June 30, 2000

Vol. 7 Issue 12

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EDITORIAL

(Eph 4:1-3 KJV) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, {2} With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; {3} Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The Bible telling us how to conduct our lives as Christians instructs us to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The word Endeavouring used here means “to use speed, i. e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest do diligence , be diligent, endeavour, labour, study”. How are we doing in obeying this scripture? How am I doing? And how are you doing?

We all know that Satan is getting his job of dividing and separating done; it is our job to promote unity. One of the best ways that I have found to promote unity is to worship together. I hope to see you at a camp meeting this summer. Editor.

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT – INFO+

The Balance ledger for out seventh year of publication is:

Balance as of June 30, 1999: $208.69
Expenses July 1, 1999 – June 30, 2000:
        Postage: $712.22
        Printing: 398.07
        Paper: 101.48
Total Expenses: $1211.77
Income: $1043.50
Balance, June 30, 2000: $40.62

We now have 129 paid subscriptions; this is a gain of 9 over last year. I am mailing out 169 copies monthly (one more than last year) with complimentary copies going to overseas missionaries and to a few selected individuals in the United States.

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 mission reports and Church of God news to subscribe. Consider giving a gift subscription to someone.

Pray for our efforts in this ministry. Editor

WORLD MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP (WMF)

The annual meeting will be held on July 13, 2:00 PM at the Licking County (Note: moved from Westerville) Camp Meeting. All interested in the missions are encouraged to attend.

Continue to send offerings identified for specific missions to the Treasurer:
                World Missionary Fellowship
                C/O Bro. Steve Yoder
                P. O. Box 418
                Sugarcreek, OH 44681

PRESSING NEEDS

1. $450.00 For Brother John Agharanya’s medical care debt.

2. $4,000.00 to $15,000.00 to purchase a van for Nigeria. They have no vehicles and must rely on public transportation for all of their travel. $3,225.00 received toward this need.

3. $5,600.00 for diesel generator for Nigeria as electric power is rarely available for their printing business. $100.00 has been received toward this need. Thank you!

An additional $3,920.84 has been received toward Nigeria projects. Thank you very much.

NIGERIA

June 8, 2000
Received June 18, 2000 by courier.

Dear Brethren,

Holy greetings in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. It is amazing what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us. Really the month of April was a month of mixed blessings. In all we glorify the Lord for His kindness. 1 Thes. 5:18 “In everything give thanks to God through Jesus Christ, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning me.”

Our Bible school is in progress with 6 students in Diploma class. The press witnessed a turning point when every machine broke down and we spent a lot of money to repair them and bring them to normality. Though we are not afraid, we owed this month. We have cleared our debt and we are working as best as we can have light. Glory be to God. We still need a generator.

We had our camp meeting, which we normally hold every Easter holiday. It was well attended. We had a guest speaker. It was amazing what the Lord did for us. Six persons were saved and baptized. We had our feet washing and Lord’s supper. It started on the 20th and ended on the 23rd. God through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit visited us. We are happy and are rejoicing.

Things are very costly here in the country. A liter of petrol is N30 (33 cents), diesel is N29.50, while kerosene is N27 per liter. The price of every commodity went up astronomically. Our hope is in Jesus Christ. Thank you all for your help. We look forward to a better tomorrow.

Pray for us as we are praying for you.

MAY REPORT

Greetings in the name of our able savior Jesus Christ. The glorious light of the gospel is shining daily in our soul and life. This is the reason we stand no matter the experiences we have had through the trials and tribulations we pass through. We are thanking God for He is on the throne. Thank you all for your monthly support. Thank you all for it is helping us to help the workers and do some ministerial work. Thank you all.

The printing press is still in action. It is serving as best as it could. We have sacked our lithographer for duping us and messing up the press. He duped others as well. Those whom we walked for, he went behind to collect the money. Thank God for His mercy and early information.

The church hall at Akpa collapsed due to heavy rain. The brethren at Abalankamiri are helping us to set up a local building to house the members. Your help is much needed.

The brethren at Ikpaeze are trying to get a land for their assembly hall. Help us to help them. Do your best to help. Though the country seems to witness an eclipse of violence from religion to ethnic and greed, yet the Word of God stands sure. Every tribe is striving to be known in the country. That is the fruit of democracy. As the Landlord of Nsukka branch quitted the brethren things has been going well with the brethren at Nsukka. Our nursery school is growing numerically.

Priority Needs are:
Evangelical Bus $4,000 – 15,000
Nsukka land & building $4,000
Omoba $1,000
Akpa $700.00
Umunkama $700.00
Umoko $1,000
Ikpaeze $700.00

Whosoever God leads to help us should send their gifts to World Missionary Fellowship c/o Brother Stanley Rexroth Thank You.

Yours In His Truth,
Pastor John N. Agharanya

DEAR JUDY

This column is a burden to help Christian singles get together for encouragement and friendship. Names, addresses, ages and interests are available through your participation. Should you care to receive a list, please send your name and address along with the information about yourself to: Dear Judy, P. O. Box 2053, Ponca City, OK 74602-2053; E-mail: agape157@Juno.com (Note new Email address)

Dear Readers,

Just a word from the Lord today .. after praying about this column, the Lord has so impressed me to share this with you all.

Many of you “advancing” singles, get really weary trying to find a relationship, and rightly so. God placed the need to be with someone in all of us. But rather than concentrating on finding a relationship, and much of the time being frustrated, it is time to work on nurturing a friendship. Pour yourself into others and their needs, and soon you will find your needs being met.

Praying for you all,
Judy

2001 MINISTERS’ MEETING

Your thoughts or suggestions regarding next year’s Ministers’ Meeting are appreciated. The planning committee is giving consideration to meeting at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania in February or March of 2001. Please write, call, or email us with your input as soon as possible.

Rube and Vivian Gayheart
10722 Eden Church Rd., NE
St. Louisville, Ohio 43071-9775
Telephone No. 740-745-2412
Email: rvheart@cgate.net

Editor’s note: The committee will meet at the Licking County, Ohio Camp Meeting to develop the agenda, time and place of the 2001 Minister’s meeting.

FELLOWSHIP MEETING REPORT

Fellowship Day was held at Pine Flats Church of God, Pine Flats, Pennsylvania on April 29, 2000. It was a beautiful spring day to enjoy the fellowship of the family of God and the presence of the Lord.

Brother Henry Marquiss III preached the morning message on “Through The Noise” with text from Psalm 65:7. He reminded us that “It’s the noise of the siren call of the world that we have to deal with”. More than half (60%) of all innernet searches use “sex” in the search. We need to have our compass set to keep us from being drawn away with the noise. There is the noise of materialism, which is very seductive. An antidote is to check your giving, check your spending. Be free from the love of money. Give materialism an inch and it will take a mile. Learn to trust God. The noise of suffering causes some to get so discouraged that they give up on God. Antidote: you’re not the only one. All Christians suffer persecution but God will always bring you through. The noise of nonsense will pull you away with things that hove no value in the light of eternity. Is the time I am spending with this good for me? Check your direction. Your focus and remember your citizenship. The noise of bitterness will destroy you. The number one destroyer of relationships is resentment. The noise of stagnation will stall you. Growth requires change.

The afternoon message was brought by Brother Charles Beltz on “Patterns & Solutions” with text from Lev. 23. He reminded us that the Passover protected by the blood. Jesus is the Passover lamb. The feast of unleavened bread was a preparation of seven days. Sin is leaven of today. Pentecost fulfilled in sending the Holy Spirit. The feast of Tabernacles celebrated worldwide harvest. By the editor.

BUILDING DEDICATION

A dedication service was held May 6, 2000 to dedicate the new Church building of the Grafton Road Church of God, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Brother Edward Beck brought the dedication message on “Will God Dwell Among Us?” with text from 2 Chr. 6:18, 7:1, 11-16. He told us Dedication or desolation in our choice. The living out in the community will demonstrate what our dedication means. God saved us to be the difference, to reach out to those in need. We do not need to argue with others about what sin is; what we need to do is live what righteousness is. Editor.

Bro. Beck

FELLOWSHIP DAY REPORT

Fellowship day was held at Ebeneezer Road Church of God, Orrstown, Pennsylvania on June 3, 2000. Brother Joseph Luzier preached the morning message on “How About Your Heart?” with text from Psalm 31:19-24. He reminded us that God is in the heart changing business. When you allow Him to change your heart, He will change what you want. You will want fellowship with God and with the family of God. If you have heart trouble, ask God to change you. “Not to serve God is insanity”. We need a constant presence of God in our lives.

Bro. Luzier

Brother Stanley J. Rexroth brought the afternoon message on “Fishers of Men” with text from Matt 4:18-20. He interviewed Brother Don Mowery, a fisherman for over fifty years. They told us that a fisherman Plans and prepares for fishing. Fishing takes top priority. It takes passion to be a successful fisherman. The cost is no object to a fisherman. A fisherman is always experimenting with techniques and looking for new places to fish. Fish must be taken care of when they are caught. Fishing is competitive, Satan is out to catch every man. A fisherman does not easily give up. Editor.

CAMP MEETING REPORT

I was privileged to attend two day of Camp Meeting at God’s Land Church of God, Douglas Lake, Tennessee June 15 & 16, 2000. We arrived in time for the afternoon message, which was brought by Brother L. C. McCawley on “What Advantage Then Hath The Jew?” with text from Romans 2:21-29, 3:1-3. He reminded us “God wants you to be successful in life .. there are no excuses for failure”. If you will keep all of God’s commandments, the blessings of God will overtake you. “The advantage of being a Jew is that the Lord will bless you”. God requires you to destroy pagan customs and worship. God teaches us how to worship. God lets you know how to choose a mate. God teaches you how to live as married. God teaches you how to dress. God teaches his people to be one. “The doctrine of oneness is as important to the church as salvation is to the lost”.

Bro. McCawley

Brother William Wilson brought the Thursday evening message on “The Purpose of Our Gathering Together” with text from Exodus 32:1-7, 25-26. He told us “not every gathering together in one accord is of God. When people decide to go contrary to God’s Word they know who to gather to”. If you are going to be God’s man you’ve got to be delivered from the people. Dishonesty has been the downfall of individuals and fellowships. God’s people need somebody to preach thus saith the Lord. “The purpose of this Camp Meeting is to promote holiness. There is no unity outside of holiness. People don’t have to see everything exactly alike to have unity or even to have holiness. Fellowship is in the spirit”.

Bro. Wilson

Brother Marty Simpson preached the message Friday morning on “Restore The Joy” with text from Luke 21:33-36 & Psalm 51:1-12. He told us “We are responsible for ourselves, we must take care that the cares of life are taken care of in the right way. Just because you’re setting here in a Camp meeting with the glory of God coming down does not keep the devil from your mind”. David’s joy could only come back by him acknowledging his sin and seeking God with his whole heart. When you enjoy God, serving Him is not hard. “True praise unto God can only come from a clean heart.”

Bro. Simpson

Brother Clyde Whitner Jr. brought the afternoon message on “Personal Convictions” with text from Joshua 24:1, 13, 15-17. He told us A man or woman that doesn’t have personal convictions is unstable. If you have God given convictions you can go against the multitude. You carry your personal convictions with you everywhere you go. We have to walk in the face of pressure. “Do what God tells you to do, make sure it is God telling you and make sure you get God given convictions.”

Bro. Whitner

Brother William Wilson preached the message Friday evening on “Christian Fellowship” with text from 1 John 1:1-7. He told us “Christian fellowship is divine. It is a sharing of common & mutual interests. Born again believers are all in fellowship with God. None of us is so big or so wise as to say, He’s in; He’s out. All born again believers have been made to drink of one spirit. They are all of the family of God. Some things that are not the basis of fellowship are personal convictions & matters of conscience, differences in administrations and methods and uniformity of Bible knowledge”. Editor

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Brother Mike Spicer (pastor of Chapel of Hope Church of God in Lenoir, NC) and his wife Vickie celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary (6/22/75) with a surprise cookout June 17th at the church. Their daughters, Erin, Leah, and Amber organized the event. Many church members, family, and friends attended. May God continue to bless their marriage and their work for the Lord. The Spicer Girls

NEW PASTOR

Dale S. Rexroth, son of Stanley J. and Martha Rexroth was appointed Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Lakeview, Ohio effective May 1, 2000.

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