2009_v4_fall - International Ministerial Fellowship

Transcription

®
SEASONS
Then I will
give you rain
in due season,
and the land shall
yield her increase,
and the trees
of the field
shall yield their fruit.
Leviticus 26:4
Dr. Mark Rutland elected
third President
of Oral Roberts University.
“International Ministerial Fellowship” and the IMF Cross Logo are Federally registered service marks of International Ministerial Fellowship.
© 2009 International Ministerial Fellowship. All rights reserved.
Fall 2009
contents...
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on
n tteennTS
ts...
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Notes from the general secretary
2Notes from the General Secretary
3The Changing Seasons
4Wisdom, Power and Mystery
5Governor of Yucatan Visits Bridge of Love Home Property
6A Heart for Evangelism
8Taming the Tongue
9Christmas in September - How Can That Be?
10Touring the Holy Land
10Networking
11Experiencing God Together in Worship
12Your IMF Area Pastor Representatives
12 Know Your IMF Staff 13Project Christmas Stocking
13IMF Military Chaplain Policy
14 Engaging the Evangelical Atheists
15Embracing Change with Faith
16New Credits/Special Tax Break
17Reaching the World with the Gospel and Bicycles
18Look Unto Me - The Devotions of Charles Spurgeon
19 Consider Carefully How You Listen
20Play Your Cards Right: Debit vs. Credit
21Welcome to the Family/Missionaries/Living Memorials 22Living in "Bible Times"
24Board of Directors
The official magazine of International Ministerial Fellowship, Fall 2009
International
Ministerial Fellowship
®
Serving Those Who Serve Others
®
P ublisher
International Ministerial Fellowship
Executive Editor
Rev. Frank Masserano
M anaging Editor
Becky Tracey
®
PO Box 32366 • Minneapolis, MN 55432-0366
Phone (763) 571.5967 • Fax (763) 571.6835
www.i-m-f.org
A Gathering of Godly Affection (otherwise known as the Gathering) is a magazine published periodically by International Ministerial Fellowship, Mpls, MN
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C ontributors
Rev. Paul Anderson
Rev. Reuben David
Rev. Paul Engstrom
Rev. John Ferret, Jr.
Tracey Finck
Rev. Steve Fletcher
Rev. Ron Keller
Pastor Fred Kelly
Terrell Mayton
Rev. James Reimann
Julie Saffrin
Barb Schahn
Pastor Paul Sundell
Becky Tracey
Tama Westman
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A safe place…
a place of healing…
A Place of Restoration…
and a future…
…Oral Roberts
University
Rev. Frank & Carol Masserano
Founders & General Secretaries
The ORU community celebrated
in style over two days with five formal receptions: Board Members, faculty, administration, political leaders and pastors, followed by a formal dinner with Dr. Paul Walker speaking to special guests, family and friends.
The inauguration service the next day was electric with welcomes from
the Board of Trustees, faculty, Alumni Association and the student body
(represented by several thousand very enthusiastic students), Tulsa mayor
Kathy Taylor who pronounced the day ORU Inauguration Day, and a video
greeting from the state Governor Brad Henry who proclaimed the day Dr.
Mark Rutland Day in Oklahoma.
Last, but not least, Dr. Oral Roberts (age 91), founder and Chancellor of
the University, laid his hands upon Dr. Rutland’s head as he knelt before
Dr. Roberts (who had to sit due to his age and health) and prayed a powerful prayer of blessing and prophecy, saying, “I see the University growing,
multiplying and doing God’s work in a very special way.”
It has been months of miraculous workings of the Holy Spirit that has
brought Dr. Rutland to this new place of leadership. Just a few months
ago, ORU was in turmoil, facing debt of over $50 million and without a
President. Dr. Roberts had nominated Dr. Rutland as a candidate to serve
as President, but Mark had declined.
The Green family (owners of Hobby Lobby, a privately held company)
stepped forward with a gift of $70 million and Mart Green, Chairman of
the Board of Trustees, asked Dr. Rutland again to apply. Dr. Rutland had
prayed about it, but was himself in a capital campaign at his own university, Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. He again declined.
Mart Green and the Search Committee initially had 130 applicants
which they narrowed down to 3. Mart spoke by phone to Dr. Rutland once
more, and once more Mark declined. Finally, Mark Green called Dr. Rutland
and said the Trustees had declined all of the applicants, and what would it
take for Dr. Rutland to come? Allison, Mark’s wife, had suggested to Mark
he put out
“International Ministerial Fellowship” and the IMF Cross Logo Design are Federally
registered service marks.
© 2009 International Ministerial Fellowship.
All rights reserved.
Congratulations to Dr. Mark and
Allison Rutland on his inauguration
as the third President of Oral Roberts
University. It is the beginning of a
new season for ORU of growth, healing and increasing world influence,
and a new season of servant leadership for Dr. Mark Rutland. Mart
Green, the Chairman of the ORU
Board of Trustees, announced, “The
University is debt-free and the future
has never looked brighter.”
continued on page 7
2 | A G ath e ri n g
From the Desk of the President
The Changing Seasons
Pastor Fred Kelly
IMF President
William Shakespeare made short work of describing the changing of
the seasons. He wrote this about the abruptness of summer’s passing
into autumn:
The seasons alter;
hoary-headed frosts
fall in the fresh lap
of the crimson rose.
We are experiencing that change now, but it is a normal and anticipated event which will bring as much joy as summer ever has. The sensations are different, the obligations are perhaps greater, but autumn
has a lovely sweetness. God made these changes for us as recorded in
Genesis 1:14: Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the
heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs,
and for seasons, and for days and years.” It was not possible for God’s
creation to flourish without distinct seasons, nor is it possible for us.
The glories of summer are becoming memory while the challenges of
autumn are upon us; both should be objects for reflection and prayerful consideration.
The summer of 2009 produced the greatest event in IMF history,
with the largest crowds and the best program in our fifty year history. Credit goes to Frank Masserano who envisioned this anniversary
long ago. He appreciated the work of his father and mother who in
1958 began to bring together pastors for retooling and refreshing in
Memphis. Their vision became Frank’s own when he reconstituted
the organization in Minneapolis and with his wife Carol at his side
built what is arguably the most effective ministry in the world for independent clergy. The progress of our organization has been steady and
ever-expanding, but the massive outpouring in July demonstrated that
the first fifty years will soon be eclipsed by the future. Summer is the
season for growing; fall and winter prepare the earth again for future
new growth.
Many of you participated in the MORE Conference and I know you
will join in giving special recognition to our host, Pastor Bob Cottingham and his great church, North Heights Lutheran. If anyone wanted
to do a study of a successful denominational leader who has embraced
the Holy Spirit’s power and grown a mainline church into a powerhouse
of salvation and healing, Pastor Bob would be your logical choice.
Summer has some great moments, but it passes rather quickly into
autumn. We enjoyed having Rev. Iris Masserano, co-founder of the
original IMF at the Conference. She is in the autumn of life and ministry, but in seeing and hearing her I recognized the power that resides
in experience and maturity. That is true of our churches also. A gifted
pastor can make a new congregation thrive with the power of his voice
and the depth of his faith. People will follow a leader who is young and
vibrant. That new life and excitement prepares us for the steady growing of congregants into mature believers who learn that hope deferred
will in Christ become hope fulfilled.
Autumn brings into the church some difficult moments. Seeds
planted in the glow of summer sometimes fail to develop. The disappointment caused could become a discouragement to any more forward
movement save for the beauty of people who actually believe God continues to answer prayers in wondrous ways. When the hoary-headed
frost of autumn falls on your crimson rose, remember please that the
dry seasons of life do not last. Churches will succeed or fail on this one
point. Success is based on seasons – plural! One summer of exultation
cannot make a harvest. Autumn and even winter in a congregation’s
life will pass. The spring rains will come again. Be faithful to the Father who sent us and soon enough, summer will itself return. Glorious
and colorful, summer reflects all we ever hoped and prayed about. But
without the intervening seasons, summer would be a sham. To know
in your deepest self that God is for you and not against you, autumn
and chilly winter must exist. No revival can last, no visitation program
succeed, no youth conference be terrific, no marriage span several decades, no pastor teach his people for many years unless autumn and
winter are understood and embraced as part of God’s plan. Their assaults on our summer mentality will be overcome with the right leadership. Steady and sure teaching, much personal ministry, lots of home
visits, open and honest dialogue about failure and loss are required in
the cold seasons. That is maturity and that brings ultimate success.
My prayers for all of you center in this very thing. Having served as
the lead pastor in churches for 41 years, 30 years in one fabulous congregation, I know how to pray for leaders. I never pray for you to have
big meetings or hundreds of new converts. I pray for you to be faithful
in the small meetings and rejoice in the single soul saved in your regular Sunday service. I pray you will overcome the criticism and cynicism
of critics with peace in your soul. Revel in winter, dear one, because it
is all the devil can do. When winter suddenly blows into your church,
refuse to be afraid. Instead preach again and again on the faithfulness
of the Father. Your people will come along with you and will learn to
understand that winter does not belong to the enemy, it belongs to our
God! We only know the joy of success when we have seen up close the
ravages of failure.
Your growth will happen in summer, your big meetings will materialize then, too. You will be seen as a hero and a summertime warrior,
but you will actually have succeeded by surviving and thriving during
winter. IMF has learned that lesson well. Our summertime conference
was the result of all the work done by the great staff, the leadership of
Frank and Carol, and the years of learning how to endure autumn and
winter. When you learn it, too, you will see more success that you ever
dreamed. That is the prayer I offer for each of you!
Pastor Fred Kelly
[email protected]
Pastor Fred Kelly is President of IMF and serves on its Board of Directors. He is
a graduate of Cincinnati Bible Seminary and the Founding Pastor of Landmark
Church in Norcross, Georgia, where he pastored for 30 years.
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 3
S c r i p t u r a l T r u t h & App l i c a t i o n
Wisdom, Power and Mystery
Bringing Clarity to 1 Corinthians 1 and 2
Rev. Paul Engstrom, Th.D.
IMF Member
This is part one of a two-part article related to St. Paul’s use
of the words wisdom, power and mystery in the opening two
chapters of his first letter to the Corinthian church. It is important we do not forget that these words may be used differently
by other authors as they address different circumstances other
than those represented by the Corinthian church community.
but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and
foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of
God. (1 Corinthians 1:22-23)
In this issue of The Gathering, we will introduce the topic
given the Corinthian church context and address specifically
the wisdom of God. Part two will follow with a discussion of
Paul’s use of the words power and mystery. Conclusions will then
be drawn concerning the use of all three.
The apostle is appalled at the thought that some members of
the Church at Corinth made the decision to follow him rather
than Christ. Paul adamantly maintains that he did nothing
while in their midst to take advantage of his calling or to endorse himself in any way. In fact, he deliberately kept his message very Christ-centered; refusing to employ any rhetorical
techniques of this age for fear it would draw attention to him.
These two chapters offer some unique challenges, especially
where the apostle’s repeated use of these three words occur.
This two-part article attempts to make sense of Paul’s use of
these terms all the while remaining true to the dominating circumstances of the Corinthian Church.
APPEAL FOR UNITY
Because he was addressing a church divided into factions,
the apostle Paul was careful when he wrote his first epistle to
the Corinthian Church. Given the circumstances, the last thing
he wanted to do was elevate himself, creating an even more factious environment. Paul’s concern is obvious as he addresses the
importance of Church unity at the front end of his letter.
I appeal to you, brother, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that
there may be no divisions among you and that you may
be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers,
some from Chloe’s household have informed me that
there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of
you says, “I follow Paul;” another, “I follow Apollos;” another, “I follow Cephas;” still another, “I follow Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 1:10-12)
WHO MUST THE CHURCH FOLLOW?
Paul deliberately and consistently deflected attention away
from himself and the other apostles, pointing always to the
Lord Jesus Christ, who remains Paul’s emphasis to the end of
the epistle. And why wouldn’t Christ be the focal point? For
the apostle Paul, there were no other options. In fact, the reader
gets the definite sense that Paul is bewildered regarding the report that Apollos, Cephas and himself are somehow involved in
a controversy regarding who should be followed. For Paul, this
was complete nonsense for there was only one to be followed,
that person being Christ crucified.
Paul asks the Corinthians three rhetorical questions in 1
Corinthians 1:13: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for
you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?” Obviously, the
unspoken answer is a resounding, “NO!” The apostle Paul repeatedly asserts he went to Corinth to preach Christ crucified,
not to somehow promote himself or any other apostle.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
PAUL’S SELF-DEPRECATION
Paul did everything he could to place himself in the shadows, focusing his message and ministry in such a way as to spotlight no one and no thing other than Christ and him crucified.
Paul even admits to feelings of mortal dread (weakness) and fear
while at Corinth. In fact, he was uncertain and anxious to the
point of trembling. Paul was hesitant and apprehensive, insisting his visit was not self-serving in any way.
When I came to you brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the
testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing
while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with
much trembling. (1 Corinthians 2:1-3)
PAUL’S EXALTATION OF GOD
AND GOD’S WISDOM
Paul focused the Corinthians on God. He didn’t attempt to
impress them with anything as mundane and fleeting as persuasive words. And given that Paul was attempting to point
them to the wisdom and power of God, it made no sense for
him to highlight his own wisdom, persuasive speech, or any
other ability he might possess. What would be the point?
My message and my preaching were not with wise and
persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s
wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
Paul knew that if the power and wisdom of God were to be
revealed to the people of Corinth, it would require more than
earthly wisdom; Paul knew he would have to focus the people’s
attention towards God’s power and God’s wisdom. And that is
precisely what he did.
This article will be concluded in the next issue of The Gathering.
Dr. Paul L. is the Senior Pastor of Grace of Christ Church, an interdenominational fellowship in Stillwater, Minnesota. Earning his Doctor
of Theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, his interests lay
primarily in the Pentateuch and poetic literature of the Old Testament.
Dr. Engstrom also developed expertise with representative poetic literature
of the larger ancient Near Eastern environment, primarily that of Canaan
and Babylon. As a college professor, Dr. Engstrom instructed pastoral
students preparing themselves for the ministry.
Report from Mexico
Governor of Yucatan visits
Bridge of Love Home Property
Over the last few years during our
process of building the Bridge of Love
Home here in Dzan, Yucatan, Mexico,
God has blessed us with a wonderful
friend and ally in our town mayor, Benito Cabrera. He has been very supportive
of our work and helped us get through
some of the steps we needed to take to
formally open our doors.
Benito has assisted us in acquiring some of the government helps that
might be available to us as a not-for-profit ministry. He has been all the more
eager to do all that he can within his
power, especially considering the fact
that our work will directly benefit needy
and abandoned children coming from
different abuse settings, like the seven
children we have already taken into our
home.
Rev. Steve Fletcher
IMF Missionary
to open up the electrical service for our
property, Governor Ivonne decided to do
a full inauguration service right on site! It
was INCREDIBLE! The whole Governor’s
protocol and paparazzi were there, including her bodyguards and protective state
police, her entire cabinet, our local mayor,
and about 150 people from our town. The
two main newspapers and a TV station
from Yucatan were also there, so the whole
thing got a very nice write-up. We were
also very proud of our land, as everything
looked really nice and with our own road
and lots of space we easily accommodated
the more than 35 cars that were there.
Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco together with Martha and Steve Fletcher and company.
One of our main needs over the last two years
was to have a full electrical installation brought
200 yards into our property to service the 20 acres
we have including four dorm rooms, kitchen, dining hall and our offices, as well as our tool shed and
well pump. We had asked Benito if it was possible
for us to somehow meet the governor to present
our needs before her. We have known and it has
been evident
to the state of
Yucatan that
Governor Ivonne
Ortega
Pacheco has a
very compassionate heart.
When it comes
to needy children she is
working very
hard to bring
help to all the
communities.
Baby Gerardo being greeted by the Governor. She
was quite moved by the whole story of the children. One
day
back in March
2008 my wife
Martha and I were with Benito in Merida, Yucatan
doing some paperwork when he mentioned to us
that he was going to see the governor in Valladolid
at a luncheon for the state mayors and representatives. He asked us if we would like to join him. We
jumped at the opportunity and prepared a photo
album to share the story of the kids if the opportunity arose.
When we arrived in Valladolid we were given
seats at the tables with Benito and a few of the government officials and given a full lunch. When
the meeting was over, the governor began to take a
stroll from the front of the auditorium to the back
to receive requests and petitions.
A key reason we have made it this far has been
our faith in God. We truly believe that God can
and will move mountains when we trust in Him.
On a day like this one, we knew God would have
to be involved to make anything happen at all.
We didn’t really feel good about trying to force our
way in to see the Governor, but we really wanted
to see the Lord’s hand at work making a way. We
were in the aisle waiting as the Governor was coming and the unimaginable happened. Her officials
came right up to Martha and asked her if she’d like
to talk to the Governor!
Martha shared with Yucatan Governor Ivonne
Ortega Pacheco the story of the children, our progress in the building projects, and our plans for the
future to start Bridge of Love Home. Martha expressed that we were well under way in our work,
but there was one thing that we really needed help
with—our electrical installation.
What an awesome day that signals
nothing but hope for our future and good
relations with all the people that we will
need to help us move our Bridge of Love
Home forward! To God be all the glory!
One of the highlights of the day was seven year
old Adriana reading a Bible verse from Matthew,
“For I was hungry, and you gave me something
to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something
to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in.
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these my brothers and sisters of mine, you
did for me.” Then she presented the governor with
a beautiful women’s Bible and letters all the children had prepared in appreciation. Please pray
with us for Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco, and
her cabinet member in charge of this electrical
work, Jose Novelo, that they will come to a greater
knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior,
and that the two Bibles we gave them would be put
to good use. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
For more information about the Bridge of Love Home, or to
see the photo album of this event, please visit www.bridgeoflovehome.com. You can also get information about
life-changing mission trip opportunities to serve not only
the Bridge of Love Home, but churches and other ministries
throughout the Yucatan region.
Governor Ivonne immediately got her
people moving. Through a series of phone
calls and meetings, we had an appointment the following week for her team to
come see our property. Just eight days after meeting the Governor, we had our answer. With no written petition, no delays,
and no obstacles, our petition for electricity was granted, PAID IN FULL! That was a
$25,000 (USD) blessing and a miracle!
In September of 2009, after all the installation was done and they were ready
Adriana read a Bible verse from Matthew 25, and presented the Governor with a beautiful Bible. F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 5
HI g h l i g h t i n g M e m b e r s m i n i s t r i e s
A Heart for Evangelism
Rev. Tony Loeffler, Sr.
IMF Member
IMF Ordained Minister and musician
Tony Loeffler is proof that what doesn’t
kill you can only make you stronger.
With close to 20 musical albums under
his belt, he might also attest to the fact
that when it comes to ministry, those
who are broken by the world are often
the quickest to turn and reach out with
evangelism.
Wandering the streets of Chicago as a
young man in 1971, Loeffler was invited
into the Salvation Army shelter one day,
and soon thereafter left a world where
he ate from garbage cans to feed on the
Bread of Life. Right after he was saved,
he began to minister to the broken,
the addicted, the imprisoned, and the
homeless. What resulted was Solid Rock
Ministries of Royal Palm Beach, Florida
which generates Bible courses, discipleship programs and networking for prison inmates, using music as a platform to
get in the door.
Raised in a dysfunctional home
where his father’s absence was a continual source of pain and anguish,
Loeffler struggled to find answers to
life’s questions. Feeling abandoned by
a father who was imprisoned, a mother
who died early from cancer, and having
suffered physical abuse for years, Tony
first turned to drugs, alcohol and other
abuses before he turned to God.
Over the years Loeffler has ministered to drug addicts, the homeless, and
prisoners in the United States and in
countries around the globe. He’s seen
over 100,000 inmates repent and seen
Satan worshippers remove their upside
-down crosses from their necks and
come to Christ. Recently he ministered
to 500,000 bikers at the After Sturgis
Gathering Motorcycle Rally in Wisconsin, performing ten concerts and giving
out over 1000 CDs and gospel tracts.
Prison ministry
Loeffler performs over 120 concerts
a year in prisons around the world; his
music is the key that opens the door.
“I’ll go wherever people are willing to
listen.”
Switzerland
Uganda
In Geneva, Loeffler ministered to
nine language groups through two interpreters. One prisoner in particular
“was a real nasty guy.” According to
Loeffler, the other volunteers, including his wife, Mary Ann, left the room
because of the violent nature of Danny
Lou. A songwriter, Danny Lou shared a
song about his search for God and his
determination that He just wasn’t there.
Loeffler said, “I told him his content was
wrong.”
When he visited Uganda with Prison
Fellowship, he said 85% of the condemned men received the Lord. “In
this horrible place where to die from
starvation is a given, those whose souls
were saved sing praises 24/7 in shifts so
praises are always heard,” Loeffler said.
“I shared the truth of the gospel,
prayed with him, and told Danny Lou to
get into the Bible.” Months later, Danny
Lou called Loeffler to say, “Something’s
happening to me.” After a few more
phone conversations and another personal visit at Christmas, Danny Lou repented and was saved. Loeffler laughed,
“It’s funny really; apparently Danny
Lou was so vicious, so violent, that no
one else was ever left alone with him.”
Yet the Lord gifted Loeffler with the
words and insight that would pull the
man from darkness.
India
“We were warned not to try to convert anyone or we might not be allowed
to leave. I could play my songs, share
my testimony, even talk about my personal life, but I couldn’t ask if they’d like
to become a Christian.” Instead, one of
his volunteers asked, “Who wants to go
to heaven?” Working around the warnings, 61 of the 62 men who attended that
prison performance received Christ.
England
In Dartmoor Prison, a dark, dank
place built in 1809 where cockroaches are the size of rats, Loeffler’s band
squeezed onto an 8’ x 8’ stage and performed and ministered to prisoners so
tough they showed no response. “One
guy looked like he ate nails for breakfast, yet he was the first to raise his hand
for prayer.” Before a year’s time, nearly
half of the prisoners there had accepted
Christ as Savior.
Ministry to the
homeless
“Isaiah 58 exhorts believers to feed
the hungry and clothe the naked,” Loeffler said, “It is a mandate for us as
Christians to balance evangelism with
social need.” Again, with music as his
platform, he goes into cities to conduct
press interviews, give concerts, and talk
to church and civic leaders, all in an effort to unveil practical ways to help the
homeless in their communities.
Washington
“I was standing in an alley after a
performance for Homeless Awareness
Week, when all of a sudden these people
came toward me like zombies, with slow
movements and distant expressions,
closing in, like you see in the movies.”
“But they just wanted to be saved.
A roughneck biker joined the crowd. I
made eye contact, but continued talking
and praying with those nearby. While
he waited, I physically tried to ‘beef up.’
I stood taller, took a more authoritative
stance, even puffed my chest a bit, all
the things a man does when confronted
with a dangerous individual. But he
only wanted prayer, like everyone else.”
Homeless and Prison
Ministry Combined
Loeffler presents the work his team
does in prisons and on the streets of
Cuba to other churches in an effort to
develop partnerships, providing a conduit for churches to fulfill the Great
Commission.
continued on NEXT page
Notes from the General Secretary
continued from page 2
a fleece. Dr. Rutland has said he is not generally a fleece person, but he did.
It was a big, hairy, audacious fleece, but God answered it in 10 minutes and
Dr. Rutland agreed to come. The University community is thrilled. It’s a new
beginning and a new season for the University and for the Rutlands.
Dr. Mark and Allison have been friends of IMF for the past several years.
We are so happy for them and so honored to serve them. Dr. Rutland spoke
recently at our IMF 50th Year Celebration. He shared and challenged our
members to greater effectiveness in preaching and servant leadership.
Dr. Rutland holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of
Maryland (1970), a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta (1972), and a Ph.D. in Church Growth
from the California Graduate School of Theology (1988). He has been a missionary in Africa, is the founder of Global Servants, a missionary organization which has planted churches in West Africa, and established a home for
girls in Thailand. He has been a successful pastor at Mt. Paran Church in
Atlanta, Georgia and at Calvary Assembly of God Church in Orlando, Florida.
Dr. Rutland comes to ORU from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida
where he served as President for ten years. There he raised the student membership from 1000 to 3000 and saw the campus expand with $50 million in
renovations and new buildings.
At the Pastor’s reception, Dr. Rutland said that he and the Board of Trustees had gone through the most amazing time of self-revelation and trans-
parency he had ever experienced. He stated, “Everyone who comes to ORU
comes with a history and a future. ORU is a safe place, a healing place, a place
of restoration.” During his inauguration speech he said the future [under his
leadership] will have the same vision, the same ultimate leader (Jesus Christ),
the same struggles and opportunities, and the same God of healing grace and
miraculous power.
We honor and salute Dr. Mark Rutland and his dear wife Allison, and wish
them every continuing success. It is without a doubt a new day and season
for ORU and a new season of servant leadership for Dr. Rutland. I believe
ORU’s best and finest hours are just ahead. May Dr. Rutland’s words prove
true … a safe place … a healing place … a place of restoration and a future.
Pastor Frank & Carol Masserano
Founders and General Secretaries
Editor’s Note: For more information on Oral Roberts University, please see their website:
http://www.oru.edu.
To read the full article on Dr. Rutland’s inauguration, please see:
http://www.oru.edu/news/oru_news/20090925_inauguration_wrapup.php
“And be ye kind one to another,
Tenderhearted, Forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32
A heart for Evangelism
continued from page 6
Cuba
“When I first went to Cuba, I was bowled over. I’ve never seen such oppression in my life; it even surpassed that of Uganda and India.”
The call to minister in Cuba hasn’t been easy for Loeffler, who has been
forced to leave three times in the last ten years. But, then, God rarely calls
one to a ministry of convenience. “I may have been physically thrown out,
but heart and spirit never left. I continued to pray.”
The need is great as there are over a million inmates housed in Cuban
prisons. Finally, Loeffler has been given the green light. He’s allowed to play
his gospel blues music and share his testimony in public theaters as long as he
doesn’t turn concerts into church services. “With the power of Jesus’ name,
we’re not afraid to go anywhere in the world.”
Tony Loeffler was a homeless and suicidal drifter eating from garbage cans, a hopeless
drug addict. His marriage was ending. He was someone everyone passed by—until a
Salvation Army officer gave him a place to sleep one December night—and introduced him
to Jesus. His life has never been the same since.
Tony’s life has come full circle. His marriage was restored and his wife Mary Ann serves
with him in ministry. Today Tony is President of the Solid Rock Ministry, an ordained
minister of IMF, and a musician leading a powerful work throughout the world. For
more information, please visit www.thesolidrock.org. You may reach Tony at 561-7845188 or [email protected].
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 7
G u e s t Ed i t o r i a l
Taming the Tongue
Rev. Paul Anderson
IMF Member
When I was a kid, we’d say to those who called
us names: “Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words will never hurt me.” But words can
wound far more than a piece of wood. Job asked
his so-called friends, “How long will you torment
me, and break me in pieces with words?” (Job
l9:2)
Words have launched wars. They have broken
up marriages, separated life-long friends, split
churches, and sent children down the lonely road
of depression. But they have also healed cancer,
prevented suicides, restored friendships, stopped
wars from breaking out, and brought the emotionally imprisoned into liberty.
When a baseball manager was fined for chewing out the commissioner, a sports writer defended the manager, arguing, “They were just words.”
Solomon knew better: “There is one whose rash
words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the
wise brings healing.” (Proverbs l2:l8) Words contain potential for good or evil. In fact, “Death and
life are in the power of the tongue...” (Proverbs
l8:2la).
Taming the tongue takes us to our limit. If we
finish that assignment, everything else is easy:
“He who guards his lips guards his life…” (Proverbs 13:3) But with a machete in your mouth, it
doesn’t take long to do damage. Maybe that is
why Jesus said that “men will render account for
every careless word they utter.” (Matthew l2:36)
We can find several lists of deadly sins in the
Bible that can keep us out of the Kingdom, among
them murder and adultery (Revelation 22:l5, Galatians 5:l7, I Corinthians 6:9-l0, Romans l:30).
Sins of the tongue also show up in each list. I may
think, “I have a little problem with my mouth,”
but what I view as in need of minor adjustment
God would call in need of major overhaul.
The Tongue Has Great
Potential for Good
James gives us two examples to show us that
small can be significant.
If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide
their whole bodies. Look at the ships
also; though they are so great and
are driven by strong winds, they are
guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. (James
3:3-4)
A bit. A broken and bridled stallion makes
a beautiful sight, and a little bit goes a long way!
The flick of the wrist by the master turns the
mighty beast in an instant. His will has come under the control of his rider, and a small girl can
rule a great racehorse. James likewise says that a
controlled tongue makes possible the direction of
the whole body. If you want to obey your Master,
start with the tongue.
and blew one from the heap, we almost started a
prairie fire. “I should have known better,” he confessed, recalling fires on the prairies of Montana
where he grew up.
A rudder. On a recent vacation, my wife
Karen and I sat along the San Pedro harbor and
watched mega-oil freighters cut their way into
quiet waters and dock. The direction of these
huge ships is determined by a relatively small rudder, operated by one man’s hand.
Poison. A quiet and controlled lady once
put her troubled daughter in our church school.
The girl lasted only a few weeks. As the principal
explained why she was compelled to dismiss the
child, the mom listened impatiently. When she
decided that she had heard enough, she stomped
out of the room, spilling poison and profanity
along the way. Mrs. Cool morphed into a serpent
in a few seconds.
Similarly, the direction of our lives is determined by the little member in our mouth. It will
take us down a path of destruction or it will deliver us: “He who guards his mouth preserves his
life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
(Proverbs l3:3)
The Tongue Also Has
Potential for Evil
Again, James gives us two examples.
Likewise the tongue is a small part of
the body, but it makes great boasts.
Consider what a great forest is set
on fire by a small spark. The tongue
also is a fire, a world of evil among
the parts of the body. It corrupts the
whole person, sets the whole course
of his life on fire, and is itself set on
fire by hell. All kinds of animals,
birds, reptiles and creatures of the
sea are being tamed and have been
tamed by man, but no man can tame
the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of
deadly poison. (James 3:5-8)
Fire. Pyromaniacs can make a crime look
like an accident. James removes any doubt about
the origin of fires ignited by the tongue--the pit
of hell. We may say that it started with a prayer
request or a little criticism. James corrects us by
saying that it was fueled by the fires that will rage
for an eternity.
My dad and I were once cleaning up tumbleweeds around our property in the Mojave Desert.
Dad decided that a shortcut would make our work
easier: “I’ll set fire to this pile, and we’ll be done
with them in a moment.” When a wind came up
God sees all such blazes, started by a word of
sarcasm, a fit of outrage, or a yearning for vengeance. They are much more than “just words.”
Remember--only you can prevent forest fires!
A snake exists in South America that is called
the two-step. If you’re bitten by one, two steps
and you’re dead. The poison works about that
fast, paralyzing the nervous system. A deadly
tongue poisons reputations, kills futures, and destroys relationships.
In his hard-hitting letter, James does not deal
with predestination or the nature of the Church.
He talks about temptation, anger, and how I speak.
He doesn’t let me off the hook. He wants reality
and inconsistencies bother him immensely. He
says, “From the same mouth come blessing and
cursing.” (James 3:l0a) His friend Paul tells us
that carnivorous Christians will sooner or later be
eaten alive themselves: “If you bite and devour
one another take heed that you are not consumed
by one another.” (Galatians 5:l5)
So the challenge comes to do what I am already
told I can’t--tame my tongue. But Jesus can. His
words were always rightly chosen, bringing grace
and truth. So I must surrender this organ to the
Master, trusting more than trying, believing that
He can and will do this work of maturity in that
moving member between the head and the heart.
Paul Anderson is an ordained minister of IMF. He is a
graduate of UCLA and Luther Seminary and served as a
pastor in Southern California before moving to Minnesota
to direct the work of Lutheran Renewal. Paul is a sought
-after preacher and teacher in the Renewal Movement in
the U.S. and other countries. He recently published three
books, The Father’s Gift, Dare to Dream, and a Dare to
Dream Workbook and co-authored Mastering Pastoral
Care. He travels extensively as a conference and congregational speaker, here and abroad.
A Perspective to Ponder
Christmas in September How Can tHat Be?
We as Christians have grown up with the understanding that Jesus was born on December
25th. However, there is no substantial evidence
supporting this date as the birth of our Savior.
Historians agree that the Roman Church picked
December 25th with no knowledge of the real
date. However, there is evidence that may give us
some ideas.
To understand the evidence, we need to focus
on the archaeology, history, geography, culture,
and customs of ancient Israel. In short, we need
to put the Bible back into its historical context.
We need to remember that Jesus and his parents
were Jewish and very observant in terms of obeying God. For example, Mary and her baby are pictured with blonde hair or blue eyes on many modern Christmas cards. However, what did Israelites
look like in Jesus’ day? They were dark haired,
with dark eyes, and an olive complexion. They
looked like people from the Middle East! Therefore, wouldn’t it stand to conclude that Mary and
Jesus likely would have looked like the girl and her
baby below? We get a more accurate picture if we
put the Bible into its historical context via the archaeology and the culture of ancient Israel.
Since many of the roads in Israel built at the
time of Jesus were dirt roads, heavy December
rains most likely made the dirt roads slippery and
dangerous; many people did not travel in December due to this danger. It seems that Jesus might
not have been born in December since many people did not travel in the rainy season.
Farming
Farming may also give us some idea of a time
period when it is likely that Jesus was born. There
were two main harvests in Israel during Jesus’ day.
The spring grain harvest is from April to June and
the fall harvest of grapes and figs from September
to October. In Luke 2:8 we read about the sheep
in the fields the night Jesus was born. Shepherds
in those days took their flocks out into the countryside between the rains and after a harvest since
the sheep would eat the grain or the new growth.
So far this evidence – the weather and the agricultural cycles – suggests that Jesus’ birth took
place after the spring or fall harvest. The time
frame is narrowing.
God had His son born in a Jewish culture, in
a land He gave His people for all time with very
unique features. Is there more to help us? Is there
something in the culture that may help us narrow
it down more?
Weather Patterns
Feasts of Adonai
One fact about Israel that may give us a better idea when the Savior was born is the weather.
Israel has two seasons – the rainy season and the
dry season. The rainy season has three parts: the
early rains, the season of rain, and the late rains
(see James 5:7 or Deuteronomy 11:14). The rains
start in late October and end in late March or
early April. The rains are heaviest in December,
resulting in wet, muddy, and dangerous travel
conditions. See the next picture of a recent flash
flood that destroyed a modern highway in the
wilderness.
The Jewish people have eight key feasts: Sabbath, Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits,
Shavuot (Pentecost), Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot (Tabernacles). The people were
required to travel to Jerusalem to attend three
feasts: Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Bethlehem
was only a few miles from the Temple, so it would
make sense that people would lodge there when
they attended one of the feasts. When Mary and
Joseph traveled from Galilee to Bethlehem and
could not find a place to stay this suggests they
came to celebrate one of the feasts along with reg-
Rev. John Ferret, Jr.
IMF Member
istering for the tax (Luke 2:1-7). But, which one?
The feast of Sukkot or Tabernacles in the fall, celebrates God dwelling with His people in a Sukkah
– a tent or temporary dwelling – or the Tabernacle.
Shown below is the model of the Tabernacle in Israel near Eliat.
Sukkot is a feast rejoicing in Immanuel meaning
“God is with us.” It is also a time of great rejoicing
for all nations. In Matthew 1:23 and in Luke 2:10
Jesus is called Immanuel and the angels announce
the news of great joy for all peoples. This is Sukkot talk – the people in the days of Jesus would
clearly understand this to imply the feast of Sukkot. Could it be that Jesus, who is Immanuel and
whose birth is announced as a time of great joy for
all nations, was born during the feast of Sukkot?
We know Jesus’ death and resurrection are tied in
with the Jewish feast of Passover, so why not the
coming of the Lord to dwell with us, Immanuel?
Was He then born in the fall during Sukkot?
Personally, I conclude that it was likely that
Jesus’ birth was during Sukkot based upon additional evidence that cannot be presented in this
short article. The important point is that we need
to accept God’s invitation: “Listen to me, you who
pursue righteousness, who seek the LORD: look to
the rock from which you were hewn and to the
quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who gave birth to
you in pain …” (Isaiah 51:1-2) Let us return to the
rock and the quarry from where the church was
born. Let us return to know and learn our Hebrew
heritage and then we will fall in love with Messiah
Yeshua all over again.
Rev. John Ferret, Jr. is a licensed minister in Bible teaching with the International Ministerial Fellowship and the
co-founder of Light of Menorah Ministries. He has two
Master’s degrees and is a seasoned, enthusiastic and powerful teacher. Rev. Ferret continues his studies for a 3rd
Masters in the ancient Biblical history of the Middle East.
He also leads Bible study tours to Israel and Turkey and is
available as a speaker and workshop leader. He travels to
Kenya, Uganda, and Mexico to teach pastors and ministers
the Jewish roots of Christianity. His current web site is
www. xanga.com/rockscrying.
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 9
Touring the holy land
NETWORKING
Notices will be published in four consecutive issues upon each written request to
our office. Please limit notices to name, address, phone, e-mail address, and a maximum of 100 words describing your ministry. We recommend that all our ministers
make their tapes, reference letters and other pertinent ministry information available to all inquirers.
NOTE: Some copies of this magazine are distributed to persons who are not members of IMF (i.e., inquiries,
guests of member’s church, etc.). We, therefore, cannot be responsible for non-members who contact members
advertising in the Networking section. Be sure to verify that the person contacting you is a member of the
Fellowship. You may do so by calling the Membership Services Department at 763-571-5967 or checking the
IMF website at www.i-m-f.org.
RAINS OF GRACE FELLOWSHIP, LISBON, OH
Rains of Grace Fellowship is in need of a digital piano or keyboard. If you know anyone who
would be willing to donate one or sell one at a reasonable price, please contact us at 330-3410632 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Thank you. Pastor Tony Pawloski (2)
REV. DUDLEY DANIELSON, CLAYTON, NY
Like Caleb, we’re not looking for retirement but looking for reassignment! My wife and I
recently bought a motor home to actively pursue a new ministry. Interim Pastor could work
well for us. We feel called to be “Encouragers”. My special gifts are in visually-oriented
speaking, photography and writing as well as good counsel. My wife, with an executive
secretary background, is a fine help-mate; she can organize and detail any ministry office to
run smoothly. We love to pray with and anoint folks in need. Contact Rev Dudley and Diane
Danielson at 315-778-0007 or email: [email protected] (1)
A n e w o u t r e a c h m i n i s t r y o f IMF
Experiencing God
together in Worship
What if people came together solely to lift up the name of Christ?
With that question posed, Matt and Sherry
McPherson, recording artists and business owners,
birthed a ministry of their dreams, CityPrayz. The
first Friday night of each quarter (4 times per year),
people from all walks of life: families with small
children, teens hanging together, college students,
Baby Boomers and those in the “we’re-not-tellingour-age-and-older” group, gather at the La Crosse
Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, not for church or a
Bible study, but to sing praises.
Old, young, rich, poor, single, married, Catholic, Methodist, Nazarene, attendees  belong to
an undefined demographic. Close to 1100 stand
shoulder to shoulder without cause or concern
for religious backgrounds. They praise, clapping
their hands and shouting glory to His name in
this uplifting, energized format where praise and
worship excites, promotes a sense of community,
and prompts people to get involved with their own
churches. One man said: “Coming to CityPrayz
encourages you; strengthens you in your faith.” A
young boy succinctly said, “It’s awesome!”
“It’s about Jesus Christ and lifting Him up, and
as we do that, life is found right here,” said Matt
McPherson.
Matt plays the guitar, sings and evangelizes, and
wife Sherry sings and is the worship leader. They
are both recording artists with Autumn Records,
and own and operate Matthews, Inc., a corporation
that includes Matthew’s Archery and McPherson
Guitars.
An entrepreneur with a passion for Christ, Matt
seeks God’s help in all aspects of his life. “When
I do something, or make a product, I’m doing it to
honor Him.”
With 20 patents to his name, his bow designs
made Matthew’s Archery the number one grossing
bow company in the world, an Inc. 500 company.
In the late ‘90s, the musician in him turned toward
the guitar, thinking, “God, I know You can design
one better.” After praying for wisdom, insight and
direction, a new guitar form was developed.
McPherson guitars are unique in the industry
with a sound hole positioned above the strings.
“When God is behind something, He can make
things happen far above what we ever expected to
happen,” he said.
According to the Manager of CityPrayz Ministry, IMF minister Rev. Bill Knott, the success of
Matthews, Inc. contributes to their ability to minister to the community. “God has blessed Matt
financially, and he turns much of it right around
into ministry.”
In a video interview, Matt credited his relationship with God, saying, “If you put God first, God
will honor it.”
It is that passion for evangelism that later birthed
the idea for CityPrayz, a full-time ministry mostly
consisting of ministers and worship leaders from
a variety of backgrounds and affiliations. Those
involved on and off stage are banded together in
a single purpose, to lead others into a relationship
with Christ.
Matt and Sherry lead worship, with their band
(many IMF credentialed) including Craig Chapman on guitar, James Abbott on keyboards, David
Ohman on drums, Matt Callaway on guitar, and
Toni Groshek on vocals.
No quiet hymns sung here, CityPrayz is an energetic, lively program of contemporary praise music,
songs of the church, even hymns re-tuned to an
up-tempo arrangement. The stage is set to experience God through engaging music and prayer.
Prayer partners are stationed in the crowd, identifiable by red t-shirts and ID lanyards. Knott said,
“Everyone who asks for prayer, or receives Christ, is
connected to a local church.”
“We hand out Salvation Poem cards,” he said.
Printed on business card-sized contemporary tracts,
The Salvation Poem, created by Matt McPherson, is
a simple, effective way to lead people into a relationship with Christ.
“Most people can remember the little poems
we learned as small children,” Knott said. “Twinkle, twinkle, little star…Mary had a little lamb…
The Salvation Poem comes from the idea of giving
people something easy to remember, a device that
sticks in their head, and leads them to the cross.”
Like wildfire, the Salvation Poem took on a life
of its own. Translated into more than 15 languages,
it is distributed worldwide. One organization is including the poem on more than 30 million books,
booklets, and other literature produced.
In addition to the cards, the poem is on pens
distributed via missions organizations, gift cards, a
children’s book, and a soon to be released lullaby
CD. “We can write reams of paper to complicate
the salvation message,” said Knott, “but Jesus said
you have to come to Him as a child.”
Currently, CityPrayz is developing a discipleship program based on the poem. Their ministry
team has boiled it down to three basic questions,
followed by a line of the poem, a brief narrative,
and appropriate Scriptures:
What has God ever done for you?
What do you do in response?
What will you and God do from here on out?
More than a once-a-quarter concert, CityPrayz
is an active, contemporary ministry that seeks to
fulfill the Great Commission by creating a sense
of community, and sharing God’s love through
prayer and praise. According to Knott, “It’s about
the church coming together.”
Check it out: www.cityprayz.com
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 11
Come, Meet the Family
Your IMF area Pastor Representatives
Pastor Darrell Yarbrough
Ministering Heroes
When one thinks of boyhood heroes, comicbook action figures come to mind. Not so for
Rev. Darrell Yarbrough. His heroes were pastors.
“I idolized them. I loved their stories and spending time with them,” Darrell said.
Darrell grew up in the church. He was born in
Tennessee and then his family moved to Arkansas. When he was 12, his family moved again,
to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Both his grandfather
and father are pastors. His grandfather started International Ministerial Fellowship and Darrell is Frank Masserano’s nephew. “I remember those days in
Memphis. I gave up my bedroom for the ministers who would come to our
house. My heroes were always preachers,” he said.
But as for Darrell becoming a minister, his eyes were focused on becoming
a corporate lawyer and opening jewelry stores on the side. “I wanted to make
a lot of money. I’d seen my mom and dad give everything to God and I didn’t
want to struggle,” he said.
When Darrell was 17 a Sunday night service changed his plans. “I was
slain in the Spirit. After a little while I went over to my dad and said, ‘I’ve
been called into the ministry,’” Darrell said. He preached his first sermon
shortly afterward and 34 received salvation.
Rev. Paul Mather
God Divinely Places Us as Pastors
– Settle in That
A squad car squawks as it drives by Paul
Mather’s New Life Assembly of God office in
downtown Elmira. It’s a common occurrence
in this city of 40,000 situated halfway between
New York and Syracuse. “Prisoners are funneled
to the prison here and then the families come to
live so we have a pretty intense gang population,
lots of drugs and prostitution,” Paul said. But he
and his wife Jennifer, who have four children ages 7 to 21 wouldn’t have it
any other way. “God has kept us safe. We love being here.”
Growing up as a pastor’s son, the last thing Paul wanted was to be a pastor.
“It was the one thing I was not going to do because of all the stuff I saw,” he
said. Though not on board as pastor when his church split, he saw one-third
of the church stay, one-third start a new church, and the remaining third
leave the church altogether.
He became a pastor, first to the youth of New Life, and since 1997, as its Senior Pastor to the third who stayed. The church focused on outreach and set
up a food pantry. Each church family adopted a block near the church to visit
homes. “We get to know them, serve them, and earn the right to share the
Gospel,” Paul said, “whether it’s crack houses or visiting prostitutes.” Each
August, New Life puts on a huge block party where hundreds have come to
Christ. The event includes a band, inflatables for children, preaching, free
groceries, haircuts, and popcorn.
Darrell has pastored three churches. He, along with his wife Kristen, in
September 2007, started Legacy Church, their first church plant, in Orange
County, California. He is entering his 25th year in ministry. “Church planting is one of the hardest avenues of ministry, and in my opinion, one of the
most rewarding,” Darrell said. “To go from nothing to something, to watch
your church go from nobody to several hundred believers…at times you feel
like Abraham when you’re asking God to lead you and He does.”
The church which split from New Life came under new leadership in 2002
and began to rent space from New Life for their Saturday evening service
when something remarkable happened. “God zipped the split churches back
up,” Paul said. “We had a big ceremony and married the church back together.”
Hearing God’s call has taken Darrell to 11 countries to preach. In June
2008 he was part of a team that helped create and deliver a new translation of
the Bible in Madagascar—the first in 68 years—to more than 20,000 pastors
and their congregations.
That symbol of unity has spread to 20 other Elmira churches that annually
join New Life to put on a Christmas festival. Paul believes God plants the
body of Christ. “We are not just here as individuals churches with our own
little kingdoms,” he said.
Darrell leans on words from a prophet and an apostle and offers them to
pastors who feel a new leading upon their lives. “Jeremiah 29:11 says that
God has thoughts towards us that are of peace and not evil. He has a future
and hope for us,” he said. “Sometimes we don’t know the path we are supposed to walk, but Romans 8 says all these things work together according to
His purpose. God honors faith. Don’t be afraid to step out in it.”
Paul believes denominations that join together can have a greater impact
on a community than if they remain alone. “God divinely places us as pastors. Settle in that. Find other pastors,” he said. “You may not sing the way
they do or do things the way you do, but pray with each other, be accountable
to each other. Don’t be a lone ranger and try to take the city by yourself. Rest
in where God has planted you and work out the plan and purpose for the city
and place you are in.”
KNOW YOUR IMF STAFF
Ramona Froberg had been married to her husband Bob for 35 years when
he went to be home with the Lord after a 10 year illness. She has 3 daughters
and 1 granddaughter, age 11.
After working for several Christian ministries over the years, Ramona
came to IMF to work along with Carol Masserano in Membership Services,
handling our data entry, renewals, and communications with the Agnes M.
Masted Intercessory Prayer Group.
Ramona loves to collect poetry and words of
encouragement, intending to make a book for her
granddaughter. She also enjoys traveling and during one memorable trip was re-baptized in the Jordan River (when it was 30 degrees!) and walked on
some of the streets where Jesus may have walked.
She says, “People my age usually look forward
to retirement, but I’m not ready for that—yet.”
A WOR D FROM OUR MISSIONS D E P ARTME n T
Project Christmas Stocking
Pastor Paul Sundell
Acting Director of Mission Ministries
vidual friends to consider making this Christmas
a bit brighter for the MK’s.
Here are some of the responses we’ve received
from our missionary families:
“I thank you
very much for your gift at Christmas. I
have opened a bank account with it, so
that it can help me with my studies in
art. I prayed that the Lord would help
me get into this art school and He did.
Thank you for this help.”
One MK wrote:
I’m sure that you have noticed how quickly
Christmas merchandise appears in the stores
once we pass the Labor Day weekend. Well, here
at IMF we are getting a running start on our annual Christmas Stocking project for missionary
children. One dear soul has already sent in a contribution for this year’s Stocking Fund!
You must surely be aware of how important
Christmas is to children. That is no less true of
our missionary kids. Having been transported to
various parts of the world doesn’t really change
their expectations. The reality is that most of our
missionaries are doing their best to live on very
tight budgets which may restrict what they can
do. So we are appealing to our churches and indi-
Another MK wrote: “Thanks
for the money! I’m probably going to use
it to buy clothes for this winter. There’s
a lot of snow here, so I need some more
warm clothes.”
A parent writes: “Owing to the
help of IMF, we can put under our tree not
only toys or sweets, but things which are
necessary for children. We have bought
footwear, warm clothes, school supplies.
All the children are very happy and thank
God that Christmas was generous and
joyful.”
One of our families felt their boys had been
missing out on Christmas, so they decided to
“splurge” and order scooters from the States. They
said it was worth it just to see the boy’s faces when
they opened them. Then they added: “We had
forgotten about the Christmas gift from IMF, so it
was a nice surprise when we were told and even better
when the check was exactly the amount we spent on
the scooters! God is good!”
I hope that from this sampling of responses
you can sense what the Christmas Stocking Fund
means to our missionary kids. It’s such a beautiful
opportunity to make a difference for the children
who are far from home and friends because mom
and dad were obedient to God’s call. So, while
you will be thinking about the gifts that you want
to buy for family and friends, please don’t forget
these little troopers who are standing strong with
mom and dad in bringing Christ to a lost world.
Pastor Paul Sundell is a graduate of North Central University and Alliance Francis in Brussels, Belgium. He has
pastored in churches in Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota. He served on the faculty of Continental Theological
School in Brussels, Belgium and North Central University
in Minneapolis. Paul and his wife served as missionaries
in Belgium and have taught at Bible schools in Western
and Eastern Europe, Togo and South Africa in Africa, and
in Mexico. They currently teach at schools in the former
Soviet Union countries. Paul interviews missions candidates, evaluates training programs, services members’
quarterly reports, and keeps in touch with our missionaries
on a regular basis.
IMF Military
Chaplain
Policy
IMF is very proud and honored to serve our country
through the endorsement of our military chaplains. IMF is
an ecclesiastical endorsing agency recognized by the Pentagon
and many accredited hospital/hospice and prison facilities.
We are also an Associate Member of the National Association of Evangelical Chaplains Commission (representing over
800 military chaplains), the National Conference on Ministry
to the Armed Forces (NCMAF), and the Endorsers Conference
for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy (ECVAC).
It is a Standing Policy of IMF that our military chaplains
honor The Covenant and Code of Ethics for Chaplains of the
Armed Forces (Jan. 1995) and obey the law of our land and the
countries in which they serve.
For more information on military or civilian chaplains,
contact Rev. Ron Brovold at 763-571-5967 or email him at
[email protected].
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 13
Engaging The
Evangelical Atheists
Rev. Reuben David
IMF Member
I was recently at a debate at the University of Minnesota where two interesting speakers took on the subject of “Can we be
good without God”. Ever since 9/11, the subject of religion and God has come under intense public scrutiny. This debate was
one such scrutiny. Dan Barker, a former evangelical pastor turned atheist apologist, argued that there is no scientific evidence
for God and that God is not necessary for human morality. In his latest book, Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of
America’s Leading Atheists, he shares his story of conversion to atheism and how we could live without God. Countering Barker’s
points was Dinesh D’souza, author of What’s So Great about Christianity. D’Souza reminded the audience of 1,500+ students that
modern day science is based on three faith-based propositions: the universe is rational, the universe is not only rational but also
lawful, and the rationality of the universe mirrors the rationality within our own minds.
Barker, who is also the co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), tried his best to persuade the audience
to consider the bankruptcy of religion and God. There was the preacher in him coming out when he held the Bible and read a
few verses pointing out the absurdities, inconsistencies and violence. Now, this is fascinating. Not many atheists of old were
enthusiastic, let alone passionate, in spreading a passion for atheism. But today’s atheists—fierce, passionate and driven by missionary zeal—are proclaiming a new way of living: A life without God. A society without religion. A world without faith. But
is this possible?
While everybody is entitled to opinion, not everyone is entitled to facts. Barker’s idea may be appealing to the Western
world where only a fraction of the world’s population resides. Believers in God around the world are plenty and the majority
of them live outside the West (although God is still popular in the West). For the millions of people who share this earth, no
amount of scientific evidence or reason is capable enough to shake the deeply entrenched and lively belief in God that marks
their everyday life.
One of the key arguments the new evangelical atheists—men like Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins,
Michael Shermer, Sam Harris and others—have been raising is that religion is dangerous and poisonous to society. They are
echoing the utopian world that John Lennon sang about in “Imagine”. This is a complete misunderstanding of religions across
the world. Except for a small number of religious fanatics, the rest of the religious people in the world are to a greater degree
living in relative calm. The technological sophistications of the 21st digital century have not dampened religious revivals across
the world. Religion is growing like wildfire today as never before. Religion thrives in underground churches of China, particularly Christianity as former Time journalist David Aikman recounts in his book, Jesus in Beijing. Aikman predicts, “Within the
next 30 years, one-third of China’s population could be Christian, making China one of the largest Christian nations in the
world. These Christians could also be China’s leaders, guiding the largest economy in the world.” In Nigeria, both Islam and
Christianity are growing rapidly. India has never witnessed a decline in religion, and it’s doubtful it ever will because religion
and God are part and parcel of Indian life.
This does not mean people outside the West are intellectually lacking or simply indulgent in blind faith. Or at worst delusional, as Oxford biologist and prominent atheist Richard Dawkins notes in his best-selling book, The God Delusion. But rather,
believers in God worldwide have integrated God seamlessly into their lives without caving into atheism even though life is not
fair, questions abound aplenty and God never seems to grant His appearance at every whim and fancy. The reason is simple:
Every human being breathes air to live and yet nobody gets to see it. It is invisible. Yet, they believe the air exists. We might
say, well, we can feel the air. But many feel God even though they don’t see Him.
Belief in God or theism enjoys the world’s highest converts. Billions believe in God without anybody convincing them of
God’s existence. Why is this so strange and yet so real and prevalent? The subject of God, contrary to what the atheists have
come to believe, is refreshingly alive in the minds of millions.
The church in America has a new challenge: to take it’s congregations into the deeper realities of Christ. It is sad that many
churches look like graveyards with merely a Sunday attendance and no depth to the preaching. Many churches look like fivestar hotels, but what the spiritual food served is lacking is nourishment of the word of God.
The Western church today is faced with a new task to respond to these militant atheists, most of who have come out of cultural Christian background. The church has to come out of its complacency and take the message of Christianity seriously. The
church needs to redefine the missions of pastors and lay leaders and include training in Christian apologetics and worldviews.
We need to stand up boldly and unashamedly for the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the only hope for mankind.
A former visiting scholar with The Wilberforce Forum (the Christian worldview think tank founded by Charles Colson), IMF minister Rev. Reuben
David has spoken in India and America. He has addressed media and religious groups, including a remarkable session entitled, “Understanding
Islam: Challenges to Democracy and Diversity,” organized by the Association of Muslim Social Scientists in Washington, DC. He also has written
on world religions. Born and raised in India—home to Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism—Reuben is well versed in the practical realities of comparative religions today. He is currently a professor of journalism at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. If you are interested in inviting
Prof. Reuben to speak at your church or other events check his website: www.reubendavid.com.
Highlighting Members Ministries
Embracing Change With Faith
We all desire change of some sort. The fact is,
most of us do not handle change very well. We
worry, we stress, and doubt we are in the hand of
God when going through the change we asked for.
The problem is many of us learn to be comfortable with circumstances, good or bad, and find
embracing change a frightening journey to an
unknown destination. Sharon Thomas, of Maple
Grove, MN, a licensed minister with IMF, Executive Director of Glorybound Ministries, Bible
teacher, family counselor, and community social
servant, agreed.
“My husband was addicted to heroine for 22
years, along with alcohol, and crack cocaine. John
was in and out of rehab all the time. He wanted to
change, but, when you’re stuck in the same place,
with the same people who brought you down in
the first place, lasting change can be nearly impossible.”
They heard of a four-month restabilization program through MN Teen Challenge, and moved
from New Jersey to Minnesota. John entered the
program; left home with two children, Sharon
stewed.
Most people don’t think about the family left
behind while a person seeks rehabilitation. Bills
mount, children need to be fed, and lives need
tending. But there’s little or no help.
“A husband goes in for treatment, and the wife
wants her husband to get better, but has three
kids. What does she
do? This is where
the struggle at
home begins,”
said Terry Francis, Men’s Program Director,
MN Teen Challenge.
“Glorybound comes in
and fills the gap,
[restoring] the gap of
children and spouses,
often forgotten.”
Late Rev. John Thomas
“You are happy they are getting help, but…
you’re kind of mad too,” Sharon admitted. “I was
bitter, not ready to receive the ‘new man’ John had
become. All I wanted was my old husband back,
minus the drugs. But he changed.”
When John returned home, he announced:
“We aren’t going to go back to the way we used to
live.” They decided to go into ministry.
What type of ministry could a recent addict
and a wife needing an attitude adjustment have?
Quite an impactful one, actually. See, they had
first-hand knowledge of a hole in our society, the
struggling family left behind.
“Left behind is how you feel,” Sharon said. “I
wasn’t getting any new knowledge. I wasn’t getting encouragement. I wasn’t getting my three
squares a day. John had it all in rehab. Me and
the kids, well, we had whatever we could make
muster.”
John and Sharon didn’t know how to go into
ministry—only that they must. “Frank Masserano
was such a godsend to us. He helped us establish
the ministry and become a 501c3 corporation. He
taught us about board development, and licensed
John to minister.”
“I did a lot of soul-searching in those days, and
learned to rely on God.” John and Sharon were
perfectly positioned to minister to a particular
portion of society based on their personal experiences.
“We could give people somebody to talk to.
We’d walked in their shoes and survived. We
could help them, and show them how to help others, creating, if you will, a ripple effect ministry.”
“When you help hurting families get a leg up,
with needed food or financial counseling, they are
more open to listening when you talk about God,”
said Sharon. Glorybound established a food pantry and accepts donations of furniture, cars, and
appliances, anything a family might need when
one of the breadwinners is away in treatment.
Ministering to close to 600 families in the Twin
Cities Metro area, Glorybound accepts referrals
from Teen Challenge, Metro Hope Families, and
other facilities. They minister through accountability groups, Bible studies, marriage classes, and
Friday night meals. There are children’s classes
and events, even a summer day camp. “Think
about it,” Sharon said, “Dad’s in treatment, mom’s
working, what happens to the kids?”
Partnering with treatment centers, churches,
and local businesses such as Kemp’s Dairy, Woullet’s Bakery, and Crown Financial, they are able to
stock a food pantry, and give out bus vouchers and
gas cards, in addition to relationship classes, marriage counseling, and Bible studies; meeting both
immediate and long-term needs.
“Abuse wreaked havoc on our family,” said
Craig Schuchard. His wife, Ginny, said, “My
friends told me to leave him, there’s no sense in
staying with him. It was hard for me to find the
spiritual support I needed.”
Left with a mess to deal with when her husband
entered treatment, Ginny had bills she couldn’t
pay, needs she couldn’t meet. Feelings of resentment and guilt shadowed her days.
Glorybound helped restore their marriage, like
that of many others, by providing a spiritual atmosphere, a place where they could be together
as a family outside of the treatment center and be
strengthened by the Word of God and relationship-building classes. “Glorybound helped me be
able to accept a changed man, a spiritual man, to
come back into my home. I learned to let go of
resentment,” said Ginny. “To press on, together.”
Though John passed away three years ago, the
restoration ministry of Glorybound continues
through Sharon and a slew of volunteers.
Change. Through the years of ministry, Sharon
has lost her daughter, her husband, her house, her
credit, and more. But, as she says, “If God anoints
you to do something, you’ve got to trust Him to
get things done. I live in a nice apartment, drive a
decent car and my son’s in college. If you take care
of God’s business, He will take care of yours.”
Perhaps embracing change is merely a matter of
perspective and faith.
For more information on Glorybound Ministries or to learn
ways you can help, please visit www.gloryboundministries.org.
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 15
Tax Report
New CreDits/Special Tax BReak
Elizabeth A. Tinics, E.A.
First-Time Homebuyer Credit
First-time homebuyers may be able to take advantage of a tax credit for homes
purchased in 2008 or 2009. A taxpayer is considered a first-time homebuyer if
such individual had no ownership interest in a principal residence in the United
States prior to the purchase of the home to which the credit applied.
The Credit:
Applies to purchases that close after April 8, 2008, and before December 1, 2009.
Applies only to homes used as a taxpayer’s principal residence.
Reduces a taxpayer’s tax bill or increases his or her refund,
dollar for dollar.
Is fully refundable, meaning the credit will be paid out to
eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or the credit is
more than the tax owed.
For 2008 Home Purchases:
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008
established a tax credit for first-time homebuyers that
can be worth up to $7,500. For homes purchased in 2008,
the credit is similar to a no-interest loan and must be repaid in
15 equal, annual installments beginning with the 2010 income tax
year.
For 2009 Home Purchases:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded the first-time homebuyer credit by increasing the
credit amount to $8,000 for purchases made in 2009 before December 1 (note: this is not a full year).
For home purchases in 2009, the credit does
not have to be paid back unless the home ceases
to be the taxpayer’s main residence within a
three-year period following the purchase.
First-time homebuyers who purchase a home
in 2009 can claim the credit on either a 2008 or
2009 tax return. Taxpayers who have already filed their 2008
tax returns can consider filing an amended return. This will allow them to receive the money this year instead of waiting for a refund on the 2009 return.
For some taxpayers, it may make more tax sense to wait and claim the homebuyer credit on the 2009 return rather than the 2008 return. Since the credit
phases out, a drop in adjusted gross income from 2008 to 2009 may qualify the
client for a bigger credit.
The adjusted gross income phase out for both years is $75,000 to $90,000 for
single filers and $150,000 to $170,000 for married filers.
Making Work Pay Credit
The 2009 legislation provides eligible individuals a refundable tax credit for
two years (2009 and 2010). Most U.S. taxpayers are “eligible individuals.” The
credit is the lesser of 6.2% of an individual’s earned income or $400 per person
($800 in the case of a joint return). The credit is phased out between $75,000
and $95,000 ($150,000 to $190,000 married) of adjusted gross income.
The legislation provided for a more accelerated delivery of the credit in 2009
through revised income tax withholding schedules. These revised schedules are
designed to reduce taxpayers’ income tax withheld for the remainder of 2009.
You pay less withholding now and, in theory, the credit on the tax return will offset that lesser amount. However, it is prudent to make
certain that the new withholding tables are adequate for each
person’s circumstances.
The 2009 legislation also provides for a $250 credit
to be paid to Social Security Recipients, Veterans and
Railroad Retirees. This “Economic Recovery Payment”
was paid in May to most of the eligible recipients. The
“Making Work Pay Credit” of $400 will be reduced
by the amount of the Economic Recovery Payment.
Therefore individuals who are working and also receiving social security benefits will only be eligible
for $150 credit on their 2009 tax return.
When the new withholding tables were released,
they were not only used by employers, but also pension
administrators. The IRS has since produced different
tables for pension recipients. But it would be a good
idea to review withholding amounts soon, so they can
be adjusted if necessary.
Special Tax Break for
New Car Purchases
The IRS has announced that taxpayers who buy a new passenger vehicle in 2009 may be entitled to deduct state and local
sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase on their 2009 tax
returns.
Although this break applies only to the tax on
the first $49,500 of the cost of the vehicle purchased after February 16, 2009 and before January
1, 2010, the IRS will apply this cap to each individual car purchased. So if you buy two new
cars for $30,000 apiece, the sales tax paid on both
vehicles will qualify for the break.
In many instances sales tax on vehicles has been deductible in past years.
But the rules for 2009 are different and more lenient. If you do not itemize, you
add the sales tax on the vehicle to your standard deduction. If you itemize and
deduct state income taxes, you get to deduct the sales tax paid on a qualifying
vehicle in addition to your other itemizations. But if you itemize and elect to
deduct sales taxes in lieu of income taxes, you do not get any extra tax break,
since you would already be claiming the vehicle’s sales tax. This break starts
phasing out for married couples with an adjusted gross income over $250,000
and single filers with an adjusted gross income over $125,000.
Liz Tinics is an enrolled agent authorized to represent clients before the IRS. She is available
on a fee basis (with discounts to IMF members) for accounting services. Liz will answer
short, direct questions for IMF members without charge. However, extended discussion on
tax matters will have to be negotiated on a discount fee basis. Liz may be reached at 800748-6415.
highlighting MemBers Ministries
Reaching the World with
the Gospel and Bicycles
IMF minister Suzanne Pillans’ home base is Standlake Ranch, a riding
school and Christian retreat center outside of a quaint English village. But
she spends much of her time ministering abroad.
In 2005 God gave him a vision of an Indian
man heading out to evangelize on his bike,
but with no books, just his bible.
Some years ago, while she was praying, Suzanne found herself in a white
mist. “I saw nothing, and heard nothing,” she says, “but what I felt changed
my life forever. I felt one tiny drop—of the great love of the Father, mixed
with sorrow for all the people who don’t know Him.” Suzanne burst into
tears and said: “I’m so sorry, Father. But what can I do? I’ve spent 40 years
teaching children to ride ponies!” Yet, she realized that she had hands and
feet and a voice. So she committed herself to go wherever God would send
her.
God told Warren to translate six of Derek
Prince’s books into Indian languages. Warren obeyed but had no idea how to distribute
Rev. Suzanne Pillans,
them. The Lord said, “The person who is to
IMF Missionary
distribute them will walk through your door.”
Suzanne was that person. Warren mailed 1,500
manuals to the Step Out in Faith office in India, and they were distributed to
graduating evangelists in April. They are going to provide a further 9,000
books this year.
Indeed, God sent her far and wide, and gave her the gifts of preaching and
of healing. Her Gospel crusades have recently drawn up to 160,000 people
and resulted in 100,000 converts.
Once while in Uganda, Suzanne heard God telling her he wanted her to
reach every village. She said: “That’s impossible, Lord. Even if I lived several
lifetimes, I could never get to all the tiny villages. How can it be done?” God
said she would know the answer that week. Later that week, she was introduced to a group of local evangelists eager to spread the gospel to their neighbors. But again, distance was the barrier. Then the thought of bicycles came
to her. With a bicycle, an evangelist could travel the 30 or 40 miles between
villages where there were no roads. So Suzanne went back to her horse ranch
with the goal of raising money for bicycles.
Standlake Ranch ran horse shows and raised money to buy 22 bicycles at
$50 each. With those bicycles, African evangelists planted 54 churches in
2005. The next year, they raised money for 100 bicycles and 184 churches
were planted.
Meanwhile, it became clear the evangelists were in need of biblical training. Suzanne contacted every Bible school she could find, trying to get free
access for these village church planters. No doors opened. Then one day
when she was in the Philippines, a bishop called her aside and said: “Thirty
years ago, the Lord told me to start a Bible school. Today he told me to give it
to you.” Suzanne was taken aback, but when she consulted the Lord, he said,
“All is prepared and ready.” So Suzanne agreed to take charge of the school.
She called it Step Out in Faith Bible School. Many branches of the school have
been opened in more and more places. Currently there are 81 schools serving 17 countries in Africa, India, Pakistan, Burma, and the Philippines. Last
year, 3,000 evangelists graduated and this year 9,266 evangelists are studying.
11,000 churches have been planted to date.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Suzanne’s husband, Wilfred, and a circle of
trusted co-workers, run the retreat center and riding school. Horses are a central feature of this ministry in a number of ways. It was through her favorite
horse, Jacky Boy, that young Suzanne became a Christian. God miraculously
healed the horse, revealing His love and power. Also, it was through her work
with horses that Suzanne realized the beauty of obedience. She saw that
horses could reach their highest potential by obeying their master in happy
surrender. In the same way, humans can only become who we were meant to
be through joyful surrender and obedience to God.
Obedience is a lesson Suzanne learned early. God gave her a rare gift once
by allowing her to witness the consequences of not obeying instantly. God
told Suzanne to give some money to a group of people. She hesitated, but a
week later obeyed. Amazingly, Suzanne happened to overhear a conversation
in which she learned that during that week while she wavered, that group of
people had hardly anything to eat. When she learned how her delayed obedience had caused people to suffer, she determined never to hesitate again.
Obeying God instantly and wholeheartedly is the principle that guides her
life.
Suzanne’s first book, Dare to Follow: God’s Call to Follow Him in Obedience tells her
story. Suzanne has also written Dare to do Only the Father’s Will. These, along with
other resources and information about Suzanne’s ministry, are available at www.standlakeranch.co.uk.
Suzanne is looking for a fellow evangelist who would like to co-lead a crusade with her in
India this November. You can contact her at [email protected].
Graduates are equipped with Bibles, bicycles, and megaphones. When they
enter a village, they call out with the megaphone for people to bring the sick
villagers to be healed. God does the healing, opening the door for the Gospel
message, followed by an invitation to be saved. Christ’s living presence and
power are evident, so the response is usually enthusiastic—and a church is
planted. Over time, a mud church with a grass roof might be constructed.
The evangelist teaches everyone in the church the curriculum he learned in
Bible school. He then designates a local leader and moves on to plant a new
church. The pattern is as simple as the Great Commission itself.
As Suzanne continues to step out in faith, the Lord continues to open
doors. In February, while in New Zealand, she visited Derek Prince’s Ministries in the Asia/Pacific Region. Warren Smith, director of the ministry,
greeted her. As they talked, Suzanne shared her vision to reach every Indian village by providing bicycles for evangelists. Warren became excited.
Bike distribution to evangelists.
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 17
Look Unto Me -
The Devotions of Charles Spurgeon
Rev. James Reimann
IMF Member
“Sell all [the books] you have...and buy Spurgeon.” These are the words of the 20th-century German theologian Helmut Thielicke. Including Charles
Spurgeon’s 140 books and 25,000 sermons, he has 25 million words in print, more than any other Christian author, living or dead. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
wrote Morning by Morning (now expanded, indexed, and updated as Look Unto me) when he was only 31 years of age. By that time, however, he had been
faithfully expositing God’s Word 14 years, for he was called to preach at the age of 17. Ultimately, he would die at the age of 57, having spent 40 years as a
minister of the gospel.
Although Spurgeon never finished college or attended seminary, it would be a mistake to consider him uneducated. His library consisted of 12,000
books, and he typically read 6 books per week. He shares his lack of seminary training with Augustine, John Calvin, Dwight L. Moody, Arthur Pink,
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Billy Graham, and many other renowned preachers.
This is not intended, however, to cast aspersions on formal theological training, for Spurgeon surely supported it—as long as it was biblically sound. Nevertheless, the church should remain open to Spurgeon’s brand of training, or we may miss the next preacher with exceptional insight into God’s Word.
Look
unto me,
and be ye
saved
(Isaiah 45:22 KJV)
(the verse Charles Spurgeon heard
preached at the age of 15 showing
him the way of salvation)
Spurgeon, in fact, spent much of his life training new candidates for the pastorate through The Pastor’s College, which
he founded early in his career. He once described the professors of the college in these words: “The Lord has sent us tutors who are lovers of sound doctrine and zealous for the truth. Heresy in colleges means false doctrine throughout the
churches, for to defile the fountain is to pollute the streams.”
Why Update and Expand Spurgeon?
Updating the work of Charles Spurgeon is a humbling experience. Yet my purpose
in updating his language is the same as my purpose in previously updating My Utmost
for His Highest (Oswald Chambers) and Streams in the Desert (Lettie Cowman)—to make
these great works from the 19th and early 20th centuries more easily accessible to today’s
readers.
In Look Unto Me (formerly published as Morning by Morning), however, I also have
added my own comments to supplement Spurgeon’s thoughts. One purpose is to
shed further light on the Scriptures based on my own life-long study. The Lord
called me to teach His Word 26 years ago and 10 years ago led me into a Bibleteaching ministry offering pilgrimages to Israel. Since then I have been privileged to travel there 21 times, studying and teaching. Many of my comments
have come from insights gleaned in what I consider to be the world’s greatest
seminary—Israel!
Yet my primary purpose is to get people into the Word of God itself, not simply another devotional
book, for the true power lies in His Word! You will soon discover that most of my comments consist of sharing additional
verses of Scripture to consider, or giving the reader the context of Spurgeon’s Scripture text for greater understanding.
Spurgeon’s Enduring Legacy
Spurgeon once described his approach to preaching with these words: “I take my text and make a beeline to the cross”—making his message timeless!
A personal friend of his once wrote:
The work done by C.H. Spurgeon cannot die, for I once heard him say, “I beseech you to live not only for this age, but also for the next. I would
fling my shadow through the eternal ages if I could.” He has done it. His work is as imperishable as the truth of God.
Spurgeon has been called the greatest preacher since the apostle Paul and has come to be known as “the prince of preachers”. My prayer is that you, the
reader, will gain insight into God’s Word through Spurgeon’s work, expanded, indexed, and updated in Look Unto Me, and that new generations of readers
will discover the timeless truths brought together by Spurgeon—God’s uncompromising servant.
Like Abel, Charles Spurgeon “offered God a better sacrifice,” and although he passed into glory 117 years ago, “by faith he still speaks, even though he
is dead.” (Heb. 11:4 NIV)
Rev. Jim Reimann, is an ordained minister of IMF. He lives with his wife Pam in Atlanta, GA. They have 3 married children and 6 granddaughters. He has more than 5 million
books in print, including the updated editions of Streams in the Desert and My Utmost for His Highest. He is the former Chief Operating Officer of Family Christian Stores and past
Chairman of the Christian Booksellers Association. As an expert on Israel, he hosts teaching tours to Israel and other Bible lands, which he offers through www.JimReimann.com.
For devotional samples from Look Unto Me visit www.LookUntoMe.com. Jim can be reached at [email protected].
Highlighting Members Ministries
Consider Carefully
How you Listen Luke 8:18
In Leopoldov, a centuries-old fortress-turned-prison in Slovakia,
American Scott Boeser visited a man incarcerated for murder. The man,
angry and alone, asked Scott to be his pen pal. Scott too, has lived
alone—for four years in Bratislava, teaching Slovakian students and
business people conversational English. He agreed to correspond with
the convict and at the beginning, living alone was their commonality.
Good conversations often begin with someone being a great listener.
And conversation, whether in person or on lined paper, is something in
which Scott excels. But it wasn’t always that way.
Growing up, Scott sometimes listened to those who didn’t have his
best interests at heart. In Prior Lake, Minnesota, Scott was homecoming king, active in sports and partying, the latter of which caused him
not to receive a high school diploma. “I was an out-of-control teenager,” he said.
A friend asked him to a Campus Crusade for Christ event. He went,
ready to party and escape concerned eyes at home. “The first few
days I didn’t attend anything. I just wanted to party and do my own
thing,” Scott said. “But thankfully, my small group leader was a patient guy. My conversion was a thunderbolt for me, because I had
some serious addictions at that time. But God just acted in my life in
a powerful way.”
Learning how to be a student
Knowing he needed to make a change in his life, Denver relatives
offered Scott, in 1983, a place to live for six months. He stayed eight
years. His surrogate family convinced him to get his GED and then he
began college, taking remedial classes the first semester. “I had to learn
how to be a student,” he said. He graduated in four years, making it on
the Dean’s list. “That was huge for me. I knew that I wasn’t a dummy;
I just didn’t apply myself in high school,” he said.
At church he led the junior high ministry. He interned at a Level 5
facility for emotionally-disturbed kids. While volunteering, Scott began to think about being a counselor. He returned to Minnesota and
finished his Master’s in social work in 1996. He worked at a psychiatric hospital and with men in trouble because of domestic violence.
“Most of them came in kicking and screaming and left not wanting
to leave,” he said. He worked in six prisons, one in which he had an
office. “It’s where you want to be if you’re a social worker, a Christian
and want to change people’s lives,” he said. “Ninety percent of these
guys have father wounds—neglectful, abusive wounds—and need healing.” Eventually he formed his own counseling practice and volunteered with Young Life where he shared his own high school travails
for seven years.
Teaching sports, teaching English
In 2005, a hockey friend introduced him to Tom Johnson, a former Twins player who conducts sports camps for Slovakian youth.
Tom offered Scott a free ticket to help with the summer camp. Scott
committed to a two-year stay. “I knew that before I set foot in Slovakia that God would use me in many different ways beyond baseball,
because there’s such a huge need for psychologists and psychiatrists
here,” Scott said.
Rev. Scott Boeser
IMF Missionary
Today, Scott’s ministry still includes sports camps, but also includes visiting prisons and teaching English to business professionals.
At first he was reluctant to simply teach English. “I thought it would
take away from my ministry, but God knew this was what was needed
here,” he said. “People come to me and say, ‘I just want to learn casual conversation,’ and before long, they begin to trust me. It’s just
a huge open door to introduce the wisdom of the Bible. It’s fantastic
that God orchestrated it this way. People just pour out their lives to
me,” he said.
Even the criminal in Leopoldov is beginning to have his guilt and
shame lessen. “He has a Bible now and is starting to believe that God is
not going to condemn him,” he said.
An inch wide, a mile deep
While teaching conversational
English,
Scott has learned something about Slovakian
culture too. He has
learned that Slovaks, in
general, are introverted,
and that faith is a sensitive matter. “They are
very intellectual in their
approach, even more
philosophical in their
ideas,” Scott said. “As
Americans, we’re emotional about our ideas
of faith. But sometimes
(Proverbs 20:5)
I think our faith is a
mile wide and an inch
deep. Here it’s the opposite. Their faith is an
inch wide and a mile deep. Here the pastors let you wrestle with your
faith and ask questions so that you have to press into God and search
the Scriptures to find the answers.” He has a Slovakian mentor who is
the patriarch of his church. “He told me it would take me two years to
acclimate to the culture and build my ministry,” Scott said. “He’s right.
I realize you have to make a long-term investment if you want to do
something significant.”
“and the purposes of a man’s
heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding
draws them out.”
Part of that acculturation has included learning to be alone with
God. “I didn’t have a clue about what it means to be in His presence.
It’s so hard to learn that, especially in American culture with computers, TV and cell phones,” he said. “It’s like you’re swimming in a lake
and staying dry at the same time,” Scott said. “When you live in your
comfort zone it’s good, but in another way it insulates you in that it
prevents God from really revealing Himself in a fuller way. I want to be
sold out to Christ. I feel like I have a long way to go, but I want to press
into God, press into the quiet.”
If you wish to write Scott a word of encouragement or inquire about his
ministry, he can be reached at [email protected].
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 19
Managing Your Money
Play your CArds Right:
Debit vs. Credit
The way that Americans pay is changing. Debit cards, which take funds
directly from checking accounts, have overtaken credit cards as the most
popular way to pay with plastic.* Why do we like debit cards? They’re as
convenient as credit cards and don’t have credit card finance charges.
Also, debit cards are a useful tool when trying to control spending.
They are not a financial panacea, however. Here are some
important facts to keep in mind:
About $8.75 billion in overdraft fees are triggered by debit cards annually. Since 2003, many banks have allowed
purchases and ATM withdrawals, even when the transactions will cause accounts to be overdrawn. The practice has
a steep price for consumers. A $3.50 cup of coffee costs $30
or more when a non-sufficient fund (NSF) fee is included in
the cost.
Some transactions may drain your account unexpectedly. When a debit card is used to rent a car, pay for a hotel
room or fill a car with gas, the retailer “blocks” an amount
to ensure all charges will be paid. For instance, filling the
tank of your car may cost $30, but the station may temporarily debit $100 from your account because they don’t
know how much gas your car holds. The block may not be
released until that evening or, sometimes, a few days later. If you have a large
account balance, blocking may not have any effect but, if your balance is low, it may cause an overdraft and
trigger NSF fees.
Debit cards may not offer the same fraud protection as credit cards. If someone steals your credit card or card number, you are responsible for $50 in unauthorized purchases, under federal law. If you let the issuer know your card has been lost or stolen before purchases are made, you may not owe anything. Your
liability for unauthorized use of your debit card is different. It depends on how quickly you report loss or theft. Generally, if missing cards are reported within
two business days, liability is $50. If reported within 60 days of the date a bank statement showing the transaction is mailed, liability is $500. After that, liability may be unlimited. There are additional nuances to these rules, which can be reviewed at the Federal Trade Commission website (www.ftc.gov).
Pros and Cons
of Debit Cards
Pros
• Easier to acquire than a credit card
• Accepted when checks may not be
• No interest charges
• Safer than carrying cash
Cons
• Greater liability for fraud than credit card
• Less leverage in merchant disputes
• Non-sufficient fund fees can add up
• May have service fees
Signing instead of using a PIN may have unexpected consequences. When you swipe a debit
card, you may be asked: credit or debit? No matter which option you choose, your account will
be debited. However, the transaction cost for the
retailer is quite different. When you choose debit,
and use a PIN, the transaction costs the retailer
about 20 cents per $100 spent. When you choose
credit, the retailer pays about $1.40 per $100
spent. It’s the reason some banks offer rewards
programs for credit transactions made with a debit
card. One consequence is that retailers may increase prices on goods you buy every day to remain profitable.
As debit cards gain popularity, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of debit transactions, as well as the
specific rules that guide them, so you can make
informed payment decisions.
To address some of the issues presented
above, Envoy Financial created the Envoy Access Card, an exciting new money management
tool that is revolutionizing how ministries and
individuals alike manage their money! This
stand-alone money management tool helps
ministries reduce their administrative payroll
expense, works for anyone regardless of whether they have a bank account, and encourages
wise financial stewardship by guarding against
over-spending. Here are some of the amazing
features and tools of the Envoy Access Card:
• The card is free and has no monthly maintenance fee
• Funds are available at any ATM
• Can receive direct deposit for payroll and
other regularly occurring deposits without
needing any other bank account
• Works as a Visa debit card but doesn’t allow
overspending
• The Bill Pay feature lets you easily pay for regularly scheduled payments such as insurance
premiums, utilities, mortgage, etc.
* ConsumerReports.org: The Dark Secrets of
Debit, September 2007
For more information on the Envoy Access Card, visit
www.envoyfinancial.org/EnvoyAccessCard or contact Terrell Mayton at (888) 879-1376, ext. 206 or by email at
[email protected].
COME , MEET THE FAMILY . . .
Welcome to the Family -
IMF 1250 Plus Members
The IMF Board of Directors, officers, staff members and other IMF members welcome the following new members to the IMF family. Altogether these new members
bring with them numerous years of ministerial experience along with a wide variety of educational backgrounds and ministry fields.
Ordained
Simon Sung Yop Baik, South Korea
Scott Bernstein, Minnesota
Jennifer Combs, Georgia
Dennis Jenson, Minnesota
Kenneth R. Kerstetter, Florida
Jung Hoon Lee, Canada
Carlos Noel Marquez, Florida
Mark Rutland, Oklahoma
Michael Allen Smith, Wisconsin
James C. Walters, North Carolina
John Charles Westby, Minnesota
Licensed
Victoria Ann Boeseman, Florida
Stephen David Carlson, Minnesota
David Damian, Minnesota
Richard Hamilton, Louisiana
Rachel Heine, Minnesota
Stephen Robert Jonas, Wisconsin
Donald Kinn, California
Carl Foster Lindberg, Georgia
Special Ministry License
Doris Buck, Minnesota
Philip Devine, California
A.J. Henson, Jr., Alabama
Emmanuel S. Kulor, Virginia
Karen Lescher, California
Jessie Mejias, Virginia
Amy O’Connell, Hawaii
Christopher Pitts, Minnesota
Jason Steffenhagen, Tennessee
James Wiles, Minnesota
108 Missionaries throughout the world
Susan F. Abercrombie - USA-FL
Keith Acheson - Canada
William Adams - USA-NY
James Paul Ahle - Fiji Is. So. Pacific
Rebecca I. Albright - USA-NC
Gregory Allen - USA-TX
L. Naomi Ambridge - APO-Germany
Brian L. Anderson - Belarus
John Anthony - USA-TX
Abel Aureli - Italy
Arden Conrad Autry - Ireland
Lee W. Baas - Philippines
Edward R. Baccich - APO-TX
Fay E. Badgery - Australia
Simon Sung Yop Baik - S. Korea
Shirley Marie Bland - So. Africa, England,
USA-CO
Scott Boeser - Slovakia
Michael & Pamela Brands - USA-MN
Rebecca Brimmer - Israel
Ian Buckley - New Zealand
Michael A. Buckley - New Zealand
Adriano Carrera - USA-ID
Jang Hyun Choi - Canada
Sophocles Christodoulou - Cyprus
Stephanos Christodoulou - Cyprus
Steve Cochrane - India
Robert M. Coronato, Jr. - South Korea
William & Pauline Cowen - Canada
Stella B. Creaney - USA-VA
Basil de Klerk - Belize
Steven C. Mendoza - South Korea
John Iain Muir - Switzerland
Suzanne Joy Pillans - England
Brian L. Plescher - USA-TX
Daniel James Pubols - Japan
Daryl Gene Rahfeldt - Canada
Richard Todd Rainwater - USA-GA
R. Anthony Rhodes - Thailand
Jolean N. Rice - Sibiu Romania
Lee Anne Judith Risk - Mexico
K. Syamson Roberts - India
Theresa Roth - Canada
Raymond Sim - Singapore
Gerald Lee Skifstad - Poland
Edwin Smelser - USA-WA
James Solberg - USA-FL
Rob & Cheryl Stearns - USA-FL
Shaji Ram Stephen - India
William Strickland - USA-MN
Theresa Carol Taylor - USA-MN
Becky H. Tighe - Romania/Austria
Daniel J. Vance - USA-MN
Dawn Vance - USA-FL
Joseph Wehrer - USA-PA
Lyn Westman - Liberia
Douglas Mark Wood - USA-MN
Harold M. Young - Hungary
Anatoly Dmitruk - Lithuania
Robert Dunfee - India
Daniel A. Ellrick - Japan
Jose A. Espinosa - APO-TX
Stephen David Fletcher - Mexico
Rosemary Forsyth - Kyrgyzstan
Lois Fowler - USA-MN
Carey B. Freedman - Canada
Algie Gohagen - Jamaica, W Indies
G. Stephen Goode - Thailand
Arthur Donald Granger - USA-MN
M. Guna - Japan
Sibila Hanzen - Brazil
Cheryl Hauer - USA-MN
Jeffery M. Herringshaw - USA-MN
George Hooper Italy/US-TX
Patricia B. Jenson - USA-MN
Robert E. Johnson - USA-MN
Ross Johnston - Mexico
J. Ronald Keller - USA-MN
Sylvia Kierkegaard - Denmark
Grzegorz Kopczyk - Canada
Steven Kohagen - Switzerland
Ken W. Krahn - USA-MN
Randy Larson - USA-WI
Jae-Yong Lee - Canada
Jung Hoon Lee - Canada
Robert Lee - USA-CA
Phillip Mathebula Rep of South Africa
The International Ministerial Fellowship (IMF) Missions Department exists to help IMF ministers fulfill the Great Commission. We serve both as a sending agency
and a support agency for overseas missionaries and ministries. IMF Missions is distinct in that it serves independent ministers, while respecting their autonomy and
freedom. At the same time, we provide the accountability and support service that overseas workers need. IMF Missions is committed to presenting the ministries of its
overseas members to churches in the United States. We are also dedicated to helping our missionaries strengthen their spiritual and organizational resources. We desire
to increase the number of missionaries we serve in order that we may help increase the witness of Christ throughout the world.
If you would like to have more information on any of our missionaries or would like to help support them, please contact Barb Schahn, our Manager of Missions
Ministries, at 763-571-5967. Check out our web site at www.i-m-f.org. If you would like to support any of our missionaries just send a check made out to IMF (on a separate
piece of paper indicate who it is for) and we will see that it is appropriately processed.
Barbara Sue Wilson, Texas
Certified Christian
Worker
Living Memorials
Iris Smith, New Hampshire
Upgrade
from
Licensed
“. . . The righteous
shall be in everlasting
remembrance.”
to Ordained
Erik Hansen, California
Sharon Denise Lewis, Virginia
Jason Porter, Kansas
Macie Scott Shiver, Florida
NOTE:
See www.i-m-f.org for complete member listing.
®
The Christian
flag was flown at
half mast in
remembrance of:
Psalm 112:6
Below is a listing of those who have recently given
Living Memorials to IMF in memory or honor
of their friends and loved ones.
Given by: In Memory of:
Rev. Hugh & Doris Hunt
Roger & Yvonne Engstrom Rev. Iris Masserano
Rev. Frank & Carol Masserano
Raymond McCray
Raymond McCray
Raymond McCray
Raymond McCray
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 21
A view from Jerusalem
Living in "Bible Times"
In every
way,
Jerusalem
is a
thoroughly
modern
metropolis.
One of the most common statements uttered by Christians
as they explore the Land of Israel is “It would have been so wonderful to have been here during Bible times.” Their minds are
filled with first-century images of quaint villages in the Galilee,
the mighty Temple in Jerusalem, and eager crowds gathering to
listen as itinerant rabbis preach from hillsides—definitely “Bible
times” images. But those images are no more “biblical” than the
exciting and diverse sights and sounds that are everyday life in
this remarkable nation today.
Clearly, when the prophets spoke of a re-gathering of the Jewish people from the four corners of the earth, their eyes were not
fixed on first-century Israel. Isaiah highlighted the first return of
the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt when about 1.5 million people were relocated to the Promised Land over a 40-year
period, but he said: “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing…” (43:18–19a).
Jeremiah described the “new thing” as a second exodus that
would profoundly overshadow the first (16:14–16).
We have seen that prophecy partially fulfilled over the past 60
years when nearly five million Jewish people have come into the
Land from over 100 nations, speaking over 80 languages. And as
they have done so, they have brought countless other Scriptures
to life. They have rebuilt the waste places (Isaiah 61:4), caused
the desert to bloom (Isaiah 35:1), and filled the streets of Jerusalem with sounds of bustling commerce (Jeremiah 33:7, 11) and
children’s laughter (Zechariah 8:5). They have brought blessing
to all the nations of the earth as Israel has taken first place in
scientific, technological, and medical advancements that have
improved the quality of life for literally billions of people the
world over.
A Time that Mingles Ancient
with Contemporary
To the western eye, there is much in modern Israel that seems
untidy, disorderly, even chaotic. But even in this, God’s presence
is seen. His relationship with the Jewish people has always been
one of dynamic exchange, based on His miraculous leading and their obedient following—a
relationship that was never quiet, never languid, never dull, but whose hallmark was action.
The very nature of the Jewish people was forged within this paradigm, creating a culture today that is marked by vibrant family relationships and righteous action, with a focus on what
works rather than what might look good.
The Hebrew word olam means “eternity.” It appears about 440 times in the Bible and
has several connotations, from “remotest time” to “simple duration of time” to “continuity
Rev. Cheryl Hauer
IMF Member
and un-changeability”. However, when one walks about the city of Jerusalem, the “eternal”
capital of the nation of Israel, the very air speaks of the deepest meaning of olam: from the
most distant past time to the most distant future time, without beginning or end, ever-continuing. The streets teem
with taxis, buses, private cars, and scooters; the sidewalks are filled with pedestrians and bicyclists; helicopters and
airplanes buzz overhead; corner coffee shops are filled with students, shoppers, and busy executives on their way to
high-rise offices. In every way, Jerusalem is a thoroughly modern metropolis. And yet, somehow, the city remains
anchored in the most distant past. The sounds of contemporary life seem to mingle mysteriously with the echoes of
the ancient, a constant reminder that the City of God is somehow, incomprehensibly like Him…eternal.
Today, to walk the streets of Jerusalem is to become a part of images glimpsed by the prophets millennia ago.
Around every corner, voices of the past echo through the streets, reminding all who will listen of the faithfulness of
the God who, through unconditional and eternal covenant, promised this Land to the Jewish people. Everyday life is
seasoned with indescribable excitement as the palpable presence of that same God continues to fill the highways and
byways of the country.
A Time to Be Responsible
Many biblical scholars say that there has been more prophetic fulfillment in the past 60 years than in any other
period in human history, except, say Christian scholars, during the first century AD. What a blessing it is to be alive
today to see with our own eyes what the prophets could only imagine! Those prophets, by the way, would have us
know that in Jewish thought there is never a blessing received without an attendant responsibility.
So, as we are blessed to behold this amazing panorama that is modern Israel, as we watch the ongoing fulfillment
of biblical prophecy, as we witness God’s final preparations for the redemption of all the earth, we must be mindful
of our responsibilities: to pray for the peace of Jerusalem; to champion and support the nation of Israel; to love and
comfort the Jewish people; to cleave to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and to be outspoken messengers to those
around us, proclaiming that these exciting days in which we live are, most assuredly, Bible times.
For more information on Bridges for Peace go to http://www.bridgesforpeace.com.
After serving seven years as the Bridges for Peace Deputy National Director in the United States, Rev. Cheryl Hauer currently serves as
the BFP International Development Director (IDD). In that capacity, Rev. Hauer is responsible to guide the development of BFP in new
geographical areas and oversee National Offices in several countries as well as our International Representative Network. As IDD, she
serves as Deputy to CEO Rebecca Brimmer and works closely with her to develop new materials and educational resources for the worldwide network. Cheryl is a published author and speaker who teaches on a variety of Israel-related subjects as well as the Hebraic roots
of Christianity. She also has extensive experience in Jewish Christian relations and teaches on the Holocaust and related topics. Cheryl
is an ordained minister with International Ministerial Fellowship and holds a doctorate in religious philosophy. She resides in Jerusalem
with her husband, Steven, who also serves at Bridges for Peace as International Business Manager.
F A L L 2 0 0 9 | 23
NON- PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
PERMIT #1617
Address Service Requested
To correct your name or address on our lists, place in envelope and mail to:
IMF
P.O. Box 32366
Minneapolis, MN 55432
Please allow six weeks for records to be corrected.
INSIDE
Notes from the General Secretary
The Changing Seasons
Wisdom, Power and Mystery
Governor of Yucatan Visits Bridge of Love Home Property
A Heart for Evangelism
Taming the Tongue
Christmas in September - How Can That Be?
Touring the Holy Land
Networking
Experiencing God Together in Worship
Your IMF Area Pastor Representatives
Know Your IMF Staff
Project Christmas Stocking
IMF Military Chaplain Policy
Engaging the Evangelical Atheists
Embracing Change with Faith
New Credits/Special Tax Break
Reaching the World with the Gospel and Bicycles
Look Unto Me - The Devotions of Charles Spurgeon
Consider Carefully How You Listen
Play Your Cards Right: Debit vs. Credit
Welcome to the Family/Missionaries/Living Memorials
Living in "Bible Times"
DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chet Masserano
Chairman of the Board
Plymouth, MN
Rev. Fred Kelly
President
Norcross, GA
Robert Rampi, CPA
Secretary
Brooklyn Center, MN
Fred Stelter
Treasurer
Minneapolis, MN
Rev. Benton M. Tippett, Jr.
Chairman, Board of Elders
East Palatka, FL
Founder & General Secretary
Fridley, MN
Rev. David A. Clark
Buffalo, MN
Sandra Hiller
St. Paul, MN
Rev. Londa Lundstrom Ramsey
Lakeville, MN
Rev. Charles (Chasz) Parker, Jr.
Syracuse, NY

2009_v4_fall - International Ministerial Fellowship

Transcription

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