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1 Celebrating God’s Love

2 Our Hearts Belong to Jesus

3 Gallery PICS

4 World Report

5 Meet our Friends: David and Shelby

6 Youth Focus on Titus

6 On the Spot

i n t h i s i s s u e

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A P O S T O L I C F A I T H . O R G

Selections from our website and more

February 2016

After a nearly two-month delay (due to weather), the congregation was finally able to enjoy the Beginners Program at the start of the Sunday morning service on February 12. Originally planned as a Christmas program for December 18, the theme was changed slightly to a Valentine’s Day message celebrating God’s love.

As the performers assembled, the junior orchestra played several songs including “His Banner Over Me Is Love” and “He Is Lord.” Then the program proceeded with a mix of

recitations and songs, opening with “Heart, Heart.” One of the first speakers said, “We love Him because He first loved us,” and then the Beginners choir sang “Oh, How I Love Jesus.” Later another child recited, “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” and the

Celebrating God’s Lovefollowing song was “Jesus Loves Me.” The finale was “God So Loved the World,” featuring a beautiful solo by Grace Krasnogorov. For the children and viewers alike, the ten-minute program was packed with joy, smiles, and the theme of the program—love.

The morning service continued with the congregation singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and the choir singing “Jesus Is Still the Answer.” For the Scripture reading, Tom Pricskett read

chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, and Michael McCarville sang “Charity” as last special. Darrel Lee brought the morning message based on 1 Corinthians 13, pointing out that this chapter is about an unselfish and unconditional love. It is the type of love

Sunday school children ages five and under prepare to sing “Heart, Heart.”

“For the children and viewers alike, the ten-minute program was

packed with joy, smiles, and the theme of the program—love.”that God has for us—being willing to sacrifice Himself regardless of whether His love ever would be reciprocated. In closing, Brother Darrel reminded everyone of how important it is that we do reciprocate God’s love, ending with the powerful words of verse 13, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

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Our Hearts Belong to JesusA few days ago at school in study

hall a guy started asking questions about what I believed. It caught me off guard because I’ve never had that happen before, but I explained as well as I could everything that I knew about how to be saved. This person asked so many questions that I basically emptied all my information on him. I even told him what would happen at the Rapture. I had never had my beliefs questioned before, but I am thankful for the experience. It made me glad that I have a solid Christian foundation. — Tegan Friesen

I am really thankful for all that the Lord has done for me. He saved me at a young age and has kept me since then. I am thankful to be raised in a Christian family and taught the right way to live since childhood. I don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t been raised that way and didn’t have the Lord. God has directed my path. I want to follow Him the rest of my life. — Savannah Lee

It is good to be in God’s house. I got saved in 1948, and I had a big surprise that Sunday night: God put a desire in my heart to be in church on Tuesday night. I hardly could believe that was me. I had heard testimonies from the time I was a little boy that God delivered from drink and cigarettes and all those things, so I was expecting that. I had completely missed the thrill Christians have at being in church. I’ll never forget that first Tuesday night, because as I sat in church and they sang those songs, my

I was just a young girl between the ages of ten and eleven when the Lord planted my feet on the sturdy rock. It’s hard to imagine a person could be planted at such a young age and be kept by the Lord, but He has kept me. The years have come and gone and the Lord has been there.

February is a special month in our family. On February 14, the Lord will have given Chet and me forty-seven years to serve Him together. I’m so thankful for the love God has shown our family. I know that the Lord is real, and I’m looking forward to seeing Him one day. I love Him with all my heart. — Verna King

I’m thankful that God can heal

people, because I had a very annoying cold for about two weeks. I found out there was going to be a chance I could go to Medford for special meetings and I got excited about that, but then I realized I was still sick. I prayed and when I woke up the next morning, which was the morning I was going to go, I was completely fine. I went to Medford and had an amazing time. — Hunter McCarville

I’m so thankful for everything the Lord has done for me. He gave me a Christian home to grow up in and He saved me. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go to the Roseburg special meetings, and on Saturday night, the Lord gave me my

sanctification. I’m so thankful for that. — Annika Ewers

heart rejoiced. That was many years ago, but you know what? Every meeting that I’ve been in since, I’ve been thrilled to

be in God’s house! — Earl Phillips

I want to thank the Lord for the privilege of being here tonight and that I am pain free. We sang about the river of God flowing through us, and that has been my prayer. Neal and I have been going through a trial in our life, but God has been so good.

We can feel His presence daily. When we have a little melt down, God is right there to lift us up and remind us that everyone is praying. I thank all of

you for your prayers, and I am so glad we can lean on God knowing He has our best interest at heart. — Claudia Hanson

At the age of seventeen years old, through a series of incidents out on the ocean, God got ahold of my attention. He let me know that I needed to be saved. I’m so glad that He was faithful that same summer at camp meeting to remind me of what had happened out on the ocean—how I nearly had lost my life. I went to the altar after one of the services and got honest with the Lord. He came in and gave me such peace. I wouldn’t trade this Gospel for anything. I love the Lord with all my heart. — Wayne Butler

(Above) Tegan Friesen and Annika Ewers testify during a February youth service.

“At the age of seventeen years old, through a series of incidents out

on the ocean, God got ahold of my attention.”

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Gallery PICSselections from our online albums

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(Clockwise from top left) Tim Hammer testifies; Ladies sing in a youth service; Charlie Moen recites his lines; Chris and Jillian Luka provide a duet; Darrel Lee and granddaughter, Margaux, go to pray; Hannah Cook and Franchesca Mom play in the junior orchestra; Big sister Georgia Andersen reassures Daisy; The brass section focuses; James and Kylie Lucescu at the young couples’ event.

Excerpts from Thursday, February 16 A team of eight from the United States recently returned from Jamaica where they spent ten days visiting the saints in our churches there.

On Tuesday, our team attended a little church nestled on a hillside at Croft’s Hill. They said the congregation was small, but very special. There was a sweet Spirit throughout the service, and many victorious testimonies were given. One woman testified that the Lord healed her of cancer. Another told how God prevented a scorpion from stinging her. The message, taken from John 3:16, was on God’s love, and another wonderful prayer service followed.

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Excerpts from Friday, February 17 The Chile camp meeting concluded this past Sunday, and our team there sent a report of the final weekend of activities.

On Saturday, we observed the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and Foot Washing, and the service was as sweet this year as it was last year. The saints gathered with a humble hunger for God’s blessing, and they were not disappointed.

Then we gathered at a quiet spot along a beautiful river for a water baptismal service. The candidate was a man named Hugo. He had recently come to church seeking to be healed. The Lord not only healed him but saved his soul as well, and he was eager to be water baptized. In a short service, we sang “Shall We Gather at the River?” and then Brother Hugo shared a statement of faith and was baptized (pictured above).

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Excerpts from Tuesday, February 21 It was a joyous occasion this past Sunday afternoon as members from Apostolic Faith churches in Boque, Chimbarongo, Hualane, Lincanten, and Rauco, as well as visitors from as far away as Santiago, gathered in Limavida, Chile, to dedicate the newly reconstructed church building. The original building had been badly damaged in an earthquake and rendered unsafe.

A welcome message pointed out that though it was a tragedy that the first building was ruined, as a result, a new and elegant church has emerged. Similarly, the enemy of our souls brings earthquake-like situations to our lives, but that does not determine the final outcome. God has promised to turn our ashes (or ruins) to beauty if we will trust Him.

P o s t s F r o m

B r o t h e r

D a r r e l L e e ’ s

J o u r n a l

Read more at apostolicfaith.org/world-reportWorld Report

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From the

Superintendent ’s

Desk

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David and Shelby Warberg met in 2010 when a group of friends got together to hang out and bake chocolate chip cookies. They started dating the following summer, and in November of 2015, David took Shelby to the place where he had first realized they would be together forever and asked her to marry him. On a beautiful day in May of 2016, they were married.

Shelby was raised in the Gospel and received salvation at her first youth camp when she was nine years old. She remembers that John Musgrave preached that evening about the Rapture. She knew she wasn’t ready and didn’t want to miss it, so she prayed immediately after the sermon and God saved her. Then in 2010, she was sanctified and baptized with the Holy Spirit. These experiences helped Shelby stand up for her beliefs in high school and college. They have also helped her in telling others about Jesus. She started teaching Sunday school in the Beginners Department where David also taught, and now the two of them teach the eighth grade class together. They love being able to connect with their students, answering questions and showing them how much God loves them.

David began attending this church in 2007, and on a Sunday night in April, heard Earl Phillips preach saying, “Don’t leave here without being saved.” He knew he needed Jesus in his life, so he

Their favorite trip of all was to Israel with David’s mom and Shelby’s family. There they were able to walk where Jesus had walked. In Nazareth, they visited an open-air museum and saw reenactments of what life was like in the time of Jesus. They were also able to sing and worship God in the most sacred of places such as the Garden of Gethsemane. In addition, they experienced being baptized in the Jordan River, swimming in the Dead Sea, eating exotic food, and even riding camels in Petra, Jordan. Going on this life-changing trip has helped them better understand the Bible stories.

When this pair is not traveling, they like to spend time with friends, including LBel McCormick who turned one hundred last May. They have enjoyed many fun evenings in her home playing games and eating pizza with other young people. Sister LBel is quick to win at games and often outlasts her younger guests. David and Shelby are always surprised when, late at night, she asks why they need to leave “so early.”

If you know the Warbergs, you know how fun it is to be around them and just what a joy they are. If you haven’t had the chance to meet them, we strongly suggest that you do so! We are blessed to know them, and honored to be their friends.

prayed. Later that same year, he received sanctification at youth camp, and then the baptism of the Holy Ghost in January of 2008. In December 2012, his mom, Gayle, also received salvation, and she has been a great encouragment to him.

One thing that unites the Warbergs is their love of music and desire to minister to others through it. They are both very talented. Shelby has a beautiful voice and sings in the choir. She also plays the violin. David plays the tuba and piano, and recently joined the rotation in directing the youth choir and orchestra. Together, they participate in meetings at the Union Gospel Mission, providing piano and vocal specials.

God has given this young couple the opportunity to travel the world and experience some amazing things. In 2015, David attended the Peru camp meeting in Cajamarca. His favorite experiences there were getting to know the Peruvian saints and participating in their church services, and ministering to the local people. He also enjoyed exploring the Andes Mountains and the ancient Incan fortress, Machu Picchu.

Recently, David and Shelby were able to travel to Amsterdam and see the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank house. They had fun tasting local food, going on long walks and bike rides, and just being tourists.

By L.J. and Rosalie Barley

(Left to right) In downtown Portland; At the Sea of Galilee with Shelby’s family.

Meet our Friends: David and Shelby

On the Spot

Hannah Cook: The story of Moses, because it shows

what God can do.

Rebecca Luka: I like the story of Job, because it has unicorns and other interesting animals.

Rider Morgan: When Jesus fed the five thousand. This was my favorite story for my dad to read to me when I was little, because he would read it as “Five thousand hungry penguins.” I would have to correct him saying, “No, Dad; it is five thousand hungry PEOPLE!”

Yvonne Wilson: I especially like the story of Jesus calming the storm when He was in the boat with the disciples. I think about this story when life gets crazy or problems and concerns seem overwhelming. It’s encouraging to remember that God knows about the storms of life and has the power to control them.

Caitlyn Morgan: The story of Esther, because even though she was too timid to approach the king the first time, God gave her courage when she was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Barbara Sletmoe: My favorite Bible story is David and Goliath. It tells me that no matter how giant a problem may be, God will be with me and give victory.

Question: What is your favorite Bible

story and why?

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By claire, Julia, and Eli Moberg

Youth Focus on TitusThe first youth focus session of 2017

was held Friday, February 24. As usual, the evening began with a meal—gyro sandwiches and “Krispy ice cream” (a concoction involving chocolate and peanut-butter Krispy treats rolled into vanilla ice cream) for dessert. The whole meal was a hit!

After dinner, the group moved to the front of the room and joined in a few worship songs including “How Great

Is Our God” and “This Is Amazing Grace.” Then Ryan Erdmann led a study on the first chapter of the Book of Titus, going verse-by-verse and teaching their

“a striker,” or someone who is violent, and the phrase “given to filthy lucre,” referring to someone who is greedy.

The fellowship was encouraging and the study on Titus was enlightening. The session ended the best way possible: with a time of prayer.

meanings and applications. Some of the highlights included discussion of the order that God established for the church and the high standard for ministers of His work. In addition, it was stated that having a right understanding of doctrine and not straying from the truth is critical. Paul even stated that if someone teaches false doctrines or traditions that do not align with the Gospel, that person should be “sharply rebuked.”

Brother Ryan also spent time clarifying some of the language that is not as familiar to us today, such as “bishop,” which is similar to a pastor,

Before the Bible study begins, the young people praise God with worship songs.

“ . . . it was stated that having a right understanding of doctrine

and not straying from the truth is critical.”