How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?

Wait a minute!

Before you laugh, let me tell you that...

1. I have met some of my best friends on AFF. In other words, the relationships formed here have spilled over into my REAL life.

2. I have had my beliefs challenged and, yes, even strengthened because of AFF.

3. I have used snippets of posts from AFF in my sermons quite often.

People often laugh when the suggestion is made that AFF is influential.

I beg to differ. I think what we do matters. I think what we post matters.

I think there are literally thousands of people who read but never post here.

Do you disagree with me?

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Well...
because of AFF I met two of the most wonderful people I will ever know. My Pastor Eddie Cupples and his wife Sherri.
And now we live in Jackson TN, all because of AFF!

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Of course I disagree with you silly, that's one of the great things about AFF.
You're so :crazy

:tease :tease :tease :tease

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Let's analyze ourselves.

Is AFF a theology site or a social network?

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Admit it, you love it here!:roseglasses

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

It's not 'or' it's 'and' and the answer is yes.

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Have you made any "real-life" friends here?

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

It's a social network. With a little bit of theology thrown in.
I do know a couple of people, but didn't meet them here.
I have talked to one on the phone a few times, and am hoping to meet that person soon face to face.

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

That's awesome.

I've met three friends that I talk to very regularly - one almost every day.

I've met two others who have either preached for me or I have preached for them. I hope to add to that number soon.

When our church got hit by a storm people from AFF called and sent money. Those acts of kindness meant the world to me.

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

I will say some on AFF make me very happy to see them post. And think I would enjoy spending time with them.:)

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Maybe.......Why do you want to know? :ursofunny :ursofunny :ursofunny :ursofunny :ursofunny :ursofunny

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Truthfully I joined what was then FaithChildForum at a very low point in my life & ministry...now blossoming into ApostolicFriendsForum I am still very blessed and have made some friends for life that have been a great and positive influence not only personally but also in ministry helping me to grow...

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

That's a very good question. Next question. :D

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Sherri, Rhenda, Tamor, Raven...

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

I have been blessed by the AFF. I have met several people here and through the forum we have become good friends.

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Maybe you need to rephrase the question:

How Has AFF Infected Your Life? :tease

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Oh yes! I have met a couple dozen who post here and I have always enjoyed doing so. Many of those I count as friends today and the rest I am still friendly with.


I should be taking more time in this post... but in short, AFF has helped me define and refine my beliefs.

I have recieved cards, blessings & letters, and my children have even recieved presents from members here.

They have prayed for me and I for them.

Also, AFF has sort of allowed me to validate myself as a Oneness Pentecostal Christian. I have learned that it's OK to disagree - One can do so and still fully support the overall mission/comission of the church.

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

I think this is one thing I didn't expect--but was pleasantly surprised.

I've had to look things up, and sometimes, I find that I'm wrong. Iron sharpeneth iron.

Can't say that I've done this, but AFF sure is mentioned a lot at the dinner table. :)

I agree. I think one of the biggest things that AFF has done for me is helped me to be more tolerant of beliefs that are different than mine, from the standpoint that "We disagree, but you are still my brother or sister in Christ." (And mean it.)

Plus, I've met people who knew my parents, or my sisters, or my brother, and have shared history with me that I didn't even know about. That's pretty cool. :coffee2

Overall: Mostly a positive experience. :)

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

I have made some great friends through FCF/NFCF/AFF, as it has evolved through the past few years. I have had the pleasure of meeting/eating with many of them. I have reconnected with people from my past that I had kind of lost contact with. I've had several people from here stop through my town and visit our church or come to my home. And then Darcie came to stay!!! And Renda became one of our saints! I have some other forum members who visit our church igcognito, from time to time, but I won't reveal them.

I have argued and studied many issues on here. I have become stronger on some things and I have learned to be more tolerant of those who disagree with me on others. I hope God has taught me to be move loving to everyone through this experience.

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Tell the truth, y'all sprinkled some hocus pocus powder in the food when they came to eat, didn'tcha? Come on, confession is good for the soul. Y'all used that magic come here and don't leave dust on them, right? :evilglee

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Well, you caught me. I can't get away with anything anymore.:tease

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

I'm glad they did. We are happy and blessed:)

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

I'm glad you found yourself a nice place to do what you are called to do. Not everyone is as fortunate. Personally, I can't wait to get outta this one horse town, but that's a whole 'nuther story. :)

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Well, come on down! We've got room for one more AFF'er.:evilglee

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

FCF/NFCF/AFF has afforded me opportunity to get back in contact with old friends from JCM and make MANY new friends!!!!

I love having cyber friends!

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

So you are saying that AFF is a ministry to the elderly and "shut in"?:tease

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Well, I've really enjoyed it for the most part. I've met some really nice people here, even though I disagree with most. Also, when I read many of the legalistic arguments on here, it makes me thankful that I'm no longer affiliated with the UPCI. :crazy Did I say that??? lol

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

StMark is slipping. This news of Renetha should have been a





:D

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Thankfully, I have my magic dust repeller hat on today. :D

Seriously, though, I have you guys on my list of churches I'd like to come visit eventually. The home group we started has visiting other churches as part of the things we'd like to do, once finances make it possible. Right now we are all fighting to keep our heads above water, (pretty much like everyone else), but the wife and I would like to set money aside just for visiting other churches. We're very excited about doing this home meeting thing, but we still want to be able to come experience the traditional type of church service too. There's a sister from this board, who shall remain nameless, that has invited us to her church. Her church is first on our list of churches to visit. She's only a couple of hours away from here, so we can swing that on a Sunday and still make it home at a decent enough hour.

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

I found that you Merican's are patient with this Canuck!:D

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

I would recommend that you add the Promiseland Church in Austin, Texas to your list to visit around Christmas time. When I was there during this last Christmas Holiday season I thought of you and had a good chuckle since I counted 15 Christmas trees on the platform and around the building.

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

I kinda like that aspect of posting on here too. There have been times when posting on these boards has been my only connection to anything resembling church, so it's helped me some in my walk. Recently, I have made a decision to be a little more careful about who I consider a brother or sister in the Lord, though. I know it sounds harsh, but there are some things I will never accept as being things God accepts, so I have to draw lines somewhere in the sand. There's a scripture I came across a few days ago that's been on mind quite a bit.


Romans 15:7 (KJV)
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.


That word "received" means to accept. So, I am using that as a new standard for my posting life. If I believe God has accepted someone, then I too will accept them. If I feel like God hasn't accepted someone, then neither will I accept them. The tricky part is going to be in deciding whether God has accepted someone or not. :)

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Hehehehe! Good thing I am too far away from Austin. Walkin into a church with a chain saw in hand, ready to cut down them Christmas trees, could get a feller shot in Texas! Hmmmmmm. I wonder if that would make me a martyr for the cause. :lol

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

My blood pressure has always been to low and AFF has raised it.

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Heheheheheeeeee! Brother Epley, you ain't right!!! :lol

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

:ursofunny:ursofunny

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

Thinking...

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

It hasn't made you do that.:whistle

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

You got a very valid point there. :ursofunny

Re: How Has AFF Impacted Your Life?
 

It's impacted my time mostly. I'm a lot better now as
far as managing it with the forum though.


I've gained some friends from FCF and later
lost a few of those friends


The forums have made me think a little harder
about my belief system and brush up scripture
on a few subjects.

there are some doctrines I had never heard before
coming to the forum. PCI for instance. Seriously, I thought
EVERYONE that called themselves "APOSTOLIC" was
Acts 2:28 til I came here