Approximately three years ago, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (ICFG) board made a decision to transition Jonathan Hall out of his role as director of FMI and into the position of global overseer. Jonathan Hall, George Cline and the FMI leadership team led well in several areas during his term as director; he was especially gifted at redesigning the internal FMI systems, lifting the morale among missionaries and staff, and providing care and oversight. His relationships with national leaders around the world were a major strength, and he is still highly regarded among them. 

Jonathan acknowledged that I, as the newly elected president, along with the board of directors, had the authority to make key decisions concerning vice-presidential positions, and he even offered to assist in any desired transitions. However, the terseness of the process and letter announcing the change and the neglect in celebrating the many advances added to the hurt the Halls and the FMI team experienced. Jonathan did accept the new role, but after a season of working in that role, he made the decision to resign from his position with FMI.

Toward the end of 2012, Jonathan wrote a letter to the ICFG board, expressing his concerns about how we stewarded his transitions and the pain the Halls experienced. The board responded promptly, and arranged to meet with Jonathan and Beth early this year. The Halls and I experienced a significant healing of the relational breach, and a level of trust was restored between us, as well as between them and the board. An apology was offered to the Halls on behalf of the board and myself, and they graciously accepted.

Since then, we have been working to develop an avenue by which Jonathan could re-engage with ICFG. Plans are underway to place Jonathan in a role that will allow him to use his missions and cross-cultural expertise to increase the effectiveness of our global mission. Jonathan has already represented us well at several key events, and he and Beth are planning to join us in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., for Connection 2013. They will be involved with the Global Council meetings preceding convention as well as the FMI Reception. 

Jonathan and I mutually agreed to share this letter with credentialed ministers, because that is the constituency to whom the original letter was sent. We believe that, as painful as the process has been, the reconciliation process is worth sharing and celebrating. Thanks for reading this letter and for allowing us to share this important update.
 

God is at work right now, everywhere. I recently visited with a friend in Madrid who pastors a Spirit-filled church in the cradle of the Spanish Inquisition. The church had felt the spiritual opposition and oppression that had long been rampant in the town where they serve. They wanted to see a breakthrough and decided to go to a hill on the outskirts of town to pray over it.

Through the collective prayer of the whole church present on this mount, they felt prompted to humble themselves before the Lord and to ask forgiveness on behalf of their ancestors for the atrocities and sins of the past that had been done from this place. Soon after that, they started seeing change and a release of the Holy Spirit, beginning in their own congregation. I believe God is sending healing power and salvation not only to that town, but also to the whole nation of Spain, where there has been a collective oppression for centuries.

Psalm 97 begins with a declaration in “the present”: “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles and coastlands be glad!” (Amplified Bible). Whether it’s beyond the coastlands of the Old Continent or from coast to coast in our own land, we rejoice and declare that the Lord reigns, and we are glad!

Meanwhile, we can't avoid the prsent, which is right in front of us. The past is gone; the future is not yet here. The present is now.

“God is” and “I am that I am” are references to a God who is present in the now. It brings so much balance and assurance to know that—more than what He was and will be—He is, and He is not only in the present tense. He also is the God who helps me understand and connect His presence with the present, right now. What is happening at this second? He is. That knowledge and declaration brings comfort and peace.

The first seven chapters of Romans are a catalog of things that are in the present and are clear signs of decay in our world. The more I watch the news happening right now, the more I’m reminded of the decaying condition of the human race. Our land is sick. It needs healing.

I’m reminded of 2 Chron. 7:14, which tells us that God’s people need collectively to humble ourselves, to pray and to ask for forgiveness on behalf of our fellow citizens, to seek God’s face and to turn from our wicked ways. If we do these things now, the Lord will listen, forgive, and heal our land. Our present condition as it is requires us to act right now, in the present—just as my colleague on top of that hill near Madrid did with his congregation.

The Lord reigns!

By: Alfonso Guevara, assisting minister at Miami Iglesia Vida Nueva Foursquare Church

Download the yearlong reading plan (PDF, 80 KB), or sign up for the full, online version of the Life Journal. To purchase a Life Journal for your own use, or to place a bulk order for church-wide use, visit FoursquareJournal.com. Learn more about Foursquare's 2013 Life Journal project.

“Jim. J. Adams is uniquely prepared and qualified to be our president,” said Sam Rockwell, Ph.D., chair of LPC’s board of trustees, in a press release. “His long history of ministry and relationship in The Foursquare Church, his outstanding career in higher education, and his passionate vision and love for LPC qualify him to lead us at this time.”

Sam noted that Jim is known for his exceptional collaborative leadership and personal qualities serving in his most recent roles as LPC’s interim president and as executive director for the Center of Global Learning & Engagement at Azusa Pacific University (APU).

"Jim brings a unique blend of gifts and skill sets that are critical to the college and its future at this season," affirms Foursquare President Glenn Burris Jr. "His grasp of our mission, the educational challenges and opportunities, and his history with our movement will serve us and the college well."

General Supervisor Tammy Dunahoo echoes Glenn's statement.

"Jim brings a significant blend of gifts needed for this hour at LPC," says Tammy. "His education and years of experience in the academy, his long time of ministry in The Foursquare Church, and his passion and life as a youth pastor create together a needed combination to lead the school forward in this season ... to develop a progressive Bible college that will prepare leaders for a lifetime of 21st-century ministry. The innovation and creativity in our DNA must be realized in our training efforts, so that we prepare the next generation to take the kingdom of God to the world they live in ... I believe we can see that happen through LPC."

Jim holds a bachelor’s degree from LPC, a master’s from APU, and earned his Doctorate of Education from the University of Southern California. Among his many leadership roles in Foursquare through the years, he served as LPC’s vice present, chief operating officer and dean of students; superintendent and chief executive officer for Western Christian Schools; and professor and program director of Operation Impact at APU.

“It is deeply humbling to have the opportunity to lead, and I am grateful for the many friends, alum, staff, faculty, students, donors and trustees who have prayed diligently over the past four months for the college,” says Jim. “We have much work to do with strategically aligning our college for long-term stability. However, the most important role we play is to serve our students well.

“I am committed to doing everything possible to serve The Foursquare Church and the kingdom of God as we launch new programs and strengthen those currently in place,” he continues. “With much prayer from our partners around the world, LPC is poised toward a great future of carrying out its mission of ministry education and equipping.”

“We are letting the emotion subside, and we are listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit as to our next steps,” says 31-year-old Kyle Bauer, who was held captive by kidnappers for more than 20 hours in an effort to extort a ransom from his family. “This kind of thing doesn’t take God by surprise. I believe that the devil had something far worse planned, but that it was cut short. I think that it should have been a lot worse than it was.”

Bauer found himself in the middle of a “telephonic kidnapping” on March 14, as he walked around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. According to the Citizens of the City of Mexico, a local human rights advocacy group, there are an average of 370 kidnapping attempts of this nature committed every month throughout Mexico—roughly 12 a day. Victims receive aggressive and frightening phone calls threatening violence against loved ones who are believed to be captured, and end up being held for ransom in an attempt to ensure the safety of their families.

Bauer’s experience was no different. As he prayed through the neighborhood near his home, he received a phone call on his cell. The caller identified himself as a member of a drug cartel, informed Bauer that his wife and four children were being watched, and threatened to murder them if Bauer did not follow his orders.

Because of the prevalence of drug-related crime in the area, Bauer did as he was told. He managed to send his wife a brief text message that he hoped would signal something was wrong, before switching to a new phone he had been told to buy. The caller instructed him to check into a local hotel, where captors were waiting to prevent him from leaving.

News of the event ricocheted across the country, as many recognized Bauer’s significance within the Foursquare movement as a whole. Kyle Bauer is the grandson of former Foursquare President Jack W. Hayford, and the son of Scott and Rebecca Bauer, who served as senior pastors of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, Calif., from 1999 until Scott’s death in 2003.

Bauer and his family felt a strong call to serve as missionaries in Puerto Vallarta, an area riddled with crime and poverty despite its resort reputation. During their seven months serving as missionaries there, the Bauers established a growing church, holding services in their home.

During his 20 hours of captivity, Bauer relentlessly sang worship songs and preached the gospel to his captor—challenging him to repent and turn to Christ.

“I spoke to [one of the captors] from Genesis to the resurrection of Jesus, and how we can recover everything God intended us to be in Him,” Bauer recalls. “I was hoping he would repent. I’m a missionary; I do what I do because I love God and I love people. Regardless of somebody’s sinfulness, I care about their soul.”

At one point the captor even asked Bauer if God could really forgive a man like him, who had done so many terrible things. 

“That is the good thing about God,” Bauer told him. “There is no sin or sinner too great that He is unable or unwilling to forgive. You need faith in Jesus Christ, but you also must turn from your sin!”

During the night, the captors asked if Bauer knew any songs. When he replied that he did, they asked him to sing. Bauer jumped on the opportunity to invite the presence of the Lord into that place and burst out singing, “Majesty! Worship His Majesty!” For the next several minutes, Bauer worshiped the Lord in song with all the captors listening. One captor even called his wife and patched her through so she could hear the worship.

Despite his fears for his own safety and for his family, Bauer says he knew that God was with him. What he didn't know was that his wife, Teresa, had been able to contact the couple’s sending church—The Church On The Way Santa Clarita (TCOTWSC) in Santa Clarita, Calif.—setting in motion a discrete prayer chain, and the involvement of the FBI and other authorities.

Church leaders mobilized a small prayer chain and monitored social media postings to ensure nothing was shared publicly that could jeopardize efforts to end the tense situation.

“Our goal was prayer, not widespread pandemonium,” says Senior Pastor Doug Andersen, Bauer’s uncle. “Many were in prayer for long hours during the night.”

As the threats and waiting dragged on the following day, Kyle’s wife, Teresa, was diligently working with U.S. and local authorities. She was advised to shut down Kyle’s cell phone. The extortionists closely monitored Bauer’s cell phone and ordered him not to use it unless they told him to. Kyle realized his captors would no longer be able to monitor his cell phone once it was disconnected.

Miraculously, the previous occupant of the hotel room had left the Wi-Fi password on the room’s table. Right before his phone was deactivated, Bauer was able to connect his phone to the Internet and send out an email with his location.

Because no ransom had been forthcoming, the extortionists said that Kyle would have to stay longer. He was instructed to go down to the hotel lobby and extend his stay. Once in the lobby, Bauer was approached by two detectives, who were able to track him down as a result of the email he had sent. One of them took the phone from Bauer and told him, “It’s over.”

No ransom was paid.

Following an emotional reunion, Bauer and his family left Mexico the following day. They shared their remarkable story at a service at TCOTWSC, and have since been recovering and meeting with church and Foursquare Missions International (FMI) leaders as they plan their next steps.

The Bauers, and the pastors at TCOTWSC, have voiced their gratitude for the diligent and effective efforts of The Foursquare Church during the emotional ordeal. FMI had a plan in place for several years to deal with situations such as this one—only this was the first time it had to actually be implemented. It worked flawlessly.

“I have never been more grateful to be part of The Foursquare Church than right now,” says Bauer. “They were wonderful!”

At the time of this interview, the Bauers have been evaluating and processing with Foursquare about the next steps they are to take, whether they are to go back or not. But they are not worried about their future.

“God is faithful,” says Bauer. “The safest place to be in the world is right in the center of God’s will, and if that puts us in harm’s way, He will be faithful.”

By: Andy Butcher, a freelance writer living in the Orlando, Fla., area, and Sarah Wray, who serves as an executive assistant at The Church On The Way Santa Clarita

Twice the size of Texas, but with a total population less than that of El Paso, Alaska’s remote and unforgiving climate—long, sunless, winter days when the temperature stays well below freezing—produces a rugged individualism.

This fierce independence, which can mask dark secrets, means “people don’t want you in their business at all,” says Rod Koop, an ordained Foursquare minister in Anchorage. “Even talking to somebody about the Lord is considered an affront, because everything is so private.”

That means church planting demands a different approach than in the lower 48 states, one Rod and his wife, Teresa, have been pioneering the last couple of years. With a mix of cultural sensitivity and creative thinking supported in a unique Foursquare partnership, the couple has begun to see a spiritual thaw as the Son breaks through.

By redefining “church,” harnessing technology and seeking to repair the unwitting relational damage caused by some of the pioneering missionaries who broke the first ground for the gospel in the state decades ago, the Koops are finding doors opening in a new way. Since the couple’s return in 2011 to the home state of their youth, the number of Foursquare congregations has increased by half.  

That still means a total of only nine Foursquare churches across Alaska’s 586,000 square miles, but this is widely seen as remarkable progress in a state where only about 10 percent of the population attends worship services on a regular basis. Even more so in the light of 21 attempts in the past two decades to start new Foursquare churches there, which have not endured.

Based in Anchorage, the largest city in the state, the Koops serve as Foursquare’s first officially recognized missionaries to the U.S., through an alliance between Foursquare Missions International (FMI) and the U.S. Church’s North Pacific District. This innovative appointment arose from “a recognition that traditional means and methods of expansion in the U.S. have not served Alaska well,” according to Ted Vail, associate director of U.S. missions for FMI. “It requires a different church model.”

Keeping It Simple

This can be witnessed in the Koops’ home, where they gather with members of the simple church they have started. Formally embraced by Foursquare in 2009, with Rod helping define the movement from his experience in seven years as the denomination’s national church planting director, simple church dispenses with some of the trappings of traditional churches.

Encouraging informality and every-member participation, the anywhere-based philosophy is ideally suited for Alaska, where many communities are too small to sustain a regular church with its professional staff, property and programs.

“We felt from the beginning that we needed to break the ice in Anchorage,” explains Rod. “We needed to resolve the question, is it possible to church-plant in Alaska, given the valiant attempts by some really great, amazing people?”

This is Part 1 of 2

Check back on May 21 for Part 2: Reaching Unreached People Groups: Alaska

By: Andy Butcher, a freelance writer living in the Orlando, Fla., area

Part of the reason for the Koops’ impact is their own Alaskan background. They know what it takes to, literally, survive there—they fish and hunt, process their own catch and dress their own kills. Rod developed a friendship with three men after helping one of them gut and skin a bagged moose.

“He said he’d never known a pastor that would do that,” Rod says.

The simple church approach—wherein there may be a guided discussion of a Bible passage instead of a prepared sermon— is also being applied in some remote communities where the Koops have connected with indigenous Christian leaders, finding favor among tribal leaders by trying to atone for historic wrongs.

Early missionaries believed the native Alaskans’ traditions and totem poles were demonic, insisting they be renounced. Children from remote villages were forcibly removed to Western-style boarding schools, further deepening resentment to what was seen as the “white” gospel.

“There’s nothing demonic about them,” says Rod of the totem poles, which he describes as “like a family scrapbook,” depicting key moments in family or tribal history. But when those wooden snapshots were lost, so were the stories that were such a part of each tribe’s identity, fostering rifts between the younger generation and their elders.

Respecting the Culture

Working with local Christian leaders, the Koops have arranged for the building of totem and canoe carving sheds in two villages on Prince of Wales Island, and the construction of a canoe shed in another. Eight short-term teams from different states have traveled to Alaska in the past two years to help with the projects, with 12 more teams due to continue the work this year.

This restoration of culture is a crucial element, says Rod, planting relational bridges. Through one project, a local female indigenous Foursquare leader was asked to teach a young native woman to hunt. As the pair dressed the student’s first kill, the leader explained how, as the deer had died so that this young woman and her family might live physically, so Jesus had given His life so that they might know eternal life.

“She led her to a contextualized understanding of the gospel right there,” Rod affirms.

For all their independence, Alaskans still appreciate, perhaps more than many others, that they need one another.

“While they expect others to take care of their own business, when someone is in need, they are quick to respond with help,” explains Rod. “This is what it takes to thrive in a harsh environment, and it lends itself to a certain raw sense of community. At the same time, people understand and accept that there is a kind of  ‘Darwin effect’ at work that weeds out individuals not suited to this life.”

The Koops support efforts to build Christian community in remote areas through Skype training and YouTube worship sets created by Teresa that overcome the absence of a worship leader in a local group. There have been invitations to explore new possibilities in other parts of the state, most not connected to the road system.

“We are amazed that things have happened to this degree,” says Rod of their work, known as North of Hope. “We are just trying to steward what is unfolding, and be careful not to reach into a new field until we are ready.”

At the same time, they are aware of Alaska’s deep, immediate need for the gospel. The rigors of life there create casualties. There are high levels of domestic violence, sexual abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction.

In the first few days of one recent week on call as a first-responder police chaplain, Teresa was summoned to the scene of two suicides and a death by overdose.

“Every time I respond, I’m more aware of the hopelessness that can only be satisfied by Christ’s love,” says Teresa. “Just as our law enforcement and emergency responders say yes to each dispatch, we choose to say yes as ambassadors of reconciliation.”

This is Part 2 of 2

Read Part 1: Reaching Unreached People Groups: Alaska

By: Andy Butcher, a freelance writer living in the Orlando, Fla., area

Are you like me? Do you ever find yourself trying to sit quietly before Father God, but your mind is like a surround-sound movie theater that won’t shut off?

You hear the needs of hurting people. You feel the sting of pointing fingers and false accusations. You remember events that need to be planned—so many events! And what about the buildings that still need to be built and the bank account without enough money? Well, before everything in your head turns into a 3-D action movie, listen to what Holy Spirit just spoke to my heart:

I ask you today, my child: “Are you trying, or are you trusting?”
I’m not asking you to work harder at trying to do something for Me.
I’m asking you to abide. I’m asking you to rest. I’m asking you to trust.    
Give up. Let go. Trust.
Trust what I am doing in your life today.
I am making a way where there seems to be no way.
My design for you is giving, not holding on.
Right now purpose in your heart to turn it all over to me.
That’s right—let it go!

We don’t know what was playing across the screen of David’s mind during the season of war in 2 Sam. 24. But we do know a day came that David chose to take things into his own hands. He ordered to have his fighting men numbered. It was probably a lot like that which unfolds in our minds when we face times of battle. How easy it is to “count our people” and inventory our gifts and resources while looking for an answer.

David’s decision to fight his own fight, fix his own mess and be his own defender angered God. However, God was—and still is—quick to convict, and we find David being quick to repent. First Chron. 21:13 tells of David crying out to God in great distress. When he remembers the glorious faithfulness of God, he says, “Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great” (NKJV). 

Over and over, you and I are reminded not to be stubborn and rebellious but to set our hearts aright. We are to prepare our hearts to know God and remain steadfast and faithful to Him and His ways. We are to always remember that He is a God who can bring streams from a rock and cause waters to run like rivers. He is able to furnish food for a table in the wilderness, speak to the clouds above and open the doors of heaven (Ps. 78).

Whatever you are facing today, hear His voice, and order your heart aright. Run to that secret place of the Most High. Dwell there. See yourself stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty, knowing full well that no foe can withstand His power. Be one who is found saying, “He is my Lord, my refuge and my fortress” (see Ps. 91).

That’s it!  Lean in—now abide there! Let’s just see what happens when we trust in the unending creative power of our uncreated God.               

By: Tani Parker, senior pastor of Destiny (Rapid City 2 Foursquare Church) in Rapid City, S.D.

Download the yearlong reading plan (PDF, 80 KB), or sign up for the full, online version of the Life Journal. To purchase a Life Journal for your own use, or to place a bulk order for church-wide use, visit FoursquareJournal.com. Learn more about Foursquare's 2013 Life Journal project.

Conexión Hispana

Conexión Hispana kicks off the conference Tuesday afternoon, before the opening general session that evening. To attend, be sure to arrive early and check in by Tuesday morning.

Get Online

Convention details are covered in-depth in an online blog located at foursquareconnection.tumblr.com. This is the “unedited, informal, off-the-books, behind-the-scenes commentary” from the team that helps bring Foursquare Connection to life.

When the event starts, Foursquare Financial Solutions is sponsoring live online streams at ConnectionLive.org, called “Connection Live” and “Live Backstage,” where conference speakers will be interviewed following their sessions. In the event you can’t make it to the actual convention, you can still experience a taste of what’s happening. Search your favorite app store for "Foursquare Connection 2013" as well. Then download the Foursquare Connection 2013 App—available for Android and iPhone as of May 25, 2013—to follow convention news and find schedules.

Finally, if you’re tweeting during Connection 2013, use #connection13 as the hashtag to connect with others on Twitter; use #foursquareconnection when snapping those Instagram photos. In fact, you might just see your photo show up in the July issue of Foursquare Leader magazine.

Down to Business

“Engaging in the business is important to the future of our movement,” notes Connection Manager Tammy Sevcov. “We want people to have a voice.” To prepare to engage in convention business, review proposed bylaw amendments in advance of the business sessions.

New Check-In System

A new check-in system will be implemented this year for parents and their children. Parents who are registered for the convention can expect additional details forthcoming.

Foursquare officials are praying earnestly for Connection 2013, so that each attendee will be powerfully impacted and personally refreshed.

“The opportunity,” says Tammy Sevcov, “to enjoy Florida at these rates, getting to be with hundreds of your closest friends and stay engaged in a movement that has its greatest days ahead … I’m not sure why anyone would want to miss this!”

Register online by May 25 for the special Convention Rate. Registrations will also be accepted at Connection 2013, for the On-Site Rate. Modifications to registrations may be made until May 10.

For more information, visit the official Foursquare Connection 2013 website.

By: Cara Davis, a freelance writer and editor in Nashville, Tenn.

Distinct from a traditional “minor,” the degree concentrations offered at LPC provide students with a broad grounding in particular fields of study where they will develop knowledge and skills for their chosen fields.

Academic Dean Michael Salmeier, Ph.D., emphasizes the benefit of the new concentrations for the students. He says they will focus their academic attention on developing knowledge and skills in an area of study in which they plan to serve and in some cases already are serving.

The new degree concentrations provide several new options for students as they prepare for ministry leadership and will prove to be a significant step forward for the college, according to Vice President and Director of College Relations Angie Richey, M.Ed./M.A.

Degree concentrations offered beginning in the 2013-2014 year are Pastoral Ministry, Youth Ministry, Counseling, Worship Arts, and Intercultural Studies.

In an email to college faculty, Michael Salmeier writes, “The new degree concentrations will help students ‘find’ themselves within the current degree offerings.” He notes that the college is not creating new courses to fill out these concentrations. Instead, he says, the concentrations are arranged from the courses LPC already offers.

Visit the LPC website to see a complete list of courses that make up the new concentrations. LPC has been training leaders since 1923. For the past 90 years, the college has sent out more than 27,000 leaders into nearly 140 countries worldwide.

By: Rod Light, an ordained Foursquare minister and educator in Los Angeles

Recently, I was blown away by a story out of Kansas City, Mo. A homeless man found an engagement ring in the cup he used to receive donations from people. He took the ring to a jeweler to be appraised and was offered $4,000 by the jeweler.

What a quandary for this man in such desperate straits! He chose to keep the ring in hopes of returning it to the original owner. He thought perhaps the woman who dumped the ring along with the change from her purse would return for it, and he would feel like he had done the right thing.

The ring's owner did return, days later, after realizing her mistake. She was very surprised to find he still had it. She gave him all of the cash she had in her purse and, with her husband, set up an online blog to receive contributions for the man, Billy Ray Harris. He had been living on the streets for 16 years.

Some $185,000 had come in as of the date of the article I read, and Billy now has a job and a home. The story was broadcast by the TODAY Show, and Billy was reunited with his four siblings on the set. His reason for returning the ring, according to him, was that he was raised by godly parents, and it was the right thing to do.

When the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in his first letter to the Thessalonians, he was applauding the fact that they had become “examples” to all the believers in Macedonia. They were living their lives and making decisions that demonstrated: 

1. That the benefits of heaven were worth waiting for (patience of hope)
2. That helping others was worth the effort (labor of love)
3. That our actions should reflect our convictions (work of faith)

The decisions we make in private moments become present-day offerings to the Lord.  What is done in secret will one day be shouted from the mountaintops. In God’s economy, there is always a miracle story waiting to unfold.

The promise of the Lord remains true for those who seek Him. Isaiah 43:19 states: “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (NKJV). He is the Lord of mercy who calls us to refuse to be bound by our past or to be hopeless about our future. Let us live in the present, doing the right things!

By: Glenn Burris Jr., president of The Foursquare Church 

Download the yearlong reading plan (PDF, 80 KB), or sign up for the full, online version of the Life Journal. To purchase a Life Journal for your own use, or to place a bulk order for church-wide use, visit FoursquareJournal.com. Learn more about Foursquare's 2013 Life Journal project.

Rev. Marcie Ellithorpe
Deceased: December 23, 2012
Last appointment: assisting minister, Escondido Christian Center (Escondido Foursquare Church) in Escondido, Calif.

Rev. John Gnanaolivu
Deceased: April 4, 2013
Last appointment: retired, Southwest District

Rev. Mary Lucille Hicks
Deceased: April 5, 2013
Last appointment: retired, North Pacific District

Rev. Fairy Rogers
Deceased: April 18, 2013
Last appointment: assisting minister, Barron Foursquare Church in Barron, Wis.

Rev. Doris Shee
Deceased: April 2, 2013
Last appointment: retired, Gateway District

Rev. Shirley West
Deceased: April 5, 2013
Last appointment: retired, Pacific Coast and Valleys District

If a Foursquare credentialed minister in your life has passed away and you are looking to notify the central office, please contact us by email.

Churches

Church Openings — 7

• Centro de Vida (Sioux City Hispanic Foursquare Church), pastored by Saul Cortez in Sioux City, Iowa. (Heartland District)
• Cross Connection (Fort Worth North Foursquare Church), pastored by Ricardo Ramirez in Haltom City, Texas. (MidSouth District)
• Emmanuel Restauracion y Vida (Stockton West Hispanic Foursquare Church), pastored by Pietro Pineda in Stockton, Calif. (Central Pacific District)
• Genesis New Beginnings Ministries (Detroit North Foursquare Church), pastored by Glenn Thompson in Detroit (Heartland District)
• Inspiration Christian Center (Farmington Hills Foursquare Church), pastored by Maceo Banks in Farmington Hills, Mich. (Heartland District)
• Open Heart Ministries (Kings Mountain Open Heart Foursquare Church), pastored by Michael Reese in Kings Mountain, N.C. (Southeast District)
• Waninkiya Foursquare Church (Eagle Butte Foursquare Church), pastored by Matt Usesknife in Eagle Butte, S.D. (Gateway District)

Church Closings (Permanent*) — 5**

• Church on the Way (Sioux City Foursquare Church) in Sioux City, Iowa. (Heartland District)
• Cross Connection (Fort Worth Foursquare Church) in Fort Worth, Texas (MidSouth District)
• Hooper Avenue L.A. Foursquare Church in Los Angeles (Greater Los Angeles District)
• Templo Cristiano (Las Vegas Hispanic Foursquare Church) in Las Vegas (Southwest District)
• The Testimony (Lake View Terrace Hispanic Foursquare Church) in Lake View Terrace, Calif. (Pacific Coast and Valleys District)

Church Anniversaries (25+ years) — 1

• The King’s Harvest (Terre Haute 2 Foursquare Church) in Terre Haute, Ind. (Heartland District)—25 years

Total U.S. Foursquare Churches — 1,688
Total Attendance of the U.S. Foursquare Churches — 247,960

Pastors

Senior Pastoral Appointments to Established Foursquare Churches — 5

• Nelson Diaz to Cornerstone (Houston First Foursquare Church) in Houston (MidSouth District)
• Aaron Hanson to Newberg Foursquare Church in Newberg, Ore. (North Pacific District)
• Christopher Martin to Whitefish Foursquare Church in Whitefish, Mont. (Great Northern District)
• Nate Poetzl to Faith Chapel (Billings Foursquare Church) in Billings, Mont. (Great Northern District)
• Kevin Pruett to Waldport Foursquare Church in Waldport, Ore. (North Pacific District)

Credentialed Minister Retirements — 3

• Jack Nelson in Gresham, Ore. (North Pacific District)
• David Rice in Newport, Ore. (North Pacific District)
• David Tripp in Ayden, N.C. (Southeast District)

Total Credentialed/Licensed Ministers  — 6,632

* Closings: Churches are permanently closed when assets are sold or transferred.
**Temporary Closings: Three churches were temporarily closed during the month of April.

The new initiative—dubbed Foursquare Resources for Global Leaders—aims to provide thousands of copies of foundational training materials vital for those shepherding the church’s growth in parts of the world where language, access and affordability problems currently prevent or limit their distribution.

The mini-library—to be made available on CDs and thumb drives as well as in print—comprises the core Foursquare doctrinal references: Foundations of Pentecostal Theology, and smaller books The Foursquare Gospel, Women in Leadership Ministry and Disciples of All Nations. Some regions will also receive Doing What Jesus Did.

The project is being spearheaded by Johnell Loop, coordinator of education and missionary training for Foursquare Missions International (FMI), who proposed the program after a troubling conversation with one regional leader.

“He mentioned that he had been in the office of a Foursquare pastor in his region whose bookshelf was virtually empty, except for some materials from the Jehovah’s Witnesses,” Johnell explains. “He asked why he had those materials, and the pastor said that was all he had, and that they had been given to him.”

Concerned by what she had heard, Johnell brought the issue to an FMI meeting discussing concerns over doctrinal deviations.

“I had to ask why that was happening, who was at fault, who was responsible?” she states. “And I realized that the answer was, we were, because unless you speak English well enough to read a theological book, there was no material readily available.”

The resources effort has begun with help from a grant from Foursquare Foundation, and is being supported by Foursquare Missions Press and Foursquare Media. The Foursquare Church owns the copyright to the materials.

“When we got word that some of our leaders in other nations have two or possibly three books on their shelves to assist them in the preaching of the gospel, my heart was moved,” says Sterling Brackett, Foursquare vice president of corporate affairs and chief operating officer. “When I heard that one or two of those books were books that we would never recommend to one of our ministers, I felt anger that we had not done a better job in resourcing our frontline team.”

Providing the materials had not been a concern, he says.

“If these dear leaders in other countries could afford to purchase these books, they would have done so long ago,” Sterling explains. “They have no money to purchase resources; therefore, they are not potential customers for our material anyway. In America, we have so much available to us, and we forget that others live so differently.”

The first copies of Spanish editions of some of the materials are already being distributed in parts of Central and South America, with translations also in hand for French, Kiswahili, Bahasa Indonesia and Macedonian readers. The huge project will also involve making the books available in restricted-access countries, and could see thousands of copies distributed over the course of time, Johnell notes.

The project has been welcomed by Paul Otremba, FMI area missionary to Central and South America, who has already given the materials to some of his leaders.

“The pastors and leaders are very thankful,” Paul affirms. “Finally, they can have access to some of the materials that are very important for understanding Foursquare values and doctrine.”

“If we could improve the preaching and teaching of leaders to better, and more effectively, share the gospel with the lost in their countries,” echoes Sterling, “it will be worth it all.”

Steve Schell, a Foursquare board member and chairman of the education, government, and doctrine committees, has welcomed the effort to translate and distribute these key Foursquare documents.

“There are millions of people coming to the Lord all over the world, but discipleship doesn’t stop with a decision,” Steve asserts. “These men and women need to be grounded in solid biblical theology. New pastors and missionaries need to be trained, and you would be amazed at how many church institutes and schools are trying to teach with almost no materials.

“This initiative,” Steve continues, “is providing curriculum for new believers and schools, and the more languages into which we can translate these materials, the more people we will reach.”

Pastors and congregations who want to support this important initiative to resource Foursquare leaders around the world can make donations to FMI.

By: Andy Butcher, a freelance writer living in the Orlando, Fla., area

As they drove, Sister Aimee and my mother must have had many conversations about the Lord, their families, the world and their own lives. I would have loved to be a fly inside that car just to know what they discussed on those long drives to downtown Sacramento from our ranch in the sleepy farming community of Winters.

I was privy to one such conversation that would become legend in our family. My mother was a graduate of Stanford University and worked as a private duty nurse. During one of these drives to Sacramento, Sister Aimee asked my mother to be her nurse and companion on some of her many crusades and international itineraries.

But I’m getting ahead of my story—more about that conversation later.

Although Sister Aimee had a room at the Senator Hotel in Sacramento, she preferred to stay with our family at the ranch. It was quite a drive, but well worth it. The ranch was restful and far from the busyness of the city.

It was over 75 years ago, and I was just a young boy at the time, but I remember being completely smitten by the presence of this elegant, dignified lady. She was quite a presence—and yet I was intrigued by her genuine humility. She wore makeup, I recall, but not like some women of the day who wore far too much. She had a natural look that never appeared overdone.

I followed her around our house. My mother scolded me and told me to leave her alone, but Sister Aimee told me to stay. She must have liked having me around. Maybe I reminded her of Rolf, her son, who was back in Los Angeles while Sister traveled and shared Jesus Christ with the world.

As she prepared for her services, Sister Aimee sat in front of a mirrored vanity in our guest room, and I watched her brush her hair. I had never seen hair that long. To a little boy, it seemed almost to reach the floor. She would comb it carefully and twist strands into perfectly symmetrical braids. Some professional hairdresser must have trained her to do this because, like everything she did, it was done beautifully. When she was finished, you never saw one hairpin.

When she arrived at the auditorium in Sacramento, Sister Aimee would don a flowing white gown and carry a bouquet of red roses as she walked down the aisle to the platform. It was the height of the Great Depression, and people thronged to see this lady evangelist and to hear a message of hope from the Word of God.

As Sister elegantly walked to the platform, I remember her handing out roses to people in the congregation. When she returned to our house each night, my mother would help her with her gown and find dollar bills that people had slipped into her pockets as she walked by.

Offerings were received each night using tambourines instead of offering plates, and the people gave generously. Local businesses and area churches seemed to roll out the red carpet for Sister Aimee. It was an honor for us to have such a servant of the Lord among us, and even as a child I knew there was something very special about this woman.

I don’t remember exactly what year it was, but Sister Aimee’s son, Rolf, visited and stayed awhile with us in Winters. He spent his time between our home and the home of my adopted aunt and uncle, Lucy and Jimmy Pleasant. As I remember, Lucy Pleasant was the woman who introduced my mother to Sister Aimee.

Rolf and I sat in front of the fireplace in our home for hours, building things with an Erector Set Rolf’s mother had given him. Never having had a brother of my own, I enjoyed having an older boy to spend time with.

One of the highlights of Rolf’s visit was the arrival of Rivets, a horse trained for the movies that was a gift from Sister Aimee to her son. Until she came to live in Winters, Rivets had been stabled in Los Angeles, not far from the McPherson residence. Rolf spoke of how Rivets would play tricks on him, such as when he would visit neighbors and tie her up, only to find she would untie the knots and go home, leaving him to walk home alone.

Our father raised riding horses, and eventually Rivets became a part of our family stable. He was an amazingly agile and friendly horse. I always thought of Rolf each time we took Rivets out for a ride.

Speaking of my father, he owned a general store on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Main Street in downtown Winters. He was working in his store one afternoon when Sister Aimee decided to pay him a visit.

This is the event I referred to earlier, and this is the story our family chuckles about to this day. Sister Aimee wanted my mother to become her companion and nurse when she traveled. It must have been a very tempting offer considering all the exciting places she visited during her ministry!

My mother was hesitant, feeling a strong commitment to her home and children. But she agreed to allow Sister Aimee to pose the question to my father. When she asked if he would agree to such an arrangement, my father politely but firmly denied her request.

With a slight smile and a glint in her eye, Sister Aimee replied, “Well Mr. Culton, I must say you are the first man to ever say no to Aimee Semple McPherson.”

She was quite a presence indeed!

By: Carroll S. (Sarshel) Culton Jr., lifelong resident of Winters and Sacramento, Calif. This article was adapted from a video interview with Sarshel at his home in Sacramento shortly before his death in Nov. 2005.

As I gaze out my bedroom window, I admire my backyard, which is adorned with scooters, soccer balls, baby strollers and little pairs of pink and purple flip-flops. Somewhere beneath the outdoor chaos sits my beautiful porch swing and lovely flowerpots. I smile, because signs of life are all around me.

I close my eyes and listen. I can hear the serene and peaceful sound of flowing water from the fountain in the yard. In this moment of stillness, I realize there is peace even in the midst of organized chaos and that the Lord is ever present. 

A verse from one of my favorite passages of Scripture comes to mind: "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence?" (Ps. 139:7, NKJV). What a beautiful reminder to this wife and mother of four small children who sorely needed it.

One of my greatest joys in life is my family and ministering together with them. However, on this particular day a few weeks ago, I found myself feeling quite overwhelmed by the current season of roles and responsibilities. I thought to myself, Why does something so joyous feel burdensome? The answer came quickly: His presence overwhelms the things that overwhelm me!  Simply stated, I need the Lord’s presence at all times, every moment of every day. I am completely dependent on Him.

I began to respond to this reminder from the Holy Spirit by filling my home with praise and worship, edifying myself in the Spirit and rejoicing in His Word. I felt the burdens melt away, and my thoughts and perspective began to align with His as I embraced His presence, strength and joy.    

As a wife and a parent, the best gift I could give my family—the greatest lesson I could ever teach my children—is how to be filled by, and live full of, the Holy Spirit. As ministers, we place much focus on our congregations, the needs of the people, and the ushering in of His glory during services.

But what about in our own homes? I desire for His glory to dwell in my home and for my family to receive the ministry of the Holy Spirit through me—so, I'm on a mission! I'm on a mission to embrace and make room for the Holy Spirit to move in my home and to steward the call of God on my family. I believe I am called, but I also believe my family is called. 

My prayer for you, no matter your season of life and ministry, is that you would experience an outpouring of His presence in your home and on your family. Just as King David ushered in the presence of God with full abandon, may we in this same manner honor and make room for His presence in our lives daily. 

Generations to come are depending on it!

By: Lydia Ingegneri, assisting minister at Grace North Church (Anthem Foursquare Church) in Anthem, Ariz.

Download the yearlong reading plan (PDF, 80 KB), or sign up for the full, online version of the Life Journal. To purchase a Life Journal for your own use, or to place a bulk order for church-wide use, visit FoursquareJournal.com. Learn more about Foursquare's 2013 Life Journal project.

Second Samuel 2:28 reads: “So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore” (NKJV).

There are times when we as leaders will not agree with one another. But we all have the responsibility to sound the trumpet of peace. We must know when to sound it and be willing to do so. If we do, people may be spared from experiencing devastating circumstances.

We all face situations in the body of Christ that are so complicated that it’s hard to see a solution. There was a time in Israel when the people were facing a difficult leadership transition after the death of King Saul. God had appointed David as king, but Abner, Saul's general—knowing this—secured their allegiance for Ish-Bosheth, another of Saul’s sons. Consequently, we find Joab, general of David’s army, in pursuit of Abner, who had reluctantly killed Joab’s brother, Asahel. Talk about a complicated situation!

When we are dealing with hard issues among ourselves, we need to remember that we are family. Abner asked Joab, “Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?” (v. 26, NIV). In other words, there are no winners in any family feud.

Family relationships are strong enough to overcome some of our biggest differences when we value them as God does. God Himself chose to relate to us primarily in this form, and wants us to relate to one another in the same way.  Even the meaning of Joab’s name, “Yahweh is father,” illustrates this powerful truth.  

Being a peacemaker is central to being a child of God. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matt. 5:9, NIV). I believe when Joab was faced with Abner’s question, his very own name reminded him that we are Yahweh’s children. “So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore” (2 Sam. 2:28, NKJV). Because of Joab’s decision, much bloodshed among brothers was avoided on that day.

But there is a cost for peace. In this critical moment, Joab was willing to put aside his own pain, opinions or even being right for the sake of the people. He put family above all.   

I pray as we face these critical times in our own lives that the Holy Spirit will help us to recognize them, and that we will be willing to pay the price, because we are Yahweh’s family!

By: Adriana Barahona, assisting minister at Angelus Temple Hispanic Foursquare Church

Download the yearlong reading plan (PDF, 80 KB), or sign up for the full, online version of the Life Journal. To purchase a Life Journal for your own use or to place a bulk order for church-wide use, visit www.foursquarejournal.com. Learn more about Foursquare’s 2013 Life Journal project.

However, thanks to the overwhelming gestures of support from the Foursquare family, the community and strangers passing through, Pastor Ester Bass’ faith is stronger than ever.

“The overflow of love from people and concern for people is the big miracle that I’ve seen happen,” says Pastor Ester, a pastor for 43 years. “For people to do what these people have done is just a tremendous feeling.”

The gestures started the morning after the Apr. 10 storm with David Coffey, district supervisor for the six-state MidSouth District of The Foursquare Church, based in San Antonio, Texas. Contemplating the destruction before leaving his house, Pastor Ester didn’t look forward to returning to the church property—until David Coffey called.

“Brother Coffey had compassion and showed compassion for our congregation,” says the pastor, who met the district supervisor years ago while studying church polity. “The message from him was so timely, we felt better and were able to make it through the day. We felt better by the end of the day.”

Two other events that took place Apr. 11 also bolstered his spirits and those of members who came to salvage what they could from the debris.

One involved a neighbor who had never been to the church, but came over to offer his sympathy and a $200 donation. A woman from Wisconsin returning home stopped when she saw the devastation and gave Pastor Ester $20.

“That may not sound like a lot, but it’s the gesture that is overwhelming to you,” Pastor Ester says of the woman’s gift. “It’s just amazing the compassion that people have. All the time you hear about the bad, but there’s a lot of good in people, too.”

The pastor also detects the miraculous hand of God during the storm.

Two people in a pickup who got overtaken by the storm pulled into Botkinburg Foursquare’s parking lot and under a drive-through that had a tall steeple on it. Although the tornado took out the drive-through and shook the pickup, the only damage it sustained was a broken window.

About the same time, the storm overtook the driver of a semi-truck headed in the same direction. Although the tornado picked up the semi and twirled it around, it came to rest on the church parking lot without a scratch.

“That just had to be God,” Pastor Ester affirms.

This experience has boosted the 63-year-old pastor’s faith. Although part of him wants to cry because of the loss, another part is overwhelmed at how God is using circumstances and people to let the congregation know that everything is going to be all right.

The loss of the building is particularly acute, considering Botkinburg Foursquare’s history. Only started about 15 years ago, the church had just a handful of members and met in a small building across the street when Ester became pastor in 2001. However, growth prompted the congregation to erect a new home in 2003.

Pastor Ester acknowledges that in such circumstances it is easy to wonder what is the purpose for such tragedies; but, he says, one member in his 80s made a profound statement the day after the tornado.

“He said, ‘I believe God did this to bring us closer together and let people know He’s doing something important with the church and Van Buren County,' " Pastor Ester explains. “That pretty well summed it up for me. We see His hand working, and it's increased all of our faith.”

To donate to relief efforts in Arkansas, visit give.foursquare.org.

By: Ken Walker, an award-winning freelance writer living in Huntington, W.Va.

1 Chron. 7:20-22 tells us a little about the ups and downs of life. "The descendants of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered, Tahath, Eleadah, Tahath, Zabad, Shuthelah, Ezer, and Elead. These two were killed trying to steal livestock from the local farmers near Gath. Their father, Ephraim, mourned for them a long time, and his relatives came to comfort him” (NLT).

Life is messy. 

I recently had the privilege of visiting Life Pacific College (LPC) with my daughter, Addie, for their fall preview day. As I sat in the chapel during the opening service and observed hundreds of students worshiping in full abandon, I couldn’t help but reminisce. I found myself propelled 22 years back in time, when I stood in that same chapel worshiping alongside my friends and future husband, full of dreams of what life would look like in the years to come, awash in the beautiful naivety of youth. 

I could never have imagined at that time the heights of joy and victory that we would experience, nor the depths of pain and distress that would intercept our lives. In the last 20-plus years, my life has been a tapestry of laughter and tears, hope and despair, peace and turmoil. As I lay in a dorm-room bed that night after my chapel visit, reflecting on the hopefulness of youth, I was overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God through every step, and misstep, of my life. A parade of faces marched through my mind, individuals whom God provided to serve as tangible examples of His comfort, peace, joy and grace:

• Doug, who always seems to call right when I’m “on the edge”
• Sharon, who makes me laugh and reminds me to lighten up
• Liz, whose relentless declaration to me is, “You are so loved”
• Angie, whose friendship has taught me to trust again
• Kymra, who just sat and held my hand
• Dan, who extended grace beyond measure
• Chelsea, whose discernment snaps me back into focus
• Colleen, who has taught me what it means to be brave 
• Mark, whose example taught me what it means to be a servant-leader
• Betsey, whose belief in me has exceeded my own on countless occasions

I have been exceedingly blessed with an amazingly supportive and beautiful family. There is a traditional Jewish Seder song titled “Dayenu,” which translates “it would have been enough.” When I look at the Christian legacy left by my grandparents, the unconditional love of my parents, the tender love and commitment of my husband and the beautiful promise of hope in my children’s eyes, I declare, “Dayenu! Lord, it would have been enough!” Then I watch the parade of other faces that God has placed in my life as my extended family, as the expression of His unending love, and I am brought to tears.

Ephraim’s family “came to comfort him”—that's such a simple statement with such powerful implications. God has strategically placed each of us in relationships where we can serve as His tangible presence to those around us. You may never know what impact a simple gesture extended in love can mean to those around you. 

As I reflect back on the faces of the students who flooded the LPC campus back in October, I am once again filled with hope. I am certain each of them will experience pain and loss in the years to come. However, I am just as confident that God will both provide for them and use them in a parade of faces extending His comfort, peace, joy and grace.

By: Traci Espeseth, district administrator of the Heartland District

Download the yearlong reading plan (PDF, 80 KB), or sign up for the full, online version of the Life Journal. To purchase a Life Journal for your own use, or to place a bulk order for church-wide use, visit FoursquareJournal.com. Learn more about Foursquare's 2013 Life Journal project.

Along with nearly three-dozen homes, the church building fell victim to a series of storms that touched down in Arkansas and Missouri.

Gary Grubbs, operations chief of Foursquare Chaplains International-Disaster Relief Ministry (FCI-DRM), says a team led by Oklahoma disaster relief Chaplain Jim Birch will assess needs before the ministry formulates its response plan.

Several Botkinburg Foursquare members are reeling after the destruction of two homes and heavy roof damage to a third. The church’s youth pastor, Rocky Thomas—who lives near the church—was one of those who lost his home; fortunately, he had taken shelter elsewhere with family members.

Because of threatening weather reports, Senior Pastor Ester Bass had canceled Wednesday evening services. However, he is still shocked by the loss, telling Gary Grubbs, “I’ve been a pastor for 40 years, and I’ve never been through anything like this.”

Jim Birch has plans to meet with Pastor Ester and assess the needs for the church and the community. Then, he will contact Chad Isenhart, Foursquare’s Relief and Compassion coordinator, and Gary Grubbs to discuss a plan of action.

The Botkinburg Foursquare Church is located on U.S. 65 about 10 miles northwest of Clinton, a rural community where nearly three-dozen homes were destroyed by the storm system that struck northern Arkansas this week.

The only injury reported was to a passing motorist who parked his truck in the church’s drive-through to get out of the dangerous weather. Pastor Ester told CNN that the winds shook the truck as it lifted the roof off the drive-through.

“It was just devastating,” the 63-year-old pastor told CNN. “My wife and I are just torn. We put a lot of sweat and hard work [into the church], and it was paying off. The church was growing.”

There is another Foursquare congregation in the area—Crabtree Foursquare Church, located about 12 miles west of Clinton. However, other than a general loss of power, Gary Grubbs reports that the church did not sustain any damage.

Pastor Ester and church leaders were to meet with their insurance company either Thursday or today. No matter what the adjusters determine, the pastor is grateful for the knowledge that the members will stand with him.

“They are going to buckle down and do what we have to,” Pastor Ester told CNN. “With the Lord’s help, we are going to rebuild.”

Gary Grubbs explains that the response may include work crews, providing chaplains to minister to the church body and community, necessary supplies and resources, and other help.

“Depending on the need and ability to bring in help or teams—without causing more of an issue or taking away resources for those who have been displaced by this tornado—we will respond,” Gary affirms.

For now, Foursquare’s disaster response ministry will wait to hear back from the advance lead chaplain (who also has a construction background) to assess the needs. Then the ministry will respond in an organized structure to act as the hands and feet of Jesus for the community and the church, Gary states. He says this includes all chaplains and other workers obtaining necessary clearance through him or Chad Isenhart.

“This keeps everything in order and helps take the burden off the local church and district,” Gary explains. “We operate as a nationwide command response.”

Discover how The Foursquare Church and the local community are coming together to help.  Read "Arkansas Church Finding Hope After Tornado." To donate to relief efforts in Arkansas, visit give.foursquare.org.

By: Ken Walker, an award-winning freelance writer living in Huntington, W.Va.

Born Mary Lucille Hicks, Lucille was a L.I.F.E. Bible College (now known as Life Pacific College) graduate who served as the vice president of the “Commandos Class” during her sophomore year. She was a missionary in Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua; she served Foursquare for a total of 68 years.

She was first appointed as a missionary to South America in 1953. She attended language school in Costa Rica and became a children’s pastor there in 1954, serving 300 children three to four days per week.

Lucille spent most of her missionary years in Costa Rica and Panama, but also spent a short season in Nicaragua. During her time in Costa Rica, she distributed to the local people much-needed supplies and gifts, which were often sent by United Foursquare Women groups at U.S. Foursquare churches. She also worked to open a church in Escazu, Costa Rica.

Lucille’s brother, the late Roy H. Hicks Sr., went to be with the Lord in 2008.

Contributions can be made in honor of Lucille to the Global Missions Fund.