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Secrets for Success | More Than Camping | Friendship to Family | African-American Forum | Okra | Safari
September 2008
SMILES
FOR
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Issue
In This
4
6
4
God’s Secrets for Success
6
Smiles for Sudan
8
Royal Rangers: More Than a Camping Trip
10
A Friendship That Became Family
12
First African-American Leadership
Forum Meets in South Carolina
15
Review and i WIN
16
Experiences Here and There..
19
Tall Okra and High Worship
20
Safari Students Experience
On-the-Job Training
8
10
12
19
Cover Notes
Photos by Lauren Pickens and Jana Delano
Layout by Timothy W. Beasley
IPHC Experience
ART DIRECTOR & DESIGNER
Timothy W. Beasley
September 2008 • Vol. 5, No. 8
Representatives on the GEB
David Stephens, Southeast Zone
Chris Thompson, Northeast Zone
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Tim Beasley, Beth Kidd, and Billy Neal
EDITOR IN CHIEF
James D. Leggett
Randell Drake, Central Zone
Curtis Belcher, Western Zone
GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
INTERNATIONAL PENTECOSTAL
HOLINESS CHURCH
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Shirley G. Spencer
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Kimberly Wilkerson (Women’s Ministries)
Joyce Ayers (Men’s Ministries)
Debbie Burpo (Evangelism USA)
Nina Brewsaugh (Stewardship)
Michelle Castle (World Missions Ministries)
Shandra Youell (Church Education Ministries)
Kathryn Shelley (iWIN/iCare)
PUBLISHER
LifeSprings Resources
Gregory K. Hearn, Chief Executive Officer
Expressions From Bishop James D. Leggett
Freyman Valdez, Hispanic
Derrick Gardner, Pastoral
Ronnie Saldaña, Pastoral
General Superintendent
James D. Leggett
Trish Weedn, Lay
Executive Directors
Evangelism USA:
Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr., Vice Chairman
World Missions Ministries:
A. D. Beacham, Jr.
Church Education Ministries:
Talmadge Gardner
Stewardship Ministries:
Edward W. Wood
Women’s Ministries:
Jewelle Stewart
Men’s Ministries:
Bill Terry
IPHC Experience (ISSN 1547-4984) Vol. 5, No. 8,
is published monthly except in July and December by
LifeSprings Resources of the International Pentecostal
Holiness Church, 2425 West Main St., Franklin
Springs, GA 30639. Printed in the USA. MMVIII.
Address editorial comments to IPHC Experience,
P.O. Box 12609, Oklahoma City, OK 73157-2609,
[email protected].
Member: International Pentecostal Press Association • Evangelical Press Association
LSR 280299
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 3
Expressions
From
Bishop James D. Leggett
James D. Leggett
General Superintendent
God’s
Secrets for
SUCCESS
P
eople often ask, “How can I live
an effective life? How can I be
successful and prosperous?”
Yet it is clear from Scripture that God
has plans for our success.
Listen to the words of the Lord to
Joshua: “…Then you will make your
1
See
a God-Given
Vision.
2
Search
the Word.
4 IPHC Experience | September 2008
way prosperous, and then you will
have good success” (Joshua 1:8, nkjv).
Almost the same words are repeated
in verse 7.
Clearly, the Lord wants His people
to be successful and prosperous
in their lives and in their labors.
Remember these are His words, not
man’s; these are His principles for
successful life and leadership. If this is
so, then we need to pay close attention
to the secrets of spiritual success God
gave His servant Joshua.
Too often we create our own vision, but it is important for us to have a keen
sense of a revelation from God regarding our promised land. God gave a great
vision for Israel that reached all the way to the Euphrates River. He promised, “I
will give you every place where you set your foot…” (Joshua 1:3, niv).
He had already given it to them. They had every right to take their promised
land. God has a promised land for each individual, and it is up to each of us to
catch a vision of our destiny, our inheritance.
We cannot possess what we do not see. We must see the vision before we can
achieve it.
It is significant that the words prosper and good success are so closely linked
to the Word of God. The first Psalm defines the prosperous person as one who
delights “in the law of the Lord and on his law he mediates day and night” (v. 2,
niv). The character and integrity of the believer are vital. The anchor for the mind
and heart of the servant of God is in the Word of God.
The apostle Paul counsels the Colossians to “let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly…” (3:16).
Illustration © iStockphoto.com/mustafa deliormanli
3
4
Serve
With Courage.
The Bible never glosses over the difficulties we must face in achieving our
promised land. As the Israelites entered the land of promise, they would meet
enemies determined to deny them success.
The path of success always leads through the land of opposition. There
are battles to face, foes to conquer, criticism to endure. There are enemies in
abundance. But the Lord encouraged Joshua: “Be strong and of a good courage;
be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed…” (1:9). Fear brings defeat, while trust
in God brings victory.
Stay
the Course.
There are many distractions and detours along the path of success. Voices
call with tempting offers and side roads that lead nowhere. If you have heard from
the Lord and His vision is clear, make up your mind that you will not be diverted
from entering your promised land.
Luke made a wonderful statement about the early church. Describing the
church’s worship and fellowship, he added these words: “And they continued
steadfastly…” (Acts 2:42). Persistence in the pursuit of the vision will bring
success. Determination leads eventually to our God-given destiny.
The entire section calls for Joshua
to seize boldly the moment, to take
advantage of the opportunity. It was
a difficult moment. Moses was dead.
The Jordan River was before them, yet
the Lord commanded Joshua to seize
the moment, to follow the vision with
courage and commitment. Don’t wait
for a more opportune time. “Arise, go
over this Jordan…” (1:2).
God often takes the most difficult
moments and turns them into
wonderful opportunities for those who
are willing to take the risk to reach
Hidden Treasures
their full kingdom potential.
The Lord makes a commitment to
the person who follows His principles
for success. He promises His presence
and power as the source of the
successful and prosperous life (1:5).
For more info visit
girls.iphc.org
in
ars
lay
JC
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 5
SMILES
FOR
by
Lauren Pickens
A
fter more than 30 grueling
hours of travel, we finally
landed in Sudan. The tiny,
single-engine charter plane that had
brought us the last leg of the journey
made a bumpy but safe landing on a
lone, gravel runway.
Immediately we were surrounded
by dozens of curious onlookers.
The concern in their faces might
have been interpreted as menacing,
but their expressions changed the
instant I initiated a smile and waved
a friendly hello. But after leaving the
primitive runway, otherwise known
6 IPHC Experience | September 2008
SUDAN
as the Kapoeta International Airport,
it became painfully clear that the
realities of war had left our Sudanese
welcoming committee little to smile
about.
Sudan, the largest country in
Africa, also holds the distinction of
having Africa’s longest-running civil
war. With the exception of 11 years,
the nation has been a battleground
since winning its independence in
1956. Though a ceasefire ended the
fighting two years ago, violence still
erupts regularly. The past 21 years
of strife has left Southern Sudan
devastated. Bombed-out structures,
abandoned tanks, demolished vehicles,
and signs warning of landmines are
visible scars of a long and painful
conflict. Many Southern Sudanese
captured by the North have been in
slavery so long they don’t even recall
where home is. Roads are nonexistent
or gravel at best.
Until recently, harvesting one’s
own food source in Sudan was
completely out of the question.
War has rendered the land infertile;
besides, why go to the trouble when
soldiers would only pillage and
Photos by Lauren Pickens and Jana Delano
confiscate any meager yield? Today,
aid agencies feed millions in Sudan,
yet millions of children are still hungry,
thirsty, and naked.
My involvement with Sudan
began when Josh Hannah, pastor
of Friendship World Outreach in
Waverly, Tennessee, sent me a copy
of his newsletter in which he shared a
vision and opportunity God had given
him concerning Sudan. When I read
his report, I knew God was calling
me to help support this endeavor
financially.
As the original project neared
completion, Pastor Hannah invited
me to go to Sudan with a work team
scheduled to complete a compound
in Kapoeta. My daughter, Jessica,
and I happily obliged. On that first
visit to Sudan, God told me this
project was only the beginning of my
involvement there.
Since then, the IPHC, through
efforts by missionary Ron Wooten and
the implementation of Pastor Hannah’s
vision, has established the compound
in Kapoeta and a church and school
in Naakwa and has secured land and
finances for another compound in
Torit. These facilities include a church,
school, medical clinic, and water well.
Since the majority of the population is
both starving and illiterate, a Sudanese
government official has agreed to
give the IPHC land if the church will
establish feeding and educational
programs.
God continues to fit together
the pieces of His Sudan puzzle. As
I planned my last visit there, the
Lord impressed on me to invite Jana
DeLano, coordinator of operations
for People to People (P2P), to come
along. I had no idea how P2P could
partner with the work, but I hoped
the ministry might initiate some type
of relief effort. As it turned out, the
Lord had already placed Africa on
Jana’s heart, as well as on the heart of
Director Matt Bennett.
continued on page 9
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 7
Royal
Rangers
More Than a
Camping Trip
by Adam Erwin
R
oyal Rangers was a large and
important part of my life. From
age five through the college
years, I was heavily involved in the
ministry for boys and won National
Ranger of the Year twice. I was also
the youngest candidate to earn the
Gold Medal of Achievement, with gold
and two silver buffaloes.
Aside from teaching boys how
to administer first aid, pitch a tent,
and make a proper campfire, Royal
Rangers also reinforces a way of
life that seems to be lacking in our
society today. Rangers, coupled with
a supportive church and attentive
parents, will produce high quality
young men. It teaches them spiritual
principles, introduces them to Jesus
8 IPHC Experience | September 2008
Christ and His Word, and instructs
them in how to grow socially.
Rangers also teaches boys how to
be mentally strong. From the kinds of
knots that work in certain situations
to what Scriptures to use in leading
a friend to Christ, Rangers teaches
many things. Sure, it makes hiking and
camping more fun, and canoeing is
more enjoyable when you don’t flip the
boat. Beyond that, it has helped me
grow as a person.
My college major was history, due
primarily to my Rangers training. At
the annual conference powwows, the
boys were required to role-play an
event from history. We were General
Washington’s men storming a Britishheld island (in a state park), Robin
Hood’s merry men (in a green army
tent in the woods beside the church),
or soldiers defending the Alamo
(hiding behind hay bales outside a
barn with a painted front, complete
with an angel in a front-end loader as
we all died).
The training also helped me
personally; I know how to put together
a uniform and salute a commander. I
know what it means to be selfless and
how to minister not only as a pastor,
but also as a regular guy. These traits
are priceless in the world of military
chaplaincy. As a friend of mine said,
“Being in Rangers put me ahead of
everyone else in flight.” This friend also
won the Gold Medal of Achievement
and was a two-time National Ranger of
the Year. He is now a second lieutenant
in the Air Force and navigator of a
highly classified plane.
Royal Rangers is not just good for
us military types. I agree with another
friend of mine who noted that those of
us who did well in Rangers seemed to
skip the troublesome teenage years.
You read that correctly. Of course,
that can also be attributed to Christian
upbringing and church attendance,
but I believe it is due in large part
to the ministry of Royal Rangers.
The truths taught in Rangers have a
maturing effect on boys.
The lessons taught and the
ideals held in Rangers are only part
of the equation. Mottoes such as
these—“A Royal Ranger is alert, clean,
honest, courageous, loyal, courteous,
obedient, and spiritual,” or “Ready,” or
“With God’s help I will do my best to
serve God, my church, and my fellow
man”—are good, strong, and right, but
they are not enough.
Royal Rangers is about reaching,
teaching, and keeping boys for Jesus
Christ. Royal Rangers is not Wednesday
night daycare. It is ministry. Men,
here’s your assignment, your adventure.
Be a Ranger Commander even if for
only a while. You are mentoring and
Left to right,
Outpost
Commander Joey
Gilmore, Junior
Commander (now
2LT) Jeremiah
Gilmore, USAF
(who also won
the Gold Medal
of Achievement
and was National
Ranger of the
Year twice),
Adam Erwin, and
his dad, Senior
Commander Stuart
Erwin, D.M.D.
teaching the boys; you are giving them
knowledge and building relationships
with them that will prepare them not
only for church or jobs but also for
life. The words, medals, skills, and
even Scriptures are hollow except for
the team of the Holy Spirit and the
dedicated Ranger Commander.
I hope to do a great service
protecting my country and ministering
to our warriors in my Navy khakis.
But I am not doing nearly as great
a service as the one who wears the
Ranger khaki uniform.
Royal Rangers Week
October 12-18
Royal Rangers Sunday
October 19
Ensign Adam Erwin, chaplain candidate, US
Naval Reserve, graduated from Georgia Tech
and is working on two master’s degrees from
Southwestern Christian University. He is also
the associate and youth pastor at the Honea
Path PH Church in South Carolina.
Smiles From Sudan
continued from page 7
Though the ministry team
had followed God’s instructions to
initiate these projects, the financial
responsibility of feeding and educating
these children was a heavy financial
burden for the Waverly Church.
Aside from other endeavors, the
congregation was already supporting
its own missionary, Gregory McClerkin,
who gave up his secular job to go to
Sudan. So when People to People
offered to open child sponsorships for
the school at the Kapoeta compound
and the other school in Naakwa, I
considered it an answer to prayer.
God has blessed this work. Still,
there is a tremendous need for child
sponsors and support to get these
medical clinics and schools fully
operational. The projects can seem
overwhelming, but I stand amazed
every day at how God is constantly
opening new doors of opportunity. Two
medical doctors are waiting to staff
the clinic as soon as it can become
supplied and functional in Kapoeta.
People to People has authorized a
sponsorship program for Naakwa and
Kapoeta, but it will require sponsors.
Funds have already been donated to
construct a new compound in Torit, a
Muslim stronghold in Southern Sudan.
As we examined the new property
in Torit, I sensed that this town is
critical to the work moving into
Northern Sudan, which is Pastor
Hannah’s ultimate goal and vision
from the Lord. The journey so far has
not been completely easy or without
its share of disappointments. But the
door for effective ministry has been
opened. With the volatile situation in
Sudan, it is uncertain how long this
door will remain ajar, so we must
continue to move aggressively.
As we boarded the tiny plane
to leave Sudan, again drawing an
inquisitive crowd, my heart ached with
emotion. I was sad and overwhelmed
by the great need in Sudan, yet I felt
deep satisfaction in knowing that we
were leaving it a better place, at least
offering hope to those individuals we
were able to touch. And that makes
me smile.
Lauren Pickens is a member of Christian
Heritage Church in the Tennessee Valley
Conference.
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 9
A Friendship That Became
FAMILY
by Shirley G. Spencer
L
aszlo Mezes thought people
who spoke in tongues were
either delusional or weakminded. Then he and the church he
pastors in Budapest, Hungary, began
to pray for a new vision and direction
from God. The results: an outpouring of
the Holy Spirit of biblical proportions.
As an untrained 28-year-old
pastor, Mezes began to ask God for
a new sense of purpose. He knew
about the Holy Spirit, but only from
a historical perspective, and since
Hungary was a closed country, he had
no outside teaching.
Laszlo and his wife, Ibolya,
decided to invite a “good preacher”
to hold a series of revival services.
Someone they trusted recommended
an evangelist whom Laszlo describes
as “a vegetable salesman who turned
out to be a ‘so-so’ preacher.” Yet this
seemingly “mediocre” evangelist
understood and celebrated the work of
the Holy Spirit.
One day, before a baptismal
service, the salesman-preacher began
to pray. Suddenly the congregation
10 IPHC Experience | September 2008
heard a loud noise and felt a strong
wind blowing through the building
as people began to fall to the floor,
speaking in tongues and praising God.
Ibolya, who is a medical doctor
(cardiologist), diagnosed the symptoms
immediately and concluded that by
some strange coincidence the entire
congregation had been overcome with
epileptic seizures. Yet the evangelist
did not seem troubled by the bizarre
behavior. “They have all been filled with
the Holy Spirit,” he explained.
Laszlo and Ibolya tried to stop
the strange actions exhibited by
their church members. After all,
they had been taught against such
manifestations. But when they saw the
people’s faces shining with the glory
of God, they knew what they were
experiencing was neither delusion nor
lunacy. Soon they, too, were speaking
in tongues and magnifying God.
The Mezes and their congregation
had to learn to walk in the Spirit. An
example of this process occurred one
day when Ibolya was cleaning the
carpet. She heard an audible voice:
“You have to learn English.” She was
shocked not only that the Holy Spirit
would speak directly to her but also
that He would make such a strange
request.
“Why?” she asked. “I have no
reason to learn English; we cannot
travel, and no one can visit us.
Besides, I am a mother, a pastor’s wife,
and a physician. I don’t have time to
study.”
The Holy Spirit assured her that
He would be her teacher. So she
purchased two dictionaries (English
and Hungarian) and a grammar book.
Then she prayed: “Lord, I have done
all I can; now it is Your turn.” Ibolya
studied the books as she commuted
by train to and from work. If she didn’t
know how to pronounce a word, she
would ask the Holy Spirit, and He
would tell her the pronunciation.
Within three months she was
interpreting for her husband. Today
they both speak English fluently.
The Free Christian Church of
Hungary was established in 1924 by a
wounded soldier. Later, Laszlo’s father,
Illustration based on photo © iStockphoto.com/Ensa
Top: Dr. Doug Beacham and Rev. Laszlo Mezes with the signed merger document.
Middle Left: Ibolya Mezes speaking at the Fourth World Conference of the IPHC.
Bottom Left: Rev. Laszlo Mezes addresses the Fourth World Conference of the IPHC.
Map © iStockphoto.com/blue_iq
also a medical doctor, became the
leader. The organization was formed
initially to protect small congregations
from government control. When the
senior Mezes stepped down as the
national leader of the church in 1974,
the Hungarian government appointed
Laszlo as pastor of the church in
Budapest. Only a handful of people
remained in the fellowship at the time.
From 1974 until 1982, Laszlo
divided his time between his career as
a civil engineer and his work as pastor
of the small congregation. As the
church grew, however, he began to feel
himself being pulled between his two
occupations. Then he sensed the Holy
Spirit saying, “If the Lord is Lord, then
follow Him.” He quit his lucrative job
and began to devote his full service to
the church. In 1989, he was selected
as president of the entire organization.
Through the years, the Free
Christian Church of Hungary
developed a friendship with IPHC
missionaries and leaders in Europe.
At one point, they even signed a
friendship agreement, but that didn’t
seem to take the relationship far
enough. When Bishop James Leggett
sent a proposal for merger, the leaders
of the Free Christian Church sensed
it was time to join forces with their
friends overseas. In October 2007, Dr.
Doug Beacham, executive director
of World Missions Ministries, Bob
Cave, overseas ministries coordinator
of Europe and the Middle East, and
missionary David Fannin, regional
ministry coordinator for Eastern
Europe, met with the Mezes and
signed the merger document.
Laszlo and Ibolya attended the
Fourth World Conference of the
IPHC in Vancouver, British Columbia,
where they met brothers and sisters
from around the world. They praise
God for the friendship that became
family, but most of all they praise
Him for revealing to them the truth
of Pentecost.
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 11
Macon M. Wilson is national coordinator of African-American Ministries for the International Pentecostal Holiness
Church (IPHC). After graduating from Philander-Smith College and the Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas,
Macon pursued further studies at the University of Arkansas.
In 1989, he and his wife, Zuella, established Message of Hope,
a ministry to bring deliverance for those addicted to alcohol
and drugs. He is a member of the IPHC Heartland Conference.
Bishop Dayton Birt is an ordained minister with the IPHC.
He currently serves as bishop and chairman of the board of
directors of Redemption Ministries of the Eastern Virginia
Conference. He graduated from Emmanuel College with a
B.A. in religion and from Regent University with an M.A. in
ministry. Birt has served as a Christian school administrator, pastor, and teacher, as well as founder and director of RM
School of Ministry. Dayton and his wife, Lynn, live in Chester,
Virginia.
Chuck Coleman and his wife, Pam, are founding pastors
of Touching Your World Church International, a growing
ministry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Coleman earned
an undergraduate degree in social work from Shippensburg
University and a master’s degree in education from Arcadia
University. He pursued advanced studies at Eastern Baptist
Theological Seminary. The Colemans have three children.
Edward Cross, Jr., has over 25 years of experience as a
church leader. He directs City of Champions, a growing multicultural ministry in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The heartbeat of his ministry is to build a new generation of champions
to influence our world with the incredible nature of God. The
passion of the ministry is to establish new churches, support
ministries, and network worldwide to harvest more souls. He
and his wife, Pamela, have been married for nearly 25 years.
They have four children.
First African-Ame
Forum Meets in S
by Shirley G. Spencer
T
he first IPHC African-American Leadership
Forum convened April 29-30 in Greenville,
South Carolina, in the facilities of Redemption
Jerome Edwards is responsible for planting nine churches
in the United States. He is the founder of Body of Christ Ministries International, which specializes in planting churches,
mentoring youth, and equipping men and women for ministry. Edwards attended East Texas State University, where he
majored in marketing and business. In 1992 he graduated
from C. H. Mason Bible College in Little Rock, Arkansas. He
is currently leading Lighthouse Ministries, a church plant in
Macon, Georgia.
World Outreach Center (RWOC). The forum was a
Carl A. Franklin founded the Fountain of Life Kingdom
Church 19 years ago. The fellowship is an interdenominational, Full Gospel ministry in Shreveport, Louisiana. Franklin still pastors Life Kingdom Church and is used mightily by
God to bring deliverance and restoration to the body of Christ.
He and his wife, Hattie, have three daughters, who are also
involved in the ministry.
on the future development of this ministry in the
Rupert H. George pastors Victorious Living Church, Virginia
Beach, Virginia (Redemption Ministries). George holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University
of Tampa and advanced degrees in organizational management from Golden Gate University and educational counseling from Old Dominion University. He has served as adjunct
professor of leadership and management at New Hampshire
College, Florida Junior College at Jacksonville, and Columbia
College. He has been involved in church plants, revitalization,
and evangelistic community outreach throughout Virginia.
Hilliard of the North Carolina Conference, Bishop
Bishop David J. Holton is superintendent of the Mid-South
Conference of the IPHC. In their 34 years of ministry, David
and his wife, Sally, have planted six churches, four of which
are still in operation. Of the 28 churches in the conference, 12
are African American, and 2 are Hispanic. David and Sally
pastor Journey Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana, which is
still involved in rebuilding projects since Hurricane Rita.
Ministries for the conference, but neither could be
12 IPHC Experience | September 2008
historic first for the denomination as 13 key leaders met
with Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr., executive director
of Evangelism USA, Macon Wilson, national director of
African-American Ministries, and Garry Bryant, national
field director for ACTS2DAY Ministries.
“The objective of the gathering was to focus
IPHC,” says Carpenter. Besides the national leaders
mentioned above, participants included the bishop and
coordinator for each of the three IPHC conferences
that have appointed African-American coordinators to
date: Bishop Chris Thompson and Coordinator Stacy
David Holton and Coordinator Kelvin Steward of the
Mid-South Conference, and Coordinator Doug Wilson
from Redemption Ministries. Bishop Dayton Birt from
Redemption Ministries could not attend.
Bishop Clifton Smith of Sonshine Ministries in
Florida has also appointed an African-American leader,
Pastor Matthew Shaw, as director of Intercultural
present for the Leadership Forum.
Eight additional leaders were selected based
on their commitment to the IPHC, their leadership
ability, and their geographical location. These included
Group Shot (l-r, seated): Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr., director of Evangelism USA and vice
chairman of the IPHC; Macon Wilson, director of IPHC African-American Ministries; Ronald
W. Carpenter, Jr., pastor, Redemption World Outreach Ministries; (l-r, standing) Hasker
Hudgens, David Holton, Jerome Edwards, Chuck Coleman, Chris Thompson, Demetrius Miles,
Ricky Walter, Eddie Cross, Rupert George, Kelvin Steward, Douglas Wilson, Garry Bryant
(national field director, ACTS2DAY Ministries), Stacy Hilliard, and Carl Franklin. (Dayton
Birt and Andrew Shaw were absent.)
Stacy D. Hilliard united with the International Pentecostal
Holiness Church in February 2006. In March 2007, the North
Carolina Conference Board appointed him to serve as AfricanAmerican coordinator. His commitment to accomplishing the
vision of uniting God’s people is unwavering and is evidenced
as he preaches and teaches and lives on a foundation
established on the will of God.
erican Leadership
South Carolina
Ricky Walter, Corsicana, Texas; Jerome Edwards,
Hasker Hudgens, Jr., serves as director of evangelism for
Operation GO! Ministries at Redemption World Outreach
Center in Greenville, S.C. He holds a bachelor of divinity
degree in practical theology from Destiny Bible College in
Greenville. In addition to training in the U.S., he has trained
in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Mexico, the Fiji Islands, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. He also serves on the advisory board of
Homes of Hope International of Greenville and Law in Action,
a program designed to reduce jail overcrowding.
Demetrius Miles is founding pastor of Tucson Church International, a progressive, Christ-centered, culturally diverse
congregation in Tucson, Arizona. He is also the president of
Kingdom Life Ministries, a ministry designed to impact the
community through education and economic development.
Demetrius and his wife, Angela, have one son, Isaiah Demetrius.
Macon, Georgia; Hasker Hudgins, Greenville, South
Carolina; Rupert George, Virginia Beach, Virginia;
Carl Franklin, Shreveport, Louisiana; Eddie Cross,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Chuck Coleman, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; and Demetrius Miles, Phoenix, Arizona.
The Forum began with a get-acquainted dinner
followed by a two-hour work session on Tuesday evening.
Apostle Ron Carpenter, Jr., pastor of RWOC, spoke to
the leaders for an hour on the topic, “How to Fund Your
Ministry.” Afterwards, participants dispersed into small
groups to discuss assigned topics.
Wednesday began with additional small group
sessions followed by sessions in which the assigned
questions were discussed corporately from the responses
developed in the small group settings. Forum members
attended service at RWOC that evening and were blessed
by the fervent worship as well as the multiracial nature
of the congregation.
According to Dr. Ronald Carpenter, the purpose
of this meeting was twofold: (1) development of a set
of core values for the ministry and (2) production of a
procedural document for the ministry.
“Both goals were accomplished, and the development
of a five-year plan for IPHC African-American Ministries is
now under way as a result of this first leadership forum,”
he says. “Pray for this vital ministry of the church as we
endeavor to impact our great nation!” Kelvin G. Steward is the founder of Rivers of Joy Ministries
in Jonesboro and Homer, Louisiana. He and his wife, Rhonda,
live in Jonesboro. In May 2000, Bishop Stewart was licensed
with the IPHC, and in 2006, he was elected African-American
coordinator for the Mid-South Conference. In 2000 he established JOY I.M.P.A.C.T, Inc., a faith-based economic development program to provide youth and young adults with the
resources and information needed to become productive citizens academically and economically in Jackson Parish.
Bishop D. Chris Thompson is superintendent of the North
Carolina Conference of the IPHC. He also serves as Northeastern Zone representative on the General Executive Board and
as a member of the General Board of Administration. Prior to
his election as conference superintendent, Thompson served
7 years as assistant superintendent, 4 years as director of
Evangelism, and 11 years as director of Evangelism/World
Missions.
Ricky Walter, founder and senior pastor of Lifeline Fellowship Family Church in Corsicana, Texas, serves on the board
of Grace Bible Ministries of the IPHC. Walter holds a bachelor
of science degree in church ministries, as well as master of
arts and science degrees. He is executive director of Lifeline
Children and Family Services, which serves more than 150
children who have been removed from their families of origin
due to abuse or neglect. Ricky and his wife, Dorothy, have two
biological children and four adopted children and are guardians of two nieces and a nephew.
Douglas Wilson has established six churches. Bishop Wilson
was blessed with his bishopric consecration and installation on
October 11, 1998, after completing the Level I Program from the
Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops Congress
of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1999. In June 2006, he was ordained into
the IPHC and presently serves as the African-American Ministries coordinator, teacher in the School of Ministry, and on the
Evangelism Board and the Ministerial Credentials Committee.
He and his wife, Maxine, have three daughters.
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 13
14 IPHC Experience | September 2008
Review
The Five
Languages of
Apology
by Gary Chapman
sincerely given and thankfully received.
but the question remains whether it will
This is where it is helpful to know the
happen again. In other words, the two are
languages of apology.
not speaking the same language. This kind
The author identifies five languages:
1. Expressing regret: saying, “I am sorry.”
between husbands and wives, parents and
Thomas,
2. Accepting responsibility: saying, “I was
children, coworkers, friends, etc.
Northfield
Publishing, 2006
wrong.”
The author includes an exercise to
3. Making restitution: asking, “What can I
do to make it right?”
O
The challenge is in knowing how
to express an apology in a way that is
not to do it again.”
their individual language and also that
of their spouse, communication will be
5. Requesting forgiveness: asking, “Will
you please forgive me?”
much better. The same is true for other
relationships.
A person offering an apology may
I found this book helpful. Even after
use one of these languages while the
my 37 years of marriage, communication
offended party wants to hear another.
can still be a challenge to me.
For example, one may say, “I am sorry,”
but the other person wants to know what
restitution will be made. In another case,
the guilty person says, “I was wrong,”
World
Intercession
Network
O
help one determine his preferred language
of apology. If husband and wife know
4. Genuinely repenting: saying, “I’ll try
ne person may find it difficult to
apologize. Someone else may find
that person’s apology unacceptable,
insincere, or incomplete. The result is
that the first person thinks the apology
he gave was not appreciated, while
the second person denies that he
apologized in any meaningful way.
iWIN
of miscommunication happens every day
and Jennifer
–Dr. Harold Dalton
Order this book from LifeSprings Resources,
1-800-541-1376, or online at
www.lifesprings.net.
A Deluge of Prayer
by Dwight Thurmond
n December 28, 2007, my father,
was out of ICU and in a few days was sent
to be fatal but to break the will and gain
Burton Thurmond, 82, collapsed on
to a rehabilitation hospital.
information.”
his living room floor. He was rushed to
Rehabilitation was difficult, but visitors
“I was waterboarded,” Burton said,
Ponca City (Oklahoma) hospital, where
and prayer chains continued to pray for
explaining that during his crisis he had
tests determined he had a major brain
him faithfully. God heard and honored
seen himself lying flat with the prayers of
hemorrhage (similar to a stroke). A
those prayers, and after four weeks he was
believers being poured out over him from
Mediflight helicopter transported him to the
released.
above. “I felt a deluge of prayer.” Instead
OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
The family was told that if he lived, a
At home, Burton’s recovery accelerated.
of torture, however, Burton had sensed
Within days, he was walking without the
the glorious love of God washing over and
feeding tube would be necessary. He was
walker. Today his recovery has progressed
restoring him to health.
given a 50 percent chance of survival with
beyond our expectations, and he continues
nursing home care.
to improve. This week (May 2008), he
tual fervent prayer of a righteous man” is
mowed the lawn on the riding mower.
effective. How much more effective are the
Family members called their churches,
and prayers began to bombard heaven.
In mid-March at a family gathering I
His wife and two sons knew that in
heard him ask Aunt Betty, “Do you know
a crisis, Burton would not want his life
sustained hopelessly. Honoring his wishes,
what it means to be waterboarded?”
“Yes,” she replied, “it is a form of
we submitted him to God and ordered
torture where a person is strapped to a
the feeding tube and respirator removed.
flat board and flooded with water until
Immediately, he began to improve. Soon he
he is unable to breathe. It is not meant
Heading Photos © iStockphoto.com/Lumigraphics
James 5:16 proclaims that the “effec-
prayers of many?
Both Evelyn and Burton Thurmond are children of early Oklahoma Pentecostal ministers.
Burton is the son of Rev. David Thurmond,
and Evelyn is the daughter of Rev. Charles H.
North. Dwight Thurmond and his wife, Peggy,
live in Edmond, Oklahoma, and attend River
of Life Church in Oklahoma City,.
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 15
Experiences
Here & There...
Holmes Bible College Names
New Interim President
T
he Board of Trustees of Holmes
Bible College, which formally
re-affiliated with the International
Pentecostal Holiness Church on
January 22, 2002, has named Dr. G.
Earl Beatty as interim president. Dr.
Beatty is a veteran educator, having
Dr. Earl Beatty
served 6½ years in public education
and the past 27 years as dean and
executive vice president of Emmanuel
College. He retired in June 2006
but continued to serve as adjunct
professor of pastoral studies in the
Emmanuel College School of Christian
Ministries.
Dr. Beatty succeeds Dr. Richard
Waters, who has led the college
for the past 12 years. Dr. Waters
faithfully dedicated himself to
academic excellence and institutional
advancement. He employed an
academic instructional staff of high
quality, and the college is on the verge
of moving to a new campus located
16 IPHC Experience | September 2008
on Old Buncombe Road, adjacent
to Furman University in Greenville,
South Carolina.
“It is appropriate for the college to
relocate at the foot of Paris Mountain,
where it began operation as the
Altamont Bible Institute in 1898 under
the leadership of the Rev. N. J.
Holmes,” says Beatty. The college
moved to the location of Buncombe
Street at Briggs Avenue in 1915 where
it has remained for 93 years. The Rev.
Holmes was succeeded by Dr. Paul F.
Beacham in 1919. Beacham led the
college 59 years until his death in
1978. Dr. O. Talmage Spence assumed
the duties for a short time late in Dr.
Beacham’s life. Then Dr. Kenneth
D. Benson was name president and
served until his retirement in 1996. He
was succeeded by Dr. Richard Waters.
Hundreds of Pentecostal Holiness
general officials, pastors, missionaries,
teachers, military chaplains, and
members of other Christian vocations
graduated from this college. The
various names of the college from
its inception were Altamont Bible
Institute, Holmes College of Theology
and Missions, Holmes Theological
Seminary, and Holmes College of the
Bible; currently it is Holmes Bible
College.
Dr. Beatty indicated that the
college will retain its current staff and
will move to its new location in time
for the opening of the fall semester
on August 27, 2008. He will serve as
interim president until the search
committee has finished its work and
names a permanent president.
IPHC Chaplain Meets
Decorated General
L
ieutenant Commander Marc
McDowell, Chaplain, USN, was
fortunate to get a photo with one of
the greatest generals of our time,
General David H. Petraeus.
Chaplain McDowell, an ordained
minister in the Cornerstone
Conference, is currently deployed
to Baghdad, Iraq, with Multinational
Corps-Iraq, in the Joint Operations
Center. MNC-I is the actual warfighting entity in the country,
which includes all of the coalition
forces. General David H. Petraeus is
commander of MNF-I, which is over
MNC-I and everything else in the
country except the ambassador and
Department of State, etc.
Pentecostal Holiness military
chaplains have served in all the wars
with U.S. involvement since the
formation of the chaplain endorsement
ministry in 1943. In recent years,
PH chaplains have served in Bosnia,
Afghanistan, and Iraq, to name a few
countries. A total of 18 chaplains
(some having made more than one
deployment) have ministered to U.S.
troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Dr. Hugh Morgan, director of
IPHC Chaplains Ministries, said he had
urged McDowell to write a story about
Petraeus. “All I received was the fact
that he got up early and stood in line
for about 40 minutes to have the photo
made with the general,” he says.
“We must tell the story about our
chaplains who are in harm’s way,” says
Morgan. “Now is the time to stir up
patriotism in this country. It is always
appropriate to pray for our troops and
our military chaplains.”
General Petraeus (l); Chaplain McDowell (r)
Currently, two IPHC chaplains are
deployed in Iraq. Chaplain (Major)
Kenneth Godfrey is the command
chaplain of the Combat Aviation
Brigade (CAB), 3rd Infantry Division,
known as the Falcon Brigade. He
is near Baghdad and not far from
McDowell. Godfrey is an ordained
minister in the Upper South Carolina
Conference.
Chilean Leaders
Tour IPHC Facilities
T
op officials of the Methodist
Pentecostal Church of Chile, an
IPHC affiliate, attended the Fourth
World Conference of the International
Pentecostal Holiness Church, held May
16-18 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Prior to participating in that event,
Bishop Robert Lopez and Eduardo
Duran, pastor of the 25,000-member
Catedral Evangélica (Evangelical
Cathedral) in Santiago, toured IPHC
facilities in Georgia, South Carolina,
and Oklahoma.
Presiding Bishop James Leggett
met Lopez and Duran in Atlanta and
hosted their tours. First, they visited
Emmanuel College and LifeSprings
Resources in Franklin Springs,
Georgia. This portion of the journey
was of special interest to the Chileans
since they plan to establish their own
publishing house in Santiago.
From there, the entourage drove
to Greenville, South Carolina, where
L-R: Bishop James Leggett (l) and CEO Gregory Hearn (r) welcome Bishop Robert Lopez and
Pastor Eduardo Duran to LifeSprings Resources in Franklin Springs, Georgia.
they toured both the original and
the new campuses of Holmes Bible
College. The school’s new facilities will
be occupied for the fall 2008 semester.
Duran, a graduate of both
Emmanuel College and Holmes
College of the Bible, seemed to enjoy
revisiting his alma maters as well as
the places where he and his wife lived
as students in Franklin Springs and
Greenville.
Before leaving for Vancouver, the
men flew to Oklahoma City, where
they toured the IPHC Resource
Develop Center.
Bishop Lopez not only serves
as general superintendent of the
Methodist Pentecostal Church of
Chile; he also oversees a network of
13 churches in the southern part of
the capital city of Santiago. He is a
member of the World Pentecostal
Holiness Fellowship.
Along with his responsibilities
as lead pastor of the Cathedral,
Duran oversees a network of 64
congregations in Santiago.
Run for the Wall Expresses
Appreciation for Veterans
P
resident Ronald Reagan said, “If
we love our country, we should
also love our countrymen.” Expressing
that love was the goal of M25’s Run
for the Wall and Rolling Thunder
Parade on Memorial Day weekend in
Washington, D.C.
Seventeen Pentecostal Holiness
evangelists serving as chaplains,
riders, and hydration team workers
traveled from Los Angeles, California,
to Washington, D.C., to demonstrate
their respect for U.S. war veterans.
Team members were from Texas,
California, Florida, Alabama, North
Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
These men endured the 10-day
motorcycle ride in a pack that varied
from 300 to 450 riders in weather
continued on page 18
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 17
continued from page 17
that included extreme heat, rain,
and even hail. They slept on the
ground, received no offerings, and
lost paychecks just to participate in
the ministry. M25 paid for fuel, a few
meals, and campsites.
According to Gary
Burd, M25 director, the
professional way the team
handled the distribution
of approximately 12,000
bottles of water and
sports drinks spoke
volumes to the veterans.
“Churches holding banners
on overpasses along
interstates made a huge
impact,” he says.
Several churches from
the North Carolina and
Redemption Ministries
Conferences provided the
staff and the free food at
two campsites in the D.C.
area.
“We have been given
the mandate to be lights,
not mouths,” says Burd.
“Learning to serve opens
many doors for ministry.
One of our team members
prayed with a woman who
had been raped while
serving in the military and
was dismissed from active
duty when she tried to get
help.”
Burd says the team’s
purpose for joining the
effort was to represent
IPHC churches in the
U.S.A. and say, “Thank you
for serving.”
“Because of the
sacrifice made by these
men and women, we enjoy
freedom of religion. Every
time they came to get
water, sports drinks, or
snacks, they were met with
the banner that stated our
appreciation. We thank
Scenes from the M25 Run for the Wall Brigade and Rolling
Thunder Parade. BOTTOM: Gary Burd with veteran Bill Jackson.
18 IPHC Experience | September 2008
all the churches and conferences that
assisted us this year!”
M25, based on Matthew 25:3146, targets the overlooked and
neglected. Run for the Wall is an
annual motorcycle brigade designed
to minister to U.S. veterans, and
express appreciation for their service
while reminding the government to
bring home our POWs (prisoners of
war) and MIAs (missing in action).
The program is under the umbrella of
Evangelism USA.
FUTURE EXPERIENCES
SEPTEMBER
• 4-6 – EVUSA/City Quest, Church
Multiplication Training, Philadelphia,
PA
• 5 – First Friday Fast, a day of fasting and
prayer for the nation and the IPHC
• 8-9 – General Church Education
Ministries (CEM) Board Meeting
• 9 – Girls’ Ministries Day of Prayer
• 9-12 – CEM Advance, Indian Wells, CA
• 11-12 – Hispanic Pastors Meeting
(Central), Austin, TX
• 14 – Girls’ Ministries Day (GM Offering)
• 14-20 – Girls’ Ministries Week
• 24 – National See You at the Pole Youth
Day of Prayer
• 25-27 – Hispanic Pastors Meeting
(West), San Jose, CA
OCTOBER
• 2 – Holmes Bible College, Love Feast,
7 p.m.
• 3 – First Friday Fast, a day of fasting and
prayer for the nation and the IPHC
• 5 – PASTOR APPRECIATION DAY
• 12-18 – National Royal Rangers Week;
National Royal Rangers Day is Sunday,
October 19.
• 15-19 – Acts2Day/EVUSA Pastors Tour
to Metro Ministries/NYC
• 22-24 – Conference Missions Directors
Meeting, Oklahoma City, OK
For more information on any of these events/
opportunities, go to www.iphc.org online.
I
didn’t say “high church”; I said “high worship”!
Some people down home used to say a person’s posture
while planting okra determined how tall the plants would be.
They said for tall okra, stand straight while dropping the seeds. For
short plants—low enough for short people to reach the okra pods
easily—stoop while dropping the seeds.
The whole idea put the gardener in control of the okra
growth and harvesting. But I learned that the height of one’s okra
plants was determined by the particular variety of seed one used,
assuming the fertilizer, soil, care, and weather were right. But the
posture of the gardener? Aren’t some of the old notions interesting?
I thought about all that okra lore recently while considering
worship.
A leader declared that anyone not standing and not participating
in some other physical expressions was not worshiping. One man
said to his wife, “Well, I guess we can no longer worship. We are not
physically capable.”
Across town, some folks were dancing with joy and gratitude to
God for His forgiveness and awesome deliverance in their lives. They
were rebuked and told that their disrespectful behavior was totally
inappropriate and a gross hindrance to people trying to worship.
Worship … high worship. When is it? When is it not? How much
does it have to do with my physical posture or my soul’s expression
at the moment? Are my expressions my worship or even the cause
of my worship?
Sometimes when our children and grandchildren are home, a
lot is going on all at the same time. The little ones are engrossed
in one thing, and their parents are remembering, sharing, and
laughing, while the teens are in another world altogether. For all
they know, I am asleep on the recliner. What they don’t know is that
I’m basking in their enjoyment. Furthermore, I pick up on some
things I probably would not hear if they knew I was listening. We’re
a family—we are one.
In corporate worship we experience a combination of the variety
of expressions we all bring from our private worship. The total is
much greater than the combination of separate parts. Something
exponential happens when we are gathered together in faith. That
faith reaches God but also embraces the personal differences of
fellow believers who are equally committed and obedient to God.
Back to tall okra and high worship: the key element for tall okra
is the seed, not the demeanor of the gardener. The heart and security
of high worship is the Seed—God’s Word—always accompanied by
Christ, the Living Word, and inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Look around. He who is the same yesterday, today, and forever
expresses Himself in ultra variety.
The oil of the Holy Spirit enables us to stretch without
breaking. We can then include a variety of components of
expression but cling to God’s Word, the Seed, ensuring authentic
High Worship!
Tall Okra and
High Worship
by Joel McGraw
Joel McGraw is the pastor at Faith Chapel in Huntsville, Alabama. This piece
is adapted from an article that appeared in the third quarter edition of Power
Line; used by permission.
Photos © iStockphoto.com/Jess Wiberg/Danish Khan
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 19
SAFARI Students Experience
On-the-Job Training
by Mary Ruth Gorman
N
ine students from the United
States and one from Hungary
made history in January
when they left familiar surroundings
to spend four months in Africa,
participating in SAFARI (Semester
Abroad for a Radical Impact).
SAFARI is a new, cross-cultural
missionary candidate school offered in
the spring at the Africa Development
Center in Krugersdorp, South Africa.
God planted the seed for SAFARI
in the mind of Dr. Doug Beacham,
director of IPHC World Missions
Ministries (WMM). Then, as Dr.
Beacham shared his vision with
Presidents Bob Ely (Southwestern
Christian University), Michael Stewart
(Emmanuel College), and Richard
Waters (Holmes Bible College), the
vision began to take shape.
The next step was to enlist competent leaders to develop the program to
be implemented on African soil. After
much prayer, Dr. Roger D. Gorman,
long-time missionary and CEM director
for Africa, accepted the challenge. Dr.
Harold Dalton, assistant WMM director,
and Matt Bennett, director of People to
People Ministries, recruited missions
students from IPHC schools.
The result: ten excited, missionsminded men and women arrived
20 IPHC Experience | September 2008
in South Africa to launch this
new venture for World Missions.
Enthusiastic instructors challenged
and inspired the students in their
roles as world changers, stretching
them mentally and spiritually. Mission
trips to Cape Town, Mpumalanga,
the country of Botswana, and various
communities near Johannesburg
gave SAFARI students cross-cultural
experiences with the goal of making
missions a large part of the future of
the eight who finished the course.
Besides in-class sessions, SAFARI
students visited an orphanage,
bringing sunshine and laughter to
vulnerable children. They participated
with enrollees at Cape Bible Training
Centre and World Harvest Theological
College in the classroom as well as in
an HIV/AIDS seminar. They ministered
in three churches in the Western
Cape. Some went to Atlantis, a small
community formed by displacement
during apartheid. Some went to Faure,
a vineyard plantation where the IPHC
has had a presence for many years
ministering to farm workers. Others
went to Guguletu, a suburb of Cape
Town.
An especially memorable occasion
was when SAFARI students ministered
at Sparrow Rainbow Village where 214
children, 98 percent of whom are HIVpositive, needed to see smiling faces.
They took large baskets of candy,
which they distributed among the
children. They prayed for, hugged, and
kissed the orphans, sharing the love of
Jesus with individuals whose futures
look bleak. The director invited
the SAFARI students to return and
minister love and care to God’s small
sparrows.
The SAFARI Consecration Service
marked the culmination of four
months of stretching and adapting as
the Lord redefined and refined the
future plans of Ginger Simmons, Ernie
and Cindy Ramsey, Sarah Coffman,
Bryan Nix, Krisztina Revesz, Michael
Tignor, and Leslie Harris. Because
of this on-the-job training, these
students, no doubt, will be involved
in IPHC World Missions Ministries in
some capacity in the near future.
Mary Ruth and Roger Gorman are
missionaries to South Africa. Roger serves
as the Church Education Ministries director
for Africa and academic dean of Semester
Abroad for a Radical Impact (SAFARI). Mary
works on research and journalism in the
Africa Development Center. Roger is also the
missionary in residence at Southwestern
Christian University in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, during the fall. For more
information about SAFARI 2009 or other
opportunities for involvement, contact World
Missions Ministries at 888-747-2966.
Dr. Doug Beacham
Dr. Roger D. Gorman
Dr. Harold Dalton
Bryan Nix
Ernie and Cindy Ramsey
Ginger Simmons
Krisztina Revesz
Sarah Coffman
Student comments about locations
they visited and their overall
SAFARI experience:
Guguletu: “We had a blessed time of worship
and ministry as we taught the people Scripture
and sign language. They, in turn, taught us just
how free praise and worship can be.”
–Leslie Harris
Faure: “We visited a poor farming community
church that meets in a building donated by
the wealthy vineyard owner. The peace and
presence of God were dominant, and His love
was evident in the midst of their poverty.”
–Ernie Ramsey
Atlantis: “I was very blessed by the church in
Atlantis. I was amazed by the heart of worship
in that place.”–Bryan Nix
The adult hospice at Sparrow Rainbow
Village: “As we were going walking down the
hall, someone grabbed me by the hand and
led me into the room of a young woman who
was obviously in the last stages of AIDS. As I
approached the bed, the young woman asked
me to pray for her, but since we were on a tour,
I was called to continue into the ward. A short
time later, someone else grabbed me by the
hand book me to the same room. The nurse
told me that the young lady who wanted me to
pray for her was named Cindy.
“Cindy? I could hardly believe it. Cindy
said to me, ‘Please, Madam, pray for me!’ As
I started to pray, I was called out of the room
again, and again a nurse stopped me and
asked me to come to Cindy’s room. This time,
there was no stopping me!
“I asked Cindy if she knew the Lord as
her Savior and if she believed He could heal
her. ‘Yes,’ she answered, ‘I love my Jesus.’ We
began to pray, and the power of the Lord fell.
“When Cindy squeezed my hand, I felt
the presence of the Lord in a wonderful way. I
looked into her eyes and saw such peace. Her
countenance had changed. I kissed her on the
forehead, and as I did, I felt an overwhelming
sense of compassion and love rise up within
me. I believe our meeting was ordained of God,
and I am forever changed.”–Cindy Ramsey
Additional responses:
“After only a quarter of the classes, I find
that my whole concept of Missions has
been restructured by contact with anointed
national leaders and career missionaries as
well as by the planned study program. I am
now looking forward to each new class and
each new instructor with an increased level of
eagerness.”– Ernie Ramsey
“My whole vision about who I am in Christ has
changed, and my future plans have changed
as well. I came here afraid that God might want
to send me to the mission field, and now I am
willing to go if He tells me to do so.”
– Krisztina Revesz
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 21
22 IPHC Experience | September 2008
September 2008 | www.iphcExperience.com 23
Streams of Living Water
A DVD VIDEO RESOURCE FOR GROUPS
n Explore what it means
to celebrate the Great
Traditions of Christian
Faith.
n Hear 7 motivating
presentations by
Richard J. Foster.
n Watch 6 one-on-one
conversations between
Richard J. Foster and
John Ortberg, Jack
Hayford, Emilie Griffin,
Juanita Rasmus,
Glandion Carney, and
James Bryan Smith.
n Participate in practical
exercises.
n Watch candid
conversations between
Richard J. Foster and
Dallas Willard about
the importance of each
stream in their lives
and for the work of the
Kingdom.
Streams of Living Water is
the fourth in the Curriculum
of Christlikeness series.
1.800.541.1376
www.lifespringsresources.com
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
LifeSprings Resources
2425 West Main Street
P.O. Box 9
Franklin Springs, Georgia 30639
PAID
Franklin Springs, GA
PERMIT NO. 1