Apostolic Netwrok Ministries

As A Little Child...

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:56:42 -0700

December 17, 2007

As A Little Child

I was born to a family that did not know Apostolic truth. Thank God they instilled in me good moral principles. However, just before God changed my life, I came to an awareness that something was missing…something was lacking in my life I did not understand. How could I? I was a mere ten years old.

Unbeknownst to me, a young man who had befriended me at my new school was the son of a United Pentecostal pastor. Though we got along fine, I could tell there was something that separated the two of us. He was inherently happy. ALL of the time. Finally, one day he asked me to come to Sunday School. I said I would, and he told me when to expect the bus. You might say, I have been riding the bus ever since.

Thank God for those that had a burden for young people and children that entered my life. Thank God for those who put up with my childish foolishness and did not stop bringing me to church. Thank God for those who taught me, both by position and by example. Thank God for those who helped me become what I am today. If I never rode a bus, never attended Sunday School, never heard the New Birth message…my life would be quite different today.

My wife and I evangelized for six years. Four of those years in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, we were known for more of a traditional evangelistic ministry. From May 2001 until June 2003, we again evangelized, but this time with more of a children’s ministry emphasis. Both of us are products of bus ministry, and because of our background, we have always had a special place in our hearts for children. It was only natural that a big part of our ministry would reflect the burden we have for youth.

During our time on the field, I became aware that not everyone feels the way we do about young people. I understand that we are all different, and have our own perspectives about a great many things. Some of what we encountered, however, absolutely boggled my mind.

One pastor told me just to preach, don’t make a big push for children…they didn’t pay tithes. Another place had us to energize their youth workers, and excite those children they already had…but let us know they were not interested in becoming a babysitter. In my mind, all I could think was, “I’m sure glad someone took time for me.”

I am glad to report that these views are not the rule, but the exception. There are still churches today that value children. There are still ministers today that recognize the importance of reaching a child with the Gospel. There are still evangelistic teams out there ready to minister to children in whatever state they may find them: homeless, parentless, even hopeless. One such husband and wife team is Rev. Kevin and Sis. Tonya Schramm. The Schramm’s are currently working out of the United Pentecostal Church in Portage, Indiana, where James R. Fielder is the pastor.

Kevin Schramm is no novice. He is an Ordained Minister in the UPCI, and served as pastor of The Apostolic Lighthouse of Michigan City, Indiana until October 2007. Since that time, he and Sis. Tonya have been conducting children’s ministry meetings in multiple churches in throughout the Midwest. The results they have been having are phenomenal.

The Schramm’s were just with us this weekend. Their burden is without question, their effectiveness speaks for itself. Their intensity is off the scale. What I admire most about them, their ministry is not all hype, but actual application of the principles of children’s ministry. Their interaction in prayer with the children speaks well of their burden. Yes, they use puppets (very professional I might add), but they aim for spiritual goals. Yes, there is excitement and noise with their presentation, but there is more excitement and noise during the altar call.

I have seen some evangelistic ministries lately that seem more concerned with numbers (evang-elastically speaking…if you get my drift), than true results. However, the Schramm’s are more concerned that those they are ministering to receive the real deal. They take time and work with the children.

I have known the Schramm’s for quite some time. We preached several meetings for them in Michigan City, including a Pentecost Sunday meeting that included children’s ministry back in the early part of this decade. I can firsthand testify of their honesty, integrity, and burden for souls of any age. It is my honor to call them friend. It is good to be associated with people who still, “suffer the little children.”

If you are interested in contacting Bro. and Sis. Schramm for a children’s ministry event, you may contact them through the Portage church, or email me for more information.

Michael L. Flemming is an Ordained Minister in the United Pentecostal Church International, and the assistant pastor of the First United Pentecostal Church of Greenfield, Tennessee, as well as an Administration Associate at Apostolic.Net. He has been married to Jill Flemming for nearly 20 years, and is the proud father of 3 beautiful daughters, and 1 handsome son.

You may contact Michael L. Flemming by e-mail: mlflemming@apostolic.net

Holiness For Today

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:05:49 -0700

Holiness For Today

December 10, 2007

Holiness. What is it? Does it apply to me, and if it does, how do I manifest it? These are common questions in today’s Apostolic movement.

There is nothing wrong with a little personal inspection once in a while. We should all do a Spiritual inventory from time to time. Apostle Paul declares in I Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

In this tumultuous time we live, however, many are not examining themselves, but questioning our doctrine. Not for sake of self inspection, but for lack of good, solid Holy Ghost conviction. Searching for loopholes in Apostolic doctrine is not being Berean, as some call themselves, referring to the group in Acts Chapter 17. Being Berean would indicate an unbiased search, truly trying to find the mind of God in our understanding of His Word. Applying true Berean-like study methods to our lives will challenge and inspire us to walk closer to God than ever.

So, then, what is Holiness? Holiness is not a set of rules indicating do’s and don’ts, but a lifestyle that God all-mighty is pleased with. Said lifestyle can be dissected and analyzed with such a fine microscope that it would take much more time and space than is available, but to succinctly sum the subject up, it can be divided into two basic sections, that will take in all aspects of the word Holiness:

1. Inward Holiness

God desires a people of truth and right spirit to worship him. John 4:24 states, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” God is not looking for a half hearted people to glorify Him, he is looking for a group of people who have made their calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10).

God is also looking for a people who will give their minds to purity, and love for the sake of the Kingdom of God. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” 2 Corinthians 7:1.

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,“ St. John 13:34-35. God desires His church to be made up of people with purified thoughts free from the lusts of this world, and that love their brethren and sisters with the love of Jesus Christ. The world will know we have the goods by how we treat each other.

2. Outward Holiness

Some have said that this is either not for today, or has been misinterpreted. Well, God still requires a reasonable sacrifice. Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” It appears that the Apostle Paul feels that our bodies must be presented to God in a sacrificial manner. Recognizing that we are not our own, and are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 7:23), it is only reasonable we should present ourselves as God sees fit.

It has been said, by some, that all we need is love. Others emphasize the need for an outward look. The truth is, we need both. Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 7:1 refer to both body and mind. We can have the most holy look on the outside, and if we do not have the goods on the inside, we are as whited sepulchers (Matthew 23:27). Apostle Paul said if we spoke with tongues and did not have love, we were as sounding brass, and tinkling cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1). Conversely, if all we have is love...no modesty, no sound doctrine, we are in danger of an Ephesian spirit, because we have lost our first love.

God wants all of our being. Body...soul...mind. Love and modesty go hand in hand, inseparable. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14. •

You may contact Michael L. Flemming by e-mail: mlflemming@apostolic.net

Get Wisdom

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:46:00 -0700

Prov 4:5-9: Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. {6} Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. {7} Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. {8} Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. {9} She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.”

How often have we been involved in or overheard conversation where the wisdom of those in authority was questioned? Whether they be political leaders, managers in the workplace, church leaders or etc. At some point someone is going to question the wisdom of a decision or action, or set of decisions or actions, of anyone in a position of authority..

As people we have this tendency to naturally assume we are right. I am sure this must be some sort of survival mechanism that I haven’t figured out yet, but we ALL do it. Seriously, no one is immune from this, myself included. At times I may find myself wondering why my employer does something a certain way, then I cease my wondering by reminding myself who lives in the great big house on the lake and drives a high performance sports car, a high end SUV, and a fast boat, and who lives in an apartment and drives a beat-up Ford Escort wagon, and wishes he had a canoe, with paddles.

There is a wisdom, however, that stands without question: the wisdom of God. This wisdom is available to us, in fact it is something that we must receive in order to live a successful life for God. This wisdom may not give us what it takes to garner an abundance of this world’s good. In fact it may cause us to forsake any quest for worldly success in order to find God’s will in our lives, thereby causing others to question OUR wisdom. According verse 7 above it is the thing to have. It needs hold the #1 spot on our spiritual wish list. Through it God can use us to do much.

How do we get it? Piece of cake:

James 1:5-7: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. {6} But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. {7} For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

New Web Site Launched!

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:39:11 -0700

Welcome to the New Web Site launched on Sunday Dec. 2 2007. Many new features and content is available at Apostolic.Net