in His. This ahead. Gospel is nothing but pure, heavenly power and it will do I have always been amazed at people who have the talent for you what nothing else can do. Jesus is the Restorer. He and ability to restore houses, buildings, cars, or other came here to earth to die for us so that we could be made objects of historical value—items people have had for years whole, and that truth has made us free. that show the effects of misuse, abuse, or even just natural If you do not have peace with God in your heart today, deterioration. A transformation takes place when someone admit it and ask God for help from above. When you turn who knows what they are doing refurbishes an object to from your sin in honest repentance, and reach out to Him the point where it is as good as new. However, we know in faith, He will do that for you. He will restore you and One who is a Master in restoring people’s lives. What could make your life brand new. be more wonderful than that? God can restore what has been torn down through sin. He can heal the damage done Gary Bertram is a minister in the Apostolic Faith Church through things that were taken into our bodies. He can in Tacoma, Washington. 20

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Highlighting Our

Heritage

ow thankful I am to say that I love Jesus and I know that He loves me. I want to thank God for Holy Ghost conviction. I was raised in the Apostolic Faith Church and I knew the way to go. When I was a small boy, I went to church and wanted to serve the Lord. I practiced the trombone and longed to play it in the church services someday. I loved to go to church on Sunday night. Brother Ray Crawford’s trombone would be lying on the top of the piano and he would get up and play it, and direct the congregational singing with it. I anticipated Brother Rodman’s preaching, enjoying it when that highly educated man stood up at the pulpit. And I loved to hear the testimonies of those giants of God

Mother’s Prayers Followed Me

No matter how far he traveled, he could not excape Holy Ghost conviction.

By Bud Johnson

sitting on the front row of the platform. They would get up and tell of the great things the Lord had done for them, making them what they were supposed to be. However, the enemy of my soul came along, and the things of this world began to look bright to me. I laid down the trombone and went out into sin. Oh, how I rue the day that I thought other things were more important than God’s work! I started playing basketball with the boys, and after we would get through playing, they would have some beer and cigarettes. I would partake of that. I went to work for the Canton Grill out on 82nd and Division when I was about sixteen or seventeen years old, washing dishes. I would start at about four o’clock in the afternoon and get off at one or two o’clock in the morning. Then we would go downtown. It was one sin and then another. Those first glasses of beer and those first cigarettes did not stop. One day my dad, along with two of my cousins, took me to the Vancouver train yard. I had a little pack over my back. I hopped on a train and rode up the Columbia River to Wishram, Washington. I was heading away from home and planning to do big things.

That night I slept on a sand pile by a great big water tank. I rode the rails for four days and four nights and finally wound up in Minnesota. One thing led to another until I found myself doing things I could not control. After a time, I joined the United States Coast Guard and went around the world. I went into the ports where sin abounded, and it was not long until I was serving sin to its fullest extent. I went into sin about as far as a young man can go, but I found it was not worth anything. I spent every minute serving the devil, and it was a way of sorrow and misery. My soul was as dark as midnight out there in sin. I smoked up to two-and-a-half packs of cigarettes a day and was almost an alcoholic. Sometimes when I would be sitting on a barstool, in a stupor from drinking, I would try to tell myself that there was really no God. I remembered, though, that when I was young, I had blood poisoning—streaks had gone up my leg. I limped up onto the platform to have the ministers pray for me and the Lord healed me instantly; I walked off without a limp. I could not deny the reality of that experience. One night, while sitting in a bar and looking at myself in the mirror, I wondered what life was all about. The Higher Way

I thought that ship was going to sink, so I went into the ship’s library and got down on my knees and prayed like my mother used to pray.

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bartender said to me, “Why are you so blue tonight?” I told him that I did not know why—but I did. I was sad because I knew that if I were to be cut off in my sin, I would go to Hell. I am so glad for conviction, because I wasn’t really able to enjoy sin. No matter where I went, or how far away from home I traveled, I would see before me the faces of those I had heard proclaiming the Gospel. I had been brought up in this church, and could never forget what I had heard as a child. In my mind I could hear the Morning Star Quartet singing, and I know now that was the Lord talking to me. My mother’s prayers followed me. She prayed and prayed and prayed for her wayward son. She would say to those who she knew were prayer warriors, “Pray for Bud, he is in the depths of sin.” I am so glad that one time, after being out on the Atlantic Ocean for about twelve days, fighting a Northeaster, my mom’s prayers got through. I thought that ship was going to sink, so I went into the ship’s library and got down on my knees and prayed like my mother used to pray. God calmed the storm. We arrived safely in New York harbor; albiet covered with ice, but we were safe. Even though God had spared my life, I did not yield to Him. At the age of twenty-eight, I found myself in a terrible condition. One night, a man stepped up to me and put a gun to my stomach and said, “If I ever see you again, I will kill you.” From that time on God followed me day and night with conviction. One Sunday afternoon, I drove to the church to take my sister to a young people’s meeting. Everything changed for me that day. I did not go downtown as I had planned, but instead, I parked

my car nearby and walked through the front doors of the tabernacle. I sat down in the back of the auditorium. At the end of the service, as I was about to make my exit, one of the ministers put his hand on my shoulder and asked, “Wouldn’t you like to come with me and pray?” Something within me leaped. I turned back around and down the aisle we went. I dropped on my knees, crying, and prayed as only a brokenhearted sinner can. As I prayed, those who loved me gathered around me and prayed also. Jesus heard in Heaven above, and a transformation took place in my heart—a heart that had been hardened by sin. God wrought a work in my life that completely changed my desires; I began to live for Jesus. The craving for alcohol left me and it never came back. The desire for cigarettes was gone, as well as the cursing and the wild life. The Lord gave me power over all sin. I had to make restitution. After God saved me, those trains I had stolen rides on came to mind. I am so thankful it was in my heart to make those restitutions. A few years after I was saved, the Lord brought a lovely lady into my life. We married, and Shirley and I have had a wonderful life serving the Lord together. He has been so good to us. We have been in many places serving the Lord: in the Midwest for three years, in Hawaii for two-anda-half years, and up and down the West Coast. I am happy to be able to tell people everywhere I go that Jesus came into my heart, took out the sin and awful misery that was there, and gave me peace, joy, and happiness. It is wonderful to be in the family of God! For six weeks, the family of God prayed for me when I lay flat on my back. I could just lift my head enough for my wife to put the plate up there by my mouth, so I would get some food in. Ministers came to pray for me. At about four or five o’clock in the morning my wife would call them and say, “Come and pray for Bud. He needs prayer.” They would come and get down on their knees by my bed and pray. Then, the power would come down and the Lord would lift that pain, so I could rest for a while.

How I thank God for a faithful wife. All night long that pain would just be excruciating until finally I would say, “Honey, you have got to pray for me.” Shirley would come around to my side of the bed and take hold of my hand. She would drop down on her knees and pray a couple minutes and the power would come down. The Lord would touch me. Thank God for a faithful assistant minister. I would call him and say, “Jim, come on before you go to school. Come and pray for me.” He would come and he would pray and the pain would leave. One day I had to have an x-ray taken. The doctor said, “We just about know what we will find.” In spite of his grim outlook, I did not have any fear. When he got through with those x-rays he said, “It is marvelous. This is wonderful! There is surely Somebody smiling down on you.” I said, “Doctor, if the Lord has touched me once, He has touched me fifty times. I knew I was going to be all right.” I just cannot thank God enough for taking that load of sin off my heart and giving me peace so many years ago. It is a wonderful thing to be able to go to bed at night, lay your head on that pillow, and know that you have not sinned against God or man, and that all is clear between you and God. It is a wonderful way to live. I praise Him that He has blessed me in so many, many ways. I have had peace for fifty-three years now, and have had the opportunity to serve Jesus who loved me so much that He died that I might have life, and have it more abundantly. Elvin Johnson, known to his friends and family as Bud, was a faithful worker in the Lord’s vineyard for many years. He had the distinction of being the only baby ever born on the Apostolic Faith campground in Portland! He served as a minister and pastor in a number of Apostolic Faith churches around the United States, and in his post-retirement years, he found a new area of ministry in answering mail at the headquarters office in Portland, Oregon. He had a special burden for correspondents who wrote from India. He passed away in 2007.

A Statement of Bible Doctrine We believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible, and endorse all the teachings contained in it. Following is a summary of our basic doctrines. The Divine Trinity consists of three Persons: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost, perfectly united as one. Matthew 3:16-17; 1 John 5:7. Repentance is a godly sorrow for and a renouncing of all sin. Isaiah 55:7; Matthew 4:17. Justification (salvation) is the act of God’s grace through which we receive forgiveness for sins and stand before God as though we had never sinned. Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17. Entire Sanctification, the act of God’s grace whereby we are made holy, is the second definite work and is subsequent to justification. John 17:15-21; Hebrews 13:12. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is the enduement of power upon the sanctified life, and is evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. John 14:16-17,26; Acts 1:5-8; 2:1-4. Divine Healing of sickness is provided through the atonement. James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24. The Second Coming of Jesus will consist of two appearances. First, He will come to catch away His waiting Bride. Matthew 24:40-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. Second, He will come to execute judgment upon the ungodly. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jude 14-15. The Tribulation will occur between Christ’s coming for His Bride and His return in judgment. Isaiah 26:20-21; Revelation 9 and 16.

Christ’s Millennial Reign will be the 1000 years of peaceful reign by Jesus on earth. Isaiah 11 and 35; Revelation 20:1-6. The Great White Throne Judgment will be the final judgment when all the wicked dead will stand before God. Revelation 20:11-15. The New Heaven and The New Earth will replace the present heaven and earth, which will be destroyed after the Great White Throne Judgment. 2 Peter 3:12-13; Revelation 21:1-3. Eternal Heaven and Eternal Hell are literal places of final and eternal destiny. Matthew 25:41-46; Luke 16:22-28. Marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman that is binding before God for life. Neither person has a right to marry again while the first companion lives. Mark 10:6-12; Romans 7:1-3. Restitution is necessary, where in wrongs against others are righted. Ezekiel 33:15; Matthew 5:23-24. Water Baptism is by one immersion “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 3:16; 28:19. The Lord’s Supper is an insti tution ordained by Jesus so that we might remember His death until He returns. Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Foot Washing is practiced according to the example and commandment Jesus gave. John 13:14-15.

You may obtain additional information about these doctrines, and learn about our publications in foreign languages by writing to the Apostolic Faith Church at 6615 SE 52nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97206, U.S.A. or visiting our website at www.apostolicfaith.org. Before these magazines are sent out, they are a lways prayed over for the healing of the sick and the salvation of souls.

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e invite you to visit our website at www.apostolicfaith. org. There you will find a wide range of spiritually encouraging articles, including true accounts of people from all walks of life who found peace when they committed their lives to Jesus Christ. We also offer a daily online devotional, free Sunday school curriculum materials for all ages, audio sermon files, and videos of church services at the Apostolic Faith headquarters church in Portland, Oregon. You will be able to read back issues of the Higher Way magazine, order print copies of our free religious booklets and tracts, and explore many other resources that will encourage you in your search for God.

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