October 2017 Newsletter

Good Morning brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ,

N E W S   F L A S H

For those who have tried to reach Bro. Gary Wingrove by phone, and could not, that is due to telephone problems that have been fixed by getting a new phone and phone number. Please note his new phone number: 817-925-5618.

Due to health issues in my life this letter is being sent later than what I wanted it to be sent. I have had ear problems, which seemed to put a different aspect to my whole life. I have been to the doctor and everything is looking better, but most important everything is sounding back to normal. You never know how important hearing is until you lose it. It affects everything in your life. I apologize to you if I have forgotten to get back with you on something.

This month will be a busy time for me getting your membership cards ready and sent out to you. I am planning to send them with the next newsletter. To get them in that next newsletter you will need to have your renewal form and fee in the office by October 24.

Update on the New Sanctuary

However, this has been a busy summer for Bro. Tommy Stephens and his family. Following the leading of God, they have moved to Temple and have been working with Bro. Gary Wingrove on the sanctuary. Bro. Stephens is working on building the platform and the sound booth. There is progress every time I have been to Temple. God has blessed the Association through Bro. Stephens, so please add him and his family to your prayer list.

Call for Prayer

After talking with the General Board at our last meeting, a need became apparent to us. We need younger ministers. At this time the Association needs a General Youth Director for the International Full Gospel Evangelistic Youth Association. The By-Laws state that he/she shall have been an ordained minister for at least one year between the ages of 21-35, having been an active member of the Association for at least one year. At this time we only have one minister in that age range and that minister is an Exhorter. Therefore there is a pressing need of prayer for younger ministers in our Association.

While going through the newsletter from LifeWay Pastors, I ran across an article by Thom S. Rainer titled; “Five Ways Some Senior Adult Churches Became Younger” and here is the link if you wish to read the complete article: (http://www.lifeway.com/pastors/2017/09/28/five-ways-senior-adult-churches-became-younger/).

The first way that he mentions is that sometimes we neglect the most important Source of our needs: God through prayer. I know you are thinking that we are not a church. However, our ministers are Senior Adults for the most part, the ages range from 35 into the 80’s. This is why I am calling for an Association Wide prayer request. We have some Prayer Warriors and some new Christians that are learning to become Prayer Warriors, but we can all pray. If you are pastoring a church please get them to pray about our need as well.

News from Vanderwagen, New Mexico

I was talking with Sis. Arviso today and she informed me that the Navajo Nation was talking about curtailing the different meetings on the reservation unless they had the proper paperwork on file. Since they, Bro. Jay and Sis. Bertha Arviso, are pastors of Faith Centered Church in Vanderwagen, New Mexico, it is in Fellowship with the IFGEA. Because of what is going on, I feel impressed to ask each one that reads this to pray for the Arviso’s and their church. We want God’s will in this matter.

October Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy birthday to Jason Gibbs (10/6), Brother Jason is one of our Christian Workers. Let’s be sure and mention him to God in our prayers this month.

Anniversaries prayers go up for Bro. Donald & Sis. Virginia Stepp (10/18); Bro. Phillip & Sis. Kathy Johnston (10/21); Bro. Randy & Sis. Kay Hugo (10/30); Bro. Wendell & Sis. Margie Folsom (10/18); Bro. Carl & Sis. Fay Dunlap (10/9) and Bro. Phillip & Sis. Kathy Christian (10/25)

Happy Birthday greetings go out to the ones here on earth that our ministers depend on, their spouse. Sis. Virginia Stepp (10/18); Sis. Arletta Pope (10/31); Sis. Kathy Johnston (10/29); Sis. Donna Hayes (10/17); Sis. Fay Foyil (10/26) and Sis. Karen Charlebois (10/3)

Finally yet importantly, are birthday wishes and prayers for our ministers. No matter how young or how old, you appreciate it when someone recognizes you, therefore birthday prayers for: Bro. Paul Taylor (10/29); Sis. Odilia Sintas (10/12); Sis. Pamela Sheperd (10/29); Bro. Daniel Rogriques-Rosas (10/12); Bro. Mark Pope (10/14); Bro. Jimmy Martin (10/11); Sis. Donna Johnson (10/6); Bro. Raymond Cox (10/17); Bro. Steven Coleman (10/10) and Bro, David Bittner (10/18)

LifeWay Research published some results from a survey of 2,930 American Protestant churchgoers on April 5, 2013. Their findings in four statements make me wonder what the answers to those questions are now, four years later. Could this be why it seems that the churches are losing what they had with God just four short years ago? I have listed the questions and the percentages of the answers.

1. God is just and sin has to be punished.
   1. 71% agree
   2. 13% disagree
   3. 16% neither agree or disagree
2. If a person is sincerely seeking God, he/she can obtain eternal life through religions other than Christianity.
   1. 58% disagree
   2. 26% agree
   3. 16% neither agree or disagree
3. The God of the Bible is no different from the gods or spiritual beings depicted by world religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.
   1. 75% disagree
   2. 13 % agree
   3. 12% neither agree or disagree
4. The Bible is the written word of God and is totally accurate in all that it teaches.
   1. 82% agree
   2. 10% disagree
   3. 8% neither agree or disagree

Remember, these are people that go to church they are not all Pentecostal. However, this just indicates that the Pentecostal church is not the only church that needs to strive to present God’s word where everyone can understand these four concepts. So take the time to ask yourself these four questions and see where you stand. Then ask God what he wants you to do to further His truths to those around you.

Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and should be taught as 100% truth? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only way you can make it to Heaven? Do you believe that God is just and that he will punish sin, unless the blood of the Lamb covers it? Do you believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are different from all the other deities of the world’s religions?

I am taking this time to thank each one of you who have already replied for being prompt in returning their renewals. Thank you.

May God Bless,

C.I. Wilson