How many received the Holy Ghost 2011?

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

That's great, specially in light of the fact you are what most consider a one stepper church.

You'd think you'd see numbers like that in churches that tell folks they are gonna burn in hell if that don't speak in tongues.

I prayed in altars for years in the 3 stepper churches and only once in my life did I ever hear someone speak in tongues when they first came to the altar.

Now I did hear people get "thick tongued" after screaming Jesus, Jesus, Jesus and then hear someone shouting in their ear...that's it that's it...now you got it.

Oh.....and the only seeker I ever heard clearly speak in tongues.... was drunk in a bar the next day and did not come back to church.

We have more people get the Holy Ghost in our church than in a lot of traditional Pentecostal churches, because we tell them it's a gift to be received and everyone should want it. We don't tell them it's a heaven/hell issue, which tends to make people seek it frantically, in my opinion. They lose the whole focus.

[kclee4jc]

Originally Posted by Sherri

We have more people get the Holy Ghost in our church than in a lot of traditional Pentecostal churches, because we tell them it's a gift to be received and everyone should want it. We don't tell them it's a heaven/hell issue, which tends to make people seek it frantically, in my opinion. They lose the whole focus.

We believe in the neccessity of the Holy Ghost. However, we teach it as an awesome gift that completely changes one's life. We teach it as a part of salvation experience but more emphasis is placed on the greatness of the gift rather than the consequence of not receiving.

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

We believe in the neccessity of the Holy Ghost. However, we teach it as an awesome gift that completely changes one's life. We teach it as a part of salvation experience but more emphasis is placed on the greatness of the gift rather than the consequence of not receiving.

So you're saying you sneak in the back door with what you believe

[kclee4jc]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

So you're saying you sneak in the back door with what you believe

NO. We place more of an emphasis on the positive side of something than the negative. We don't avoid the negative side, just try to be positive in our approach. Which is what I have seen in most Apostolic churches.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

We believe in the necessity of the Holy Ghost. However, we teach it as an awesome gift that completely changes one's life. We teach it as a part of salvation experience but more emphasis is placed on the greatness of the gift rather than the consequence of not receiving.

That is the way that I have always been taught, and I endeavor to do the same. We tell them that there is absolutely nothing like it.

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

We live in a rural area and our average Sunday morning size is around 70.

We had about 8 receive the Holy Ghost. 7 of them are faithfully attending the church. A handful of backsliders coming back in, all of which are still attending. Had several others who had powerful experiences with God but are still in the valley of decision. I believe approximately 16 baptisms.

None filled last year, but we did baptize one. My Mom is teaching her Bible studies, and she is getting an ever increasing hunger for it. We know that it is a matter of time.

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

NO. We place more of an emphasis on the positive side of something than the negative. We don't avoid the negative side, just try to be positive in our approach. Which is what I have seen in most Apostolic churches.

Amen! That is the way that I have always heard it taught and preached. No trickery, but nevertheless always explained.

[commonsense]

Originally Posted by Sherri

We have more people get the Holy Ghost in our church than in a lot of traditional Pentecostal churches, because we tell them it's a gift to be received and everyone should want it. We don't tell them it's a heaven/hell issue, which tends to make people seek it frantically, in my opinion. They lose the whole focus.

You've stated it well!