the next wave november 2012
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The Voice of Apostolic Reformation Volume 80 Issue 11 NOVEMBER 2012
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http://www.icof.net
THE NEXT WAVE
www.icof.net
PUBLISHER
International Circle of Faith (ICOF)
The Next Wave - Contributing Editors
David Tait, Lee Bates, Bernie Wade,
Dallas Carter, Robert Straube, Barney
Philips, John Rogers, Sanford Wade,
Doc Burkhart
Advertizing Inquiries
For more information about advertising
email administration@icof.net or call
502.410.4263
Editorial Submissions
We welcome submissions and editorials
but assume no responsibility for the
return of unsolicited submissions. Please
send photos, articles, and documents to
P.O. Box 72, Sulphur, KY 40070 Electronic
submissions to: nextwave@icof.net
THE NEXT WAVE MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 72 Sulphur, KY 40070
502.410.4263
Annual Subscription: $36 US.
THE GOSPEL OF
JESUS CHRIST
Dr. Bernie Wade
A Culture
Addicted to Self
Order in the House -by Lea Patt Bates
RELIGITICS
Jesus Looks
Beyond Politics
Lee Grady
Reformation or
Remodeling
Dr. Robert Straube
Where Do We Go
from Here?
Bishop Sanford
Wade
EVENTS
EVENTS
Billy Graham's
Letter
THE MAKING OF a TRUE
LEADER
-by T. Austin Sparks
ICOF MISSIONS
Dr. Barney Phillips
ICOF GLOBAL RECAP
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The Gospel of Jesus Christ
and ICOF Global
2012 ICOF STATE OF THE UNION
By Bernie L. Wade, Thd.
Praise Jesus! I want to first give honor
to the Head of the
Church, Jesus Christ,
the only name given
under heaven whereby
men must be saved.
To Jesus we give
honor, praise and glory
for the things He has
done. As we look
toward the year 2013
(and beyond) is my
great honor once again
to address you from
the office of the
President of
International Circle of
Faith (ICOF).
The lyrics of a popular Christian song by Scott Wesley lament the thought process in a fictitious prayer of many who are 'asleep in Zion' or in the modern vernacular people quite comfortable in the Western World. To these at ease people the song writer ascribed this thought,
"Lord, Please don't send me to Africa!"
Although 'tongue in cheek', the song accurately depicts the sentiment of many who claim Christ. These are quite willing to serve Jesus as long as they can do so in the comfort of the suburban area or their local mega church. However, if you are asking them to
make a commitment to be a long or short term missionary to some remote place away from the internet or where their cell phone doesn't get a signal - forget it! They will teach Sunday School or some similar function in the comfort of their religious institution but if you are looking for them to minister to people on the street of their city - FORGET IT! Westerners are apparently not willing to give up the comforts of home, modern plumbing, heating and air, full service hotels, and more to make a difference in the eternal destiny of others.
Perhaps the missionary mind set is closest to that of Jesus who Scripture records was "moved with compassion for the multitude". I must confess the 'prayer' of asking not to
serve in Africa has never represented my sentiments nor those with whom I
Don't send me to Africa
O Lord I'm your willing servant
You know that I have been for years
I'm here in this pew every Sunday and
Wednesday
I've given you years of my service
I've always given my best
And I've never asked you for anything much
So Lord I deserve this request
Chorus:
Please don't send me to Africa
I don't think I've got what it takes
I'm just a man, I'm not a Tarzan
Don't like lions, or rivers or snakes
I'll serve you here in suburbia
In my comfortable middle class life
But please don't send me out in the bush
Where the natives are restless at night
I'll see that the money is gathered
I'll wash and stack the communion cups
I'll tithe 11 percent
I'll volunteer for the nursery
I'll go on the youth retreat
I'll usher, I'll deacon, I'll go door to door
Just let me keep warming this seat.
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am privileged to serve. I promised the Lord when He filled me with his Spirit that I would go wherever He sent me, do whatever He asked me to do and say what He wants me to say. That journey has never been easy but we have tried to be faithful.
For over 80 years our ministry has kept a sincere interest in the affairs of our brethren wherever they may serve. We continue that vision. In that time we have supported national and missionary efforts in a plethora of countries around the world where we have attempted to make a difference both from the eternal benefit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and from those areas where we can affect this temporal world socially, economically, educationally or vocationally. Since 2001, the leadership of ICOF has made a plethora of missionary journey's. Most of these have been to Africa, which I affectionately call the "Motherland". This reference came from my first personal visit to the continent of Africa when I was privileged to go to Ethiopia. While there, my son (Bernie II) and I visited the National Museum of Ethiopia. They have there what
archeologist have called the remains of the oldest woman. They call her Lucy. When Bernie and I made our visit there I was struck by the volume of evidence that the oldest humans would have resided in or near that part of the world (or at least some of them). This seems very reflected of the account given in the Book of Genesis. When we looked at those remains lying there in the national museum I looked at the bones there and I said, "Hello Eve". Thus, as Eve was 'the Mother of all living", I began to call Africa the Motherland. Since that time Africa has become my second home and although because of financial constraints I don't spend as much time physically on the continent as I would like, I am committed to my dear friends, family and the mission that we collectively share to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. We are committed far beyond the traditional role of missionary efforts where some American or other
Westerner oversees the interest of
Chancellor of ICOF CSU Dr. Bernie L. Wade with ICOF Bishop of Cameroon Dr. Tembi Alfred and former ICOF CSU
President, Dr. Ray Young.
Campus of ICOF CSU Zambia Branch led by Dr. Charles Mwape
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his/her denomination in that area. We feel the strategy of continuing to send additional missionaries to countries that have a strong national effort wreaks of nationalism rather than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a pattern that we have chosen not to repeat in our ministry. Thus, we have thrown the full force of our efforts into identifying, encouraging, raising up and supporting national efforts.
This effort is far more difficult than the way this type of effort has been conducted by past and current administrations in other movements. We have embarked on a course to raise up and strengthen national efforts in these various countries. These national efforts are self supporting and directed, by effective and capable, qualified men and women of God who are accountable to each other and to the ICOF International Congress. The process of raising up these leaders takes time, patience, and quality. As well as leadership that have a vision and are committed to the long term outcome in these nations.
It is my expectation as I have stated many times, "the resources (human and natural) needed to bring real and lasting change to these African nations are already there". Our role is just to bring leadership, direction, help and encouragement. Too many come to ICOF with their hand out looking for a quick reward for little or no contribution and when it is not forthcoming they go somewhere else. Others come for a title or position somehow equating the things of God with temporal things. Unfortunately, these are not the sort of people with which one can build a strong and lasting foundation. Fortunately, through time, lots of trial and error we have slowly connected with key people who are really committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are not here for personal gain, fame, fortune or popularity. As this goes to publication we will once again be embarking on a missionary journey to Africa. We spend many hours every week working with our key leadership in Africa (ICOF African Leadership Roundtable) on the plethora of initiatives, conferences, projects and day to day
Bishop Bernie Wade during a foot washing service. Washing the feet of African ICOF Fivefold Roundtable
Chairman, Dr. Daniel Joseph Ubonabasi.
Bishop Chris Ebata with his wife, Bishop Derrick Day, Bishop Daniel Joseph Ubonabasi, and Dr. Barney Phillips.
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activities that we are working on in our collective mission to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the heart of every man, woman and child. I am indebted to those who have labored with us here in the United States and have sown the seed of their love offerings (time, talent and money) to help make a difference. However, I am even more indebted to those men and women who faithfully serve their fellow man in Africa.
ICOF CSU Nigeria with ICOF CSU President, Dr. Robert
Straube (Left in blue)
Africa is a place like other continents where personal sacrifice is rare, where integrity has often been traded for tokens and where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is sold for mammon to the unsuspecting. This is a place where the pulpit is pimped and prostituted. Yet, here in such a place we have capable, committed leadership that understand that they have already been "bought with a price" and there is no higher calling than being 'called to be a saint' in the body of Christ. Here in Africa God has called men and women who like in the New Testament have been set aside (consecrated) and then sent out for service to our God.
God has chosen to use people to accomplish his will in the earth. Anything of value requires committed people. I am convinced that is not only a need for committed people but a serious need that the right people be in place at the right time. It is the law of the harvest. There must be planning, preparation, tilling, sowing, cultivation, and eventually harvest. Then the process repeats. To this task God has sent capable leaders in the persons of Bishop Daniel Joseph Ubonabasi Dr. Charles Mwape, Bishop William Ouma, Bishop Iwatt, Dr. David Ngwa, Bishop Tembi Alfred, Bishop Joseph Freeson, and too many others to list in this short article. Men who are qualified and capable. Like the sons of Issachar these are men who understand the challenges and the times. It is not past notice that men who are positioned by God to prepare and plan (have vision) for the things ahead like Joseph in the Old Testament.
Bishop Bernie L. Wade being received by the delegation from Cameroon, West Africa.
As I pointed out in last year's State of
the Union our forefathers who began our
ministry in 1932 left with us an
expectation to take the body of Christ to
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higher heights and deeper depths of the
Spirit of Christ. Those founders were
Christocentric in their approach to the
Gospel; realizing that all power in
heaven and in the earth is in the name
of Jesus Christ. We continue this vision
as we close our 80th year as a ministry.
ICOF Bishops with a pastor and his wife from Lagos Nigeria. These are precious people of God
Over the last two years we have turned
our focus to The Next Wave. We have
benefited from the work of our
forefathers and have received an
excellent inheritance. However, now is
not the time to simply appreciate their
sacrifice. Real appreciation would be to
take what they have given us to another
generation with fervor and commitment.
Now is the time to make a sacrifice of
our own. There is a whole world out
that is crying out for something that will
satisfy. We have that ‘something that
will satisfy’ in the treasure of the Holy
Spirit and it is the ONLY answer for the
world today.
For more than 80 years this ministry has
focused on the unity of the body of
Christ in general and the unity of the
fivefold ministry in particular. As a
fivefold oriented and committed ministry
we recognize that we must work
together. It was the plan of God for His
Bride. It was never his plan for his
people to be isolated and have to act
alone. Circumstances have forced us to
situations where we acquired the ‘Elijah
Syndrome’ (where we thought we were
the only one left). However, we are not
the only ones. There are thousands of
your compatriots in arms ready to stand
with you. I have a strong word from the
Lord, “Now is not the time to go into
battle alone.”
I have a greater sense than ever before
that we need each other. These are
perilous times that we live in. These are
times that even the very elect is under
terrible siege. Don’t be caught all alone.
Again I say to you, That if two of you
shall agree on earth as touching
anything that they shall ask, it shall
VISIONARIES: Dr. Bernie L. Wade with Dr. Daniel Joseph Ubonabasi
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be done for them of my Father which
is in heaven. (Matthew 18:19).
2012 has been an amazing year for
ICOF. Our mandate to usher in the
Next Wave is becoming a global
resurgence of the body of Christ. To
support this effort we launched a new
magazine, The Next Wave. Editor
James Peter Jandu did a remarkable job
bringing us to this point! To God be the
glory.
To the strength of our numbers and the
plethora of committed leadership we
have continued to add through training
and interaction committed, diverse and
accomplished leadership. We remain
committed to our goal of fulfilling the
prayer that Jesus prayed for His
Church that we would ALL be one.
The mantra of International Circle of
Faith is "Jesus in the heart of every
man, woman and child". To this goal
we have mutually pledged our lives, our
fortune and our sacred honor. There
can be no higher purpose or calling than
to be called to be a saint of Jesus
Christ. The expectation of those who
adhere to this calling is that we would
take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every
nation under heaven. This is a universal
call that includes every tribe, every
kindred and ever race under heaven. It
is the same call for the Zambian as the
American, the same for the black man
as the white. The great Apostle Paul
summed it up this way, "in Christ there
is neither male nor female, Jew nor
Greek, bond nor free." The great
Apostle John wrote it this way:
Crusade in the Congo
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great
multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds,
and people, and tongues, stood
before the throne, and before the
Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying,
Salvation to our God which sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about
the throne, and about the elders and
the four beasts, and fell before the
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throne on their faces, and
worshipped God,
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory,
and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honor, and power, and might, be
unto our God forever and ever.
Amen. (Revelation 7:9-12)
Someone asked me, "How is it that
ICOF has been so successful?" He
noted that we don't seem to have much
finance, no large headquarters
buildings, no huge named preachers,
etc. I said it is simple.
First, ICOF has Jesus! We are not
trying to be anything except His
ambassadors, accomplishing His will in
the earth. Not my will but Thy will be
done.
Second, we have people. ICOF is a
huge network of volunteers. We have
people that are working every day giving
of their time, talents and treasure to
make a difference in the lives of others.
Let me pause and say, "I am honored to
be numbered among them".
Third. ICOF is committed to bringing
quality , affordable, Biblical education to
the global community that we are
privileged to serve. For too long people
have been held back or misled because
of the limits of available, quality,
Christian education. ICOF is committed
to preaching and teaching the Gospel of
Jesus Christ through education.
In 2010 we were privileged and honored
to sponsor 80 youths in Zambia to
enhance their education. This month,
43 are graduating from ICOF CSU
Zambia. As a call to reach out through
education of this great Nation in 2013
our International office through Zambia
Branch proposes to sponsor 1000
youths. Together, we will make a
difference!
At this time we are told that ICOF
represents some 25 Million people
globally. This is an awesome
responsibility and we covet your prayers
for our leaders.
Since our inception the ICOF has been focused on uniting Spirit filled fivefold ministers. We are pleased that God has brought this to fruition in more ways that we could understand. However, as we move forward we know that we must focus on more than just the restoration of the fivefold. We must see the activation and implementation of fivefold
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oriented congregations in every locality. To aid us in this effort we have implemented the:
ICOF FVEFOLD AFRICAN ROUNDTABLE
The ICOF African Roundtable is a
collaborative effort of leadership from
every African nation. This august body consist of our
National Bishops, Women's ministry leadership, Chaplaincy Corp, educators,
businessmen, and much more. This group is led through the capable efforts of Bishop Daniel Joseph Ubonabasi, Thd. who serves as Chairman of the ICOF Fivefold African Roundtable.
For too long ministers and ministries have been divided by 'turf wars' and power struggles. We have to have a forum where ministers and ministries
can come together in fellowship, collaboration and cooperation. This will
bring us closer to the ultimate goal of bringing real and lasting unity to the
body of Jesus Christ.
The ICOF FIVEFOLD AFRICAN ROUNDTABLE is a place where as Dr.
Barney Phillips says it, "there are no titles at the table". What we mean by that is this is a place to come together
and work on real ministry.
We have to work together to bring the glorious saving Gospel of Jesus Christ
to every man, woman and child. AFRICA, ASIA, EUROPE, AMERICAS,
AND OCEANA FOR JESUS!
ICOF WOMEN FOR CHRIST
Apostle Regina Ubonabasi, President of ICOF Women for Christ. Bishop Wade
affectionately refers to her as El Presidente. Apostle
Regina Ubonabasi is dedicated to helping
ministers in general and women in particular.
She travels extensively bringing encouragement
to women ministers throughout Africa. She is committed to
education and works closely with International Circle of Faith Colleges, Seminaries and Universities (ICOF
CSU).
Dr. Bernie Wade is
the President of the
International Circle of
Faith (ICOF) A Global
body of believers
served by more than
50,000 ministers
representing more
than 25 million
constituents. This is considered the
largest Apostolic body of believers in the
history of the world.
http://www.icof.net
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ICOF members have united over 50,000 ministers
representing more than 25 Million constituents, several
hundred colleges, universities and other Christian schools,
orphanages & feeding programs, humanitarian aid
organizations, chaplains and other charities.
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Order in the House
It is my job as a prophet to protect the
Word of God and to sound the alarm
when we find ourselves leaning in the
world’s direction. It’s like a drill sergeant
who breaks down his unit them builds
them back up again as a unit of one. A
prophet’s job is very hard because it
involves confrontation.
Unfortunately people are enabled by the
one man ministry. Therefore they rely
on their Pastor to know how to handle
things and how to lead. If he doesn’t
know how to lead then his leaders won’t
lead or they will lead him, and the
sheep have no direction (Hos 4:9a).
This is why the five-fold ministry should
have never been done away with. For
had it remained there would be
accountability to each other and the
Body of Christ would not be suffering as
it is now. One man cannot possibly lead
by himself.
Sure he has a ‘leadership team’. But
what is that? Is one a Prophet? Is
another an Evangelist? Are there
teachers and preachers to equip the
saints for the edifying and building up?
Where is the Apostle? What are we
running here; an organization? Are we
having fun yet? I want to hear the
testimonies; you know the signs and
wonders that follow once a soul has
been enlightened? Oh, I hear a lot of
preaching…but where’s the fruit?
I’d like to share a story with you about a
nameless church who set out with a
vision to start a church and disciple
others. However, they had a
problem…they had no idea how to help
those who were really broken. Sure they
were good at the praise and worship,
and the preaching…well it was fair if you
take a liken to not leaving repentant of
your sin. All in all, it was a grand place
where people could come to fellowship
with their friends and leave satisfied
that they were obliging their
commitment to not forsake the
assembling of the saints.
One day they were challenged by the
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Lord. The pastor taught a soft message
on being filled with the Holy Spirit and
His purpose for us to have this infilling,
which was to empower us to do what
He has called us to do. Then came the
test…as a recovering addict came to the
altar to bear their burdens and no one
came forward…NO ONE…to pray with
her! The pastor prayed with her, but
admitted that he didn’t know what else
to do as she fell to the floor and cried
and seemingly ‘spoke in tongues’. The
next morning the Pastor followed up
with his prayer team
leader to discuss why
there were no prayer
ministers there. The
question the prayer
leader had back was
“why couldn’t you
handle this?”
I believe the Lord ordained this to
happen on this Sunday to show up in
Power with signs and wonders following
based on the very words that were
taught. He was testing the hearts and
faith of these people and the pastor to
see if they really believed that the
power of the Holy Spirit flows through
us and empowers us…Did they pass the
test? I’d say not as the pastor stared
into the audience looking for a prayer
warrior to come forward, but no one
came. They all stared back with frozen
glances looking to see how this Man of
God was going to handle it. This church
was put to the test.
(Romans 1:18-22)
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of
men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness, 19 because what may
be known of God is manifest in them,
for God has shown it to them. 20 For
since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are
made, even His eternal power and
Godhead, so that they
are without excuse, 21
because, although they
knew God, they did not
glorify Him as God, nor
were thankful, but
became futile in their
thoughts, and their
foolish hearts were
darkened. 22 Professing to be wise,
they became fools,
The pastor spoke words that seemingly
had the form of godliness; but the
works behind it denied the power.
2Ti 3:5 having a form of godliness but
denying its power. And from such
people turn away! 6 For of this sort are
those who creep into households and
make captives of gullible women loaded
down with sins, led away by various
lusts, 7 always learning and never able
to come to the knowledge of the truth.
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Tit 1:16 They profess to know God, but
in works they deny Him, being
abominable, disobedient, and
disqualified for every good work
Church we cannot deny the power of
God when He shows up. When He
shows up it will be through us. He is not
a tangible object, but an intangible one
that takes faith to believe He exists…for
without this faith it will be impossible to
please Him. We cannot speak of His
goodness, mercy, etc. and not believe in
the power that heals the
sick, makes the blind see,
or even raises the dead.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the
kingdom of God is not in
word but in power.
The Power of God flows
from within us THROUGH
the Holy Spirit. It’s not just words
taught to make one wise or give us a
safety net into heaven, but exercising
that power through faith. The Holy Spirit
is there for a reason. He is our
comforter, yes, but He is also there to
empower us to heal the sick, raise the
dead, and set the captives free!
(Matthew 10:8; Luke 4:18). It is
dangerous territory to be ‘playing
church’. It leaves the body empty of the
power of God. No oil in a lamp leaves
one without light to guide their way.
Instead it leaves them broken, busted
and disgusted. It’s no wonder that
people are dropping like flies from the
Body and seeking other refuges for their
souls. Or if they are staying they are
being swayed to drink the proverbial
Kool-Aid.
We cannot speak of the Power of the
Holy Spirit if we are not prepared to
allow the signs and wonders to follow
once believers are enlightened. How can
believers learn to discern the difference
between a false Christ or a false prophet
(John 4:48)?
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give
the more earnest
heed to the things we
have heard, lest we
drift away. 4 God also
bearing witness both
with signs and
wonders, with various
miracles, and gifts of
the Holy Spirit,
according to His own will?
What’s going to happen if we don’t
know what to do or we don’t follow up
is we are going to leave a lot of people
broken and bruised. We will be held
accountable.
Written by- Lea Patt Bates
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"JESUS Looks BEYOND POLITICS"
-extracts by J. Lee Grady.
People didn't vote in ancient Israel, nor did they
put "KICK THE ROMANS OUT!" bumper stickers
on their chariots. But there was plenty of
political anger seething in Palestine, even
without Fox News, CNN and MSNBC around to
stir the pot.
Jews especially abhorred tax-collectors, since
(1) tax-collectors were usually thieves, and (2)
they worked for the hated Roman Empire. Yet
when a chief tax-collector named Zacchaeus
showed up to hear Jesus preach in Jericho,
Jesus did an unlikely thing. He called Zacchaeus
down from his perch in a sycamore tree and
proposed a meeting at his house.
I´m sure the crowd was shocked that a holy
rabbi who honored the Ten Commandments
would fraternize with one of Caesar´s cronies.
They probably expected Jesus to give Zacchaeus
a stern lecture on the evils of embezzlement.
But the Bible doesn´t say Jesus talked to him
about his fraud or the injustice of Roman
occupation. Their meeting was not about
politics.
After one visit with Jesus, the infamous
Zacchaeus, who was "small in stature,"
experienced a great big conversion. He
repented of his crimes and pledged to give half
his possessions to the poor (see Luke 19:1-10).
Jesus´ act of kindness led to a total heart
change.
This was Jesus´ style. He looked beyond race,
class, social labels and sectarian divisions. He
was as comfortable talking to prostitutes,
drunkards and condemned criminals as He was
to synagogue officials, high priests and Roman
centurions. He looked into men´s hearts with a
piercing laser beam, not so He could judge their
sins but so He could shine the light of His mercy.
And today Jesus calls His followers to love
everybody* that way. *NOTE: "Everybody"
includes Democrats, Republicans, bleeding-
heart liberals, Tea Party conservatives, Jesse
Jackson, Rush Limbaugh, left-leaning journalists,
right-leaning journalists, President Obama, Mitt
Romney, Joe Biden, Paul Ryan - and, yes, Clint
Eastwood!
I´m saying this now (and preaching to myself)
because too many of us are losing our religion
in the current presidential campaign - which
promises to grow more divisive before Election
Day. It´s not just political commentators who
are screaming at each other like banshees on
Sunday-morning talk shows; Christians are
unfriending each other on Facebook because
campaign rhetoric has grown so
hateful. We can´t even eat a chicken sandwich
without triggering a war of words.
I propose we make some attitude adjustments
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so we can reflect Christ both during the
campaign season and after Nov. 6 - regardless
of whether Obama or Romney wins.
1. Love people regardless of their political
views...
How can I be a vessel of Christ´s love if my heart
is full of hate?
2. Quit making politicians into gods. At the root
of today´s angry rhetoric is the mistaken idea
that politics can solve our moral problems.
Christians in the United
States, especially since the
early 1980s, have embraced
an unhealthy infatuation
with presidents and
political power. We clamor
for a King Saul to save us
when God wants us to trust
Him alone.
News flash! Ronald Reagan
didn´t save us. Neither did
Bush No. 1, Clinton or Bush No. 2. Neither
Obama nor Romney will deliver us. And let´s not
forget that the greatest spiritual revival in this
country in the past 100 years occurred during
the presidential terms of Lyndon Johnson and
Richard Nixon - one Democrat and
one Republican!...
3. Frame your words with kindness. In our
culture it has become in vogue to be hot-
headed. Candidates and commentators throw
vitriolic barbs like grenades, and when the
discussion is moved online, everyone starts
dropping F-bombs to prove their point.
There is no such thing today as civil debate. In
modern American politics, we thrust, jab, kick,
punch, skewer and impale each other
with our words. And this is equally true of
Democrats and Republicans.
There is a higher way for people of faith. The
apostle Paul called us to season our
conversation with grace (see Col. 4:6) and to
put on a heart of compassion, kindness and
gentleness (see Col. 3:12). But we can´t express
kind words if our hearts are full of judgment,
racial bias, hatred of certain people or
organizations, or anger toward those we
disagree with. If you hold judgments in your
heart, they will become
like buried mines in a
battlefield. When
someone walks near them
and pushes your button,
you will explode.
We must speak the truth,
but we must say it in love.
It would be better for us
to keep our mouths shut if
we can´t say what Jesus
is saying with His tone of voice.
Bishop Bernie L. Wade with Author J. Lee Grady
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FIVEFOLD UNIVERSITY Five Fold Farms/University started with a simple question from Dr. Robert Straube, “Isn’t there a way to do this better?”. This question was prompted by the fractured, stale and directionless nature of the Christian education system over the last thirty-plus years, which have been played out in today’s church style. We have been praying as to what the church should look like as the Lord’s intention and design. He gave us a clear vision of how the Church is to look in regards to the Five Fold ministries working together and serving the body of Christ, as well as how we “do” church. Then once again the question came to me, “How can I build another traditional college or university that pumps out more of the same religious teachings, which results in the same looking church with its same looking structures and results?” Of course, the Bible is the basis for all wisdom and knowledge (which should go without saying) and the prophets and the Apostles have laid the foundation, with Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone. Today’s schools only want to offer the same lesson plans and ways of teaching them similarly as everyone else – the thought of expanding their teaching methods, their technology or their market share literally made them lose sleep. The hegemony of the old guard educators had fallen and rather than toe
the line, most were choosing the status quo, cookie cutting ways of sharing the gospel and its disciplines. The answer that the Lord gave me is to put it into a working farm... A place where education, discipling, community, production, provision and the Church all function together in unity and gives back to the community. One might say, “But hasn’t that been done before?” In some sort or another, the short answer is, yes. But never with all the components combined in these last days with how the Church should look, thus changing the way we disciple and equip people for God’s Kingdom and service, resulting in sending out well educated, discipled, relational Five Fold ministers as
servants to the Body with the added skills of working the land and taking hold the gift of dominion, as taken back and returned to us by Jesus Christ’s victory on the cross and conquering death. Enter Five Fold Farms/University. Phase One: Our first goal
– go back to the basic, early church community model and teach it right, within a farming system. Conversely, the next generations of students are growing up in a culture and educational environment where the Biblical elements are treated as a “lump sum”. Imagine a medical program that tried to lump Oncology, OB/GYN, Pediatrics and Neurosurgery all into the same one-size-fits-all package. It would be a disaster. That’s what is happening with education today. Colleges, High Schools and even Biblical training programs are trying to lump ministries of pastors, evangelists, teachers, prophets and
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apostles into the same “Ministerial” Degree; when what those disciplines need are foundational training programs that are walking the walk, aimed at crafting well-honed ministers of the gospel – not merely ministers educated in all mediums but masters of none. We’re planning to change that. We will build an advanced Biblical educational facility using the principles of Godly farming and the latest technology and methods to advance the gospel and building the kingdom. This will be the root foundation by which the entire facility, both ministerial and vocational components will come together, utilizing foundational principles to put forth the highest quality, empowered and ethical leaders of the future. Future Phases: Here at Five Fold Farms/University, however, our goal was never merely to be another Bible college or only a farm. Our goal is to be a comprehensive multifaceted resource center for the top students in America with various vocational and professional callings, such as business, law, medicine, engineering, pharmaceutical and many other professional vocations. Students and professors alike have told us that their two biggest challenges were finding the Biblical foundational teachings which supported their vocations, and then finding a quantitative educational delivery system to instruct them without contradiction – all in one venue. We’ve
researched and created a version of that objective, and now it’s time to take it to the next level and deliver it. Phase II will build and add a horticultural business school. Phase III will add a law school. Phase IV will add Science and Technology school. And Phase V will add a medical school. All our future phases will influence the world in every segment of the specialized professional trades. We will invest our resources to uphold the
standards of integrity and excellence in education and be fervently innovative in our foundational approach, technology and our marketing – beyond merely the standard, cookie cutting Bible college world – we can make an improved and marked
difference. Not just by instructing it and hoping students will grasp it, but by sharing it through dynamic side -by-side mentoring relationships, exemplifying it with discipling models and real life experiences, and then a continuation of ongoing mentoring as they go out and DO IT! YOU CAN HELP! RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE 72 ACRES. THIS IS CURRENLTY A WORKING FARM AND WE ONLY NEED TO RAISE $10,000 TO TAKE POSSESSION. HELP US HELP OTHERS! THE NEEDS IS NOW. WE NEED THE FUNDS IN NOVEMBER! CONTACT Dr. Robert Straube at chancellor@icof.net or ICOF at 502.410.ICOF
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THE MAKING OF a
TRUE LEADER
-by T. Austin Sparks.
We gather from this book of Judges that those
who are going to be instrumental in the Lord´s
hands in helping others out of their bad
condition must themselves have shared that
bad condition... It is necessary for a spiritual
leader to have suffered
in the same trials
as those being led; to
have known the same
depths of misery, to
have been in the same
complicated
circumstances, to have
passed
through those very
problems, and to know
what it is to emerge
from a dark, dismal and
wretched state. All that
makes a leader, but that also represents the
cost to begin with.
The cost of leadership is...
a) By what course, by what road, is this
transition made?
Always through the grave. Before we ever come
to spiritual understanding we shall have all our
own understanding pulverized, ground to
powder, so that we do not understand
anything, and we know it. If we are asked to
explain we can give no explanation. It is not in
us to explain. All understanding has gone. God
breaks down the natural to make way for the
spiritual. That transition is through death,
through the grave. Then presently we emerge,
and we are seeing things now from God´s side,
we are understanding with a faculty and
capacity that we never before possessed.
Somehow or other a resurrection work has
been done; that is, something has been
quickened which we never had before. We are
made alive to that of which we had no
knowledge before. We have a new standard
of judgment now, a new standard of values, a
new sense of differences.
It is just something done,
not something which we
have created or made. It
comes, as it were, to birth,
and we know it, and as we
move accordingly, in
obedience to it, it grows.
There is all the difference
between natural
understanding and
spiritual understanding,
and the difference is
between death and life,
and a grave is between. Oh, those dark days,
when we lost all natural understanding and
there was no light. It is a terrible cost.
We are not speaking about just understanding
certain events. It may have to do with trials of a
certain nature through which we pass, but it is
the general faculty to which we are referring.
There is all the difference between a natural
faculty for understanding things and a spiritual
faculty for understanding the things of the
Lord, which cannot be defined, but can be
declared as a fact. That cost is the cost bound
up with spiritual leadership
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b) The assurance of understanding
There was a time when some of us were most
sure. Oh yes, we knew, no one could tell us. We
were the most sure people. We could lay down
the law to anybody as to what they ought to do.
The Lord has taken in hand and has ground to
powder, made pulp of all that assurance. We
have lost all self-assurance. We have
come to the place where we feel that we could
question everything in ourselves, doubt
everything about ourselves. We have come to
the place where, when
we tell the Lord that we
mean to be all for Him
there is something
inside which says we
meant it, but come up
against the test and we
find that we are not
that. Peter was a most
self-confident man;
"Lord, I will follow thee
even unto death." I am
certain that if we had
met Peter later on, after
the cross, we
should have found him a man who would never
for a moment say a word about his own
certainty or self-assurance. Yet you find the
man marked by boldness; there is nothing more
sure than his statement on the day of
Pentecost; but he is a different man. He has
gone through the grave, and self-assurance has
been broken in him and replaced with the
assurance of God. There is the full assurance of
understanding of the Lord. It is costly, but it is
the way of spiritual leadership, the way to
spiritual values.
c) Active faith
We spoke of active faith. It comes the same
way. The time through which we pass is a time
when we lose all. There are times when we feel
that the bottom has fallen out of everything.
What have we to rest upon? Faith. Where is our
faith? If God is not merciful to us it is a poor
lookout for us. If this whole thing depends upon
our faith today, the Lord help us!
Yes, these are dark,
strange experiences,
things you may not say to
the unconverted. They are
not bound up with our
salvation, our acceptance
before God. It is another
side, the side of our
usefulness to the Lord, the
measure of our spiritual
value to the Lord for the
sake of others. The cost of
spiritual leadership and a
faith of this true, pure kind
is borne out of a grave. It grows like a new child;
it is quiet, steady faith in God. You have been
through
the depths, and you have found the Lord
faithful, and you have had to say, "It was not
because of my wonderful faith in God, not
because of my saying I am able to hold on, to
persist! God was faithful to me when I had
nothing of faith as far as I was concerned."
That comes back from the grave. It is the cost of
leadership.
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d) Initiative
This is quite true also in the matter of initiative.
Naturally there was a time when initiative was
not difficult to some of us. The bigger the
proposition the more we gloried in tackling it,
and lacked no initiative in these things. Then
the Lord took us in hand and broke all that
natural force, or began to break it, and we came
steadily to the place where, so far as we were
concerned, the initiative left us: that is, the
natural initiative, the taking of big
responsibility, and we became deeply conscious
that we were needing a divine energy to move
in relation to the Lord´s
interests. And now to some
extent we do know that
energizing of God in
relation to His interests.
When we have no natural
energy, when it does not
spring from ourselves, and
if it were left with us, we
should not do it, we would
not move, but just lie there,
refuse, decline, and yet we
know that for the Lord´s interests there is an
energy which we have not got. We lay hold of
that divine energy,
and the initiative of God is appropriated by
faith, and there are accomplishments.
There is all the difference between that natural
go-ahead attitude in the work of God, and that
energizing of the Holy Spirit; that initiative
which is of the flesh, and that initiative which is
of the Holy Spirit. You have to pass from the
one to the other in a deep experience, when all
that is of nature is broken down, and you
come on to the ground where it is all and only
of God. It is a new creation in Christ Jesus,
where all things are out from God, as
manifested in the Lord Jesus Himself.
e) Humility and dependence
The same law holds good. We may have been
very independent or self-dependent, or
dependent upon others. The Lord has dealt
with all that, or will deal with it in us, and bring
us to a place where every other kind of support
is removed, where all our independence is dealt
with, where our self-dependence is destroyed,
where our dependence upon others is cut away.
And we come out to a place, through trying and
painful experiences,
where our dependence
is upon God.
Paul is an outstanding
illustration of this.
There is no character
more self-confident
than Saul of Tarsus. In
the long-run there is no
one more dependent
upon God, and
confessedly so. He said: "We despaired of life."
The sentence of death was upon him, so that he
should not trust in himself, but in God who
raises the dead.
The way through is a deep, dark, and painful
way, but this is all the way to spiritual
leadership. It is all that is involved in the
transition from the natural to the spiritual, and
it all leads to values for others.
Your value to others in the Lord entirely
depends upon your own measure of knowing
the Lord for yourself as your very life, your
wisdom, your strength.
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There may be a little weakness in what we have
been saying, that we have dealt with positives
rather than negatives. Some are not
in much danger of strong, natural,
goaheadness. Perhaps some are lacking
altogether in any kind of strength like that, and
may be saying, "Well, I do not have to be
broken down very much,
therefore I cannot come through to very much
for the Lord." Do not say that, because your
painful experience will probably be from a
negative to a positive, not from one positive to
another positive. We mean this, that some
timid people will go
through an agony when
God brings them out to
take initiative. It is an
agony for reticent
people to be made to
stand on their feet and
take responsibility. They
would sooner shrink into
a corner, but the Lord
will not let them get
away with that. In effect
He says, "You have got
to be of value, you have
got to count; it is no use your hiding in a
corner, I want values in you for My people."
Then comes the agony of perhaps having to talk
to someone, having to take initiative for the
spiritual help of somebody, when you would
rather be somewhere else, doing something
else. It is the transition from the natural,
whatever the natural is - whether positive or
negative - to what is spiritual. It is costly, but it
is the price of leadership, and after all, it is that
the Lord should have His full measure in us,
"...each several part in due measure"
(Eph. 4:16). There is a "due measure" from each
several part.
f) Loneliness
The cost of leadership is always loneliness.
When you are going through a thing in the
hands of God, your one sense is that no
one has ever been through this before. The Lord
sees to it that you do not escape by having
someone come along who has just
been through it so that you may throw yourself
on them and they carry you. The Lord allows
isolation. But, however it is, it is always
loneliness. That is bound up with leadership. It
is as though you were
pioneering and no one has
ever gone this way before;
you are alone. It is part of
the price, but it must be.
No
doubt you have longed for
somebody who has been
that way to be alongside
of you while you are going
through, but the Lord has
not allowed it. We say in
effect, "If only we had
their experience in this
thing to appeal to!" But somehow or other the
Lord cuts it all off from us, and takes us through
with Himself alone. If we refuse to go through
with Him alone, we are going to miss the Lord´s
object.
g) Misunderstanding
So often accompanying the loneliness is
misunderstanding, and that is the more bitter
side. It is the more positive or active side.
Think of Nehemiah. He had to take the lead, the
initiative. But it was not long before not only in
his loneliness, but in misunderstanding and
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misrepresentation he discovered the cost
of that leadership. All around things were being
said: "He is building this thing to make himself
a name! He is going to appoint prophets to
preach about him! He is starting a new
movement!"
All the things which were said were lies, false; it
was misrepresentation, misunderstanding. That
is simply because a man or woman has come to
know the will of God as it applies to them, and
they are going on in that way of God.
It is strange how people will very rarely give
another credit for walking
with God. Others always
seem to interpret their
movements as though they
had been captured and led
astray.
They never give them credit
for really walking with God
themselves. They blame
someone else, and then
blame them for getting into
the hands of someone else.
It is a part of the price.
h) Selflessness
It is necessary when counting the cost of
leadership to be selfless and disinterested in the
matter. Leaders may labor for perhaps another
generation, for others to enter into their labors,
and they may never see the fruit of their own
labors.
Look back over the history of all who have really
been used of God in the lives of His people.
Very rarely has their life borne fruit until they
have gone. They have labored, and other men
have entered into their labors. It means that
there is to be no present glory, nothing for self,
no present reward. It is a Moses leading
through the wilderness, up against the real
hard, tough side of things, and then passing out
without seeing the fruit.
That is the price of
leadership so often; selfless
disinterestedness, being
willing to labor, to give
one´s life, to suffer, to come
to a place of value for
others and never see the full
result of it.
That is all we shall say for
the time being. It has all
come out of that expression
of Deborah: "For that the
leaders took the lead in Israel". That is the
explanation of such deliverance, of a mighty
emancipation, of glorious victory, the changing
of the whole face of things from servile slavery,
depression and oppression, to ascendancy,
liberty and progress...
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EXTREMISM
BRUENER B NEWTON (TONY)
PRESIDENT CHRISTIAN SOCIAL UPLIFT
Pakistan is in the throes of extremism largely due to the ongoing armed conflict in Afghanistan. It has taken on the shape of the many-headed Hydra from the Greek mythology. You take out one and it reemerges to fight in many other forms. A case in point is Pakistan, which is now inundated with the violent overspill from its neighboring country. Extremism is like a balloon – squeeze one end and it surfaces at the other. Perturbing examples are Iraq,
Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and not forgetting China, after playing havoc in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
At the local level, the State squeezed extremists in Swat for them only to resurface more strengthened in FATA. The ethos propagated by the ruthless Taliban has morphed into homegrown Tehreek-e-Taliban and other similar groups that empathize and carry forward the ideology of the original Taliban. No longer dependent on outside support with hundreds of ready young adherents as fodder from within their own country, these religious, ultra radical militants seem to be succeeding in destabilizing the establishment in the country.
The reasons for growing extremism are manifold. These include rising economic imbalance among segments of society, low employment levels especially among urban educated youth, dwindling buying power of people, insecurity of life and property, regional power play by Pakistan’s neighbours, a Zia-era ban on student unions in educational institutions stifling healthy debate among the youth, bad governance of state institutions, fissures among masses on ethnic, sectarian, linguistic and provincial lines, ready access to hate literature, ready access to sophisticated weapons, undemocratic regimes and feudal mindset of law makers, low levels of access to education, and abject illiteracy. The above directly feed into and strengthen the counter-narrative of sermon- givers (not necessarily
Islamic scholars) towards upending the current status quo (brought about and allegedly supported by western vested and imperialistic designs) by violent means.
Growing Dehumanizing use of Orphaned Children for Nefarious activities by Extremists. A most disturbing phenomenon to emerge from the expanding influence of extremism in Pakistan is capitulation of its social service sector and erosion of the public education system. Both these important segments have simply buckled under the onslaught of increasingly dogmatic religious system of education that is growing from strength to strength with each passing day. No longer catering to the needs of overwhelmingly the very poor and
26
disenfranchised, this system is increasingly becoming the choice of lower, lower middle class and middle class segments that are angry and disgruntled by the eroding social fabric of civil society. The availability of young impressionable minds at these institutions in their hundreds is a God-send for these errant groups to exploit and indoctrinate with anti-West propaganda. Denting the Designs of Extremists through Mainstreaming of Young Orphans And most susceptible of these are the many orphans (and other kidnapped poor children from the streets) who are sadly a neglected and forgotten lot in most societies of the world. Tender in age, some as young as nine or ten years, with no familial ties or love, these orphans are lured to blow themselves up with false hopes and promises, and even coercion. Pakistan, as in some other countries, is seeing a growing trend of militants employing these children as fodder for their suicide missions against the state and its people.
Christian Social Uplift Organization (CSUO) feels the only way out of this dilemma is to not only provide and match the enticing services offered (food, shelter, clothing and education) to orphans by errant groups at these educational institutions but to clearly better them. The incentive being to imbibe in them necessary self esteem, develop their inherent learning skills, and afford them an enabling environment for due recognition while effectively countering their outcast status in mainstream society.
BILLY GRAHAM's
'JUDGMENT'
LETTER Sparks
COMMOTION
-Troy Anderson,
Charisma News.
(BGEA).
Editor's note: Revival is sweeping the whole
world except the Western world. Only in the
Western world are we convinced we are ok.
Like the Laodicea church the Western world
has become rich and increased with goods and
feel like we need nothing. There is one
common global message: REPENTANCE. This
message must be preached in America. It is
time to repent.
Famed evangelist Billy Graham´s letter calling
America and its "deceived people" to
repentance is one in a series of escalating
warnings that the nation is in growing danger of
God´s judgment, prominent faith leaders told
Charisma News.
"This may be our last chance to call the nation
to pray," says Anne Gimenez, national
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chairperson of America for Jesus - The
Awakening, which expects hundreds of
thousands of people to gather at Independence
Mall in Philadelphia Sept 28-29 to pray and
intercede for the United States...
In his letter, "My Heart Aches for America," the
93-year-old Graham wrote that he recalled how
his late wife, Ruth, once expressed concerns
about the nation´s "terrible downward spiral" -
exclaiming, "If God doesn´t punish America,
He´ll have to apologize to Sodom and
Gomorrah." Graham, who has preached to
more people than any other Protestant in
history - 2.2 billion -
wrote that he wondered
what Ruth would think of
the country today where
"self-centered
indulgence, pride and a
lack of shame over sin
are now emblems of the
American lifestyle."
"My hearts aches for America," wrote Graham...
"The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of
mercy, and He responds to repentance. In
Jonah´s Day, Nineveh was the lone world
superpower -wealthy, unconcerned and self-
centered. When the Prophet Jonah
finally traveled to Nineveh and proclaimed
God´s warning, people heard and repented. I
believe the same thing can happen once
again, this time in our nation."
Graham´s letter calling America to repentance
comes as a growing number of highly respected
Christian leaders have issued similar
warnings in recent months, noting that the
nation is in a downward spiral of economic
decline, immorality, corruption, growing secular
humanism and attacks on religious liberty.
Jack Hayford, the founding pastor of The Church
on the Way in Van Nuys, Calif., says Graham´s
letter comes as the nation is in a "very grim
hour as we approach the election this year."
"What we need is something on the order of
shock troops at this hour, and I can imagine that
can be raised," Hayford says. "I don´t
feel despairing. I do feel the urgency. We are at
a point that desperate action is needed..."
Wrote Rick Scarborough, chairman of 40 Days
to Save America..."Today, our nation faces
multiple crises-pending
economic collapse, moral
disintegration and
international terrorism-
but all have spiritual
underpinnings... The
crises confronting us are
beyond the power of
human beings to resolve
without divine guidance.
Nothing short of a Third Great Awakening can
save us."
For another Great Awakening to occur, Hayford
says the church and believers must engage in
"gut-level, spiritually-impassioned intercessory
prayer" - something lacking in most churches
today, few of which even hold prayer meetings
anymore...
International Circle of Faith (ICOF) is
committed to seeing real and impacting
change come to the body of Christ,
restoring the Church to the model given us
in the New Testament. We call this The
Next Wave.
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Reformation or
Remodeling?
Today it is being stated, and correctly
that the 'modern' Christian 'church'
needs to be 'more' effective than the first
church, since the first church failed to
generate a continual model that was
effective and powerful throughout the
ages. I would posit that every single
member of the 'true faith' would agree
with that statement. There is a split in
thinking about weather this means a
small tweak to the current system or a
Reformation of the
body of Christ
ministry. What
follows however, is
a commentary that
often is neither
biblical nor spirit
led; yes some do
make sure to be
biblical, but this has
been a smaller
number until very recent times.
That commentary makes excuses for
failure of the body of Christ, and I for
one find the Lamb to be perfect, without
need for excuses. Let me list some of
those excuses offered in good faith as
commentary in every focus group in this
Nation, remember, there is nothing new
under the Sun.
Please note before I list those
comments; I said GOOD FAITH, these
are good people, with good hearts, and
good intentions, not my enemies, they
are my family and family arguments are
always the hardest. Let's not argue, lets
instead read, study, pray and be sure of
*what is said before we say it in
relationship to the body of Christ
ministry. Our words are what separate
us from other forms of Christianity. We
live by the Word, using words, holding
words to have specific meaning and
those meanings are to exhort the Lord
God, not bring HIM to a state of
impotence.
"Today is different than 33AD".
"We should not try to be like the first
church. Instead let's
take the best of what
we learned from them
and use it today,
improve it, make it
better."
"The body of Christ
needs to mature/grow
up/learn, then we will
see the mighty move
of God." And, this
goes on comment after comment, year
after year, decade after decade, century
after century. When do we become
what Jesus promised? Is it a matter of
time or is it a matter of obedience?
These of course are the comments that
are preached each year at every single
Apostolic Conference across this Nation
for as long as I have been alive and
before, once again there is nothing new
under the Sun. No one using these
comments today is saying anything that
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wasn't said for as long as I can
remember when the question becomes
one of a Reformation within the body of
Christ. "We are doing it right, we are
just not doing it enough." "We need to
expand on our preaching and teaching
in a more modern way." "Things are not
as bad as we think, the Lord is working
in Mighty ways." Then, next year same
time same place we give the same
message to a quickly shrinking group of
the faithful.
Do we see the Lord working in mighty
ways? Yes, of course, however, in a
Nation of over 300 million how many
verified Jesus Name Baptisms are done
each year? How many new saints are
filled with the wonderful gift of the Holy
Ghost? How many are cured of cancer,
diabetes, arthritis, and other deadly
illnesses? Many of us have the
hindsight of decades and can conclude
correctly that the body of Christ is
smaller and weaker than it was in the
70's, which was smaller and weaker
than it was in the 60's and so on. This
weakness is the sign of one of two
things, a body that is aged and nearly
dead or a body that has an illness and
has never been correctly treated for that
illness.
It is true we can all point to miracles,
fruits of the spirit, prophetic utterances'
and even in some cases large numbers
all at once coming truly into the faith in
one day. However, let us look at those
numbers. In 1977 when I came into the
faith, the Apostolic movement in the
United States boasted that there were a
little over 2.5 million members
throughout all the Organizations. In
1977 the population was just about 200
million people. Let's make that a real
number. In 1977, when I heard the local
UPC Pastor give the numbers, my first
question was 'is this the UPC number'?
The answer was, 'this is a best estimate'
that includes all the Organized Apostolic
groups. The conversation should have
been, 'how effective have we been given
the power of God and the vast number
of people in this Nation?'
Today, 35 years later if we add up all
the numbers here in the United States, a
hard number to come to since there is a
tendency for some Organizations to
bundle all saints worldwide, we might,
just might be able to get to; Wow, 3 or 4
million saints in a Nation of over 300
million. Now that is huge growth right?
After all we have added over a half
million, could be as much as a million
members in total numbers since 1997.
It just isn't enough so we have to hold
meetings and figure out how to increase
this wonderful number. Thus the
constant Conference preaching to do
more of the same, the same only better,
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we are doing it right there is just a need
for more preaching and teaching. Once
again the conversation should have
been 'why are we not experiencing'
greater growth and stronger saints?
Have we taken the 'best' of what we
learned from the early church and
applied it to the modern church? There
are three possible answers to that
question. The answer is either no, we
have failed to learn, use and apply the
best things we learned. Or, the answer
is that 'we got it wrong' in a big way and
have been stubborn
about learning to do
it in the right way.
Third, God has
changed and we
have not changed
with HIM. The last of
course is not even
possible, but must be
answered. God does
not change, HE says
so, HE is the truth,
HE is the way and
HE is both light and life to us that are of
the faith.
Ever wonder if maybe, just maybe, the
things we do get us the things we get?
We have failed, and we continue to do
the same thing. That my friends is
called insanity. We either believe the
bible, I do 100% although it might not
seem like it to some, and accept that
God had and has a plan and that plan is
the same since the cross as there is no
indication of any new commandants, or
we throw out the bible and forget about
doctrine and the rules, spiritual and
physical, and just do whatever we think
is right. I think I will stick to the book.
Back to the comments now. Today is
different than 33 AD. Yep, I agree that
today is different, but God is the same
and the bible is the same and the path is
the same. Maybe, just maybe we view
this change and are applying it to our
faith rather than applying our faith to the
times? Or, maybe 33 AD was not all
that different from today? What does
the historical perspective say?
Historically we are
almost exactly the
same as people in 33
AD. We have homes,
jobs, children, schools,
etc. We tend to be
greedy about our
possessions, and
about money. We still
use whatever is most
convenient to get the
job done. So, what is
different. Well, we
have cars and planes and televisions
and computes. The entertainment
comes into our houses instead of us
going out to an amphitheater. But, the
poor are still poor, the middle class are
still middle and the rich are still rich.
The simple fact is that the differences
between 33 AD and 2012 AD are purely
cosmetic. We are not so different and if
we are totally honest, we are even more
in need of the exact structure of the
ministry that God set up then today
because of one thing; entertainment.
The first comment is not valid, can't be
31
used and no amount of arguing will
change the facts, cosmetics cover up
things, make them look different, and in
some cases make things seem better,
but they change nothing.
"We need to take the best things from
the first church model and apply them to
the modern church". I do think that half
of this is answered in the previous
paragraph. We don't have a 'modern'
church. The body of Christ, the Church,
is the same today as it
was in 33AD. Worship is
still worship, doctrine is
still doctrine, God is still
on the throne and the
blood of Jesus still flows
from the wounds of the
Lamb. We can't be
'modern' because the
'Church' was made
eternal on the day of
Crucifixion.
Who do we think the 'New Jerusalem'
is? In the book of Revelation, and I am
one that firmly believes this prophetic
scroll belongs in the book, it says; "And
there came unto me one of the seven
angels which had the seven vials full of
the seven last plagues, and talked with
me, saying, Come hither, I will shew
thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he
carried me away in the spirit to a great
and high mountain, and shewed me that
great city, the holy Jerusalem,
descending out of heaven from God,".
Please take the time to read Revelation
21:9-27.
The HOLY City of Jerusalem and those
that enter into her are the bride. The
bride is eternal, no change, Holy. So,
what is there left to take from the first
church model that we don't already have
today?
"The body of Christ needs to mature.
First, the body is mature. On the day of
Pentecost it was created whole and
complete. The doctrine, the ministry,
the power of the Spirit. All has been
there since day one. How
do we go about maturing or
growing God's perfect
creation? Who gave us the
right to change anything?
When did we get so
divinely powerful that we
could 'fix' what God made
perfect? It is time we come
down to earth, it seems our
pride, and yes I include
myself, has gotten in the way of the
mission. Jesus promised us we would
move mountains; and right now all of us
together would have a hard time digging
out enough dirt and rock to build a road
over the lowest spot in the Rocky
Mountains. If we can't move mountains
it is not because Gods perfect creation
needs to grow up, it is because we have
failed.
The 'Church' should be stronger today
than it was then, not weaker and in
more turmoil.
Gods 'Church' is a dynamic and
powerful creation that uses the faith of
each of us to generate power to change
32
the world. There is nothing new under
the Sun, we are the same today as we
were yesterday and 2000 years ago
because we are made in the image
(tseh'-lem, spiritual) of God and after
HIS likeness (dem-ooth', model).
We are HIS children, and the child is like
the Father. The Father is a Spirit, and
we desire to be in our spiritual model.
That has been true since day one. It
cannot change, it will not change, man
is man and ever shall be man. Those
who are in the body of
Christ while on earth
will always have a pull
towards the flesh (eh'-
rets, dirt).
Those in the body will
always need someone
to care for the spiritual
man while guarding the
physical man. That is
what the ministry does and has always
done. All of today's truly called
ministers who are fighting against the a
restoration of the first church model are
doing so out of the basic, primal,
feelings of fear and loss. We are afraid
we will lose control of the process and
that is EXACTLY what God intended.
HE intended for us to work together to
demonstrate to the congregations unity.
HE intended for us to work together to
make sure that 'one man' ministries did
not introduce false doctrines into the
faith (can anyone say ROMAN?). HE
created a full ministry and HE titled each
position. HE told the 12 that they would
be the least of the servants even though
they would have to lead, and lead they
did. Why don't we try that?
No currently called and truly chosen
minister has any need to fear losing
anything in a full ministry of five. God is
in charge, the messages flow to the
body and the body grows stronger.
Anyone that says no group can have
'five heads' has missed the point of this
ministry. There are not five
heads, there are five ropes
pulling in unity towards a
single end, just as the oxen
are yoked and pull the load
with ease instead of
constantly fighting the
weight. Are the titles
important? God wouldn't
have made them if they
weren't. Why are they
important? Because people must be
held accountable. Each of us in the
ministry has a job to do and no
man/woman can do all or even two of
those jobs at the same time. The
shared load is a message of the bible
from the beginning.
Envy kills (Able/Cain) and love grows
(Jesus/First Church). We have a duty to
unify and love the congregants into a
place in the body that they fit into and
that fits them. They are a Royal
Priesthood, and we serve THEM, they
are not our cattle to be led around by
33
the nose. They are the ones we were
given to guard and keep until the day of
the LORD.
Jer 1:17 Thou therefore gird up thy
loins, and arise, and speak unto them all
that I command thee: be not dismayed
at their faces, lest I confound thee
before them. For, behold, I have made
thee this day a defenced city, and an
iron pillar, and brazen walls against the
whole land, against the kings of Judah,
against the princes thereof, against the
priests thereof, and against the people
of the land. And they shall fight against
thee; but they shall not prevail against
thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD,
to deliver thee.
Robert Straube is
President of
Christian University
College and serves
ICOF as acting
Bishop of North
America.
JOIN FIVEFOLD CONNECTION
Dr. Teddy Dones launched an amazing new
network! Fivefold Connection. FIVEFOLD
CONNECTION is like Facebook without the
distraction of unwanted content allowed on
Facebook.
Dr. Dones is an alumni of International
Circle of Faith Colleges, Seminaries and
Universities (ICOF CSU). Looking at the
success of social media, he has had a
burden to create a place where those who
enjoy social media can interact without the
rudiments of the world dominating the
conversation.
Dr. Dones and his wife Janet are the leaders
of Messengers of Fire a powerful ministry
located in the Ohio valley (USA) but doing
ministry all over the world. Join Fivefold
Connection for FREE!
http://fivefoldconnection.com
34
35
A CULTURE ADDICTED to "SELF"
by 'Pastor Dave'
(From the ICOF FORUM)
Yesterday, I read a report about an Ohio State
University study involving 900 adults ranging in
age from 18 to 90 which claimed that young
Americans place such a high value on their
sense of self-worth that they crave praise and
compliments more than food, friendship, and
sex! The study also observed that this craving is
akin to an addiction. It is insatiable. The
participants in the study are not all narcissists,
of course, but they're kissin' cousins.
The professor who conducted the study
identified the 1969 book The
Psychology of Self-Esteem as
the launching point for a
generation of Americans
obsessed with self-esteem. He
concluded that the obsession is
only going to get worse -- "as
each new generation enters a
culture that puts a premium on
self-worth,
younger Americans spend more time craving
and searching for self-esteem boosts--and less
time thinking about others. All that time spent
thinking about yourself not only contributes to
depression, but it makes society a less kind and
gentle place."
The seismic shift that began in 1969 has
resulted in the tsunamis of Facebook, Pinterest,
YouTube, reality TV shows and life
enhancement church services. Americans just
can't seem to get enough of being true to self,
expressing self, fulfilling self, improving self and
advancing self. This addiction has had an
enormous impact on the Christian community.
Choosing a church to attend is no longer a
matter of finding where the Word of God is
taught and where people are striving to live in a
manner that pleases God. It is now a matter of
finding a church that has the best programs,
preferred music, and activities.
American Christians have become consumers
rather than practitioners. We look for the most
enjoyable services, the most convenient
schedules, the most engaging presentations,
and the programs that fulfill our desires to the
greatest degree. We seem drawn to the
churches that are most like the world. Our
primary concern about church is not how we
can serve the church body, but how the church
body can serve us.
Churches that are preaching
that Christians are deserving
of and entitled to good
things, happiness, blessings,
and personal fulfillment are
bursting at the seams.
Churches that preach
poorness in spirit,
mournfulness for sin,
meekness, purity in heart, and a hunger for
righteousness, are struggling to find people
willing to listen. Are we witnessing the
fulfillment of Paul's warning to Timothy,
"For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine, but according to their
own desires, because they have itching ears,
they will heap up for themselves teachers; and
they will turn their ears away from the truth,
and be turned aside to fables."
We can't be hungry for righteousness and
addicted to self at the same time.
36
37
“Pimp, Pastor, Pulpit and
Prostitute”
Author takes critical look at
current state of church
leadership
Bishop Woodrow H. Dawkins Jr.
compares pastors to pimps in
new book
GREENSBORO, N.C. – “The people are being
bamboozled by the pimp in the pulpit,”
believes author Bishop Woodrow H.
Dawkins Jr. In his new book “Pimp, Pastor,
Pulpit and Prostitute: The naked truth”
(published by Trafford Publishing) Dawkins
shares his belief of how some church
leaders have mislead and misused their
members.
“Some of these things are going on now,”
Dawkins explains. “Someone needs to
speak out and I am one of them, but we
need more people to take a stand against
this type of pimping that is going on.
Someone must help the people that cannot
help themselves.”
An excerpt from “Pimp, Pastor, Pulpit and
Prostitute”:
Some of our leaders try to
put the Lord’s name in things
that He had nothing to do
with, when we should just
come clean and tell the truth.
This is what I am trying to
show you: that some of the
smoothest pimps are in the
churches’ pulpits today and
that’s why our church is
upside down. We have
been pimped out like
prostitutes and do not even
know it.
“The preacher that’s going bad is like the
pimp in the street. He/she will turn the
people of God into prostitutes in the
churches.”
About the Author
Bishop Woodrow H. Dawkins Jr. is a native
of Gaffney, S.C. He has traveled the country
and preached the Gospel for the past 30
years. He founded Jesus Way of Deliverance
of Apostolic Faith Inc. in Greensboro, N.C.,
in 1997. In 2004, the church uprooted and
replanted in Simsboro, La., where he
38
pastored for six years. Dawkins is the
founder of the first public housing
community watch program in Greensboro,
and is affiliated with numerous programs
that reach the inner city and restore hope
to hurting people. Dawkins’s anointed
purpose is exemplified in his work for the
Lord: doing the Great Commission.
The Next Wave Magazine has now become a
daily news source, The Next Wave Magazine
Online. Every day you can read both a morning
an and evening edition of the The Next Wave.
International Circle of Faith Colleges,
Seminaries and Universities is available to
serve your Christian education needs. ICOF CSU
is a network of Christian Education
professionals, bible colleges, Christian
seminaries, Christian universities, and other
Christian education institutions. for more
information visit us online.
http://www.icofcsu.yolasite.com
or
http://www.icof.net
Updated ICOF Membership
Cards are now available.
ICOF Members write to
administration@icof.net
to receive yours.
39
Christian Greetings,
We welcome you to the International Circle of Faith Global Missions Department. Our missions department exists to aid our network of established ministries and churches in a holistically approach of restoration of body soul & spirit; to extend the church beyond the traditional parameters of the edifice complex. We are dedicated to community and family development by helping meet the needs of the citizens and communities we are called to serve. We must focus on the needs of an ever growing population in our communities, cities and Nation. Every day, individuals and families who are at risk of homelessness, hunger and other life crises in our communities go unnoticed by society at large. We are the body of Christ and it is our mandate to help those who need our help the most? ICOF Missions focus:
1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ 2. Humanitarian 3. Business and Economic
development We believe that by assisting those in need– physically, mentally, and spiritually – and helping them to reach their full potential, our communities become stronger, and the lives of each
member become ready to empower their world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Help us and be a part of our efforts in doing our part to improve our ever increasing poverty rate, degeneration of values and overall quality of Life; by focusing on the needs and solutions for all these areas including the neglect of our Nation's children. We are purposed to impact
the preservation and restoration of the family. We hold that the Church was patterned after the family.
We are a mission’s resource network; partnering with churches, organizations, agencies and nonprofits and faith based communities to achieve our mission to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every man woman and child.
Africa
Our past and present missions include: Drilling water wells, free medical services and in current development of Agriculture &Housing.
India
In partnership with ICOF CSU we have started the Patrick Song Academy
English School, to help young Indian children to speak English, so they can function in elementary and secondary education. ICOF Medical missions in conjunction
with Project Eye Openers, reaches the
40
poorest, most vulnerable patients, who may not be aware about eye care and free medical camps services. While Project Eye Openers current outreach teams provide free medical services and eye examinations to approximately 400 plus patients in each Village per Medical Camp outing, their ultimate goal is to eliminate obstacles by providing pre-screenings through our Mobile Medical Camps.
Pakistan
Evangelism: We have a program called “Project Logos “The program consists of sending bibles to Pakistan translated into their native language. Medical Missions: Through ICOF Medical Missions “Physicians with a cause” provide free medical camps and sharing of the gospel, throughout remote villages in Pakistan.
USA We also are focused on Church Home Missions in the USA. Through Community Enhancement that acts as a safety net for individuals and families in need, ICOF Global Missions works to strengthen and enhance communities by working with varies other agencies, churches, non profits within the Faith Based communities already in existence. We are committed to our Senior citizens community including information and referral, food distribution and collaborations with the faith community.
Senior Citizens
ICOF Home Missions offers personal interactions for the elderly. Providing a much-needed ministry for older people to receive care and human concern. With the baby boomer generation fast approaching their senior years, a swelling tide of concern for the many that will need support and assistance is evident by the many senior citizen charity groups that continue to organize throughout the country. ICOF Home Missions division offers opportunities for any person to donate time and important resources to this growing challenge. Holistic Family Restoration. A long term priority is to under-served communities. The goal is to lead individuals and families in need towards a better life, improved happiness and inner peace in addition to rebuilding their material lives or improving their living and an educational condition with the power of the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ ….body, soul & Spirit. A hundred years from now it will not matter how much money you have, what kind of car you drive or what kind of House you live in, but the world will be a better place because you made a difference in the lives of others”.
Dr. Barney Phillips
ICOF VP of Missions
drbphilips@icof.net
41
Where Do We Go from Here?
Bishop Sanford L. Wade
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? I AM SURE
THERE ARE MANY ANSWERS BEING THOUGHT
OF AND SPOKEN OF CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. THE ANSWER SHOULD BE, WE GO BACK AND
BUILD FOR THE NOW AND FUTURE UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND THE
PROPHETS. JESUS CHRIST, HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. I CORINTHIANS
3:11, EPHESIANS 2:20.
MANY YEARS AGO, GOD CALLED ME TO OPEN A
CHURCH IN A RURAL AREA OF OHIO. HE LEAD ME TO THE BUILDING
AND CONFIRMED BY HIS
SPIRIT THAT THIS WAS TO BE THE LOCATION
FOR HIS WORK. THE BUILDING WAS AN OLD
SUPER MARKET. IT WAS
IN VERY BAD SHAPE. IT TOOK A LOT OF HARD
WORK AND PRAYER TO MAKE IT INTO A
PRESENTABLE CHURCH BUILDING. I RECEIVED
HELP IN THE REMODELING OF THE BUILDING
FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO DID NOT PLAN ON BEING A PART OF THE WORK GOD HAD
CALLED ME TO. SOME OF THEM WERE NOT CHRISTIANS AND SOME OF THEM WERE. ALL
OF THEM WERE BLESSED BY GOD FOR THEIR
EFFORTS IN REMODELING THE STRUCTURE.
WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING IN THE BUILDING, THERE WERE FIVE PEOPLE
PRESENT. MY LOVING WIFE, OUR TWO SMALL SONS, ONE SISTER NAMED BOBBIE COOPER
AND MYSELF. I DID'T THINK OF IT AT THE
TIME, BUT FIVE IS GOD'S NUMBER FOR GRACE. HE CERTAINLY SHOWERED HIS GRACE UPON
THE UNDERTAKING. WITHIN SIX MONTHS THERE WERE OVER ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE
GATHERING TO WORSHIP GOD AT THE PLACE
OF HIS CHOOSING.
MY WIFE AND I DID EXTENSIVE BIBLE STUDY TO BE SURE THAT WE TAUGHT ONLY WHAT
WAS IN THE WORD OF THE LORD. WE FOUND THAT MANY OF OUR EARLY TEACHINGS IN
OUR LIVES WERE NOT BIBLE BASED. THOSE
WE HAD TO THROW OUT. WE DID NOT WISH TO HINDER GOD'S WORK WITH THE
TRADITIONS OF MEN. TO THAT EXTENT, WE HAD NIGHTLY PRAYER MEETING BETWEEN
THREE AM AND FIVE AM. WE CHOSE THESE HOURS SO AS NOT TO BE INTERRUPTED BY
PHONE CALLS, PEOPLE COMING TO SEE US OR
BY THE CHILDREN. WE CARRIED OUR REQUESTS TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
NIGHTLY. WE PRAYED FOR THOSE WHO HAD NEVER KNOWN GOD AND FOR THOSE WHO
WERE FAR FROM HIM. (SEE LAST MONTHS
MAGAZINE FOR REFERENCE TO FAR FROM HIM). WE PRAYED FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD
WHO WERE FIGHTING A DAILY BATTLE TO PRESS ON TO THE MARK OF
PERFECTION. GOD HEARD AND HE ANSWERED OUR
PRAYERS.
MANY OF THOSE WE
PRAYED FOR CAME TO KNOW JESUS OR RETURNED
TO HIM. NOT ALL OF THEM
WERE A PART OF THE WORK GOD HAD STARTED
THROUGH OUR EFFORTS. MANY WERE IN NEARBY
CHURCHES, BUT ALL WERE
IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. PRAISE THE LORD! THE CHILDREN ON GOD GREW STRONGER IN
THEIR WALK WITH HIM. WE WERE BLESSED WITH MANY NEW WITNESSES. MIRACLES
WERE COMMON PLACE AMONG US. THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT WERE MANIFESTED. CARS
WERE STOPPED IN THE STREET AS THEY
PASSED THE BUILDING. GOD WAS REACHING OUT TO THE LOST.
WHAT WAS THE SECRET TO THE SUCCESS OF
THE WORK? IT WAS BUILT UPON THE RIGHT
FOUNDATION. IT WAS REINFORCED BY PRAYER AND DO NOT LET ME FORGET
FASTING. WE DID ALL THAT WE COULD TO MAKE THE VESSELS READY FOR GOD TO USE. I
HAVE LIVED MY LIFE WITH THE GOAL OF BEING A VESSEL THAT GOD CAN USE. I FEEL
42
THAT IF I WORK TO MAKE THE VESSEL
WORTH, GOD WILL PROVIDE THE WORDS I NEED WHEN I NEED THEM TO HELP HIS
PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY. MY WIFE WAS A GREAT HELP IN THAT WORK AND OTHERS
THAT FOLLOWED. SHE WAS A GREAT HELP
MEET TO ME RIGHT UP TO THE TIME OF HER GOING HOME TO BE WITH JESUS ON JULY 8TH
OF THIS YEAR.
THAT WORK IS STILL IN OPERATION TODAY. WE LEFT IT WITH ANOTHER MINISTER WHEN
GOD CALLED US TO ANOTHER STATE TO WORK
FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THAT HOWEVER IS ANOTHER PRAISE FOR GOD TO BE SHARED
AT A LATER DATE.
WE MUST BUILD OUR WORK FOR THE LORD
UPON THE FOUNDATION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN LAID. IF WE WISH TO SEE IT PROSPER,
WE WILL WATER IT WITH PRAYER AND FASTING AND THE WORD OF GOD. HAVING
DONE SO, BY FAITH IT WILL THEN PROSPER. WE WILL SHOW OUR FAITH BY OUR WORKS
AND GOD WILL SHOW HIS PLEASURE IN THEM.
ALL CAN BE A PART OF THE GROWTH OF GOD'S KINGDOM THROUGH PRAYER AND
FASTING AND THE SHARING OF GOD'S WORD.
WRITTEN WITH CHRISTIAN LOVE
Dr. Sanford L. Wade
ICOF Bishop
"The Holy Ghost does not come upon methods,
but upon men. He does not anoint machinery,
but men. He does not work through
organizations, but through men. He does not
dwell in buildings, but men. He indwells the
Body of Christ, directs its activities, distributes
its forces, empowers its members."
- Samuel Chadwick
A.W. TOZER
Great industrial concerns have in their
employ men who are needed only when
there is a breakdown somewhere. When
something goes wrong with the
machinery, these men spring into action
to locate and remove the trouble and get
the machinery rolling again.
For these men a smoothly operating
system has no interest. They are
specialists concerned with trouble and
how to find and correct it.
In the kingdom of God things are not too
different. God has always had His
specialists whose chief concern has
been the moral breakdown, the decline
in the spiritual health of the nation or the
church. Such men were Elijah,
Jeremiah, Malachi and others of their
kind who appeared at critical moments
in history to reprove, rebuke and exhort
in the name of God and righteousness.
A thousand or ten thousand ordinary
priests or pastors or teachers could
labor quietly on almost unnoticed while
the spiritual life of Israel or the church
was normal. But let the people of God
go astray from the paths of truth and
immediately the specialist appeared
almost out of nowhere. His instinct for
trouble brought him to the help of the
Lord and of Israel.
43
Such a man was likely to be drastic,
radical, possibly at times violent, and the
curious crowd that gathered to watch
him work soon branded him as extreme,
fanatical, negative. And in a sense they
were right. He was single-minded,
severe, fearless, and these were the
qualities the circumstances demanded.
He shocked some, frightened others
and alienated not a few, but he knew
who had called him and what he was
sent to do. His ministry was geared to
the emergency, and that fact marked
him out as different, a man apart.
To such men as this the church owes a
debt too heavy to pay. The curious thing
is that she seldom tries to pay him while
he lives, but the next generation builds
his sepulcher and writes his biography,
as if instinctively and awkwardly to
discharge an obligation the previous
generation to a large extent ignored...
“It was the greatest honor God did to man
that he made man in the image of God; but
it is the greatest dishonor man has done to
God thathe has made God in the image of
man.” -
Matthew Henry
ICOF CSU
Alumni News
Our own Dr's Stan and Cindye Coates
pictured above with their sons Kyle
and Trevor at an Atlanta Falcons
game.
The Atlanta Falcons are a National
Football League team and Dr. Cindye
Coates was a cheerleader for them in
the 1980's. She was invited back to
participate in an anniversary game.
By the way, the Falcons won the
game! In fact, at this writing they are
undefeated!
Congrats Cindye!
44
45
In an effort to share the work that ICOF
members around the world are doing for the
Kingdom of Jesus Christ we share this overview
from our members, friends and partners:
AFRICA
ICOF NIGERIA
Bishop Derrick Day
ICOF Secretary General of North America
Teaching - Business Session
Dr. Daniel Joseph Ubonabasi Chairman of the
ICOF African Roundtable leading a business
meeting.
ICOF WOMEN FOR CHRIST MEETING
From the ICOF Secretary General - Africa
Dr. David Ngwa
Dr. Wade,
Praise the Lord Jesus! The Lord is steadily
uniting the Fivefold here in Africa. My present
concern is agreeing on a specific date and time
for our ICOF African Fivefold Meetings. For
now, one of our major difficulty is internet
connection - especially now with the very heavy
rains (we had rain fall here in Buea, non-stop
for 4 good days, until today that we have seen
some sunshine!), thus causing Skype to become
fairly ineffective.
(L to R) Dr. Victor Balinga Sunday - Bishop of
Limbe Bishop Ngwa David - ICOF Secretary
General for Africa, Bishop Tembi Alfred Tembi -
Bishop of Cameroon, Dr Ndoudoumou Jean Jaques -
Director General of Contract and Public Markets at
the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon.
46
Well, the future is very promising! International
Business is helping to bring into Africa modern
and quality communication gadgets - Mobiles, I-
pods, etc. I see the Lord also blessing His
people! It is well! Please, have a blessed day!
Love you all!
Dr. Ngwa
Secretary General ICOF Africa
www.icof.net
Cameroon
Dear Bishop Wade,
It happened again in the city of Yaounde
today July 28th. ICOF reached the
Presidency through an illustrious son of
Cameroon the president of the World wide
church of God who was awarded the
prestigious Ph. D in Divine Laws from
ICOF CSU.
This is an extension of the 4th Convocation
which held in Buea
on the 23rd of last
month. His
candidature was
postponed for
obvious reason.
We had to do a
thorough
investigation of
his personality for
integrity before
any such award.
We found him worthy and the award was
done today in the presence of the Secretary
General for ICOF Africa Dr David Ngwa.
CONGO
hello administration président de l'Afrique ICOF
en ma qualité de coordination principal de
l'icof-Congo D R C pour bien s'organiser dans
l'unité, l'amour et surtout dans la transparence .
j'ai voulu vous informer que mon administration
c'est -a-dire staff national d'exécution invite
nos membres leaders , les chef des antennes de
icof dans tout les quartes coins du Congo ,
puisse me rejoindre d'ici mi-janvier 2013 pour
que nous puissions reconstruire icof CONGO-R
D C , lors de mon mandat manuel de 2012 à
2014.
espérons vous lire bientôt
NATIONAL OFFICE ICOF -CONGO
BISHOP NOE SAKAHANDU
ASIA
NEPAL
Dear Brother, Greetings,
How are u and The Family? It Was Nice Talking to you this Morning. As you know I have sent u the Invitation this program will be of 2 days. So If anybody another wants to come u can bring them. And Please Inform Me Too. This Program Will Be Held In Hetauda, Makwanpur. It Is Very Expensive Program so please pray that God Arranges Money And Every other Stuffs. Thank You God Bless You Rev. Matthew Suroya
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PHILIPPINES To: Bishop Bernie Wade ICOF President, USA Dear Bishop Wade: Greetings from the Philippines. Bishop the work here in the Philippines is increasing by God’s grace and ICOF Philippines is still in the process of forming, praying for the right timing to take off. I am writing you about the flood I told you many times that needs our attention. The flood was so strong that it affected 2.8 million people during the strong flood last August 4-8 in Metro Manila. Thousands of people are still in the process of recovery now. I proposed for a budget of $1,200 to help few families that were affected . It is a very small amount compared to the great need but ICOF will start in a small help then the pastors will know us and it is easy for them to join us when we gather them someday. But if ICOF USA can raise more than I suggested the better. Since $1,200 is very small amount, this is what I plan for the help:
1. Target 5 to 10 families to meet their immediate needs
2. The families should be ripe for follow up for bible studies and friends of the nearby pastors
3. We will buy medicines, grocery items- rice, can goods, soap, noodles,
4. Part of the money will be use to help children for their schooling- fare, notebook and paper
The Lord will bless our humble beginning in the Philippines. Hello to all ICOF USA directors, bishops, pastors, supporters and partners.
In the Lord’s vineyard, Bishop Bing Gadian - ICOF Philippines
PAKISTAN ICOF HEALING CRUSADE Pastor Kanwal Sohail
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NEW ZEALAND
VIBE YOUTH CONFERENCE Dr. Peter Mitchell NEW LIFE CHURCH
LEESTON, CANTERBURY
FLOOD RELIEF - PAKISTAN Respected Sir, Greeting in Jesus name. I want to humble request to ICOF for all Nations ICOF internationally , all leaders, pastors, Bishops , Apostle and ICOF Members. You have Watched in News that in Pakistan four provinces has been effected, people are living on road without food, living due to discrimination Christians are not help by the any NGOs or Govt. So I request to our Head office ICOF please release this news on Next wave and personally request to all members of ICOF support us in Pakistan in this crisis time the affected people needs 1.Food 2.Medicines 3.Tents 4.Cloths. 5.Clean Water 6.kitchen articles, pots, plates, spoons, etc. 7.blanket. We want to reach these Christian people . Bishop Dilshad Bhatti - ICOF Pakistan
INDIA Dear in Christ, ICOF Greetings • we had fasting prayers in our Church INKOLLU, A.P. INDIA • God has anointed with His Holy Spirit • we prayed for each one in the circle and for all • And in the circle we prayed for the world • God have used me with anointing like a sharing word of God, healing sick and getting gifts of Holy Spirit. • Glory to God for it. Your brother in Christ Pastor DANIYELU = Hyderabad
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Social Media Director
Key Skills:
: Highly proficient with social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Linked-In, Digg, foursquare,
Google+, and/or Flickr. Send your resume to: mailto:administration@icof.net
ICOF CSU INTERNSHIPS
ICOF CSU offers internships to students.
This program is designed to help the
student develop their ministry while
working hands on with ICOF in a
variety of areas. The student will
receive an ICOF CSU degree or
credit toward their degree.
Available internships for the 2012-
2013 academic year are in the following
areas:
SOCIAL MEDIA
GRAPHIC DESIGN
GRAPHIC LAYOUT
TEACHING
WRITING
NON PROFIT MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
MISSIONS
GRANT WRITING
INTERNET TECHONOLOGY
ADMINISTRATION
CHURCH MANAGEMENT
MINISTRY MANAGEMENT
CONFERENCE/EVENT
MANAGEMENT
PASTORING
PREACHING
PROPHECY
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT:
administration@icof.net
Reach over 50,000 loyal Christian
readers with the Next Wave. For
more information contact:
mailto:nextwave@icof.net or
502.410.4263
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ICOF CSU Graduation
November 3rd
ICOF CSU Zambia
Host: Dr. Charles Mwape
THE INTERNATIONAL
GATHERING OF EAGLES
ACCRA GHANA.
8th to 10th of November 2012.
Bishop Freeson (ICOF Bishop of Ghana)
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Distribution:
50,000
Reaching key
leaders in over
100 Countries
Readership: 50,000
Distribution: over 100 countries
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