****South TX District Letter from DKB****

[chaotic_resolve]

Dear Ministers of South Texas:

We had a good General Conference in Tampa, Florida, with anointed, stirring preaching that called us to a higher level of consecration. On Thursday night, Bro. Kenneth Haney reminded us of our Apostolic identity and called for us to push for revival. He introduced a plan to double in a decade, called Global Impact, and he called for special prayer and fasting during January 2008. On Friday and Saturday nights, Bro. Jerry Dean and Bro. Mark Johnston urged us to have a burden for souls and to make the sacrifices necessary to see Apostolic revival. In the Foreign Missions service on Friday night, the Conference sent 16 missionary families back to the field without further deputational travel, saving many months of hard work and many thousands of dollars in expenses.

In the Holy Ghost crusade service on Sunday night, 587 received the Holy Ghost, including 18 who were watching the service on the Internet by streaming video. 92 were baptized in the service.

In the business sessions, our key leaders were reelected, including Bro. Haney as our general superintendent. The major change was in the Youth Division. Todd Gaddy did not allow his name to run for youth president because he will be starting a church in Baltimore. Shay Mann, the current youth secretary, was elected as the new youth president. Daryle Williams, youth president in Florida, was elected as the new youth secretary. Wayne Francis remains the youth promotional director. He was ordained only this year and so was not eligible for the other offices, which require ordination of a year or more.

By a majority of about 90%, the General Board approved the formation of a new district for Southern California. It will include Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas. Key factors in the decision were the distances involved, the cultural and ethnic diversity, the overwhelming support of the ministers in that area (76%), the support of many leaders in California, and the positive experience of the South Texas District. (Our district has grown by 36% in the number of churches and daughter works in 5 years, and we are on track to double in 10 years. Our Spanish Ministry and Black Evangelism Ministry have each doubled in the number of churches and daughter works. Our divisional offerings increased 37% in 4 years.)

Probably the most significant item of conference business was the resolution concerning TV advertising. By a vote of 52% to 48%, the Conference removed the prohibition against advertising or ministry on television. Some have expressed concern that this resolution could cause a split. While I expect a few ministers to leave as a result of this resolution and other factors, I believe it will be a small minority who in most cases have already been withholding their church's participation in meetings and financial support for quite some time. Most districts will not be affected significantly. I don't believe our district will suffer any loss as a result.

Others have expressed concern that this step could weaken our Apostolic identity. In this regard, let me urge you to read again the letter that I sent out before conference. In my opinion, the changes we are seeing are primarily due to ongoing changes in technology. Over the next few years, we will see the merging of Internet, streaming video, and traditional television, perhaps in unexpected and unpredicted ways, much like the recent advent of YouTube. Video technology has so permeated our society that the younger generation considers it to be just another feature of daily life and another tool of communication. Certainly, there is danger in using this technology, but this does not mean we should or will abandon our holiness identity. Whether a church uses TV as an outreach tool or not, it can and should continue to teach the same things we have always taught and practiced. Moreover, the resolution does not require that any church use TV if it senses there would be a danger in doing so.

If any pastors or churches are considering the use of television for evangelism, I would offer some words of advice:

1. No form of advertising or electronic ministry is a substitute for the hard work of preaching, teaching, intercessory prayer, personal evangelism, altar work, and discipleship.

2. We must not change the Apostolic doctrine or the lifestyle of holiness.

3. We need to uphold ministerial ethics. No church should advertise in a way that would disparage another UPCI church, solicit another UPCI church's members, or unnecessarily intrude upon another field of labor.

4. We do not need to follow charismatic examples of showmanship, ego, and greed that were predominant 30 years ago and that are prevalent even today. It is possible to be wise and appealing in a media presentation but still be true to our Pentecostal identity. In fact, we need to appeal to people on the basis of the life-changing work of the Spirit; otherwise, we just become another organization that has to use secular appeals to attract people. If we cannot be true to our Apostolic identity and message, then we do not need to use this medium.

Sincerely in Christ,
David K. Bernard, Superintendent
South Texas District

Link

Interesting. Especially the part about his thoughts that most people who are leaving haven't really been a part of the organization anyway.

His 4 points of advice on advertising are good also.