sexual intimacy

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CHURCH OF GOD

Evangel AUGUST 2013

sexual intimacy: Gift from god

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EVANGEL • aug 2013

Contents

august 2013 volume 103 n issue 8

Sanctity of Marriage “Marriage is ordained of God and is a spiritual union in which a man and a woman are joined by God to live together as one (Gen. 2:24; Mark 10:7). Because of the divine character of marriage, it is a lifelong commitment with the only clear biblical allowance for divorce being fornication (Matt. 5:32; 19:9). “Sexual involvement, either before marriage or with someone other than the marriage partner, is strictly forbidden in Scripture (Ex. 20:14; 1 Cor. 6:15-18). Understanding the sanctity of marriage, partners should strive to maintain a happy, harmonious, and holy relationship.”—From the Church of God Practical Commitments

sexual intimacy—gift from god 10 Honeycombs, Raisin Cakes, and the Celebration of Sex by John Kie Vining Rejecting Hollywood’s perspective 12 Homosexuality: Separating the Issues by Jonathan Stone Love without compromise 14 A Letter to My Daughters by Josh Rice Made in the image of God 16 Fighting Human Trafficking in Thailand by LaEsha Sanders Turning nightmares into dreams 18 The Serpent of Porn by Steve Gallagher Behind the illusion 20 Having ‘The Talk’ With Our Kids by Mary Beth Unthank Being the voice of truth 21

Affirmation of Marriage From the Church of God Executive Committee

fEATURES 22 First Continuing Church Outside U.S. Celebrates Centennial by David G. Roebuck Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas 24 Thank You for Giving to the Lord . . . by Giving to YWEA by B. Randall Parris More than 50 years of youth missions

columns 5 In Covenant, Mark L. Williams 7 On My Mind, Lance Colkmire 30 Church of God Chronicles, David G. Roebuck departments 4 6 8 26 28

Ministry Snapshot By the Numbers Currents Viewpoints People and Events

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publications ministries DiviSionAl DireCTor M. Thomas Propes DireCTor oF PubliCATionS Terry Hart ADMiniSTrATive ASSiSTAnT raymond Hodge MAnAGinG eDiTor lance Colkmire

MINISTRY SNAPSHOT Scene from the Chapel of Praise Church of God youth retreat (Muscatine, iowa)

CenTrAl DiSTribuTion CoorDinATor robert McCall CFo Wayne Walston PrinTinG DireCTor Mike burnett

EvangEl staff eDiTor lance Colkmire exeCuTive SeCreTAry elaine McDavid CoPy eDiTor esther Metaxas GrAPHiC DeSiGner bob Fisher

editorial and publications board Stephen Darnell, les Higgins, ray e. Hurt, Cheryl Johns, David nitz , Tony Cooper, Antonio richardson

international executive committee Mark l. Williams, David M. Griffis, J. David Stephens, Wallace J. Sibley, M. Thomas Propes

CHurCH oF GoD congregations meet throughout the united States and in more than 180 other countries. To find a church and times of services near you, access the church website, www.churchofgod.org, or fax your request to 423-478-7616. Publication of material in the Evangel does not necessarily imply endorsement of the Church of God. The Church of God Evangel (iSSn 0745-6778) is edited and published monthly. n Church of God Publishing House, 1080 Montgomery Ave., P.o. box 2250, Cleveland, Tn 37320-2250 n Subscription rates: Single subscription per year $17, Canada $24, bundle of 15 per month $17, Canada $28, bundle of 5 per month $7.50, Canada $11.25 n Single copy $1.50 n Periodical postage paid at Cleveland, Tn 37311 and at additional mailing offices n ©2013 Church of God Publications n All rights reserved n PoSTMASTer: Send change of address to Evangel, P.o. box 2250, Cleveland, Tn 37320-2250. (uSPS 112-240)

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MeMber oF THe evAnGeliCAl PreSS ASSoCiATion AnD THe inTernATionAl PenTeCoSTAl PreSS EVANGEL • aug 2013 ASSoCiATion

If you have a ministry photo to be considered for this page, send it to [email protected].

IN COVENANT mark l. williams general overseer

THE GIANT THAT SLEW DAVID

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nCE Upon a TiME, there were two men in a city—one rich and the other poor. The rich man had everything his heart desired—money, servants, sheep, and cattle. His bank account was full; his net worth, staggering. There was nothing in the world for which he lacked. The poor man lived in the humblest of dwellings. There were no cattle, no land, and no net worth. His bread had to be earned by the sweat of his brow. His only possession was one little ewe lamb. The lamb grew up with his children, and it became a household pet. it ate when they ate, often sharing food from their table. They would give the lamb water and drink. at times, the poor man would take the ewe lamb in his arms and hold him next to his breast until it fell asleep. it was like a daughter to him.   one day a traveler came to visit the rich man. instead of taking one of his own lambs from many herds to prepare a meal for the visitor, the rich man took the lamb from the poor man, killed it, and prepared it for the traveler.   This parable was the story given by nathan the prophet to King David after David sinned. When David heard this story, he became furious and said to nathan, “as the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! and he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity” (2 Sam. 12:5-6 nKJV). nathan replied, “You are the man!” (v. 7 nKJV). Doubtless, David was one of the greatest, most beloved figures in israel’s history. But after reigning some 20 years as king, something happened to David.

Call it a midlife crisis, a scandalous affair, a temporary lapse of judgment—a “giant” taller than Goliath brought this king to his knees, and would forever mark him as an adulterer and a murderer. Someone aptly said that sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay. Sin is sin, but sexual sin seems to carry unique and lasting consequences. The apostle paul wrote, “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18 naSB). in proverbs 6:32-33, we read:

Sin is sin, but sexual sin seems to carry unique and lasting consequences.

The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; he who would destroy himself does it. Wounds and disgrace he will find, and his reproach will not be blotted out (naSB).

The Bible’s advice to anyone caught up in sexual temptation is practical. When Joseph was lured by another man’s wife to be with her, “he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house” (Gen. 39:12 niV), and paul tells his readers to follow Joseph’s good example by fleeing from immorality (1 Cor. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:22). Scripture is clear. Homosexual practice (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:9-10), adultery (Ex. 20:14), and premarital sex (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 4:3) are sinful, and those who practice such shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But there is hope. in the words of isaiah, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow” (1:18 naSB). The blood of Jesus can “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). EVANGEL • aug 2013

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BY THE NUMBERS

federal prison population inmates by Gender Male: Female: inmates by race White: black: native American: Asian: inmate age Average inmate Age: sentence imposed less than 1 year: 1-3 years: 3-5 years: 5-10 years: 10-15 years: 15-20 years: More than 20 years: life: Death: Source: Federal Bureau of Prisons

203,730 14,441

(93.4%) (6.6%)

129,689 81,059 3,981 3,442

(59.4%) (37.2%) (1.8%) (1.6%)

39 4,836 24,352 29,115 59,070 41,526 18,998 20,237 6,216 55

(2.4%) (11.9%) (14.2%) (28.9%) (20.3%) (9.3%) (9.9%) (3.0%)

the evangel in prisons The Evangel office receives requests from prisoners and chaplains to receive the magazine. in June, Chaplain Tom burger wrote: “i am currently serving as the chaplain at Piedmont Correctional institution in Salisbury, north Carolina, and am a member of Central Church of God in Charlotte. At the previous prison where i served, we were sent multiple copies of the Evangel for distribution. Could we receive multiple copies for the inmates at Piedmont?” We are able to meet such requests when funds are available in Evangel Care. Contributions can be sent to Church of God Evangel, P.o. box 2250, Cleveland, Tn 37320-2250. you can email [email protected] or call 423-478-7592 for more information.

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EVANGEL • aug 2013

childhood caregivers

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n ESTiMaTED 1.3 million U.S. children between the ages of 8 and 18 act as full-time caregivers for ailing parents, grandparents, or siblings. putting their lives on hold, these children take on everything from daily domestic duties to medical care to financial responsibility.—On Mission

americans’ views of muslims People who agree with this statement: “islam is essentially a violent religion.” • 52% • 20% • 26%

evangelicals no faith/agnostic All u.S. adults

Source: Barna Group, April 2013

ON MY MIND lance colkmire editor

A PLEA FOR PURITY B LazinG HoRMonES turned my 13-year-old world upside-down. i was so infatuated with 14-yearold Marie that i went on a diet, losing 18 pounds. However, my thinner self and homemade cards could not convince her to like me. instead, she had a crush on my big brother. Then came Katie—one year younger than me. Just seeing her when her middleschool bus made an after-school stop at my junior high was enough to make my day. and when we held hands a couple of times at church . . . well, i still remember the rush! Thankfully, through all the highs and heartbreaks of teenage and college romances, Christ’s faithfulness enabled me to lead a chaste life. and in 30 years of marriage to my beautiful bride, we have been joyfully faithful to each other by God’s grace. However, i still face sexual temptation. it doesn’t go away with age. When i see a fellow believer—particularly a minister of the gospel—break his or her marriage vows by committing sexual sin, it humbles me as i realize the destruction it would cause if i made the same dumb decision.

Marriage as a Picture Beginning in Genesis 4:1, where the Bible says, “adam knew Eve his wife,” the Hebrew verb yada (translated “know”) is often used to describe the sexual relationship between husband and wife. That same word also describes the relationship God wants to have with His people (see Gen. 18:19; isa. 43:10). “To know God is to have an intimate experiential knowledge of Him” (W. E. Vine). God’s establishment of marriage is a picture of this intimate relationship God longs to have with His people: a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two

are united into one. This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one (Eph. 5:31-32 nLT).

The sanctity of marriage is under attack because of what it represents: Satan hates and seeks to destroy the Church— the bride of Christ—so he also seeks to destroy the institution of marriage. Count the ways marriage is under assault: • Between 2006 and 2010, 48 percent of american women between the ages of 15 and 44 moved in for the first time with a man to whom they weren’t married, according to the national Center for Health Statistics. • More and more Christians try to justify having an affair, divorcing, and remarrying by saying it is a matter of finding their “soul mate” . . . and how could God be opposed to that? • The legalization of “same-sex marriage”—even though it can never be consummated in a genuine sexual relationship—continues to proliferate. • national companies like Starbucks, Delta airlines, Home Depot, and J.C. penney are supporting the homosexual cause. in March, Starbucks officials told supporters of biblical marriage that they “can sell [their] shares in Starbucks and buy shares in another company.” • as same-sex barriers fall, look for naMBLa (north american Man/Boy Love association) and other perverted groups to continually push for the legalization of sexual relationships between adults and children.

We should embrace biblical language regarding sexuality. Terms like fornication and adultery should not be sugar-coated, but instead be used to demonstrate God’s condemnation of sex outside of marriage. Meanwhile, we should celebrate God’s declaration that marital intimacy is pure (Heb. 13:4), purposeful (1 Cor. 7:3-5), and delightful (prov. 5:17-19). We should believe God for the impossible. ancient Corinth was filled with every kind of sexual perversion, yet God performed miraculous transformations there. paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth: Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:9-11 nLT).

May God perform similar miracles in our families, churches, and communities, transforming prostitutes, homosexuals, adulterers, and fornicators into His holy children.

What Can We Do? Fighting for our own marriages is the best way we can stand for sexual purity and biblical marriage. Husbands must love their wives “just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25 nKJV).

Four ways to contact the editor: • [email protected] • 423-478-7592 • Church of God Evangel on Facebook • Box 2250, Cleveland, TN 37320-2250

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CURRENTS The purpose of CURRENTS is to inform readers of trends and events influencing the culture.

religious groups respond to new scout policy n THE U.S. CaTHoLiC Church’s top liai-

son to the Boy Scouts of america is telling Catholic Scout leaders and troop sponsors that the BSa’s new policy welcoming gay Scouts “is not in conflict with Catholic teaching” and they should continue to support scouting programs. Edward p. Martin said that despite some concerns, the national Catholic Committee on Scouting had taken a neutral stance on a resolution adopted on May 23 by the BSa’s national Council. More than 60 percent of the 1,400 members of the BSa council voted to allow gay Scouts while still barring gay men from being Scout leaders. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2014.

Religious organizations comprise 70 percent of Boy Scouts sponsoring organizations. The Roman Catholic Church, which is the BSa’s third-largest sponsor, accounts for about 10 percent of the national total of 2.6 million Scouts. Mormons are the top sponsors, followed by United Methodists. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints—the Mormons—has already signaled that it does not object to the new policy, and United Methodist Scouting officials said they would continue to support the BSa. Meanwhile, Southern Baptists and other evangelical Christian groups have raised strong objections to the new policy. Earnest Easley, pastor of the 2,300member Roswell Street Baptist Church in 8

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Marietta, Georgia, said his church will shut down its troop at the end of the year, and he’s urging other Baptists to do the same. “We are not willing to compromise God’s Word,” said Easley, whose church has sponsored Boy Scout Troop 204 since 1945. The assemblies of God stated, “We believe that the BSa policy change will lead to a mass exodus from the Boy Scout program, as assemblies of God and many other churches can no longer support groups that are part of an organization allowing members who are openly homosexual.” The Church of God released this statement: The recent decision by the Boy Scouts of america to admit openly homosexual young men to their membership ranks comes as a major disappointment to the leadership of the Church of God. This departure from the BSa’s policy of not allowing individuals who practice homosexuality to become members contributes to the already confusing message of sexual orientation being sent to young men. The Boy Scouts of america has served as a beacon of affirmation for generations. The May 23 decision by BSa did not include admitting homosexual scout leaders. We applaud the BSa leadership for upholding this critical element of its policy and support future efforts to defend it from attacks by groups who will no doubt feel empowered to further advance their agenda. . . . The Church of God recognizes the dilemma some local churches and scout leaders may face with severing a positive, long-term relationship with a Boy Scout troop, which may or may not be immediately affected. Should local churches choose to disband their relationship with BSa, the Church of God has had in place for many years a program that mirrors the standards and policies of Boy Scouts of america prior to last week’s decision. it is

called Royal Rangers and is available with supporting resources through the Division of Discipleship.  please visit royalrangers.org.  While the Church of God condemns the sin of homosexuality as defined in Scripture, individuals struggling with an alternate lifestyle will continue to be loved and discipled. as young people are constantly bombarded with one message from the church and another from culture, the Church of God is committed to those who may fall into this path to give counsel and to teach the forgiveness of Christ with the ultimate goal of redemption and restoration.

atheism monument on courthouse property n in LaTE JUnE, the group “american

atheists” unveiled a 1,500-pound granite bench engraved with secular-themed quotations from Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and its founder, Madalyn Murray o’Hair, among others, in front of the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke, Florida. The new-Jersey-based group, which has a membership of about 4,000 atheists, humanists, and other nonbelievers, won the right to erect the monument in a settlement reached in March over a sixton granite display of the Ten Commandments on the same property. american atheists sued Bradford County after the erection of that monument last year, claiming its place on the courthouse lawn represented a government endorsement of religion. Both monuments were paid for by private money. Businessman Joe anderson paid for the Ten Commandments monument through the Christian Men’s Fellowship, a local group, and the atheist monument was paid for by american atheists with a grant from the Stiefel Freethought Foundation.—RNS

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Ranjana Akhter, 35, holds a picture of her missing daughter Sheuli Akhter while standing opposite the ruins of Rana Plaza where Sheuli worked.

the high cost of cheap clothes n JUST TWo MoRE MonTHS, Sheuli

akhter promised her mother by telephone, and then she would be home for good. Making shirts in Dhaka—a packed metropolis of 12 million people—Sheuli, 20, made decent money (about $140 a month) by the impoverished standards of rural Bangladesh. But she missed the family benefiting from the wages of her hard work. Her mother, Ranjana akhter, was found sobbing near the rubble of the Rana plaza factory where her daughter worked, days after the eight-story complex collapsed and killed more than 1,100 workers in april. The scale of the mismanagement and breadth of the human tragedies in Bangladesh powerfully illustrated what years of abuse, inhumane conditions, and unthinkable danger could not: Garment workers in Third World countries take enormous risks to earn a living in Bangladeshi-owned companies that produce clothing for Western retailers. at the end of this global production line stand millions of american shoppers whose favorite companies and brands— Benetton, The Children’s place, Gap, J.C. penney, Mango, Target, and Sears—are made in Bangladesh. Clothing manufacturers in north america and Europe—operating with scant supervision of their operation— have made Bangladesh the second-largest exporter of clothes in the world. The enormity of this tragedy is already beginning to change the country’s free-for-all business climate. Many international retailers rushed to embrace a labor-backed factory-safety proposal after the april 24 collapse—the world’s deadliest industrial accident since india’s Bhopal chemical plant disaster took 2,260 lives in 1984. More than 30

retail chains including H&M, the largest clothing producer in Bangladesh, agreed to sign onto the proposal, which requires public disclosure of factory inspections and company-paid renovations when problems are found. However, talks broke down between the labor coalition industriaLL and trade groups representing U.S. retailers like Gap over language that might make stores liable for conditions in Bangladeshi factories while requiring union-style management restrictions. The retail groups said they could improve worker safety by conducting more rigorous inspections of their factories. Bangladesh’s garment industry employs roughly 4 million people. only China exports more clothing than Bangladesh, which has 5,000 factories of varying sizes producing for other major chains. These global brands thrive in a place where the average worker earns the equivalent of 24 cents an hour, according to the Worker Rights Consortium, a worker advocacy group that criticized U.S. retailers for failing to sign onto the proposed changes. The wage for garment workers is much higher—sometimes four times that—which is why so many people are drawn to the industry. Many of the garment operations have sprung up in the past decade in buildings sometimes refurbished in a hurry to capture customers. Western retailers contract

with myriad unconnected workshops to get fabric and buttons and fasteners needed for their products. Though many importers require inspectors to check on working conditions, they do not oversee all aspects of building safety. Those laws are the authority of the government, which works hand-in-hand with the industry. in fact, a consortium of Bangladesh factory owners is also a lobbying group that consults with the government on working conditions and safety matters. Government oversight is notoriously weak. Rana plaza was showing structural cracks before the collapse. They prompted some businesses to move out of the building, but that wasn’t enough for the factory to shut down. The owner was captured trying to flee across the indian border and is under arrest on charges that he built illegal additional floors on a building not designed for manufacturing. Since 2005, at least 1,800 garment workers have been killed in factory fires and building collapses in Bangladesh, according to the advocacy group international Labor Rights Forum. That includes the toll from Rana plaza. Despite this carnage, the retail industry has found a needy home in Bangladesh. its garment firms, which make up 80 percent of total exports, face pressure from foreign buyers to retain the nation’s chief selling point: the cheapest place to make clothes. The disaster highlights the perilous choice for Bangladeshis in the garment sector, 80 percent of them women who work as seamstresses and support entire families. “We must stop the killing,” said nazmar akter, president of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation and generalsecretary of the awaj Foundation of workers’ groups. “it’s a global business. Everybody has the responsibility,” akter said. “Workers in Bangladesh are unsafe, hungry, with bad living and working conditions. We are human. We want respect and dignity; that’s our demand.”—RNS EVANGEL • aug 2013

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HONEYCOMBS, RAISIN CAKES, AND THE CELEBRATION OF SEX Rejecting Hollywood for a biblical perspective by john kie vining First comes love; Next comes marriage; Then comes Mary pushing a baby carriage.

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oW oUTDaTED is that little ditty? it has been replaced with mantras of hanging out, hooking up, and being best friends with benefits. For too long the church has shaken her head in disapproval but has remained silent on the essential biblical topic of sex. Such silence has contributed to unlimited experimentation by our youth and unspoken confusion in the marital bed. Think about it. When is the last time you heard a sermon or participated in a Bible study that addressed the nature of human sexuality and the divinely approved sexual behavior of married couples? Sexuality for the Christian, as with all humans, has been and continues to be an undeniable aspect of life. only in rare exceptions has sexuality been a topic of the pentecostal’s experience. The result of this silence has often led to misunderstanding and shame. We must view

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sexuality as the Bible presents it—as a divine gift, a divine mandate, and a divine responsibility (Gen. 1:26-28). Divine Gift Sexuality represents more than sexual behavior; it is a means of expressing a deep, personal, and loving relationship with another person. Sexuality is meant to move him or her toward a heterosexual union of committed love. While sexuality is meant to be expressed in various ways and means, the sexual relationship is wholly reserved for the approved context of marriage. Human sexuality is a gift from God. Contrary to secular views, Hollywood did not create sex. Because of its Creator, Christians should experience the most satisfying marital sex. The purposes of sex are for procreation, deepened intimacy, enjoyment, and celebration. The parameter of explicit sexual behavior is a monogamous relationship within the approved context of marriage. The approach to explicit

sexual behavior with the monogamous partner is that of offering and receiving. Finally, the attitude of explicit sexual behavior is sacredness and celebration. as such, it is a gift of God and it is “good” (Gen. 2:18-25). Divine Mandate The nature of human creation mandates relatedness. When “God created man in His own image” (Gen. 1:26-28), He gifted us with the ability to relate at intimate levels, with sexual intimacy being the highest form of knowing and oneness (4:1; Matt. 19:46). Sexual intimacy fulfills the theological purpose of meeting one’s needs at a biological, social, and emotional level (Gen. 24:67; 1 Cor. 7:2-5). Therefore, the “one flesh” merger of marital conjugal love is undefiled and honorable (Heb. 13:4). The Bible mandates sexual relations within the marriage context for the express purposes of replenishing the earth (Gen. 1:28), expressing love and personal pleasure (Song of Solomon), and avoiding

undue temptation (1 Cor. 7:5). Celibacy is mandated for those single due to choice (vv. 8, 37), widowhood (v. 8), separation, abandonment or divorce (vv. 10-15), or specific calling (vv. 20, 24).

ing, teaching, and Christian publications. Yet, Scripture plainly presents the distinctive of our sexuality as humans and as Christians, as a divine gift, a divine mandate, and a divine responsibility.

in this regard, as individuals are empowered by the Holy Spirit, they are able to honor their bodies as His temple (Rom. 12:1-2), equipped to “walk in the Spirit, not fulfilling the lust of the flesh” (see Gal. 5:16), led to avoid fleshly behavior (see Rom. 1:24) and works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21), and are morally strengthened (Eph. 3:16).

in Becoming Childwise: Discovering the Heart of Parenting, my wife and i explain what is often covered in our marriage retreats. in an effort to help parents know how to talk to their children about sex, and to help them understand their own sexuality, we distinguish between love, sex, and intimacy. in the silence of adequate Bible teaching in the church, the culture screams that love, sex, and intimacy are the same. When that misunderstanding goes unchecked, we are set up for misuse and abuse, not to mention disease, unwanted pregnancies, and broken hearts.

Divine Responsibility The divine gift and mandate warrant a heightened sense of responsible behavior on the part of the believer. The gift of sexuality is to be celebrated within appropriate boundaries whereby one glorifies God in his or her body (1 Cor. 6:15-20). pentecostals contend to practice temperance in behavior and abstain from activities and attitudes that are offensive to others or which lead to addiction or enslavement..Christians are to be temperate (1 Cor. 9:25), self-controlled (Titus 1:8; 2:2), and manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Christians are not to be involved in behavior that causes another believer to stumble, be offended, or made weak (Rom. 14:13-21). The church’s silent disregard and neglect of this vital aspect of human giftedness, coupled with society’s blatant exposure and reinterpretation, often result in perversion and permissiveness. it is imperative that pentecostals further define and incorporate a healthy view of sexuality which is Word-centered, Spirit-directed, and ultimately allows one’s freedom in Christ to reflect holy living (James 1:21-22). Human sexuality is a central feature of how God made us, but is probably the least addressed aspect of our humanity by the church. Many share the opinion that sex is off limits when it comes to preach-

Four Fundamental Implications Love is a commitment. Sex is a sacred gift with biological purpose. intimacy, then, is a matter of the heart that pertains to our emotional needs. There are at least four fundamental implications of these truths. First, sex is more than a biological function. Second, needs of the heart cannot be met primarily through sexual behavior. Third, marriage between a man and woman is the divinely approved context in which explicit sexual behavior is allowed. Fourth, any time a person attempts to meet the needs of the heart through sexual behavior alone, and outside of marriage, hurt will result with feelings of being used and diminished as a person. Uncommitted sexual engagement can never heal a broken or longing heart. needs of the heart are ministered to as one caring heart attaches to an aching heart and, in the context of committed care, goes deep in mutual knowing, which leads to deep caring. Heartless sex is never a healer or consoler.

Honeycombs and Raisin Cakes So, what do honeycombs and raisin cakes have to do with it? The Song of Solomon answers that explicit sexual behavior is reserved for married lovers who are permitted full and free expression of their divine gift. Following Tommy nelson’s teaching, properly understood, the poetic language of the couple—honeycomb, honey, wine, milk, pomegranates, spices, wind, spring, streams, garden—all speak of the sensual nature of sex. That is, the divine gift of sex gives expression through the five senses of sight, touch, taste, hearing, and smell. Sex is a whole-person experience—body, voice, mind, and heart—to be mutually enjoyed. The creative potential of sexual intercourse—raisin cakes, mandrakes—underscores the couple’s fertility. Therefore, the wise man cautions, “Do not arouse or awaken my love” (2:7 naSB) before its time (Song of Solomon, Hudson productions). The Bible states plainly, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled” (Heb. 13:4 naSB). The wise man of proverbs exhorts married couples to satisfy and be satisfied—be ravished—with their own spouse in sexual experience (prov. 5:15-21). paul insists sex is good and pure between the married, so their bodies belong to each other. it is a soul-uniting act that creates a mysterious union between the two partners (1 Cor. 6:16; 7:1-5). Marriage, then, is that relationship in which couples can be naked and not ashamed (Gen. 2:25), and that’s worth celebrating. John Kie Vining is a professional counselor and an ordained Church of God bishop. His new book is Becoming Childwise: Discovering the Heart of parenting. johnk [email protected]

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by jonathan stone

homosexuality: separating the issues

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HE qUESTion i am asked more than any other regarding homosexuality usually sounds something like this: How can I offer a compassionate response to someone dealing with homosexuality without compromising my biblical view of the issue? To some, this may seem like a strange question. after all, the Bible deals with homosexual behavior in a straightforward manner. However, while the Bible clearly condemns homosexual behavior, there are a host of other questions surrounding the issue of homosexuality in our contemporary culture that are less clear. Those include questions of how Christians should respond to political, educational, and media agendas regarding this issue. There are many other similarly big questions surrounding the issue of homosexuality in our culture. Those questions are important. 12

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Yet, most of us are not directly dealing with those larger political questions. instead, most of us are dealing with a person who sits across a table and struggles to tell us about their same-sex attraction, gender confusion, or homosexual activities. We are dealing with siblings, cousins, and friends . . . coworkers and neighbors . . . parents and children. Simply put, we are dealing with real people. The reason Christians sometimes feel confused about being compassionate toward these individuals in their lives is that our culture is attempting to take all of the big questions and lump them into one giant pile. The only way to bring clarity to the confusion caused by piling all of these issues together is to separate them one by one. only then will we be able to offer a compassionate and uncompromising response to those individuals wrestling with homosexuality.

Separate an Individual’s Story From Our Culture’s Categories our culture offers an endless amount of false identities. While homosexual behavior appears to be nothing new, individuals building categorical identities based on sexual practices is a fairly modern phenomenon. our culture is selling us a phantom bag of goods by trying to force us to identify ourselves with labels such as gay, straight, transgendered, and more. The pressure put on individuals by this phenomenon often creates a hyper-anxious desire to “discover their sexual identity.” almost all of those who come to me for pastoral care regarding homosexuality are coming out of a confused existence. Yet they feel an overwhelming sense of pressure to squeeze into one of these labels. one of my first objectives in pastoral counseling is to help the individual

understand that the pressure they feel to choose an identity is a false one, and the biggest mistake they could make at that point is to give in to it. in the beginning of our counseling journey, it is important for them to recognize they are neither “gay” nor “straight,” nor any of these other labels. instead, they are confused. Confused people are in pain, and it is my job to care for hurting people. Likewise, if you are going to respond compassionately to a confused loved one, you will have to separate in your mind that person’s story from our culture’s categories. Separate Homosexual Attraction From Homosexual Behavior The Bible neither condemns nor condones homosexual attraction. in fact, the Bible does not offer a category that would be comparable to the current-day category of “sexual orientation.” Everything the Bible says about homosexuality is a condemnation of homosexual behavior. This includes condemning homosexual fantasies (lusting after another person), just as the Bible condemns heterosexual lust. When you are discussing homosexuality with a friend or loved one who identifies himself or herself that way, remember that the Scriptures are silent on the issue of orientation. So, when you offer sympathy regarding the struggle of same-sex attraction and temptation, you are not compromising the biblical perspective one bit. That means you can draw a clear line on behavior without beating up your loved one for struggling with the temptation. Separate the Person From the Political Agenda There is a political agenda in our country pushing to bring about major changes in laws and public policy regarding homosexuals. Redefining marriage, normalizing homosexual behavior, and portraying the current struggle for homosexual rights as being equivalent to the civil-rights movement of the 1960s are among the goals.

Some Christians feel called to fight against this agenda, and it is important for them to do so. However, while all of us are connected to those larger issues, most of us will never directly enter the political struggle. When we are sitting across the table from a loved one who is struggling with homosexuality, we must remind ourselves that we are not at the moment engaging in a political war. instead, we are engaging in a spiritual battle. The tactics, strategies, and weapons of that fight are much different than those employed in a political war.

We must not remove ourselves from the struggling loved ones God has placed in our lives. To compassionately respond to the struggling loved ones in our life, we will have to separate their personal situation from the larger political war that surrounds us. Separate Offering Compassion From Condoning Sin Homosexuality is treated uniquely in our culture, both inside and outside the church. The greatest reason for this is the dynamic of having the larger cultural issues and the innumerable list of individual issues lumped together into one big pile as mentioned above. But we must be willing to offer compassion to the struggling individual without condoning homosexual behavior. We already recognize this about other sins. We understand we can offer compassion to the addict without condoning

addiction. or we can offer compassion to a person who broke the covenant of his or her marriage without condoning infidelity. or we can offer compassion to the divisive individual without condoning hatred and divisiveness. Likewise, when it comes to the sin of homosexual behavior, we must separate offering compassion from condoning sin. The One Factor Not to Separate one separation we are tempted to make that should not take place is removing ourselves from the struggling loved ones God has placed in our lives. While there is a biblical precedent for communities of faith turning out a sinning member of the community (1 Cor. 5:9-11), we are not instructed to disassociate from sinning family members. in fact, both paul (7:1214) and peter (1 peter 3:1-2) instruct us to stay with unbelieving family members in the hope they may one day be won over by the way we live. My oldest brother “came out of the closet” nearly 30 years ago. Since he is a sixthgeneration member of the Church of God with an extensive ministerial legacy on both sides of his family, as well as a seminary graduate, this came as a shock to all of us. During that time, it was common for pentecostal parents to shun their adult children who were leading a homosexual lifestyle, letting them know they were not welcome to visit the home or attend family events. So, i was uncertain how my family would respond to my brother. it has been amazing to witness the response that my brother has received from those who love him. The cultural lies we are being fed, and sometimes buying into ourselves, will one day cease. But the love God has placed within us for our sinning loved ones will never fail (1 Cor. 13:8). Jonathan Stone is pastor of discipleship and evangelism at Westmore Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee. He writes regularly at www.stonewritten.com. EVANGEL • aug 2013

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by josh rice

a letter to my

daughters Josh Rice with daughters Sophia and Evie

Sophia: i will never forget holding you, my firstborn child, for the first time—looking into the eyes of this little angelic baby, you the size of a football, a little angel football, crowned, as Jesus said, “a little lower than the angels.” in that moment, a question settled into my mind until the tears flowed, that beautiful firstborn question: “How could God be this good to me?” Evie: The second-born “moment” was a couple of years in the making in a sense— a couple of years of figuring out what it means to steward a miracle who kept us awake at all hours of the night and vomited all over us at the most inopportune times. Then you appeared in our midst, a second angelic visitation. and we found the second-born question is even grander than the first. no longer, “How could God be this good to me?” But even more, “How could God be this good?” period. This extravagance is more than i can bear. There are days with you girls in which i fear i will wake up and it will all have been a dream—a breathlessly happy dream. The joy that you have brought to your mother and me is, in the words of 1 peter 1:8, “unspeakable and full of glory.” When i am with you, it is as if the new Testament vision of creation has been finally consummated. i live my days now in a bright fog of wonder, feeling my way through a world made new each day—a world pulsing with the laughter of God. The theologians tell us we live in the “already/not yet” tension of the old and new ages. Yet, to look into your eyes each day is to feel the heat of the bush burning unconsumed . . . to glimpse the awesome end of time . . . to fall into the crevasse of the new world splitting from the old. i never knew every inch of reality is sacred until you appeared—my everyday miracles. Sadly, the old age continues to tighten its ugly grip on the world that you will soon

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know all too well. i cannot save you from the darkness that has gripped this world. That is God’s job. But perhaps i can enlist you to join His assault on the darkness, that “the whole earth be filled with His glory” (see isa. 6:3). What will arm you for such a mission? Consider three challenges. First, in an age that is driven by false images, be true to the divine image that has breathed upon you, and that lives within you. Contrary to what you will learn in science class, Genesis 1:27 tells us you were created in the likeness of God. This means the center of your being reflects God. When i see you, i see God. This is true of every person. it will not be easy to remember this as you grow. The forces of our culture will claim to love you and will attempt to stamp you with a different image—an image of commodity. a world of commodity assigns a value to you based on achievement, intelligence, athletic ability, the shape of your body, the features of your lovely face. This value is no less than the “mark of the beast”—an assigned image that keeps the world buying and selling. Do not give into this powerful lie of consumerism. The merchants of our society will advertise to you a sense of deficiency—what you are not—in order to sell you the “solution”: diet pills, mascara, overpriced “i-things.” They will do so using the power of images. We see this most luridly in the empire of pornography. perhaps it could have previously been named an industry, but that day has passed. it is an empire now: an entire world of powerful fantasy, so common that we could not even watch the Super Bowl together this year without covering your eyes during commercials advertising Doritos and web hosting. Yes, it has come to that. pornography is the result of a society in which bodies have been commoditized, de-mystified, and stripped of the imago

dei. pornography is what happens to a people when, in the words of the film The Sixth Sense, the streets are full of “dead people, walking around like regular people, only they don’t know that they’re dead.” You will have to navigate such a world. i pray that you do not exchange the image of God for the beast’s mark. Second, in an age obsessed with exteriors, nourish your interior life. i have a Facebook account (1,500+ friends!) for some reason, and it disgusts me. Why in heaven’s name the average person now feels the need to inform the world

“in an age that is increasingly spiritual, I pray that you become religious. I mean that I wish you to find a home in the traditions, the language, and the community of the Church.” of every nook and cranny of their day is beyond me. it is similar to pornography in a sense. Things that were once sheltered as private are now mindlessly boasted about to the public. i am sorry that my generation has given you such a world. (They are calling us the “me generation”— perhaps you can change that.) The only answer i know of to maintain any sense of depth in such shallow, numb waters is the cultivation of the interior life. in the words of Thomas Merton, “the interior life is the ability to respond to reality, to see the value and the beauty in ordinary things, to come alive to the splendor that is all around us in the creatures of God” (No Man Is an Island).

Such a life requires “unlearning our wrong ways of seeing, tasting, feeling . . . to acquire a few of the right ones” (George Barna). it means that along with the pace and the noise of sports, school, friends, hobbies, we dive into the pleasures of prayer, solitude, study, even silence. i hope you find these disciplines to be gifts, not burdens. Third, in an age that is increasingly spiritual, I pray that you become religious. i mean that i wish you to find a home in the traditions, the language, and the community of the Church. God has seen to it that our family tree has been grafted into the specific Christian family of the Church of God. So, in Texas football parlance, “dance with the one who brung you.” at a young age, marry the Church, blemishes and all. She is not perfect, but she will save you from the “tower of Babel”— from a life of the forced and unthinking sameness of our consumer culture. She will save you from your own sense of individualism, which is God-given, yet will eat you alive when left to its own devices. The Church will give to you the gift of originality—of color in an otherwise black-and-white society. That originality is the full circle. it is the image of God within you. Let His image not be snuffed out. These days, looking at you, it is all that i can see. i leave you with a sentence i read from Marilynne Robinson’s novel Gilead, in which a dying Congregationalist minister reflects on the wonder of his child: “it’s your existence i love you for, mainly.” There are days when this is all that i know how to feel, what to say . . . —Dad Josh Rice is pastor of community and leadership development for the Mount Paran North Church of God in Marietta, Georgia.

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fighting human trafficking in thailand Pranee’s Story

I

n THaiLanD, being from the “hill tribes people” means being despised, poor . . . and outcast. My two brothers, one sister, and i are of this people group. our father committed suicide, our mother abandoned us, and we were left in the hills with our grandmother. My sister and one brother went to various orphanages, while my other brother was accepted at the House of Faith orphanage in Chiang Dao. i was left in the hill village with my grandmother. i was only a little girl, had lost both parents, watched my brothers and sister being taken from me, and i lived in the hills with a tribe of outcasts. Where was my hope? My only option for a different life would be to enter the sex-trafficking industry, which is an all-toocommon choice for young girls in Thailand. See us, the children of the people of the hills. We walk in bright plastic sandals and kick up the dust of our past: poverty, isolation, and alcohol and drug addiction. inhale the desolation as the bitterness settles on your tongue. Watch us as we hunch under the weight of abandonment and settle into the truth of our survival. Walk with us to Bangkok and take our hands as we enter an industry that promises wealth, but delivers addictions, abuse, and the death of destinies. i refused to accept prostitution as my life, and i refused to become a statistic. When i was 14 years old, Somnuk and Lily, directors of the House of Faith

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orphanage, came back to my village. They came often to bring food and supplies, and to minister to the people. This time they had the american missionaries with them. i did not know the americans, but i knew Lily; and i knew my brother lived at her orphanage. That is all i needed to know. Lily walked with the missionaries all through our village that day, and i followed—relentless, determined, refusing to be left where i was. Lily’s shirtsleeve was smooth when i touched it—silky. i jerked her sleeve and said, “please take me with you. My brother lives at House of Faith; so please take me with you.” She said, “i’m sorry, i do not have room for you this time,” but i continued to follow her.

“please,” i said. “My brother . . . i want to live at House of Faith with my brother.” She told me again that she had no room for me. i did not know the story of the Christ child at that time; but knowing it now, i imagine this was how Joseph felt when the innkeeper told him there was no room for him and his pregnant wife. i followed Lily, and the americans followed me. over and over i tugged at her shirt, but she shook me away. “i’m sorry,” she said, “i wish i could; but we do not have room.” i watched her get into the van with the americans, and i felt my desperation rage like a monster inside me. i stood at the door and said once more, “please do not

Pranee (top left) wearing bright blue shirt

leave me here!” This time she hesitated, and there was my hope. i did not understand English, but the american man said something to Lily, and she answered; and when she looked at me, i knew my life had suddenly changed. “We will get the funds,” she said. “The pastor says we will get the funds for you to live with your brother at House of Faith.” people who hear my story think i was brave to be persistent. it was not courage that drove me . . . it was desperation. “no” was not an option for me.

Turning Nightmares Into Dreams by LaEsha Sanders

P

RanEE’S SToRY iS TRUE. She is 18 now and has lived at House of Faith for four years. Her grades are at the top of her class, and the other girls in the orphanage look to her as a leader and an example. She has accepted Jesus as her Savior, and leads worship in the House of Faith services . . . but she is quickly reaching the age where she will be required to leave the orphanage. Statistically, pranee would be forced to go back to her hill-tribe village where her grandmother lives. Traditionally, her grandmother’s well-being would then fall to pranee. She would be expected to earn their income; but due to the poverty and lack of economic and industry growth in northern Thailand, pranee would most likely be forced into the sex-trafficking industry she escaped at age 14. Recently, pranee came to Lily and asked, “Where will i go when i have to leave the orphanage? i need a place to go.” at age 14 she had learned to “ask, seek, and knock;” and a door of hope would be opened for her. The same week pranee posed this question to Lily in Thailand, the Lord was

setting in motion a plan for her to have a place. across the ocean, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Lord placed a dream in the hearts of a group of leaders to build a transitional housing unit for young girls in Thailand who are too old for the House of Faith and House of Hope orphanages. Both orphanages are located among the hill tribes of northern Thailand—a land not only inundated with poverty, but also plagued with internal trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation and labor. Due to poverty, ethnic minorities, and the people’s lack of citizenship, the hilltribe region is estimated to be one of the most prevalent human-trafficking sections of Thailand. Because of these undeniable statistics, it is a matter of life and death that a transitional housing unit be built for young girls as they age out of the orphanages. The Dream Center Thailand and Transitional Housing is only in the “dream” stage now. They are a work-in-progress. Ultimately, our goal is to provide housing for girls coming out of both orphanages. The children are safe while in the orphanage, but there is no safe place when they must leave. in the face of the trafficking industry, they may as well be wearing a sign that says, “pick me! no one is waiting for me, no one knows of my outcome, no one will miss me.”

Studies show the age of vulnerability is between 15 and 24 years of age, and most of the children are released from the orphanage around 17 and 18. They must look for a way to survive. Dream Center Thailand’s vision is to provide a place to keep these young women out of the forced-sex and labor industry. We want to offer them hope for a better future. pranee’s determination is astounding. First, she asked for a place and refused to take “no” for an answer. The Lord said, “i have made you a place,” and the House of Faith orphanage took her in. once again, she asked, “What is next? i need a place. Where is my hope?” The Lord said again, “i will make you a place,” and the transitional housing dream was birthed. pranee has become the “voice crying in the wilderness” for thousands of girls: “prepare the way of the Lord. Make the path straight” (see Matt. 3:3). now a path is being laid for the feet of thousands of young girls—a path of dreams and destiny. To learn how to get involved, visit www.dreamcenterchattanooga.com. You may also find us on Facebook at “Dream Center Chattanooga.” LaEsha Sanders serves on the women’s leadership team for The Crossing Church of God in Chattanooga, which is heavily involved in the Dream Center. She holds an MFA in writing from Spalding University.

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by steve gallagher

S

oLoMon inTiMaTELY understood how powerful sexual temptation can be for a young man. it was with him in mind that he wrote the fifth chapter of proverbs: “My son, give attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding. . . . For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and smoother than oil is her speech” (vv. 1-3 naSB). Those two sentences perfectly describe both the power of sexual temptation and its antidote. The wise king understood that if a young man is to successfully withstand the charms of the temptress, he must be prepared ahead of time. Time spent in the Word every day builds up a man’s immune system against the poison of pornography. The Scriptures are simply the thinking and perspectives of the Lord. as a man continually immerses himself in the Bible, he will gradually take on God’s mind-set toward life, people, and, yes, even sexuality. a man who devotes daily time to the Word is given spiritual insight into the power of temptation and how it works. notice again what Solomon says about sexual sin. He personifies it as an adulteress whose “lips of honey” represent promised fulfillment. The temptation seems irresistible because it is laced with deception—namely, that the act of sin will bring about tremendous pleasure and satisfaction. The tantalizing thought is presented and all thoughts of resistance are forgotten. The act of sexual sin looks absolutely intoxicating and therefore irresistible. The “smooth oil” represents the craftiness of Satan. Fully camouflaged and extremely calculating, he presents the perfect illusion, timing each consecutive attack “to steal and kill and destroy” God’s property (John 10:10 niV). The wise man, whose heart has been fortified with the Word of God, sees the devil behind that intoxicating temptation. in the Garden, Satan exposed himself as the crafty serpent he is.

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the serpent of porn i imagine him being very much like a cobra. Known for the hideous hood it extends when preparing to attack, it actually spits into the eyes of its victim before striking. With its target blinded and helpless, the serpent could easily squirm away into the brush. But this viper is not content with escape; it enjoys killing. With bared fangs, it lunges, injecting its deadly poison into its victim’s body. This is a fitting picture of the man lured into viewing pornography. The temptation usually begins when he comes across

a glimpse of flesh and/or a sexually suggestive hyperlink. it is just enough venom to temporarily blind him to the impending danger. The initial presentation is stimulating, creating a sensual atmosphere which spiritually incapacitates him. now the serpent moves in for the kill. That one glimpse of porn unleashes a poison that rockets into the man’s soul and instantly spreads throughout his being. Just like a snakebite victim, he enters a catatonic state of mind: a sexual trance where all reason seems to abandon him.

Lust rushes through his body; his face flushes with excitement; his palms get sweaty. Solomon described this spiritual stupor this way: “With her many persuasions she entices him; with her flattering lips she seduces him. Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, until an arrow pierces through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it will cost him his life” (prov. 7:21-23 naSB). Conversely, the man who receives “with meekness the engrafted word” (James 1:21) discerns the source of temptation that comes his way. He understands that, behind the beautiful illusion of pleasure, there is a snake—coiled and ready to strike. He has been bitten by it before and has learned the hard way the price that is paid for every indulgence. He has the heart-knowledge (much different from head knowledge) to “be a doer of the Word” (see v. 22) and turn away from the temptation. Continuing in proverbs 5, Solomon went on to speak of the “end” (acharit) of sexual sin: “But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold of hell” (vv. 4-5 nKJV). This Hebraic term describes the inevitable consequences of all sin. He would later write, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end [acharit] is the way of death” (prov. 14:12 naSB). once a snake bites, its victim then becomes vulnerable to other predators. Some time ago, i watched a National Geographic special that showed a lioness who had been bitten by a cobra. For days, she suffered under the effects of its venom. Weakened to the point of collapse, she faced great danger from a roving pack of ravenous hyenas. She was helpless to defend herself from their savage attacks. This is certainly true of the man who views pornography. its poison, rather

than dissipating after he has completed his act of lust, continues to contaminate his heart over the coming days. its toxin remains in his system, altering his perspectives, polluting his mind, and spreading darkness over his soul. The lust it initially appealed to is now inflamed into burning desire. Rather than satisfying the man’s sexual passion, it only serves to further ignite it.

Behind the beautiful illusion of pleasure, there is a snake— coiled and ready to strike. not only must the infected man deal with the aftereffects of the bite, but now he is even more weakened spiritually against the enemies of his soul. He attempts to go about his daily routines, but lascivious memories continue to haunt him. These images are like desperate beggars crowding around him, clamoring for another handout. no matter how much you give them, they’re never satisfied. indeed, every gift only emboldens them to demand more. no wonder Solomon warned: “Keep your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house, or you will give your vigor to others and your years to the cruel one” (prov. 5:8-9 naSB). The house of the adulteress—much like an X-rated website—is nothing more than

a den of writhing vipers. it would be wise to avoid such a place! The poisoned victim’s only hope for freedom is to go “cold turkey.” Just as a heroin addict must lock himself up until the drug gradually works its way out of his body, so too it takes time for the venom of pornography to lose its power. Every tick of the clock could be harboring a voluptuous temptress, ready to lure him back into sin. Yet, every minute that passes without failure delivers the man that much farther out of her reach. When it comes to porn addiction, the longer he stays away, the better his chances are of escaping her evil clutches for good. Just as the Word of God prepares a man to face temptation, it is also the only antidote for the man once he has been bitten by the serpent of lust. Regular doses of Scripture are needed to be built up spiritually and thus counteract the effects of the poison of pornography. “precept upon precept; line upon line . . . ; here a little, and there a little” (isa. 28:10). Every word, verse, and chapter he meditates upon serves to strengthen him. Christian men must do everything within their power to avoid the “house” of the adulteress. Two practical measures a man should take would be to use an internet filter on his computer and controlling his television viewing. However, the fact remains that we live in a snake-infested world. in our day and age, it is almost inevitable that men will face this temptation at some point. The wise believer will prepare himself for that day with the Word of God. it is the “sword of the Spirit” that can sever the head of the serpent of porn. Steve Gallagher is the founder of Pure Life Ministries based in Dry Ridge, Kentucky. He has dedicated his life to helping men find freedom from sexual sin and the abundant life in God that comes through deep repentance. Article from www.purelifeministries .org. All rights reserved.

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sion still being reserved for extended cable channels, my mom and dad did not anticipate nor prepare me for the situation in which i found myself. Therefore, when faced with the decision of whether to confess my ambiguous sin of indiscretion and risk getting in trouble, i chose to withhold the truth.

by mary beth unthank

having ‘the talk’ with our kids

W

HERE Do BaBiES CoME FRoM?” is a question that strikes fear in the hearts of parents everywhere. Even if you’re not a parent, imagine condensing the complex and delicate details of sexuality and reproduction into terms understandable by a small child. . . . are your palms sweating yet? This generation is bombarded with sexuality from every corner—from sensual dancing in Disney Channel musicals to Hardee’s commercials to fetish-themed pornography when a child searches her favorite cartoon character on the internet. Despite our anxiety about “the talk,” parents must be ready to speak honestly with their children about sex, and not just once. our avoidance or unpreparedness regarding sexuality leaves our kids feeling confused and alone when they inevitably face sexual issues—probably a lot sooner than we think. i was 10 years old the first time i saw pornography. i was a good church kid and my parents did everything right to protect me from early exposure, but there’s

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only so much we can control. i was at my friend’s house, and we were digging through her older brother’s closet looking for money to go to the pool. We never found the money stash nor did we make it to the pool. instead, we found a stash of magazines, and we spent the afternoon looking through them. We giggled and blushed; we gagged and were grossed out; we turned the pages all different angles. When we finally turned the last page, we were quiet.

although my parents wisely made a point to discuss purity as a lifestyle throughout my teen years, my early sexualization affected my perception and sexual identity even into adulthood. it wasn’t until after i was married—and through the wise counsel and guidance of my mom—that i began to understand and reclaim my sexuality as a gift from God to honor Him. preparing our children for healthy sexuality involves more than talking about sex. Children need to feel safe talking to their parents or other Christian adults when they encounter images or stories that are confusing or disconcerting. it’s pretty likely that inappropriate content will reach our kids before they’re ready to comprehend it—it is estimated that 90 percent of children ages 8 to 16 have encountered pornography on the internet, and the average age of initial exposure is 11. if our kids can’t look to their parents for guidance and leadership in this area, to whom will they turn? peers? Media? God forbid they should “Google” their questions.

Following that first encounter with porn, i was scared and confused. i could not fathom why anyone would want to see pictures of other people’s private parts, much less doing the things these models were doing. My mom had told me about the birds and the bees, but i knew something about what i saw was wrong. i wasn’t sure what i had seen or why it made me feel so dirty, but i was certain i’d get in trouble for it, so i didn’t tell my parents. That was a big mistake.

as a mom, i too am terrified of having “the talk” with my three children. My daughter, the eldest, is now in preschool, so it’s nice to think i have plenty of time to worry about that. However, i am convinced this topic will come up much sooner for her than it did when i was a child. Frightening as it is, i am preparing now, because i really do want to be her voice of truth when it comes to issues of sexuality. That means i have to work out some of my own hang-ups, and that takes effort. But my children are worth it, and yours are too.

My parents were the gentle voice of clarity i needed at that time. However, with the internet still being new and racy televi-

Mary Beth Unthank is a student pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom, and founder of Sycamore—an outreach ministry to women.

affirmation of

marriage From the Church of God International Executive Committee

T

HE CHURCH oF GoD, since its inception, has always believed in “the whole Bible rightly divided.” This belief has its foundation in the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that i came to destroy the Law or the prophets; i did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”* The teaching of the apostle paul found in 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The Holy Scripture is very plain and poignant concerning marriage and God’s commandments to what constitutes a marriage in His sight. Jesus stated in Mark 10:6-8, “But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.” paul would reiterate this teaching of Jesus in Ephesians 5:31 by stating, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” in the entirety of Scripture, there are no cases found anywhere that cite examples of same-sex marriage; but, on the contrary, throughout Scripture, sexual relationships between individuals of the same sex is condemned and often judged by God (see Gen. 19:13; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7; Rom. 1:24-32).

The Church of God is committed to the winning of the lost to Christ as found in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20), and we affirm our love and compassion for all men and women, understanding that all of us were once in the bondage of sin and in need of redemption, as so profoundly stated by paul in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. and such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

The Church of God affirms its position based upon the teachings of Holy Scripture that marriage is, and only can be, the union of one man and one woman in the bonds of holy matrimony as stated by Jesus Christ in Mark 10:6-9: “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.” *All Scripture passages are from the new King James Version.

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by david g. roebuck

first continuing church outside u.s. celebrates centennial

T

HE oLDEST continuing Church of God outside the United States celebrated its centennial May 19-26. Set in order in 1913, Miracle Church of God is located on Green Turtle Cay—just off the island of abaco in the Bahamas. Joyous worship and outstanding preaching characterized the weeklong festivities under the theme “Celebrating our past, present, and Looking Toward a Glorious Future.” although the actual anniversary is July 24, the congregation chose to begin their celebration on pentecost Sunday. Speakers for the week included Douglas LeRoy (former World Missions director), John n. Humes (Bahamian administrative bishop), pastor Degrando Franks Jr. (Longwood, FL), Bill George (World Missions education coordinator), pastor Mitch Maloney (north Cleveland, Tn), Tim Hill (World Missions director), David Roebuck (Church of God historian), Earl Harrison (representing Field Director

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on Tuesday evening. Family members ishmael Charles), and General overseer from throughout the Bahamas attended Mark Williams. the memorial service. Maloney has the distinction of pastora parade through the village of new ing the oldest continuing Church of God plymouth preceded the Friday evening in the United States, and George both world missions service. Members and served as pastor of the Green Turtle Cay friends carried flags of the 62 nations church in the 1960s and later as a staff which the congregation has blessed in minister at the north Cleveland Church. missions efforts during the last century. Franks Jr. is the great-nephew of William at the end of his Friday message, World F. Franks, who was an early member of Missions Director Hill offered worshipers the Green Turtle Cay congregation and an opportunity to support the Marcelly’s also served as national overseer of the Dream project, which is providing “Word, Bahamas. water, wells, and wellness ministries” to Highlights of the week included a children around the world. footwashing and Communion service During three morning sessions, on Monday evening, which reminded Church of God Historian Roebuck traced attendees that the original congregation the early history of the Church of God had such a service the day following their from our 1886 birth in Monroe County, founding in 1913. The original bell Tennessee, to the Bahamas’ mission, used for many years to toll and beyond. The Sunday morning the beginning of worship Overseer service included a rededication of rang for deceased memCarl M. Padgett, center the recently remodeled worship bers and friends durwith Bible, set the Green facilities. General overseer Wiling a memorial service Turtle Cay congregation liams concluded the week with in order on July 24, 1913. This photo is believed a message on the Hebrews 12 to be from that “great cloud of witnesses,” who occasion. both testify of the work of Christ and encourage us in our ongoing Christian race. The first ministry of the Church of God outside the United States occurred when Bahamian Edmond S. Barr and his american-born wife, Rebecca, arrived in nassau in november 1909. Robert M. and ida Evans, along with Carl padgett, joined them the following January. Robert Evans and Edmond Barr reportedly visited Green Turtle Cay in 1911, when their street preaching resulted in the conversion of Mira Roberts and the establishment of a mission.

Pastor Johnny T. Lowe presents a model dinghy to General Overseer Mark Williams. This is the type of boat Padgett and others used to come ashore in 1913.

national overseer Carl M. padgett the miraculous way in which its current returned to the tiny island in 1913 and set facility was purchased, furnished, and the congregation in order on July 24 with expanded. The Bahamian government eight members. John a. Lowe became the had placed a freeze on borrowing money, first pastor, and Mildred Lowe served as but after much prayer unexpectedly lifted the first clerk. that freeze when property became availBishop Johnny T. Lowe has served able to the church in 1991. Members as pastor for the past 19 years, during and friends responded generously to the which the congregation has grown signifiministry vision and provided many of the cantly. Remarkably, the congregation has furnishings as well as funds to pay off the preserved its records since its founding mortgage in less than five years. Since in 1913, and has deposited its earliest that time, the congregation has completed records for preservation at the Dixon two expansions. pentecostal Research Center on the Local residents, Visitors from campus of Lee University. area ministers, and throughout the With a population of less than special guests packed Bahamas and the 500 people, Green Turtle Cay is the sanctuary durUnited States joined an island about three miles long ing the 10 worship local residents and a half-mile wide. English loyin the centennial alists fleeing the american colonies celebration. settled the principal community of new plymouth in the 18th century. The Church of God on Green Turtle Cay worshiped in homes from 1914 to 1922, when they built their first church house near the harbor. Used as a worship center for 70 years, that original building is being developed into a fellowship and youth center. From their beginning, both the village of new plymouth and the Green Turtle Cay congregation have reflected the multiracial nature of the kingdom of God. The congregation took the name Miracle Church of God as a testimony to

services. Visitors came from the Bahamian islands of Long island, new providence, and abaco, as well as the United States. among the participants during the week was pastor pearl Lowe—granddaughter of the first pastor. Mrs. Lowe served as pastor for 35 years and has remained as assistant pastor under Bishop Lowe for the past 19 years. The congregation also provided special tribute to Degrando Franks Sr., a Church of God minister who was born on the island and worked closely with his pioneer uncle, William R. Franks. Several members of the Franks family came to the celebration to honor their family heritage of ministry in the Bahamas. Throughout the week, members and guests reflected on how God has blessed the congregation during its first 100 years and expressed thanksgiving for the pastoral leadership of Bishop Lowe. Lowe applauded the step of faith that established the congregation in 1913 as well as the vision of its pioneers to fulfill the Great Commission. Looking toward the future, he declared on behalf of the congregation, “We joyfully anticipate His promise of isaiah 43:19, for truly God is doing a new thing, and we must continue to be sensitive to the vision to carry the pentecostal message around the world.” David G. Roebuck, Ph.D., is the Church of God historian and director of the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center on the Lee University campus. [email protected]

EVANGEL • aug 2013

23

by b. randall parris

thank you for giving to the lord…

by giving to ywea

W

HY iS iT some words are so difficult to say? it is not because they are long, complicated, or hard to pronounce . . . we just don’t seem to say them easily or often enough. These simple words may get “stuck in our throat,” forgotten, or suppressed. Words like these: • Please • I was wrong. • Forgive me. • I am sorry. and perhaps the most important words: Thank you. if you and/or your church have ever given an offering or are currently giving to the ministry of YWEa, sincerely we want to say, “Thank you.”

Proven Success YWEa—Youth World Evangelism Action—is the youth missions program of the Church of God, sponsored by international Youth and Discipleship. For more than 50 years, youth, adults, and children have generously participated in the ministry of YWEa. So far, over $33 million has been invested in mission fields around the world. an amazing eight times, the annual offering raised for YWEa has surpassed $1 million! Through YWEa, Bible schools, churches, ministry training centers, and orphanages have been built and blessed. Because of the training, preparation, and evangelism, thousands of people have been saved, discipled, baptized in the Holy Spirit, and deployed as pastors, teachers, and church leaders. Few ministries have had greater success or produced such lasting fruit. What YWEA Is Not YWEa is not just another program, nor is it a kind of “tax” or “fee” that a church is obligated to pay. YWEa is not intended to Schooltime for children at the Jyothi Home for Children in India

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be one more thing for someone to feel guilty about not supporting. YWEa is not just another fund-raiser that pastors, youth and children’s leaders, and church members are expected to handle. YWEa is so much more! What YWEA Is YWEa is an opportunity for your local church to step beyond ministry within your church walls and minister to people thousands of miles away. More importantly, YWEa is about raising up a generation of children, teenagers, and adults who live a Great Commission lifestyle. YWEa is allowing ordinary people the chance to make an eternal impression in this world. in a world of self-absorption, YWEa reminds us to care, reach out, and love the world. Here are just a few of the successful projects over the last five decades: • 1961: Church in Brasilia, Brazil • 1971: Latin american Seminary, panama • 1991: Singing Down the Walls in Eastern Europe • 2012: Taking the Gospel to the Heart of africa (ministry center soon to be dedicated in zambia) and Caring for orphans Be the Change! You can be the catalyst to organize the youth, children, and adults of your church for this year’s YWEa effort. it is not too late for you and your church to “Be the Change” in india as YWEa helps build a school for the Jyothi Home for Children and provides food, clothes, care, and love to orphans in india and around the globe. inspiring videos, informative posters, fund-raising ideas, coin folders, teaching ideas, and other great resources are available free by request, or online at myywea.com. Examples to Follow Every gift to YWEa is important. individual gifts, church offerings, and youth and children’s group efforts all add up for a substantial impact. So much good can happen when we work together. as a way of honoring just a few of those who set the example for YWEa success last year, look at the list of the top-100 localchurch offerings. Churches small and large, old and new, urban and rural gave to YWEa. Some churches got the whole congregation involved, while elsewhere, a group of kids or teens made it happen. Was your church involved last year? Will it be this year? Can you imagine what would happen if every Church of God congregation gave an offering to YWEa?

Thanks Again Maybe Youth and Discipleship hasn’t said it loud enough, and maybe church leadership hasn’t said it often enough. perhaps other voices made it difficult for you and others to hear it clearly enough. Maybe the hurried pace of life meant that you missed it because the words were not strategically placed enough. Whatever the case, make sure you don’t miss this. Thank you for giving to the Lord through the ministry of YWEa! Thanks for caring, praying, and working. Thanks for reaching out. Thanks for loving the harvest and loving orphaned children. Thank you! Call (423) 478-7883 or visit myywea.com to get involved. B. Randall Parris serves as the coordinator of youth missions (YWEA) and leadership development for Church of God International Youth and Discipleship.

Lusaka, Zambia, ministry center nearing completion

YWEA 2012 Top 100 Givers States Reporing to Internaional Oices (Ties shown by same rank) Rank Church

Pastor

St/Reg

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 19. 19. 19. 23. 24. 25. 26. 26. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 33. 33. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 44. 44. 47. 48. 49. 50.

Jerry Madden Marc Campbell Barry Peavy Rickey Harris J. Dan Hudson Jerrell Tomlin Jerry Herndon Doug Holt Tim Tatum Ivan Ackerman Parker Darnell John Smith Kevin Kleinhenz Lane Armstrong Bob Bailey Jonathan Ramsey, Jr. Tommy Gill Bruce Flowers Hulet Smith Kevin Wallace William Matheny Jimmie Talley Robbie Crisp, Jr. Dawayne Barnet Larry Evans Salone Green Desroy Rankine Randall Hunt Art Bosic Charlton Daley Dan Tomberlin Paul Alan Let Adam Tripp Kip Boswell Michael Collins William Estep Roland Sharp Forrest Bass Timothy Shawyer T. David Sustar Frederick Sheppard Brady Hacker Courtney Williams Johnny W. Taylor John Paul Diamond Mark Alberino Thurman Jenkins Kenneth Trawick Lafayete Marcum Wesley Holmes

SC SC SGA SGA ENC TX SGA TX SGA MD SGA SC TX AL TX SNE SGA SGA SGA TN TN TN TN TX TN SGA SNE ENC OK SNE SGA AL SGA SGA VA OK TN TX MD SC AL TX SNE SGA SNE WNC WNC SNE WV ENC

Praise Cathedral New Covenant Blackville COG Bay Harbour COG Garner COG Mineral Wells University Blvd. COG Paris COG Cornerstone Loch Lynn COG IWC−Savannah Word of Life Living Hope−Baytown Hayden Denny Lannius COG Rehoboth COG Bay Harbour−Brantley Eastwood COG Crossroads COG Redempion Point Graves Chapel Graysville COG Sparta−East Graham COG The Well Carpenter Road COG House of Restoraion Cedar Creek Midwest City Solid Rock COG Vidalia COG Pell City−Harvest Center Pits COG Donalsonville COG Dublin COG Altus COG McMinnville COG North Main COG Walker Memorial Easley COG Roanoke−Handley Ave Victoria COG Refuge Temple COG Oakview COG Cathedral of Faith Taylorsville COG Franklin COG Promiseland COG Elk Lick COG Broad Creek COG

Amt. Given $ 70,000 $ 52,000 $ 30,100 $ 22,800 $ 20,000 $ 15,500 $ 13,100 $ 12,358 $ 11,000 $ 10,045 $ 10,000 $ 9,453 $ 8,577 $ 7,931 $ 6,500 $ 5,759 $ 5,500 $ 5,100 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 4,651 $ 4,264 $ 4,002 $ 4,000 $ 4,000 $ 4,000 $ 3,667 $ 3,650 $ 3,600 $ 3,551 $ 3,500 $ 3,500 $ 3,500 $ 3,400 $ 3,359 $ 3,223 $ 3,200 $ 3,049 $ 3,000 $ 2,788 $ 2,700 $ 2,500 $ 2,500 $ 2,500 $ 2,425 $ 2,400 $ 2,355 $ 2,302

Rank Church

Pastor

St/Reg

Amt. Given

51. 52. 53. 53. 55. 56. 57. 57. 57. 57. 57. 57. 57. 57. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 72. 74. 75. 75. 75. 78 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 84. 84. 84. 84. 84. 84. 84. 84. 84. 84. 95. 96. 97. 97. 99. 100.

Jerry Steele Larry Flippo Rene Couture Jefrey Blackburn Billy Ray Adams Eddie Williamson Kevin Dawson Dan McEachin Jamie Bagget Todd Garner Ryan Carnes Bobbie Perkins Paul Keeter Kevin Taylor Richard Smith Othon Noel Don Barsness Doyle Roberts Vernon Carter Alan Greene Tim Kerns David Douglas Wayne Hughes Carold Shelnut Brit Peavy Keith Lairsey William Prince Ashley Powell Dan Southern Leroy Kerbo Michael Springer Darrell Butram J. Mark Muncy Robert Groves, Jr. Edward Broom Joe Grice Robert Peterson Scot Vaughn James Estep Delbert Hughes Westley Beason Acklan Quarrie William Braswell Dennis Pruit Ronald Hepperly Milton Stubbleield Steve Hardeman Ralph Horne Randell Fuson Gary Walker

PA SC SNE TN AL AL SGA SGA SGA SGA SGA MI ENC TX PA SNE N Central SC OK WNC SC SGA SGA TX SGA SGA SGA SNE MD OK TX WV IN MD FL SC OK SC KS OK SNE NY ENC PA TN SC SGA SGA WV SGA

$ 2,165 $ 2,135 $ 2,100 $ 2,100 $ 2,066 $ 2,015 $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 1,958 $ 1,952 $ 1,945 $ 1,914 $ 1,875 $ 1,872 $ 1,858 $ 1,800 $ 1,800 $ 1,771 $ 1,600 $ 1,600 $ 1,600 $ 1,590 $ 1,568 $ 1,566 $ 1,550 $ 1,540 $ 1,524 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,427 $ 1,420 $ 1,400 $ 1,400 $ 1,386 $ 1,350

Markleysburg COG Spartanburg−North Lighthouse New Britain Harriman COG Sullignet−Cornerstone Coosa Valley COG Odum COG Tit Avenue COG True Life COG Union Grove COG New Life COG Carleton COG Rivers of Living Water Victory Temple COG Windber Life COG Chrisian Life Center Garrison COG Internaional Praise OKC−Metro House Thomasville COG Tremont Avenue COG Green Street COG Abundant Life COG Leander COG West Ward COG Victory Tabernacle COG Reidsville COG Greater Works Community Stein Highway COG Oak Park COG Plainview COG 10th Avenue COG Ireland Road COG Living Hope Ministries Life Church Dillon COG New Hope COG Trinity Springs Independence Lawton−Lighthouse Mount. Carmel Bronxwood Plymouth Williamsburg RIO Central Beufort Dublin Liberty Parkway Parkersburg Jefersonville

EVANGEL • aug 2013

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VIEWPOINTS

how should student pastors address the topic of sexual purity with their group? start the conversation DEWAYNE MOREE IS STUDENT PASTOR AT THE FOREST HILL CHURCH OF GOD IN MOBILE, ALABAMA, AND DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRY COACHING NETWORK. @dewaynemoree @ymcn1 [email protected]

SEXUaL pURiTY can be considered a hot topic, but in reality sex is just part of life. The problem is when people engage in a sexual relationship outside the confines of marriage. according to a 2012 survey by Grey Matter, 44 percent of unmarried evangelical young adults have had sex. So why, as the church, do we think the conversation is taboo? We have failed to educate and disciple our teens; so, most do not wait, while those who do choose to wait often struggle. Teaching teenagers a healthy development of sex and sexual purity is vital. Too often, however, for lack of a better method, guilt is used to try to secure abstinence. However, guilt is not an effective tool. For teens who have given in to sexual pressure, guilt trips generally cause feelings of insecurity and worthlessness, which in turn leaves them feeling unloved, unwanted, and damaged. Yes, we should feel conviction and guilt for our sin; however, we must not fail to teach that God graciously forgives those who sincerely repent. Good communication between student pastors and teens is key. Students need a clear understanding of what sex and sexual purity are, why abstinence is important and commanded in Scripture, and that sexual immorality has serious consequences. in order to communicate more effectively, student pastors must use vocabulary that fits today’s culture. This will help teens pro-

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EVANGEL EVANGEL • aug aug 2013 2013

cess their formative and hormonal years without a skewed view of sex and sexual purity. Simply saying, “Don’t have sex until you’re married” will not work anymore. The culture has given the church an open door to speak on the issues of sexuality, and we need to take full advantage of the opportunity. The world says, “Fulfill your desires and find pleasure; it doesn’t matter if you’re not married.” at every turn, on every other billboard, in most commercials, in nearly every show on television, and even in school textbooks, students are bombarded with the world’s view of sex. now is not the time for the church to shrink back, be silent, or compromise. now is the time to change the culture, to reestablish the foundations, and restore truth. Sex is more than pleasure; it is a covenant—a covenant between a man, a woman, and God. Covenant is a big deal to God, but it isn’t a big deal in our culture. How do we teach teens to wait? 1. Pray. pray for God to purify your mind and heart as a student pastor. We cannot ask teens to strive for purity when we ourselves do not. only God can give us wisdom and clarity in any situation or conversation. 2. Look to God’s Word. Do not rely on someone else’s opinion. God’s Word contains every truth we need. i like to start with the Song of Solomon because it celebrates the whole package of the relationship—initial attraction, exciting emotions, longing, and sexual intimacy. and it connects all of this to the proper context or timing—public approval of the relationship, highlighted by a wedding (ch. 3). 3. Keep it pure. Sex is pure, God created it, and it is good. We don’t have to be explicit for students to understand us. The media, peer pressure, and/or home life have polluted some students’ views. However, be careful not to pollute the views of the innocent in order to make it understandable. 4. Bridge the gap. Help parents understand how to effectively communicate with their teens about sex. Educate and equip parents for the journey. offer loving and confidential support to both parents and teens. God’s gift of sex is a process of excitement, communication, and intimacy. now, go start the conversation.

five do’s and don’ts J. C. WORLEY IS STUDENT PASTOR FOR SOUTH METRO MINISTRIES CHURCH OF GOD IN SHARPSBURG, GEORGIA. [email protected]

THE WoRD oF GoD says, “in a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” (2 Tim. 2:20-21 niV). our primary focus as student pastors should be to cover our students in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help them remain pure in mind, heart, and body, despite living in a world that is filled with contaminating and corrupting influences. adolescents are constantly exposed and inundated with an overwhelming amount of sexually charged material. This comes from the music they listen to, the TV shows and movies they watch, websites they browse, magazine articles they read, and circles of influence. Without the strength of the Lord, guidance from His Holy Word, and proper teaching, our students will be the next victims to this evil agenda the devil is using against God’s children. if we are not proactive, many students in this generation will become another statistic among those who have fallen to sexual impurity. Looking at today’s TV personalities, movie stars, musicians, athletes, singers, and even many parents, unfortunately our students have fewer positive role models than we once had. as student pastors, we must understand we are battling a multibillion-dollar-a-year multimedia industry that continually seeks to negatively influence the lives of teenagers. May it be the desire of our heart to spiritually protect our teenagers from the onslaught of the Enemy! i believe if the devil is after anyone, he is after those who are sexually pure.

The adversary would like nothing less than to see the innocent overtaken by sexual impurity. The local church and parents must partner together to reestablish the standards and take our position of authority against the devil. Here are my top five do’s and don’ts about addressing the topic of sexual purity within a student ministry context: 1. Do not attempt to ignore the topic of sexual purity. Do teach and preach on the topic of sexual purity. Try designating one month out of the year (such as February) to speak on this critical topic. also, you may want to consider hosting a purity ceremony to close out that month. another idea is to bring in a ministry that focuses specifically on this topic (e.g.: silverringthing.com). 2. Do not try to tackle the topic of sexual purity on your own. You are not responsible for teaching students about sex; rather, you are challenged with the opportunity to instruct adolescents about the importance of abstinence and purity. Do include the parents of your students as you prepare to take a journey down this sensitive path. invite the parents to come and sit in on your purity series, or have a weekend parent session that will equip them to discuss the “birds and the bees” with their teens. informing the parents before, during, and after you teach on sexual purity is a must! 3. Do not be fooled into believing that sexual purity only involves the physical. Do understand that in the midst of a world filled with toxic influences, we must educate our students on the importance of remaining pure in their mind, heart, and bodies. 4. Do not make the clean “dirty” in order to make the dirty “clean.” This incredible thought is from student pastor Kevin Moore (growmoore.tv). This means you will probably have students that have already gone “there,” and they will know exactly what you are talking about, so you do not have to get graphic just for the sake of shock value. Do protect the minds of the innocent. The reality is that not everyone is doing “it,” nor has everyone done “it.” in your group there will be students who are sexually pure, so be careful not to cause more damage than good. 5. Do not ever tell personal stories about the intimacy shared between you and your spouse. What happens between the two of you should stay between the two of you. in my opinion, nothing beneficial could come from this approach. Do allow the Holy Spirit to help guide you as you teach on the topic of sexual purity. also, do realize that common sense is a great companion of the Holy Spirit.

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PEOPLE AND EVENTS

PATHWAY BOOK BECOMES MOVIE Hendersonville, tenn.— Music City uSA buzzed with excitement as actors and producers, magazine reporters, family and friends of the actors, and many others crowded into the theater for the premiere of Inspiration Pop 2929. The movie is an adaptation of the book The Street Sweeper by Tim enochs, a life and business coach from Clarksville, Tennessee.

The book began with a dream, enochs said. “When i awoke, immediately, it seemed God spoke to my heart, telling me to get up and write in my journal. in the dream, i met an unassuming guy who swept the streets in a small town called Inspiration, population 2,929. As i wrote, the story of the wise and mysterious street sweeper came to life with each

paragraph. The powerful message and purpose of the dream became clear: the street sweeper would start me on a journey to uncover seven revelations of success that would change my life.” Within four to six weeks, the manuscript was completed. adapting the book to film rochell Simmons, who has roots in the Church of God and years of experience in movie productions in london, england, visited Pathway Press and talked with David ray about her desire

GLOBAL CHURCH PLANTING IN THE USA/CANADA cleveland, tenn.— The global emphasis on church planting that produces a new congregation every six hours in mission fields has come home to the united States and Canada, and a new thrust of church planting has begun under the leadership of Tim Hill and John Childers, director and assistant director of Church of God World Missions. in a cooperative venture with state/regional administrative bishops and churchplanting practitioners, Hill and Childers recently launched a new website to acquaint prospective planters with details about the new approach: www.cogchurchplanting.com. “Men and women who become involved with the Global Planting initiative will receive four things to help

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them succeed,” said Childers, who directs the ministry on a day-to-day basis. “We will help them work through an assessment to measure their readiness for church planting; we will assign a coach who will provide guidance and encouragement; we will offer training—both via internet and in group settings; and we will serve planters by connecting them with a covering church and by guiding them into their own

culturally appropriate service activities.” A Church Planting resource Group—consisting of effective planters, career pastors, and church leaders—works with the two missions leaders to plan and resource the initiative. The group includes brent Stephens, Anthony braswell, Anthony Pelt, David ray, Marty baker, Tom Sterbens, Carlos Moran, Tony Stewart, Travis Johnson, Mark Corelle, and leslie Durham. “each of these individuals brings strength and background that will enhance our efforts,” Childers observed. in coming days, as they continue interacting with state and regional leaders, the group will set regional and nationwide goals for planting effective new churches before the 2014 General Assembly and beyond.

to produce a Christian film. During the visit, ray gave her a copy of The Street Sweeper, which was published by Pathway in 2010. Through her efforts, along with many other talented individuals, Inspiration Pop 2929 became reality. This family film introduces a diverse cast of characters in the fictional Southern town called Inspiration. Among them is a young musician whose dream is to share his gift with a larger audience. A grief-stricken widow copes with the death of her soldier daughter; a small-business owner sacrifices her freedom for the safety of a young runaway; a mechanic finds his faith, along with a new family; and a couple muddles through problems for renewal in their marriage. each person’s life is touched by the street sweeper, played by Jackie Stewart, who gives each one a biblically based principle enochs calls “an irrefutable revelation of success.” the premiere representatives from the Church of God international offices were invited to attend the premiere of the movie. lorna Gosnell, international coordinator of Women’s Discipleship, said, “This is a heartwarming and powerful film about discovering seven scriptural revelations that, when put into practice, bring transformation.” Two of the “extras” in the movie were Sandra Kay Williams, international women’s director for the Church of God, and her son ryan. She said, “ryan and i saw this experience as an educational adventure. The premiere was fun, and i pray God’s blessings on all those in the Christian filming industry as they endeavor to display His love to moviegoers.”

For daily news updates about what’s happening in the Church of God and evangelical world, visit faitH news networK, at www.faithnews.cc.

Tennessee State representative Kevin brooks was also present. “i’m so proud of the participation of several individuals from the church who had a part in this project, and i’m proud that it was filmed in Tennessee,” he said. The event opened with an inspiring song by the lee university Campus Choir, directed by Jimmy Phillips. Adam enochs, whose father wrote the book, is a theology major at lee and a member of the choir. Since there is a wedding scene toward the end of the movie, the choir was invited to the filming in Waynesboro, Tennessee, to sing. the actors The main actor in the movie is britt George from los Angeles. He has been working in film since

Tim Enochs at the movie premiere

1996, with his credits including The Code Conspiracy, Dragnet, Boston Legal, and Burning Hollywood. He plays a photojournalist whose marriage is suffering because of too much work and poor communication. in an attempt to connect with his wife, the couple takes a weekend trip to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, only to suffer a setback when their car breaks down in a sleepy little town. “This is where i meet a wise man who, you could say, was expecting me,” George said. “He takes me on a journey where i witness the trials and tribulations of others, thereby seeing deeper into my own life’s problems.” Jason Crabb, a Grammy and 10-time Dove award winner, plays himself in the movie. He

Larry Gatlin (left) with Jason Crabb

DECEASED MINISTERS n bostic, George W.; 87; ordained bishop; West virginia; Katherine bostic (wife)

n napier, bobby Gene; 73; ordained bishop; Tennessee; brenda napier (wife)

n clarKe, Godfrey; 66; ordained bishop; bahamas; Shirley Clarke (wife)

n olds, billy leon; 83; ordained bishop; oregon; Peggy olds (wife)

n clement, ellen Joyce; 71; exhorter; Maine; edson Clement (son) n GoodricH, benedict Forrest; 84; ordained minister; South Carolina; naomi Goodrich (wife)

n poindexter, James J.; 85; ordained bishop; north Carolina; leavora Poindexter (wife) n rumler, Fred; 95; exhorter; Florida; Dorothy rumler (wife) n seaGraves, Paul; 83; ordained bishop; Montana; Don Seagraves (son)

n Justice, Henry James; 81; ordained bishop; Pennsylvania; Arlene Justice (wife)

n smitH, Glenn Taylor; 74; ordained minister; Tennessee; Darrell Smith (son)

n moreland, Wesley; 66; ordained minister; Georgia; Peaches Moreland (sister)

n sparre, lee Duane; 65; ordained bishop; Michigan; Michele Sparre (wife)

said, “This is a must-see movie for families. i’m excited about it for several reasons. My girls and my wife are in it, and we get to perform the old Crabb Family standard ‘Through the Fire.’ i think everyone is going to be touched by the message of this film.” larry Gatlin, singer/songwriter (of the Gatlin brothers) describes his involvement in the movie: “i met ryan ramos, the director, when my wife and i were sitting in a little Greek restaurant on eighth Avenue in nashville. i heard some guys talking about someone writing a song for a movie. ‘i’m not eavesdropping,’ i said, ‘but i can write songs, too.’ So i met ryan and connected with his vision for this project.” Gatlin has a cameo appearance, performing a song he wrote especially for the movie.

“This was my first faith-focused film, but it will not be my last,” commented ramos. “i am humbled that God chose me to tell this emotional, musical, and humorous story of how faith can work in our lives. i made a promise to Him that i would not quit if He wouldn’t quit on me, and we all know God never gives up on us, even though we may give up on ourselves.” Tim enochs has high hopes for the movie. “now that i have been through this process with a group of wonderful and talented people,” he says, “i want to adapt more of what i do to film. My prayer is that this film and the book will turn more hearts—and eyes—toward God’s Word for answers.” Go to inspirationpop2929movie .com to preorder a DvD of this film.—Wanda Griffith

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CHURCH OF GOD CHRONICLES by david g. roebuck

the teaching ministry of

avis randolph swiger

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UCH LiKE THE force of a strong magnetic field, curiosity attracted avis Swiger and her husband, archie, to a Church of God revival in Salem, West Virginia. What message might the blind evangelist, Dalton Short, preach? Who were these people that called themselves “Church of God”? Before the six-week revival concluded, avis and archie were converted, and avis had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. archie soon received the gift of the Spirit, and the couple became active in the Salem Church of God. When a visiting group of students from the Bible Training School (BTS) in Cleveland, Tennessee, gave their testimonies, the Lord put in avis’s heart a desire to teach there. already having earned a teaching certificate, she wrote to president J. H. Walker Sr. and asked if she could teach at the school. Making a starting salary of $40 per month, the 1935-1936 BTS catalog listed her as teaching high school, Christian evidence, and elocution. BTS became “Lee College” in subsequent years, and she taught many of the classes in the Religious Education Department but specialized in homiletics, personal evangelism, and missions. avis Swiger had a profound influence on the lives of students during her teaching career, which lasted until 1972. Charles W. Conn (Lee president, 1970-82) called her a “legend” who left “a deep imprint on the school and a much deeper imprint in the lives of her students.” Honoring her in 1958, the Lee College alumni association initiated an avis

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Swiger Student Loan Fund. according to the Lee Alumnus, entering her 25th year of teaching at Lee, Swiger was “the teacher who is known to more BTS and Lee College students than any other person in the history of the school.”

at her funeral in 1976, Ray H. Hughes acknowledged his debt and that of many other Church of God ministers. He recalled, “it was in her soulwinning class that i was motivated to study the Scriptures and commit them to memory. This method of study was to greatly influence my ministry and set a pattern for my preaching.”

in addition to teaching, Swiger wrote and directed plays, sponsored the Missions Club, and traveled extensively with students to promote missions. Under her leadership the college launched the Vindagua in 1942. She also served as dean of women, administered the Lee College Correspondence Department, and was a licensed minister in the Church of God. Her writing profoundly influenced the denomination. For three years, she edited “Youth Wants to Know” in The Lighted Pathway. This column answered questions related to subjects such as dating, friendship, music, and recreational activities. Then from 1952 to 1956, she wrote “The Homemaker’s Chapel” in the Church of God Evangel, speaking to women during a time when their societal roles were changing rapidly. She also wrote many other articles on a wide variety of subjects. a decision to attend a revival preached by a blind evangelist changed the lives of avis Swiger, her family, and countless students who studied under her. Writing about the major choices of life, she once challenged her readers: “Every decision you ever make about anything becomes a part of you and helps to make up your character, which will be made known someday. What preparation did you make today for that crucial moment in the future?” David G. Roebuck, Ph.D., is the Church of God historian and director of the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center on the Lee University campus. [email protected]