Remnant Magazine: Issue 3

A PU BLICAT ION OF THE HOL INESS PARTNERSHIP

REMNANT HOLINESS CONTEXTUALIZED

Leading Your Family As a Man of God pg. 6

Living for Christ As a Strong-Willed Woman pg. 10

Holiness Ministry in an Urban Context pg. 13

The Need For Holiness in Rural Church Revitalization pg. 16

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CONTENTS

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Rev. Andy Lauer

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Rev. Tom Lorimer

A People of One Book

Leading Your Family As a Man of God

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Cynthia Ulrich Tobias

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Dr. Brad Paradee

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Rev. Robert Beckett

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Elicia Riggi

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Rev. Phil Rhoades

Living For Christ As a Strong-Willed Woman

Holiness Ministry in an Urban Context

The Need for Holiness in Rural Church Revitalization

Eternal Choices: From Death To Life

Resistance

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The Purpose of

Remnant

As a publication of the Holiness Partnership, the purpose of Remnant Magazine is to promote Scriptural holiness through applicable theology and practice.

The Holiness Partnership is a Wesleyan-Holiness organization seeking to re-discover the vision and understanding of biblical Christianity, re-emphasize the biblical doctrines of the Holiness church, re-invigorate the local church for mission and evangelism, and re-capture fidelity to biblical truth. We, at Remnant, pray that the Holy Spirit guides our messages, helps us bring clarity to holiness approaches to cultural issues, fosters a charitable dialogue in a polarized world, and enables us to speak the truth boldly in love, even in a time when the truth is unpopular.

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A People of One Book

By Rev. Andy Lauer

“There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25, AMP).

on social media, blogs, podcasts, and conferences) to see if they’re really consistent with what God has revealed to us in Scripture.

We live in a day when there are so many voices clamoring for our attention and obedience. The truth is that most of these voices are not the voice of the Lord. Dozens of times, the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the New Testament to write warnings about false teachers and false prophets who would infiltrate the Church with lies and deceptive ideologies. Jude says they creep in “unnoticed” (Jude 1:4). Paul warns they “disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:15). Peter explains that they “bring in destructive heresies” (2 Pet. 2:1). Jesus Himself said a day was coming when there would be many false prophets and people claiming falsely to be the Messiah (Matt. 24:23-24).

We must become like the Berean Christians who “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11)! Paul says teaching that “does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ... [nor] accords with godliness” is intensely disruptive and destructive in the Body of Christ, for it leads to “an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people” (1 Timothy 6:3-4).

In other words, people are coming (and are here!) who will proclaim a way of salvation that is inconsistent with the true way of salvation offered in Jesus Christ. Is there any doubt we are witnessing these very things in our world and our churches today?

Many are proclaiming new ways that “appear straight”—often in alignment with popular ideologies and social movements of the day— but Scripture is clear; their outcome is death (physical and spiritual).

That’s why it’s so fundamental for believers to be intimately familiar with God’s Word, the Bible. John exhorts believers, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). We must hold up to the light of God’s Word (Ps. 119:105) the ideologies, novel theologies, and purportedly loving teachings of pastors, authors, professors, and speakers who are so outspoken today (particularly

Are we not seeing the fruits of such unorthodox teaching in the way that biblical words, theological concepts, and Scripture itself are being redefined and reinterpreted away from the historical Christian faith by some pastors and theologians today? (The controversy within churches over the recent overturn of Roe versus Wade comes to mind.)

Titus 1:9 unequivocally instructs that we must refute such false teaching!

How else do we recognize false teachers and teachings (“testing the spirits”), if we do not compare them to what the Bible says about God, salvation, humankind, society, good and evil, and so on? As Christians, the ONLY faithful, completely trustworthy guide we have is the Bible. The teachings of biblically sound pastors and theologians can be helpful, our ability to think rationally can assist us, and personal experience may help confirm, but the only foundation—the beginning and end for Christian doctrine, teaching, and living—is the Word of God. We must contain all within its providential parameters.

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Some today claim that Christians are too Bible-centric, that we “worship the Bible instead of God.” Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is, Christians worship God as revealed in the Bible; we don’t worship the Bible itself. We understand salvation and salvation history as revealed in the Bible. But it is incorrect to imply, as some do, that God or Christ supersede the Bible or that God’s love may require us to ignore, reinterpret, or even disobey parts of the Bible (I actually read a mainstream pastor saying this recently!). We recognize that the only completely reliable way we can know God and the salvation He offers is through what is recorded in the pages of Scripture.

We hunger for it and align our lives by it. We proclaim with John Wesley, “O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let

me be ‘homo unius libri’ [a man of one book]” (John Wesley’s preface to Standard Sermons).

In the pages of this issue of Remnant, we have asked a variety of authors to propose ways that Scripture and the holiness teaching revealed therein should inform and shape every aspect of our lives—from what it means to be a godly man or woman, to how holiness guides our ministry in different contexts.

The desire of the Holiness Partnership is that those of us in Wesleyan-Holiness traditions will continue in and reaffirm our commitment to testing, by the truth of God’s word, the myriad spirits and teachings cropping up in our pluralistic and syncretistic world and churches today. We pray that this issue will play a role in helping you do that.

The desire of the Holiness Partnership is that those of us in WesleyanHoliness traditions will continue in and reaffirm our commitment to testing, by the truth of God’s word, the myriad spirits and teachings cropping up in our pluralistic and syncretistic world and churches today.

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LEADING YOUR FAMILY AS A

man of God B Y REV. T O M LO RIMER

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“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to viction is something that is so foundational to the children, And the hearts of the children to our lives that we will sacrifice for it or endure their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth hardship in order to keep that value resolute. with a curse” (Malachi 4:6, NKJV).

For example, it should be a conviction that the Bible is the Word of God and the final Are fathers important? Our society has authority for my life. Because of that convic devalued the role of fatherhood for over a tion, the husband will arrange his life around generation. Back in 1992, the then Vice Presi the truths of God’s Word, even if that is not dent of the United States, Dan Quayle, com convenient. A godly man will have the con mented on the importance of fathers in the viction that faith in Jesus Christ is the way of home and criticized a TV program, salvation. That faith will be more than head , for setting a poor example by extolling knowledge but a full commitment to Jesus as single motherhood. The media and entertain Lord of life. Then one’s life is arranged by sub ment industries attacked him viciously for mission and service to King Jesus. promoting ideas that represented traditional American values and the importance of hus bands and fathers. (1) Within a year, published a front page article entitled “Dan Quayle was right.” Their research showed that the col lapse of the two-parent family was harmful to children and weakened and undermined our society. (2) In 2012, ran an article describing how Dan Quayle was still right.

The research showed that intact families resulted in better children in multiple ways. (3) Today, the evidence from secular re search still demonstrates the same thing.

Children with involved fathers are more likely to do better academically, more likely to go to college, find higher paying stable employment and earn more money, less likely to be sexu ally active, and less likely to end up afoul of the law. They even have higher IQs. (4) The godly husband and dad will be a All this just demonstrates that God’s man of prayer. In order for his prayers to be plan for families is the right plan. It was God effective, he must be loving, giving, under who ordained and instituted marriage and standing, and kind to his wife (Mal. 2:13-16, family (Gen. 2:24). Marriage is the union of 1 Peter 3:7). So, a godly man will make his one man and one woman into an honor wife a priority in his life. And it is obvious that able, respectful, loving, lifelong relationship. a godly man will live a life of righteousness, Through them, God gave the privilege of creat - which includes right living and good works ing new life. His purpose was for that family to (Eph. 2:10, Rom. 6:18-19, 1Cor. 15:34, Eph. raise godly children (Mal. 2:15).

4:24, 1Tim. 6:11, 2 Tim. 2:22, 2 Tim. 3:16, Titus God has given the responsibility of lead 2:12). ership of the family to the man (Eph. 5:22-23).

Second, a leader will lead. There are So, if God’s purpose and goal for the family is many elements to leadership, but we will-ad to raise godly children, then it is imperative dress three. that the leader lead in godliness.

Initiative is a quality of leadership.

What makes a good leader? First, a godly Initiative doesn’t wait for someone else to husband and dad will be a man of conviction. start things. This doesn’t mean that a husband Conviction is a lot different than preference. and father does not need to learn and grow. It A preference is something we want, but it is means that he will take the power of opportu not something that anchors our lives. A con nity to direct his family in the way of holiness.

A FATHER MUST TAKE THE POWER OF OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECT HIS FAMILY IN THE WAY OF HOLINESS.

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He will take the responsibility to guide his wife and children in the way of the Lord.

Instruction is part of the biblical requirements of leadership for men. He is to bring up his children in the training and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). The godly father will exhort, comfort, and charge his children (1Thess. 2:11). The responsibility for education falls to dad. This doesn’t mean that he has to do all the teaching. It means that he is responsible to make sure that his children are receiving godly education.

Influence is the third element we will note. John Maxwell once said, “He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk.” (5) Leadership is more than just telling children what to do. It is showing them the way to live. It is like when Paul said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1, 1 Cor. 4:16, Php. 3:17). If dad leads the way and dem-

onstrates a faithful Christian life, the children are likely to follow suit. For example, if dad is faithful in his church attendance, it is likely the children will be also. (6) Are you a husband? Are you a dad? You have been given a powerful opportunity to influence your family for God. Don’t shy away from that. Accept the responsibility. Embrace the challenge. Ask the Lord to help you be a godly father and husband. It is His will for you, and so you can be assured that He will help you (James 1:5).

Genesis 2:24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Malachi 2:15 “But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.”

Ephesians 2:22 “...In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Malachi 2:13-16 “And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and crying; so He does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’

Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring.

Therefore, take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. “For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,” says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God pre-

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IT IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU TO BE A GODLY FATHER AND HUSBAND, AND SO YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT HE WILL HELP YOU. pared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Romans 6:18-19 “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”

See also 1 Cor. 15:34, Eph. 4:24, 1 Tim. 6:11, 2 Tim. 2:22, 2 Tim. 3:16, Titus 2:12 Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 2:11 “As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,...”

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

See also 1 Cor. 4:16, Php. 3:17 James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

(1) https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/applied-and-social-sciences-magazines/dan-quayle-was-right (2) https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/ar-

chive/1993/04/dan-quayle-was-right/307015/ (3) https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/20-yearslater-it-turns-out-dan-quayle-was-right-about-murphybrown-and-unmarried-moms/2012/05/25/gJQAsNCJqU_ story.html.

(4) https://childandfamilyresearch.utexas.edu/5things-you-should-know-about-importancefathers#:~:text=Children%20who%20grow%20up%20 with,teen%20birth%2C%20and%2080%25%20less see also https://www.fatherly.com/health-science/science-benefits-of-fatherhood-dads-father-effect/ http://marripedia.org/effects_of_parents_on_crime_rates (5) https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/479285he-who-thinks-he-leads-but-has-no-followersis#:~:text=Quotes%20%3E%20Quotable%20Quote,%E2%80%9CHe%20who%20thinks%20he%20 leads%2C%20but%20has%20no%20followers%2C,is%20 only%20taking%20a%20walk.%E2%80%9D (6) https://nickcady.org/2016/06/20/the-impact-on-kidsof-dads-faith-and-church-attendance/

“Walk a Little Plainer, Daddy”

By Christy Hollis Walk a little plainer, Daddy, Said a little boy so frail.

I’m following in your footsteps, And I don’t want to fail.

Sometimes your steps are very plain, Sometimes they are hard to see.

So walk a little plainer, Daddy, For you are leading me.

I know that once you walked This way many years ago, And what you did along the way, I’d really like to know.

For sometimes when I am tempted, I don’t know what to do.

So walk a little plainer, Daddy, For I must follow you.

Someday when I’m grown up, You are like I want to be.

Then when I have a little boy...

Whom will want to follow me.

And I would want to lead him right, And help him to be true.

So walk a little plainer, Daddy, For we must follow you.

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Woman

LI V I NG F OR CH RI S T AS A

STRONG-WILLED

BY CYNTHIA ULRICH TOBIAS

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trong-Willed Woman. Some people think that label means you’re bossy, pushy, too intense. But what if you’re a strong-willed woman whose heart belongs to God? All that great strength and determination translates into a mighty force for Him—when it’s headed in the right direction.

We tend to stand apart from the others, not necessarily because we are smarter or more gifted, but because we are, quite simply, bolder. In God’s army, we might volunteer to be in the Special Operations unit. You’ll find us in all walks of life—teachers, stay-at-home moms, CEOs, homeschooling moms, entrepreneurs, and more. Each one is a woman with strong convictions, willing to take the lead when called upon to use her passion, courage, and drive to withstand extraordinary conditions.

We’re in a battle between good and evil.

There’s an enemy who is determined to steal the hearts and minds of children, destroy marriages, crush ambitions, and redefine ethics and spiritual morality. The stakes are higher than ever, and the outcome determines the destiny of every soul for eternity.

God doesn’t force us to serve, but when we voluntarily enlist in His service, we become part of something greater than any of us; and He uses our strong will to accomplish more than we could have ever dreamed. As Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5: “It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions” (The Message).

God gave us a strong will for a reason, and He calls us to use it for Him. But we strong-willed women face some unique challenges when it comes to staying solidly committed to the Creator and Designer who made us this way. I can think of three big ones right away.

or needy. But as it turns out, it takes a lot of strength to lay everything down at the foot of the cross.

Repentance means actively turning away from sin. It’s the way to God—the strong and deliberate surrender of our will that gives Him the rightful first place in our lives.

Submission is the voluntary decision to turn our stubborn, independent heart and disposition over to the only One who truly knows what to do with it.

Obedience also comes by choice. God doesn’t force us to repent or submit, and He doesn’t make us obey Him. Our surrender to Jesus represents a victory over our own selfish will and desires.

That sounds like Christianity was tailormade for those of us with strong wills.

THE CHALLENGE OF BECOMING A CHRISTIAN IN THE FIRST PLACE

I Corinthians 10:12–13 says: “Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt.

You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence” (The Message).

Too often, we can act as though God needs a little nudge or advice from us—as though the world would work better if He

Words like repentance, submission, and obedience can sound suspiciously like we’ll be required to be more emotional or weak

THE CHALLENGE OF LETTING GOD BE IN CHARGE Years ago we sang a chorus called “Jesus and Me.” I loved the idea that I was taking Jesus with me wherever I went. Then our pastor reminded us that Jesus says “Follow Me,” not the other way around. Oh. Wow. That’s a lot harder to do. That means allowing our wills to be transformed to His will—even if there are times when we’re sure we have a better idea of how to get things done.

GOD GAVE US A STRONG WILL FOR A REASON, AND HE CALLS US TO USE IT FOR HIM.

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I’M NOT A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTIAN BECAUSE I AM A STRONG-WILLED WOMAN. I’M A DIFFERENT KIND OF STRONG-WILLED WOMAN BECAUSE I AM A CHRISTIAN. at least had a suggestion box. But it doesn’t matter how good our ideas are; if they’re not God’s ideas, they will ultimately fail.

THE CHALLENGE OF SERVING WITH LOVE AND PATIENCE We can easily fall into the habit of being impatient with almost anyone. But if the desire of our heart is to honor God, we know our attitude and actions make a big difference. We always need to focus on being a credit to the message of Christ.

We have to remember that being strong willed should never be an excuse for bad behavior. Our obedience to God means we follow Jesus, and the most important thing is to find and do what God wants us to do.

SO WHAT SHOULD THE CHURCH DO ABOUT STRONGWILLED WOMEN? From the beginning of the founding of the Church of the Nazarene, women have been included in the leadership and ordained clergy. But what about those in the congregation? What if there are dozens of strong-willed women within the walls of your church who could come together through Christ to pray and fellowship and form a bond so strong that the enemy could not defeat them? What if these women could show others who think like they do how God can take the strongest will and use it for His purposes?

If I could add just two words to one of my favorite quotes by Elisabeth Eliot, it would read like this: I’m not a different kind of Christian because I am a strong-willed woman. I’m a different kind of strong-willed woman because I am a Christian. Let’s go make more disciples like that!

For more on this topic, check out the author’s book: A Woman of Strength and Purpose.

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HOLINESS MINISTRY IN AN

U R BA N CO N T E X T

BY DR. BRAD PARADEE

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hat does holiness ministry look like in an urban setting? Depending on the individual you are asking, you will find various answers to that question. “Holiness” is defined as being set apart for God, but “urban” can mean many things to many people. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines urban as a large city population.

The context in which I minister is the urban setting of Long Beach, California in Los Angeles County. Long Beach First Church (LBFC) is a very diverse church that is multi-ethnic, multi-economic, and multigenerational. For example, one of my Sunday School teachers is the number one Ferrari restoration expert in the world and has Ferraris in the Smithsonian and other collector venues; our drummer is homeless. We have

top-level CEOs and business owners and blue-collar workers. We have multiple people who graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University, as well as high school dropouts.

We also have a great number of outside guests (homeless people) visit us weekly for food and a clean shower.

So, how do we minister to such a diverse group? We preach the truth without excuses.

My sermons are crafted in ways to give people hope and the tools to apply what the Bible says to their current situations. Our ministries are set up to allow people to walk alongside each other and show how God has something much better for them than what the world has to offer.

Many people view servant leadership as the prominent style to lead from, but in urban

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The Church s h o u l d a lways b e i n n ovat i n g a n d g et t i n g c r e at i v e to d ev e lo p n ew av e n u es o f r e ac h i n g t h e u n r e ac h e d w i t h the hope of C h r i st. ministry, we need to be situational leaders; because each situation we find ourselves in is so different, and the individuals are so different.

When it comes to the down-and-out, we provide for their needs and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus showed compassion by healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, and even raising the dead. But don’t forget that Jesus also healed the brokenness in the city by forgiving the sins of the outcast, the marginalized, and tax collectors. In Luke 4:18, Jesus clearly stated His mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has

sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.” It’s vital for us to offer both love and truth—care and accountability.

An aspect of ministry sometimes forgotten is ministering to the wealthy. This might surprise you, but they need Jesus, too; and they actually love to learn about Jesus and His ministry. We read in Luke 19:1-9 that Jesus had no issue meeting with wealthy people, even if they were known to be corrupt: “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short, he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now, I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”

As Christians, we know we are not to show favoritism, and this applies to how we treat the rich, just as much as it does to the poor. As God said in Leviticus 19:15, “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.’”

At LBFC, we also hold community events

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quarterly. We have events for all the major Christian holidays, but we also contract InN-Out Burger to bring their truck and cook delicious hamburgers for everyone in our community, drawing in people who might not otherwise attend and showing them the love of Christ. We are also involved with Relay for Life (the international fundraising campaign for cancer research), Special Olympics, and many other events. I meet with the mayor, who happens to be an openly homosexual man, to discuss how our church can serve our community better. I also meet with the chief of police and the head of the Los Angeles FBI office to help in the fight against human trafficking. There are so many ways to reach a diverse group of people throughout our city, and it doesn’t always have to look like the traditional way of doing things. I believe the Church should always be innovating and getting creative to develop new avenues of reaching the unreached with the hope of Christ. The message and biblical principles remain the same without compromise, but the approach and methods of delivery should evolve to best serve your area.

A few years ago, something happened at our church that still serves as quite an intense reminder of how we are to treat the lost in our communities. There was a man going all around Southern California killing people if they told him “No.” This man murdered six people within a one-week time frame. Long story short, this young man ended up in my office, and I had no idea who he was. I later learned that he had a pistol in his pocket the whole time, but each time he would ask for something, I would give it to him. Things like coffee, food, and the use of one of our bathrooms. Only after I offered him a shower did he decide not to kill me. I had no idea of this the whole time we spoke. Then he was arrested just outside of my office. The police were amazed he didn’t kill me, and others asked how I survived. I simply answered them with: “Be nice to people; it could save your life!”

If I was to sum up how to bring holiness to an urban context, I would say to love and be kind to everyone, while never condoning sin. Teach people that God desires for them to live without sin. People need love and acceptance, but they also need to be saved and set free from their bondage. Jesus Christ is their only answer, and He will equip you to effectively spread the Good News wherever He sends you.

Lov e p eo p l e and be kind to ev e ryo n e, w h i l e n ev e r co n d o n i n g s i n . P eo p l e n e e d lov e a n d acc e p ta n c e, b u t t h ey a ls o n e e d to b e sav e d a n d s et free from their b o n dag e .

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THE NEED FOR HOLINESS IN

Rural CHURCH REVITALIZATION

By Rev. Robert Beckett

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he need for holiness is often overlooked in rural church revitalization. However, without a focus on holiness, the chances of successfully reviving a struggling rural church are slim. It is no wonder that so many churches are struggling; the fire in the Church has turned to smoldering ashes. Until the people of the Church receive and understand the vision and purpose that God has for that local congregation, nothing will happen of any significance.

Leadership can appoint committees to come up with programs. They can start new activities and put all kinds of money in it. They can make the production or project attractive and appealing, but until that church is following and obeying the vision God places for them, it will result in human effort. The best they can hope for is human results, which can only pale in comparison to God’s effort and God’s results. What is missing in this fury of activity is the holy fire of God. Without holiness, nothing will happen.

So how do we revive the fire of God in our struggling churches?

It all starts with the people and their hearts. In order for someone to be able to serve others and make a difference, that person needs to know who he/she is serving. They need to have a deep sense of who God is and what He has called them to do with their lives.

This can only happen through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ where the Holy Spirit begins to change their heart and mind.

I am reminded of Leviticus 6:13 that says, “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” This is the root of the problem that most churches that are in decline face. They do not tend the fire. Some of the many definitions of “tend” is to: apply oneself to the care of and to have or take charge of as a caretaker or overseer.

Churches that are in need of revitalization find that the

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fire has died out because attention has not been paid to the building of and contributing to the fire. The leadership has let other things crowd out their time with God, and so the fire dwindles to a tiny flicker and eventually goes out.

The key to reviving a struggling church is holiness. When people in the church focus on growing closer to God through prayer, Bible study, and worship, the Holy Spirit will begin to work in their hearts and minds. As they begin to understand who God is and what He has called them to do, they will start living holy lives. And as they live holy lives, the fire of God will begin to burn brightly within them.

When the fire of God burns brightly in people’s hearts, it will also ignite a passion for sharing the Gospel with others and reaching out to those in need. Thus, church revitalization starts with individuals who are devoted to living holy lives and seeking God’s will for their lives. As more and more people embrace this mindset, the holiness of the church will begin to spread throughout.

God is telling the Church that we must take care of and stoke the heavenly fire that the Holy Spirit provides and brings to us. But we can be neglectful and distracted and take our eyes off of the vision that God provides for

us, and when this happens, we must seek to rekindle those holy fires in our church.

Rural churches must take the time to focus on holiness if they want to be revived.

Without a focus on holiness, all the programs in the world will not bring new life to a church.

Without a focus on holiness, all the programs in the world will not bring new life to a church.

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Church revitalization starts with individuals who are devoted to living holy lives and seeking God’s will for their lives.

It is only when we turn our attention back to God and ask for His guidance that we will see true change in our churches. Only then will we be able to see the fire of revival burning in our churches once again.

So, how and why is the fire so important and essential for the life of a church? In Leviticus, it is mentioned several times that the fire on the altar was to burn continuously.

God wanted a perpetual fire burning there, and He must have had a very good reason for it to remain.

The fire was the very representation of God Himself.

Before the Law was ever given, God appeared to Moses “in flames of fire from within a bush on the back side of the desert.

Moses realized that as he gazed upon the sight before him, that even though the bush was on fire it did not burn up or was it being

consumed” (Exodus 3:2). God chose the appearance of a continuous fire when calling Moses to lead the people out of Egypt to a new land. Later, when God was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, God appeared as a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21–22).

The fire was the demonstration of His power.

Another reason the ongoing fire was so important is that it was started directly

by God: “Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown” (Leviticus 9:24). So, for this reason, the fire on the altar served as a constant reminder of God’s power. It was a manifestation from heaven. No other source of fire was acceptable to God.

The fire also represented God’s presence.

“God is a consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24). The Shekinah glory was visible in the fire at the altar of burnt offering. Shekinah glory is a form of a Hebrew word that literally means “he caused to dwell,” signifying that it was a divine visitation of the presence or dwelling of the Lord God on this earth in their place of standing. This ongoing presence of God reminded the Israelites that salvation is of the Lord. The atonement made at the burnt offering could only be made through Him.

The fire represented the purity of God. In the New Testament, John the Baptist said that the Messiah would baptize with the Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16).

Fire served as a sign of judgment and refining, but it also reminds us of the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost in the form of “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3).

Not only does fire possess devastating power to destroy, but it has tremendous power to bring forth life. The fire of God does this same thing for us. It destroys what is not of God in our lives and allows us to see the world through Christ’s eyes. We are able to love others as we have been loved by Him

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and begin to see ourselves as He sees us.

These things come from holiness and the work of God in our lives. Without holiness, our churches will become stagnant, dry, and irrelevant. But by seeking the fire of God in our lives, we are able to impact those around us for Christ and bring about the revival that is needed in these hard times for rural churches.

The need for holiness in rural church revitalization is critical if we want our churches to thrive. There are several reasons why a focus on holiness is essential to rural church revitalization.

1.

First, the world is becoming increasingly secular, and churches must be countercultural in order to attract people. A focus on holiness will help churches to stand out from the secular world and offer something better.

2.

Second, a focus on holiness will help churches to create a sense of community.

In rural areas, churches are often the only source of community for many people. A strong sense of community can be a draw for people who are looking for a church home.

3.

Third, a focus on holiness will help churches to cultivate disciples. In order to effectively evangelize and make disciples, churches must be focused on holiness. A focus on holiness will help churches to create an environment where people can grow in their faith.

4.

Fourth, a focus on holiness will help churches to be effective witnesses for Christ.

In a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to Christianity, it is more important than ever for churches to be bold witnesses for Christ. A focus on holiness will help churches to be light in the darkness and salt in a decaying world.

5.

Fifth, a focus on holiness will help churches to be more relevant. In order to be relevant, churches must be focused on the things that matter most. A focus on holiness will help churches to stay focused on the things that are eternal and important.

Portions adapted from GotQuestions.org - “Why was the fire in the altar to burn continuously (Leviticus 6:13)?”

By seeking the fire of God in our lives, we are able to impact those around us for Christ and bring about the revival that is needed in these hard times for rural churches.

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Eternal Choices FROM DEATH TO LIFE

By Elicia Riggi

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f you would have asked me my whole life if I believed in God, I would have told you yes, every time. I remember many times saying, “I know I’m not living right, but God knows my heart. He knows I’m a good person.”

In reality, I was not a good person, and it would take until I was 38 years old to realize that I had been living like there was no God at all. I was living my life from a broken spirit and a broken heart, as someone unloved and unwanted.

When I was young, my parents divorced, and I would have visitations with my father, off and on, until around the age of 10 or 11.

What I remember of him is that he was an amazing dad, and I adored him. He read me The Hobbit, bought me a pony, took me on surprise visits to Disneyland... I was daddy’s little girl.

Then, one day, my bags were packed for a visit, and he never showed up.

I’m not sure the real story behind what happened, and at this point, it doesn’t matter. What I do know is it planted the seed that I was unloved and unwanted.

My mother had remarried by then, and my stepfather became an alcoholic and very abusive into my teen years. The first incident I remember of physical abuse came in the summer before high school. I had gotten into trouble with some friends, talked back to my stepdad, and he beat me pretty badly. He grabbed me by the hair, took me to the ground, and punched me over and over.

I ran away the next day. That night, I would lose my virginity to a boy I have never spoken to or seen since.

I believe that was the weekend my soul was broken. I think that I had suffered with depression before this, which is why I was being rebellious in the first place, but on this particular weekend something changed. My soul was broken. My spirit was broken.

I would spend the next four years in high school lost. I look back and feel like I was

constantly searching for who I was and for someone—anyone—to love me.

Life at home progressively got worse, which led my mother to spend as much time at work as possible to escape her own turmoil with my stepdad. I would start drinking heavily and found myself in situations that just broke my spirit even more. My once straight-A report cards would evolve into me almost not graduating.

I had my first child at 20 with a man who abandoned me while I was pregnant. I wish I could say this is where my daughter saved my life and I got myself together, but unfortunately my feelings of worthlessness only intensified. The next few years I would fall into a downward spiral of meth addiction, lost jobs, lost friends and family, and a job in a strip club.

By the time I was 28, I had 3 separate overdoses that landed me in rehab each time.

My mental health was in such despair that I finally found myself in the mental hospital for a week. It was there that I was finally diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and Bipolar disorder.

Over the next year, I would begin going to AA meetings, stayed sober, got a job in property management, but would eventually go back to the strip club. I worked my day job and at the club. I was up for a promotion to a larger property, and I remember saying a prayer to God: “If I get this promotion, I will quit the club.” I got the promotion. However, the new position did not start for another month or two. I didn’t quit the club. Sometime in the next couple of weeks, someone saw me in the club and told my manager. They took my promotion away. I still to this day, remember that prayer and think to myself, what if I had kept my promise to God? I ended up quitting the property management job shortly after that and went to school to get my Esthetician License. I graduated, stayed sober, and again worked two jobs.

In 2002, I met the love of my life. We

It would take until I was 38 years old to realize that I had been living like there was no God at all.

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had an amazing five-year relationship and were to be married in September of 2007. In February 2007, on a Monday, he sent me a text telling me that he had “a permanent smile on his face,” knowing that one day soon I’d be his wife. He sent me flowers that week. The following Monday, he called me on the phone and said he “was done.” Six months later, he was engaged to another woman.

Needless to say, it solidified my belief that I was unloved and unwanted. This abandonment would send me into another downward spiral of alcohol and drugs. My life plan at this point was to get my now 14-yearold daughter graduated and on with her life, and I was going to end mine.

I would spend the next two years drowning myself in a bottle of vodka, numbing myself the best I could. I was working nights and days, getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night, all while getting my daughter through school and cheerleading. I was burning the candle at both ends, to say the least.

In 2009, after a drunken stupor and a one-night stand, I found myself with a positive pregnancy test. I couldn’t believe I was in this situation. I had had two abortions in my past and vowed I would never do it again. Both times I was left devastated and completely broken inside. However, here I was in this hopeless situation, and abortion seemed the only sane option.

This is where God showed up. It was no accident that the weekend I found out I was pregnant was Easter weekend. God knew I would be in church the next day. I was the girl that only went to church on Easter, and maybe a few times on Christmas. (My mom had found the Lord years prior and had been praying and praying for me.) On April 12, 2009, at a church in Vacaville, California, I began to hear the Lord truly speak to me. The church was putting on a production, and the woman announcing it at the pulpit said, “And the name of our production today is called ‘Eternal Choices.’” Eternal Choices. I heard that. I was about to make an eternal choice.

My heart and mind were in turmoil.

I knew what it was like to raise a child as a single mother. I also knew I would lose my main source of income at the club if I had this child. The father was in another country and wouldn’t even return my calls. The only logical choice, to me, was to abort.

Later that night, I got on my knees to pray. My mom had given me a Bible as a gift

I fell into a downward spiral of meth addiction, lost jobs, lost friends and family, and a job in a strip club...

After a positive pregnancy test, abortion seemed the only sane option.

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a month before this. I grabbed that Bible and said to God in a rather stern voice, “Okay, God, I can’t make this decision on my own. I am going to open up this Bible, and You are going to tell me what to do!” Then I opened it randomly.

This is what I read: “‘All right, bring me a sword.’ So, a sword was brought to the king.

Then he said, ‘Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!’

Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, ‘Oh no, my lord! Give her the child! Please do not kill him!’

But the other woman said, ‘All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!’

Then the king said, ‘Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!’” (1 Kings 3:24-27) I would go on to read that this king was King Solomon.

Solomon is the last name of the father of the child I was carrying. He had a “King Solomon” tattoo across his abdomen.

I knew in that moment, without a doubt, that God was really real. Like, really real.

There wasn’t enough coincidence in the world to make me open up to that page in the Bible.

The only place in the Bible that says, “don’t kill the child.” My next thought was, I might be going to Hell. The sin throughout my life was glaringly in my face. I knew enough of the Bible to know I had not been living right. I became fearful. Then, just as fast as I became fearful, I was comforted. I could almost feel God physically put His arms around me as I flashed back through my life and could see all the times that God had been with me and I just didn’t know it. He showed me how He had been calling me to Him so many times.

How He protected me in so many instances I shouldn’t have survived.

I wish I could say that I was just filled with joy from that day forward, but I wasn’t. I still did not want to be pregnant. I would go to bed many nights with a plan to “take care of it”

the next day. That scripture kept haunting me.

What would happen to me if I did not listen?

I understand today what Proverbs 9:10 means. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...” It was truly the fear of the Lord that led me to not make the decision to kill my child. Every day, as I walked it out and chose to obey, God showed me more and more that He was with me through it all. As things began to unfold and I started to lose all my worldly things (including some friends), God kept giving me Jeremiah 29:11-13, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord.

‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me...’”

So, I did just that. I kept praying. I kept trusting. I began to see how loved I really was, and I began to fall madly in love with my God. On December 18, 2009, God blessed me with another beautiful daughter. She is now the most amazing, smart, talented, and beautiful girl in the world, just like her sister. I always tell her that Jesus saved her, and she introduced me to Jesus.

When God showed me my life, I felt Him say to me, “Do you see why I say to live the way I say to live?” He showed me how the ways of this world lead to heartache and despair.

Life is different when you make choices from a place of already being loved, valued, cherished, and chosen. We no longer live from a place desperately needing validation and acceptance from the world around us.

Our identity becomes secure in the One who created us.

Today, I have walked in purity, been freed of my addictions, and try to honor God with my life as best I can. I may not always understand why God does some things, but what I can do is trust that He is for me and that He knows and wants what’s best for me.

Romans 8:28 tells me that He will turn it all for good—even the bad.

Our first command is to love God with all our heart and all our soul. 1 John 5 tells

I knew in that moment, without a doubt, that God was really real.

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We no longer live from a place desperately needing validation and acceptance from the world around us.

us what love looks like to God: “This is love for God: that we obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” What this means is that our obedience flows out of love and gratitude, not some burdensome obligation.

Romans 12:2 has become my life verse.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” As I walked this out with the Lord, I changed, and my mind changed.

I no longer desired my old way of life. God’s desires became my desires.

Jesus died on the cross, not only to take on the punishment of my sin but also to cleanse me of my impurity. The Holy Spirit was poured out to give us power to live as Christ lived on the Earth. The life of a disciple

is no longer riddled with sin but empowered with hope, peace, love, and self-control.

Empowered to live holy and love deeply. Love God and love people... in that order. When we love God deeply, we are able to love people and worship God in Spirit and in TRUTH. I don’t claim to be perfect today, but I can claim that my desire is to honor God with my whole life and surround myself with people who will tell me the truth when I stumble or get off track. I never want to take the grace of God for granted. He lived and died for me; may I live and die for Him. Eternal choices. We make them every day. May we choose to spend eternity with God and not eternity without Him. “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” - Jesus (Matthew 4:17)

The life of a disciple is no longer riddled with sin but empowered with hope, peace, love, and selfcontrol.

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Elicia Riggi sharing her testimony in a drug rehabilitation facility in Cambodia

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Resistance

By Rev. Phil Rhoades

Resistance isn’t all that bad.

Resistance allows planes to fly.

Resistance allows boats to float.

Resistance could be worth it.

In Mark 4:35, Jesus has been preaching parables to a huge crowd by the lake. It’s now evening, and He says to His followers, “Let’s go over to the other side,” leaving the adoring crowd behind.

Can you imagine the push back from the Disciples? “But Jesus, things are going so well here. Finances are up! Numbers are up! The local affiliates have picked up the story, and the Twitter account is going crazy!” (Oops, got a little carried away.)

The Disciples are probably thinking: We’ve got it made over here, and Jesus wants to mess it all up and go to the other side. Doesn’t He know who lives over there?! Besides, if we leave now, a storm could come up, and then we would really be in trouble! So, let’s go back and ask Him again about just staying here because everything is under control, and our plans are all laid out.

Jesus didn’t waiver in His decision.

Not thrilled with this prospect, they leave everything that was going so well to walk into the unknown, just because Jesus wanted to go to the other side for some reason.

So, everyone loads up, and the conversations on the boat are about the success of the ministry, the miracles, the bountiful supplies and food, even about the recent ballgame and who should have won if the guy wouldn’t have broken his ankle sliding into 2nd. (After all, the bases were probably made of stone in those days.)

They get a portion of the way across the lake, and their worst fears are realized.

I can only imagine the panic that ensued as those fierce waves crashed over the boat. As the Disciples start freaking out, Jesus remains sound asleep. How can anyone sleep when there is such resistance against the boat?

As they finally rouse Him, Jesus speaks with an unmistakable authority: “Hush, be still!”

Immediately, the storm calms to peace, and He essentially asks, “What was your issue?”

The Disciples must have been thinking: I’ll tell you our issue! We left the comfort and safety of the shore to go to the other side, and personally, I think you’re crazy.

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As if that experience wasn’t enough, when the Disciples finally pull up to shore and begin to dock the boat, a madman starts running toward them with broken chains hanging from his naked body and begins shrieking at everyone. Possibly just as shocking, he calls out to Jesus by name and title. The Disciples must have been both scared and amazed.

to “go to the other side.” I’m guessing what you’re really afraid of is the resistance on the way to the other side, isn’t it?

How did the demons know Him? Do you suppose it was because Jesus Himself had created all those angels before the Fall?

They knew Him because He had created them.

Then Christ miraculously frees the man from “Legion,” and for the first time in his life, he is truly free.

How many times have you missed the incredible things God has for you because you were afraid of the resistance, and you stayed where it was comfortable? How many times did you miss what God wanted to do in and through you because you were worried about what others would think or say? How many times have you chosen comfort or security over obedience? When will you surrender your own hopes and dreams and go to the other side? Don’t you think that God is capable enough to take care of you and bring you fulfillment on the other side?

How many times in our lives have we failed to take authority over the enemy and his demons? How many times have we let the enemy have his way? What has kept us from taking authority over the enemy? What are we afraid of?

Will there be resistance? Of course! To reach the summit of a mountain, you have to overcome the narrow passes, sheer cliffs, and little oxygen. But when you reach that elusive summit, the breath-taking view combined with the feeling of victory is so sweet!

In The Bondage Breaker, Neil T. Anderson reminds us that we have authority in Christ to stand against the evil one. We don’t have to cower or back down. Paul reminds us that we are more than conquerors through Christ. Jesus Himself says multiple times throughout Scripture not to be afraid. So, let’s start behaving and acting like we are the champions in this battle. Let’s stand in the authority of Christ! Let’s take back churches, marriages, lives, hopes, and dreams that the enemy has stolen from us. We have allowed Satan to become a squatter on territory that is not his. It’s time to take back from the enemy what is ours from the Lord. In the name and authority of Christ, let’s live in total ‘Glorious Freedom,’ as the song says!

Remember, the plane can only fly and the boat can only float if they are met with resistance. Come on, Christians, take courage!

Let’s go to the other side!

Getting back to our story, then Jesus calmly hugs the guy, and they end up at the local QuikTrip having a Dr. Pepper together.

Well, more or less… you get the idea... the guy was grateful and really wanted to hang out.

Christ told him to go to his hometown and tell everyone what He did for him. And what a testimony that man had at church the next Sabbath! Can you believe it? All this happened just because Jesus went to the other side, despite the resistance.

Maybe you are comfortable staying where you are. Maybe Jesus is asking you

How many times have you missed the incredible things God has for you because you were afraid of the resistance, and you stayed where it was comfortable?

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CONTRIBUTORS

Rev. Andy Lauer

Rev. Tom Lorimer

Cynthia Ulrich Tobias

Senior pastor of South Bend First Church of the Nazarene in South Bend, Indiana and vice president of the Holiness Partnership

Pastor of Five Mile Community Church, former executive vice president and academic dean of Kentucky Mountain Bible College, and professor of theology, worldview, and homiletics

Best-selling author, speaker, featured in Focus On the Family’s Best of Broadcast five years in a row, former high school teacher, and former law enforcement officer

Dr. Brad Paradee

Rev. Robert Beckett

Elicia Riggi

Senior Pastor of Long Beach First Church of the Nazarene in Long Beach, California and board member of the Holiness Partnership

Lead pastor of Shepherdsville First Church of the Nazarene in Shepherdsville, Kentucky and director of the Rural Revitalization Network

Mother, grandmother, and esthetician from Marana, Arizona

M.Ed., D.H.L.

EDITORIAL STAFF Executive Editors Rev. Jared K. Henry Bill Castillo

Rev. Phil Rhoades

Managing Editor

Joplin District Superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene

Mallory Auer

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WHO WE ARE The Holiness Partnership is a Christian organization in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition.

Our mission is to re-discover the vision and understanding of biblical Christianity, re-emphasize the biblical doctrines of the Holiness church, re-invigorate the local church for mission and evangelism, and re-capture fidelity to biblical truth.

FOLLOW US theHolinessPartnership.com @theHolinessPartnership @theHolinessPartnership @theHPartnership

REACH OUT info@theholinesspartnership.com PO Box 78 Mackey, IN 47654