February

V O I C E O F T H E A P PA L A C H I A N C O N F E R E N C E O F T H E I P H C
Vol. 76, No. 6 February 2015
2015 GREAT COMMISSION MEALS
(**Please RSVP Sandy Wood at 540-674-4131 x207 or [email protected])
EAST TENNESSEE DISTRICT – Saturday, March 14 – 11:30 a.m.
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 2608 N. Roan Street, Johnson City, TN 37601
BLUEFIELD/MCDOWELL DISTRICTS – Saturday, March 14 – 5:00 p.m.
Destiny Outreach Ministries, 106 Ireson Road, North Tazewell, VA 24630
ROANOKE/CENTRAL VIRGINIA DISTRICTS – Monday, March 16 – 12 noon
Original Italian Pizza, 1128 E. Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike, Suite 300, Bedford, VA 24523
**SHENANDOAH VALLEY DISTRICT – Monday, March 16 – 6:00 p.m.
Ray of Hope P.H.C., 1450 Reservoir Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
GREENBRIER DISTRICT – Tuesday, March 17 – 12 noon
Cucci Pizzeria, 566 East Madison Street, Covington, VA 24426
CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA DISTRICT – Tuesday, March 17 – 6:00 p.m.
Ryan’s, 1320 N. Eisenhower Drive, Beckley, WV 25801
**NEW RIVER VALLEY DISTRICT – Thursday, March 19 – 6:00 p.m.
Harbor of Hope, 2720 Roanoke Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073
**SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA DISTRICT – Friday, March 20 – 6:00 p.m.
Baker’s Chapel P.H.C., 3113 Ivanhoe Road, Wytheville, VA 24382
Bishop’s Page
PRESTON MATHENA
2015 IPHC GLOBAL ASSEMBLY
TO BE HELD IN HONG KONG
The 5th Global Assembly of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church will convene May 6-8, 2015, in Hong Kong. This is a
gathering of IPHC members and leaders from around the world who come together for worship, inspiration and fellowship. The IPHC is
involved in ministry in over 100 countries, and this event will be an opportunity to learn what God is doing on many fronts.
Following the Global Assembly, a number of excursions have been organized for those who would like to extend their stay. Registration
for the Global Assembly is $125. When you register, you will have the option of either paying all at once or paying half initially and the
remaining portion by March 1, 2015. For more information, go to iphc.org. If at all possible, I urge you to plan to attend this event.
500 SLEEPING
BAGS FOR THE
HOMELESS
The project began with a conversation with Amy Lambert-Frowine,
founder of Hope Uprising & City Invasions, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Amy ministers to the homeless through Kings Kitchen, as well as her
citywide evangelistic rallies. Fred Kinder, salesperson for Ramey
Motors, Inc., was touched with the vision of helping the homeless in Charlotte. It was decided that providing sleeping bags to those who
are sleeping in the cold would be a worthwhile project.
Crossroads Church, Bluefield, West Virginia, where Fred Kinder attends, was excited to help make this vision a reality. Pastor Travis
Lowe announced the mission at Sunday services, and a collection point was established at the dealership where Fred worked. Messages
were sent via Facebook, past customers were called, announcements were made, and the sleeping bags started coming in. A truck was
parked inside the showroom of Ramey’s, where the sleeping bags were stacked. One outreach center in Bishop, Virginia, donated roughly
250 sleeping bags, all handmade, to the mission. Other churches donated, and customers began bringing sleeping bags in.
On December 6, before leaving Bluefield, the team met at Crossroads Church, where they prayed over the more than 500 sleeping
bags on the truck. Upon arrival at Kings Kitchen, they were greeted by news stations from Charlotte, who were amazed that a church
salesperson and car dealership had completed such a project for their city.
“We went onto the streets of Charlotte to hand out the sleeping bags with Amy Lambert-Frowine and her ministry team. We met several
homeless people and were truly touched by their stories. One particular instance really touched me when I met a lady sitting off to herself
on a bench. I had a sleeping bag and approached her to give her the bag and pray with her. She jumped up, smiled and said, ‘I want to pray
for you.’ It truly touched me that she, being homeless, had such a joy and wanted to share it. Words can’t describe the experiences we had
with the people of Charlotte and the mission. It reminds me of a message I heard once in service. You have to put legs on your prayers. I
think what a joyous time we would have missed had we not gotten involved with this mission. Never underestimate what God can do when
you step out on His Word to be His legs, eyes, ears and mouth. God will use a willing vessel; we have to be willing to follow Him. We
would like to thank everyone involved in this mission.” – Rob Ramey, Crossroads Church member
VOICE OF THE APPA L ACH I A N CONFER ENCE OF THE IPHC
Change of Address?
Please notify the Conference Office of any
change to your mailing address, phone
number(s), or email address.
We don’t want you to miss any time-sensitive communication, and
return postage can be costly for each issue of the Messenger that is
returned. Thanks for helping us to be good stewards.
MARCH RETIRED
MINISTERS’ BIRTHDAYS
MARCH 11
Rev. Glenn Wright
1426 Rockdale Road
Wytheville, VA 24382
MARCH 23
Rev. Ms. Ethel Swart
513 Awaroa, RD1
Kaitaia North Island, New Zealand
MARCH 23
Rev. James LaValley
2856 Graham Road
Draper, VA 24324
MARCH 24
Rev. Thomas Cochran
204 Woodland Drive
Buena Vista, VA 24416
March Events
1-6 Thailand Missions Trip
3 W.M. Day of Prayer
6 Prayer & Fasting for Our Nation
6 Deadline for Creative Writing
6-7 24 to Double
7 Pinewood Derby
8 Women’s Ministries Day
14 R.R. Training/G.M. Basic Training
14 East Tennessee/Bluefield/McDowell Districts Missions Meals
16 Roanoke/Central Virginia/Shenandoah Districts Missions Meals
17 Greenbrier/Central West Virginia Districts Missions Meals
19 New River Valley District Missions Meal
20 Southwest Virginia District Missions Meal
29 Palm Sunday
30 Capitol Hill Phone Prayer Partners 8 pm
MESSENGER
(USPS 621-580)
Vol. 76 — February 2015 — No. 6
EXECUTIVE EDITOR – Preston Mathena
STAFF
Phone 540-674-4131
5847 Oak Grove Avenue
Dublin, VA 24084
EVANGELISM & WORLD MISSIONS MINISTRIES
Larry Meadors
5847 Oak Grove Avenue
Dublin, VA 24084
DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES
Ron Fredericks
5847 Oak Grove Avenue
Dublin, VA 24084
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
Kathy Mathena
103 Windsor Circle
Bluefield, VA 24605
Phone: 276-326-3000
WIN
Donna Hankla
139 Ridgeway Drive
Bland, VA 24315
Phone: 276-688-3709
MEN’S MINISTRIES
Quent Baria
1712 Vineyard Street
Bluefield, WV 24701
304-952-9227
Deadline for all script to reach the office:
1st of each month for the next month’s issue
Email to [email protected].
CONFERENCE BOARD
Superintendent – Preston Mathena
Assistant Superintendent – Mike Dodson
Secretary – Frank Neff
Treasurer – Gary Cope
Board Member – Larry Meadors
Board Member – Wanda Myers
Board Member – Jim Tunnell
MESSENGER (USPS 621-580) is published
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FEBRUA RY 2015
World Missions & Evangelism
LARRY MEADORS
Millennials for the Good
(The insight from this article is helpful to all church leaders as we minister to this generation.) LM
We are millennials. We dream. We don’t just concern ourselves with the bottom line, but we are interested in a foundational
philosophy. People matter. I think we’d agree that the world is broken, yet beautiful. We adapt. We are spirited. We are older than the
mid-teens but younger than the lower thirties-ish. There are the blights that come with such a word. We are narcissistic, entitled and
sometimes lazy. The sting of defeat was never taught to us as children, but one thing that was taught to us was that we are special…for
the world…further inflating our self-assured value and possibly fueling our “yes or yes” mentality. Despite these things, which I felt
obligated to say, I choose to linger on the good (how millennial of me). Yes, these are generalizations – educated ones. Yes, there is
research…pewsocialtrends.org (Millennials in Adulthood).
As the adage goes, know your audience. When the church talks about relevance, this generation, and reaching out, they had
better know to whom they are speaking. Else, the efforts lose their efficacy. Therefore, I’ve created a list of the characteristics of us
young’uns and how they can be turned into strengths for the church.
Independents. We are the largest demographic of independents and non-affiliated that you’ll find. In relation to the church, imagine
a generation of believers that loves Jesus. Period. We could really embrace a “one church, many locations” mentality. Unity would be
second nature. Synergy would be implied. Expansion of God’s Kingdom would be exponential. We would be one step closer to the
singular Body of Christ, with Jesus as the head. We could more accurately focus on Kingdom building rather than building our own
personal kingdoms, indirectly obsessed with name recognition and prestige.
Accepting. To top that off, we are accepting. Compared to our predecessors, we shun cliques and would rather be friends with
everybody. We want to be approachable. You know Jesus didn’t come to exclude, but to include. He communed with the “least of
these,” often to much criticism from the exclusive religious. His only divisive doctrine was that of the truth of the gospel (Himself).
Besides this, He loved. Now, a church that understands the unquestionable command to love others is a church that will make a
difference. Loving others doesn’t mean you’ve compromised the gospel, but it means you have done your part to love them and
welcome them with open arms. It’s now God’s turn to step in and renew them from the inside out.
Passionate. It’s said that a millennial would wish more for a career with purpose than a job that funds a driveway car lot with the
surrounding white picket fence. What does this mean? We are willing to settle for less if less is the result of living the life we want.
There’s a statement – “The life we want.” Our generation is less likely to feel pressured to live up to a cookie-cutter standard. This
doesn’t make us slackers, nor does it mean we are chained to poverty. It means we ask questions. It means we haven’t completely
bought into the societal norms that pressure us.
Connected. You know it. Facebook, Gmail, Youtube, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Skype, Snapchat, LinkedIn. Smartphones,
laptops, Google glass, the internet, 3G, 4G, 5G, 3D, HD…the madness! We are the connected generation. We want to be “on” and
stay “on.” I choose to believe that our connectedness and over-sharing nature exposes the relational people we are. The need to be
in relationship is the first calling of humanity, and it also happens to be one of the longest-standing holes in humanity’s heart. It is, of
course, filled with relationship to our Father. If you look at a graphic of everyone’s Facebook friends and friends of friends mapped out,
you would see an intricate web being spun. It’s messy, but it almost alludes to a concept of a family tree…a jumbled conglomeration of
family trees piled on one another in an unsystematic fashion, granted.
By embracing millennials, a church would resultantly further define its role as a safe place, a family. Our generation would make
any congregation one that sees, interacts and cares for one another more than just two hours on Sunday. Remember, we want to be
connected…we pine for relationship. For me, this looks like thriving house groups, the church as a hub of activity (not an extension),
a social safety net, true discipleship, development of friendships and no shortage of volunteers. Not to mention, millennials would
probably try to incorporate the other part of their tangled web into their church family, given that we’re inclusive as aforementioned.
Growth, anyone?
About the author: Timothy Meadors is an IPHC short-term missionary in Europe. Contact him at [email protected] and read
the article in its entirety at www.nativeleader.org.
2015 GREAT COMMISSION MEALS
All pastors and mission directors and spouses are urged to attend a district Great Commission meal
the week of March 14-20. The meal is free and the information and fellowship are priceless! Exciting
missions news will be shared. Please RSVP where noted in the schedule on the cover.
VOICE OF THE APPA L ACH I A N CONFER ENCE OF THE IPHC
Discipleship Ministries
RON FREDERICKS
www.ac-dm.org
As you may have heard, in 2014, IPHC
Discipleship Ministries partnered with Dr.
Ellen Moore in an effort to evaluate and
implement a plan to reach more children
for Jesus. Together, we have formulated a
mission statement, evaluated resources,
are recommending biblically sound curricula, and strategizing for the future of IPHC Kid Min. In 2015, the
Discipleship Team is focusing on training and resourcing Children’s Ministries’ leaders. We are offering two LIVE
Kid Min Conferences in 2015 presented by Dr.
Ellen Moore and her skilled team, along with
some on-demand video training that will be
released later in the year. The first Kid Min
Conference is scheduled for February 21 in
Oklahoma City, OK. The second Kid Min
Conference is scheduled for March 21 in
Goldsboro, NC. For only $35 you will receive a
full day of training, special Q & A panel
discussion, a breakout session with the
speakers and a boxed lunch. As D.L. Moody
said, “If I could relive my life, I would devote
my entire life to ministry to children.” Please
consider attending “Kid Min: What’s the BIG
Deal?” with your Children’s Ministries’
workers. It will be worth your time and
investment! Visit www.iphc.org/discipleship/kid-min-conference for registration information and details.
FUSED: Over 300 joined together on New Year’s Eve for Baker’s
Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church’s outreach event, titled “Fused.”
Denominational, age and church lines were crossed as many of all ages
attended a night of prayer, praise and worship. The event title “FUSED”
was utilized because of the vision of Baker’s Chapel to see spiritual
revival, unity and passionate discipleship surge in their community.
Fused can mean to join or blend to form a single entity, and/or to provide
a circuit with a fuse. The vision for FUSED was a night that would UNITE
believers, ignite the fire of revival and usher in the presence of the Savior
while reaching out to the lost with a New Year’s Eve event with eternal substance. As a prelude to service, a
praise and prayer walk that circled the church grounds was a time of fervent prayer and praise while a drama
by Baker’s Chapel demonstrated intense praise and worship to the Lord.
Special guests for FUSED included the popular worship band The
Neverclaim, who provided passionate, anointed praise and worship, and
speaker Beth Stephens-Johnson delivered a powerful word from the
Lord. All praise and glory is given to God for an incredible night of
worship. The presence of the Holy Spirit completed a mighty work with
many souls receiving salvation, encouragement, deliverance and
blessings yet untold.
Submitted by Jessica Justus.
FEBRUA RY 2015
Women’s Ministries
KATHY MATHENA
The Greatest of These Is Love
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, NKJV)
Faith – something that we all must have in order to be
a child of God. Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God, must believe that He
is, and that He is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him.” By our
faith in God, we become obedient to
what He says, and it’s by our faith
that we receive from Him all that He
has for us.
Hope – Proverbs 13:12 says,
“Hope deferred makes the heart
sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of
life.” The Bible kind of hope is great
expectation that what we believe
God for will surely come to pass.
In a sense, hope is closely related
to faith. The world would tell us,
“Don’t get your hopes up.” But with
God it is what brings us to faith. Faith is the substance of things
hoped for.
Annual W.M. Tea Party
The Corner Shop in Bramwell, WV
May 30, 2015 @ 12 noon
$18.00 per person
Love – But the greatest of these is love. Love is why God
sent His only begotten Son into the world. Without love, there
would be no plan of salvation. There
would be no hope, and consequently,
there would be no faith. Faith works
by love.
Perfect love casts out fear. God is
love. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul
tells us, “If I speak in the tongues of
men and of angels, but have not love, I
am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers,
and understand all mysteries and all
knowledge, and if I have all faith,
so as to remove mountains, but have
not love, I am nothing. If I give away
all I have, and if I deliver up my body
to be burned, but have not love, I gain
nothing.”
This month, on Valentine’s Day, let’s remember to share the
love of God with those around us.
WOMEN’S
MINISTRIES DAY
Please send your
registration by
May 23 to Martha Hall,
1240 Meadowlark Dr.,
Wytheville, VA 24382
VOICE OF THE APPA L ACH I A N CONFER ENCE OF THE IPHC
March 8, 2015
Theme:
World Intercession Network
DONNA HANKLA
THE VIEW FROM THE
TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN
Three disciples received a fresh vision of God’s glory when they followed Jesus to the top of a high
mountain. In addition, the disciples heard a voice speak from a cloud. It was on the mountain that they
saw, heard and experienced a powerful visitation of God’s Spirit!
“And after six days, Jesus takes Peter, James and John his brother, and brings them up into a high
mountain apart.” (Matthew 17:1)
HIKING ON MOUNTAINS
Hiking on a mountain is a great experience for many people. On the mountain, one can view the beautiful
valleys below and the streams that bring life. The sky is so blue and the wind blows so sweetly. Goodbye
to stress when standing on top of the mountain!
DO YOU NEED TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN?
What do you see right now? Do you see debt, discouragement, disease? What do you feel right now? Do
you feel weak, tired, trapped or even disillusioned? If so, you need to climb the mountain.
IT’S TIME TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN IN THE YEAR 2015!
There is an invitation for all who desire a powerful visitation of the Holy Spirit in the year 2015. From
the book of Song of Solomon comes the message to “arise and come away” (chapter 2:10-17).
Will you be like the three disciples? Will you take the time to follow Jesus to the mountain and see the
SIGHTS upon the mountain?
“And He was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as
the light.” (Matthew 17: 2)
Mark your 2015 calendar with times of prayer and times of silence.
FEBRUA RY 2015
MESSENGER
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NEW BEGINNINGS MINISTRIES’ PASSION STATEMENT
Pastor Ray McDaniel from New Beginnings Ministries
(NBM), Waynesboro, VA, became inspired following the
Appalachian Conference’s Fall District Meeting held in
November. Churches were challenged to review and condense
their vision statements. “If the mission statement is too long,
people won’t remember it.”
In November, Pastor Ray presented a three-part series
entitled, “Say Yes to Jesus,” in which he reminded his
congregation that yes, they matter to God and to others, and
because they matter, they are to evangelize their world and
they are to serve with heart! Pastor Ray took this to heart
and created what he calls NBM’s
Passion Statement.
NBM had their first chance to say yes to Jesus on December 7. Over 30 volunteers were able to
attend the church’s neighborhood Christmas Box drive. Through generous, anonymous donations,
members of NBM were able to feed 50 families in the Waynesboro area.
Each box contained a handwritten card with an invitation to NBM Christmas Brunch. Several
of the families who received their Christmas box accepted the invitation and enjoyed the brunch,
which was held on Sunday, December 14.
What a great way to start NBM’s 2015 campaign to reach out to the Waynesboro community and
let people know, “Yes, you matter to Jesus.”
– Joy Griffith, NBM Treasurer/Secretary
NEW STANDARD MILEAGE RATES NOW AVAILABLE –
BUSINESS RATE TO RISE IN 2015
Beginning January 1, 2015, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be:
• 57.5 cents per mile for business miles driven – up from 56 cents in 2014
• 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes – down half a cent from 2014
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
ATTENTION, MINISTERS: Beginning January 1, 2015, we are promoting and giving ministers the option to begin reporting
online through the Martus system. To take advantage of this service, you will need a login identification number and password.
In the past, many ministers have taken advantage of the Excel file that would figure your annual minister’s report. This saved a
lot of time and effort for the minister at the end of the year. This system will do this as well, and keep up with your Continuing
Education Units (CEUs). It also allows you to update your information and go back with a few clicks of a button and view any of
your previous reports. In order to use this, you need an email address and Internet service. Please call the conference office if you
are interested in taking advantage of this or if you need more details. It is easy and very simple to use. Those ministers who use it
are very satisfied with the reporting.
– Rhonda Smith, Business Administrator/Accounting Director