From the Desk of the Presider - February 2002

Apostolic greetings to the household of faith, whose confidence and assurance is in the absoluteness of God and the soon coming of Jesus Christ our Lord.  

As we have entered into a new millennium, a new century and a new decade, transitions, adjustments and transformations should be expected. However, there lies a great danger in confusing cultural traditions with Apostolic transitions. It is of necessity that we examine "change." There are changes in governmental policies; there are changes in church polity; there are changes in dress and cultural changes, but not Apostolic changes.

 Be it well assured that the Apostolic foundation never changes. Upon the truth of the Word of God, we are to establish a structure in which the will of God is accommodated in the times of men; however, the foundation never  changes. When I speak of Apostolic foundations, I speak of the holiness of God. The holiness of God and the standard upon human life must be lived without wavering.

 The other day there appeared an article in The Christian Outlook entitled, "God, Homosexuality, and His Child," which gave me both concern and prompted my Apostolic heart to respond immediately to our editors. Though I am not suggesting that the writer of the article meant any ill by her persuasion of tolerance and love for people with alternate lifestyles, I am condemning that position being published in The Christian Outlook. Please understand that The Christian Outlook articles do not come across the Presiding Bishop's desk for censoring. I see the articles at the same time all other readers do and have allowed The Christian Outlook to function as it has in prior years by the editor and the board they have established. Since the appearance of that article, I immediately contacted the editor and issued a strong

reprimand and edict that no such article that does not reflect the Apostolic foundations are to have voice in The Christian Outlook.

     The Apostolic position espoused by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. and that of your Presiding Bishop on an alternative lifestyle so described within that article is a sin. A great distinction must be made with loving sinners and hating the practice of sinning. While we offer in love the blood of Jesus for all who have sinned, we do not tolerate nor agree in any form with the position that any sinful practice should be tolerated in the Apostolic church. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, God has condemned both the lifestyle and the practice of homosexuality and calls all men and women to repentance. While one would agree that all sins are sin, we would take the position that no sin creating a lifestyle and receiving a label of "alternative lifestyle" can be tolerated within the Body of Christ when they stand against the will of God.

I am certain that we will never agree upon all issues, methods, and messages in the Body of Christ; however, we must agree that the Apostolic foundation stands assured and its base is the holiness of God and the declarative mind of God. It was my desire to set forth in print the vision of the Apostolic church as seen through the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., and that of your Presiding Bishop. It is further my desire that we will not allow opinions of others to be declared to be the position of our organization.

     I admonish you as the Apostle John, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." [John 15:12] We have arrived at the most important time in history. It is the hour of the Apostolics. Let us not lose focus. The Apostolic position is based upon a triad manifestation of  "the mind of  God"  namely:

1. There is but one God and that one God was manifest as Father in creation, as Son in redemption and as the Holy Ghost as the energizer of every member of the Body of Christ.

2. The supremacy of Jesus' Name. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." [Acts 4:12].

3. The New Birth must constitute water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the infilling of the Holy Ghost initially evidenced by speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.

We firmly believe that our time should not be spent arguing with each other, but rather, living and then preaching a holy lifestyle in accordance with the Scriptures. This, my brothers and sisters, is the Apostolic foundation.

     In this administration of  your Presiding Bishop, we must continue to set forth the principle and the practice of  "empowering our members with Apostolic authority in order that they may become the totality of their dreams given to them by God." I strongly urge and suggest that we consider the 3 R's:   

1  Restoration of the Apostolic priesthood.

 2. Revival of the principles and practices of the original Apostolic church.

3. Redemption presented and told to the entire world of worldwide Apostolic revival.

...and this we will do if God permits.