2 3

RICK DUBOSE’S GOD DIRECTIVEPAGE 4

MISSION 66 ON ROUTE 66 PAGE 3 • CHURCH MEETINGINNER-CITY NEEDS PAGE 5 • BURLEIGH BEGINS NEW USM DUTIES

PAGE 6 • THIS WEEK IN AG HISTORY PAGE 8

TRANSITION – GOD’S WAYPAGE 5

CHURCH PLANT MEETS IN RESTORED BARNPAGE 7

A COLLECTION OF THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES FROM PENEWS.ORG

SUNDAY,OCT. 8,2017

THIS WEEK IN AG HISTORYBY DARRIN J. RODGERS

The Azusa Street Revival (1906-1909) in Los Angeles and William Seymour have become iconic symbols of the Pentecostal movement. However, historians and participants in the revival point to a lesser-known Baptist pastor, Joseph Smale, who helped prepare Los Angeles for the revival.

In the summer of 1905, Smale, pastor of First Baptist Church of Los Angeles, returned from a visit to the great Welsh Revival in Wales. He had witnessed countless people repent and turn to God. He prayed for God to do a similar work in Los Angeles.

Smale opened up his church for daily prayer meetings. However, some Baptist leaders opposed the spontaneous character of the prayer.

They forced Smale to resign. He formed a new congregation, whose members committed themselves to pray for revival.

In the fall of 1905, Smale preached a series of sermons titled “The Pentecostal Blessing.” He encouraged believers to seek a restoration of the spiritual blessings described in the New Testament.

When Seymour came to Los Angeles in the spring of 1906 and began encouraging believers to seek biblical spiritual gifts, he found fertile ground for his message.

Read Stanley Horton’s article, “Pentecostal Explosion,” on pages 8-9 of the Oct. 7, 1962, issue of the Pentecostal Evangel online at s2.ag.org/oct71962.

CONNECT WITH US ON

FACEBOOK TWITTER

RSS

AND OUR WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER.VISIT PENEWS.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.

NEWS FOR, ABOUT, AND FROM THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

Read the full versions of these stories on PENews.org

THE WORSHIP LEADER’S GRIDIRON CALLING PAGE 2

4 5

Although David A. Canales once spent five years as a bivocational worship leader, ultimately the 36-year-old Seattle Seahawks wide receivers’ coach sensed God calling him to football.

“I knew early on I wasn’t going to be in full-time ministry in the church,” says Canales, who joined Coach Pete Carroll’s staff in 2010. “I started to feel in junior high that I was being called outward.”

Still, as the grandson of Miguel Canales, the founding pastor of Mission Ebenezer Family Church in South Los Angeles, David also felt the pull of family expectations.

Initially, he tried to mix high school coaching with church duties. Attempting to balance the two left Canales in inner turmoil — until he received a pair of prophetic messages.

“It was freeing when I was prophesied over to go,” says David,

who soon after advanced to coaching at the junior college level.

A prophecy about climbing rapidly came true three years after he went to El Camino College. After observing Canales volunteering at the University of Southern California’s summer football camps, Carroll offered him a position on USC’s staff.

However, just a year after Canales took his “dream job,” everything changed when Carroll accepted an offer to coach the Seahawks. With his wife, Lizzy, nine months pregnant, the question of whether Canales would be offered a job in Seattle — or be able to keep his old one — left them on edge.

David and Lizzy prayed about the situation at a park overlooking the Pacific Ocean. David concluded by telling the Lord they trusted Him. As soon as the couple said “amen” and opened their eyes, a massive hawk landed in a nearby tree and stared at

2 7

T H E A B C s O F S A L V A T I O N

ACCEPT that you are a sinner, and God’s punishment for yoursin is death and separation from God forever.

BELIEVE that Jesus paid God’s price for your sin when He died on the cross.

CONFESS “Jesus, I believe You are who the Bible and historydeclares You are – the Son of God. I humble myself and surrender to You. Forgive me. Make me spiritually whole. Change my life. Amen.”

CHURCH PLANT MEETS IN RESTORED BARNBY GUYLA ARMSTRONG

What could be a more fitting facility for a church plant in the middle of a cornfield in Ohio than a beautifully restored barn? Members and guests at Hope Church in Plain City, Ohio, a town of around 4,300 people, regularly enjoy the beauty and history of the wonderful space.

Pastors Julie A. Pratt and her husband, Shelby J. Pratt, both had been in vocational ministry for more than 20 years. Hope Church started in February 2016. Julie serves as the lead pastor, and works bivocationally as a family specialist and teacher in the local school. Shelby is the volunteer executive pastor, whose primary job is finance director for the AG Ohio Ministry Network.

The beautifully reconstructed barn

has 3,400 square feet with a main auditorium, two dedicated children’s ministry rooms, a room for mothers to take small children, and a spacious kitchen. Most of the woodwork has been done with reclaimed timber to maintain an authentic look.

Because of Julie’s work in the local school, Shelby says the church has found favor with students in the community. Hope Church periodically hosts worship nights that draw 100 teens. Up to 150 students regularly attend the weekly Wednesday morning breakfast and prayer time at a local restaurant. Julie’s work as a family specialist also gives her ample opportunities to work with families in crisis and to connect with other pastors in the community.

WORSHIP LEADER’S GRIDIRON CALLINGBY KEN WALKER

6 7

North Texas District Superintendent Rick W. DuBose went outside his hotel for his daily devotional during the August General Council in Anaheim, California. He enumerated the reasons for withdrawing his name from contention as general treasurer, which would necessitate a move to the AG national office in Springfield, Missouri.

He had lived in Texas all his 60 years. The North Texas District is growing, with various initiatives hitting their stride. He and his wife, Rita, built a new home two years ago. His three children — all involved in church ministry — plus eight grandsons, live nearby.

“Our life was just about perfect,” DuBose says.

DuBose decided to withdraw his name. Just then, Wayne H. Lee Sr., whose Church Life Resources materials DuBose used to revitalize district congregations, walked up.

“Didn’t you tell the Lord if He opened the door you would walk through it?” Lee bluntly asked DuBose — who hadn’t revealed such a statement to Lee. “The Lord woke me up and told me to remind you of your promise.”

“That was the turning point,” DuBose recalls. “I couldn’t say no.”

DuBose went on to garner the most votes for a four-year term as general treasurer. He succeeds Doug E. Clay, the new general superintendent, on Monday.

Those Texas roots are deep,

including the past decade leading what is now the district with the largest number of churches in the U.S. Assemblies of God. The district has 610 churches now compared to 525 when DuBose came into office.

In 1987, he became pastor of an AG church in Sachse, Texas, which had but 17 attendees. When he left to become district assistant superintendent in 2005, the church had mushroomed to 1,000.

Rick and Rita Stratton Dubose, who attended Southwestern AG University together, have been married 38 years. Their daughter Renee Exley and her husband, Jason, are lead pastors of Life Church in Midlothian. Son Ryan and his wife, Lauren, are executive pastors at the growing church. Younger daughter Rachel Jenkins and her husband, Eric, are executive and youth pastors at Open Arms Church in Lake Dallas.

“My goal is to empower the grassroots,” DuBose says. “People seldom get saved at the district office or the national office. Salvations take place at the local church.”

54

RICK DUBOSE’S GOD DIRECTIVEBY JOHN W. KENNEDY

An inner-city Assemblies of God church is meeting the spiritual and physical needs of Cleveland residents in an area where gangs, poverty, crime, drugs, and prostitution rule the streets.

U.S. missionary Bob Willard, his wife, Judy, and their four children moved to Cleveland in 2010. The Willards soon started a Bible study that packed 20 people in their living room, plus an after-school program to reach out to children in the neighborhood.

The ministry served as the genesis for The Meeting Place Church (TMPC). The church focuses on physical assistance — giving away food, clothing, and school supplies — in order to introduce people to God.

In 2013, the house next door to the Willards went through foreclosure. Because of the house’s dilapidated condition, and finding favor with the director of the bank that owned it, Willard purchased the property for a mere $500. TMPC has been holding services at the renovated residence since November 2015.

This summer, the bank donated to the church another nearby foreclosed building, which previously served as a tavern. The structure is being remodeled, and when completed will feature the church’s main sanctuary, a Christian coffeehouse, Christian counseling services, and a community food pantry.

Proverbs 21:1 states, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (NKJV). I have seen this verse being vividly lived out over these past few weeks as I have witnessed the mutually amicable and supportive transition of executive leadership between General Superintendent George Wood and General Superintendent-elect Doug Clay. It has been a remarkable example of two godly leaders acting with integrity.

From my position seated on the General Council stage when Doug Clay was elected, it was immediately evident that God was orchestrating the transitional events that would unfold. Dr. Wood laid the groundwork by removing his name from consideration in a way that did not divide the Fellowship. In turn, Doug Clay deflected the applause for his own election by stating his desire for the applause that day to be for Dr. Wood and his accomplishments.

Both men have continued to demonstrate great integrity in honoring one another and creating a smooth transitional experience. I have watched them be nothing but gracious and deferring to each another. They have had a sincere determination to do things in a way that honors God and preserves His church.

CHURCH MEETINGINNER-CITY NEEDSBY ERIC TIANSAY

TRANSITION – GOD’S WAYBY JAMES T. BRADFORD

8 936

them.“We looked at each other with tears

in our eyes and I said, ‘I guess we’re going to Seattle,’” David recalls. “Two weeks later I got the phone call to take this position.”

Initially hired as a quality control assistant, two years ago Canales became wide receivers coach. While David lives in Seattle year-round, he still is listed as a staff member on the Mission Ebenezer website. Executive Pastor Josh B. Canales is delighted with the spiritual maturity of his younger brother.

“The greatest example Dave sets for people in the church is to not despise small beginnings,” says Josh, 38.

David says relationships are the most important part of his calling,

including challenging players to ask themselves hard questions about their identity, future direction, and how they will get there.

Part of strengthening his sense of calling involved overcoming the reluctance that had developed because of the demands of the NFL and the time it takes him away from family.

Thankfully, some Christians in his profession helped David see the value of his vocation, sharing about players whose lives changed for the better after they decided to follow Christ.

“Just knowing that helped settle me in my spirit that this is where the Lord has me,” Canales says. “We don’t get to see the end of a lot of these relationships, but I know that they’re real.”

BURLEIGH BEGINS NEW USM DUTIESBY JOHN W. KENNEDY

Malcolm P. Burleigh says God has a habit of pushing him into new ministry positions, including his new role as executive director of AG U.S. Missions, even when he is perfectly content with his old role.

While some might consider Burleigh obstinate and irascible, he says he just wants to make sure it’s God, not just people, calling him.

AG general presbyters nominated Burleigh and five other candidates to succeed the retiring Zollie L. Smith Jr. as the new leader over seven departments. Since 2009, Burleigh has been senior director of one of those departments, Intercultural Ministries.

Instead of promoting himself, Burleigh, 66, merely handed a business card to people supporting his candidacy that read, “If God wants to use us, Maria and I are available, but we won’t help Him,” and said nothing. Maria is Burleigh’s wife of 46 years.

In 2009, Burleigh initially had no interest in leaving Living Faith AG in Tampa, Florida, where he had been senior pastor for 18 years.

“God made it clear He was sending me on an assignment,” Burleigh says. “This U.S. Missions election is a continuation of the assignment.”

That Burleigh is involved in ministry leadership is remarkable, considering his youth and early adulthood. Originally from Gary, Indiana, Burleigh lived in three foster homes beginning at age 8. The foster families all went

to church regularly, yet disciplined Burleigh brutally.

Repeated punishment with an extension cord left him with welts and a bloody neck, back, and arms. At 17, he fled for Chicago, got involved in gang life, and sold heroin. During an armed robbery, he got stabbed, and in a separate burglary sustained a gunshot wound.

Leaving the violent life behind, Burleigh married Maria in 1971. The Burleighs are a multiethnic couple; he is African-American, she is Hispanic. In 1975, Maria accepted Jesus as Savior, but Malcolm wanted nothing to do with God; he equated Christianity with physical beatings. Eventually, in order to keep from paying higher Christian school tuition for his three children, Burleigh agreed to attend church.

He made a salvation decision in 1981, at the second service he attended. Within months he started teaching 3- and 4-year-olds, learning the Bible as he went.

It may be one of the most diverse group of cyclists found on the “Mother Road” of Route 66 — a Canadian evangelist, a 79-year-old Olympic qualifier, a Ph.D. student from the Congo, members of the Pentecostal Church of Canada, and a mixture of men and women from the Family Life church of Penns Valley, Pennsylvania, all led by an AG pastor who once biked across the United States for missions.

However, the “Mission 66 . . . If My People” ride from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, (Sept. 6 – Oct. 7) isn’t about raising funds. K. R. Mele, pastor of Family Life, says this ride is about praying for America and calling

people back to God.“We chose Route 66 because it was

the old road and symbolic of our desire to see America to return to the old way of thinking — a return to biblical values,” Mele says.

Throughout the month long ride, God has been answering the group’s prayers for “divine encounters.”

Mele makes daily posts to the Mission 66 Facebook page, sharing about encounters with people — many who they have prayed with and even leading some to accept Christ as their Savior.

“It’s been exciting to see lives changed,” Mele says.

MISSION 66 ON ROUTE 66BY DAN VAN VEEN