— as a : essenger NOVEMBER — 1967 Know Christ, have fellowship with Him and make Him known ISSUE 11 Come, le Thankful People e ce, ye thank : : 1 nr ewe Gets beand eae ured he ess "gor the Lord owt i Se Ted gaey oe And shall take His “har -vest Georcr Enver E Bs God shall come’ ‘wut un-to His penne Tes To Thy fi-nal har ged: th -e1 > sgngat-andtares te “eth - er mae ces the win-ter atte ‘% From His field shall in that day” to joy or sor-row grow AL pee | ost Go GRENIEM O tefi a FE to) aS 3 NES Zh Ce = EZ joa out Maker doth Pro -va . Sr ce Uaboed en theta sve His an-gels charge at cee pu - cy - the fire the tares to costs ae Ourwants to be sup-pl ten the ear, Then. the full corm shall ap - peat: Thy pres-ence to} a - pide SSS the song df har weston -some grain and pure may ¥° His gar-ner ev- er ise the lo. -vescpons os eee 24)We All Thank The Lord TULARE — It was with thanksgiving and praise to God that many visitors trom our West coast churches and from Mansfield gathered with us for two very special events on Labor Day weekend. It was at this time that dedication services were held in our new church and baptismal. ser- vices for Renee Popp. Elder Bros. John Popp and John Swinford were with us at this joyous occasion, We were reminded that it is important that we have a place that {set aside for snd dedicated to the use of the Lord's service bat it is of greater importance that we dedicate our lives to the furtherance and service of the Lord's work. As we wit- nessed the baptism, many hearts felt renewed in that fist love that we experienced when we first gave our own lives into His care and service and we prayed that many others also present might hear and fecl the call of the Master more clearly than ever before. We can only say that what has happened in Tulare on this weekend is the result of the goodness and grace of God and is the answer to countless prayers that have ascended to His throne over the years. May He reward ichly all who have yielded to His call to help us build this house of worship. To Him belong all praise and thanks- siving. ‘Renee Popp testified how God wrought His work in her life, She heard His eall at Western Camp in Colorado, but ‘upon returning to school let things ride. When her grand- mother (Sis. Mary Kinkel) died, Renee felt a need to really Dray concerning the lost condition within her heart, TL was then the Lord granted her His peace. PEORIA — We wore richly blessed by the Lord as ‘we heard the testimonies of Emma Thompson and David Cortes on Oci. 14. Baptismal services were held Sunday morning, Oet. 15. Emma testified: “T had known for a Jong time that 1 was a terrible sinner and needed the Lord. Many years ago when T'was first married, my husband and T lived out of town, T promised the Lord that if He would open the way for me to return to Peoria I would serve Him. He did open the way for us to return but it took me many years to keep my promise. I went to Mid-Western Camp hoping that somehow I would be more able to surrender myself. Finally on Thursday I decided that I had to give myself to the Lord that day. The day was almost over and I realized {at T stil didn't follow through. Everyone in our exbin had already retired except my brother Ralph (Ackerman), who was still studying. Finally just before midnight T arose and went to talk to him I am so happy that the Lord is 20 good to me and gave me this chance to come to Him.” avid said, “Tam a college student and in “my wisdom” 1 had to have things proved to me. I did mot believe the Bible and its teachings about the Lord. To me Christianity was relative, It all depended on what you believed. Finally at camp I talked to several brothers and now am convinced ‘that education does not hold the answer. You can talk all day and when it is over you have gone sround tn circles. When we believe in the Lord we have all the ans- were and by His grace we are able to live for Him. T am bo happy that He gave me the grace to repent and gives me the power to overcome my sins. Our growth in Christ is moment by moment, hour by hour, and day by day affair in which we continually need to depend on Him for strength to live the Christian life” FICO RIVERA — “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, PAGE 2 ‘and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts. 2:38) ‘What a precious and holy time of rejoicing our congrega- tion experienced when three beloved soul:, Rozanne Sailer, ‘and Margaret and Howard Schultz, having borne fruits of re- pentance, were baptized through the grace of God and re- uw ‘ceived into His fold! Elder Brothers John Swinford and Steve Burear performed the serviee, serving also holy com- ‘munion after the baptism on this memorable day. Also pre- sent for the joyous occasion were Sis. Helen Burcar from Portland and Sis. Sue Miller from Cleveland. Truly it was a blessed day at Pico Rivera! RICHMOND — We all rejoiced with three souls who were beptized with water and the Spirit on October 15. Exder Brothers ‘Tony Betz and Andy Kozy officiated. Bill Greene testified that even when he went to Sunday School he knew that he wanted to be happy as those Christians he ‘saw around him, In 1968 Bill attended camp and during that week he heard one Brother in the Faith say that one day the newspaper headlines Would rexd “Chr ‘Thou sands Missing!” Bill said that he did not want to be arial the great number of people left in this earth to read those headlines. After a struggle with Satan, Bill yielded his life ‘to Christ and started on the road of repentance, He found that only through one hundred percent submission to God's Will could he receive wonderful Peace. Jimmy Hodges always felt that one day he must give hhis life to God. The devil and his own self will held him back from taking this step toward God. He felt as if he ‘were on a “fencepost”. Satan was calling him one way and the Lord was calling him the other way. He lived a life of rejection until last spring when Bill was announced to have received peace, Jimmy again felt the Call of the Lord and he was just so thankful that the Lord called him again. He feels true happiness in his heart because the Lord has ans- (Qy wered his prayers and has given him the Grace to receive His peace. Evelyn Greene testified that she was brought up in a different faith and was baptized at the age of twelve. Evelyn believed as her church taught: “Once saved; always saved.” ‘A few years ago she and her family moved and they were ‘too far away from her church to attend services. She decided ‘that her family would start coming to our church because it ‘wes close to thelr home. The first Sunday she sent her chil- dren alone to attend church, Evelyn felt that she did not want to leave her original faith but she did attend our church every once in a while on Sunday nights. One day hher son, Bill, asked her why she did not become an Apostolic Christian so that she too could-have'the Love of Jesus over- flowing in her heart. She prayed and asked God for His gui- dance. That Sunday the sermon was directed toward Evelyn she felt, and she knew she must give her all to Christ to be truly saved. Evelyn expcrienced the power of God ‘through the power of prayer. Through her experiences she ‘knows that God will help her through all the trials she will have on this earth. UNION CITY, N.J. — September 24 was an occasion of great rejoicing as we witnessed the proving and baptism of four souls. Betty Haag, of the Connecticut congregation, told us she was often troubled about going to hell. She knew she ‘was a sinner and without God's grace she was lost forever. ‘After much prayer, God showed her the things she must ‘confess. Although there were no great sins in her life, Betty realized that all sins, whether great or small must be con- yy fessed, for there can be nothing to separate us from God. ‘The Lord took away her sins so that she could feel real Continued on next page CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP MESSENGERWe All Thank The Lord Continued trom Page 2 i peace, When Satan came with doubis the’Lord gave His ‘marvelous assurance by opening His Word to Betty: “Peace 1 leave wun you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world sveu, give T unto you.” Sanara Gruneis, also of Connecticut, wanted 10 be like her converted frie.ds but decided that rather than be hypocrite she would turn completely from God, but the ‘Lod was not satisfied that she should go astray. He called her aguin and continued to watch over her even though she had put the Bib.e aside snd was busily involved in her school work, When Sandra finally yielded herself to Him completely He showed her where she had to make restitu- tion, and then granted her the peace that passeth all under- standing. "Two souls, Viora Jacob and George Stephan, also were baptized after’ giving their testimonies ip the “Rumanian language. They both have just recently come to this country trom Europe with their families. They expressed «sincere desire 10 be admitted into the fold of the Lord and rejoiced sreatly to have received His wonderful peace. It is now our prayer that Bro, George's wife and Sis. Viora's husband may also find the Lord. We counted it a privilege to partake of the Lord's supper following the baptismal services, and were happy to have with us visitors from Alpha and Wharton, NJ, Barberton, Wash. D.C, Syracuse, Windsor and Kitchener. TORONTO — “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, 0 my soul.” Psalm 108:20-22. Tn thankfulness we raise our hearts to God for the won- erful grace of Jesus Christ in so patiently waiting for the lost to return to Him. He never ceases to call, to wait, but ‘we must open our hearts unto Him, Present for this joyous occasion were Elder Brothers Gaius and Philip Braun, Christ- jan Ritzmann, Steve Azlen and George Freund, also guests from Windsor, Kitchener, Cleveland and Union City, N.J. ‘Willy Reinhardt testified: “I was raised in a God-fearing home, hid a knowledge of the way of God, believed in God and attended church regularly with my family. Then the war broke out and I was separated from my loved ones and established residence ina city where there was not one of our churches. Tthen began to become a partaker of the things of the world and indulged in nearly everything T could. T was called into the army, accepting the weapon. At this time 1 hhad lost all the faith T ever had and no longer believed in God. I came to Canada snd again began to attend church, the first time in a long time, but it had no meaning for me. When my children grew older and began asking me ques- tions about God, it made me feel inferior, for how could 1 teach my children the ways of God when I myself was not right with Him? Through much fervent, prayer and finally ylelding myself to Him I could by His grace re- pent and be cleansed by Jesus Chris's blood and become @ newbom creature through the indwelling power of the Holy Ghost. My heart overflows in thankfulness to the Lord and my heart shall His praises continually employ.” ‘Sigrid Reinhardt sald: “I have attended church all my te lite; I knew my parents were praying for me. My mother ‘passed away and I knew if there was ever to be a reunion, T would have to repent. I was not in the world, neither was I a child of God. I felt ashamed even to go to church NOVEMBER — 1967 because I realized I was making no progress. Recently there ‘was baptism ia Toronto and I felt the Spirit of God speaking to me, That afternoon I felt just miserable and cried and prayed. I eried so much that I just couldn't pray anymore, and began to think that all was in vain, Then there was baptism in Kitchener. Again I felt miserable. So long I have been going to church and still have not attained my goal. It seemed everybody was entering but myself. I thought someday everyone would be entering the kingdom of heaven but me, One day my husband told me he had received. the peace of God. I was shocked and ashamed that I had given up so quickly. My struggle was long and hard. 1 prayed much and cried often, One night I woke feeling very de- pressed. I rose and prayed fervently. In the moming when T arose, I felt no better. I told my husband and we prayed together. He suggested 1 pray aloud so Satan would not confuse me in my thoughts. After he went to work and my daughter to school, I went about my household chores, still fecling very depressed. Satan tried {o tell me that my’ con- version was not real, that perhaps I was climbing over the fence instead of entering in at The Door, and T knew that ‘was worse than not entering at all. Then the thought came tome that I must pray and pray and not give up. This I did, It seemed after much time had elapsed all became quiet and peaceful within, I was no longer begging Him but thanking my Lord, I was filled with joy and thanksgiving. I opened ‘my Bible in Acts 9:18 to the words “.. . and arose, and was beptised”, This passage relieved me of all doubis. T was ‘now convinced through God's Word that this was the right and ONLY WAY, and I was now ready for beptism. I praise ‘and thank Him and Him alone.” Erika Omasta told us: “T have been acquainted with the faith for @ long time. I was really touched and convicted when a young man in our congregation was suddenly called to be with the Lord. This spoke very clearly to me concern ing the brevity of life. My greatest desire was to become ‘ child of God and to remain faithful. To be baptized has been my desire for a long time. I was unhappy with my past life and prayed to God to help and forgive me, and He graciously lifted my burden. I can now believe with all my heart and I wish to make covenant with God through baptism of water and Spirit. All the help I require, I re- ceive ONLY FROM HIM.” Dorothy Surianae stated: “T longed to become a child of God and enter the fold of the Lord, but realized I could ‘obtain it only through repentance. I am glad God had re- spect unto my ery and heard me and Jed me safely through, T don't deserve this wonderful grace but through the power of Jesus’ precious blood my sins have been forgiven, and, by believing, the Holy Spirit is given unto me. I felt the love of the brothers and sisters in Christ and through Jesus’ love I can love them all equally. I love Jesus Christ more than anything else in the world, PHOENIX — “Blessed is the man that trusteth im the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." Our own trust was re- newed as we listened to the the testimonies of six young souls on the weekend of Oct, 22 as they told of their experi- fences and their desires to serve the Lord. Excerpts of their testimonies follow. Nancy Kinkel — “I first became aware that I was a sinner during the summer two years ago. We were spending ‘vacation at my grandparents cabin which is in a canyon: like setting. Leading to the cabin is a steep dirt road. One night as we walked up this roed my uncle and cousin stepped over the side and fell down the mountain, T heard two sereams. I knew then that if T would die right then T would not be saved. At Western Camp, that summer, T was again Continued on next page PAGE3