June 30, 1997

Vol. 4 Issue 12

EDITORIAL

We appreciate all the cooperation from our readers in supporting the mission fields at home and in foreign countries. To those that are not voting delegates of WMF we extend an invitation to you to be a member. New members will be accepted at the annual meeting which will be held at the Westerville, Ohio Camp Meeting at 2:00 P.M. on July 10, 1997. For a copy of the by-laws contact me. For any questions contact any of our members.

Current membership includes ten congregations, one association and two individual members. Membership has been growing since WMF was formed in 1990. The purpose of the organization is to service the mission efforts of the church of God in an accountable, efficient and legal manner.

Whether you choose to be a member or not, please pray for WMF as we do our best to serve the Lord. Editor.

FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

The balance ledger at the end of our fourth year of publication looks like this:

Costs were:  Postage                       $705.84
             Printing                       213.94
             Paper                           46.77
--------------------------------------------------
             Total Expense                 $966.55

Income:      Subscriptions and Donations   $846.57

Balance = Deficit of                      ($110.49)

This is mainly due to Camp Meeting being one month later this year as all of the WMF subscriptions are renewed at the annual meeting.

We now have 105 paid subscriptions and send out around 140 copies each month. We send complimentary copies to the overseas missionaries and to a few selected individuals in the United States that are involved with mission support.

Subscribers: Check the date by your name on your address label for your expiration date. Re-new early and encourage others that may be interested in missions and Church of God news to subscribe or give a gift subscription. Thank you very much.

We still need more reporters to let us know what is going on in your congregation. Send me a note from time to time with the news.

Pray for our efforts in this ministry. Editor

WORLD MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP (WMF)

Thank you all for your help with the Nigeria Printing equipment project. We received $342.90 this month toward the shipment. We now have $3,762.60 towards the $5,795.00 needed to send the equipment. We still need $2,032.40. Others have told me that they are sending in more and this need should be under a thousand by next months issue. Please pray with us and do what you can to help us ship this equipment soon. Editor

Continue to send offerings for Nigeria to the treasurer:

    World Missionary Fellowship
    c/o Bro. Steve Yoder
    P. O. Box 418
    Sugarcreek, OH  44681

NIGERIA

May 22, 1997
Received June 18, 1997

Dear Brethren,

Calvary greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. April was a busy month both in missionary activities and in farming. We exalt the name of Jehovah God for His loving kindness towards us here in Nigeria.

We had several council meetings: Men's council meeting at Omoba; Women's Council meeting at Abalankamiri and youth fellowship meeting and tarry night. God is moving in our midst. Praise His holy name.

The minister that had a surgical treatment on his leg, Pastor Nelson Nwsiwu, is no longer with us due to the fact that he was found wanting in so many things by his church, and the board of elders. So many left the church that was in his care. He was found to be sexy, unstable, lying, gossiping and due to his immoral life instigated trouble in the midst of the brethren. Pastor Elijah Wokocha is still sick. He is recuperating in his home town.

The bible school is progressing. We would like to receive the lesson papers on the degree.

These are the programs for the remaining of the year:

Father's Day & Seminar. Date July 10 - 13, Venue: 279 Obohia Road, Aba. All fathers are invited. Anointed men of God will minister the work of God throughout the days of the meeting.

National Youth Convention And Fellowship will be held on August 6 - 10. Youths are invited to camp with us these five days and enjoy sweet fellowship with the Holy Ghost. Venue will be 279 Obohia Rd., Aba. Be a part of it.

Children's Seminar And Fellowship Days, September 7 - 14; Venue: 279 Obohia Rd., Aba. Enjoy being in the midst of our kids. Don't miss their fellowship and sweet voices. God bless you as you come.

Minister's Conference: September 29 - October 6, Venue: 279 Obohia Rd., Aba. Church of God ministers will unveil the hidden mind of Christ towards ministers through the inspired word of God. Come and be a part of it.

Minister's Wives Conference: October 27 - 30; Venue: 279 Obohia Rd., Aba. Host Pastor: Sister Judith Agharanya. come and hear her testify of her experiences as a minister's wife for 28 years.

Camp Meeting! Camp Meeting! Camp Meeting! Venue: 279 Obohia Rd., Aba. December 22 - 28, 1997. Host Pastor: Bro. & Sis. J. N. Agharanya and all the ministers and brethren from Bible Truth Church of God. We would be grateful to have you in our midst.

I went to Church of God Universal, Ikorekpe in Akwa Ibom State on the 25th and stayed till the 27th of April. I preached that evening and the morning of Saturday. The people asked many questions and I answered all through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Pastor Onyeze Christian accompanied me to the place. The revival was a sort of Sectional or Group camp meeting. The people were few in number. They told me that they has a problem and many people left the church. Bishop A. A. Okon came on Saturday evening the 26th. The evening service was delayed till 9:45 P.M.. We left the hall at 1:25 A.M. in the night. The best of the service was the choir that sang to the edification of souls. On Sunday morning, their Bishop preached and we left for Aba by 3:00 P.M.. The church was still going on. We stopped on the way and went into the compound of Pastor Joseph Akpanama. We say both the old and new church buildings. I was delighted. I prayed together with the wife and children and left for Aba. I enjoyed my stay with them.

With God all things are possible. Pray for us as we pray for you all. I hope that the plan for more brethren to visit us will work as planned. Continue your good works towards us. The work is growing and burdens surface from time to time. God takes care of the many needs. Our knees are on the ground for we know that His is faithful that promised.

God is good. The church is progressing. We will go to Togo, Lord willing, in June to stay for some months and do the work. Lodging in a hotel is very expensive. We are trying to avoid it. God is opening up. I will soon send a report .

We are harvesting mangoes, pears and okro now. We will can okro.

I don't know what delays the shipping of the printing press. I have not lost hope. I have started a small scale soap manufacturing factory. The soaps produced is sold by my wife. We are trying to work to help my children. DON'T LOSE YOUR LOVE ON ME. Pray for me as I pray for you. Extend my sincere greetings to everybody.

Thank you all.

Yours in His Truth,
J. N. Agharanya, Pastor

PHILIPPINES

Brother and Sister Luzan are presently in the United States visiting Camp Meetings and congregations. They will be leaving for home in late August. They will have a report for the next issue. Editor.

CAMP MEETING REPORT

We were privileged to attend a few days of Camp Meeting at God's Acres, Newark, Ohio from June 16 to 18.

Monday afternoon's message was preached by Bro. Cox on "The Gospel Call" with text from Gal. 1:6-12. He reminded us that "The Gospel is an alarm to awaken man to his sinful condition; The Gospel call today is for man to be spiritually located; if there is only one God and one Church of God, why can't we fellowship one another?".

Monday evening's message was by Bro. Larry Dishman on "The Founder of The Church" with text from Matt. 16:13-18. He told us: "Without a solid foundation you cannot build a structure that will stand ... we can only be the church of God as long as we stand on the truth of God's Word ... the truth of God's word will overflow the hiding places ... our success or our failure depends upon whether we obey God's Word or not."

Tuesday morning's message was by Sister Karen Wilkes on "Sowing In Tears" with text from Mark 8:36-37. She reminded us: "Do we have a clear vision of the value of a soul? Are we willing to let God put a soul burden on us?"

Tuesday afternoon's message was preached by Bro. A. Polston on "The Rest That Belongs to The People of God" with text from Heb. 3:12-4:11. He reminded us: "When something is available and it will help you, it is crazy not to take advantage of it! God wants to help you."

Tuesday evening's message by Bro. Dishman was on "The Head of The Church" with text from Eph. 1:21-23. He reminded us that "The head of the church of God is Jesus Christ and as the head Christ is the source of all power and authority."

Wednesday morning's message was by Bro. Wayne Hafley on "For Zion's Sake" with text from Isa. 62:1-7. He told us: "God wants us to have a reality of holiness and righteousness in our hearts. God wants the church to be a praise in the earth."

Wednesday afternoon's message was by Bro. Silvestre, a Filipino working in Spain that has started a Church of God congregation there. He preached on "A Man After God's Own Heart" with text from Acts 13:16-30. His challenge to us was: Can it be said of us that we are a man after God's own heart? Editor.

YOUTH & ADULT CAMP MEETING REPORT - BRISTOW, OKLAHOMA

The Church of God at Oak Street in Bristow, Oklahoma hosted the 19th Annual Youth and Adult Camp Meeting June 12th through 15th. God's people gathered from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Texas and Arizona as well as Oklahoma. Each one attending was made most comfortable by Pastor Chuck Scroggs and his wife Sister Judy and the host congregation.

The camp meeting theme "Flow Through Me That All The World May See!" was complemented by the messages preached including: "Do We Really Love The Lord?"; The Giant That Defeated David!"; "All Things Work Together For Good!"; "Recipe For A New Testament Christian From The Kitchen Of God!"; and "Unconditional Love!" A significant number of youth attended the camp meeting and many were drawn closer to the Lord.

All the services were blessed of God but the Friday evening and Saturday morning services were particularly Holy Spirit ordered and anointed. Our precious Heavenly Father did a wonderful work of divine healing during the Saturday morning song service. The brethren moved around the tabernacle to saint after saint who sought the Lord for healing of their body. Praise the Lord, He is just the same today! The psalmist wrote, "O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people."

We were able to travel to Oklahoma and join in five of the seven camp meeting services. I told Brother Chuck I would give the Info report.

In Our Lord's Service,
Pastor Glenn Dryden

FELLOWSHIP MEETING REPORT

We were privileged to attend the Ebeneezer Road Church of God , Orrstown, Pennsylvania on June 7.

The morning message was preached by Bro. Henry Marquiss III on "Righteousness That Exceeds That of The Pharisees," with text from Matt. 5:17-20. Bro. Henry reminded us that "a Pharisee thinks he is perfect and therefore needs no correction."

The afternoon message was brought by Bro. Tim Bash on "Knowledge" with text from 1 Tim. 6:13-21. Bro. Tim reminded us that "God doesn't do a lot of things that He gets blamed for." Editor

YOUTH LOCK-IN

The Church of God of Cumberland Valley held it's annual Youth Lock-In on Friday, June 27, 1997. The Lock-In started at 9:00 PM and went till 6:00 AM. There were 21 youth in attendance from Ohio and Pa. Chris Lindner from Newark, Ohio addressed the youth about "The Pain Of Discipline Over The Pain Of Regret." The youth spent the night playing active games such as "Prisoner's base," "Swat," "Hook-Up," "The Flying Dutchman," "The Hobo Game," and enjoyed a variety of food and fellowship. The evening was fun and enjoyed by all.

By Alice Musser

LAWTON, OKLAHOMA

June 23, 1997

Dear Bro. Rexroth,

The Lord has moved to help us in our predicament. I have been given some consulting work with a credit union in Oklahoma City. I began in May and will probably be able to work through July and then go on retainer for services through the end of the year. The president of this credit union is talking about bringing me on staff as Chief Financial Officer after the first of the year. At least for the moment I am able to do some "catch up" with my family finances. I have had to rent an apartment in OKC to be near the work and I have set aside enough money to pay for the rent until the end of the lease. I have been able to pay some current expenses for which I normally accrue the cash but have been unable to do so (insurance, car tags, some medical expenses, and the like). My earnings for July should pretty well pay off the money I have had to borrow for living expenses over the past 2 years. So, by the time this work comes to an end, I should be back to zero.

I have sent about 100 resumes since last summer for jobs that I know I am qualified to perform. However, I keep getting rejection letters, some of which indicate that I do not have the desired qualifications. Specifically, I lack a college degree. Before I say more, I must add that God is ultimately in control and it is obvious that He did not want me to have those jobs, quite possible because He wants me to stay where I am. I have made a decision to finish a degree in business administration with an accounting concentration. I have been taking courses through Liberty University's External Degree Program to that end. I have transferred all my hours from the universities I attended, I have been given credit for my military training (almost a minor in music), and I have transferred my banking education credits. This, plus the courses I have been taking, leaves me about 27 hours to complete the degree. The degree plus my 28 years experience will make me more marketable and I will be ready when God brings me in contact with the right employer. Cameron University in Lawton offers a one-year MBA program that I plan to enter as soon as I graduate from Liberty.

I still feel strongly that God wants me to minister in Lawton and to stay in Lawton. I need a permanent job there. Please ask the saints to pray concerning a specific situation that exists which may be the answer. The president of the Lawton Teachers Federal Credit Union plans to retire some time in the near future. She and I have had conversations about this and she has let me know that she wants me to take over after she retires. I am doing what I can to make sure that my qualifications are intact. I ask that God will control the factors which will determine when she retires and that I will find favor with those who will make the decision. This job would take care of me until retirement and it would work well with my ministering in Lawton. I have gained a lot of influence over the years and Lawton is ripe for the picking, all we need is to be turned loose in the name of the Lord.

We have been having a minimal church schedule because of the uncertainty of the situation with myself. If this consulting job becomes permanent (at least until the CU in Lawton opens up), we can become more aggressive and begin some outreach activity. Also, the saints need the encouragement.

Thank you for your support in prayer and financially. God bless you richly!

Your Servant in Christ,
Bro. Doug Bayless

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