February 2019
2/1/2019
February 2019
Prayer Requests
One of our General Board members, Brother Robert Harrison, is facing some health issues that needs the prayers of all of our ministers and their churches. Please keep him in your prayers. He is one who knows and testififies of God’s healing power, however your prayers are appreciated.
One of our family members, Brother Tommy Stephens, went to heaven on 1/27, please keep Sister Stephens and their families in your prayers.
Two Types of Blessings
God’s children receive two types of blessings. One is a spiritual blessing that comes when we enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise. It is a wonderful blessing to go to church and enter a tired dry child and come out of the service refreashed and full of the joy of the Lord. The other type of blessing is a financial blessing. These come in two ways; first is an increase of finances and the seconded is receiving gifts of things we need and will no longer have to pay for. Such as food, clothing and other items we need to live on a daily basis.
There are two purposes for these material blessings. One is so that we may live our daily lives and the other is for us to further God’s work here on the earth. We give to our local church and we give to our association. When we give to God’s work either in the local church or the association we will be rewarded.
You say that you do not have enough money to give? How about giving of your time? Brother Aaron Finney mentioned in last year’s Camp Meeting that God wants us to give a tithe of our time. We all know, or we are in the process of learning, that first we give our tithe back to God which goes to the local church. Then we can give of our abundance. This is the part that a lot of people get hung up on. If we give with a happy heart God will bless. However, if we give begrudgingly then we may not be blessed because God loves a happy giver.
Reading Ezra 1:1-5 we read about how Cyrus, King of Persia, was told by God to build Him a house of worship. Your leadership has been given the task of building a house of worship for Camp Meetings and as Cyrus requested for people to give so we are requesting that people give today. We need to finish the new sactuary, put in new restroom facilities along with renovating the old sanctuary into a nice fellowship hall. Please pray and ask God what He wants you to give.
Camp Meeting 2019
Start planning on making the 2019 Camp Meeting one of your summer “things to do” it will be June 17-21. In the coming months more information will be forth coming. Attendance was down last year however, the spirit of God moved in every service. You could feel each person of the God-head was active in each service. The peace, love and grace of God was there to be felt of all who entered in.
The first Camp Meeting in the new sanctuary and it was annointed not just with oil and prayers, but with the moving of God in all services. Plan on coming and enjoying it this year. With everyone of you praying for a moving of God during Camp Meeting and bringing God with you it will be better than last year.
The Roving Pulpit visits with Rev. Rob Gragg
“Spiritual Gaming”
Part 1: Games people play
As a businessperson would do, coming up with an idea to manufacture a game so that it would be a best seller. It would consist of two components, the manufacture, and the players. Some may say that the essence of the game is the rules and regulations (control). Without rules and regulations, most manufacturers would have no game. Hummmm!
The only benefit to the game is to the manufacturers. It is the manufacturer’s that get all of the recognition (money) not the players. The players get no benefit whatsoever; they just follow the rules and regulations as is given to them by the manufacturer. Which is all right if that is all they want? But, the typical player loves to be rewarded for their effort and progress. The problems arise when the manufacturer cannot or will not reward them, the only reward that is given is the chance to win, and there is no guaranty that will happen, just an opportunity to have that chance. The thought remains that if I am rewarded as a player, then I am going to excel and maybe get a reward the next time but the game still keeps going on.
As the game is played more, the players get tired of just the same old things repeatedly and boredom sets in. Bad attitudes show up as well as a sour taste in their mouth for the game. The manufacturer has done nothing wrong in producing a product that seems to work according to him or her, however, the players now have a sour disposition toward the manufacturer and the game. The only remaining thing to do is to quit the game and go onto something more. So, the player does, and when the subject comes up about the game. The previous player tells the others what kind of game it is and how it stinks and why. They also broadcast the bad taste in the mouth to all that will hear it, and as long as it takes to get the message out. The manufacturer gets a bad reputation. The manufacturer is unaware of this because all they are interested in is the money it generates. Then on the other hand, the manufacturer plans more games that promise more excitement, more enticement, more thrills, more entertainment, and then they got you hook, line and sinker.
To be continued next month with the “Church Games.”
Women of Worth/Helping Hands
We want to encourage our ministers to support the women of their church. They are a precious resource for the church and in most cases they just need a small word of encouragement to become faithful supports of the church in works and financially. Just as woman was created to help man so the women are there to help the church. Try starting a women’s group in your church this year and see how much God will bless your church both spiritually and financially.
Evangelistic Youth Association
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
Here in 1 Timothy, we are told not to despise our youth but to be examples to them. How can we be examples to them of how important it is to serve the Lord and be active in the church if we are not prepared to show them by our actions? So many churches do not have any youth in them and so I am asking minister to start praying for there to be an increase in their local church.
If you have youth in your church and do not have a youth group let this new year be the year that you form one and show them that their soul is just as important as the adults.
How is your youth?
Mighty Men of Valor
Our newest ministry is for our men and we, as ministers, need to support them by forming a support group. Men throughout the ages have taken the burdens on their shoulders and tried to do it alone. Some have found good wives that have helped, some have found some friends however, most are still lacking in the area of fellowship. I watched a DVD by Dennis Swanburg about the importance of each man having a support group of at least three men that they can trust to keep lifting them in prayer while keeping their problems, faults and trust safe from the world. Where is the best place to find these men to form that support group? The local church.
Is your church creating a safe place for men to relax and grow in the Lord without having to worry about what others think of them? Does your church have a place where the new Christian men can learn how to be the man that God wants them to be? Let us make the year 2019 the year to make our men stronger Christians.
Sterling Full Gospel
I have heard several reports of things happening in this church and it is nice to hear from our churches. First, the Women of Worth/Helping Hands have an active prison letter ministry with four members writing to the prisoners. Recently one prisoner requested someone visit and share the steps to salvation and they reached out to another church closer to him and now that church is sending two Elders every two weeks to visit the Prison. One lady that does not attend caught the vision and sent a Bible.
Brother & Sister Sappington is over a ministry of visitation at a local Nursing Home where they minister to the residents every other month. In January, they took the singing group “Choosen” and everyone enjoyed singing Christmas Carols.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
February
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
Be sure and wish these fellow workers in the ministry field, a Happy Birthday. As we know, we all need a kind word every so often to keep our spirits up so we can do God’s work.
Patricia Bell ((9), Delinda Finn (27), Christopher Powell (26), and Keith Clements (22)
The spouse of our ministers can use an encouraging word as well, so please be sure to let this supporter know that you are praying for her/him as well.
Marie Ann Hodgkins (3)
General Board Members
Brother Gary Wingrove along with the other Board Members would like our Association to be represented by a minimum of 6 to 8 board members. To reach that goal we would like for all Ordained ministers that have been with us for at least two years to pray with an open heart and mind asking God this question. “Do you want me to become a Board Member of the IFGEA?” Then when God speaks, listen and then act on what God directs.
The IFGEA is an association of ministers and as such, it would be nice if you would be so kind as to send in an article or sermonette to be put into our newsletter, the Express and/or on the website. I feel this association is your association and you are the one to be presented so that others may be fed by God through you and your ministry. Be it a song, or a poem you wrote or even a word from the Lord God Most High. However, there is a space issue in the newsletter and The Express so please try to keep it to about just under half of a typewritten page. If it is longer, it can be put on the website. Please mail it early enough to reach the Post Office Box by the 15th of the preceding month if you wish for me to try to get it into a certain month. C.I. Wilson
January 2019
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
As we look forward to the new year, we need to remember that the Lord Jehovah wants to bless us more this year then he has in 2018. He has blessed us with trials, so that we might grow in him, sorrow so that we might appreciate the joy that he has given us. He has blessed us with his precious son, whose life and death has given us the promise of Heaven as our final home to be with the Holy Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
As I look back over this year, we have lost many loved ones as they have moved from this world to their home in Heaven. Our most recent loss is Brother Dave Ritchie who went to be with Jesus on December 20th. He is remembered as a man who blessed us with the Word of God in his sermons, testimonies and in his singing. Let us keep the families of our friends in our prayers.
Prayer Requests
One of our General Board members, Brother Robert Harrison, is facing a health issue that needs the prayers of all of our ministers and their churches. He is undergoing some test to see what is the best course of treatment. Please keep him in your prayers. He is one who knows and testififies of God’s healing power, however your prayers are appreciated.
Brother Tommy Stephens has let us know that he and his wife, Sister Donna Stephens, need prayer for health issues. Unless God intervenes, Brother Stephens has been given about six months to live and his wife is also having health issues along with the stress that a person has while caring for a spouse with life threatening problems. Please keep both of them in your prayers.
The Roving Pulpit visits with Rev. Tom Charlebois
“Sufficent”
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)
According to Mariam Webster, there are three words that all mean the same thing.
- SufficeB. SufficiencyC. Sufficient
They are probably not the most important words penned on the Holy Pages of the Bible, but they should be some f the most important Words Written in our hearts, as we know our God.
Because, if you know him, you know him as all sufficient. He is God, as I tell everyone, He is God, and there is no other!
There’s nothing you can change or do, He is God!
He is the only god once was dead but now is alive. He is the only god who came to serve his people, as they serve him. All other gods, wheather dead or alive came to be served by their fallowers.
Look at our God.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 (KJV)
The text literally means that God is sufficient for us, mentally, physically, economically and spiritually.
The Bible gives us this example: Jesus asked the disciples to feed a multitude. There was only 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread amongst them. They replied, “Not enough” even 200 pennies worth would not be enough.
Without faith in God, there is never enough. But with faith in God “Break it”, “Bless it”, “Believe it” and feed a multitude.
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 2 Corinthians 5:4 (KJV)
Women of Worth/Helping Hands
We want to encourage our ministers to support the women of their church. They are a precious resource for the church and in most cases they just need a small word of encouragement to become faithful supports of the church in works and financially. Just as woman was created to help man so the women are there to help the church. Try starting a women’s group in your church this year and see how much God will bless your church both spiritually and financially.
Evangelistic Youth Association
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
Here in 1 Timothy, we are told not to despise our youth but to be examples to them. How can we be examples to them of how important it is to serve the Lord and be active in the church if we are not prepared to show them by our actions? So many churches do not have any youth in them and so I am asking minister to start praying for there to be an increase in their local church.
If you have youth in your church and do not have a youth group let this new year be the year that you form one and show them that their soul is just as important as the adults.
How is your youth?
Mighty Men of Valor
Our newest ministry is for our men and we, as ministers, need to support them by forming a support group. Men throughout the ages have taken the burdens on their shoulders and tried to do it alone. Some have found good wives that have helped, some have found some friends however, most are still lacking in the area of fellowship. I watched a DVD by Dennis Swanburg about the importance of each man having a support group of at least three men that they can trust to keep lifting them in prayer while keeping their problems, faults and trust safe from the world. Where is the best place to find these men to form that support group? The local church.
Is your church creating a safe place for men to relax and grow in the Lord without having to worry about what others think of them? Does your church have a place where the new Christian men can learn how to be the man that God wants them to be? Let us make the year 2019 the year to make our men stronger Christians.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
January 2019
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
Be sure and wish these fellow workers in the ministry field, a Happy Birthday. As we know, we all need a kind word every so often to keep our spirits up so we can do God’s work.
Emilio Carrillo (24), Barbara Fox (22), Gene Wingrove (6) and Aaron Finney (10).
The spouse of our ministers can use an encouraging word as well, so please be sure to let this supporter know that you are praying for her/him as well.
Fay Dunlap (17), Bobby Markham (24) and Rhonda Resendez (7).
Lord, we ask you to give these couples an extra blessing as they work together in your harvest field on their anniversary.
Jimmy & Linda Martin (24), Robert & Roma Olson (3) and Keith & Tracie Penny Jr. (17).
Annual Renewal
We have reached the end of our annual renewal time and as of the 25th of December 22% of our ministers have not renewed. It is with great regret that I will be letting these ministers know that their credentials will no longer be active as of December 31, 2018. However, if they renew before January 29th, they will not have to reapply for membership and go before the General Board which will cause a change in length of membership.
General Board Members
Brother Gary Wingrove along with the other Board Members would like our Association to be represented by a minimum of 6 to 8 board members. To reach that goal we would like for all Ordained ministers that have been with us for at least two years to pray with an open heart and mind asking God this question. “Do you want me to become a Board Member of the IFGEA?” Then when God speaks, listen and then act on what God directs.
New Year’s Resolutions
Let us all make the resolution of getting closer to God during 2019 then we have ever been and therefore doing more for God then we have done in the past.
November 2018 Newsletter
International Full Gospel Evangelistic Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 276
516 N. Central
Temple, Ok. 73568
Website: www.ifgea.com Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
November 2018
Greetings in Jesus’ name:
Women of Worth/Helping Hands Conference
This year’s conference was held at Sterling Full Gospel Church in Independence, Missouri; if you were not there, you missed a blessing. For the women who did not want to go because they thought their husband was not allowed to attend or the husband did not want to go with their wife because they thought it was for women only, you missed a blessing. The husbands that came received a blessing right along with the women. The invitation went out to all and the few men who came were blessed and went up for prayer because God was speaking to them just as he was to the women.
After every service there was time taken for anyone to ask questions or give their testimony about what God had or was doing in their lives. We heard from several women after each service and some men as well. They told how God was moving in their lives, what God had already accomplished in their lives.
The following people participated in one or more areas of the conference and we wish to pass on our heartfelt thanks for all they did: The Praise and worship Team (Nancy Clements, Tina Hefley, and Carolyn Smith), Pianist was Harla Moritz. Speakers: Sister Carolyn Smith, Pastor Ruth Turner of Greater Works and Empowerment Church, Sister C.I. Wilson, Pastor Raymond Cox of Sterling Full Gospel Church, Sister Bev Gorham, Brother David Wilson and Prophet Linda Taylor of Truth That Exist For The Wise Ministries. Sound Booth/Video: James Gorham and Christopher Whitby. Other workers: Barbara Fox, Sharan Kirk, Cheryl Whitby, Janie Campbell, Mario Orelus, the Praise & Worship Team from the Greater Works and Empowerment Church, Lois Ruff, Gloria Clark, Lila Littleton, Mark Boyd, Shirley Minniek, Lois Chalmers, Oliva and Delinda Finn. Food provided by the ladies of the church and Chef Timmy Clark.
God truly met with the Women of Worth/Helping Hands Conference
Several people stated that they were looking forward to next year’s conference and hope to see you there. If you did not attend, you missed a great blessing. Ladies and Gentlemen, hope and pray that we see you all next year during the annual Women of Worth/Helping Hands Conference. For more about the conference see our website under “Blog” at www.ifgea.com
The Roving Pulpit visits with Rev. Dave Ritchie
“Who is Jesus Christ to you?”
Matthew 16:5-17
You need to understand that Jesus was trying to get the Deciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, meaning the False Doctrine. Why? Because anything else taught besides the true Word of God will destroy you. Make you of non-effect. The Sadducees were the same, they thought another gospel, but not of God.
Verse 7 states they reasoned among themselves that Jesus ment the bread that they had forgotton. No way, Jesus was talking about spiritual matters and not natural.
Verse 8 states Jesus knowing their thoughts said “O ye of little faith.” Then in verse 9 he states, “Do ye not . . . remember the five loaves of the five thousand. And how many baskets ye took up?” We must remember always the Power of God. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please keep the following ministers in your prayers, they are facing an illness and we know that God is in the healing business so please pray for them: Sister Mary Turner, Brother Charles Ross, Brother Charles Belville, Brother Dave Ritchie and Brother Bob Harrison.
Native American Month
This is the month that America has chosen one day to celebrate being thankful. We should give thanks every day of our lives for God allowing us to worship him. However, I would like us all to take the time all month long to pray for our Native Americans, without them the nation called the United States of America would most likely not be here. We recognize the Pilgrams for leaving England to flee regilious oppression but, how many of us recognize that without the help of the native Americans they most likely would not have survived. Therefore I would like us to set this month aside to pray for all ministers and churches that minister to our native Americans. Then add to your prayer list, the native Americans, asking God for their spiritual well being.
IFGEA Board Meeting
Our next quarterly Board Meeting will be held in Temple, Oklahoma on November 13th at 12:30 PM. If there is anything that you would like to talk to the Board about or something for the Board to discuss, please submit it to us at the above Post Office Box as soon as possible.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
November
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
Be sure and wish these fellow workers in the ministry field, a Happy Birthday. As we know, we all need a kind word every so often to keep our spirits up so we can do God’s work.
Bill Hayes (26), David Jordan (7), Joshua Ledford (7), Josh Menasco (20), Mack Mitchell Jr. (19),
Keith Penny Jr. (8), and Richard Resendez
The spouse of our ministers can use an encouraging word as well, so please be sure to let this supporter know that you are praying for her/him as well.
Kim Gragg (27), Ben Martinez (23), Tracie Penny (8), Eppie Sintas (2), and Sharon Waltrip (28)
Lord, we ask you to give these couples an extra blessing as they work together in your harvest field on their anniversary.
Edward & Dorthy Arrington (18), Jay & Bertha Arviso (30), Raymond & Connie Cox (1),
James & Barbara Flanagan (6), Donald & Sandra McElhaney (28), Mark & Arleta Pope (3),
and Michael & Sheilea Toliver (4)
Putting our Total Trust in God
By: Rev. Carolyn Smith
T – total
R – rely
U – understand
S – surrender
T – trials
The Lord has allowed me to create certain words that He wants me to use in the messages He gives me. This time I was able to use the word “TRUST” with the five words that God has put into my “spirit” for the word”TRUST”; total, rely, understand, surrender and trials. These five words should also help believers to know and understand the peace we can have in our relationship with God.
The first word is “total” which repersents a wholeness or completeness in God. The second word is “rely” which represent putting your whole complete trust in someone or something other than yourself. These first two words are very similar to each other in meaning. The third word is “understand” which means to comprehend or learn. The fourth word is “surrender”. Surrender can be defined as being under subjection to someone else’s authority or control. The fifth and final word is “trial” which has to do with the test, temptations and often challenges we go through in life. (My times are in thy hand: . . . Psalm 31:15)
There are many scriptures in the Bible that deal with ‘putting our total trust in God”. We are going to deal with just a few of these verses. In the Book or Division of Psalm chapters 4:5/40:4, both of these scriptures challenges us as believers, followers of Christ or whatever we might call ourselves, to know that our God is in control of His people (The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: . . . psalm 37:23). The God we serve wants us to put our total trust in Him. Remember Job who was called a “perfect and upright man” by God? Job, who said, “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”. So no matter what we are faced with in life, God is with us and is aware of our personal situations.
Reminder
God has given our ministers and their spouse’s talents that he wants them to use. So if you have the gift of poems or sermonettes or anything that we can share with your fellow ministers, feel free to submit it. However, there is a space issue and all submissions need to be less than a page long. This newsletter is about you, your work and encouraging you to keep up the hard work.
Several of you have submitted articles and I want to take this time to thank you for them because this letter in not all about one or two people. Your articles, your local happenings, special blessings, praise reports and special events are important and are wanted and needed to make this newsletter about you, your work and how God is blessing you, your church and your families.
HAPPY
THANKSGIVING
From your IFGEA Leaders