News Bulletin from the General Superintendent

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by scotty

Surely you didnt expect different ?

No, not really. Just find it kind of ironic. While most ex-UPCer's are respectful and kind, a few others just are apparently not free enough yet.

[staysharp]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

Sis Falla,

Here is a story I'd like to share with you. About 8 years ago there was an America on Fire meeting in Dallas at Reunion Arena. We live in the same area, and I'm assuming you also attended.

Anyway on the way into that meeting there was a homeless looking man with a 40oz in his hand sitting outside the arena I drove buy as I was in line for parking. I noticed that man and thought "If only that guy would come inside the arena"

Anyway, Bro. Mark Morgan preached one of the best messages I think I've ever heard. The alter call came, and the instructions were given for those who needed the Holy Ghost.

I watched as people began to pray for others, and of course was watching the big screen, since I was in the cheap seats. Not long after began the standard alter sequence, first someone is receiving the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues. Then another, then another, and here we go with the count. " 4, 5, 6, 14, 15,17.....27,28,29, God's doing amazing things, 35, 36,37..." the count continues with exortation it gets up into the 100's. One right after another "speaking in tongues" As this process is going on I noticed on the big screen the scraggely homeless man in the blue jacket is being prayed for, and to my great delight he is said to have received the Holy Ghost. Awesome, amazing, God's arm is not shortened that it cannot save. I leave the meeting with rejoicing at God's work, THIS is what the church of God should be doing reaching the lost.

Some time passes after greeting folks and fellowship, plus the traffic leaving the parking lot. And there much to my dismay and discouragement, on the side of the road, just like before is the homeless man, beer in hand. At the time I didn't understand how someone who recieved the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues could be so unaffected.


The same situation has been repeated by those closer to me at camp meeting and church services over the years, until I realize not all who are said to have the HG actually do.

that's because tongues is not the evidence of the holy ghost, but rather a sign. (these signs shall follow them that believe) anybody can replicate tongues. as a matter of fact, most major religions of the world have some form of glossolalia. the evidence of one being filled with the spirit of Christ is the fruit whereby one examples.

a sign is a marker which points to the reality of its existence.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by tstew

As someone who was actually there, let me make a few observations:

1. I am glad to see the type of evangelism service that we had on Sunday Night in any Apostolic organization. I am glad for the results.
2. There were thousands of unsaved people there as a result of a very exhaustive outreach effort on the part of many local churches (mine included)
3. The numbers do not seem out of line with what I observed.
4. We had people who attend our church receive the Holy Ghost for the first time in this service.
5. I fully believe that the impact of what took place in this service will be seen in the natural and spiritual realm in my city.

Feel free to crucify me for my observations

Thank you, Stew. Your observations are accurate. I was unable to attend, but my pastor and his wife were there. They said the whole place was made an altar and people were praying for each other all over the building. They confirmed what you said, "many unsaved people" were present. They witnessed a homeless person receive the Holy Ghost (no doubt the same scenario was happening all over the building). The Toyota Center was allowing them to stay overnight and so many homeless were in the building. One homeless man was shaking so hard. My pastor's wife said, "It's real!" He looked at her with huge eyes and said, "I know!" Awesome!

It was totally a beautiful and remarkable move of God! I give Him all the glory and praise!!!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by scotty

Surely you didnt expect different ?

Yes, and it's totally sickening.

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

Sis Falla,

Here is a story I'd like to share with you. About 8 years ago there was an America on Fire meeting in Dallas at Reunion Arena. We live in the same area, and I'm assuming you also attended.

Anyway on the way into that meeting there was a homeless looking man with a 40oz in his hand sitting outside the arena I drove buy as I was in line for parking. I noticed that man and thought "If only that guy would come inside the arena"

Anyway, Bro. Mark Morgan preached one of the best messages I think I've ever heard. The alter call came, and the instructions were given for those who needed the Holy Ghost.

I watched as people began to pray for others, and of course was watching the big screen, since I was in the cheap seats. Not long after began the standard alter sequence, first someone is receiving the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues. Then another, then another, and here we go with the count. " 4, 5, 6, 14, 15,17.....27,28,29, God's doing amazing things, 35, 36,37..." the count continues with exortation it gets up into the 100's. One right after another "speaking in tongues" As this process is going on I noticed on the big screen the scraggely homeless man in the blue jacket is being prayed for, and to my great delight he is said to have received the Holy Ghost. Awesome, amazing, God's arm is not shortened that it cannot save. I leave the meeting with rejoicing at God's work, THIS is what the church of God should be doing reaching the lost.

Some time passes after greeting folks and fellowship, plus the traffic leaving the parking lot. And there much to my dismay and discouragement, on the side of the road, just like before is the homeless man, beer in hand. At the time I didn't understand how someone who recieved the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues could be so unaffected.


The same situation has been repeated by those closer to me at camp meeting and church services over the years, until I realize not all who are said to have the HG actually do.

Jason, thanks for sharing this experience. I have much that I could share that reflects the same thing in which you saw with your own eyes.

These are "Thorns" in the side of Pentecost, and we don't like to discuss them. In fact, we ignore them while we continue with our falsified reports. An accurate approach to this would be to do a follow up on everyone who spoke with tongues, but don't count on that as the final numbers would discourage and totally debunk the initial report.

To be honest, our methods have turned into madness. It's become a numbers game, with money and people. We glorify the biggest giver and we praise the biggest Church, and this is madness. I hate to rain on this parade, but our claim of loving truth is overcome by the veil of hype.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Cindy

No, not really. Just find it kind of ironic. While most ex-UPCer's are respectful and kind, a few others just are apparently not free enough yet.

Yeah, in fact while they lament the UC cry of "oh they are just bitter"...they really do sound bitter and obsessive. I don't know that they are really just bitter but they sure sound spiteful and lack the same tolerance they decry the UCs for lacking. They claim "love" yet seem to be hating on the UPC a lot. Of course not all ex-UPCers are that way.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by NotforSale

Jason, thanks for sharing this experience. I have much that I could share that reflects the same thing in which you saw with your own eyes.

These are "Thorns" in the side of Pentecost, and we don't like to discuss them. In fact, we ignore them while we continue with our falsified reports. An accurate approach to this would be to do a follow up on everyone who spoke with tongues, but don't count on that as the final numbers would discourage and totally debunk the initial report.

To be honest, our methods have turned into madness. It's become a numbers game, with money and people. We glorify the biggest giver and we praise the biggest Church, and this is madness. I hate to rain on this parade, but our claim of loving truth is overcome by the veil of hype.

You know, I don't disagree with a lot of what you are saying here, I am dismayed with a lot of the hype as well. And I appreciate the spirit you are saying it in. I wish that it could be discussed with this level of civility always.

But I am having a huge issue with the Christianity I see coming from both sides of the issue, it is seriously flawed. The disgust and animosity I see from those still in the "boat" is mirrored by the disgust and animosity I see by those who have left the "boat." And neither side compels me to want any of it.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Falla39

News Bulletin from the General Superintendent
General Conference Report 2010

Part I



I would like to give you a preliminary report on General Conference. In a later e-mail I will report on the business of the conference. To order CDs and DVDs of the conference go to www.upcimedia.com.



Highlights (estimated or round numbers)

Total attendance: 17,500
Peak attendance (Sunday night): 13,000
Total baptized with the Holy Ghost: 3,600
Total views on Internet (English, Spanish, deaf): 86,000
Total countries with viewers: 111 (English), 28 (Spanish)
Other Information

Registrations: 11,361 (excludes children and complimentary passes for some volunteers)
Volunteers: 2,700
Baptized in water onsite: 135
Baptized with Holy Ghost in children's service: 94
Baptized with Holy Ghost on the street: 107
Baptized with Holy Ghost via Internet in English (reported by text): 356
Baptized with Holy Ghost via internet in Spanish (reported by e-mail): 30, in 11 countries Refilled with Holy Ghost: 1,000
People receiving the Holy Ghost included an Ethiopian van driver for our street workers, a Honduran worker in the ladies meeting, and a security guard Sunday night (also baptized).
Many healings. The daughter of a pastor in South Texas received healing of complete deafness in one ear caused by a lack of internal bones. She now uses that ear to listen to her cell phone.
Estimates

The attendance estimates were based on registrations, volunteer passes, and reports from building security and district leadership. Because of stringent control by building security, we were not able to conduct a full altar call at the front, so we turned the entire arena into an altar. When we asked for a show of hands of how many spoke in tongues for the first time, the crusade team on the platform estimated that 1,500 hands were raised on each side for a total of 3,000. When we asked how many were either filled or refilled after not speaking in tongues for a long time, there were an estimated 4,000 to 5,000. We had 600 trained altar workers stationed throughout the audience and approximately 1,000 ministers. In interviews, individual workers reported praying with 2-10 people who received the Holy Ghost and said many were filled instantaneously and simultaneously. The estimate of 3,000 filled is easily substantiated by 600 workers praying with 5 people each, not counting others filled.



Summary

Truly we experienced a reenactment of the Day of Pentecost, when "suddenly" the Holy Spirit fell on "about 120," and then a short time later "about 3,000" from many nations were added to that number. This conference was one of our greatest ever, and it is unprecedented in several ways:

The greatest outpouring of the Holy Ghost at one place and one time in the U.S.
The greatest number of attendees and viewers for a UPCI conference
The most countries reached by a UPCI conference
To all this we can say, "Praise the Lord" and "To God be the glory!"

Sincerely in Christ,

David K. Bernard

And they doubt the power of using modern media in propagating the Gospel???

[Aquila]

I do wish we'd focus more on the Kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of man.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

You know, I don't disagree with a lot of what you are saying here, I am dismayed with a lot of the hype as well. And I appreciate the spirit you are saying it in. I wish that it could be discussed with this level of civility always.

But I am having a huge issue with the Christianity I see coming from both sides of the issue, it is seriously flawed. The disgust and animosity I see from those still in the "boat" is mirrored by the disgust and animosity I see by those who have left the "boat." And neither side compels me to want any of it.

Right there with you!