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Search Past Issues Subscribe to F&V April 2001 In This Issue: At The Cross Question & Answer With Ostis Wilson Almost Persuaded Letters From The Readers Reports From the Mission Field Editorials & Prayer Requests At The Cross Charles Ludwig The Cross of Christ, like a skillfully cut diamond, has many facets. But, unlike a diamond, the number of facets is not limited. If you asked, ³Does the cross of Christ have ten thousand facets?² The answer would be, ³It has ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands more, and each facet gleams and shimmers with divine truth‹truth that is transforming in the lives of believers.² One man looks at the cross, thinks of his sins, and with a choking voice exclaims: They were nailed to the Cross, They were nailed to the Cross, Oh, how much He was willing to bear! Another looks at the cross, thinks of his own unworthiness, and with courage flowing from it sings thankfully: In the cross of Christ I glory, Tow¹ring o¹er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime. ‹John Bowring But right now we are going to look at a glowing facet seldom seen. We are going to look at the cross with Jesus impaled on the nails and with John and Mary at the foot. The drama which we are going to watch is the most important drama in all history. It was here that history became His story. This drama is much more important than the creation of the world, the separation of light from darkness, or even the formation of the human race. For it was here that the price of sin, all sin, your sin and my sin, was paid in full. And it was here that the receipt for those sins was written by the point of nails in the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. The scene, as the whole world knows, took place on a skull-shaped hill known as Calvary or Golgotha, just outside the heavy gray walls of the Holy City. Travelers on the Joppa-Jerusalem road or on the Samaria-Jerusalem road could easily identify the spot, for in the exposed, chalk-colored cliffs they could make out the grotesque eyes, Roman nose, and high forehead like that of a human skull. They could see people huddled on the rim of the hill, and they knew what was going on. But they paid little attention. They were used to crucifixions. Crosses with screaming victims fastened in place by means of ropes or nails was a common sight, for the Romans frequently used terror to enforce their laws. But let us go to the top of the hill and watch. Two robbers‹tradition names them Dismas and Cestas‹had been fastened to their crosses and were cursing their fate in vile, colorful language. Jesus was lying on the ground. The crossbeam‹they say it was made of cypress‹on which He was to be nailed was under His bare, lacerated shoulders. Matthew tell us that Jesus was offered a drink made of vinegar and gall. This drink was designed to help him endure the pain. The gall in the mixture was the juice of the opium poppy which flourished in Palestine. Jesus tasted the drink, and then refused it. He knew what it was, of course, without tasting it. But He wanted to demonstrate in the presence of others that He was going to drink the full cup and endure to the full every pain the price of sin had to offer. Mary, His mother, was standing nearby. Her face was unusually white‹much whiter than the cliffs of the hill. Tears had made gutters through the dust that had blown on her cheeks. Her throat ached from weeping. She stood near John, and that loving son of Zebedee put a strong arm about her heaving shoulders. Suddenly a legionnaire knelt by Jesus and picked up His right wrist. He was a professional executioner, and he knew just what to do. With experienced fingers he felt for the proper place in which to drive the nail. This took a certain amount of knowledge, for the nail had to be driven into an area that would sustain the weight of the body for a good many hours. Then he selected a long, sharp, square-headed nail from the apron about his waist. He placed the point on the right spot between the bones, picked up a hammer, and raised his arm. Mary could not stand the sound of the pounding. She held her hands over her ears, but she could not keep the sound of the hammer or the groans of her eldest son from searing into her brain. She drew her breath in sharply each time the hammer descended on the nail. But while she shuddered, there were others who rejoiced. After each blow there were sounds of approval from the crowd. ³That will teach you to overthrow the temple money tables!² sneered a fat Sadducee as he stroked his long black beard with comfortable satisfaction. ³And maybe that will teach you not to blaspheme,² shouted a slender Pharisee who was always careful to pay his tithe of anise, mint and cumin. The soldier drove the nail home. Then he leaped lightly over the body and hammered the other one in place. Next he tested the wrists on the crossbeam, and then he signaled for assistance. The other man helped him lift the crossbeam, the patibulum, and place it in the mortise on the upright piece, the stipes. Then he placed one foot of the Galilean on top of the other foot, pushed them high on the cross, and selected the longest nail he had. He placed the nail by the side of the feet to make sure it was long enough to sink deeply into the wood and not work out through the struggles of the victim. Satisfied that it was the right length, he drove it home, striking it carefully and skillfully with all his considerable might. The cross trembled under the blows, and Jesus groaned in unspeakable agony. The cross was such a cruel instrument that Cicero declared, ³It was the most cruel and shameful punishment. Let it never come near the body of a Roman citizen; nay, not even near his thoughts or eyes or ears.² The executioner tossed the hammer on the ground, wiped his bloody hands on his apron, and joined the three legionnaires sitting nearby. He hoped the men on the crosses would die soon so that he could go back to the barracks and have a nap. The soldiers divided Jesus¹ garments into four piles, one for each of them. This was sort of a bonus for their work. Then one of them picked up the tunic. It represented a problem because it had no seam but was woven throughout and thus could not be divided. Mary watched them as they discussed what they were going to do. It is quite possible that she herself had woven the garment, that it was a token of her love. As they handled it in their rough hands, she felt a new ache in her heart. Then one of the men produced some dice, and they began to gamble for the tunic. They shook the dice in a helmet, and Mary bit her lip. It seemed incredible that men could be so carefree while Jesus, her son, was dying. She turned her face back to the cross. Jesus was twisting in terrible pain. He rolled His head back and forth on the stipes as a man with a high fever rolls his head on his pillow. His teeth chattered in horrible agony. But mingled with His pathetic groans were the derisive shouts of the people, ³He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.² Luke 23:35. ³...Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.² Matt. 27:40. ³He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.² Matt. 27:43. Blood from His feet made a long, irregular line as it followed the grain of the wood to the brown earth below where it formed a tiny pool. Blood from His hands dripped to the ground like the drops in a Roman water clock. But each drop was to Mary like an hour instead of a second. And each hour was like an eternity. As Jesus hung bleeding on the cross, there were a thousand things to occupy His mind. There was the excruciating pain of the scourging, the pain of the nails in His hands and feet, the pain of the crown of thorns, the pain of terrible thirst, the pain of the infection that was setting in, the pain of the blows He received in His face, the pain of His broken and swollen lips, and the pain of His aching heart. And, in addition to this, there was the pain of ridicule from those He had sought to help. Writing his Gospel, Matthew remembered the ridicule he endured when he was a taxgatherer and made special effort to mention the ridicule of Christ. The soldiers also mocked Him and went up to the cross and offered Him vinegar to quench His thirst. But as Jesus twisted there in agony, I think He must have suffered terrible heartbreak because of the number of His disciples who were absent. It was bad enough for them to sleep in Gethsemane, but to stay away from the cross! Words cannot describe what we would have felt and said if we had been in His place and had been abandoned by those we had given our lives to help. Jesus had called Matthew from the seat of customs. Matthew had prepared a great feast for Him to which he invited his publican friends. He and Matthew had been very close. Jesus had washed Matthew¹s feet in the upper room. But in this moment of trial Matthew was absent. Jesus had called Thomas. Thomas had been a faithful follower. When He decided to go into Judea, Thomas alone urged the disciples to go by saying, ³Let us also go, that we may die with him.² John 11:16. Jesus had washed Thomas¹ feet in the upper room, but in this moment of trial Thomas was absent. Jesus had called James, the son of Zebedee. He had promised to make him a fisher of men. James, an impulsive son of thunder, had wanted to call fire down on a Samaritan village because they had refused hospitality to the Master. Jesus had washed James¹ feet in the upper room. But in this moment of trial James was absent. Absent too were Andrew, Philip, Thaddeus, James the son of Alpheus, and perhaps all the others but John. Why were they absent? They were afraid of losing their own skins! How this must have pained Jesus! Nearby were the walls of Jerusalem. He knew all their romantic history, and He loved the Holy City. On one occasion He had knelt where He could view the whole area and had sobbed out a prayer, ³O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!² Matt. 23:37. All of the pains of the cross, all of the pains of ridicule, all the pains of heartache, and all the pains of memory must have paraded before the Savior¹s mind, demanding thought and attention. But John tells us that when He saw His mother, He addressed her. With Jesus Christ first things come first! Those who crucified Jesus had a great need. They did not know it then. But Jesus knew it. Their great need was the need of forgiveness. And so what did Jesus do? His first words on the cross were, ³Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.² Luke 23:34. Jesus is concerned with everyone¹s need even before he himself is aware of that need! Mary had a great need. Jesus knew it, and He addressed His attention to her. Jesus had known her across thirty-three years. At the time He was born in the stable with the smell and bleat of animals about them, she was still in her teens, and there were no lines on her pretty face. Her entire countenance had glowed with all that is holy, pure and confident. She had just had the greatest experience that it is possible for a woman to have. But now she was approaching fifty, and that was old age in those days. She had raised a large family. There had been at least five sons and two daughters. And she probably had been a widow for several years. Her face was lined with pity, anxiety and care. Jesus and His mother must have been unusually close. He was the son promised by Gabriel. He was the eldest. He had eaten at her table and grown up in her home. She had held Him on her lap, combed His hair, and mended His clothes. Mary does not appear very often in the records of Christ¹s ministry. We do get a glimpse of her at the Temple when Jesus was twelve, at the wedding at Cana, and at the cross. But she must have had a great influence on her eldest son. And most certainly He had some of her physical characteristics! Now as Jesus looked down at His mother and John, He was in great pain, for the cross was extremely cruel. When He allowed His body to sag, His weight was on His hands. This bunched the shoulder muscles, tore at the wounds in His hands, and paralyzed the pectoral muscles, thus making it impossible for Him to exhale. To get relief in His hands and shoulders, He could push Himself up with His feet, thus moving His head up to or over the sign which declared in three languages that He was the King of the Jews. But when He did this the nails in His feet became a concentrated torture, a living flame from hell. As Jesus hung on the nails, there was acute agony in every muscle, nerve and portion of His body. But as He spoke to Mary, I think His voice was tender, evenly modulated, and full of kindness, hope, cheer and authority. He had, of course, to use an economy of words because of His loss of strength and approaching death. ³Woman,² he said, ³behold thy son!² John 19:26. In every situation Jesus does the best possible thing. As Mary stood before and beneath Him, she stood blinking away a wild flood of tears and struggling with the most violent emotions a woman could know. He knew that she stood on the high precipice of emotional collapse. The wrong word and she would go to pieces. Knowing this, Jesus referred to her as woman. This was the same term He had used at Cana. Her love for Him was great, and His love for her was even greater. He would not send her into further grief by using the most emotional word in any language, ³mother.² Then Jesus turned to John and said, ³Behold thy mother!² John 19:27. John understood the meaning of this at once, and he took Mary into his own home. Jesus did not use the emotional word ³mother² with Mary, but He did use it with John, for He wanted John to be impressed with his obligation. And at the same time He did not want His mother to be embarrassed by thinking she was being thrust, unwanted, into a stranger¹s home. Obligating John to care for His mother was the best possible thing Jesus could have done, because John¹s mother, Salome, was Mary¹s sister. Jesus¹ mother would feel at home in her nephew¹s house. John would make her welcome, and she would appreciate that. Since John¹s conversion he had become a man of love, tenderness, understanding and affection. And this is just what Mary required. Jesus could not have made a better arrangement! As Jesus looked at His mother, His whole being flamed with love. He had the human love of a son for His mother; and, in addition, He had the wonderful love of a wonderful son for a wonderful mother. Besides and beyond that there was the divine love of His divine nature for her. He had stated that one soul was worth more than all the world, and He believed it. Now there is no indication that Mary said a single word to Jesus while He was on the cross, but I believe that there is a strong possibility that she might have spoken about as follows: ³Come on down, Jesus. You told the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane that you could summon twelve legions of angels to help you. Summon them now!² But to this Jesus was silent. Most certainly Jesus could have come down from the cross. It would have been an easy thing to do. He could have embraced His mother. He could have taken her away for a rest. And had He done so, the Pharisees and the scribes and the Roman soldiers would have shouted in one voice, He is the Christ . . . He is the Christ . . . He is the Christ . . . But He did not choose to do this. Why? Because of His great love for Mary, and all of mankind. If He had come down from the cross, there would be no salvation. The power of sin would not be broken. Death would still have its sting. The grave would still have its victory. Jesus Christ was not held to the cross by the nails! They had no more power to hold Him than a bubble in the ocean. Jesus Christ was held to the cross by a rope of love! All of this drama is hard to understand. Paul did not understand it completely. Peter did not understand it completely. Nor can you. But we are not asked to understand it. We are merely asked to believe. Understanding is not necessary. Belief is! But when we believe we must believe that the cross was for us personally, that Jesus died for our personal sins, that Jesus had us in mind when He died. To believe that Jesus was a great teacher is fine, but it is not enough. We must believe that He was the Son of God and that He died on a cross to pay the price of our sins. Question & Answer Ostis Wilson QUESTION: Several questions have come in regarding sanctification: the need of this experience, the process of it, what it is and what it does, how it is done, what the conditions are for it, and when and how it is obtained, etc. ANSWER: Let us compare the moral man who doesn¹t lie, steal, cheat, commit adultery, etc., with the man who does these things. We would all agree that he needs salvation just as much as the man who does those evil, immoral things and will be lost the same as he, if he isn¹t born again. Jesus said, ³...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.² John 3:3. He has the same root of sin (sin nature) in him that the other man has, but he has exercised better control over his life, perhaps through the influence, teaching and prayers of godly parents, and that root just has not developed that far and borne that much fruit. But he will still be lost if he fails to be born again and obtain salvation through faith in the all-atoning blood of Jesus Christ. We will now begin with the matter of the little child growing up and what happens to him as he grows up. The little child grows up doing or acting wrong all along, at times in a greater or lesser degree. But because he is not developed far enough in mental and moral perception to exercise sound judgment in regard to moral principles, sin is not imputed to him and he is held in a state of complete innocency before God. Some may think that in order for a child to come under condemnation at his age of accountability, he must do something different or commit some special kind of sin. That is a mistake. In many instances the child may cross that line living just like he has all the time from really small childhood. Perhaps he comes to that point with no unusual thing happening in his life in the way of any pronounced or gross sin. Maybe he never steals or swears or takes God¹s name in vain or any of these bad sins. But what actually happens in many cases is that the child comes to the point where God sees he is sufficiently developed in his judgment and moral and mental perception for Him to deal with, and he can understand now what His dealings will mean to him, so He sends His Spirit to visit the child¹s heart to enlighten him, and it suddenly dawns on him, ³I am wrong. I have been doing wrong all along. Every time I snatched toys from my playmates, and every time I pulled hair, scratched, bit, fussed and fought with others when they had something I wanted and would not give it up; every time I pouted or stomped, screamed and had a temper tantrum when I could not have my own way, every time I practiced deceit against my parents and took advantage of them, it was all wrong.² The child begins now to feel these things wrong and understands what is involved in them. He realizes, through the conviction of God¹s Spirit, what he has never realized before, and that he is wrong (morally wrong) and needs to repent and be forgiven and get things straightened out and adjusted in his life. Sometimes those who are better instructed feel it necessary for them to go back to their parents or sometimes to others, and confess their wrongs to them, even what they did in innocency before they were morally accountable for it. Now a grown person living in a justified experience before God, which brings them back to the state of the little child in innocency in God¹s sight, (Matthew 18:3), cannot do those things that the small child does and remain justified and in a state of innocency before God, because he is already sufficiently developed in judgment, moral and mental understanding, that he understands those things to be wrong and in contradiction with the moral law of God, and if he does them he will fall under condemnation before God. The difference here is in the state of the individuals involved, and not in the nature of the things involved. These things are just as much a contradiction with God¹s moral law when the small child does them as when the grown person does them. But the small child, being in an undeveloped infantile state in his understanding as well as physically, is not morally accountable for his doings, because he is not even supposed to know and understand these things; while a grown person, being advanced in understanding and mature in judgment as well as physically, is supposed to understand moral principles of right and wrong, and therefore is accountable. I have in mind a young brother who had much trouble in his early spiritual life. Most of his trouble was because of impatience and temper, and much of the time it would happen to him when he was all alone and things would go wrong. When he would be working in the field and something would go wrong, he would feel impatient or lose his temper. He would feel condemned in his conscience on that account because he understood and knew this was not right. Generally the people who knew him and had association with him could not tell from the way he lived that he did not have the victory because he lived outwardly good all the time. But his trouble was mostly with himself; much of the time by himself and within himself because he would be condemned over these things. But a little child does not feel that condemnation over his temper tantrums because he does not know but what that is the way for him to do in order to get what he wants. But God could not take these little children to heaven having that in them which would cause them to pull hair, strike and scratch each other, scream, kick, squall around and snatch things from each other. It would turn out to be a very unpleasant place to be. Jesus Christ acts as guardian for their souls until they come to accountability before God morally, so as to act on His will in regard to these things, Jesus applies His blood to their souls without an act of their will, and purges them from that nature and fits them to go on into heaven. Someone asked me that if it were true that we could inherit a depraved or corrupt nature, why would it not be true also that we could inherit a righteous nature? The answer to that question is: whatever we may inherit by way of nature, traits and disposition from our parents, we inherit what they were by nature and not what they are by grace, so that it would not be possible to inherit holiness from them even though both of them may be saved and sanctified. Whatever degree of grace they may possess, it is the work of God, and the work of God in the soul cannot be transmitted from father to son. But let me stress that the transmission of one¹s spiritual nature is from the royal head of the race, whether it be the old creation (Adam), or the new creation (Christ), and is not from the immediate parents. We were born of Adam (the old creation) the first time and inherited his depravity of nature. Herein lies the basic need for being born again. Now if we will be born again of God (the new creation), the righteous One, we will inherit from Him His righteous nature. To Be Continued Next Month! Almost Persuaded Audrey Forbes Carver Then (King) Agrippa said unto Paul, ³Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.² Acts 26:28 ALMOST‹but not quite ALMOST‹near but yet so far away ALMOST‹only a little less than ALMOST‹nearly BUT NOT! I beg you who are almost Christians, followers of Christ, to consider... ³Almost persuaded² now to believe; ³Almost persuaded² Christ to receive ; Seems now some soul to say, ³Go Spirit, go Thy way, Some more convenient day On Thee I¹ll call. ³Almost persuaded,² come, come today; ³Almost persuaded,² turn not away; Jesus invites you here, Angels are ling¹ring near, Prayers rise from hearts so dear, O Wand¹rer, come. PLEASE do not let it be like this... ³Almost persuaded,² harvest is past! ³Almost persuaded,² doom comes at last! ³Almost² cannot avail; ³Almost² is but to fail! Sad, sad, that bitter wail, ³Almost,² but lost. Letters Readers LA‹Dear friends: My mother, Sybil Goldsberry, has been gravely ill since February 10th of this year. She has congestive heart disease, high blood pressure and suspected diabetes. She is unable to get up or walk without assistance and is very weak. Her mental capacity ebbs and flows and she requires constant care. If any of you feel the Lord¹s leading to come and stay with Mama for a month or so, and assist in her care, we would be so grateful. Having someone in the home whom we can trust, and who believes in trusting in the Lord as she does, would be such a blessing. We are at present hiring sitters for her; but she cannot afford to continue this practice. I can be reached at: (318) 322-7142 (work) or (318) 396-0439 (home) for further information. I know Mama would be thrilled to receive cards or letters should you have time to correspond with her. She is not really able to use the telephone. Her mailing address is: c/o 129 Sunset Drive, West Monroe, LA 71291. Please remember her in your prayers, that God will be merciful to her, giving her grace and faith to endure until He calls her home. Sincerely, ‹Coni Hollingsworth TN‹³And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: And when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses¹ hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on one side and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.² ‹Exodus 17:11-12 We, the McDonalds, would like to thank the Lord for the hands He has used during our battle. Every phone call, letter, card, gifts of love and prayers are greatly appreciated. We are so glad to be a part of the family of God. Still continue to pray for us. With grateful hearts, ‹The McDonalds OK‹The saints have prayed for us through the years, sharing our trials and blessings. Now that we are coming to the final years of life we are finding that the Lord is just as real as He was then. I have muscular dystrophy. According to the diagnosis, I was not supposed to live past 20 or 30. Now I am 70 years old. A few weeks ago I got to feeling real bad with very difficult breathing and erratic heartbeat. I found I could not lie down. I have had to sit upright since then which makes it very hard to get good rest. This has been a time of close examination, making sure that everything is clear between the Lord and me. It is a real blessing that the Lord allows such a time. Some are taken away suddenly and miss this opportunity. It is so important to be ready and waiting. I feel that I am in the final stage of life and it is all in His hands. Whether I stay or go, my only desire is that He be glorified. We have the wonderful testimonies and examples of the saints and how He was faithful to them to the very end. It is so good to know this. We need nothing but God. God has proven that He is well-qualified to take us through. Yesterday I had severe nausea and very difficult breathing. By evening I was very sick. At prayer meeting time I knew the saints were praying for me. Some came over after prayer meeting and had prayer. The Lord undertook! I was able to get a good night¹s rest. I don¹t know what the future holds, but knowing that God controls my future, I confidently face whatever He chooses. Dear saints, I am looking forward, one of these days, to just sitting down by the river and visiting with you for a long, long time. I won¹t have to worry if the mansions are wheelchair accessible! Thanks so much for your prayers down through the years. ‹Bro. Dale Doolittle MO‹Dear Bro. Wayne and Print Shop workers: We surely appreciate what you do, as much as we can without a working knowledge of all that it entails. I know of the encouragement which it provides to our lives, but I don¹t know of the far-reaching effects your labors may eventually bring. As I spoke with a group of youngsters the other day, they said they all like to work mazes and that the easiest way to do it is to start at ³the end² and go backwards. In our lives there is some resemblance to a maze. We really don¹t see the end‹we just go day by day in the place we are stationed. We aren¹t privileged to start at the end and go backward. We begin at day one and progress until God says it is ³the end² for us. There are so many turns, so many possibilities. How blessed it is to know that we can place our trust in One who looks on from above, One who will guide us if we watch and pray. Then we can be assured that the end we arrive at will be the blessed one He has ordained for us. Be encouraged in Him, ‹Bro. David and Sis. Marilyn Cole OK‹Hello: My name is Daryl. I am a first-time writer to your publishing house. I am 38 years old and from Tulsa, OK. I am writing to you from a Correctional Center in Hinton, OK. The first of this year my dear and sweet sister had one of your Bible Lessons and the Faith and Victory paper sent to me. I have really enjoyed reading the Faith and Victory paper. As I read letters from your readers, I was wondering if you could help me? For some time now I have been praying for a pen pal to correspond with. Any information that you think can be of help will be very much appreciated. Thank you for your time in reading my letter, ‹Daryl Nealy (Editor¹s note: Anyone who feels a burden to correspond with this brother may write to the Print Shop requesting his address.) LA‹I have been pondering all my blessings in the past fifteen years since the Lord saved me on July 3, 1985. I thank the Lord for the strength He gives me each day. My mother taught me the secret of success‹to kneel and pray as soon as you wake up. My prayers have been to live to get my four children graduated from high school and of age. As a single parent, this is a mountain. Growing up I was called a ³Mama¹s baby.² So when Jesus took Mother to heaven, I had to grow up. However, life was difficult without Mother and seemed impossible, so I adopted another mother in my heart, Sis. Genny Carver. The Lord has blessed me with her love and support. The Carvers have helped this ³Mama¹s baby² mature. Their spiritual guidance, advice and concern in family matters, financial direction, etc., have been priceless.... I have a dear brother, Alfred Lee DiDio, who is in great need of salvation and healing. The doctors gave up on him five years ago. He needs Jesus desperately. Yesterday, our family dentist, Jack B. Witte, came to eat at Cracker Barrel and asked how my girls, Monika and Melissa, and myself were doing. I noticed right off he had lost weight in his face and some radiance he always had in his smile. I told him we were well, the girls were busy working and going to LSUS. Then I asked him how he was. I was not prepared to hear him say, ³I have pancreatic cancer.² He was firm in saying he was claiming his healing through Jesus. What a comfort and blessing that we can take our burdens to Jesus and count on Him. Please pray for Dr. Witte and his sweet wife who was with him. For many months I have been blessed to wait on them and have him help with our dental needs. In his office he has Bible stories for the children, a real inspiration to me while I waited. Please pray for my family, and for me to be a true Christian mother. God bless you, ‹Sis. Catherine Bhramayana Mission Reports From India... March 15, 2001‹Dear Bro. Wayne Murphey and dear saints abroad: Greetings to you all dear saints again in the glorious name of Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation. Thank you for your letter dated March 2, and the enclosures were noted with much appreciation. May God bless each dear one who supports our work through prayers and contributions. Our prayers are for the progress of the Church of God in America and in other foreign countries. Our convention at Kothamangalam starts on March 5, and at Chayppankuzhy on March 24. Lord willing we plan to conduct a Vacation Bible School at Karickom during the first week of April. We expect about 200 children to be in attendance. April and May are the vacation months for children here. Schools and colleges reopen the first week of June. We need your prayers for the success of these ministries. Yours in Him, ‹Bro. John Varghese Honduras, C. A. Report... March 12, 2001‹Dear saints: Hello from West Virginia! We are thankful to the Lord for a safe return home. We arrived home last Thursday, March 8th. We feel that the trip was very profitable and we accomplished most of the goals we had set. We do appreciate all of your prayers and support, and believe they are the reason for the Lord blessing the efforts there. When we left from Honduras last week we were beginning our 5th week of school and we were pleased with the way the school was operating. Sis. Judy Trepagner and Sis. Andrea Meek along with Bro. Toni Hamilton were carrying on the operation of the school. We appreciate their sacrifice and willingness to labor there with the children. They are working with 24 students in the morning session, from 8:00 to 11:00, and 24 students in the afternoon, from 1:30 to 4:30. These students seem to be a good group of children and we felt encouraged by their response to the love and interest shown to them. They are studying Bible along with their English and Spelling courses. Our Sunday School attendance has increased considerably since the school began. The children are faithful to attend and are getting to hear the truth taught to them. Many times, Sunday School attendance for children is 60-80 children. We have also begun the adult classes on Monday evenings. We have approximately 30 enrolled in that class. We are offering these classes for a 14 week period and then when school convenes in August we will begin another 14 week session with a new group. This has been a means of breaking down barriers and some of these local people also were attending church. The workers there are on a heavy schedule with classes at school, adult classes, Bible Study on Wednesday evenings and Prayer Meeting on Friday, regular Sunday services as well as many times going out for visitations in between these times. To those of you who are sponsoring a student every month, we will be sending you a letter and a picture of the student you are helping to educate. It would be a special treat for them to receive a letter in return. The students, as well as their parents, are very appreciative of your help in permitting them to attend English school. We hope to soon have the people there able to write their own letters so they can communicate regularly with the saints here. We met some new people on this trip and they began attending services regularly the last three weeks we were there. They are searching for more truth and they seemed impressed with the saints. One other soul was saved while there and many consecrated again to the Lord. They are always seeking help at an altar of prayer and are never ashamed to admit their needs. Their honesty is refreshing and challenging to us. There was one negative event which occurred while there. We had received the shipped articles that had been sent from the U. S. A. They included furniture for the little mission house as well as other items to make the stay more comfortable for Sis. Judy and Sis. Andrea. Two weeks before we were to return home, an incident occurred which caused us to have to make other arrangements for the sisters who were staying in the mission house. The property the little house was built on did not belong to us and neither did the house. We have been paying the rent on the little place since 1992. Sis. Sanders had desired that the house would be used to house the saints from the states and it did do that. Sis. Sanders passed away a few years ago but we continued to use it as before. But we ran into conflict with some of the family and we felt it best for the sisters to move over to the main house before we came home. We mentioned in the last mission report that we knew there was a need to build another house on the church property soon. We have in mind to build a two story house behind the church building which will adequately take care of the need for housing. The saints have used the Sanders home ever since the work was started, and they have been very gracious hosts, but we know that after Bro. Sanders passes on, this will be given to the children and we will not be able to use it as we have. Because the property we have is rather low we feel that the lower story should be made of cement and blocks. We have gotten a few estimates for that part of the construction and they ranged from $5000.00‹$6700.00. That would take us to the floor joist for the second story. We would then see if there were any of the brethren that would like to go and help construct the upper story of wood. We present this project to the saints and would like your input into the direction the work should take in Honduras. We consider the present location a base of operations to a larger work in Central America. There are many open doors; we need more laborers in the field. As soon as directions are given, based on the response of the saints toward this project, we will return to begin with the first phase of the construction. The first half of the school year will end the last of May at which time the workers will come home for the months of June and July. The second half will begin in August and run until November. As of this time, Andrea Meek plans to stay to help Sis. Judy until April 15. After that we are looking for someone interested in going down to assist her until the end of the first half of the school year. We are also needing help the second half of the year. If you are interested in this kind of commitment we would be glad to talk to you and give you more details. It is a worthy cause and it will be a rewarding experience for you, to be sure. Please pray for the pastors there. They are very desirous to grow and learn the truth. Minister¹s, brother¹s, sister¹s and children¹s meetings were conducted on a regular basis. They are so hungry to learn how the saints do things in the States. It certainly makes us feel responsible. Again, we would like to thank everyone who is supporting the mission efforts in Honduras. Pray for us that we will know how to use the contributions from the saints wisely and that the Lord will bless the seed that is being sown. For the Honduras Missionary Co. ‹Bro. Toney Samons From the Philippines... February 21, 2001‹Dear Bro. and Sis. Murphey: Christian greetings to everyone of you in the name of our Lord. Please give my love and appreciation to all the workers in the Faith Publishing House. I commend their love and sacrifice to help the printing ministry. We always anxiously wait for every issue of the Faith and Victory which contains a complete recipe for our souls to give us strength as we walk the journey of life to eternal destiny. We are very much encouraged to hear reports and letters from brothers and sisters all around the world. May our loving Lord reward those who care for and support Faith Publishing House. We had a pastor¹s meeting last Saturday, February 17, where we heard encouraging reports from the pastors and discussed about more plans and prayers for the progress of the gospel work. I spent the rest of the day teaching them about how to teach home Bible studies, and how to answer religious questions. A group of voluntary workers made their schedule to hold gospel meetings in every congregation. They plan to stay four days in every place to conduct gospel meetings at night and follow-up work in the day time. We were all happy when Sis. Adoracion volunteered to be their cook. Also, some young people will go to sing spiritual songs during the gospel meetings and plan to conduct group Bible studies for young people. Many are requesting dialect Bibles for them to study the Word of God privately. The price is so high and I was able to buy only some Bibles and song books for the hungry souls. Please give our sincere appreciation and many heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed for the fund of our camp ground. We hope everything will be finished before our camp meeting in April. Thank you so much dear saints for your sacrifice for the mission work in the Philippines. The Mount Zion Tabernacle and camp meeting ground will be a great help for the mission work in the Philippines. Everyone was so thankful because we have now a place to gather, pray, worship and study the Word of God. Our fellowship last December was well attended and we hope and pray that our coming camp meeting will be a wonderful experience for everyone. We hope some of you can be with us.... We are praying for you. Please continue to pray for us. Your brother in Christ, ‹Matias S. Tangunan and family From Lagos, Nigeria... March 10, 2001‹Dear Brother Wayne: Love and greetings in Jesus¹ dear name from me to you and all the saints in the Print Shop. I sent a brother to Asana to monitor the progress of the work over there. He gave a very impressive report that the Lord is constantly doing a new thing in the midst of the people. The souls that were saved during the December convention are waxing strong for the Lord. Many new souls are being added to the kingdom as open air revival meetings are going on from one church to the other in turn. Bro U.M. Akpan is an electrical engineering technician and was running his personal business before surrendering it to take a meager allowance to work for the Lord. He is doing a wonderful work there. The youth are very enthusiastic and I am thankful to God that they are assisting in a wonderful way. God is moving. The desire of my heart is that Asana and the environs, and indeed the state of Akwa Ibom, be totally captured for Christ. Prayers are needed for more workers. They are only complaining about means of transportation as they have many villages to cover and I know the Lord will provide one in no distant time. We want to embark on the translation of the Evening Light Song Book into the local Efik language since most of the people in these areas cannot read and write. Another pet project that has taken a wonderful place in my heart is the ³Pruitt Foundation For The Poor and Underprivileged.² This foundation is intended to be a non-profit organization which will provide free training in trade and skills to those who cannot afford to go to regular schools for such training. The starting point is to train the local dwellers to be able to read the Bible in the local language. I believe this will be a very effective way of reaching out to the people in that area. In the 1960's, the early missionaries started things like that in Asana when the Church of God was newly established in the locality. It worked wonderfully well. It was a very powerful witnessing tool. I believe God is going to bring it back in force. I have purchased a very large span of land for the setting out of this foundation and I pray that God should accomplish it. This land was shown to Bro. Michael Smith and other saints during the December, 2000 convention. Remember this in your prayers and get the saints to pray for the actualization of this Foundation. I will be traveling to Asana in a short while in order to make preparation for the Easter Camp Meeting which will be from April 12-15, 2001. Help us in prayer that the Lord will reach more souls during this Camp Meeting, and that the already reached souls will get stronger in the Lord and embrace the Bible truths with all zeal. The Lord is on the throne and as a song writer says: ³....We are able to go out and take the country, to possess the land from Jordan to the sea; though the giants may be on our ways to hinder, God will surely give us victory. All we need to do is to move on to the righteous side with God...² The grace of God is available for us until the end of our journey. Let us keep trusting for the One who started the good work in us to accomplish it for us no matter the circumstances. Let us keep on trusting! My love to all the workers in the Print Shop and the saints over there. God be with you. Yours in His service, ‹Bro. Anietie B. Essien South American Trip Report... February 23, 2001‹³And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.² Philippians 2:11-17. Last October I found some good Spanish gospel literature on the internet. I down-loaded to my computer some writings and booklets which were very interesting. One was a lesson that had been given to a group of married couples a year ago in a camp meeting in southern Chile, entitled ³As The Joy of the Husband with his Wife² based on Isa. 62:5. I read it and the Spirit witnessed to me that this was truth as it pricked my heart when the Lord revealed my need. I wrote an e-mail asking what happened when Bro. Gonzalo gave this lesson at the camp meeting. Bro. Eliseo answered back and said that those who heard this lesson said Gonzalo was very anointed and there was much melting together of couples asking forgiveness and seeking God for help. I studied other books and lessons on this web site. I was impressed these brethren were at least seeking to be led by the Holy Spirit and that their cup of joy was running over. I called Eliseo on the phone and was able to sense his spirit. I am not one to go even across town to hear some false preacher. But I was impressed to ask, ³When is the next camp meeting?² Well what looked impossible the Lord made possible. So we made arrangements to attend this far away summer camp meeting. (Jan. 27-Feb.4, 2001.) Charlotte, our grandson Matthew and I flew to Santiago where brethren met us and put us on a nice tourist bus going to Temuco, 400 miles south. Bros. Eliseo and Gonzalo joyfully met us at the bus station. They took us to the home of a young lawyer, Rolando, where we rested two nights and were treated like royalty. Matthew hit it off real well with their two boys. In the evening Bro. Cesar, who is an overseer of some Indian congregations came to visit. We sang and Cesar played the guitar with Rolando Jr., playing a 10 stringed instrument, something like a lute. Cesar also sang in Mapuchi, his native tongue. The next day Bro. Eliseo with others took us in an 11 passenger, yellow, full-sized Hyundai van up in the mountains to Lake Villarrica. Villarrica is a tourist town on the lake in sight of two snow-capped active volcanoes. There we visited an Indian village with shops selling hand-made wares. We all went on an excursion boat for a tour of the lake where we got a better look at the volcanoes and the surrounding hills of the Andes. We had a picnic under some tall cherry trees. No one had made an effort to harvest the ripe fruit above their reach. Matthew became the hero as he picked a lot of cherries out of the top for everyone. Bro. Eliseo told us of their separation from the Baptists 20 years ago and how the spirit led them to live as the body of Christ, according to the pattern of early Christians. ³Come out of Babylon my people² is part of the message. He also told how others made the break and left the Baptist, Catholic, Jehovah Witness, Pentecostal and cult movements. He was glad that we see the church as they do and expressed that our coming was a blessing to the church of Chile. In Temuco we bought things that we needed for ten days of camping. A nice tent and an air mattress was loaned to us. After a two hour trip we entered the Ruka-Cura camp. We greeted a Mapuche family who was unloading their beds from a wagon pulled by oxen. The next day six or seven chartered buses loaded with saints from the cities, and many odd looking vehicles, all foreign made, from towns far and near, each with a tent tied on top or a little luggage trailer behind, came into the camp. Hundreds of families erected their tents for sleeping and eating. About 800 people attended the main services twice a day. Some 150 or more attended the early prayer meetings, kneeling in the sawdust floor of the pavilion. In the morning and night services there was not enough room under the pavilion for the crowd. About 25% sat outside in their chairs. The ministers felt that Charlotte should have an afternoon teaching session with the sisters. Her subject was child training, removing harmful influences from the home and the need for modesty. They loved her and said that is what they needed. The leading ministers have expressed to me that the Lord is revealing truth to them and that they are still learning. In 20 years, 30 new congregations have been raised up in Chile. Here we would like to give some of our observations. We witnessed a diversity of people praising God for freedom from sin, habits and false religions, united in one body, exalting Christ as Head. Mature elder ministers watch over the work and train elders for each local congregation. There are doctors, lawyers, engineers and teachers among them, serving for the edification of the body of Christ, without rivalry for positions or privileges. The reason for the growth of this fellowship is somewhat phenomenal in that they do not have great resources, neither expensive buildings nor have they grown by inviting great evangelists or popular music concerts to bring the crowds. What can be readily observed is that all speak the same message, and they exalt Christ and not the preacher, all practice hospitality one to another, their testimonies are for Christ, not themselves, confessing that Jesus is Lord. One other observation that I will try to describe is their teaching seeks a balance between law and grace, neither liberal nor legalistic, as I see. The theme of the meeting was a challenge to ³go on unto perfection.² ³Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.² Heb. 6:1. ‹James and Charlotte Huskey Editorials Wayne Murphey We send out this April Faith and Victory with the thought in mind of a resurrected Lord. Easter is certainly the day of the Christian. Many days are set aside on the calendar to celebrate those who have accomplished something of renown, or a feat which has improved the lives of others, but no achievement compares with what Christ accomplished through the resurrection. One author so poignantly wrote, ³Easter can hammer question marks into exciting exclamation points!² Christ¹s resurrection removes the dark uncertainties of death, and gives the Christian joyful hope of a richer, fuller life beyond. Today the resurrection of Christ still proclaims, ³There is victory over death!² Beyond that thin line of mortal sleep, there is an eternal day of rest with God and our loved ones who have gone before. Let us rejoice in this marvelous hope. I and my wife, Mary, along with several others in the church, are scheduled to leave from Oklahoma City for the Philippines on April 8. We are looking forward to meeting and worshipping with the saints in that country during the camp meeting which is to be held in the newly constructed tabernacle. We request the prayers of the saints as we make this long journey, not only for health and traveling safety, but that the Spirit of God will be in our midst and that souls will be blessed. Our plans are to return on April 18. On March 16, it was a shock to learn in the early morning hours of the passing of Mary¹s 49 year old brother, Tim Sprague. It is never easy to lose a family member, but is especially difficult when it happens so suddenly. Tim left behind a wife, Regina, as well as son Tim, and daughter Kristy and her husband, Leslie. Please remember them in your prayers. If you would like to send a message of condolence to Tim¹s family, you may do so by addressing it to: Regina Sprague, 1004 W. Mansur, Guthrie, OK 73044. Mary wishes to express her sincere appreciation for the concern, calls and cards which have been received. The kindness of others has brought a measure of comfort at this sad time. In this issue we have printed a list of dates for summer camp meetings. Some congregations have yet to provide this information. Please feel free to do so at your earliest convenience so we can publish the date well in advance of the event. With love in Christ, ‹Wayne Murphey Prayer Request In‹³Please pray for my wife. Her kidneys are rapidly failing.² ‹Bro. Donald Jones OK‹³Remember me in prayer for cancer and diabetes.² ‹Sis. Anna Mae Thompson IN‹³I have a prayer request for my son, Jimmy. He has a bad case of nerves and anxiety which affects his breathing. I need prayer also.² ‹Sis. Mary Wilson Philippines‹³Please pray for my son, Jon. He has been diagnosed with tuberculosis.² ‹Sis. Nellie Tibayan Nigeria‹³Sis. Waite Karibo, from the Tombia congregation is seriously afflicted and needs intensive prayer by the saints abroad. She specifically requested me to forward her desire to you, believing in the force of combined prayers. ³Sis. Josephine London has been equally afflicted and in pain. Please remember both of them.² ‹Bro. F. Naths Igbanibo Standing Prayer Request Sis. Rose Samons Sis. Myrtle Savoie Bro. M. Agenemoh Sidi Sis. Violet Sinkhorn Sis. Kay Stover The Mitch Taylor family Sis. Anna Mae Thompson Bro. Curtis Williams, Sr. Bro. Max Williamson Sis. Esther Wilson Bro. Jack Witte Sis. Eleanor Fingerle Sis. Pearlene Gerald Sis. Esther Gordon Bro. Huey Gordon, Jr. Bro. Ben Harrison Sis. Mary Hughes Sis. Daisy Johnson Sis. Janice Johnston Sis. Earnestine Jordan Sis. Betty Lassché The Lounds sisters Sis. Mattie McIntyre Sis. Bertha Miles Bro. Allan Miller Sis. Virginia Myers Sis. Dollie O¹Neall Bro. O. C. Porter Sis. Melba Powell Bro. John Robinson Sis. Lydia Bennett Sis. Alscene Breckenridge Bro. Jon Busbee Sis. Mamie Butcher Bro. Nathan Carver Sis. Estelene Cramer Bro. Daniel Davis, Jr. Bro. Dale Doolittle Sis. Elaine Dunn Back to Front Page E-Mail Directory Put your name in the directory to receive Faith Publishing Updates. Order God's Gracious Dealings Life Read about the history of Faith Publishing and Fred Pruitt. This is a fascintating study of our heritage. Order now for $24.99. Call1-800-767-1479 or Email jwmfaith@theshop.net. Copyright © 2001 Faith Publishing Inc All rights reserved.