Overseer's Insight: July 2011

Dear Saints:

Youth Camps

This last weekend, we finished up our Youth Camps.  Senior Camp was fabulous.  Senior Director, Shelly Symonds reports that were 10 saved, 20 sanctified, 7 Baptized in the Holy Spirit, and 9  that were Water Baptized.  Thank the Lord for these experiences!  Sister Palma Hutchinson was the Camp Evangelist.  She along with teachers Rob Judd and Shelly Symonds really ministered to the hearts of our young people.  The Yaker’s Camp had great classes with Sister Ruth Turner and Brother Rick Bear.  Brother Smith spoke in the evening services regarding the tactics of the enemy and the importance of keeping our vessels unspotted from the world.  He spoke on many issues that are facing our young people today.  Brother Bill and Sister Cindy Davison did a great job putting this camp together.  Junior Camp was also a blessing.  Sister Shuree was the Camp Speaker.  She did an excellent job relating to the kids.  Each evening several of the young campers were touched in a special way as they sought to draw closer to the Lord.  Brother Robert Allen and Sister Pam Murkerson, along with their staff were used of the Lord to minister to the juniors.  Our last Camp, directed by Ramon and Icela Maldonado was the PeeWee Camp.  Their were 28 PeeWee Campers registered.  They had activities going from sun up to sun down.  Again, all the staff did a superb job.  Our appreciation goes out to our cooking staff, headed  up by Sister Kaye Cabales.  They work hard in kitchen, making sure that our campers and staff are well nourished.  Our Camp Coordinators, Bob and Donella Gaines, are to be congratulated for another blessed Camping Season.  Thank you Brother Bob and Sister Donella for your dedication in the Camping Ministry.  Only heaven will record all the lives that were touched in Camp. 

Washington State Convention
Before long State Convention will be here, so please make sure that you have your rooms reserved! This year, Convention will be held at the Red Lion in Kennewick, Columbia Center. It will be on August 19-21, 2011.  Dr. Hector Ortiz, International Director, Center for Biblical Leadership, will be our special guest speaker from the International Offices.  Dr. Alvin Padilla, Dean of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, will also be with us during our Graduation Ceremony for those graduating from the Diploma Program!

Please make plans now to attend a glorious and spirit-packed Convention. I would encourage you and those in your church to call the Red Lion and make reservations as soon as possible, to be assured of a room.   Remember, last year, the rooms went fast.  Also, the cut-off date for rooms being held by the motel is July 19^th.  When you call the Red Lion (509-783-0611), please tell them that you are with the Church of God of Prophecy to get the special group rate.

 Events Calendar for 2011

       

July 8-10                     Alaska State Convention -  Anchorage

                                                                                                                                   

August 19-21              Washington State Convention - Kennewick

Sept. 22-25                  Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Boise, ID

                                    (Introduction to Pentecostalism - Dr. Hector Ortiz)

Oct. 27-30                   Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary - Kirkland Family Church

                                    (Church & Community - Dr. Eliana Runyon)

“Seek Ye The Peace Of The City”

Bishop/Dr. Don Knoblich

In a World Saved by Grace...

July! Independence Day! It’s the month we celebrate our freedom.

 

Most of us revel in that freedom and are aware of it; we thank God daily that we live in a land of such liberty.  However there are some who see life as endless daily repetition and find that daily grind disheartening.

I once heard a man break down his work day this way; “After taxes, my first 4 hours at work each day is to pay the mortgage payment, then we have lunch, the next hours is to pay for the car that is no longer worth what I still owe on it, forty five minutes for credit card payments, a half hour for that new furniture we just had to get before the Holidays two years ago, then I get a coffee break.  After break I work the rest of the day to pay for power and water and to buy groceries and gas to get us through until next week.    “Vacation”?  Unless we camp in the backyard or the “Master” MasterCard says we have available credit there is no vacation in my future.

“The borrower is slave to the lender.”

In a world saved by Grace, in the land of the free, this man has bound himself financially and lives as though he has been taken captive and enslaved by a merciless enemy.

It’s unfortunate that many in our society have bought into the “short road to the good life” only to find they’re enmeshed in growing debt.  The road out is available; however, one must choose to change direction.

Do you know someone who needs freedom from financial enslavement? Scripture is rich in examples of people being set free. Here are steps to claiming and walking in financial freedom.

1. Seek God’s wisdom.

1 While Jeremiah was still locked up in jail, a second Message from God was given to him: 2 "This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God:

3 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'

Jer 33:1-3 The Message

 

When the Lord is asked to be a part of our plan He promises results that we cannot fathom.  Look forward to being a living testimony of God’s awesome intervention.

2. Get up, get a plan, get going, and get free!

Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.

Isaiah 52:2 NIV

Be committed to reclaiming your freedom!  There are several very effective debt elimination programs available on line and in the library.  DaveRamsey.com and Crown.org both offer a wealth of information on how to get free from debt and testimonials to encourage those just beginning.  Most of their forms are free to copy and print.

3. Do it with intensity! Do it now!  Work at it as though your life depends on being free; it does!

1 Dear friend, if you've gone into hock with your neighbor or locked yourself into a deal with a stranger, 2 If you've impulsively promised the shirt off your back and now find yourself shivering out in the cold, 3 Friend, don't waste a minute, get yourself out of that mess. You're in that man’s (that bank, car dealership, furniture store, Credit Card Company) clutches!  4 Don't procrastinate - there's no time to lose. (4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. NIV) 5 Run like a deer from the hunter, fly like a bird from the trapper!

Proverbs 6 1-5 The Message

Get the message?  It’s pretty clear that getting out of debt should be a priority and a main focus until it is no longer an issue in our lives.

Do it now!  Do it with intensity! Work at it as though you are the only one who can make this happen in your life; you are!