Oral Roberts 1918-2009

Oral Roberts, founder and chancellor of Oral Roberts University, passed away on December 15 at the age of 91. His departure is mourned by the ORU family, including the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters who embraced his philosophy of whole-person education.

Born in 1918 in rural Oklahoma, Roberts was a preacher’s kid who initially rejected his father’s faith. At the age of 17, however, he was struck down with tuberculosis. A subsequent miraculous healing led to his conversion, and a call on his life from God himself to “take My healing power to your generation.”

Carrying out that call took him from small churches to tent meetings to international crusades, and from radio and television to books and letters he wrote to the thousands who partnered with his ministry. The capstone of his life’s work was the founding of ORU in 1963. “Raise up your students to hear My voice,” God told Roberts, “to go where My light is seen dim, My voice is heard small, and My healing power is not known, even to the uttermost bounds of the earth. Their work will exceed yours, and in this I am well pleased.”

As Roberts often said, “Success without a successor is failure.” The graduates of ORU, he believed, would carry on the work of his healing ministry, “until Jesus comes again.”

Dr. Mark Rutland, who was inaugurated as the third president of ORU in September, had this to say about Roberts:

“Chancellor Roberts was one of the brilliant spiritual lights of the 20th century and a giant of the Christian faith. At the core of his legacy is a great university that bears his name. Like millions worldwide, I am mourning his passing and am grateful for his visionary life and contributions.”

Trustees Board Chair Mart Green said, “Chancellor Oral Roberts was a true disciple of Christ and his contributions to the kingdom of God will live on for many years to come. Just 10 days from Christmas, we know Oral will celebrate the birth of Christ with his heavenly father. The Oral Roberts University family grieves his loss yet celebrates the legacy he leaves behind.”

A public memorial service for Chancellor Oral Roberts will be held at the ORU Mabee Center, in Tulsa, Okla. on Monday, December 21st at 2:00 p.m.

Man Shot in Wombwell

Four people have been arrested after a man was shot in the head in the South Yorkshire town of Wombwell.

The man received a “significant wound” in the incident, which happened in an alleyway between Marsh Street and Smith Street at about 1930 GMT on Sunday.

South Yorkshire Police said the 41-year-old man, who lives in Marsh Street, remained in a “serious condition” in hospital.

Three men and a woman, all from South Yorkshire, are being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder.

Information from www.bbc.co.uk

Helga Mosey Home Improvements

Operation Mobilisation

What Does OM Do?

Working in every region of the world and on every ocean (via two ocean-going ships), Operation Mobilisation seeks to demonstrate and proclaim the love of God. In every situation OM teams adapt to the local culture and situation, finding the best ways to share Jesus’ message.

Through literature, the creative arts, friendship, Bible studies, videos and cassette tapes, correspondence courses, relief and development work, and much, much more… by all means possible we will tell people how our lives have been changed… and how they can meet Jesus.

Wherever possible, Operation Mobilisation works in partnership with the local church, encouraging and supporting local believers. Where there is no church… we seek to plant churches.

Who Are OM?

Over 5,400 people working in 110 countries are serving with Operation Mobilisation to bring a message of hope to the people of the world.

They have one thing in common — we love Jesus and we want others to have the opportunity to hear about Him.

OM’s Purpose

Operation Mobilisation works in more than 100 countries, motivating and equipping people to share God’s love with people all over the world.

OM seeks to help plant and strengthen churches, especially in areas of the world where Christ is least known.

OM’s Vision

• Focusing on the unreached
• Partnering with churches
• Caring for our members
• Training and equipping world Christians
• Mobilising the next generation
• Globalising our ministry
• Strengthening our organisation  

OM’s Core Values

• Knowing and glorifying God
• Living in submission to God’s word
• Being people of grace and integrity
• Serving sacrificially
• Loving and valuing people
• Evangelising the world
• Reflecting the diversity of the body of Christ
• Global intercession
• Esteeming the Church

Operation Mobilisation is a member of the Evangelical Alliance and Global Connections.

Central Pentecostal Church, Wigston

We spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday with some wonderful people from Central Pentecostal Church, Wigston, near Leicester.  They were holding a retreat at the Lindors Country House Hotel in Gloucestershire and Edward was the speaker for the weekend.  It was a brilliant time of fellowship and ministry.

The Central Pentecostal Church (CPC) has recently celebrated 40 years of serving the people of Wigston and the surrounding areas.

It is a church with a purpose. People are surprised at the broad range of ages of those who are part of the church. There is a family atmosphere and children are very welcome.

There is an inspiring service to suit the needs of people with all kinds of tastes and backgrounds. Those who attend the services receive help in understanding the message of the Bible. They also enjoy the friendliness of the people and the pleasantness of the interior.

They have been worshipping in the present building for 11 years and we are continually improving our service to our community, including the comfort of the premises.

Lindors Country House Hotel

Lindors is a charming 19th century property situated in the Welsh borders between Monmouth and Chepstow. It lies approximately one mile on the Coleford side of Bigsweir Bridge.

The south front of the house looks down its own valley into the main body of the beautiful Wye Valley, with Offa’s Dyke beyond the wooded slopes of Cleddon and Trellech Hill.

Set in nine acres of gardens through which a brook descends by a series of waterfalls and pools to the River Wye, Lindors is an ideal base from which to explore the Wye Valley and the Royal Forest of Dean.

Accommodation is available for 48 people in Lindors Country House, which has an attractive lounge with log fire and linenfold oak wood panelling. In addition accommodation is available for 22 people in the 5 self-contained pine lodges in the grounds. These comprise four with 2 bedrooms (including one with facilities for people with disabilities) and one with 3 bedrooms.

There are 3 conference rooms which can be allocated for corporate meetings and worship.

Leisure facilities include a 15 metre (48ft) heated indoor swimming pool with a separate childrens pool.

www.lindors.co.uk

Short Term Missions by George Verwer

The following is an article by George Verwer, founder and leader of Operation Mobilisation.

Ten short-termers we don’t want

Short-term mission trips have become very popular and many churches run their own programs. Some churches want all their members to go on a trip. Having been involved for 50 years with both short and long-term mission has given me some very strong convictions about who should go and who should not go.

Here are ten short-termers who really should stay at home.

Mr Selfish – the person who mainly cares about themselves and how much they can get out of the trip.

Mr Tourist – the person who just wants to see the sights and hear the sounds. Not interested in hard work, serving or presenting the Gospel.

Mr Lazy – they will have many reasons each day as to why they cannot get out into the work.

Mr Big-Spender – they bring a lot of money/travellers checks and want to spend much of their time shopping.

Mr Insensitive – people who push their own country or culture and are insensitive to other people’s culture. They often leave behind a very bad testimony.

Mr Critical – These people see everything that is wrong in the church and country, even among their co-workers. It is contrary to the basic message of I Cor. 13.

Mr Unteachable – they are often very prejudiced and stubborn and bring hurt and confusion.

Mr Prayerless – to me, it is unthinkable to have prayerless people in ministry or service. We are in spiritual warfare and we must use the weapons that God has told and given us to use.

Mr Addicted – people, especially with sexual addictions, should not go. They can so quickly bring huge offense and even scandal. People with alcohol and other drug addictions need to get that sorted out at home.

Mr Proud – Pride is such a deadly sin and often leads to division and broken relationships. People with heavy national pride easily insult and hurt the very people you are trying to serve.

Yes, short-term mission is a serious ministry and must be done in a way that will honor God and bless the people we serve. There needs to be serious orientation, interviewing and training before people go. There should at least be some life, action and godly reality before a lot of money is spent to travel and serve among people in a different country and culture.

George Verwer

Stacey Williams – volunteer in the Philippines

When I first planned my 5 weeks in the Philippines I had planned to volunteer in schools, I had no idea what the Philippines had in store for me though.
I was lucky enough to receive information through Springboard Foundation (a great Foundation that has done so much to help the victims of this and other disasters as well as providing structural help when the Philippines has no disaster) that The Hope Foundation Day Care Centre in Baseco, Manila needed help with a Drop in Program.
I was excited to discover that everyday I would be working with the kids in games! No lesson plan, just friendly afterschool fun.
One week into my Volunteering and a Typhoon hit Manila. Baseco was very lucky and managed to stay above water so my work continued. I was a little torn now however between staying with Hope or finding relief work for the Typhoon.
Thursday night Springboard called me and asked if I was available to help out at The Mango Tree House.
‘They just need someone to write receipts and take photos, Stacey. It’ll be easy work.’
So by midday Friday I was in a truck bustling through traffic on my way with over 500 bags of relief goods.
 
The Mango Tree house (www.asct.org.uk) is a newly built building and it is flooded. Not with water but with helping hands. The staff and children are splendid to work and play with and I’ve been welcomed so quickly into their family I’m sorry I’m not staying longer.
Little did I know that Craig, the Manager of Mango Tree was waiting for me to arrive and had plenty more in store for me than just receipts and photos!
 
The Mango Tree House has been very impressive, warming and busy!
In the three days that I’ve been here I’ve seen over 3000 bags of good be delivered directly into the hands of the Typhoon victims.
We drove to Wawa and I was told that along the bank of the river there used to be about 100 meters more of land and along with that, peoples houses!
As we handed out goods to a long line of waiting families people held out their yellow ticket stubs that had been given out earlier in the day by the Barangay council.
The delivering of the goods was very well organised and the officials had a well structured system which saw that the line was gone within minutes and people were all walking away with a plastic bag, food for the week and a smile… actually they never seem to stop smiling.
The following morning we returned to Wawa to visit the other side where people’s path to their home was washed away. We gave goods again and also got to see the massive destruction this river has had on this little town. 
We passed areas where land had fallen away, where houses were missing and also where new rocks and land had appeared from land slides above.
The river was still raging as we walked and we began to wonder, this is not a matter of how many survived, but how?
The girls in school uniforms that were walking past us on a non existent path back home were having to stop to allow men with big bundles of bamboo over their shoulders heading to the town to start rebuild their homes.
Where did all these people go when the Typhoon swallowed up their home? Where do you go when the water is rising up and the land slides are tumbling down?
 
One thing was for sure, I had a lot more to do than plan games for the next after school activity. That world had suddenly slipped away and the reality of what we were dealing with had sunk in.
I’m glad to be staying here at Mango Tree House and have a few distractions. By this time its Friday night and the kids are having a games night, So the Karaoke machine was finally switched off and the children all sat around waiting for the instructions for their first game. The elders of the children prepared the games so not only was I the only white person, I was the only adult.
I watched as they played, laughed and screamed when they didn’t get the answer right. All of a sudden I was seated in the centre of the room and they all introduced themselves one by one then shot 100 questions my way.
‘Are you married?’ ‘How old are you?’ ‘Have you studied?’ ‘Who is your family?’
The intensities of the day were beginning to fall away as the children’s smiles were proving to be contagious, as they always are.
 
Today was the day.
So far we had heard about these affected areas. We had seen photos but we had failed to put foot to mud, as it were.
The day started well with over eager volunteers from International School of Manila who were well prepared with Welly boots and smiles!
We arrived at Dela Costa to discover houses and streets that had been over 10 foot submerged in water. Some of the power lines from house to house still had twigs and mud stuck on them from the water almost 2 weeks ago.
The worst of the streets were not hard to find, we simply followed the cars and people covered toes to waist with mud!
We spread out into two of the worst streets which both backed onto two more streets which were just as bad.
People were outside their homes throwing their positions out into the streets amongst the piles of mud.
Front verandas and even inside some houses were 2 to 3 feet deep in mud and people were trying to attack it with the little supplies they had. One lady was picking up piles of mud and placing it into a toy truck and pulling it on a string out to the street!
We were all quick to finally start shovelling mud and to help. It only occurred to me when at the days end and we had shovelled away peoples personal belongings into the street, how incredibly happy the streets were. Everyone was smiling and lending a hand. Life goes on for these people. They seem to know that they still have the most important thing, their family. And here in the Philippines that means more than just your own. It includes your neighbour who you’ve lived next to for 10 years, the jeepney driver you see every day, the store owner who feeds your children. These people still have their community and to see how well they all worked together to help each other today was overwhelming.
 
Our helping hands managed to clear two main side streets and also with the donations from Springboard Foundation we were able to clear it all from the main road with a Bob Cat.
There were many other volunteers who arrived during the day and we were able to put many hands into good work by having a train line of buckets and shovelers.
 
We’d been digging for about two hours and I was fed I up! I finally announced to my fellow diggers that, ‘PLASTIC BAGS ARE THE ENEMY!’
You have no idea how hard it is to shovel mud when there’s a big garbage bag or even just a small plastic bag in amongst it all! Cripes!
Unfortunately they were not the only things we had trouble digging up. We shovelled up shoes, toys, clothes, books, but digging up 3 photo albums was the hardest thing for me. I asked a man whose house we were next to and he said he didn’t know the people. It’s very possible the photos were from a family in another street.
Although the streets we cleared both back onto others that are just as bad, today was a great success.
We were able to clear a lot of mud and we were also able to donate some of the tools to help the people clear more of the mud from their houses in the days to come.
The friendly crew from International School of Manila have all had so much fun today that they decided they will return each weekend to help until Dela Costa is cleaned up.
The day finished with some new friends made and sad farewells but not to worry, we all had so much fun, I’m sure the streets of Dela Costa will see us back soon to help some more.
 
Tomorrow morning it all starts again with three dispatches of goods, one dedicated to mothers and babies, a medical aid program and as usual, a whole lot of fun!
My day will start at about 6am and I will have volunteers here ready to pack. Which is a good thing because right now I’ve got a room full of unorganised clothes, over 2000 bags of food being delivered tomorrow, babies dippers being delivered tomorrow, a medical aid program that’s running at 1pm and you know what?
I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
 
 STACEY WILLIAMS
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Incare Appeal

Incare was formed in 1985 as the International Care and Relief department of Assemblies of God UK and since then has responded to disasters and tragedies in over 40 countries worldwide. Using help from the members of the Assemblies of God churches, tonnes and tonnes of physical aid and over £2,000,000 has been given to victims of floods, earthquakes, famines, droughts, wars and civil unrest. Working only through AoG missionaries or other groups with whom we have a long-term relationship, Incare strives to deliver aid direct to where it is most needed.

Currently we have an Incare appeal on behalf of the victims of Typhoon Ketsana which flooded Manila at the end of September.

Happy Birthday Edward

Today Edward celebrates his 36th birthday.