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Assembly of God News
AG NEWS #1581: August 20, 2008

** The "unknown" Assemblies of God fellowships Unknown to many, the Assemblies of God includes 19 Ethnic/Language Fellowships, which are growing and becoming a significant part of church growth in the Assemblies of God. "AG News" to offer stories on the fellowships in the upcoming weeks. More information about Intercultural Ministries found at http://Intercultural.ag.org. ** Frontiersman rendezvous signaled a success More than 800 Royal Rangers Frontiersman Camping Fellowship (FCF) members gathered for a week of fun competition, skill learning and spiritual development during National Rendezvous held in July at Camp Eagle Rock in Missouri. More information and photos found at http://RoyalRangers.ag.org/rendezvous. ** Free subscriptions offered "Today's Pentecostal Evangel" Web site drawing now offers opportunity to win free six-month subscription to the magazine. See http://tpe.ag.or and click on Weekly Drawing. ----------------------------------------------------------------- . . . it's been coming for years! For many, divorce seems inevitable. You see it coming and you stand there, believing there's just no way to avoid it. Yes, it'll hurt, but it's better than what you're living through now. Don't be a victim! Take charge and make a change now through Marriage Restored it will change your definition of "impossible!" Upcoming events: Lafayette, Indiana, August 29-31; Columbus, Ohio, September 5-7; St. Louis, Missouri, September 26-28. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ** THE "UNKNOWN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD FELLOWSHIPS At first blush, stating that the Assemblies of God is "unknown" in the United States, especially in the 21st Century, doesn't seem to be an overly accurate statement. Often times, even in secular news media, the Assemblies of God is now recognized as a significant denomination with community involvement and missions efforts a hallmark of the church. In addition, the national headquarters of the Assemblies of God includes AG World Missions and AG U.S. Missions. Within these two areas are thousands of missionaries who are sharing the gospel with a wide variety of people groups throughout the United States and around the world. However, within the Assemblies of God there are ever-increasing, vibrant and organized groups of churches that few AG pastors or laypeople are aware of, much less anyone outside of the Assemblies of God. The groups? AG Ethnic/Language Fellowships. Currently the Assemblies of God has nearly 20 officially recognized Ethnic/Language Fellowships in its membership. However, names such as Samuel Asiedu, Sai S. Lee, Michel Beaudouin, K.P. Titus, Moses Cao, Isikeli Tuirabe, Talosaga Vanilau, Filimone Mau or Felix Halpern the presidents of some of the fellowships don't even register for most. Is not being "in the know," a problem? According to Intercultural Ministries Director Scott Temple, the problem is huge as opportunities to share Christ and expand God¹s kingdom are missed over and over again. "A Vietnamese immigrant, for example, enters your church doors or you meet him during an outreach what does your church have to offer that would help him feel comfortable in your church?" asks Temple rhetorically. "However, if you knew we had a Vietnamese Fellowship, suddenly barriers for that person could be removed." Temple explains that when immigrants enter the United States and become U.S. citizens, it doesn't mean that suddenly their heritage, including language and culture, disappear. "They, like anyone else, seek out what is known and familiar," he says, "that's why AG fellowships are so vital and are becoming a significant part of AG church growth. They provide the opportunity to worship Christ in a familiar language with people of similar cultural background." Temple explains that the Ethnic/Language Fellowships are not in competition with geographic districts, but instead work in cooperation to expand the effectiveness of reaching otherwise unreached people groups. "In the Assemblies of God, we know that establishing indigenous churches [churches pastored by nationals] overseas results in success," Temple says. "It's no different in the U.S. Our Ethnic/Language Fellowships are led by people who are 'indigenous' to a certain people group they intimately understand the cultural needs, activities and practices of those groups. And as a fellowship, they are given a vote and a voice in our General Presbytery to help communicate their practices and needs." But why are the Ethnic/Language Fellowships so "unknown" even within the Assemblies of God? "The barriers of language and culture can make it difficult for bridges to be built," Temple explains. "Yet, over the last few years, as we've focused on building those bridges at the leadership levels, we've cleared away confusion and have come to experience a level of trust and cooperation that simply wasn't possible in the past." According to Temple, one of the best ways for churches to get to know and better understand an Ethnic/Language Fellowship is to share facilities. "Many of these growing churches do not yet have the funds to purchase their own facilities," Temple says. "What a blessing it would be for them to have a church 'home' that they could use, for example, on Tuesday and Saturday evenings." The Executive Presbytery backs up Temple's statement as they recently approved AG Total Giving Credit to churches that make their facilities available rent-free to AG U.S. Missions-endorsed ministries (which includes churches of the Ethnic/Language Fellowships) or district-approved ministries. The credit can amount up to $156,000 a year, depending on the size of the church and the number of times the facilities are used. For more information about this opportunity, contact Fred Gore, the assistant administrator of the Division of the Treasury, at fgore@ag.org. "The Executive Presbytery and I strongly believe in supporting our fellowships in this way," said AG General Superintendent George Wood. "Overcoming the huge burden facilities can place on a newly started or financially challenged fellowship church can make the difference between success and failure. And when souls are at stake, we should do all we can to keep failure from being an option for our co-laborers in Christ." In the upcoming weeks, "AG News" will be featuring articles on the 19 AG Ethnic/Language Fellowships, introducing the presidents, providing contact information and providing a glimpse into these vital ministries, which include African, Fijian, Native American, Arabic, Vietnamese, India, Filipino-American, Romanian, Black, Haitian, Samoan, Chinese, Hmong, Slavic, Southern Asia, Deaf Culture, Indonesian, U.S. Tongan and Jewish fellowships. --Dan Van Veen ----------------------------------------------------------------- ** FRONTIERSMAN RENDEZVOUS SIGNALED A SUCCESS The National Rendezvous for the Royal Rangers Frontiersman Camping Fellowship (FCF) held at Camp Eagle Rock (Missouri) this past July 13-18, was deemed a "great success" by National Royal Rangers Commander Doug Marsh. More than 800 FCF members representing nearly every AG district, supported by nearly 100 volunteers, gathered for the weeklong event, which focused on frontiersmen skills and spiritual development. Some of the activities boys participated in included black powder shooting, knife and hawk throwing, longbow shooting, flint-n-steel, stump preaching, outfit judging and a Seneca run. Demonstrations included blacksmithing, knife making, bow making, flint napping, arrow making, beading, Dutch oven cooking, hat making and many other frontiersmen skills. Pastor Wayne Clark of First Assembly of God in San Antonio, Texas, was the featured evening speaker for the event, inspiring and challenging FCF members to greater devotion to God. According to John Hicks, Royal Rangers national Communications and Administrative coordinator, FCF membership is open to boys age 11 and above and to all adult male leaders who complete the requirements. "FCF utilizes the imagery and lore of the early frontiersmen to teach outdoor skills as well as develop Christ-like character in boys," Hicks explains. "FCF also provides excellent opportunities for boys and men, fathers and sons, to spend time . . . strengthening the bonds of friendship that form the basis for the mentoring process." "The challenging events and competitions planned by men especially for boys are ideal activities around which relationships and memories are built," states Marsh. "These activities also settle and prepare young men to receive what God has in store for them during the dynamic evening services services designed to help shape their identities as godly men." For more information about FCF or to view a photo gallery, see the Rendezvous Web page at http://RoyalRangers.ag.org/rendezvous. --AG News ----------------------------------------------------------------- ** FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS OFFERED Beginning in August, the "Today's Pentecostal Evangel" Web site drawing started to offer complimentary six-month print subscriptions to the magazine. Since it began in March 2006, the contest has primarily offered books from Gospel Publishing House, Pentecostal Evangel Books and Onward Books. Approximately 120 books were awarded during the past 29 months. Now, more readers will have the opportunity to receive a gift subscription to the "Evangel." Winners who already have an individual subscription may either extend their subscription by six months or designate their award to a family member or friend. Through early June, winners of the weekly drawing represented 39 states along with Canada, the Philippines and United Kingdom. The contest has drawn thousands of entries from across the United States and from 27 other nations. To enter this week's contest, or for more information, visit the "Evangel's" Web site at http://www.tpe.ag.org and click on the Weekly Drawing button. --Today's Pentecostal Evangel

8/29/2008 4:28:47 PM