From July 13 – July 20, we were privileged to have the opportunity to meet and minister with Sister Shirley Hickman, ALJC missionary to Mexico. We had 14 young people from the United States and one young man from ALJC-Venezuela join us for this life-changing AYC mission’s trip. Many children and teenagers received the Holy Ghost during the camp meeting, and miracles took place during the services. Our young people were eyewitnesses to the power of God.

One of t he main spiritual principles I have found that makes a mission’s trip successful to each individual is their willingness to make a sacrifice to be involved. Any young person who attends an AYC trip makes great sacrifices in order just to be a participant. The leaders who are involved take time away from their home church and their family to make sure each mission is a great success. Most importantly, the host missionary makes a great sacrifice in hosting a group of young people in their country.  Sister Hickman was no exception to this principle. She has made great sacrifices in her life, and the Lord has blessed her with a powerful and anointed ministry in the nation of Mexico. I want to publicly thank Sister Hickman for allowing us to play a small part in the work the Lord is doing through her in Reynosa and Rio Bravo. Until this trip, I had never been bles sed with the opportunity to talk with Sister Hickman. After seeing the work she is doing and listening to her life story, I think every young person in the ALJC should have the opportunity to meet her. I was amazed and thankful for all the things God has done in her life to build His kingdom on earth. Sister Hickman is a true servant of our Lord. On every AYC missions trip, I always ask the host missionary to talk with our young people about their call to a nation and the great things God has done since they have been in that nation. Sister Hickman spoke to all of us about the things we can all do as children of God to answer His call and change the world. She spoke with us about the importance of serving God with a humble, submitted and serving heart. As she told us about the amazing things God has done in Mexico and in south Texas, I watched our teenagers sit on the edge of their seats. Many of them came up to me afterwards to tell me that the words she had spoken to them were life-changing. Thank the Lo rd for those words of direction. If you ever get the chance to talk with Sister Hickman, please ask her to talk with you about the things God has done in her life. She will tell you she has a long story, but you will want to hear it all. However, in everything she told us, she continually gave glory to God! I also want to thank Pastor Peter Gray from Paris, Texas. Pastor Gray is the Latin American and Caribbean Field Director for ALJC World Missions. He fluently speaks Spanish and was very kind to donate their church van for us to use. We were blessed to have him on this trip; we could not have done it without him. Also thanks to their associate pastor, Chad McQueen. Finally, thanks to Brother Jason and Sister Amy Hood, our ALJC AIA Missionaries to Mexico. The Hood family was a great blessing to all of us. They are working very hard for the Lord in Mexico. The unity of the ALJC General Youth Department and World Missions Department allowed the Lord to bless this great endeavor for His kingdom. I asked one of the young people from the Tri-State District to write about how this trip blessed and impacted her life. Here is what Sister Christina had to say:

To be able to come on this trip was already defining a purpose God has on my life. What really stuck with me was being able to come together with people of a different nationality and tongue, to worship and praise the same God together in a wonderful spirit of unity. Sister Hickman really left an impression on my life. For her to come up against so many obstacles and odds against her, she was still able to do what God had called her to do. I pray that I can be as strong as she was at my age. I also enjoyed the services; they really helped me with some things I have been going through in my life. For God to come and tell me of the promise I have on my life, I cannot help but to be joyful. There is nothing that did not have an impression on me in so many ways. Everything and everyone I came into contact with put a good impression on me and that makes me want more and more of God. I know this experience has made me more thankful for what I have and what I know. I cannot wait to go another trip in the future.

Something that was very special about Sister Christina was that the Tri-State Youth Department funded this trip for her. She represented her district in a great way. In the future I would love to see every state youth department give a grant to send one of their young people on an AYC mission. I sure hope Sister Christina and other Apostolic Crusaders all over the world will “GO” and do the work of God on future Apostolic Youth Corps trips.

Josh Wilson is Apostolic Youth Corps Coordinator. He also serves as the Indiana District Youth President.

AIA Russia

We had an exciting summer this year in St. Petersburg, Russia. We were so fortunate this year to have had some wonderful guests. They brought such joy to the church and the work of the Lord. First, we were very privileged to have with us in special services Brother Nathan Roberts from Gilbert, Louisiana and his son, Nate. You talk about an evangelist being ready to go to the ends of the earth to preach, they were willing and came more than 8,000 miles to be with us! Brother Roberts’ unique ministry began on the streets of St. Petersburg as one day we meandered around the parks and monuments and walked up to the people in the city. Right before their eyes he made coins and other objects disappear. Some of them gasped with astonishment and wonder, but it gave us a prized opportunity to=2 0give them a flyer and personal invitation to be with us for a Holy Ghost meeting. Brother Roberts and his son did a great job ministering to the Russian people. We were packed out each night in our meeting place, and it was great to see so many guests. The Spirit of God fell upon the people during the altar service and new people came forward praying for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. What a wonderful time we had! We wish to thank the churches of the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ, the pastors and faithful friends of missions who remember the needy souls in this nation. It is your love for the lost that helps make it possible to reach out to them daily.     We were also privileged to have two dear sisters with us for the month of June to assist in evangelism. They came as a part of the AIA (Apostolics in Action) program. We were so thankful for Patricia Clark and Geraldine Johnson for the sacrifice they made to come and make a difference in the lives of others. They were involved in all aspects of the church, but their main ministry was outreach. They coordinated the English Evangelism program and were working four days a week, twe lve hours a day, endeavoring to bring salvation and Apostolic truth to more than 60 students. Students came from all backgrounds of life. One such student had only been in the city of St. Petersburg for about a year and a half and was originally from Lake Baikal, Siberia, a region close to the Chinese border. When she attended language classes she told us that she was seeking a church and a place for her little girl to attend Sunday school. Praise the Lord! What a blessing it is after “toiling all night” to see one that is searching for more of Jesus Christ in their lives. It seems that in Russia many times we reach them one by one, but each soul is precious in the eyes of God. Could it be that the Lord directed this young lady 2,500 miles from the Chinese border to meet some Apostolic folks interested in the salvation of her soul? Oh, yes it is possible, because God loves souls!

Testimonies from AIA Russia 2009 participants

I arrived in Russia for the month of June to help with the mission work in St. Petersburg, Russia. Brother and Sister Stumbo had organized a special program to teach English to Russian students. The first thing we did was to go to the Metro (subway) to hand out fliers. We stood outside the Metro near the exit repeating to all those who passed by, “English Language, Speak English!” Most of the students we had were people who learned about this program through the fliers we passed out on the street and also from friends telling friends. Even after the classes started we would have new students coming each day to register in the program. One of our goals was to help them in speaking English, but the main goal was to somehow talk to them about God and the plan of salvation. Towards the end of the month one of my students came to the Wednesday Bible College lesson. Her name was Alexandria, or Sasha for short. Brother Stumbo was teaching about “Comparative Religions” and Sister Stumbo about “Concepts Faith.” Sasha expressed how interesting the teaching was and now she says she will come every time! Excitement runs high as all the teachers feel like the seed has been planted for revival in Russia. “When we had spare time, Brother Stumbo put us to work on chairs used for the church services that were in need of repair. As we had to reupholster and stain over 40 chairs, we called it a ‘miracle job’ to get them finished before we left. Brother Stumbo even helped by cutting material and stapling seats to the chairs. Finally, we got the job done just in time, and it was fun doing the job!     “We felt like that while we were working in Russia we were doing God’s will. We have enjoyed the hospitality of the Stumbo family. My time in St. Petersburg was a great way to spend time helping fellow Americans called of God to work in foreign countries.” Bentonville, Arkansas

“As the plane began to cut through the clouds, preparing to land on Russian soil, tears began to form as I thought about how this country had left its mark in my heart in the year of 2006. Returning had only been a distant dream, but the reality of being blessed with this wonderful opportunity once again is something I am very thankful for. “Within the three years since my last AIA service in Russia, many changes have taken place in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. Some positive changes and some negative, but most importantly the Apostolic church is still going forward. The church that Brother Stumbo pastors is very dear to me. In the services such a sweet spirit is felt. I think if only the millions who are walking the streets could experience what we are blessed with, if only they could feel and know God’s love, then their lives would be changed forever. However, because of hard pasts, many have learned to build stone walls around their hearts. They meet situations and people with caution and frequently distrust others. To get closer to them the walls must begin to crumble One way Brother and Sister Stumbo use to build trust and make contacts is through the English Language Program. I think it is a great ministry, and I am so glad that I was able to be a part of it. Not only was I able to teach my students English, but I was also able to talk about the goodness of Jesus. It is such a blessing to see our students come to church and want to know more about the Bible. At times it may seem a very slow process, but it is worth it even if it is just for one. Prayer is needed for hearts to be made softer and minds to be open to understanding God. We must not give up on the people of Russia or any soul wherever they may be. We must keep praying, fasting and believing for a revival. I believe it will happen. All of these hurting people who walk the streets of Russia are in need of us falling to our knees, asking the Lord for the salvation of their souls.” Tricia Clark • Athens, Georgia

General Ministry Conference 2009 convened the last week of June in Birmingham, Alabama at the Birmingham Sheraton. The 2009 conference was a week of ministry on purpose. It had all the earmarks of fine tuning ministry for the purpose of becoming a movement of Christianity in our times that is based on “Precision.” The attendance to this conference was tremendous as our main focus was on hearing from God and organizing our efforts to meet the directives given to us of the Holy Ghost.

This was our election year for our national offices. The following was the outcome of our elections:

• General Superintendent: Robert Martin
• Southern Regional Representative / 1st Assistant: Mark McCool
• Northern Regional Representative / 2nd Assistant: Tim Gill
• Western Regional Representative / 3rd Assistant: Charles Hancock
• General Secretary/Treasurer: Roger Gray
• World Missions Director: ML Walls
• Missions America Director: Bill Mills
• Church Growth Director: Randy Tahyi
• Apostolic Crusaders President: Michael Jadrnicek
• Evangelist Director: Kenneth Allen
• Christian Schools Director: Joe Nelson
• Women’s Esprit President: Penny Carpenter

The National Women’s Esprit held progressive business, training our ministers’ wives and women’s leadership and holding a very insightful and informative seminar on “Fine Tuning Minister’s Wives” with Pat Wilson and Faythe Gill speaking.

Pastor Dale Bostic from Lubbock, Texas gave the conference’s keynote address and was mightily anointed of God when he spoke on “No Margin for Error.”

All the sessions on Wednesday morning were instructive and equipped our ministry to return to their respective fields of labor ready to fine tune ministry and reach our world. Pastor Jack Batson (Nashville, Tennessee) taught a wonderful session on “The Gifts of the Spirit” while Bishop Raymond Bishop (New Albany, Mississippi) and Bishop Don Johnson (Memphis, Tennessee) taught on “Fine Tuning Ministry in the Golden Years.” Then Pastor Mark McCool (Knoxville, Tennessee) took the podium and taught us on how to “Fine Tune Ministry Priorities,” and Bishop M.L. Walls (Medora, Indiana) delivered an anointed word on “A Personal Walk with God.” Bishop Walls told us that the farther the apostle Paul walked with God, the less he saw of himself and the more he saw of God. He started out in the first years of his ministry declaring himself “the apostle of God.” But in the course of about 20 years, he sees himself as “less than the least of all saints,” and even further into his ministry and walk with God he calls himself “chief of sinners.”

World Missions conducted a service on Wednesday afternoon with our World Missions Director, Bishop M.L. Walls casting vision. Associate Pastor Chad Erickson of First Apostolic Church of Maryville, Tennessee delivered a very moving and inspiring message on “Intentional Giving.” This message will motivate anyone to get involved in missions giving. The key to revival at home is giving to missions.

General Superintendent Robert Martin challenged us as he ministered the Word of God to our movement, “Finding the Upper Room.” We were challenged to seek out and find the upper room experience that birthed the New Testament Church. Unity is a must today even as it was then.

On Thursday morning I was privileged to teach “Fine Tuning Leadership Staff,” followed by Pastor Kenny Carpenter (Maryville, Tennessee) teaching on “Fine Tuning Outreach,” and Bishop Steve Wilson teaching on “Fine Tuning Young Ministers.” The sessions were informative, inspiring, anointed and directed by the Spirit of God.

A big thank you to Nathan Roberts for ministering to our Kids Krusade each night with his gifted and anointed ministry. Brother Roberts is one of the greatest men to work with and has a very kind and gentle spirit.

This conference that was themed “Precision” was all summed up in the final message on Thursday night by Bishop Billy McCool (Knoxville, Tennessee). Bishop McCool preached in the anointing and wisdom that only Bishop McCool can. His message title was “The Day Jesus Quit the Church.” It is truly a pentecostal classic that made its mark on the history of our organization in the very moments of its delivery. It was destined to be one of the greats. What a challenge came from the Bishop as he warned us of the dangers of becoming a stagnant, empty, aimless church that will lose the presence of Jesus.

Since the closing moments of General Ministry Conference 2009, many have remarked how much they were blessed, moved of God and ready to return home to fine tune ministry for end time revival.

George Akers pastors First Apostolic Church in Sanford, North Carolina.

We rejoice with unspeakable joy and give God the glory for the successful conclusion of the 2009 General Ministries Conference held in Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila last April 16-19, 2009. 300 delegates from Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon were blessed to attend this historic event. Travelling 48 hours in buses and 36 hours in ships due to unexpected port delays, pastors, ministers and workers still were drawn to the fire of Holy Ghost revival in this once-a-year gathering of God’s people. Just to personally see and hear Robert Martin preach the Word of God, along with ML Walls, RB Bingham and Mark Naimy was a life-changing, once in a lifetime experience for ministers and saints craving for God’s Word and direction for their lives. God’s anointing was so heavy upon these men of God as they preached the Word drawing us all to worship God. Life will never be the same again for those 12 souls who received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues for the first time during the altar calls. To behold the beauty of the Spirit of the Lord poured out in the midst of true worship is indeed 1000 times better than the best things of the world. It sets you free, makes you laugh, dance, jump, sing or shout for joy such as what can be felt in every worship service last conference. No wonder David was content even just to be a doorkeeper as long as it is the door of God’s house. Heaven’s touch could be felt in every part of the conference, from seminars to business meetings and election of general officers and national department directors. God again has revealed his will when the following ministers were elected: General Superintendent, Mark Naimy; 1st Assistant Superintendent, Renato Arimas, Jr. (Visayas); 2nd Assistant Superintendent, Alan Malunes (Luzon); 3rd Assistant Superintendent, Juan Sanguenza (Mindanao); General Secretary/ Treasurer, Roberto C. Nino Jr; General Youth President, Alexis Nino; Women’s Esprit President, Liane Java; Home Missions Director, Eldeflor Amores; Evangelist Director, Jules Verne Arendon; Church Growth Director, Arnel Espino; and Christian School Director, Ernesto Java Jr. In addition to that, six ministers were ordained. Three were issued General License, and other applicants for local license were likewise approved. Please join us in prayer for these newly elected officials that the Lord’s guidance and provision may lead them to the next level of accomplishment God has planned for ALJC Philippines to reach.

During the board meeting, ML Walls passed the baton of leadership to Mark Naimy as the new General Superintendent of ALJC Philippines. Lots of future plans were discussed, but foremost was the future establishment of district centers for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Plans to conduct a four month Bible Training Course were set so that the Naimys can allocate a four month stay in each district along with local teachers to train workers and future pastors as well as visit local churches soon after they return in September. There is a need to purchase a lot and build classrooms for each of these centers. The World Missions Department through ML Walls has already purchased a lot in Kabankalan City, Negros Occ. for such purpose in Visayas area. A building for a church sanctuary has already been started there but more funds are still needed to finish it. It can be used as classrooms during weekdays. We are optimistic that this will result in more laborers to the Lord’s harvest prior to His soon coming. To this end, we covet your earnest prayer and financial support to the Naimys so that they can initiate the necessary step. Your help will surely make a big difference.

We appreciate ML Walls along with the World Missions Board for financially helping us, for providing us solid godly leadership during those challenging years and for seeing to it that ALJC Philippines would be provided with capable and Spirit-led leadership. We thank Mark and Debra Naimy for responding to the call of God in the Philippines giving up their comforts and personal pursuits for the sake of souls and the Kingdom. We likewise thank all the pastors, ministers and members of ALJCPI who supported the 2009 General Conference especially the former officers who through their unselfish and dedicated efforts ALJC has become what it is today. Heaven knows words and space here would not be enough to express our gratitude. We give honor to General Superintendent Robert Martin for his passion for souls and for all the sacrifices he made along with others just to be able to come and minister the Word of God during the conference. We were blessed beyond measure by the messages he preached, and we look forward to his next visit again in the future, the Lord willing. Our knees will daily be glued on the floor to pray for God’s guidance and anointing on him, his family and ministry as he leads the entire ALJC organization in marching forward to a glorious future and to go into all the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that those who are lost will be saved.

We thank the 2009 General Conference committee composed of Cubao church and headed by Pastor Alan Malunes for planning, facilitating and providing manpower, services and materials for all conference needs. We appreciate the Cubao Church for their invaluable contributions which made the conference a memorable and worthwhile experience. The Lord will surely reward their efforts with blessings. Worthy of commendation here as well was the generosity of host pastor, Reverend Augusto, and his wife Emily Catuncan along with Dimetrio Torres, chairman of Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, for allowing us to use the Grant’s Apostolic Institute compound and school building facilities to house both the Filipino and US delegates as well as the church sanctuary for seminar venues. Special thanks to Brother Toto and Bicutan staff for providing service vehicles to pick up and send home delegates to and from the port. Emily Catuncan went even further by cooking delicious foods and preparing meals for all US brethren during their entire stay in Bicutan. Without such display of generosity and service, we would be at a loss on how to accomplish such enormous tasks.

No two conferences are exactly the same. God makes billions of things that are similar but not identical as each blade of grass differs from one another and each man’s fingerprint or eye scan differs from that of the others. So is each anointing for each conference unique and must be treated with reverent awe and praise. Though way beyond our human understanding, God accomplished His purpose in us revealing our inadequacies each time He drew us nearer to Him so we will be made perfect, complete and rapture ready. The best is yet to come. See you next conference.

Roberto Nino is the General Secretary, ALJC-Philippines.

It is undeniable that the world we live in is full of noise. Living in a quiet, serene Cuba for a short time has made this all the more obvious to me. Our homes are full of music, television, YouTube videos and conversation. We turn on the noise in our cars with radio, CDs or cell phones. Unfortunately, some of our homes are full of yelling and arguing. I have visited many homes where the noise of television never seems to stop, even during moments that should be sacred like dinner and bedtime. Even our churches seem to be filled with more noise. Sound systems are better; people seem to sing and pray louder, drums seem to play louder. We fill our services with praise and worship choruses, choir, specials, testimonies and preaching.

Obviously not all noise is bad. As a proud member of the Faith Apostolic Church praise team, I must admit that I love music, and often I prefer it loud. The Bible gives us permission to make a loud noise unto the Lord. Often it is with shouts of praise that we claim victory over our enemy. Bold declarations of our freedom and commitment to God are needed. There is room for noise in our homes as well. I can’t imagine a better sound than the close to deafening sound of my five-year-old daughter’s laughter and joyous screams and squeals. Yet I feel that in a world so full of racket, God is still speaking to His people in a still, small voice that simply cannot be heard unless we take the time to listen.

The theme of silence and meditation is very visible in the Psalms. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalms 19:14). “My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD” (Psalms 104:34).

Solomon observed wisely that there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Paul advises Timothy and the church to pray for those in authority “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior” (I Timothy 2:2-3).

God has been dealing with my heart about silence. Recently, He spoke to me some things that have changed my prayer life. First, He dealt with me about giving Him time to speak. It sounds so elementary, but so often we get so involved in other necessary elements of prayer (supplication, repentance, worship, thanksgiving, etc.) that we fail to give God the opportunity to speak to us. I recently started keeping a journal at hand when I would pray, and, amazingly, God began to speak. He answered questions that I had hidden in my heart. He showed me areas of my life that needed to improve. He spoke of His love for me and plans for my life. Thankfully, I now have journals that contain words God has spoken to me. It is such a blessing to read back over such powerful words on days when I struggle and need strength.

Next, God began to deal with me about keeping silent before bringing Him my requests. I had felt frustration in prayer from time to time, feeling as if my prayers weren’t as effective as they could be. As I talked to God about this, He showed me that if I took some time to listen before I requested anything, He would lead me to pray for pressing needs that I would not have thought of on my own. I began to take several minutes before beginning supplication, asking God to direct my prayers that day. What happened amazed me! God would lay someone, some place, or some situation on my heart. I would make a list of needs to pray for that day. When I felt that the list was done, I would begin to pray and what a change I experienced in my prayers! I felt such authority as I began to pray for needs that God laid on my heart, my prayers seemed to flow better, and I felt so encouraged when I finished.

Finally, God dealt with my heart about silence after correction. In the Book of Nehemiah, we read about the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. As we all know, Nehemiah organized and led a large group of Jews to rebuild the demolished walls of Jerusalem. They faced much opposition and hardship, but God was on their side and they eventually completed their task. In chapter 5, an internal rift arises between the wealthy Jewish landowners and their poorer Jewish brothers. The wealthy Jews were charging excessive interest on loans they had provided for their Jewish brothers. Many of the debtors were unable to pay, and some had even sold their children into slav ery to attempt to pay their debts. When Nehemiah realized what was taking place, he was furious. We see his reaction in verses seven and eight: “You are exacting usury, each from his brother! Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. I said to them, We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?”

What jumped out at me is the second half of verse eight: “Then they were silent and could not find a word to say.” It is in our human nature to defend our actions when someone confronts us. Even if we were in the wrong, we so often try to justify our actions. Whether it is God rebuking us directly, or through a pastor or leader, we give so many reasons for acting the way that we did. Or we respond that a flaw or fault is just part of who we are, something that we can’t help. How often do we point our finger at someone else, pointing out t hat they need correction and rebuke more than we do? How often have we sat through services, thinking of which brother or sister needs to hear the message the pastor is preaching, all the time ignoring that perhaps God is trying to speak to us? Somehow, I think all of us need to learn a lesson in keeping silent after correction. I know that I do.

As a young mother, I find one thing about parenting extremely frustrating. When I correct my five-year-old daughter, she often does not even listen to what I am saying. She simply tries to make excuses for her bad behavior or cries so loudly she cannot learn the lesson I am trying to teach her. Is that the frustration God must feel when we refuse to listen to his correction? The wonderful thing about our Lord is that His correction and rebuke is always accompanied with love and mercy. If we are willing to admit our faults and failures, He is faithful and just to forgive. Yet beyond forgiveness, He is willing to change us into something better and more beautiful. In verse 12 of Nehemiah, we see the act on that followed the silence of the rich Jewish landowners: “We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say.” Lord, let us all listen in silence as You speak, and let us all respond to Your correction with obedience.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, let us take time to be silent. In the chaos of our tumultuous world, let us choose to set time aside for our Savior to speak to us in His still small voice. Let us shut our ears to all the noise taking place all around us, and tune our ears to the voice of God. Let us allow God to speak to us in our prayers, leading us and guiding us every step of the way. And let us be silent when He lovingly corrects us, responding with simple obedience. If there were ever a d ay to be still and know that He is God, it is today. If there were ever a time that the church needs to hear God’s voice and respond exactly as He says, it is now. Let us rise to the occasion and hear God in the silence.

There are only a few times in my life that I have been without words. Unable to describe what it is I’m seeing, feeling or experiencing. During our trip to Uganda and since my return, I have been without words. Some say certain pictures are worth a thousand words, but my time spent in Uganda has left me speechless.

We traveled to several different locations in Uganda during our trip. Bishop John Wayabire took us to a few of the churches and places where they have orphanages. Hearing about these places over the last few months pales in comparison to actually being there. Some met in little brick buildings with tarps or leaves as roofs. We even had church under a tree with several hundred in attendance. The orphans tugged at my heart at each visit. Pastor Elkins said during the trip, “We may be leaving, but they will still be here when we leave.” Each of us will not soon forget the need we saw in these children in Uganda. The saying goes, “Out of sight, out of mind.” But what if you can’t get it out of your heart or spirit?

The people of Uganda were wonderful and kind. They treated us with such honor, respect and hospitality. You could feel the expectation at every place we went to visit. The level of hunger and thirst for something from God far exceeded our own expectations. It’s easy to see why so many people are being saved in Uganda; they simply love Jesus and desire to know Him.

Bishop John is doing a tremendous work in the country of Uganda. What is taking place there is truly Apostolic. The people of Uganda are in good hands. His love for the children, the widows, and the people would astonish many. He’s a man of sacrifice, labor, and love. He finds little time to rest going from place to place making sure everything is in order and in its rightful place. He is a man who is humble and gracious in intimate conversations, but a man full of fire when he preaches to his people. You can feel his passion when he speaks about the harvest and the need there. The men who labor with him follow his every step taking care of the people’s needs. If you want to know what sacrifice is, then you must meet Bishop John. We were amazed to learn of the things he does to put the needs of this people before meeting his own needs. Bishop John is a man after God’s own heart, and a servant to the Shepherd’s flock. I admire and respect such a wonderful man of God.

The conference sessions were always kicked off with praise and worship from several choirs. I found it quite convicting to see so many people who have close to nothing worshiping and praising God like they have everything they would ever need. The worship, praise, and call and response singing always led us to the throne room of God.

Bishop Walls and Pastor Elkins did outstanding jobs teaching the people. During one session in which Bishop Walls taught on the Godhead, the Spirit of the Lord moved in and all we could do was worship the Lord. No matter where you are or who you are with, when the Mighty God in Christ is taught or preached, something wonderful is going to happen.

I was very humbled to be asked to attend this trip to Uganda and to preach the evening crusade services in Kenkebu. Somewhere between 1,000 and 2,500 people would be in attendance each night in Kenkebu.
Many had never heard of Jesus or heard of the new birth experience. But at the close of each night, we would see multitudes gather to the front of the platform seeking God and His salvation. From the conference teachings during the day to the crusades at night, we witnessed 70 people baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and at least 70 or more people received the Holy Ghost.

As much as we may have been a blessing to these wonderful people, I can speak for each of us that they in turn blessed us. I went to Uganda hoping to see many people’s lives changed with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but I know without a doubt my own life was transformed. I traveled thousands of miles away from home to do a work for the Lord, and somehow the Lord ended up doing a work in me. I’ll never
forget the people of Uganda or the work the Lord is doing there. It’s something I’ll always cherish, but something I’ll never be able to describe.

Maybe some pictures are worth a thousand words, but maybe the best ones will leave you speechless.

Nate Whitley is an evangelist with the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Mark 16:15, Jesus commanded his disciples to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. The New Living Translation of this same passage says, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” In today’s time of hurt, misery and hopelessness, people are desperately searching for any “Good News.” Earlier this year we began to work on developing another method to help get the “Good News” and the powerful message of hope out to those who need it most. Two of the most influential mediums of communication in existence today are television and the Internet. In an effort to reach people through these two forms of communication, we embarked on a process to create a multi-faceted advertising campaign.

The first facet of the campaign was the writing, shooting and editing of four national quality 30-second television commercials. It was extremely important for us that the spots were second to none in quality and production. It was our goal and desire for the spots to be first class and comparable with any other national advertising campaign. By pooling our resources and hiring the right production company, we felt that this goal was attainable.

With that goal in mind, we secured the production services of Andy Dean of Dean Film & Video from Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Dean has been in the TV production business since 1986. His productions have won multiple Telly and Videographer Awards on a national level. He has also been nominated for several Dove and Emmy Awards. Mr. Dean has shot and produced for national networks such as ABC, ESPN and NBC. He has shot and produced on numerous national shows such as America’s Funniest Videos, America’s Most Wanted, Dateline NBC and Trading Spaces. Mr. Dean has also shot and produced music videos for artists such as: Fred Hammond, Amy Grant, Casting Crowns, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, The Messengers, Dottie Peoples, Travis Tritt, U2, Casting Crowns and Salvador.

After spending several hours in describing our vision for the campaign, numerous spots were written and then narrowed down to four. From there, finances were raised and the production shoot was scheduled. The shoot lasted two full days. It was an amazing process. Our crew consisted of nine industry professionals and included a director, camera personnel, gaffers, grips, audio engineer and lighting engineers. Some of the four or five second scenes in the spots took well over two hours to set up for and capture. Upon completion of the production, the project went into post production and editing. Small changes were made and our goal was reached as four stunning commercials have been produced. All four of the spots end with a place to be customized with your church name, address and phone number. (Spots can be previewed by visiting www.aljc.org/commercials).

The second facet of the campaign is a website, hopeforyou.org, that corresponds with the commercials. The people who view the commercials are directed to this site. Here, viewers can find more information about the “hope” that is available to them, testimonies and links to the churches who are and decide to participate in the advertising campaign.

It is our prayer that all of our churches would use this powerful resource as another way to reach people in their community. Advertising slots can be bought and purchased from local over-the-air stations, cable providers and even the theatres in your community. Together we can reach out and give hope to the hopeless. Should you desire to get involved in this campaign or need additional information, please contact me at sjamproductions@gmail.com.

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Jesus Christ was fully 100% God yet fully 100% man as well. I believe that Jesus Christ is the One true God, robed in flesh as man, to die for our sin as the only pure blood sacrifice. He rose triumphant over death, hell and the grave. The Bible says in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth!” The Bible clearly states here that God Himself is a Spirit. That very Spirit robed itself in the flesh of Jesus Christ the man. Therefore, the man Christ Jesus was that Spirit, which we know by John 4:24, was the one God Himself. In Isaiah 9:6, the Bible says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be on His shoulders and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.” The Bible calls Jesus Christ Himself, The Everlasting Father, specifying that he Himself is our Father and The Father, all together. The Father part of the Godhead is God in parental relationship to humanity (Jesus). Also, it is the 100% God part of Jesus Christ the man. The Spirit (which is God himself) was the father, which was in the “man” Christ Jesus. “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). When God, that Spirit, saw His creation sin, He knew that the only way they could be saved was by a perfect sacrifice. God (Spirit) Himself, robed Himself in flesh as Jesus Christ, and came to earth as the Son of God, which was represented in flesh as humanity. As Hebrews 1:1-3 references, “God (Spirit) hath in these last days spoken unto us by His son (the man Jesus)…who being the express (exact, precise or specific) image of His person.”

Just as in the Old Testament, Jehovah (the Lord) or God had many attributes, such as Jehovah Jireh (our Provider), Jehovah Rapha (our Healer), Jehovah Shammah (God with us) and Jehovah Shalom (our Peace). God expressed Himself in the flesh as Jesus Christ and became Emmanuel, God with us. This act came from the desire God has always had to walk with man just as he did with Adam in the Garden of Eden. God Himself came to walk with man and to become his ultimate sacrifice. To see, feel and hear as man, becoming sin by taking on flesh. Yet there was no sin in Him. He became the ultimate sacrifice tasting death, Hell and the grave. So, just as the children of Israel had heard from birth, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One Lord”, this same God who spoke, “Let there be light” is the same exact voice that spoke, “My house shall be called an house of prayer” when he drove the merchants out of the temple.

The word Trinity does not appear even once in all the pages of the Bible. Also, the Bible does not say that there are three distinct persons in the Godhead. Although it does speak of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, this does not mean there are three, separate and distinct persons. These words merely refer to the three offices, roles or relationship to humanity. The Bible only uses the word three, in reference to God, in John 5:7 where it speaks of the Father, the Word (not the Son) and the Holy Ghost and concludes by saying, these three are one.

What does it mean to be one? We all agree that there is one sovereign God, that He is Almighty, omniscient and omnipotent. If someone or something is almighty, how can this trait be shared with more than one entity or person? Almighty, in Webster’s dictionary, means to have absolute power over all. This trait is impossible to be shared. It can only belong to One distinct being, Jesus Christ, which was God (Spirit) robed in flesh. How could Jesus Christ be the savior when God the Father said in Isaiah 43:11, “Beside me there is no savior?” It is because God (Spirit) was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.

Many people would look at this view and say that it is “carnal” and that we cannot even begin to understand something as complex as the Trinity. There is absolutely no way to explain this at all. That is true. I was once told that you had to take it by faith, which I believe in some cases there are some things you do have to take by faith. But why would God make such a fantastic mystery out of Himself and who he really is if the Bible is here for the purpose of us being able to know Him to His fullest capacity? To know Him the best that we can, why would He seek to hide that from us? The answer is that He doesn’t. We as humans have been confused by the teachings of many who allowed themselves to be deceived by their own carnal minds and that see their church as the world’s church.

It has been said that we, Apostolics, are “Jesus Only”. This is a fallacy. We are Jesus everything! Jehovah-God, Almighty Counselor, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father, The Comforter, Everything! “For in Him, (Jesus) dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). According to Revelation 4:2, “A throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne” (Jesus, the Mighty God). God never changes, and there is only absolute truth through the word of God. If God never changes and His word never changes, then what was taught in the New Testament about God and salvation will never change. It remains the same through every century, decade, year, month, week and day. We are to be separate from the world in every way, in actions and in physical ways. “Wherefore, come out from among them and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). If the Bible is absolute truth and there is nothing relative about it, then there must be an absolute doctrine of salvation and of right and wrong. For instance, when doing a puzzle, you cannot take only some of the pieces and try to put them together to form a complete picture. The same is with the Word of God, which is our exact, specific map of salvation. All pieces of the Word of God must be recognized and used in our lives. Yes, there are places in the Bible where we must have direction in interpreting it, but it has gone so far that people feel they must misconstrue every verse for their own privilege. Even when man’s morality dictates his theology, the Truth is still evident. Salvation is not only taking one or two verses that you see, but also the entire Bible and what it has clearly spelled out for us, a distinct and exact formula of salvation through God’s very words. There is more to salvation than merely believing on His name and asking him to come into your life. Believing in a being that you can’t see requires faith. The Bible says in James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead.” Therefore, there are commands God has given us as a recipe for our salvation and in order to prove our faith in Him.

One of these commands is repentance. In Acts chapter 2 verse 37, when the Holy Spirit was being poured out as evidenced by speaking in tongues, the multitudes in the city were pricked in their hearts and confounded and asked, “Men and brethren, What shall we do?” The apostle Peter stood up among them and said in verse 38, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” This verse can be used as one of the initial verses for salvation. The first step in our quest is to repent. To repent is actually a military term, which means to “completely turn around by doing an about-face” or a 180 degree turn. To leave what we used to be behind and move forward in what God has planned for our lives. It is also to ask forgiveness for the sins in our past. John 13:3 says, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Repentance is a key step in our salvation but it is not the final step, more is required. Acts 2:28 also says that we should be baptized.

Water baptism in Jesus name is a necessary part of salvation. If you believe in Jesus and His commands, wouldn’t it be wrong not to be baptized in His name as He commanded us (Acts 2:38)? If you are not baptized, it would be disobedient to His word. The Bible says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”(Mark 16:16). Baptism is an essential part of salvation. Some say it is only essential if you believe and that when you believe it becomes necessary. Well, if those who don’t know are okay without it, then why do we send missionaries to other countries or even witness at all to those who don’t believe? If their ignorance saves them, then why would God send us to risk our lives in order to reach them for His namesake? In Romans, we are told that we are without excuse, speaking of all humanity. If they want to know God or a “higher power”, truly God will send someone to show them His truth and salvation. Truth is revealed to the one who truly seeks it with all his heart. The Bible says that His, (God’s) invisible attributes are clearly seen in the things that are made. You must obtain salvation in order to make it to heaven. Baptism is an essential important part of that salvation. It is an example of our death and burial in Christ, just as He died and was buried (Col. 2:12), only we are dying to sin. Just as Christ was buried, we must be buried in water to identify with Christ Himself just as the Apostles taught. Being buried in water is an example of Christ’s blood washing away all our sin, which we have repented of, or turned from. The Bible says in John 3:5, “Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” To be born of the water is to be baptized in His name. Not only must you be baptized, but you must be baptized in Jesus name!

Most “Christian” religions baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit using Matthew 28:19 as a reference. But what is that name? The words Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not names. These words are merely titles of what God is. God is a Spirit, God is our Father, and God was manifest in the man Christ Jesus. Every time the Bible records the name or formula associated with an actual baptism in the New Testament church, the name of Jesus is used. All five such accounts occur in the book of Acts. It records that the following people were baptized in Jesus’ name: the Jews (Acts 2:38), the Samaritans (Acts 8:16), the Gentiles (Acts 10:40), the disciples of John (rebaptized in Acts 19:5) and the Apostle Paul (Acts 22:16). Why does it matter you may ask? For one point, this is the way in which we were instructed. Second, it fulfills the instructions given in Matthew 28:19 because Jesus is the Name of the Father). As well, in Acts 4:12 it also says, “Neither is there salvation in any other name, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” It is the highest name (Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus is the name with which we identify with God because He is God.

Receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost is the third part of our salvation. Receiving the Holy Ghost does not come immediately after believing. In Acts 19:2, Paul asked the disciples of John, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” Clearly indicating that they did not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost immediately after they believed! They told him they had not even heard that there was a Holy Ghost. This caused Paul to question their baptism. He asked them how they had been baptized. They had been baptized under John’s baptism. Paul instructed them further on baptism and they were then baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. “When Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon them: and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6). John chapter 3 verse 5 says that you must be born of the water (baptism) and the Spirit (receiving the Holy Ghost) in order to be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Receiving the Holy Ghost is the actual process of God (Spirit) coming to live literally inside of you.

Speaking in tongues is the evidence of receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Many say that receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is not for everyone, but the Bible says in Acts 2:39 that, “the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Since the Holy Ghost is essential to salvation, and speaking in tongues is the evidence, then this Holy Ghost is for everyone. Because we are all called.

In this paper, I have not sought to rebuke or to call out those who do not agree, but only to reveal to you what I, as an Apostolic believer, believe. We strive to follow the doctrine and teachings of the apostles of Jesus Christ. We believe in the infilling of the Holy Ghost and that it is necessary for salvation along with baptism in Jesus name and repentance of sins. We believe what the Bible says. We must follow the commandments God gave through His word and His apostles. The most important thing here is not whether we agree on the Godhead (it is important though), but in the importance of being baptized in Jesus name (Acts 2:38 and 4:12) and being filled with His Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:38) and living a Holy, righteous life. We are to follow the example set forth by Jesus Christ, who was God robed in flesh reconciling the world to Himself.

We congratulate America Nevitt on her article for the Crusaders essay contest. We also thank all who submitted articles and encourage more to be sent for future publication.

Remember the children’s dinner prayer? “Thank you for the world so sweet; thank you for the food we eat; thank you for the birds that sing; thank you, God, for everything” (Rutter Leatham).

Children have such a simplistic view of the world that surrounds them. With plenty of food on the table and the safety of a loving environment, they proclaim with wholehearted enthusiasm their thanks to God. Sometimes, however, I get stuck on that last line, “Thank you, God, for everything. “Everything” – that’s a big word. Many passages in the Bible give clear instruction to the Body of Christ to “Give thanks to God for everything.”

We live in a world in which advertising has been perfected to an art. The advertiser’s job is to make us think that material goods are directly equated to our happiness. Recent studies show that the average American may see more than 3,000 advertisements a day. These can be television and radio commercials, newspaper, magazine and flyer print ads, billboards, and logos on clothing to name a few. Companies spend an estimated 200 billion dollars a year trying to create the perfect image of what you can be with their product. If we accept the illusion, the purchases will often follow. Advertisers do far more than influence our taste. They manipulate our desires so that their products will become our closest friends.

As the American public is bombarded with a constant flow of bigger and better “can’t live withouts,” the Christian wrestles with the question: How can I be thankful with God’s provision in the midst of a feeding frenzy of competitive lifestyles created by an advertiser’s concept of the “good life”? In short, God’s Word tells us to be thankful for what we have while the world tells us we don’t have enough.

A recent interview caught my attention. Several years ago a woman lost her young son and husband in an airplane crash. She and the pilot were the soul survivors. In the ensuing months she recovered from multiple burns and broken bones, but the hardest battle took years, dealing with the “why” question: How could this tragedy happen to her? The interviewer asked the question we were all waiting to be answered, “How did you find healing from your anger and despair?” The young woman responded with confidence, “I began to focus on what I have, not what I don’t have.” Instead o f shaking her fist at God for her misfortune, she began to thank Him for the wonderful gift He had given her. “God gave me the gift of beautiful memories of a beautiful child, a great marriage, and a wonderful life. For that I’m grateful. He owes me nothing.” In fact, she confessed to a certain amount of arrogance in thinking that because she was a follower of Christ, her life should be perfect, that these tragedies should only happen to other people. Healing came when her perspective changed, when she started to focus on what she had instead of what she didn’t have.

That would be an advertiser’s nightmare, wouldn’t it? What if all Christians began to see life as a wonderful adventure filled with blessings instead of the deficiencies? Would the desire for a shiny new car pale when compared to the three beautiful children sitting next to them in church? Would that dream vacation fade into the background when compared to a night of popcorn and family laughter around a board game or a good old fashion water fight on a hot day?

The fact is that no one has a “perfect” life. We are imperfect people living imperfect lives. How we view life and our part in it defines us, and it all boils down to perspective. Paul told the Church in Rome that when we have our hearts set on natural desires we’re being led by the flesh. But the Spirit focuses on the wishes and desires of the One who made us and died that we might have life everlasting. My flesh demands to be ruled by my emotions, but my spirit longs to be ruled by my faith. A thankful heart is born out of a higher calling or comes from a vision of a loftier purpose and understanding of the world around us. The flesh begs for constant affirmation, but the spirit longs to be encased in God. Thankful hearts see God’s provision and beauty in everything around them. They experience God as a provider, healer, the source of wisdom and righteousness, and salvation. David found his true riches in God. This caused him to declare with delight, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation”(Psalm 68:19). What is your perspective?

Now some might see this as the power of positive thinking or the ability to see the glass half full instead of half empty. Positive thinking proponents boast that believing in yourself generates power. They teach followers that happy thoughts can remake them. If one doesn’t believe in defeat, happiness and a peaceful mind will follow. In reality, unlike the little train that faced adversity by repeating “I think I can, I think I can” as it puffed its way up the mountain, faith is not something you can conjure up just by thinking happy thoughts. Faith is a belief in or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment to His will for one’s life. Faith has to do with reliance and trust. It comes from more than a disciplined mind that looks only at the positive; it comes from an understanding of God’s goodness and sovereignty.

One of the best examples of genuine faith is presented in the story of David and Bathsheba. When David’s sin with Bathsheba was revealed through the prophet Nathan, David fell on his face before God and confessed his sin. God, in his mercy, told David that his life would be spared; however, the child that was conceived from that sinful union would die. After the child was struck with a terminal illness, David went into a time of prayer and fasting on his behalf. With much travail, for seven days he would not eat but lay flat on his face in the dirt before God. On the seventh day the child died.

The servants were hesitant to tell David the sad news. They feared that David would harm himself in his disappointment. How could they tell David that his prayers did not work, that God had let him down and the thing that he sought so desperately was taken from him? When David perceived what had happened, he ar ose and washed himself, changed his clothing and went into the house of the Lord and worshiped God; he offered thanksgiving and praise! After seven days of anguish and pain, David ate and refreshed himself and then went into Bathsheba to comfort her. David had lived and fought many battles in which his spiritual mettle was tested. In the face of every adversity, David had developed a pattern of total submission to God’s will. From a small boy tending sheep to the king of God’s chosen, David never faltered in his integrity and determination to submit to God’s sovereignty. God, in turn, called David the apple of His eye. Trust, and a committed reliance on God’s perfect way, caused David’s heart to not falter in its gratitude and obeisance. David and Bathsheba had another child together. His name was Solomon, the richest and wisest king in the entire world.

When Christ died on the cross, He gave us every good thing. II Corinthians 9:15 calls it the “indescribable gift.” “The indescribable gift is the grace of God in Jesus Christ” (Acts 17:28 NIV). The Christian privilege is to find reason for gratitude in all things because the grace of Christ can be found in all things.

Recently, I found out that a friend’s cancer which had been in remission for several years was now back with a vengeance. The prognosis did not look good. I travailed for her healing in prayer. I could feel her pain and fear while she struggled to face this intimidating giant in her life. But Jesus had another direction for my prayers. So clearly the Spirit spoke to my heart, “Pray for My grace.” Instantly, I understood what the Spirit was saying. My prayers took on a more positive direction as I covered every area of her life with God’s Grace. Relief from pain, the council of wise doctors, shelter from fear of the future, a bubble of peace to envelop her, the joy of God’s revelation, and the gift of faith for her family were all part of the grace I prayed on her once I started focusing on God’s unmerited favor in her life. I felt a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to minister to her in the Spirit.

James 1:2 tells us to, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith [trust and submission to God’s will] develops perseverance [patience]. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (NIV). Now, I don’t suppose we’re all ready to jump up and do a victory dance because we have problems, but both James and David are telling us that we can put our future and circumstances in the hands of a loving God. God extends His grace to the believer which is returned back to Him in gratitude.

The power of the cross has a reciprocal quality to the believer. “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land” (Isaiah 1:18-19 NIV). This is a call to repentance and reformation on the part of mankind. God calls His greatest creation, the love that took Him to the cross, to conform to His will and intent for its life. The ultimate atonement for man is the blood of Christ and the ultimate answer to that atonement is submission. Thankfulness is a sign of your participation into His plan as God fills the universe with singleness of purpose. In Psalms 50:23 God declares, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God” (NIV). Through thanksgiving we put God in a position above all problems and adversities, wants and needs. We willingly put the process of our salvation in His hands.

Isaiah 49:15 reveals Christ’s commitment to His Church: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands” (NKJV). God was making a comparison of the beauty of His sacrifice on Calvary to the one human nature that would speak of the bond we have been given through this selfless act. When a woman is nursing a child, the bond that is created is not only an emotional one but physical in the sense that all of her focus is centered on that child. Her commitment to the well-being of the child through the nourishment he receives keeps him close to her side at all times. But a more powerful compelling force is at work within the mother’s body. Everything within her is centered on the production of milk. This miracle of nature happens independently of her desire towards her child. A baby’s cry or a time of day will automatically trigger the production of life-giving nourishment. And so when God compares the nail scars in His hand to the nursing mother, He’s saying that even with the mother’s whole body and mind synchronized to the needs of her child, it would be more likely for her to forget her child than Christ to forget the redemptive price He paid for eternal oneness.

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you, but first let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air. “My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.”

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, we will never lose our value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, we are still priceless to God.

Now that is something to be thankful for!

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