Portland LINK

1 A Unique Mother’s Day

2 World Report

3 Gallery PICS

4 Praises for Answered Prayer

4 Lessons from Jeremiah

The Mother’s Day service on May 10 was different than what we have become accustomed to at the Portland church. There were no bundles of carnations at the front of the sanctuary and very few mothers present, though we trust many mothers were watching from home, with their children beside them.

The service began with a harp, piano, and keyboard trio by Cheryl Paulsen, Janice Calhoun, and Sungun Yune, which included “Jesus Whispers Peace,” “Wonderful Peace,” and “The Anchor Holds.” Darrel Lee welcomed

viewers and then read The Magnificat, which is Mary’s praises recorded in Luke 1:46-55.

The specials for the service included Imelda Nedelcu with her children singing “In Christ Alone,” and sisters Rosie Lambert and Roxie Rael singing “Me and My House,” with

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A Unique Mother’s Daytheir daughters, Diana and Holly Lambert and Natalie Rael. The cousins also sang “Finish Well,” and Sister Natalie testified about how much she appreciated the godly example and love her mother showed her, which helped her decide to give her life to God a couple of years ago.

For the Scripture reading, Dave Lambert read 2 Timothy 1:1-9, and in his sermon, Wayne Butler emphasized verse 5. Brother Wayne related that his own mother

and grandmother also had “unfeigned faith,” like Timothy’s, and their love coupled with godliness had a powerful impact on his life. He encouraged parents to continue teaching their children the truth of God’s Word, to help them have God’s best in this world. At the close of the service, Sister Roxie sang “Grace Alone.”

A P O S T O L I C F A I T H . O R G

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(Top) Lambert and Rael ladies sing. (Bottom) Imelda Nedelcu sings with her children.

“Sister Natalie testified about how much she appreciated the

godly example and love her mother showed her.”

May 2020

Excerpts from Friday, May 15 The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented global impact. Following are reports of how our churches have responded.

Asia: May 1, the Seoul (South Korea) congregation resumed Sunday morning services with new distancing measures in place. In April, the Philippines began livestreaming Sunday morning services from the Bagong Sikat headquarters church. In Kawasaki, Japan, members were able to meet occasionally in small groups and also developed an online Sunday school option for children. Our two churches in Australia are faring well despite closures. In India, with a donation from the Portland headquarters church, Reverend Raju was able to buy rice, dal, and oil to distribute to those in need (pictured).

Europe: Our headquarters church in London organized services through a video conferencing platform. In Spain and Italy, our saints have remained healthy. The church in Stavanger, Norway, has been streaming services twice weekly. In Romania, recently churches were allowed to begin gathering in groups of eight.

Africa: Our headquarters church in Lagos, Nigeria, was already webcasting services, as well as broadcasting on the Heritage Radio station. In Southern Africa, churches in several countries have been using video conferencing to hold Bible studies and to livestream Sunday services. In Malawi, church members were able to use a public address system to preach to the whole community. In Zambia, churches are allowed to gather in groups of up to fifty.

Caribbean: The churches moved services to media platforms, and in Antigua, a young man was saved after joining a call-in meeting. By mid-May, the Road Town, Tortola, church was one of the first to apply to reopen their building. In the Dominican Republic, local congregations began using a variety of media platforms for weekly meetings. Our churches in Jamaica were able to watch webcasts of branches in other countries until they could set up their own digital strategy. In Haiti, the government has implemented fewer closures than most because they do not have resources to survive with a closed economy.

South America: Our Sunday school director in Iquitos, Peru, contracted COVID-19, but is expected to make a full recovery. Church members in Chile were grateful they could hold camp meeting this year; it ended February 16.

North America: In the United States, the world headquarters church in Portland continued to webcast live services, with no audience. Many other United States branch churches also hosted online services. In Canada they have been able to meet locally on a number of media platforms. In Kitchener, Ontario, four individuals prayed through to salvation since the pandemic began.

Read the full report online at www.apostolicfaith.org/world-report.

P o s t s F r o m

B r o t h e r

D a r r e l L e e ’ s

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Read more at apostolicfaith.org/world-reportWorld Report

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From the

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Gallery PICSphotos from our events this month

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(Clockwise from top left) Josh Friesen plays trumpet; Wayne Butler preaches; Christina Larrechea sings a solo; harpist Cheryl Paulsen; Rob Parker gives his testimony; Azaria Charles sings to an empty church; A Heintz/Worthington quartet; Gary Wolfe thanks God for healing him; The Hall family trio.

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Praises for Answered PrayerRob Parker: I have a huge heritage

in this Gospel. I had family members who were faithful in their service to God, and people of this church who were faithful every day, year in and year out, and that made an impression on me as a kid. I could see that their lives had something special and that God had done something very real for them and I wanted that. However, I didn’t feel confident in God’s salvation for me and there were even a few times when I thought I had missed Jesus’ coming. That struck fear in my heart. I didn’t want to miss that wonderful day that we’re expecting and looking forward to. When I was fifteen years of age, in this very building, in the chapel, God saved me and it was very real. It wasn’t like fireworks went off; for most people it probably just seemed like a regular service. But it wasn’t regular for me. It changed my life.

church. But that doesn’t make a C h r i s t i a n out of you. When I was younger, it seemed like the devil would just beat me up. It took a while, but the Lord ended up teaching me how to trust Him. People here prayed with me through that time. I really started to grasp that I needed to trust the Lord and that we don’t always go by feeling. I’m thankful that the Lord saved me. I’m thankful that He sanctified me. That doesn’t mean that we don’t still need to trust the Lord. Through life, after we got married and had our kids, we trusted the Lord with Caleb having appendicitis, Isaac having cellulitis, and Moriah getting hit and run over by a car. I’m glad I can trust the Lord.

Jennifer Worthington: I’m so glad that God is just a whisper away. I’ve had an opportunity the last couple of weeks to work at a different job than I normally do and to be in different circumstances, and I’m so glad that God is there. I heard the new job might be challenging but the first week was not at all. I thought, Ok, this is kind of boring. The second week was this past week and it was challenging! The people were right. Thursday came and I was thinking, I really don’t even want to go to work today. But I said a prayer and other people prayed, and it was the best day yet! God is real. We can take anything to the Lord and He is there and He answers. I’m so glad that He proves true each day.

Dale Copko (right): I was raised in a Christian home—a great opportunity and privilege—and brought to this

Lessons from JeremiahTony Boyce, pastor in Dallas,

Oregon, led evening Bible studies on May 1, 8, and 15 from the Daybreak and Discovery series. May 1 focused on Jeremiah chapters 30-33: “The Consolations of the Prophet.” The Lord had pronounced judgment upon Judah and now it was coming to pass. Yet, even in Judah’s sinful state, God offered hope if the people would repent.

Chapter 30 lists numerous blessings the Lord had in store for Judah. These included: release from captivity into their own land; rest; their incurable wound (sin) would be healed; the people would rejoice, be multiplied, and given honor; they would be governed by one of their own (the Messiah); and they would be acknowledged as God’s people.

The lesson on May 15 was taken from Jeremiah 46-52: “The Pronouncement of Judgment on the Nations.” Brother Tony stated that if God judged His own people, He would certainly also judge the nations that had led them away from worshiping God.

God called the nation of Israel to be His chosen people, and He also faithfully called other nations. Jeremiah 46:25 reveals that God is not only aware of the deeds of nations, but is also concerned with individuals. Each person must make a choice of whom to serve.

On May 8, Brother Tony taught the lesson on Jeremiah 34-45: “The Circumstances of the Prophet.” He began with the key verse from Jeremiah 36:3, and observed that this is really the theme of the Bible: God offers forgiveness for sin.

Some of the points Brother Tony brought out from these chapters included: God always rewards the faithful; God’s Word is truth, and no one can destroy it; God instructs His people to walk before Him with a perfect heart; and sometimes Christians will suffer for the cause of Christ, but they must stand fast and trust that God has a purpose.

“. . . sometimes Christians will suffer for the cause of Christ, but

they must stand fast and trust that God has a purpose.”