The Spirit of Faith Newsletter – April 1983 (Print Edition)
“Commit!”
As many of you have heard from the Spirit of Faith Broadcast, I am no longer pastoring. When I started both Word of Faith Fellowship in Salisbury and Healing Springs Faith Center in the Denton area, the two churches that I have pastored, I saw that there was a need for local churches that would teach the Word of Faith. I always felt that I was not a pastor but a teacher with a traveling ministry. But I saw a need and said, “Well, Lord, if no one else will fill the need then I’m available.” Now that there are several local Word Churches in our immediate area that have pastors that are called and anointed by God as pastors, my assignment has changed. I am returning to my true calling of a teacher in the Body of Christ. Even when I was filling the position of pastor I was constantly frustrated by the position. I found teaching no problem whether behind the pulpit in church or on the road, but teaching the Word is not all that is involved in pastoring!
My experience as a pastor has given me some needed lessons in how a church works and how important it is! God expects you to COMMIT to a local church. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another…” (Hebrews 10:25) This is not Just a verse that pastors quote to get people in church, it is the Word of God! We can’t claim to be a “Word Person” on the one hand and ignore scripture like this on the other.
What is commitment all about? One meaning is “to bind to”. It is binding ones self to a church, to become a vital part of seeing that church fulfill its vision. We’ve seen in past studies that the Word says that without a vision people perish (Prob. 298 18.) If you get a hold of a church’s vision and run with it, you’ll succeed. Not only will you succeed, so will your church! If you don’t know your pastor’s vision, ask him! Show him Habakkuk 2:2, 3 and say, “Pastor if you’ll give me a simple, clear picture of our vision, I’ll run with it!”. Then, watch him get excited!
Don’t be afraid of commitment! It is scriptural and it is of great benefit to you. I am convinced that if we would do our part as committed members of local Word Churches, we would soon reach the whole world with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!
A Personal Word
As many of you have heard from the Spirit of Faith Broadcast, I am no longer pastoring. When I started both Word of Faith Fellowship in Salisbury and Healing Springs Faith Center in the Denton area, the two churches that I have pastored. I saw that there was a need for local churches that would teach the Word of Faith. I always felt that I was not a pastor but a teacher with a traveling ministry. But I saw a need and said, “Well, Lord, if no one else will fill the need then I’m available.” Now that there are several local Word Churches in our immediate area that have pastors that are called and anointed by God as pastors, my assignment has changed. I am returning to my true calling of a teacher in the Body of Christ. Even when I was filling the position of pastor I was constantly frustrated by the position. I found teaching no problem whether behind the pulpit in church or on the road, but teaching the Word is not all that is involved in pastoring!
My experience as a pastor has given me some needed lessons in how a church works and how important it is! That is why I am now involved as a member at Taylors Grove Church. Brother Gary Price, pastor of Taylors Grove, is a called and dedicated pastor that ministers the Word of Faith! I am excited about the vision that he has for our local Denton area and beyond! As the teaching article this month explains, you need to become part of a good Word Church and get a hold of its vision! The vision Brother Gary has for Taylors Grove is that, “Taylors Grove is – where Faith works by Love, a ‘Mother Church’ where ministries are born and nurtured, and where the needs of people are met – Spirit, Soul, Body, Financially and Socially!”
What does all this for Word of Faith Ministries? Well, in many ways… no change. Our radio, newsletter and teaching outreach will remain the same. Our vision to “Proclaim the Word of Faith, Showcase Ministries and Train People to Fulfill the Word of God” has not changed. Our Faith Exploits Satellite Program will now be at Taylors Grove Church each month during the Satellite Seminars. The Satellite Bible School will be held at our Word of Faith Ministries office on Highway Eight starting in the Fall of 1983.
I am very excited about the things that God is doing in our area – Satellite, Channel 20 television, radio, seminars, youth outreach – all of which are featured in this newsletter. Praise God for all that is happening!
Items of Interest in This Issue
Invitation to the Spirit of Faith Broadcast… Invitation to the Word of Faith Satellite Seminar with Jerry Savelle at Taylors Grove Church… Invitation to the Denton Youth Rally with The Bridge and Durante Pardue from Lancaster, SC… Announcement about upcoming Christian Channel 20 TV Rallys… Tape Offer, “Jamaica Faith Tapes”… Itinerary
