Called to Preach?
The Assemblies of God welcome many new ministers into our fellowship each year. We feel that if God has called you, you should have the opportunity to enter into an educational program that will equip you to fulfill your call. Our correspondence school, Berean School of the Bible, brings the study to your home or office. You will find additional information and registration forms at www.globaluniversity.edu or you may contact the District Secretary's office.
The following process will be followed for those seeking first-time credentials or an upgrade this year:
1. Secure applications and other forms from the district office.
2. Complete and return the applications and forms to the district office.
3. Have transcripts from the Bible schools you attended sent to the district office.
4. Sit for the written examination and attend orientation in September.
5. Be interviewed at your respective Sectional Council in October.

Go To the Birds – Part Four

Commitment to the Cause

It is interesting that Jesus likened the church to a flock of sheep and we refer to a group of birds as a flock.  It has been said repeatedly, “birds of a feather flock together.”  The scripture talks about those of like precious faith.

            We call smaller groupings churches.  Our largest group makes up our Fellowship.  Regardless of the size of the flock, we are all under one banner, the Assemblies of God. Today, the loyalty factor has diminished.  There was once a time when someone joined a church because of its value in the community and the purity of its doctrine.  George Barna says that people today go to church on a given Sunday where they will get their “felt-need met.”  In other words: no loyalty to community, value, or doctrine.

            In a church I once served I approached some guests in a Sunday evening service.  Their response to my greeting was, “We heard this is where it is happening and we intend to be here until it quits happening.”   No loyalty.  No concern for doctrinal purity.  Just a desire to feel good.  No commitment to the future of that particular local church.  No willingness to invest in God’s work.  Just a desire to get the best at little or no personal cost. 

            On another occasion a lady who was returning to our church for the third or fourth time said, “I will not teach, sing, or play the piano; I am just here.  Again, there was no desire to participate in ministry or invest in the future of the local church.  How did we get here?

            Prophet Amos asked, “Can two walk together, except they agree?”  This poses an interesting question.  How long will one stay if he does not know what is stood for in the body of believers?  Amos also penned the following, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of God: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” 

            The leader of the flock must take his leadership responsibilities serious.  He must look out for the welfare of those who are members, those who are guests, and children and adults alike who are growing up under his ministry.  The members of the flock must absorb some of the workload by helping those who are weaker, teaching those who are unlearned, providing for those who are in need, and assisting in the growth of the flock by evangelism.

            The bottom line is there is no place in scripture where those who are called by His name are given a free pass.   We are first responsible for ourselves, then for our brother or sister in the faith, and then to the person we know is unsaved or in need.  Members of the flock are to be unselfish and tireless as God leads them into ministry.

            If we are going to be effective in our efforts to help one another and reach the lost, we must know what we believe, practice what we preach, and work in unity to get the work done.  We must become community.

            I have always appreciated this Fellowship for its doctrinal purity and its willingness to work within the framework of God’s word to bring others in.  The preamble to our tenets of faith says, “The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice.  This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us, i.e., that we all say the same thing (I Cor. 1: 10; Acts 2:42).”  I have always joined a local church wherever I have moved, openly shared my faith, and made great effort to assist in building the local church.  I am proud of our flock.  I will defend the doctrine and governance of the local body.  I will support to district and General Councils.  Will I ever disagree?  I have in the past and I probably will in the future, but I have looked around and to be honest I can’t find anything better.

            I am going to fly with the wind of the Spirit under the banner I started with.  This Fellowship gave me a platform from which to speak when there was doubt whether I deserved it or not.  Whether leading or following we must remain one.

 
For information on preventing the risk of child abuse in our churches, visit http://ag.org/top/empower/chuadm_law_child_abuse.cfm.