[ag-news] AG NEWS #2342: August 19, 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------- AG-NEWS: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Please send story leads to [email protected] for consideration ---------------------------------------------------------------- **Turning Evil into Blessing: The Ferguson, Missouri, Conflict With continuing violence and seemingly no possible positive outcome in the Ferguson, Missouri, demonstrations and rioting, local AG churches are teaming with other area churches to impact the Ferguson community for Christ. However, as the Church continues to build relationships, the danger is very real and church leaders are urging their congregations to pray for their community. **Centennial Celebration an International Event U.S. Assemblies of God Centennial celebration events drew guests and speakers from 120 nations, including John Dramani Mahama, the president of Ghana. U.S. and International speakers inspired and challenged listeners, while AG USA leadership sees hosting the nations as a privilege and honor. **This Week in AG History -- August 19, 1916 Andrew D. Urshan went to Persia (now Iran) as an AG missionary in 1914, amidst much persecution. Read his testimony of the Spirits blessing and the suffering experienced for the cause of Christ in a three-part series featured in these historic Pentecostal Evangels! See article for the three links. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Bad Advice/Good Advice . . . Its Your Choice Run away from your problems and youll be happy. Ignore your problems and theyll go away. Some bad advice is easy to recognize, but not always easy to break free from. If your marriage is struggling, stop running and recognize that change is needed! Discover whats best for your marriage with the proven methods of MarriageRestored. Just one weekend and youll see the incredible difference good advice can make! Click on youtube/watch?v=-qfcbVsHHmU and see what MarriageRestored can do for you! Find a weekend and register today at marriagerestored. Upcoming events: August 22-24 — Wichita, Kansas. September 5-7 — San Antonio, Texas. See website for more dates and locations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- **TURNING EVIL INTO BLESSING: THE FERGUSON, MISSOURI, CONFLICT The streets of Ferguson, Missouri, have fluctuated between violence, calm and renewed violence following the shooting death of Michael Brown, a black 18-year-old, by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, in a confrontation on Saturday, August 9. After two failed attempts to restore order by police, as violence and looting erupted again over the weekend, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has set a curfew and called in the National Guard. Destruction, violence, hatred, division, death. The only one sitting back and laughing at this all is Satan, says Jack Hembree, pastor of Bethel Fellowship (AG) in Florissant, Missouri — located just a few minutes from where rioting has broken out. Hembree, who expressed his grief in a note to his congregation over the violence, urged his congregation not to take sides, but instead bring Christ into the situation. The differences that divide us were not created by God but designed by the enemy. It is time to battle not with a gun, bottle, or badge, but with prayer and the Word of God, Hembree wrote. Lay down our economics, our political persuasion, our differences, or whatever is hindering the power of the words of God from working in us and pick up the cross of Jesus Christ that brings forgiveness, confession, repentance, acceptance, love, freedom, and life. And his church has joined other churches as members of the Metro North Church Alliance to do just that. What you dont see on the national media is the church, Hembree says. The churches got together and marched down that same street the rioters marched on, passing out bags of supplies, food and toiletries to people. Church members stood in front of buildings through the night to make sure they were not looted. Church members parked in peoples driveways to make sure they were safe all through the night. Church members went up and down the streets, cleaning up the mess. The national media doesnt show any of that. The people of Ferguson are very good people, Hembree says. Yes, there needs to be some changes. We know that and its nothing new, but its a good community with good people. Brian Schmidgall, executive presbyter and pastor of Middle Tree Church, located on the dividing line between North and South St. Louis and about three miles from the rioting, agrees with Hembrees evaluation of Christ being the answer. There will be people of profile flying in and getting their face in the spotlight because its trendy and in vogue…, there will be social justice programs and systemic structure changes, but there will be the same problems 10 years down the road, Schmidgall says. The one thing the church addresses is the heart. If you dont address the heart, then healing and recovery dont happen. Schmidgall also observed a phenomenon of the digital age that he felt actually intensified and fueled the rioting. Social media is instigating a lot of this [violence], he says. As the mainstream media [originally] couldnt get access to the scene, social media was really getting charged and drawing a line in the sand for people — and everyone knows that if its on the Internet [or a text/tweet], it must be true… As Schmidgall works to bring a sense of stability in the midst of chaos, he believes this tragedy can be redeemed by God. The focus of MiddleTree Church, he says, is to bridge the divide between North and South St. Louis (the haves and have nots), and he believes the incident in Ferguson will open doors for the churches in his area to unite and be used by God to make a change in the community. The Lords hand is priming this for good things, he says, adding that hell be meeting with local ministers early this week to plan united action. What the enemy meant for harm, I think the Lord is going to use this. Pastor Aubery Kishna and his wife, Vimla, have been pastoring Jubliee Worship Center (AG) for the past 19 years. Their church is the AG church located closest to the demonstrations and rioting, occurring just down the road from the church. One church member lives in the apartment complex directly behind the looted and burned gas station that has appeared on national news. Kishna, a bivocational minister, says they cancelled services on Wednesday, but held them on Sunday, encouraging members to pray for their community, while leading them in prayer for the families, school districts, and political leaders involved. They currently plan to hold midweek services this week. The church, which runs about 40 to 50 people on Sundays, also took food from its pantry and partnered with another church, who was distributing food to those in need in the area of the demonstrations. The Kishnas both agreed that the community seems to be fairly peaceful during the daylight hours, but at night, things get out of control. But Vimla, who is a teacher, says her school district, along with two others, were closed on Monday [August 18], due to the demonstrations. AG Missionary Jay Covert, who oversees Urban Outreach Church Plants in East St Louis and Washington Park, where he is no stranger to danger, hasnt seen a strong reaction in his community or neighborhoods to the riots. Having just been caught in gang crossfire several months ago while he and a visiting pastor drove around the neighborhood, Covert is concerned that the riot in Ferguson might not be an isolated event. That unless theres a God-driven transformation in the hearts of people, riots and violence may happen and intensify as a trend throughout the country before things get any better. Where were at, murder is not uncommon, Covert explains simply. Murders rarely get solved because no one talks, theyre fearful — snitches get stitches is the saying. Kishna says that no matter what the outcome of the investigation, he feels deeply for the parents of Michael Brown. We had a 26-year-old girl that we buried just a couple months ago, Kishna says. She was at the wrong place at the wrong time and was caught in a gang shooting…. My heart breaks for Michael Browns family. But not just for them, but for all the Michael Browns who have been shot and killed on the streets by gangs. Theres no one crying foul for them. Hembree says that the weekends renewed violence are making things very difficult and unsafe for churches, where prayer is even more of a focus. Some of the [ministry] efforts have been suspended for a few days, Hembree says, expressing concern about outsiders being the cause of the problems. As of now, we are still proceeding with attempting to meet the needs of families in the area… [but] if it gets too dangerous, they will have to stop for the short term. Those decisions will be made daily. Schmidgall says that it is vital for the church to be actively involved in the lives of people in the community. If you have relationship, you have a voice, Schmidgall says. Because if we dont have those relationships, what is going to happen if the outcome of the investigation isnt what people want to hear? --Dan Van Veen ---------------------------------------------------------------------- **CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT Inspiring speakers from the United States and every region of the world challenged attendees of the Assemblies of God Centennial in Springfield, Missouri, August 5-10. AG World Missions Executive Director Greg Mundis says, The inspiring ministry of guests from all over the world challenged us to share Jesus more passionately, plant churches more aggressively, and believe God for more miracles. A Global Church Planters conference, a cooperative effort by the Church Multiplication Network and AG World Missions, preceded the Centennial. Overflow crowds packed the auditorium at Central Assembly of God to be challenged by leaders of rapidly growing fellowships in other nations. Participants included David Mohan of India, Rey Calusay of the Philippines and Enrique Strohschein of Argentina, as well as pastors José María Romo of Spain and David Tan of Singapore. The conference far exceeded expectations, both in attendance and excitement. The Global Church Planting Summit was an incredible blessing to all who attended, said Jeff Hartensveld, AG Mobilization director. Many have commented to us how inspiring and instructive the speakers were. I believe it will both spark a fresh passion for evangelism and increase commitment to excel in church planting — especially among the unreached. One of the greatest examples of church planting in the world is in Tanzania, where the AG has planted more than 4,500 churches in the last five years. In 2008, after Barnabas Mtokambali was elected general superintendent, the Tanzania AG launched a 10-year plan to plant 10,000 churches by the year 2020. At the current rate, they will pass this goal in 2017 — three years early. The Centennial celebration, held August 7-10, drew thousands of people from the United States and 120 nations of the world. Dr. George O. Wood, general superintendent of the U.S. Assemblies of God and newly reelected chairman of the World AG Fellowship, observed, There were 120 people in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. At this great Centennial moment, representatives from 120 nations — one nation for each person in the Upper Room — gathered in Springfield, Missouri, to celebrate with us. Church leaders from several nations spoke in workshops or in the evening services. They included Yong Mok Cho from South Korea, Juan Carlos Escobar from Spain, Edward Grabovenko from Russia, Lazarus Chakwera from Malawi, Dikran Salbashian from Jordan, Barnabas Mtokambali from Tanzania, Dishan Wickramaratne from Sri Lanka, Ivan Satyavrata from India, José Wellington from Brazil, and Max Schläpfer from Switzerland. Speakers from the United States also ministered, including Wilfredo De Jesús, pastor of New Life Covenant (AG) in Chicago; Dick Brogden, who currently serves in Eurasia; John Lindell, pastor of James River Church, Ozark, Missouri; General Superintendent George O. Wood, and others. President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana also traveled to the Centennial to express his gratitude for the Assemblies of God and its work in his country. When asked by a local news reporter how his faith helps him deal with the pressures of his office, Mahama said, It gives you the comfort and confidence to go forward. …Knowing that God guides your steps and you have a family like the Assemblies of God behind you is a real comfort in the kind of job I have to do. While celebration participants paid honor to what God has accomplished during the past century, they were challenged to look ahead at the task that yet remains. God is doing something truly marvelous among us, the ramifications and results of which we cant fully grasp, said Dr. Wood. We sense in our spirits that we are on the brink of the greatest advance of the gospel in history. The representation of people from around the world provided clear evidence that the power of the gospel can transcend every culture and people group. In partnership, members of the AG worldwide are seeking even greater outreach in the future. The worldwide Assemblies of God family is poised to proclaim our Lords gospel to unreached multitudes who wait in spiritual darkness for His light and salvation, Greg Mundis exclaimed. What a privilege and honor to host these great men and women of God from around the world! --Randy Hurst ---------------------------------------------------------------------- **THIS WEEK IN AG HISTORY -- AUGUST 19, 1916 Andrew D. Urshan (1884-1967), the son of a Presbyterian pastor in Persia (now Iran), immigrated to the United States in 1901. He was baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1908 in Chicago, where he started a Persian Pentecostal mission. He returned to his homeland in 1914 as an Assemblies of God missionary and, amidst much persecution, helped to establish an enduring Pentecostal church. Urshan shared his testimony in a series of three articles published in 1916 in the Pentecostal Evangel. Persia was a melting pot of numerous people groups, including Arabs, Jews, and Armenians. But Urshan felt a call to minister to his own people, the Assyrians. The Assyrians, who mostly belonged to various Christian churches, had a long history of suffering as a persecuted religious and ethnic minority. Interestingly, most of the persecution experienced by Urshan and other Pentecostals came from other Christians. Urshan recounted that Muslim leaders treated him with respect, because the Pentecostals and the Muslims shared similar moral values. When Urshan was placed in jail for preaching the gospel, Muslim leaders stated, He says people shouldnt get drunk, and that is why they have imprisoned him. Pentecostal revival spread in the Assyrian community. Urshan related the stories of the birth of Pentecostal churches in five towns. In each new church, miracles and changed lives were accompanied by suffering. In the town of Urmia, a mob of Eastern Orthodox Christians attacked a group of Pentecostal girls who were headed to church. The mob shot their rifles at the young converts, hitting three and killing one of the girls. The grief and violence did not deter the Pentecostals from meeting. Ultimately, about fifty people accepted Christ and were baptized in the Holy Spirit in Urmia. Similar stories happened in each town touched by Pentecostal revival. Urshan pleaded for readers in America to learn from the deep spirituality of Persian believers. He wrote, I have seen young girls like some of you interceding and agonizing for the salvation of souls in the whole world. These young Persians, he explained, walked carefully, with their eyes and hearts filled with God, singing praises unto Jesus, and pleading tearfully with souls, before their persecutors. When Urshan returned to America, he was troubled by the lack of consecration he found in churches. Many Christians he met seemed to live careless lives and seemed most interested in fashions of dress and the pleasures of this world. Urshan wrote that he suffered in the spirit for American Christians. People who are in danger of death, he surmised, may actually be better off spiritually. Americans, he believed, should seek to cultivate spiritual depth by learning from the suffering church. Read the series of three articles by Andrew D. Urshan, Pentecost in Persia, in the following issues of the Pentecostal Evangel: Click here for the August 19, 1916, issue: s2.ag.org/august191916 Click here for the August 26, 1916, issue: s2.ag.org/august261916 Click here for the September 2, 1916, issue: s2.ag.org/sept21916 Also featured in the August 19, 1916, issue: * The Unity of the Spirit, by W. Jethro Walthall * Daily Portion from the Kings Bounty, by Alice Reynolds Flower And many more! Click here to read the August 19, 1916, issue now: s2.ag.org/august191916 Pentecostal Evangel archived editions courtesy of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center (ifphc.org). For current editions of the Evangel, see pe.ag.org. --Darrin Rodgers ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For a regularly updated list of upcoming significant Assemblies of God days and events--many linked to informational, registration or ordering pages--see the following address: . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AG-NEWS: The AG News & Information Service, (c) 2014 A service of the Assemblies of Gods Office of Public Relations. This mailing list was created to inform the media and public of current events within the Fellowship and continuing developments among its many ministries. If you have a news lead, contact us at [email protected] Office of Public Relations General Council of the Assemblies of God 1445 N. 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Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 15:55:30 +0000
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