To All of Our Ministers in the United Pentecostal Church International,

Greetings in the only saving Name, Jesus!

The General Board met in their annual Mid-Winter Meeting at the World Evangelism Center on Tuesday, January 12, through Thursday, January 14, 1993. One of the most important questions of discussion involved the resolution passed at the General Conference held in Salt Lake City. This resolution called our ministerial constituency to affirm their conviction on the matter of our doctrinal position on full salvation and our stand on holiness.

The Executive Board had asked for a delay until the General Board could meet to discuss the time of implementation of the resolution. In the meantime the resolution was printed in the new Manual and in the Forward. There was no intention of the Executive Board to delay it until the next General Conference in Louisville.

The disinformation that went out from the last conference had confused many of the ministry who were not privileged to be in attend to hear the discussion on the floor of the conference. Unfortunately, some of the information was erroneous and considerably exaggerated. The result was [that] a confused fear developed in ministers who were not present at the conference. In the spirit of brotherly kindness and Christian graciousness, every member of the General Board was urged to speak their heart on this matter, and many did speak. The result of this lengthy discussion ended with the following motion made by the General Board and clearly approved, with a vote of 47 to 14.

“Inasmuch as this resolution has been passed out at the conference and published in the Forward and there has been adequate time for it to be discussed and understood by our fellowship, and inasmuch as there is a sixty day period given after receiving the resolution and in view of the fact that further delay will only bring more confusion, be it resolved that this General Board instruct the General Secretary to implement this resolution immediately and that the sixty-day period for return of these declarations of faith begin on February 1, 1993; Ammended that the statement of affirmation cannot be used a basis for any kind of complaint or charge or Judicial Procedure action; Ammended that a cover letter be sent with the statement of affirmation. This letter to contain the fact that the resolution does not give any added powers to officials.”

Following this motion, Brother Becton and I were authorized to write this cover letter. The consummate interpretation and explanation is hereby rendered:

The resolution does not give any added powers to officials. If a minister believes our message, all he must do is sign the annual statement. If he does, no official can take any action against him, except under the provisions of our Constitution and Judicial Procedure that already exist. There is no provision for contesting a signed statement.

The resolution does not allow officials to impose private interpretations of holiness standards. The only person who interprets the statement is the minister himself. If he honestly embraces the principles described in the two sections of the Articles of Faith, then he can and should sign the statement. No one can challenge his signature on the basis of personal interpretations and applications.

Some people have argued that the resolution will impose controversial views on subjects such as long sleeves, wedding rings, hair arrangement, church softball games, facial hair, skating rinks, and so on. Neither the resolution nor the statement, nor the Articles of Faith mention these subjects. The Articles of Faith mention matters such as immodest dress, worldly sports, and unwholesome music, but the specific definition and application of these principles have always been left to the individual pastor and saint.

Moreover, the methods by which a pastor seeks to convert and disciple people who attend his church is in his discretion. Nothing in the resolution changes these prerogatives.

This letter is being sent to comply with the sixty-day period beginning February 1. Your fellowship card will be sent from Headquarters when you answer within a sixty-day period.

Again, the intent of this resolution is to stem the tide of the worldly pressure on the ministry. The United Pentecostal Church has become a beacon of hope for a drowning church world which has disintegrated into “situation ethics and other strange behavior.” This is not inquisitory or cultic in any sense. I trust this letter will give you the encouragement to open a willing door to your heart and life for the continuity of doctrines given to us by God-fearing pioneers of our Apostolic movement.

May the Lord bless and keep you strong in the faith, to the Lord Jesus and doctrinally sound.

Sincerely in Christ, Nathaniel A. Urshan General Superintendent

Related posts:

1. Survey: Minority of evangelical leaders say Bible requires tithing Thou shalt not be required to financially support your church...
2. All About Souls By Jack Cunningham When I was a teenager I went...
3. Asking For a Christian Roommate Is Discrimination Michigan’s Department of Civil Rights is investigating a single 31-year-old...

Related posts:

1. Soul Searching Questions Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record many questions asked by...
2. Names for God and Jesus in the New Testament Following is an abbreviated list of a very thorough project...
3. God Made Some Questions Without Answers It truly seems that God made some questions without any...

1.  Calling:

Only God calls people into the ministry. Jonah was called but ran.  Joshua and Nehemiah were called by circumstance.  Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah were called by their integrity.  The Bible, and life for that matter, is full of men and women whose calling was predicated by different circumstances; whose ministries were destined by God to meet a particular need.  Each by submitting to God’s purpose – served his own generation by the will of God.

Consider Namaan’s wife’s handmaiden.  Her name is not even mentioned in scripture.  Her task was simply to share the light of Jehovah’s healing power by telling her mistress and master about the prophet in Israel.

Think about Jeremiah.  He was smack in the middle of God’s will yet did not have one convert.  He in stead was abused, tortured, and mocked.  By natural standards, one might conclude that his ministry was a dismal failure.  We need to seek to be faithful to His calling not chase after another mark on a man-made measuring stick.

2.  Character:

Without a doubt one of the most important aspects of ministry is character.  1 Timothy 3:7 reads, “Also, he must be well spoken of by the people outside the church – those who aren’t Christians – so that Satan can’t trap Him with man’s accusations and leave him without freedom to lead his flock.” (TLB)

When it comes to discerning a man’s character, time is our best friend.  Faithfulness, consistency, integrity, in essence, character is seen best through the lens of time.  People take a long time to tag someone as a “good man,” however; it takes only one slip of the tongue or ill-timed action to mar a reputation.  A good name can be destroyed in the proverbial heartbeat.  We need to subject our body and spirit to whatever calling God has for us – even if we are not “there” yet.  Establishing a name takes time – so it’s time to be conscious of our name.

Brother’s Keepers:

When God asked Cain where Abel was, Cain’s reply was the interrogative, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  I suggest that our response as the church of the living God ought to be a resounding “YES!”  One can put a thousand to flight two can put ten thousand.  A threefold chord is not easily broken.  We need to be knit together with the brethren!

Jonathan mentored a young man who was anointed to take the throne that legally ought to have been his.  It is essential that there be people in our lives that can mentor us and shape our character!  As well, we need peer level influence that will commit to keep us accountable for our attitudes and actions.  It is much safer to travel with someone than try to do it solo.  Should you get a little off track, it’s easier for an “accountability partner” to help make some adjustments than it would be to repair and restore after devastation.

Jonathan and David knit their souls together.  The ministry has some very dark valleys at times.  It makes the trip a little more manageable when we have somebody whose soul is knit together with yours.  It is important to have someone with whom you can discuss dreams, successes, frustrations, mistakes, and failures.  We need some “Brother’s Keepers” in the ministry.

 3.  Competencies

• effective communication

1. Preaching – The passionate communication targeting the heart resulting in commitment and challenge – in essence the altar experience.
2. Teaching – The anointed instructing in the things of God and scripture that produces character growth and maturity.

• identifying, articulating, and casting vision
• motivating people
• coaching and developing people
• synthesizing  information
• persuading people
• initiating strategic action
• engaging (following through) strategic action
• resolving conflict
• developing resources
• acquiring and selecting resources
• delegating authority and responsibility
• reinforcing commitment
• celebrating successes
• decision making
• team building
• instigating evaluation
• creating a viable (working) culture
• maintaining focus and priorities
• upholding accountability
• identifying opportunities for influence
• relating everything back to God’s plan
• modeling the spiritual disciplines
• managing other key leaders
• modeling commitment during difficult times

The skills involved in ministry are the easy part.  Anyone can learn the “how’s” of ministry functionality.  Only God determines the call.  Only an individual can submit his will to allow character to be produced.

Related posts:

1. 6 Keys to Being “Super-Competent” You have to decide to be good at what you...
2. Traditional Ministry vs. Passion-based Ministry Traditional ministry is action based. It follows the following progression:...
3. Called to Preach? I’m always just a little leery of the phrase, “called...

To each is given a bag of tools,
a shapeless mass and a Book of Rules;
and each must make ‘ere time has flown,
a stumbling block or a stepping stone.

R.L. Sharpe, “A bag of tools,” circa 1809

Related posts:

1. Leadership Kit All leaders would do well to have certain items in...
2. Quoted: Roy Traband on Irony How ironic that foreign lands are stumbling to the light...

The Pentecostals of Kentwood is currently looking for a solid ministry couple (or individual) that is talented, self-motivated and creative to lead our Outreach and evangelism ministry. This is currently a volunteer position, and responsibilities would include the following:

• Directly responsible for Outreach and evangelism for POK in the Kentwood, MI and surrounding area
• Develop outreach programs that are effective in winning souls in today’s generation
• Recruit and train new people to assist with the outreach ministry of our church
• Develop a group of people who are willing to teach Bible studies
• Implement a course to train people in Bible study teaching and evangelism
• Oversee all community evangelism campaigns
• Plan and execute new outreach programs and ministries

The Pentecostals of Kentwood is an exciting, growing church founded nearly 8 years ago with a heart and focus on reaching the Lost with the saving message of Jesus Christ. We are deeply passionate about personal, lifestyle evangelism, and tremendously hungry for unprecedented endtime revival in our city of nearly 50,000 souls.

Related posts:

1. Church Gains New Life with Outreach Several outreaches have brought new life to a Wyoming church...
2. Questions for the minister to ask himself… Who are you trying to please? Are you trying...
3. Care Bag Outreach Over the last several years, our church has been involved...

Related posts:

1. Quoted: Jay Jones on Soulwinning If we’re not actually in the process of bringing people...
2. Quoted: Jay Jones on the Will of God A man out of the will and timing of God...
3. Quoted: Jay Jones on Leadership Simply put, leadership is the ability to lead. Leadership can...

Related posts:

1. Quoted: Jay Jones on Church Territorialism In my estimation, I think “our” problem (I say ‘our’...
2. Quoted: Jay Jones on Emergent Theology Emergent ideology is born of postmodernism and deconstructionism. It is...
3. Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you...

I met God in the morning,
when my day was at its best.
And His Presence came like glory,
a sunrise in my breast.

All day long His Presence lingered,
all day long He stayed with me…
And we sailed in perfect calmness,
O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered;
Other ships were sore distressed.
But the winds that seemed to drive them,
Brought to us such peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind.
When I too had loosed the moorings,
with the Savior left behind.

So I think I know the secret,
learned from many a troubled way…
You must seek God in the morning,
if you want Him in the day.

Related posts:

1. Quoted: William Barclay on Christianity’s God It is not so very difficult to think of a...
2. God Made Some Questions Without Answers It truly seems that God made some questions without any...
3. Poem about Working with God If you have some work to do, Start this very...

I am not staunchly against the idea, and feel that it’s valid in the sense of a mutual purpose, passion, goal, ownership, etc. Collectively, we need joint responsibility in the church. There is a traditional separation between “clergy” and “laity” that stunts the progress and power of the local congregation.

That said, there is also a Biblical precedent of authority structure within the Church. When speaking of collegial leadership, or eldership, it appears that even in the early church there was a distinction between those being served, those serving, and even those ministering (Acts 6). And even among the apostles, though this seemed to be a collegial leadership group, there was a standout leader named Peter who spoke decisively on behalf of the rest of the group.

In 1 Peter 5, Peter addresses “the elders which are among you”. Some say this means plural elders in one congregation, but he opened the letter in ch 1 by addressing “the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappodocia, Asia, Bithynia”, indicating that these are saints and elders in many locations and churches.

Even James, who said, “let them call for the elders of the church” was addressing “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”. I realize he specifically noted “elders” in a “church”, and I’m fine with that, but we’re not given indication that these elders comprised a collegiate leadership that negated an individual leader among them.

To me, since scripture seems to indicate more in favor of a mutual burden/responsibility in terms of mission among elders but then clearly points to leaders such as Jesus, Peter, Paul, etc., I lean more heavily to not supporting a strong “collegial eldership” (in terms of pastoral leadership) over a church with the absence of a single visionary leader.

Related posts:

1. Quoted: Jay Jones on Leadership Simply put, leadership is the ability to lead. Leadership can...
2. Leadership Kit All leaders would do well to have certain items in...
3. Andy Stanley on Courageous Pastoring Speaking from my limited view, I feel like so much...

2. Renewing of the Mind

3. Soulwinning and Witnessing

4. New Creation Realities – Who We are in Christ

5. Reaching Your Destiny in God

6. Jesus the Healer

7. The Authority of the Believer

8. How to Pray Effectively

9. Walking In the Fear of the Lord

10. The Church and Its’ Mission

11. Tithing and God’s Prosperity Plan

12. The Person and Power of the Holy Spirit Today

13. How to Grow Spiritually

14. Walking In the Wisdom of God

15. Fundamentals of Faith

16. Great Bible Truths – Hebrews 6:1, 2

17. The Anointing, Baptism and Gifts of the Spirit

18. God’s Laws of Success and Abundance

19. How to Hear From Heaven and Know God’s Will

20. Building Christian Character

21. Spiritual Warfare – The Devil, Demons and Deliverance

22. God’s Plan for the Local Church

23. The Marriage Covenant and the Christian Family

24. How to Read, Study and Meditate God’s Word

25. Faith Confessions and the Power of the Tongue

26. Victorious Christian Living – How to Be an Overcomer

No related posts.