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"Demonstrating Unity in the Power of the Spirit" 
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IN THIS ISSUE
(COGIC) Common, Danny Glover, Dr. Bernice King, Civil Rights, Labor and Faith Leaders to Launch "I AM 2018" Movement in MemphisMemphis
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and Church of God in Christ (COGIC) have launched a national effort to ensure the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 1968 Memphis sanitation strikers lives on with a new generation of activists. With the goal of advancing labor and civil rights and tackling issues plaguing low-income communities nationwide, from  April 2 to April 4, the I AM 2018 campaign will transform Memphis into the birthplace of a new political movement and aggressive voter education and civic engagement program to mobilize turnout for the 2018 elections and beyond.

On April 2-4, 2018 - 50 years to the day Dr. King was assassinated - the country's most prominent civil rights, faith, labor, entertainment and other leaders will hold first-of-its-kind trainings, mobilization and commemoration activities across the city, including at Mason Temple COGIC, the site of Dr. King's final, prophetic "I've been to the Mountaintop" speech.  

 At a Youth Town Hall, attending activists and leaders at the forefront of fights for economic and racial justice will discuss issues concerning urban youth and make plans for November and elections in the future.  Read more. 
Members on the MoveMembersOntheMove
_AP Photo_ Susan Walsh
(AP Photo: Susan Walsh)
Renewed Fervor to Fight Opioid Crisis
President Donald J. Trump unveiled his  Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse , and Adult & Teen Challenge USA President Joe Batluck   is making a pitch that the Assemblies of God ministry be considered part of the administration's solution.

Trump, in a 35-minute speech at Manchester Community College in New Hampshire, reiterated the administration's threefold plan of action against the opioid emergency: prevention, treatment, and recovery.  Read more

'I Know I Will Be Criticized': The Latino Evangelical Who Advises Trump on Immigration
SACRAMENTO - The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez had been summoned to the White House for an urgent meeting, and with so much at stake, he decided that he needed a blessing.
He looked out at the Latino families jammed into his evangelical church in Sacramento on a recent Sunday and called on Stephania Herrera, a youth pastor who had come to the United States illegally when she was 10 years old. Read more

IPHC Archivists and Historians Participate in the Society for Pentecostal Studies Conference

Group photo in the lobby of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary:
Pictured L to R: Dr. Tony Moon, Dr. Adrian Hinkle, Dr. Rebecca Webster, Mrs. Carol Synan, Dr. Vinson Synan, Dr. Harold D. Hunter, Rev. Alex Mayfield, Mrs. Karen Lucas.

The 47th Annual Society for Pentecostal Studies (SPS) and 53rd Annual Wesleyan Theological Society conference met March 8-10, 2018, in Cleveland, Tennessee. For 20 years now, the two societies have held joint conferences every five years. Host for the 2018 conference was the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS), a Church of God (Cleveland, TN) institution.  Read more

(COG) Lee University at 100: The Third 25 Years

In recognition of the 100th birthday of Lee University this year, Faith News is presenting a series of four articles on the history of the Church of God's premier educational institution. This third in the series recalls the years 1968-1993. The article is a reprint from an appearance in the Lee University Torch, written on the occasion of Lee University's 75th birthday in 1993. The writer was Dr. Carolyn Dirksen, a Professor of English and former vice president at Lee University, who has been a member of the faculty since 1968. Read more

OBC  Pastor Leads Renewal in Economically Depressed Area
Pastor Dan Powell
Pastor Dan Powell
Daniel Powell, pastor of Calvary Open Bible Church in Dayton, Ohio, is leading a charge to bring hope to Riverside, a depressed suburb of Dayton. We sat down with him to discuss his initiative, Hope4Riverside (H4R).

Message: Describe the cultural climate of Riverside.

Dan: Dayton has a great history. Everyone knows about the Wright brothers, inventors of the airplane who lived in Dayton. It also has been granted more patents per capita than any other U.S. city. The city was booming as late as the '90s but was hit hard by the decline in automotive manufacturing. Through the '80s and '90s I was very involved in the business community and fortunate enough to work for one of the more than fifteen Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Dayton. Now only two of those fifteen are left. Read more

Followers of Christ are "salt and light" in the world (Matthew 5:13-16). We have the power to make a difference in our culture. The question is, will we? People of faith generally respond to the culture in one of four ways... either by condemning it, ignoring it, conforming to it, or engaging it. 

Those who condemn the culture are quick to throw stones, as did the Pharisees, and choose to erect walls between faith and culture rather than build bridges. Jesus demonstrated a much different posture by loving the world, not condemning it (John 3:16-17).   Read more
NHCLC: What Will Happen to U.S. Churches  Without Hispanic Immigrants? Immigrants
Photo by Nina Strehl on Unsplash
For a country founded on religious freedom, mainline Christian denominations face the harsh reality of declining attendance. According to statistics published by the Pew Center, "Do not attend church or identify with any organized religion" is trending upward among most populations.

That is the case except for churches welcoming multi-generational Latino families and immigrants. Read more.

OBC President Randall Bach Interviews Fermin Garcia, New President of INSTE Bible College OpenBibleInterview
IGBC President Fermin Interview
IGBC President Fermin Interview

Inste Global Bible College (IGBC) exists to make disciples and develop leaders for the fulfillment of the Great Commission through excellent and affordable distance education not only in the U.S. but all around the world. IGBC serves 12,000 students in 12 languages and is available in your church.

President Randall A. Bach recently sat down with IGBC's new president, Fermin Garcia, and discovered some exciting new initiatives. Read more
Jeff & Ramona Farmer
" But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth."   Acts 1:8 (NIV) 
 
Jeff Farmer, President
Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America 
     Conferences             R esources               Contact 
PentecostalPray
Photo by Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Six denominations will join together for a unique, Pentecostals Pray Conference in Eastern North Carolina. Pastors, prayer leaders, and intercessors are invited to the International Pentecostal Holiness Church NC Conference Campus in Falcon, NC (just north of Fayetteville). Coordinated by P. Douglas Small, under the banner of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America, the Pentecostals Pray Conference will provide opportunities for vision and training as well as resources to launch a missional prayer movement.

The conference will begin with a Prayer Experience on Friday evening, May 4. On Saturday, May 5 a full day of workshops and plenary sessions is planned. Four breakout sessions will be offered with six simultaneous tracks focused on: pastors; prayer leaders; intercessors; prayer evangelism-mission; personal/home prayer; and men, women and children praying. In addition to the breakout sessions there will be prayer experiences offered to teach prayer models; workshops in Spanish; and a model prayer room.
"What we cannot do separately, we can do together," Small noted. Other similar collaborative conferences are being considered across the nation. 

The denominations committed to participate include Church of God, Dennis Page, Administrative Bishop; Assemblies of God, Rick Ross, Superintendent; International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Danny Nelson, Superintendent; Pentecostal Freewill Baptist, Randy Carter, General Superintendent; Church of God of Prophecy, Jeffrey Davis, State Presbyter; and The Fellowship Network, Steve Holder, President.

Carter Conlon, pastor at Times Square Church in Manhattan, Jeff Farmer, President of the PCCNA, and Douglas Small, president and founder of Alive Ministries will lead plenary sessions.  Carter Conlon is the pastor of Times Square Church in Manhattan, an interdenominational church with over 10,000 people in attendance, representing over 100 different nationalities. Pastor Conlon has always demonstrated a passion for prayer, which is evidenced by his gathering of 50,000 believers from many denominations to pray for one hour in the middle of Times Square.

Dr. Jeff Farmer has served on the Executive Committee of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America for 17 years - the last seven years as chairman and president. In addition to serving as a youth pastor, church planter, and senior pastor, Jeff worked 18 years in the corporate business world.

The workshop speakers and selections are astounding. Topics include:  priority of prayer in a pastor's life; finding God's will; rooftop praying; spiritual mapping; establishing a prayer dialogue in your city; teaching children to pray; praying for unreached people groups; prayer life of an intercessor; and establishing a family altar.
For more information or to register go to  www.pccnapray.org  or call 855-842-5483.
New Member Focus: Infinity Concepts CEO Mark DreistadtMemberFocus
  
Mark Dreistadt_ CEO of Infinity Concepts
Mark Dreistadt, CEO of Infinity Concepts
1) What was your first job in the ministry or your career? 
At the ripe old age of 22, I went on the road full-time as a singer, pianist, and preacher with a gospel group called The Master's. Eventually, my wife and I decided just to travel, minister and sing ourselves as Mark & Susie. We did this for almost six years (1976 - 1981).

2) What's your advice to someone starting out in the ministry and in your field?   Keep the first thing the first thing... It is easy to become caught up in the business of ministry - or the busyness of ministry - and lose sight of the call and anointing of God upon your life.

3) What's your favorite verse?   It is actually three verses... Colossians 3:15-17 - Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

4) What are you reading right now?  
Leadership From the Inside Out: Becoming a Leader For Life by Kevin Cashman.

5) Tell us some fun facts about you.
  • I have three married children and eight incredible grandchildren - and I am happy to show you pictures.
     
  • I have a deep love and passion for the land and people of Israel - and I am happy to show you pictures.
  • I have been a potato chip truck loader, construction laborer, kitchen cabinet installer, bank teller, piano tuner, studio musician, singer, songwriter, evangelist, record producer, television producer, pastor, worship leader, talk show host, television station manager, and corporate CFO, COO, and CEO. Each position taught me important lessons and prepared me for the consulting work I do today.
MiracleInvasionReleasedExcerpt From Miracle Invasion 
As I entered our home, my dad-the one we had half - dragged and half -carried to bed - was doing jumping jacks and deep knee bends in the kitchen.

"I'm healed! I'm healed!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. His face was glowing. Mom was crying. "What ... what happened?" I asked, picking my jaw up off the floor. "I was listening to a tape the Coxes gave me," he explained, referring to the family who had invited us to their church. "The preacher on the tape said, 'If you're listening to this message through a taped recording, reach out and touch the recorder as a point of faith. Good! Now, ask God to heal you.'"

Desperate and hopeful, Dad had done just that while I was down the street getting Cool Whip. "It was like a warm heating pad touched my back," Dad exclaimed. "I felt it! God delivered and healed me. I'm free! The pain is gone." We sat down for dessert, overcome with awe.

As newcomers to this kind of faith, we were smitten with wonder. That day marked me forever, teaching me an important truth-someone with a personal experience is never at the mercy of someone with an argument! A miracle settles every quarrel over the reality of God and the authenticity of his Word. More than fifty years have now passed. Since then, I have witnessed more miracles and manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit than I can remember. And every time God displays his power and glory, I am humbled and awed to see beyond the veil. Excerpt from Miracle Invasion, edited by Dean Merrill
Spiritual Counterfeits
by Pastor James Fam, Coastal Church, Vancouver BCcounterfeit
Have you ever owned a counterfeit? A fake designer watch, imitation brand name handbag, replica headphones, or maybe even a pair of knockoff sneakers that were way too cheap to be true. Whether by mistake or by choice, the satisfaction that a counterfeit brings is usually short-lived, and disappointment ensues once you have the chance to compare it to the real thing .
 

One can feel the weight of a real Swiss-engineered timepiece.

One can see the elegance of a genuine Italian leather bag.

One can hear the richness of the music through a quality pair of headphones.

And one (especially a sneaker head like myself) can appreciate the comfort and durability of authentic footwear. Read more

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