June 2017
5/18/2017
Greetings to our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:
We are seeing changes made to the new sanctuary on a weekly basis. Not only are the wall studs up now and thanks to a donation by a church we have most of them covered by sheetrock. As you, our members keep the funds coming in and the prayers going up, we by faith will be in the new sanctuary on June 19th starting our 2017 Camp Meeting. If you have any skills and time on your hands call Bro. Wingrove and ask when your skill is needed and when you can come join in the blessings of helping.
At this time (in my amateur opinion) we need HAVC units installed, then pews, pulpit, sound system and piano moved in to be ready for June 19th. Then after the Camp Meeting we can continue and finish out the building with a platform, sound/video booth and all the rest to make it look nice for 2018.
We want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one that has taken the time to help with getting the campgrounds ready for our Camp Meeting. It takes a lot of work to plan, repair, clean and set up so that you and our visitors can enjoy the out pouring of God’s spirit.
Please keep Sis. Marsha Colucci in your prayers, she is scheduled to see a neurosurgeon the day that I am putting this newsletter together. God is able to sustain her during this time in her life and to heal her back and any other issues that have occurred due to her fall.
Bro. Dan Gibbs, our Assistant General Superintendent has been suffering with some medical issues and is in need of your prayers at this time. He needs healing as well as strength and wisdom to pastor and help the association mover forward.
Bro. Gary Taylor has the Fort Worth Sectional Fellowship meeting scheduled for May 20th and the report on it may not fit in the July Newsletter due to Camp Meeting.
We are looking for some ministers who are willing and able to commit time and prayer in helping our association by becoming leaders.
For General Board Members, we have four board meetings a year and as of now two are held in Temple, Oklahoma and two in Fort Worth, Texas; then if needed we may hold one during the Camp Meeting. We want to have a total of eight board members and we only have five. Since applicants have to meet with the board, now would be a great time to send us notice of your interest in this position then you can meet the board during Camp Meeting.
A leader for the youth is sorely needed. Most of us may be seniors but we do have some young people in our midst. As an association we need our youth. Without youth our association will die out. Without meeting the spiritual needs of our youth they will leave our association. Without our youth where will our new leaders come from? Do you have a calling concerning the young people that you meet? If so, the IFGEA has need of a General Youth Leader. Yesterday was the time to meet the needs of today and today is the time to build up the next generation of leaders, pastors, ministers and teachers to carry on the work that Jesus started long years ago. He called us to be workers in the harvest and it is our responsibility to train up the next generation of workers. In other words – our youth of today.
Another area that needs a leader is the women. We are trying to start an association wide group with a group in each church to strengthen, encourage and train the women to be the people that God wants them to be; to give them the ability and opportunity to become spiritual power houses for God. In the olden days the women were the spiritual backbones of the local churches and a lot of times they still are today. I heard one pastor state that if he wanted something done in the church all he had to do was to get the women behind it and it would get done. When my husband joined the association there was no place for me. You became a licensed minister or you were not involved and not every minister’s wife is called to be a preacher, yes they help their spouse in many ways they just don’t preach so they don’t feel the need to be licensed. Now we want them to feel that they have a part. The Women of Worth with Helping Hands’ leader does not have to be a licensed minister.
And now we have a word from one of our ministers.
This is the Day the Lord has made, Rejoice and be glad in it for he woke us up one more day
I was asked to write something for our newsletter and I have been so busy helping out at the church getting it ready for camp. I haven’t took the time out to spend time with God. I prayed and asked God what he wanted me to speak on and he said this.
Giving him his time, instead of giving it or using it elsewhere. I didn’t quite understand what he was saying till he put me on my back for me to stay still long enough to hear him. I want to share with you what he has given me. As some of you may know I was painting at the church and I fell off the ladder. I didn’t realize it till 3 weeks later that I had broken a rib and fractured my back.
I guess this was the only way for me to be still long enough to talk to God and for him to speak to me so I could hear him. You know sometimes he has to stop our daily routine to slow us down so we can hear. It has been over a month now since I fell but the Lord has made the pain bearable. I go see a neurosurgeon the 17th of May. Pray for me.
What the Lord laid on my heart to share with you is to take time for him daily. You know we are supposed to give 10% of our earnings for tithes and he said what about 10% if the day to spend time with him. I thought Lord that is 2 hours and 40 minutes. Then he said 24 hours is a long time. So I took this time to break it up into a 24 hour period. It’s not so bad when you get started. The joy you will receive talking to our father is worth it all. In this day and times we find ourselves so busy in work, school, errands, taking care of the house and family, taking kids to their sporting practice or whatever is on our agenda for the day. We get so caught up in our lives that sometimes we forget about our Lord and Savior and put him behind us. I know because I have been guilty of that myself. I would say a few words to him during the day. I let things get in the way before God and the next thing I knew the day was gone. All he wants from us is to sit down and just have a little talk with him. That involves in reading and praying on a daily bases. A true heart to heart visit with him.
For us to know him, to really know him. Our pastor mentioned in his sermon yesterday (Sunday) that to have faith and to mature that faith is to read his word daily. God told me and to share with you that we need that personal one on one relationship with him. We need to know him to deep down know him. What an experience to be that close to our father.
Just a little alone time with him daily. If we gave God 10% of our time as we do our tithes we would be spending 2 hours and 40 minutes with him. Satan telling me that sure was a long time. But then Jesus spoke and said in a 24 hour period it not so long. Just think how long God spends with us. He never leaves us. He’s always by our side, holding our hand, picking us up, giving us a hug and dusting us off when we fall. He heals our bodies, takes our fears. Gives us joy, peach and happiness. I have the time it’s just using that time with him. God forgive me and help me to use that time for you. God is wanting me to tell you that it’s time for Jesus to come for us. Just waiting for God to say go. We all know the signs and we know it is close. He is wanting us to get closer to him, to read his word, to pray more for each other.
Time is short and times are getting hard. He wants us to be prepared and ready for that time that’s ahead.
I hope this has helped you and encouraged you.
God bless to you all. Just remember to take time out for our Lord and Savior.
Sis. Marsha Colucci
Hope to meet and visit with everyone this year at our Camp Meeting.
Remember to call or email to reserve an RV space or space in our dorms and space is limited so reserve your place now.
C. I. Wilson
2017 IFGEA Camp Meeting – June 19-23
516 N. Central
Temple, Oklahoma 73568