That period Bro Flame decided to "go charismatic"

[Bro Flame]

Bro Benincasa, I apologize for the delayed response. We were off yesterday for MLK Jr. Day, and Sunday morning we got some snow here in South Georgia. I have to figure out how to reply without copy and pasting everything (and I haven't been back over to the help discussion I started here on AFF), so I'll just reply this way.

I've enjoyed our conversation, but neither of us are going to change our minds. You are firm that women are not to preach, while I am firm that they can. While two entirely different positions, I do believe we have both handled this discussion maturely, and for that, I do thank you.

I cannot imagine where I would be if it weren't for the Holy Ghost-filled women in my life. I want to share some stories with you before I sign off of AFF again for a little while.

My home church, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, located in a little community in South Georgia, was kept open by a Holy Ghost-filled woman. The church went through a trying time -- the membership dwindled due to backsliding, people dying or moving away, and then the pastor (a man, I must add for clarification) passed away. This elderly woman, the Mother of the Church, was left as the sole member. A pastor (again, another man) from another Apostolic church some thirty minutes away heard about all of this and came to the church and put a pad lock on the front door. He told this mother, "You need a man to lead you and you need to leave this church and come to mine." But she wasn't going to let the church she had labored in, saw her husband and children get saved in just close-up and cease to exist.

And I'm glad she didn't give up.

She had her backslidden son come cut the padlock off the front door, she put the lights in her name, and she kept the church clean and open. She went every Sunday, every Wednesday, right by herself. She sang songs to Lord, she read some scriptures, she prayed for the lost and for God to replenish the church she loved with souls full of the Holy Ghost and on fire for the Lord.

Today, I must say that little church is thriving. We have four new babies coming into the church this very year. We have elders, mid-age people, and lots of youth in the church. We're a church full of preachers and teachers. The Holy Ghost flows in our services -- we see healings, deliverance, salvation, restoration.

And it's all because of the faith of a little Holy Ghost-filled woman well on in her life.

I also want to brag on my wife and mother-in-law.

As you may have gathered from what I've shared or by reading in between the lines, I've had a rough life full of ups and downs. Which, to be fair, we all have our sad stories.

My mother-in-law is, without a doubt, the most humble person I've ever had the privilege to meet. She has given herself to God's work and she isn't above being used by Him in anyway He sees fit. I have seen her roll on the ground at tent revivals with people praying through to the Holy Ghost. I've seen her weep before God on the behalf of someone's soul. Specifically, I've seen her plead with God to change His mind and give my mother one more chance to be saved. She begged God, "Please God! This is Dalton's momma! Please God, one more time!" She's gotten up the altar, drenched in sweat, tired, and in pain from spending hours praying devils out of people possessed. She gives so effortlessly of herself. She has been a big inspiration to me, and she has helped me through some of the toughest times of my life -- when my grandparents died, when my dad has his strokes, when my momma attempted suicide, when my wife and I miscarried our babies. She has been a comfort, a guiding force in my walk with God. She has spoken things into my life, given me a sense of direction and assurance that I've so desperately needed on multiple occasions. I cannot tell you the times I've seen people do her dirty when she has done nothing -- and I mean NOTHING -- but good to them. She has swallowed hurt and still cried out to God on their behalf.

She is a living example of humility and Christianity.

My wife is another strong, driving force in my life. When we got together and especially when we got married, I was a wreck. I was full of depression after years of heartache and being dealt many of lives curve balls. My wife has prayed for me, been a shoulder for me, given me advice, and showed me what love really is supposed to be. She helped me overcome depression and reroute my life and seek after what God has for me to do. She has been my voice of reason, my confidant, my soulmate. She is everything God wants her to be, and she is everything I've ever wanted and could ever possibly need. She is a gifted musician (she can plan anything), she can sing, she writes her own songs, she preaches the house down, she loves our baby and dotes on her. She is a prime example of motherhood and wife-hood (if that's a word). She is anointed and full of the Holy Ghost. I am proud to say I have a Spirit-empowered wife who thrives in the gifts of the Spirit and allows the Spirit to use her as He sees fit to do so.

My mind also goes towards the women who have given their lives to the mission field. Sis Susan Templet has completely devoted herself to the work of God in Ecuador. She has given up the comfort of living in the States, has never married, has no children, but she is sold out to the Apostolic faith and has testimonies upon testimonies about how God has used her to preach, teach, and pull people out of the gutter and into God's church. Sis Janice Alvear (who sometimes posts here) has given herself to the work of God in Brazil, and has been there for decades. God called her when she was a young girl. Like Sis Templet, she has multiple testimonies of how God has used her to save the street children and lead people into God's grace and receive His salvation.

I cannot and will not stand against these women and how God has chosen to use them. It is by the power and guidance of the Holy Ghost that these women have accomplished what they have for the Kingdom of God. I applaud their obedience, humility, sacrifice, and determination to live and thrive for Jesus.

Again, Bro Benincasa, I want to thank you for your time, your questions, and your respect during our discussion.

God bless you and yours.