Apostolic Faith Church - Dallas, Tx

05/31/2026

Sunday Morning Service - May 31, 2026

05/25/2026

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙨?

𝘉𝘺 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘈𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘦

At the end of the month of May, we have a national holiday here in the United States to honor the military personnel who gave their lives in the service of our great country. Memorial Day is a time of solemn reflection when we remember and are thankful for the soldiers who sacrificed to preserve our freedom.

There are many ways that nations, states, communities, churches, families, and individuals commemorate people or events that have significantly impacted them, and history has proven that there is great value in doing so. Let’s consider four aspects of memorials: examples of physical memorials, spiritual memorials, why we need such memorials, and how we can set them in place in our own lives.

𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀
Many monuments in this nation’s capital, Washington DC, memorialize events or people who made a mark on this country. For example, at a ceremony on February 21, 1885, President Chester A. Arthur dedicated the newly completed Washington Monument to the memory of George Washington, the first president of the United States. The Washington Monument remains one of the most distinctive features of the city’s skyline to this day.

Some memorials in this country are reminders of significant events, such as the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, which commemorates the attack that brought the United States into World War II. Other memorials symbolize foundational ideals, such as the Statue of Liberty. Still others commemorate achievements; for example, the Wright Brothers National Memorial celebrates man’s first powered flight. Such memorials help preserve historical narratives and ensure that lessons from the past are learned and remembered from one generation to the next.

In many locations, there are street names, airports, libraries, and parks that are named in honor of historic figures. Religious institutions around the world are also named for individuals. One in Ogun State, Nigeria, called Crawford University, was named after Florence Crawford, the founder of the Apostolic Faith Church. Some parents have named their children Florence, Raymond, Loyce, or Josiah, memorializing church leaders who were shining examples of stability, holiness, purity, and godliness. In giving children these names, the parents are indicating a hope that their children will grow up in the same manner and with the same passion that those people had for the Gospel. So, memorials, whether national, church, or personal, are all around us.

𝗔 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹
In Joshua chapter 4, we read of a time when God instituted a spiritual memorial for the Children of Israel. He told their leader, Joshua, to have twelve men—one from each tribe—take a stone from the Jordan River. The stones were to be carried to the other side of the river and set up as a memorial (verse 8). At God’s direction, the stones that were taken from the Jordan became memorial stones. They marked the miraculous event that had just occurred: the Children of Israel had crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land on dry ground. Their forty-year journey had come to an end.

Since the day many years earlier when God had delivered them from Egypt, He had done many miracles for them. We remember how He gave them a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them. When they came to the Red Sea, He parted the waters and they passed over on dry ground. God gave them victory over the Amalekites. He provided them with manna and quail, and water from a rock. He gave them military victories over nations that opposed them along the way.

When they finally arrived at the border of the Promised Land, the Jordan River stood between them and their destination. God told Joshua, “And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap” (Joshua 3:13). Just as God said, when the priests' feet touched the water, the river stopped flowing. All the Children of Israel—and they numbered close to two million people—walked across on dry ground by the mighty power of God.

Follow the crossing, God commanded Joshua to take the memorial stones from the spot where the priests’ feet had stood firm when the waters were cut off. And He gave the reason: He did not want the Israelites to forget what had happened. In days to come, when children would ask their parents what the stones meant, they could explain what God had done for them at that place. Those stones were meant to preserve the memory of that great event.

𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀
We find examples of other spiritual memorials in the Bible. Genesis 28:18 tells of a memorial Jacob built where God met him in a mighty way after he left his home and started for Haran. In a dream, Jacob saw the angels of God ascending and descending a ladder that reached unto Heaven. This was not an ordinary dream: God showed Himself to Jacob! When Jacob awoke, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not” (Genesis 28:16). How did he respond to that amazing event? We read, “And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it” (Genesis 28:18). He made a memorial! He called the name of that place Bethel, which means “House of God”—a place where God dwells.

The prophet Samuel also set up a memorial to God. In 1 Samuel 7:12 we read, “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” That memorial was to help the Israelites remember a great deliverance from the Philistines. Haven’t we had “Ebenezers” along the way—times when the Lord helped us as a church, as families, or as individuals? Those are our memorials, and we do not want to forget any of them.

In Exodus, 12:24-27, we read of the Passover—a feast that God instituted to remind the Israelites of their miraculous deliverance from Egypt. That was an amazing event, and they were not to forget it. In fact, to this day, many Jews still observe the Passover, recalling what God did and rehearsing the memory that God said they should keep.

The Lord’s Supper is another memorial in the Bible, and that one was established by Jesus himself. In Luke 22:19, we are told that Jesus gathered with His disciples and “took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” If you have been saved from sin, you need to look back and remember the great sacrifice that the Lord made for you. Observing the Lord’s Supper is one way we do so.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀?
Spiritual memorials are necessary because we are prone to forget. Ten years ago I used to remember things, but now I have to make a concerted effort to do so. With the passing of time, memories dim. Our working memory is short and getting shorter as the years go by.

A man named George Miller, a pioneering cognitive scientist, is famous for his 1956 publication titled, “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two.” In it, he stated that the average person can only hold about seven (plus or minus two) items in his or her working memory at any given time. He introduced the concept of grouping bits of information in order to retain them. That is why phone numbers with seven characters are divided into two groups that are separated by a dash.

Because of our tendency to forget, many of us have techniques to help us remember. If I don’t put appointments on my Outlook calendar, don’t expect me! That is why we use sticky notes or put reminders on our refrigerators—humans forget. But if we forget everything else, may we never forget the goodness of God. It will take concerted effort to remember all the times and ways the goodness of God has been manifested to us.

Another reason that we need spiritual memorials is to teach future generations. God told Joshua that the stones taken from the Jordan would be a conversation starter when the children asked their meaning. Their parents could then say, “Oh, you want to hear the story? Let me tell you what happened there.” God did not want the Children of Israel to forget His goodness to them, and those memorial stones were meant to help preserve the memory.

𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀
About thirty-five years ago, I heard of a man who said he was a Christian and kept a diary containing a list of people who had offended him. When he passed away, his children were at the cusp of coming to Christ. However, after their dad was buried, they went through his belongings and found the diary. When they read what he had written, they decided that if that was what Christianity was all about, they wanted nothing to do with it.

When I read that story, I decided to do something different. Like that man, I started a diary, but mine contains scores and scores of victories that have occurred in our church. Back then, if I heard of a brother or sister who was going through a difficult time, I would write it down. Then I would take those names before God, praying, “God, help this one. Meet this brother’s needs. Resolve that situation for this family.” Later on, when I would hear testimonies of how God resolved the problem, I would go home and write in my diary, “Prayer answered on this date.”

I have that notebook here with me today. Recently, my son saw it and asked what it was. I said to him, “Do you want to hear about the goodness of God? Do you want to hear of how God has answered prayers? This notebook shows that we are a church where God answers prayers.” He took the notebook and flipped through its pages. And guess what? He recognized names of people who are still in the church today—individuals who came through very difficult times with victory. Many people have carried me to God in prayer when I was going through difficult times as well. We are a family! Together as a church, and independently as believers, we need to build memorials, and one way we can do that is to keep a record of answers to prayer.

Another way to establish memorials is through our testimonies. Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” We enjoy the testimonies given in our church services. Sometimes when we testify, it may seem that our children are not listening. Be assured, they 𝘢𝘳𝘦 listening. When we are gone from this earth, they will be able to say, “I remember how my dad would stand up and give a shout for the battle and testify to the goodness of God.” We keep spiritual memories alive when we testify! Parents, grandparents, and fellow believers, we cannot overestimate the power of our testimonies.

While we rehearse our stories verbally, we can also write out our testimonies. In Habakkuk 2:2, God instructed the prophet to “write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he that readeth may run.” We may forget details, but if it is written down, the blessings we recorded are preserved. Someday perhaps our children and our children’s children will see what we have written and be inspired and encouraged in the way of the Lord.

We must be deliberate in passing down our history and the blessings of God. In the Book of Judges we read that after the death of Joshua and the godly men around him, “there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). That passage rips my heart open every time I read it. After Joshua’s generation passed off the scene, the next generation did not know what God had done for their forefathers! How did that happen? Perhaps the parents failed to teach them. Maybe they had done their best to educate their children in many other things, but failed to tell them about the goodness of God. What a tragedy!

Our mortal bodies will be gone from the scene someday, if the Lord does not come first. What God has done for us will be gone as well unless we have passed those memories on to our children, our grandchildren, and the next generation. If I leave this earth before the Lord comes, I want my family, the church, and all who know me to be able to say, “Brother Sola may be gone, but his testimony of deliverance from sin is still alive.” I want them to know what God has done in my life.

𝗔 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Not far from New York City, there is a grave with a headstone inscribed with just one word: “Forgiven.” There is no name, no date of birth, no date of death, no epitaph, no elaborate tribute; just the word “Forgiven.” That word symbolizes the ultimate importance of being right with God.

Have you been forgiven? Have you begun stacking up stones of spiritual memorials in your life? Maybe there’s a memory of the time and place where God sanctified you or filled you with His Holy Spirit. Are you passing that on? Maybe there was a time when you were sick, the people of God prayed, and God healed you. Perhaps the doctors said they must have been mistaken in their diagnosis, but you know that the power of God intervened and changed everything. That is a memorial to you, but have you passed it on? Have you stacked up those stones?

The Psalmist said, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:2-4). He knew the importance of remembering the benefits of God! He passed it on through this psalm, and it has blessed hearts for centuries.

Today, what memorials are we building for those who come after us? May God help us to be faithful in passing on our memorials to the next generation.

𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘈𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩.

05/23/2026

Mark your calendars now for Portland Camp Meeting 2026!

Information about how to register is available at www.apostolicfaith.org/camp-meeting

05/23/2026

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗜𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆

𝙑𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨.

𝘉𝘺 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘦

When I was growing up, our family lived in a rural area on Stafford Road out toward Wilsonville, Oregon. When my older brother was a teenager, he decided to volunteer with the Wilsonville Volunteer Fire Department. At the same time, he was interested in muscle cars and had one of his own. I always knew when my brother’s car was running; when the engine turned on, it shook the ground, it shook the house, and it reverberated in my chest. Sometimes, I would be awakened in the night by the sound of that car roaring to life and racing down the driveway. On those occasions, there would be some assurance in my heart that my brother was going off in response to a cry for help. He was on his way to help someone in need.

Another memory from that period of my life is riding the school bus into Wilsonville. Our route took us past the Volunteer Fire Department, and once in a while we would hear the sirens as we came around the corner, and then we would see lights flashing. There was a grocery store across the street from the station, and when timed just right, we would see the butcher run out and race across the road untying his apron as he went. As a volunteer, he was in a hurry, because help was needed and help was coming.

It is one thing to be aware of someone else having a bad day. It is something entirely different to be the one in distress. When we are in that position and hear a siren off in the distance, there is a sense of reassurance in knowing it is coming for us—help is on the way.

In Psalm 34:6, we read words penned by David after he fled for his life from King Saul. He said, “This poor man cried.” This simple statement could have been used to sum up so many situations in David’s life, and if he had stopped right there, it would have been lamentable. However, he went on to write, “and the Lᴏʀᴅ heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” Today, if you are in any trouble, in any distress, or if the cares of life are weighing on you, God is listening. He hears when you cry out to Him, and help is on the way!

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴
In Psalm 107, many scenarios are presented in which life has gone wrong; things have not turned out the way people wanted. At the same time, the idea is introduced over and over that all one has to do in times of trouble is cry out to the Lᴏʀᴅ, and help will come.

One scenario begins in verse 11, which says, “Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High.” That is where things went wrong—they rebelled. When we know what is right to do and decide we are not going to do it, the Holy Spirit will tell us we need to live God’s way. If we say, “I’m going to live my way,” that is rebellion, and that is sin.

The next verse states, “Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.” That is exactly where sin will lead a person. This may be where you are right now, but you don’t have to stay there. Verse 13 says, “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.” If you realize that your sinful choices have brought you to a place you would rather not be and you want deliverance, just cry out to God. You will find that help is on the way.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
The greatest rescue mission in history took place on Calvary. Jesus gave His life so we could be forgiven and freed from sin. The Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 2 that He “was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (verse 9). Jesus tasted death for you and me. He went to the Cross to rescue us, to deliver us from sin.

Everyone born into this world is born in sin and needs rescuing. Further on in Hebrews 2 we read, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bo***ge” (verses 14-15). Sin is bo***ge. You might think you are in control, but you are a servant to sin. You are a slave to the enemy of your soul. God wants to deliver you, but you must cry out to Him in repentance.

When God delivers you, it is not just from poor decisions or habits. Jesus didn’t die on the Cross to make your sin problem a little less bad than it is now. Salvation is not a tamping down of sin. Jesus died to liberate you and give you a whole new life! His purpose in dying and rising again on the third day was not simply to give the devil a black eye, but “that he might destroy him.” Jesus wants to destroy the sin that is in you and transform your life. Don’t settle for signing a card, shaking someone’s hand, and going on your way unchanged, still bound by your sins. Jesus promises something better. He offers complete deliverance from sin and a whole new life. He offers victory!

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿
Jesus is ready and able to help you. Hebrews 2:18 states, “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” The word “succour” in the English was originally a military term, meaning “to send in reinforcements.” In this verse, it is translated from the Greek word 𝘣𝘰𝘦́𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘰́, which means “to run in the direction of an urgent cry for help.” This is an illustration of what Jesus does. When we go to the altar of prayer and say, “Lord, help me,” He responds. Right then, help is on the way.

Over the course of my life, I’ve had some negative experiences with call centers. Perhaps you have too. Usually, the instructions for obtaining support include the statement that operators are standing by to take the call. Yet, when I call the number, there is no immediate response. I may get a busy signal or a recorded message, and it occurs to me that possibly the operators are “standing-by” less than suggested. When I do get through, many times the person answering seems surprised by my problem. My call gets put on hold, transferred to another department, or referred to a supervisor.

You will never have an experience like that with Jesus. Your prayers will never be met with a busy signal. God will not be surprised by your problem or tell you that you’ve reached the wrong department. When you bring your burdens to Him, your prayer goes exactly where it is supposed to go. You won’t have to ask for a supervisor, because Jesus 𝘪𝘴 the Supervisor, and He is able to do something for you.

God is waiting to hear from you. He wants you to bring all your burdens to Him. If you are not saved, you are facing life’s trials alone and missing out on victory over sin and the hope of Heaven. It isn’t that all your troubles will stop after you give your heart to the Lord. Day by day, situations will continue to arise and the cares of life will still come. However, God has promised to be with you and He will help and sustain you. Whether you are seeking salvation or are already a child of God, take your needs to Him. He will meet you at the altar of prayer and bring you through. Cry out to God today.

𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱
When we reach out to those around us for help, we don’t always get the help we really need. Fellow believers, family, and friends mean well, but as humans, we are limited in what we can do for each other. One time, I needed some work done at my house. Someone came out to do the job, but it wasn’t until his seventh trip that he had the right equipment and tools to do what was needed. With Jesus, He knows exactly what type of help we need, and He is equipped to provide it.

The words “merciful” and “faithful” in Hebrews 2:17 bring to mind the gentle Shepherd that we see depicted in paintings of Jesus carrying a lamb. As our Shepherd, Jesus protects, guides, and provides for us. Sometimes, this is the help that we need.

However, there will be moments in life, as we are doing our best to serve the Lord, where we will encounter fierce trials. In those circumstances, we don’t so much need the gentle Jesus as we do the Captain of Salvation who has never lost a battle (see Hebrews 2:10). We need Someone with the power to overcome any adversity and win the victory. This Jesus is described in Revelation 1:14-16. The Apostle John said, “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we can be assured that when we cry out to Jesus, the help we need is on the way.

𝗔 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
When John saw Jesus in all His glory, he fell down at His feet as if dead. Then Jesus said, “Fear not,” and that is our instruction today. We can be assured that when we take our burdens to the Lord in prayer, our call will go through. We will reach Heaven’s call center and it will be the right department with the right equipment to help us. As Jesus continued His response to John, He listed His credentials saying, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:17-18). What more could we need to overcome life’s trials?

Whatever problems you are facing today, bring your cares to the Lord. Cry out to Him, and you will find that help is on the way. He is a match for every situation, and He will give you victory.

𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴, 𝘖𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯.

05/18/2026

Sunday Morning Service, May 17, 2026

Sunday Morning Service - May 15, 2026

05/15/2026

120 years of Apostolic Faith! 🎉

As we prepare for Camp Meeting 2026, we begin our historical campaign series with a sermon transcript by our founder, Florence Crawford, preached in 1921.

Be blessed as you read through this timeless message.👇🏻

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13NpFET_7f9qnOLDzHnMFOJXwCo4RIK32/view?usp=drive_link

05/13/2026

Pictures at Mother’s Day service

05/10/2026

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧: 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗹, 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲

In South America, a new Apostolic Faith work was recently established in Itanhaem, Brazil. In addition, special meetings were held in Chimbarongo, Chile, and drew participants from four of our Chilean congregations.

These events took place during a trip to South America made by Sam Ajayi, Director of the Work. He arrived in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, April 22, and was met by Nivaldo Peixoto, who leads our work in Brazil. The two then drove two hours south to Itanhaem, which is the second oldest city in Brazil, having been established in 1532. Located in the southern coastal region of Sao Paulo state, it is part of a sixteen-mile unimpeded beach area.

This new work is anchored by Josias Luiz do Carmo, formerly the pastor of our church in Sao Paulo, and his family. Originally from Itanhaem, Brother Josias moved his family here after a devastating fire destroyed their previous home. During this visit, a storefront area was secured as a regular meeting place and an outreach effort was made in the city and along the beaches. The group distributed literature, introducing people to the Apostolic Faith and inviting them to attend church services.

Before leaving Brazil, Brother Sam requested prayer for the people in Itanhaem to take advantage of the opportunity they have been offered.

The Chile special meetings began on Thursday, April 30 with an evening evangelistic service. Brother Sam led the meeting, which included congregants from our churches in Chimbarongo, Hualane, Limavida, and Romeral. In addition, Doug Guddat attended from Santiago, and others joined online from Europe and the United States, including Catey Hinkle of Portland, Oregon, who interpreted.

The opening message was given by Eladio Retamal, the Limavida pastor. Taking his text from Matthew 25:1-13, he posed the question: “How is my life before God?” The message challenged everyone to make certain that their lives are pleasing to God.

Bible teachings were held on Friday and Saturday mornings. The first was on “Preparing for the Rapture” and reminded that this trip will be the most important of anyone’s life. The subject of Saturday’s teaching was “The Marriage Supper of the Lamb” using Revelation 19:6-9. The congregation was exhorted to maintain righteousness to be ready for the greatest celebration in the history of this world.

Evening evangelistic services took place on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s message was given by Israel Garjado Mondardes, the leader of our work in Chile. He encouraged everyone from John 21:15 to “Come and Dine” by taking advantage of the bountiful spiritual food provided by the Lord during the special meetings. The message on Saturday was based on Matthew 22:8-14 and stressed the importance of wearing the spiritual wedding garment of righteousness.

During the service on Saturday evening, the congregation was surprised and delighted to be joined remotely for a short time by the Superintendent General, Sola Adesope. He greatly encouraged everyone with an admonition to hold firmly to the standards of this Latter Rain Gospel.

The concluding service took place on Sunday, May 3. It included the announcement that next year’s gathering, should the Lord tarry, will be held March 24-28 and will be a camp meeting. Also, combined evangelistic and outreach services will be held during the year among our five congregations in Chile: Chimbarongo, Limavida, Rauco, Hualane, and Romeral.

As the meeting continued, the message was given from 2 Chronicles 20:14-25, noting that King Jehoshaphat used praise to defeat the enemies of Judah. At the close, the congregation applied this formula in prayer. As the saints went to the altars, there were tears of rejoicing, praise, and consecration.

The special meetings left everyone refreshed and renewed in the Spirit. Brother Sam returned home, giving glory to God for His goodness and for what He accomplished on this trip.

𝘝𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦: https://www.apostolicfaith.org/world-report/a-new-church-in-brazil-renewed-spirits-in-chile

05/08/2026

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱

𝘼 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨.

𝘉𝘺 𝘑𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘭𝘦

One Sunday afternoon in June of 1989, I sat at the kitchen table praying—and worrying a little. A year earlier, I had felt led by God to devote more time and attention to my family. My husband and I both worked full time, and we had two young children: a five-year-old son and a three-year old daughter. After discussing our options, I had reduced my work hours to part time for six months before quitting my job entirely.

Without the cost of childcare, and with some trimming of our budget, we thought we could make ends meet on one income supplemented by our savings. However, after some car repairs and a few other unexpected expenses, our savings account was depleted. As a result, I had recently used the money that was set aside for the next week’s groceries to pay a household bill.

I had seen this day coming for some weeks and had been praying for guidance, asking God if I should seek another job. All along, it had seemed that He was leading me to wait, so I had done so. Now, I wondered if I had misunderstood and made a big mistake. As I sat at the table with a heavy heart, my children brought me their Sunday school lesson. When I saw their new memory verse, my worries melted away. It read, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

I was a relatively new Christian, having surrendered my life to God less than two years earlier, so it was news to me that we could look to God for 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 need. I told the children, “We have a need, and this verse says that God will fill it! Isn’t that wonderful?”

All week, we prayed and checked the mailbox, expecting God to send grocery money. However, while I was focusing only on our immediate need, God was prepared to provide for our long-term needs as well. On Friday, as we were praying, there was a knock on our front door. When I answered, a friend of a friend offered me a job working from home. That was the perfect solution to spending time with my children while generating an income. I accepted the offer and returned to praying, thanking God for the job. We still needed grocery money to carry us over to my first paycheck, so we put this before the Lord again, and two days later, someone handed me $62.00. She said her husband had borrowed it from my husband the year before and had forgotten about it until now.

Since that time, my family has had ample opportunity to prove this verse. Over the years, as we have looked to God for spiritual, physical, or emotional help, we have found that He does, indeed, provide for every need.

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀
The greatest need any of us has is to be delivered from our sins and be reconciled to our Heavenly Father. Before we were even born, God saw us and made provision for this. He knew we would be born in sin, eternally separated from Him, and unable to make atonement for ourselves. Reconciliation would require the shed blood of a sinless sacrifice, which only His guiltless Son could provide. Yet, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus became our sacrifice for sin, providing not only for salvation, but for all our spiritual needs. As my family has sought God for these things, we have found that when we come according to His Word, with humble and sincere hearts, we can expect Him to answer.

𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. In my own life, when I realized that the hate in my heart was at the root of all my troubles, I repented of my sins, telling God that I no longer wanted to be that person or do those things. I committed my life to serving Him, and He forgave me for Jesus’ sake. Instantly, my heart was transformed as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝. Upon receiving salvation, we need help to resist temptation, and God provides the spiritual strength to do so. Fifteen years after I became a Christian, my husband came home from work in the middle of his shift, saying that guilt had taken over his thoughts. We prayed that evening, and God saved him. Then my husband confided that he wasn’t sure he could maintain victory over sin. He was anxious about returning to work the next day where he might be tempted to smoke or swear. I said we would both pray throughout the day and then assured him that the Gospel is real and there is power in it. I told him that if I had found this to be an empty religion, I would not have continued in it. The following day, he came home and exclaimed, “Why didn’t you tell me? God gives supernatural strength to resist temptation; we don’t have to do it on our own.”

𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. Another help against temptation is to receive sanctification, a second application of the Blood of Jesus whereby our inherited sinful nature is eradicated. When I learned of this second work of grace, I wondered if it was real, because I had never heard of it. However, the next time I was in church, the preacher paused in his sermon, looked my way, and said, “Just because you’ve never heard of something doesn’t mean it can’t be true.” I decided to research the matter in Scripture, and in John 17, read that Jesus prayed for His disciples to be sanctified. Then He prayed “for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (verse 20). I also read in Hebrews 13:12 that “Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate,” referring to where He was crucified. Not only had Jesus seen my need for sanctification, but He had paid for it with His own Blood and even prayed that I would receive it.

That summer, I attended my first Portland camp meeting and heard a teaching on the subject. As I prayed at the close of the service, I looked up to God and said, “Lord, if this is something I need, I know You will provide it.” Instantly, my soul was sanctified; every desire to return to my old sins was gone, and from that moment, I only wanted the things of God.

𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀
God provides for our physical needs in many ways, including various forms of protection. When my children started elementary school, we began a habit of praying for God’s protection, which I continue to this day. In the mornings, we asked Him to shield us from sinful influences. In the afternoons, we looked for safety on the road while carpooling, and in the evenings, we prayed for a hedge around the house against intruders. Though we didn’t always see God’s hand at work, we knew He was there.

One time while we were on the road, I felt prompted to change lanes and sensed this was from the Lord. I looked to my left and saw that there was very little room to merge. However, I signaled and began to inch my way over. As I did, the tire blew out on the car that had been in front of us and that vehicle slowed abruptly, almost coming to a stop. If not for God’s protecting hand, we likely would have crashed.

𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨. Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount, “Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? . . . for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32). As my family has taken these types of concerns to God, we have found Him to be generous in providing not only groceries and employment, but also transportation, housing, and more.

Oftentimes when we turn to God for a need, He supplies our wants as well. When my husband and I accepted an offer on our first home. We had thirty days to move, and though we had been looking at houses for weeks, we hadn’t found anything to our liking. Our realtor said he could be more helpful if he had a list of what we wanted. However, when I gave him our list, he laughed and handed it back, saying, “You might try being more realistic for your budget.” I took the paper home and laid it before the Lord. He had been speaking to my heart about placing less value on the things of this world and now I was ready to consecrate my desire to have the “perfect” home. I prayed, “Lord, I will not look at another house. You see what we want, and I’m sure You will find something nice for us.”

The very next day, as I drove past a yard with a “For Sale” sign in it, I felt a sudden urgency to “buy that house.” However, it didn’t appeal to me, so I kept driving. When the same urgent thought came a second and third time, I remembered my consecration to let go of perfection and let the Lord choose our house, so I circled back.

At the front door, a realtor answered, and I told him, “I would like to buy this house.” He asked if I wanted to see it first. However, already within my view was a fireplace framed by built-in bookcases, and in the opposite room, a floor-to-ceiling built-in hutch—two items from my wish list. I was touched by God’s generosity. He had heard my prayer for a need, and with this house, had provided for some of our wants as well. I declined to look further until my husband, parents, and realtor could be present. When we returned later, we found that the house, though it didn’t have everything on our list, was perfect for us, with a good foundation and within our budget. In addition, the sale went through on the same day that we had to vacate our previous home!

𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. When I came into the Gospel, I had a work-related back injury that two doctors had diagnosed as beyond help. From month to month, my symptoms varied from muscle spasms, to being unable to lean forward or lift over ten pounds, to being bedridden. However, one constant was pain.

In March of 1989, my back locked up, and I arrived at church for the Good Friday service unable to fully sit or stand. I listened to the sermon while leaning against the back pew and heard the preacher quote from Isaiah 53:5, “With his stripes we are healed.” Afterward, my mother-in-law asked if I knew what that Scripture meant. Then, she explained that when Jesus was beaten before He went to the Cross, the stripes on His back paid for our healing. She assured me that just as we can look to the Cross in faith and receive salvation, we can believe and be healed. She also encouraged me to get prayed for according to the instructions in James 5:14-15: “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” That evening, the ministers prayed for me, and while I didn’t feel instant relief, my mother-in-law said to hold on in faith. Two days later, while driving home on the evening of Easter Sunday, I had to pull the car over and pray because the pain was unbearable. The Lord helped me get home, and the next day, I realized that I hadn’t been in pain since. To test this, I stood up and raised my hands over my head and then lowered them to the floor and up again. My back held, and I knew God had healed me.

Recently, I experienced a different type of back problem. The ministers came and prayed, but this time the Lord chose not to heal me instantly. Instead, He led me to a good doctor who diagnosed a herniated disc and was able to help me over time. It is not always God’s will to heal us instantaneously—sometimes He has a better purpose. The Apostle Paul was once denied healing for a visible ailment so that pride would not be his downfall. He responded with gratitude for God’s grace, saying, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Perhaps God is helping me adjust my priorities or is using me to encourage someone at the doctor’s office. Whatever His purpose, I know His way is best.

𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀
At different times in my Christian walk, I have needed emotional support and have taken comfort in Isaiah 9:6. In foretelling the birth of our Savior, the prophet said, “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Over the years, in situations bringing emotional stress, Jesus has been all of these to me. In marriage, He has been my Counselor; in trials, He has proven Himself mighty to deliver; and in grief, He has been my Source of peace.

𝙋𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚. When my mother-in-law died, I was devastated. She had been in my life since I was sixteen and was like a second mother to me. On several occasions after her death, I thought to call and ask her about something before remembering that she was gone. In those moments, grief would overtake me. Five months later, when that year’s Portland camp meeting began, I was in need of relief for my grieving heart; I was in need of the Prince of Peace. At the altar, I wondered if the Lord offered more than comfort and would remove my grief completely. Then I prayed, “If You could, I pray You would do it for me.” In that moment, I felt a touch on my heart, and the pain of loss was gone—all that remained were my good memories.

𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆
What is your need today? If you are having trouble making ends meet, if a loved one is suffering from illness, or grief has overwhelmed you, I know God can help. The One who filled all these needs for me and my family is waiting to do the same for you.

𝘑𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘖𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯.