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CONVOY OF HOPE RECEIVES UNUSUAL DONATIONPAGE 5

VANGUARD AWARDED LARGEST GRANT PAGE 3 • A CHICKEN HATCHERY CHAPLAIN PAGE 4 • SEU COACH SPEAKS TO WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS PAGE 5 • THIS WEEK IN AG HISTORY PAGE 8

EX-WARDEN MINISTERS TO WOMENPAGE 6

HINDUS HEAR GOSPEL MESSAGEPAGE 7

A COLLECTION OF THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES FROM PENEWS.ORG

SUNDAY,OCT. 29,2017

THIS WEEK IN AG HISTORYBY RUTHIE EDGERLY OBERG

In 1929, British theologian Donald Gee warned Assemblies of God leaders that they faced three temptations that could imperil the young Pentecostal movement. Gee used the temptations of Christ (Matthew 4:1-11) to list three ways Satan tempts Pentecostal individuals, churches, and movements.

According to Gee, Satan’s first temptation to Christ and to the Pentecostal believer is to use the power of God for selfish satisfaction. Satan tempted Christ to use His spiritual power to feed His own hunger. Gee declared, “I have not been baptized in the Holy Ghost that I may delight myself in a Pentecostal picnic … I have been called to the hungry multitudes.”

The second temptation is to be caught up in fanaticism. The devil tempted Christ to show the power of God by throwing himself off the pinnacle of the Temple. Gee reminded his listeners, “. . . fanaticism is most deadly when it has a superficial

appearance of being scriptural.” The third temptation is the

temptation to forsake the pure worship of God in exchange for popularity. Gee reminded Pentecostals not to seek popularity, but instead feed people the Word!

Read the full article, “The Temptations of Pentecost,” on page 2 of the Oct. 26, 1929, issue of the Pentecostal Evangel online at s2.ag.org/oct261929.

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Read the full versions of these stories on PENews.org

CHURCH SERVES AS ‘TRAIL ANGEL’ PAGE 2

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An Assemblies of God church in central Pennsylvania has taken a different path to fulfill the biblical admonition in Romans 12:13 to practice hospitality.

This summer, Duncannon Assembly of God launched a unique ministry that caters to hikers of the Appalachian Trail, considered the longest hiking-only trail in the world. The church has provided shelter to individuals from every state, as well as 13 different nations.

Duncannon AG is located within 50 miles of Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania — the halfway point of the 2,200-mile trail, which extends from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. More than 2 million people complete at least a one-day hike on the trail annually.

Pastor Dennis K. Campbell says he had a revelation about what the congregation could do in the community of 1,500 to reach out to the world.

“The sidewalk, which runs in front of

our church and the parsonage, is the trail,” Campbell, 63, says.

So in June, based on the suggestion of a church member who is a hiking aficionado, Campbell and some church members went on a congregational hike along the Appalachian Trail after a Sunday service. They asked some hikers what the church could do to help them along their way. Hikers responded that sometimes they just need a place to rest, shower, change clothes, charge their cellphone, and maybe sleep for a night to escape the weather. The church decided to do something.

“It’s about offering people kindness,” says Campbell, who moved to Duncannon in 2012 after living in the Pittsburgh area for 13 years. “The congregation has gotten behind this ministry by donating supplies, time, and money whenever there is a need.”

The hikers have access to the basement of the parsonage, which offers kitchen and shower facilities, as well as Wi-Fi, television, and games.

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T H E A B C s O F S A L V A T I O N

ACCEPT that you are a sinner, and God’s punishment for yoursin is death and separation from God forever.

BELIEVE that Jesus paid God’s price for your sin when He died on the cross.

CONFESS “Jesus, I believe You are who the Bible and historydeclares You are – the Son of God. I humble myself and surrender to You. Forgive me. Make me spiritually whole. Change my life. Amen.”

HINDUS HEAR GOSPEL MESSAGEBY IAN RICHARDSON

For the fifth year in a row, an AG U.S. Missions organization represented the only Christian group participating in the Festival of Lights, a major Hindu festival in San Diego. Around 40 volunteers with Global Asian Indian Ministries, the sole AG outreach focused on Asian-Indians in the U.S., conducted children’s activities and handed out bottled water at the Oct. 14 event.

“There are thousands of people whose lives we would never have the opportunity to touch except at a festival,” says Dave C. Taylor, Global AIM outreach coordinator. “The seed planting is a very important part of evangelism.”

Simon Gounder, the U.S. Intercultural Ministries missionary who established Global AIM in 2010, says the group found receptivity the first year because of providing children’s activities.

This year, trained volunteers handed out bottled water, played Christian music in multiple languages, distributed Bibles and tracts, and provided face painting and balloon art for children frequenting the festival. Gounder says

the crowds at their booths rivaled those lined up for food.

To share the gospel with children, volunteers use three colors in face painting. Black, red, and white — to represent sin, Jesus’ blood, and a clean heart — are painted while artists share a tract that lays out the salvation message.

Gounder says volunteers handed out 500 gift bags to children at this month’s festival. To reach teenagers and adults who come to the booths, volunteers struck up conversations and offered to pray.

Global AIM reaches out to Asian-Indians through friendship evangelism; building relationships in communities by visiting Indian festivals; inviting Indians to monthly fellowships; teaching English as a second language (ESL) courses; and assisting immigrants and refugees in adjusting to life in the U.S.

CHURCH SERVES AS ‘TRAIL ANGEL’BY ERIC TIANSAY

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U.S. Missions Chaplain Virginia “Jenny” Young didn’t expect her call to the ministry to lead her to a chicken hatchery. After spending years in more traditional ministry roles, Young connected with Marketplace Chaplains.

Marketplace Chaplains matches licensed chaplains to large companies that wish to provide religious support to their employees. Young, an endorsed AG chaplain, received her first assignment in a chicken hatchery. Young literally walked alongside employees, counseling and praying with them, as they worked their jobs.

“I learned pretty quickly you don’t wear a suit to a hatchery,” she says, laughing.

Young, 59, considers her main goal as she goes to work each day is to be a refuge for those in need. Beyond the chicken hatchery, some of Young’s most notable assignments have been in hotels, airports, a large car dealership, and even a construction

crane distributor. Young, who lives in Decatur,

Alabama, has been working as a chaplain for 11 years. She’s taken on assignments all over the state and in the Tennessee Valley. Of all of Young’s duties, hotel chaplaincy in particular has opened doors for her to minister to a more transient population.

“Most of these employers want their employees to have a salvation experience and they encourage us to share the gospel,” Young says. She shares appropriate Scripture and relevant advice.

“This has been the most exciting time I’ve spent in ministry in a long time,” Young says. “I’ve found my niche.”

Along with her role as a chaplain, Young leads a busy life at home, with eight children — seven of whom she has adopted. Most of Young’s children are now grown and out of the home, but she and her husband still care for one severely disabled child.

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A CHICKEN HATCHERY CHAPLAINBY ANA PIERCE

Southeastern University (SEU) men’s basketball coach R-Jay Barsh was part of a group that was invited to speak to White House officials in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 18.

Barsh, who begins his sixth season in Lakeland, Florida, as the SEU head coach, was part of a group of 80 people who influence millennials and are leaders in their fields. The invitation was extended by Deputy Director and Special Assistant to the President, Jennifer Korn. The group spoke with White House officials at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which houses a majority of offices for White House staff.

“You work hard for your community, and sometimes, God blesses you with a platform that you can’t explain, but you know you should steward,” said Barsh of the opportunity. “I feel like today was a big step forward in addressing issues in our nation involving young people.”

The group addressed various issues in each of their communities and areas of experience. For Barsh, he’s looking to build relationships between young African-American males and law enforcement.

“I feel this is an area I’m being called to, since I coach young males on a daily basis,” said Barsh.

Some of Convoy of Hope’s biggest supporters and partners are AG programs such as Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge, Speed the Light, AG World Missions, and individual AG constituents who support the work of the compassion organization. Convoy of Hope also receives support through fundraising efforts.

However, this weekend, Convoy of Hope, which has been delivering millions of dollars-worth of relief supplies to Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, California, Mexico, and other locations suffering from the impact of recent hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and earthquakes, received an unusual gift.

A car. But it wasn’t your everyday car. It

was a rare 1965 Shelby Cobra re-creation — a true roadster!

According to Convoy of Hope’s national spokesperson, Jeff Nene, on Oct. 21 at Las Vegas car show, the Shelby Cobra sold at auction for $150,000. The Shinn Foundation then donated all the money for the sale of vehicle to Convoy of Hope.

“Thank you to George Shinn and the Shinn Foundation for their tremendous support,” states Hal Donaldson, president and co-founder of Convoy of Hope. “Because of our great partners and friends, we are able to give hope to those who need it most.”

SEU COACH SPEAKS TO WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS BY DONNIE SMITH

CONVOY OF HOPE RECEIVES UNUSUAL DONATIONBY DAN VAN VEEN

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The church provides a yard to pitch tents and wash lines to dry out tents and clothing, plus a pavilion to serve meals, hang hammocks, and be sheltered from inclement weather.

The hospitality ministry has been a blessing to hikers, who use “trail names” as a tradition. Trail names are given to hikers by one another, typically because of something a hiker will do or say or based upon how the hiker looks. Duncannon AG has received the moniker, “trail angel,” bestowed upon someone who provides goods or services to hikers in need.

“We so appreciated the church’s kindness and generosity in letting hikers stay in their fellowship hall,”

wrote “Burning Man” and “Peach,” who are from Boston, in a note to the Duncannon AG. “It was such a treat to have a meal and shower provided with a smile. The church is truly the definition of trail angels!”

More than 1,000 hikers have stayed anywhere from a couple of hours to the entire night on the property.

“Scripture says go into all the world, but our situation was a bit different,” says Campbell. “The whole world is coming to us. We are here to bless them in the name of the Lord.”

Duncannon AG is developing a reputation all along the Appalachian Trail, spread by word of mouth from hikers.

EX-WARDEN MINISTERS TO WOMENBY DARLA KNOTH

June Willett Groom served with her husband, Jerry, as a pastor and AG world missionary in Germany. Jerry then served as a U.S. Missions chaplain for 26 years, eventually becoming director of prison chaplains for the state of Texas before retiring in 2007. Since then, he has pastored Kaufman First Assembly in Texas.

In Texas, June became senior warden for a men’s prison housing 2,300 prisoners, then warden of a larger prison, which housed female inmates and included a 500-bed drug rehabilitation facility.

In this penitentiary, Groom listened to women’s stories of brokenness. She started various helpful programs and reforms over a 20-year period before retiring.

In 2013, Groom started ministering to families in crisis through the Council on Family Violence in Austin. She then received the gift of a building, seeing the former nursing home as an answer to prayer to start a ministry to women and children in crisis called Forever Families.

After two years of praying, asking for volunteers and donations, and working hard, Groom opened Forever Families in 2015, in Kaufman. Families come from all kinds of crisis situations, including domestic violence, recent incarceration, Child Protective Services referrals, and drug courts.

At Forever Families, they can find healing, safety, and a beautiful place to call home. Each family apartment has its own bedroom, bathroom, and living room. Families share a larger common living room. The dining area has tables suitable for each family to sit together. A separate area allows for teaching and care of children.

The greatest challenges, Groom says, are the women’s low self-esteem, few job skills, poor education, and lack of spiritual teaching. Recently, Forever Families hired a clinical counselor to help address these needs.

“The women who come to me have only known judgment and abuse,” says Groom, 71. “Every chance I get I apply grace and watch what God does.”

Vanguard University has been awarded a five-year, $3.75 million grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program.

The AG school in Costa Mesa, California, will use the Title V grant to not only increase retention and graduation rates among Hispanic and low-income transfer students, but also to develop partnerships with local community colleges to enhance transfer rates. Students benefiting from the grant will be able to earn their single-subject teaching credentials while completing their bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Vanguard University received the Title V grant based on the school’s

ability to address two priorities the Department of Education earmarked for the competitive program, which aims to increase the number of candidates qualified to teach in public elementary schools and secondary schools, as well as the rate of students transferring from two-year to four-year institutions.

“This recognition affirms our designation as a leading Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in our richly diverse region and state,” says Vanguard President Michael J. Beals. “As we approach Vanguard’s centennial in 2020, our commitment to student access, success, and growth in STEM disciplines will continue to strengthen our position us a nationally recognized leader in Christian higher education.”

VANGUARD AWARDED LARGEST GRANT