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Meet Pastor<br />

Ferrell Hardison<br />

Serving Coffee<br />

for Jesus<br />

Youth pack<br />

Altitude event<br />

Reaching the<br />

Black Family<br />

Growing numbers of<br />

African-Americans are<br />

unchurched. We must<br />

meet the challenge.<br />

February 2012


Editor in Chief<br />

Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter Sr.<br />

February 2012 Vol. 9, No. 2<br />

Publisher<br />

Greg Hearn<br />

CEO, Lifesprings Resources<br />

Executive Editor<br />

J. Lee Grady<br />

Managing Editor<br />

Mégan Alba<br />

Associate Editors<br />

Jamie Powell, Sara Ray<br />

Editorial Committee<br />

Jana DeLano, Nina Brewsaugh,<br />

Annetta Lee, Kimberly Wilkerson,<br />

Kathryn Shelley, Jennifer Simmons,<br />

Sherrie Taylor, Shandra Youell<br />

Graphic Designer<br />

Beth J. Wansley<br />

WEB DESIGNERS<br />

Timothy W. Beasley,<br />

Kalanda Kambeya<br />

General Superintendent<br />

Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter Sr.<br />

Executive Committee of<br />

the Council of Bishops<br />

World Missions Ministries<br />

A.D. Beacham Jr., Vice Chairman<br />

Discipleship Ministries<br />

J. Talmadge Gardner,<br />

Corporate Treasurer<br />

Evangelism USA<br />

D. Chris Thompson,<br />

Corporate Secretary<br />

IPHC Experience (ISSN 1547-4984) Vol. 9<br />

No. 2, is published monthly except in July and<br />

December by Lifesprings Resources of the<br />

<strong>International</strong> <strong>Pentecostal</strong> <strong>Holiness</strong> <strong>Church</strong>,<br />

2425 West Main St., Franklin Springs, GA<br />

30639. Printed in the U.S.A. MMXII. Address<br />

editorial comments to IPHC Experience, P.O.<br />

Box 9, Franklin Springs, GA 30639. Or email<br />

sray@lifesprings.net.<br />

COVER PHOTO: © ThinkStock.com<br />

LSR 2012006<br />

12 Cover Story<br />

Fewer African-Americans attend church today, and they are tired of dry<br />

religious tradition. Our movement must reach them with a vibrant, relevant<br />

message. By Stacy Hilliard.<br />

PLUS: Meet some of the IPHC’s emerging black leaders: Kevin Robinson,<br />

Richard L. Scott Sr., and Eddie Cross.<br />

5 Expressions<br />

The principle of racial diversity is a core<br />

value of the IPHC. Let’s continue to<br />

reach everyone—no matter his or her<br />

color, creed or culture!<br />

By Bishop Ronald W. Carpenter Sr.<br />

6 My Experience<br />

Six years ago, Brandon Goff tried to run<br />

from God. But a life-threatening health<br />

problem got his attention—and showed<br />

him the miraculous love of the Father.<br />

8 Events<br />

Metro Ministries distributes thousands<br />

of gifts to New York kids / Altitude<br />

youth event draws record numbers /<br />

Advantage College gets new campus /<br />

Bishops’ council announces new Bylaws<br />

Committee / Deceased IPHC leaders to<br />

be publicly honored / Kevin Richardson<br />

named VP at Southwestern Christian<br />

University / Christian groups unite to<br />

defend traditional marriage<br />

PLUS: News Briefs<br />

17 Global Edge<br />

IPHC missionary Steve Cofer believes<br />

Jesus can use coffee to reach people for<br />

Christ. He has helped plant 14 Christian<br />

coffee houses in 14 countries.<br />

19 Emerging<br />

Voices<br />

North Carolina pastor Ferrell Hardison<br />

shares candidly how he took a struggling<br />

church of 70 people and revitalized it.<br />

His congregation, The Bridge, now has<br />

more than 1,200 members and is poised<br />

for more growth.<br />

22 E-Resources<br />

The IPHC’s Evangelism USA department<br />

has published God’s Mission: The Mandate<br />

of the <strong>Church</strong>. It’s a vital resource for<br />

any believer who wants to become a<br />

missional Christian.<br />

23 E-Mail<br />

Letters and commentary from our<br />

readers.<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 3


Evangelism USA<br />

“<strong>Church</strong><br />

Planting<br />

Essentials”<br />

Course Description:<br />

Helping you succeed in<br />

establishing dynamic,<br />

healthy, and reproducing<br />

churches.<br />

For more information or to register:<br />

IPHC Ministries<br />

Evangelism USA<br />

P.O. Box 12609<br />

Oklahoma City, OK 73157<br />

evusainfo@iphc.org<br />

January 25-28 – Los Angeles<br />

February 2-4 – Baton Rouge<br />

405.787.7110 ext. 3322<br />

1.877.625.6478<br />

405.789.1001 (fax)<br />

iphc.org/evangelism


One Body,<br />

Many Members!<br />

By Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr.<br />

T<br />

he next time you walk through the doors of your local church, look<br />

around you. What is the average age, gender and race among members<br />

of your church? Would you say your church embraces and models<br />

diversity? Or is everyone … the same?<br />

More than 40 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We<br />

must face the sad fact that at the 11 o’clock hour on Sunday morning<br />

when we stand to sing, we stand in the most segregated hour in<br />

America … and the most segregated school is Sunday School.” Sadly, that statement<br />

still holds true to some degree today. According to a recent study by the Pew Forum,<br />

“The [American] Protestant population is characterized by significant<br />

internal diversity and fragmentation, encompassing hundreds of different<br />

denominations loosely grouped around three fairly distinct religious<br />

traditions––evangelical Protestant churches (26.3 percent of the overall<br />

adult population), mainline Protestant churches (18.1 percent) and<br />

historically black Protestant churches (6.9 percent).” Although America<br />

is seen as a “melting pot” of cultures, the 21st-century American church<br />

is still largely segregated––not just by race, but by age, culture, and other<br />

congregational preferences.<br />

The early church was marked not only by their beliefs, but also by their<br />

diversity. When Pentecost arrives in Acts 2, the crowd is amazed because<br />

they hear the Gospel in their native languages. They proclaim in verses 9-11<br />

(NIV): “Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea<br />

and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the<br />

parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism);<br />

Cretans and Arabs––we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”<br />

In Acts 8, persecution prompts the believers to scatter, which results in the spreading<br />

of the Gospel to all parts of the known world. Because of this, Philip has a divine<br />

encounter with an Ethiopian, Peter preaches to Cornelius and his household, and Paul<br />

shares the Gospel in the cities of Europe, including the marketplace in Athens. Jews and<br />

Gentiles, men and women, rich and poor, slave and free––individuals from all walks of life<br />

were accepted and welcomed by the early church.<br />

This principle of diversity is a guiding light of the IPHC as we carry out our Godgiven<br />

mandate for 21st-century ministry! We must remember that regardless of our<br />

differences, the same Holy Spirit is present in our midst and at work in our lives. As<br />

people who are committed to living missionally, we must be authentic followers of<br />

Christ, we must embrace the diversity of His kingdom, and we must keep diversity at the<br />

forefront of our mission.<br />

With nearly 4 million members in 103 countries, the IPHC is a naturally diverse<br />

group. As I travel the globe and continue to meet pastors and church leaders from around<br />

the world, I am amazed at the diversity among<br />

our churches. Some of our fastest growing<br />

ministries and most influential churches thrive<br />

in highly diverse, non-traditional settings.<br />

Our largest congregation, Redemption<br />

World Outreach Center in Greenville, S.C.,<br />

(17,500 members) is 40 percent Caucasian<br />

and 60 percent African-American in<br />

constituency and leadership. Mission: M25<br />

works with the overlooked and neglected of<br />

the world, literally going into the “highways<br />

and byways” to share the Gospel with those<br />

who have lost hope. Mercy Movement seeks<br />

to raise awareness of, and ultimately eliminate,<br />

human trafficking by exposing operations<br />

in cities across the U.S. Our Coffee House<br />

Ministry plants coffee houses across the globe,<br />

providing a non-threatening environment<br />

for people to commune with others and<br />

hear the Gospel while being fed. People to<br />

People Ministries provides food, clothes and<br />

schooling for children around the world, as<br />

well as providing humanitarian aid when<br />

natural disasters strike. And let us not forget<br />

our missionaries, who are in 100 countries and<br />

counting, sharing the Gospel with people of<br />

all races, tribes, tongues, creeds and cultures.<br />

In Revelation 5:9, we<br />

hear the songs of praise to<br />

the Lamb who “purchased<br />

men for God from every tribe<br />

and language and people and<br />

nation” (NIV). As the time<br />

draws nearer for the Lord’s<br />

return, let us continue to be<br />

diligent in reaching out to<br />

those who need the healing<br />

and liberating message of the<br />

Gospel. The time has come for<br />

us to step out of our comfort<br />

zones, cultural norms and<br />

complacency. Whether it’s a homeless mother,<br />

a tattooed teenager, or a tribal leader––all need<br />

to experience the Gospel firsthand.<br />

Scott Williams, author of the book <strong>Church</strong><br />

Diversity, says, “The bottom line is this: it’s no<br />

longer acceptable for God’s chosen vessel, the<br />

local church, to be one of the most segregated<br />

institutions in the world.”<br />

God has entrusted us with a sacred<br />

mission. Let us not grow weary in reaching<br />

out to the lost––no matter their color,<br />

clothing, creed or culture. The IPHC is<br />

committed to Live, Move, and Be!<br />

We will – LIVE IN HIM!<br />

We will – MOVE FOR HIM!<br />

We will – BE LIKE HIM!<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 5


In the Father’s arms: Brandon Goff with his wife, Megan, and son, Brody.<br />

God Wouldn’t Let Me<br />

Run From Him<br />

The Lord used a life-threatening health issue to heal my broken heart.<br />

BY Rev. Brandon Goff<br />

I knew God was calling me to<br />

ministry even before I accepted Him as my savior. At the<br />

age of 16, I gave my life to the Lord. At 18, my childhood<br />

vision became reality as I accepted my first youth<br />

pastorate while attending Emmanuel College.<br />

Shortly after graduating from college, I took a full-time<br />

youth ministry position in South Carolina. That was<br />

when I decided I hadn’t “lived” enough. I broke up with<br />

my good Christian girlfriend. I turned to alcohol and<br />

recreational drugs to numb the pain and frustration I felt.<br />

Living testimony: Brandon shares a message of<br />

love and healing during a youth service.<br />

6 February 2012 | iphc.org/experience


I decided that money, parties and friends<br />

were more fun than church ever was. I no<br />

longer wanted to be a pastor, and I ran<br />

from everything that looked like ministry.<br />

But God loved me too much to let me<br />

stay that way.<br />

One day, I bent down to pick up a drill<br />

from my work truck. Suddenly, my chest<br />

felt heavy, painful and tight. I couldn’t<br />

breathe and I began to black out. I had<br />

to sit down to catch my breath and calm<br />

myself.<br />

On my way home from work, I called<br />

my mother, who immediately scheduled<br />

an appointment with my doctor. After<br />

conducting several tests, the doctor<br />

sent me to the hospital for overnight<br />

observation.<br />

I was shocked, scared, frustrated and<br />

angry. I was 23 years old, far too young to<br />

have heart problems! Surely this was just a<br />

blip on the radar of life.<br />

In the hospital, I was diagnosed with<br />

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.<br />

Doctors said a two-hour surgery would<br />

fix the issue. I thought, It can’t be that bad<br />

if a little surgery fixes the problem, right? So<br />

I agreed to the procedure, thinking I’d be<br />

better in no time.<br />

After six hours in surgery, the doctor’s<br />

prognosis terrified me: “We couldn’t fix it<br />

all. It’s worse than we thought.” I asked<br />

why I had deep red marks on my chest and<br />

ribs. He responded, “We had to shock you<br />

back three times during the procedure.”<br />

This was the moment God began to<br />

speak in my life. It became clear that my<br />

current path was not carrying me to the<br />

eternal destiny I desired, or the one God<br />

wanted for me. I saw that my blatant<br />

disrespect and disregard for God was not<br />

just affecting my life––it was breaking<br />

God’s heart as well. I decided I wanted to<br />

“go to heaven,” but I made it clear to God<br />

that I didn’t want to give up control of my<br />

life.<br />

One week later, I had another surgery<br />

to correct my heart problem. Once again, I<br />

died on the table. “Your heart quit beating<br />

for 10 minutes during the procedure,”<br />

the doctor told me. “We kept it beating<br />

artificially. The hand of God was definitely<br />

in there with you.” Later that night, I went<br />

into what is known as complete heart<br />

block. I began to experience severe chest<br />

pain and shortness of breath, and I was<br />

quickly moved to critical care.<br />

Lying in that room, wearing an oxygen<br />

mask, getting sick over the side of the<br />

bed, and feeling drugs pumping into my<br />

body through an IV, I was overcome with<br />

defeat. I begged my dad, “Please! Let it<br />

stop hurting, or let me die.”<br />

But in the midst of the pain and fear,<br />

my heavenly father spoke: There is more to<br />

your life than what you’ve been doing.<br />

The next day, I learned I would need<br />

a pacemaker. Once again, I prepared for<br />

surgery. I offered a silent yet sincere prayer:<br />

If there is truly more to my life than what<br />

I’ve been living, I want it. I know you are<br />

great, good and perfect, but I haven’t been. I<br />

need your forgiveness, love, grace and mercy…<br />

and I give you all of my life. I love you! That<br />

day, I felt different. I was at peace, content,<br />

confident. There was no fear of death––not<br />

because I wanted to die, but because I<br />

knew there was more to life.<br />

It’s been six years since my lifechanging<br />

experience, and my heart is still<br />

being constructed. I will always have a scar,<br />

a pacemaker, and regular surgeries to keep<br />

my heart beating normally––but these<br />

are temporary trappings that will one day<br />

fade. More importantly, I have an undying<br />

passion for God, an understanding of his<br />

endless chances, and an eternal encounter<br />

with His presence.<br />

Soon after my ordeal, I came back to<br />

the church and embraced my calling as a<br />

pastor. Today, I am planting a church in<br />

Columbia, S.C. I am determined to help<br />

people walk in the life that God intended<br />

for his children.<br />

When I look at my life, I often think of<br />

the nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty”:<br />

All the king’s horses<br />

And all the king’s men<br />

Couldn’t put Humpty together again.<br />

When earthly men couldn’t fix me, the<br />

King of Kings put my broken heart back<br />

together––and for that, I am eternally<br />

grateful!<br />

Brandon Goff is the associate pastor at<br />

Ebenezer PH <strong>Church</strong> in Elgin, SC. He<br />

and his wife, Megan, are also planting a<br />

church in Columbia, SC.<br />

Have you had the Experience? Send your testimony to Sara Ray at<br />

sray@lifesprings.net.<br />

How to<br />

Experience God<br />

Here are five simple steps you can<br />

take to begin a relationship with God:<br />

1. Recognize your need. The Bible<br />

tells us that “all have sinned and fall<br />

short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23,<br />

NASB). All of us are sinners, and we<br />

must admit our need for a Savior.<br />

2. Repent of your sins. Because<br />

God is completely holy, our sins create<br />

a wall that separates us from Him.<br />

By confessing your sins you will find<br />

forgiveness. “Repent” means to make<br />

a 180-degree turnaround. The Bible<br />

promises: “If we confess our sins, He<br />

is faithful and righteous to forgive us<br />

our sins and to cleanse us from all<br />

unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).<br />

3. Believe in Jesus. God worked a<br />

miracle when He sent His only Son<br />

to die for us. We don’t have to pay for<br />

our sins … Jesus paid it all! We can’t<br />

work for our salvation. It is a gift from<br />

God, and all He requires is that we<br />

believe. Put your faith in Him. The Bible<br />

says: “For God so loved the world,<br />

that He gave His only begotten Son,<br />

that whoever believes in Him shall not<br />

perish, but have eternal life” (John<br />

3:16).<br />

4. Receive His salvation. God has<br />

given us this free gift, but we must<br />

accept it. Thank Him for sending Jesus<br />

to die on the cross for you. Thank<br />

Him for His amazing love, mercy and<br />

forgiveness. Then ask Him to live in<br />

your heart. His promise to us is sure:<br />

“But as many as received Him, to them<br />

He gave the right to become children of<br />

God...” (John 1:12).<br />

5. Confess your faith. The Bible<br />

assures us: “If you confess with your<br />

mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in<br />

your heart that God raised Him from<br />

the dead, you will be saved” (Rom.<br />

10:9). You have been born again and are<br />

now part of God’s family. Tell someone<br />

else what Jesus has done in your life!<br />

This amazing experience can be yours.<br />

Embrace God’s love and receive the<br />

salvation that only Jesus Christ gives.<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 7


More than 110,000 kids received gifts in<br />

this year’s campaign.<br />

Making Christmas bright: A child holds up her stocking during Sidewalk Sunday School.<br />

Metro Ministries Distributes<br />

Over 100,000 Christmas Gifts<br />

to Needy Children<br />

Operation Holiday Hope teaches inner-city children the true<br />

meaning of Christmas.<br />

BY Sara Ray<br />

While millions of people in New<br />

York City spent the week before<br />

Christmas shopping for those lastminute<br />

holiday gifts, the staff and<br />

volunteers at Metro Ministries were<br />

busy handing out thousands of presents<br />

to children throughout the city and<br />

around the world. Founder and Pastor<br />

Bill Wilson estimates that his Brooklynbased<br />

ministry to inner-city children<br />

distributed around 110,000 wrapped<br />

Christmas gifts as part of 2011’s<br />

Operation Holiday Hope.<br />

Founded in 1995, Operation Holiday<br />

Hope is an annual Christmas outreach<br />

designed to share the gift of Christ<br />

by providing an individually wrapped<br />

Christmas present to each child who<br />

attends one of the numerous Metro<br />

Ministries Sunday School programs<br />

in urban areas around the world. It<br />

also includes the Christmas Stocking<br />

Project, which has been adopted as a<br />

national emphasis by the IPHC Women’s<br />

Ministries.<br />

“A handmade Christmas stocking or<br />

an individually wrapped Christmas gift<br />

doesn’t seem very important … but it’s<br />

always been the little things that impact<br />

someone’s life when they know it’s been<br />

given through the love of Christ,” says<br />

Wilson. “Each one of these Christmas<br />

gifts is symbolic of the love of Christ that<br />

was given at Christmastime.”<br />

On Saturday, Dec. 17, a fleet of<br />

yellow school buses ferried hundreds of<br />

children to the Metro Ministries <strong>Church</strong> to<br />

attend one of four Indoor Sunday School<br />

sessions. The children played games,<br />

sang songs, and returned home with<br />

a newfound knowledge of the greatest<br />

gift of all, as well as the only Christmas<br />

present or stocking many of the children<br />

received during the holidays.<br />

For more information about Metro<br />

Ministries and Operation Holiday Hope,<br />

visit www.metroministries.org.<br />

Joy to the world: Metro<br />

Ministries takes the Christmas<br />

message to the streets of<br />

Brooklyn.<br />

8 February 2012 | iphc.org/experience


A new record:<br />

Nearly 150 teens<br />

and leaders<br />

attended Altitude.<br />

Altitude<br />

Reports<br />

Record<br />

AttendancE<br />

A new location provides<br />

growth for the winter youth<br />

experience.<br />

Altitude 2012 was a leap of faith that<br />

paid off for teens and leaders alike.<br />

Event organizers made the decision to<br />

move the event from Denver, Colorado,<br />

to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.<br />

“While Colorado was a great<br />

location, the travel was a challenge for<br />

our churches and teens,” said Scott<br />

Hampton, Discipleship Ministries<br />

director for the Great Plains Conference.<br />

“We wanted a more central location that<br />

would allow us to connect with more<br />

people.”<br />

With nearly 150 teens and youth<br />

leaders in attendance, Hampton says<br />

it was the right move. This year’s event<br />

took place at the Heartland Conference<br />

Campground, which provided an<br />

Advantage Gets<br />

New Campus and<br />

New VP<br />

The IPHC school experiences<br />

growth through technology and<br />

partnership.<br />

It’s a new season for students, faculty,<br />

and staff at Advantage College. The<br />

West Coast-based IPHC school recently<br />

relocated to a state-of-the-art campus<br />

in San Jose, California. In addition, the<br />

college has named Dr. Garnet Pike the<br />

new vice president overseeing Academic<br />

Development. Advantage will partner with<br />

Pike’s ministry training program, Spirit Life<br />

Ministries, to provide ongoing educational<br />

opportunities to students.<br />

New classrooms provide improved<br />

opportunities at Advantage College.<br />

accessible central location at an affordable<br />

price. Skiing was replaced by snow tubing and<br />

ice-skating in downtown Oklahoma City. Youth<br />

groups also enjoyed rock climbing, shopping,<br />

movies and museums, and other local<br />

activities.<br />

But it wasn’t all fun and games. During<br />

services, teens filled the altar for praise and<br />

worship, led by Jake Ishmael and youth from<br />

the Master’s Commission in Denver, Colo.<br />

The speaker lineup included Great Plains<br />

Discipleship Ministries Director Scott Hampton,<br />

Pastor Woody Burpo of Passion <strong>Church</strong>,<br />

<strong>International</strong> Youth Evangelist Matt Shull, and<br />

National Youth Ministries Director Rev. Charles<br />

Boyd. The highlight of the week was a New<br />

Year’s Eve bonfire, followed by a youth-led<br />

worship and prayer service to ring in 2012.<br />

Hampton says plans are already underway<br />

for next year’s event, which will also be in<br />

Oklahoma City.<br />

“We plan to stay here as long as it keeps<br />

working here,” he said. “Our biggest concern<br />

now is that we’ll outgrow this place.”<br />

–Mégan Alba<br />

“We are extremely grateful,” said Dr. Dan<br />

Greenlee, president. “We feel like God has<br />

blessed us and we’re just trying to go with<br />

it.”<br />

Greenlee says the new facility and faculty<br />

will provide more educational opportunities<br />

for both on-campus and online students.<br />

Pike brings many years of educational<br />

and practical ministry experience to<br />

this new position. Previously, he served<br />

as the Dean of the Graduate School at<br />

Southwestern Christian University. He is<br />

also an accomplished author, speaker, and<br />

evangelist.<br />

Advantage will use a School of Ministry<br />

Curriculum developed by Pike and available<br />

through Spirit Life Ministries. Pike says the<br />

curriculum was originally developed for the<br />

Equipping the Saints program.<br />

“It’s a new day for the <strong>Church</strong> and a<br />

new way of fulfilling the biblical mandate<br />

to ‘equip the saints for the work of the<br />

ministry,’” said Pike.<br />

Advantage College focuses on providing<br />

practical ministry training through the<br />

Ephesians 4 model. The school has<br />

approximately 500 students in local and<br />

virtual campuses around the world. To learn<br />

more about their programs, or to enroll, go<br />

to www.advantagecollege.org.<br />

» Carpenter Health Update<br />

Nearly 15<br />

months after<br />

beginning<br />

treatment for<br />

melanoma,<br />

Presiding<br />

Bishop<br />

Carpenter<br />

says the spot<br />

Bishop Carpenter<br />

in his lung is<br />

shrinking and<br />

his prognosis is<br />

good. After one year of treatment, the<br />

melanoma reduced by 30 percent. In<br />

November 2011, doctors tried a new<br />

drug, which reduced the melanoma<br />

by an additional 60 percent. Bishop<br />

Carpenter says he has responded<br />

well to the medication and has little<br />

to no side effects. He is thankful for<br />

the prayers and support of the IPHC<br />

family. “I feel like a new man with a<br />

new lease on life!” he says.<br />

» Former Bishop’s<br />

Wife Stable After<br />

Stroke<br />

Mrs. Jean Williams,<br />

widow of former Bishop<br />

J. Floyd Williams, is in<br />

stable condition after<br />

suffering a stroke on<br />

December 30. Williams<br />

Jean Williams<br />

is recovering in a<br />

hospital in Oklahoma<br />

City. The family asks for prayer<br />

for complete healing and a restful<br />

recovery. Bishop J. Floyd Williams<br />

was elected General Superintendent in<br />

1969 and served three terms (12 years)<br />

ending in 1981.<br />

» McSherry Named<br />

Foundation President<br />

The IPH<br />

Foundation has<br />

named Rev.<br />

Olin McSherry<br />

its first fulltime<br />

president.<br />

McSherry was<br />

previously the<br />

Olin McSherry<br />

Director of<br />

Development and<br />

Public Information at Redemption<br />

World Outreach Center in Greenville,<br />

SC. He succeeds Reggie Till, who<br />

has served the IPHF in an advisory or<br />

part-time capacity since its formation<br />

in 2001.<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 9


Council<br />

of Bishops<br />

Announces<br />

Members of<br />

2013 Bylaws<br />

Committee<br />

The committee will consider<br />

recommendations for the<br />

IPHC’s quadrennial report.<br />

New guidelines adopted at the 2009 General Conference require members of the Bylaws Committee (formerly known<br />

as the Polity Committee) to be appointed two years in advance of the conference. The Council of Bishops, in its July 2011<br />

meeting in Atlanta, approved the following appointments recommended by the Executive Committee of the Council of<br />

Bishops.<br />

The Bylaws Committee desires input from church leaders and will consider recommendations for possible<br />

incorporation into their report for the 2013 General Conference. Their report will be completed by May 1, 2013. Please<br />

feel free to contact these individuals with any constructive recommendations for the IPHC.<br />

<strong>International</strong> <strong>Pentecostal</strong> <strong>Holiness</strong> <strong>Church</strong><br />

2013 General Conference Bylaws Committee<br />

Bishop Tommy McGhee, Chairman<br />

P.O. Box 150<br />

Browns Summit, NC 27214<br />

(336) 656-7936 x126 ofc<br />

674-9305 hm<br />

TMcGhee@ccrdc.org<br />

Bishop Preston Mathena<br />

P.O. Box 1086<br />

Dublin, VA 24084<br />

(540) 674-4131 ofc & fax<br />

(304) 952-1007 cell<br />

KPMathena@aol.com<br />

Bishop Dayton Birt<br />

5201 Courthouse Road<br />

Prince George, VA 23875<br />

(804) 862-9201 / (804) 641-5418<br />

Bishop.rm@gmail.com<br />

Bishop Trinidad Gutierrez<br />

P.O. Box 1306<br />

Yakima, WA 98907<br />

(509) 249-5631 ofc & fax<br />

452-7549 hm; 910-8056 cell<br />

pastorgutz2009@hotmail.com<br />

Bishop Greg Amos<br />

620 S. Ron McNair Blvd.<br />

Lake City, SC 29560<br />

(843) 394-8508 / (843) 409-0175<br />

GAmos91380@aol.com<br />

Bishop Larry Herrera<br />

3245 Eliot St., Ste. 214<br />

Denver, CO 80211-3301<br />

(303) 379-9071; 359-4289 cell<br />

(770) 381-0622 fax<br />

Pastor_larry@comcast.net<br />

Rev. Hector Andrade<br />

765 West Shore Drive<br />

Worthington, MN 56187<br />

(507) 350-9629 cell / 376-4644 hm<br />

ccw@frontiernet.net<br />

Rev. Kent Bell<br />

246 S. Mercer Ave.<br />

Greenville, PA 16125<br />

(724) 589 5433 ofc / 456-4835 cell<br />

pastorkent@blwc.org<br />

Rev. Greg Hearn<br />

P.O. Box 9<br />

Franklin Springs, GA 30639<br />

(706) 245-7272 x110 ofc<br />

(706) 245-4786 hm<br />

ghearn@lifesprings.net<br />

Ghearn@iphc.org<br />

Mrs. Linda Thomas<br />

P.O. Box 337<br />

Vanceboro, NC 28586<br />

(252) 635-5012 ofc<br />

(252) 229-2910 cell<br />

Linda@thomasdev.com<br />

Mrs. Meta Russo<br />

764 Georgia Cliff Road<br />

Tryon, NC 28782<br />

(864) 357-3334<br />

(828) 859-9565<br />

mrusso@uscciphc.org<br />

Mr. Tim Hooper<br />

7308 NW 113th Terrace<br />

Oklahoma City, OK 73162<br />

(405) 789-9193<br />

trhooper@cox.net<br />

Bishop Mike Gray<br />

6779 Taylor Circle<br />

Montgomery, AL 36117<br />

(334) 260-0600<br />

MGray@iphc.org<br />

Rev. Stan Reynolds<br />

1229 Buchanan St.<br />

Marysville, CA 95901<br />

(530) 742-8411 / 701-3391<br />

pastorstanreynolds@gmail.com<br />

Rev. Norm Wilkie<br />

5345 S. Peoria<br />

Tulsa, OK 73105<br />

(918) 299-0294<br />

nswilk@cox.net<br />

10 February 2012 | iphc.org/experience


Information<br />

Needed for<br />

Memoirs<br />

Committee Report<br />

Deceased IPHC leaders to be<br />

publicly honored<br />

The IPHC Memoirs<br />

Committee is calling<br />

for information for the<br />

quadrennial report<br />

to be presented at<br />

the next general<br />

conference.<br />

Each general<br />

conference recognizes<br />

those who have left<br />

our presence and<br />

entered heaven’s<br />

gates during the quadrennium. The report will include all former<br />

members of the General Executive Board, General Board of<br />

Administration, and all missionaries (both lay and clerical).<br />

Because of structural changes implemented at the previous<br />

general conference, the following individuals will be included from<br />

the former GEB/GBA boards:<br />

• General superintendents and their spouses<br />

• Elected general officials<br />

• Conference superintendents<br />

• Women’s Ministries directors<br />

• Men’s Ministries directors<br />

• Administrators of Advocate Press/LifeSprings<br />

• Administrators of IPHC Educational and Benevolent<br />

Institutions<br />

• Lay representatives<br />

• Ethnic representatives<br />

• Pastoral representatives<br />

• Women representatives<br />

This report will cover the time period of January 1, 2009, through<br />

December 31, 2012. If you have an obituary, funeral service program,<br />

and/or photo for individuals that fall into these categories, contact<br />

Ladonna Scott at (405) 787-7110.<br />

Richardson Named<br />

VP of Southwestern<br />

Kevin Richardson will oversee<br />

Alumni & Development for the<br />

university.<br />

Southwestern<br />

Christian University<br />

has selected Kevin<br />

Richardson as the<br />

new Vice President<br />

for University<br />

Development.<br />

Richardson brings<br />

more than 12 years<br />

of development and<br />

marketing experience Kevin Richardson<br />

to the university. Before<br />

joining SCU, he served in a wide range of senior<br />

development, communication, and leadership<br />

positions in both higher education and ministry.<br />

“We are very excited about the skills Mr.<br />

Richardson brings to Southwestern,” said<br />

Dr. Ed Huckeby, president of the university.<br />

“I am confident his leadership in the areas of<br />

development, marketing and alumni relations<br />

will assist us in taking the institution to new<br />

levels of excellence.”<br />

Richardson is an ordained minister in the<br />

Assemblies of God with deep ties to Oklahoma.<br />

He holds a B.A. in biblical studies from Central<br />

Bible College and an M.A. in theology from the<br />

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.<br />

Organizations Unite to Defend<br />

traditional Marriage<br />

Leaders issue an open letter regarding marriage and religious<br />

freedom.<br />

Leaders from a variety of denominational backgrounds issued an open letter<br />

defending marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The letter also warns<br />

that redefining marriage threatens religious freedom and the common good.<br />

Presiding Bishop Ronald Carpenter, Sr., was among those leaders who signed the<br />

letter.<br />

Carpenter says it is important for the IPHC to join the effort to protect the sanctity<br />

of marriage because it is the key to “providing a safe environment for the birthing and<br />

nurturing of children, that they may grow to make a positive contribution to the civility<br />

of society.”<br />

The letter was also signed by Leith Anderson, president of the National Association<br />

of Evangelicals; Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of<br />

Catholic Bishops; and H. David Burton, presiding bishop of the <strong>Church</strong> of Jesus Christ<br />

of Latter-day Saints.<br />

To read the letter or learn more, go to www.nae.net.<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 11


COVER STORY<br />

12 February 2012 | iphc.org/experience


A New Day<br />

Black<br />

for the<br />

<strong>Church</strong><br />

People are tired of tradition. God is calling<br />

all of us to become relevant and missional.<br />

By Stacy Hilliard<br />

The term missional has become a buzzword.<br />

Corporations, churches, and even people claim<br />

to be missional. But what is it? What does it<br />

mean to be missional? And how does that word<br />

apply to the church, and more specifically, to the<br />

IPHC?<br />

Jesus was intentional when he said, “I go and<br />

prepare a place for you … that where I am, there<br />

you may be also” ( John 14:3, NKJV). The power,<br />

influence, and commitment to quantitatively<br />

grow the kingdom of God were transferred to the<br />

body of Christ––the church––in order to further<br />

the mission of the gospel.<br />

In other words, the missional mindset simply<br />

means to be “on mission” in the community.<br />

Having a missional mindset means engaging the<br />

needs of the community. We are to be about the<br />

Father’s business, carrying out his mission on<br />

earth as we wait for His return.<br />

continued<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 13


The African-American church<br />

modeled the missional mindset long<br />

before 21st-century leaders coined<br />

the term. The African-American<br />

church was the cornerstone of the<br />

community, often functioning<br />

as a civic center, food bank,<br />

shelter, and anything else<br />

the community needed.<br />

Whether it was a family<br />

reunion or a funeral, a<br />

celebration or a tragedy,<br />

the black church could<br />

be counted on to open its<br />

doors to the churched and<br />

unchurched alike.<br />

Somewhere along<br />

the way, we lost sight of<br />

that mission. The needs<br />

are still there, but our<br />

methods have become<br />

outdated and irrelevant.<br />

Although 1 in every 6<br />

churches in America<br />

is African-American,<br />

the number of<br />

unchurched African-<br />

Americans is steadily<br />

increasing. The<br />

current needs of the<br />

black community<br />

are great, and the<br />

opinion––especially<br />

among younger<br />

African-Americans––is<br />

that the church is<br />

disconnected. In<br />

order to re-establish<br />

its effectiveness<br />

and influence in the<br />

community, the black<br />

church must focus on three<br />

key initiatives:<br />

1. Engage the culture.<br />

If our focus is going to be the<br />

communication of a gospel that is<br />

applicable to a particular people<br />

group, then we must understand<br />

the cultural makeup of our target<br />

audience.<br />

For years, the black church has<br />

devoted itself to the teaching of<br />

scriptures. However, in our zeal<br />

to become biblical scholars, we<br />

mistook training for relationship. As<br />

a result, our teaching methods and<br />

our church models have become<br />

irrelevant to the next generation.<br />

The African-American church<br />

must understand that in order to<br />

reach the next generation(s), they<br />

must communicate the gospel in<br />

their culture and in their language.<br />

If Jesus is our ultimate hope and<br />

answer, then our mandate is to<br />

effectively communicate that hope.<br />

Romans 8:19, 20 says, “For the<br />

earnest expectation of the creature<br />

waiteth for the manifestation of<br />

the sons of God. For the creature<br />

was made subject to vanity, not<br />

willingly, but by reason of him who<br />

hath subjected the same in hope.”<br />

If our charge is to preserve the<br />

relevancy of the gospel, then we<br />

must not neglect the community<br />

by confining that relevance to our<br />

local congregation.<br />

2. Love the sinner,<br />

hate the sin.<br />

The younger generation<br />

distances itself because of the<br />

perceived method of the church<br />

to “badger” without remedy. The<br />

younger African-American culture<br />

grasps the concept of God, but<br />

at the same time, they view the<br />

church as being “out of touch.”<br />

All too often, we want a sinner<br />

to “clean up” before becoming part<br />

of the church. In order to reach<br />

the next generation, we must be<br />

willing to accept people as they are,<br />

then disciple them to become the<br />

leaders God has called them to be.<br />

Hair color, clothing choice, tattoos,<br />

piercings, and so on, are secondary<br />

to a relationship with the Lord. If<br />

we focus on sharing the message<br />

of the gospel, loving those in need,<br />

and providing biblical discipleship,<br />

the Holy Spirit will create lasting<br />

internal change that will eventually<br />

be expressed outwardly.<br />

3. Share our best<br />

resources.<br />

The African-American church<br />

has a tendency to “hold on” to<br />

local church leaders, rather than<br />

send them out and support them in<br />

becoming pastors, ministry leaders,<br />

and community advocates. The<br />

result is a stagnated and diminished<br />

presence in the local community. If<br />

we limit our influence to the four<br />

walls or the culture of the church,<br />

we limit the power of the gospel to<br />

change, multiply, inspire and engage<br />

the black community.<br />

No culture is exempt from<br />

being embraced and engaged with<br />

14 February 2012 | iphc.org/experience


the communication of the gospel. Our<br />

energies must lie in our thorough and<br />

effectual communication of the gospel in<br />

the African-American community. The<br />

Lord says, “But ye shall receive power, after<br />

that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:<br />

and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in<br />

Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria,<br />

and unto the uttermost part of the earth”<br />

(Acts 1:8). It is clear from this declaration<br />

that the gospel was ordained to work in<br />

various contexts. This requires community<br />

activism and spiritual awakening within<br />

church leadership. African-American<br />

pastors play a pivotal role, not only in the<br />

communication of the missional platform,<br />

but also in making a concerted advance<br />

to train leaders and mentors to unfold the<br />

missional initiative.<br />

Nothing that is taught within the<br />

confines of the church is done so<br />

exclusively for the church. Likewise,<br />

every pastor within a local church should<br />

harness the responsibility to develop<br />

mentors and deploy ministry leaders into<br />

communities, which further translates the<br />

message of the gospel through the works<br />

within the communities.<br />

It is time for the African-American<br />

church to reclaim its place in the<br />

African-<br />

American<br />

culture. The<br />

transforming<br />

power of<br />

community<br />

inclusion, which<br />

has its roots in<br />

the missional<br />

mindset, can<br />

re-shape<br />

the spiritual<br />

paradigm<br />

of the black<br />

community.<br />

This will<br />

happen when<br />

the church<br />

actively<br />

engages the<br />

community<br />

and tells the<br />

gospel story in such a way that the<br />

listener will see himself or herself in<br />

A legacy of faith: In the past, the African-American community has been<br />

rooted in the church.<br />

the <strong>pages</strong> of the Bible. This will lead to<br />

revival and many salvations within the<br />

African-American church, which will<br />

open the door for real change within the<br />

community. As this happens, a different<br />

conversation will take shape within the<br />

African-American community that will<br />

impact both culture and society in this<br />

generation and in generations to come.<br />

Rev. Stacy Hilliard is the director of<br />

Multicultural Ministries and <strong>Church</strong><br />

Revitalization for the IPHC.<br />

Prophetic Voices in the IPHC<br />

“We need to<br />

intentionally position<br />

ourselves to be on<br />

the cutting edge of<br />

evangelizing, building<br />

relationships,<br />

and embracing<br />

the culture of our<br />

African-American<br />

communities.<br />

Second, we must<br />

be intentional and engaging in our efforts<br />

to disciple, develop, and release potential<br />

leaders into ministry. However, these efforts<br />

will only work if we, as a denomination,<br />

stand together in unity and engage in<br />

diversifying our denomination in the local<br />

churches. Every pastor in the denomination<br />

must be open to the heart of God in this<br />

hour. Together, we can move every mountain,<br />

leap over every stumbling block, and slay<br />

every giant that comes to divide us.”<br />

Pastor Kevin Robinson<br />

Senior Pastor, Divine<br />

Empowerment <strong>International</strong><br />

Fayetteville, N.C.<br />

Director of African-American<br />

Ministries (N.C. Conference)<br />

“First, we<br />

must be<br />

true to the<br />

Gospel. After<br />

examining the<br />

scriptures, our<br />

denomination<br />

must reflect<br />

on whether<br />

we really want<br />

to accept the<br />

spirit of acceptance. Do we really<br />

want our churches to reflect the<br />

message found in the Gospel, or do<br />

we want a token of tolerance that<br />

looks good on public display? Second,<br />

we have to build a church culture<br />

that lets those looking in identify<br />

with themselves. I am encouraged<br />

with the progress I have witnessed<br />

in our conference. I feel we can say<br />

we are approaching the Gospel’s true<br />

meaning when we see more black<br />

pastors leading churches that are<br />

multiracial.”<br />

Pastor Richard L. Scott, Sr.<br />

Founding Pastor, New Light<br />

Fellowship<br />

West Palm Beach, Fla.<br />

“We have great<br />

leadership in<br />

the IPHC. We<br />

have many<br />

diverse leaders<br />

that have<br />

accomplished<br />

with distinction<br />

territory for<br />

our King. Now<br />

the clarion<br />

call must be answered to execute<br />

the assignment of change toward the<br />

African-American. Real, sustainable,<br />

and life-giving change is the mandate<br />

to the change agent who understands<br />

authentic systems of process<br />

improvement. The goal is to share<br />

the good news with a people that<br />

are hungry for a faithful <strong>Pentecostal</strong><br />

experience. With a good old-fashioned<br />

prayer meeting, a heart to hear the<br />

Holy Spirit and the mind to release<br />

a change agent with a master plan,<br />

we can catch the imagination of the<br />

African-American for Jesus.”<br />

Pastor Eddie Cross<br />

Miracle Life <strong>Church</strong><br />

Harrisburg, Pa.<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 15


Allen Griffin Pat Schatzline Tim Ross Joel Stockstill Bellarive


Unique Outreaches<br />

Love in a mug: Students visit a coffee shop in the Philippines.<br />

A Cup of Java<br />

In His Name<br />

The IPHC’s Coffee House Ministry shares<br />

the love of Christ through hot drinks and<br />

warm fellowship.<br />

BY Mégan alba<br />

A<br />

cup of coffee literally saved John’s* life.<br />

John was battling loneliness and depression<br />

while attending college in the Philippines. He<br />

felt like no one cared about his life. One day, he<br />

decided to put an end to his misery by committing<br />

suicide.<br />

That same day, he walked<br />

by Paglaum Student Center Coffee House and had<br />

an overwhelming urge to go in. Upon walking inside,<br />

John was greeted by a smiling volunteer who not<br />

only gave him a cup of coffee, but also took the time<br />

to ask about his life. John was so touched by the<br />

conversation that he decided not to end his life.<br />

In the coming weeks and months, John continued<br />

to stop by for coffee and conversation. He eventually<br />

accepted Christ and became involved in a local<br />

church. Then, he became a volunteer at the very<br />

coffee shop that saved his life because, he said, “There<br />

are more like me out there.”<br />

Steve Cofer, director of IPHC Coffee House<br />

Ministries, says there are countless stories like John’s.<br />

At the center of them all is the same message: “The key is not the cup of<br />

coffee. The key is that someone takes an interest.”<br />

Coffee House Ministries is leading the IPHC’s efforts in global<br />

marketplace ministry. In the New Testament, Paul witnessed at the city<br />

Through the neutral<br />

environment of
the<br />

coffee house, churches<br />

can share the gospel,<br />

disciple new converts, and<br />

provide outreach for the<br />

surrounding community.<br />

gates, which was the marketplace of Jesus’<br />

time. Today, Cofer says, the marketplace<br />

looks different, but the need is the same:<br />

people want to know that someone cares.<br />

Although coffee houses are relatively<br />

new to the U.S.––most have taken<br />

hold in the past two decades and are<br />

geared toward “hipsters” or white-collar<br />

workers––other cultures are grounded in a<br />

central meeting place that provides drinks<br />

and conversation. For many cultures<br />

around the world, stopping by a coffee<br />

house is part of the daily routine. Because<br />

of this foundation, coffee houses are able<br />

to integrate into a community quickly,<br />

something that can take months or even<br />

years for church plants.<br />

Cofer is quick to explain that<br />

coffee houses aren’t meant to replace<br />

church plants. Instead, they’re used to<br />

complement traditional evangelism<br />

efforts by providing a nonthreatening<br />

environment for people who normally<br />

would not consider going to church. “It’s<br />

not that they don’t want to meet Jesus,”<br />

he says. “It’s that they don’t want to go<br />

to church.” IPHC coffee houses focus<br />

on evangelism and church planting.<br />

Through the neutral environment of<br />

the coffee house, churches can share the<br />

Gospel, disciple new converts, and provide<br />

outreach for the surrounding community.<br />

Coffee houses are intentionally<br />

decorated without traditional Christian<br />

symbols in order to attract people of all<br />

faiths and interests. In addition, they are<br />

open during business hours, when most<br />

churches are not having services. Instead<br />

of competing with local ministry, they<br />

offer additional opportunities for ministry<br />

outside the four walls of<br />

the church.<br />

Cofer says each<br />

location is unique and<br />

offers services based<br />

on the needs of the<br />

surrounding community.<br />

Some give coffee away<br />

for free, while others<br />

charge a nominal price<br />

and use the income to<br />

fund a local church. Many<br />

also function as Internet<br />

cafés, offering wireless<br />

access to those who want<br />

to check email or surf the Web. Some<br />

offer additional perks such as tutoring<br />

for college students, art galleries, music<br />

venues, and other special events for the<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 17


Mission profile<br />

Coffee houses can reach people in closed nations.<br />

community. All coffee houses have friendly<br />

volunteers who are prepared to serve patrons,<br />

engage in conversation, and share the Gospel<br />

when the opportunity arises. Patrons who<br />

come in quickly discover there is more to<br />

the shop than a cup of joe––and that is what<br />

keeps them coming back.<br />

In addition, all coffee houses are run<br />

by national missionaries, which allows for<br />

a more organic, grassroots ministry effort.<br />

Local oversight means the outreach is more<br />

attuned to the needs of the surrounding<br />

culture and ensures the ministry will be<br />

around long-term.<br />

Cofer says coffee houses<br />

are especially effective in<br />

places that are not receptive<br />

to Christianity. The IPHC<br />

currently has coffee houses in<br />

Bali, Indonesia, and Ankara,<br />

Turkey, both predominantly<br />

Muslim countries. World<br />

Missions Ministries also plans<br />

to open several coffee houses<br />

in China and Tibet in the<br />

coming year.<br />

Are coffee houses<br />

effective? Stories like John’s<br />

prove that they are, says Cofer. Just as coffee<br />

is universal, so is the calling to reach the<br />

marketplace with the Gospel. Cofer says it’s<br />

a winning combination.<br />

“We’ve never had one that did not work,”<br />

he says confidently.<br />

To give to Coffee House Ministry,<br />

donate to Account #0402321200024<br />

or go to www.iphc.org/coffee.<br />

*John’s name has been changed to<br />

protect his privacy.<br />

Steve<br />

Cofer<br />

Years over Coffee House Ministry: 11<br />

Number of coffee houses: 14<br />

(in 10 countries)<br />

First coffee house established:<br />

Jerusalem<br />

Most effective location: The coffee<br />

house in Brussels, Belgium, saw<br />

50,000 visitors in a 5-year period.<br />

Most unique: The coffee house in<br />

Toledo, Spain, doubles as an art<br />

gallery for missionary Linwood Berry,<br />

who ministers through paintings.<br />

Favorite type of coffee: “The best cup<br />

of coffee is the relational cup!”<br />

18 January 2012 | iphc.org/experience


A Humble<br />

Visionary With<br />

A Heart to Serve<br />

North Carolina pastor Ferrell<br />

Hardison has witnessed a<br />

miracle of church growth.<br />

by J. Lee Grady<br />

For years after Whitley <strong>Church</strong><br />

was founded in 1918 near an old<br />

railroad station in Princeton, N.C.,<br />

the congregation remained small.<br />

Pastors came and went—some staying<br />

only a year or two. When a young<br />

preacher named Ferrell Hardison<br />

took the church in 1990, he was the<br />

twenty-fifth pastor to serve there. But<br />

Hardison, armed with his infectious<br />

humor and lots of creativity, began<br />

a deliberate process of revitalizing a<br />

tired and aging congregation.<br />

What happened over the next<br />

few years was nothing short of a<br />

miracle—and it has become one<br />

of the most intriguing examples of<br />

church growth in the IPHC.<br />

There were only 70 people<br />

attending Whitley <strong>Church</strong> when<br />

Ferrell and his wife, Millie, arrived<br />

in Princeton in 1990. They met in a<br />

small brick building on Highway 70<br />

and had an annual budget of $65,000.<br />

Pastor Ferrell Hardison says prayer was the most important factor<br />

in transforming his church.<br />

But God poured new wine into an old wineskin, and growth<br />

brought transformation.<br />

Today, Whitley <strong>Church</strong> has a new name—The Bridge—and<br />

a building with 50,000 square feet of ministry space on a 10-acre<br />

property. The congregation has grown to 1,250 in average weekly<br />

attendance, and in October 2011 they broke ground on a 1,200-<br />

seat worship center. On the heels of the Great Recession, the<br />

church’s annual budget is now $2.6 million.<br />

“In a down economy, our giving has been up,” Hardison told<br />

Experience. “We have discovered that people give when they<br />

understand how their giving changes lives for eternity.”<br />

Even more miraculous is the fact that Hardison and his team<br />

have planted a satellite congregation in nearby Goldsboro, N.C.,<br />

also called The Bridge. That campus has outgrown its first building<br />

and moved to a larger venue, and it has 300 in attendance. Plans<br />

are underway to plant another satellite church in Smithfield, N.C.<br />

Experience asked Hardison, who is 55, how he shifted his<br />

church into this growth mode, and what advice he has for pastors<br />

who want to revitalize their congregations.<br />

You have a nice facility and you are building a bigger one. But The<br />

Bridge doesn’t seem to be about buildings.<br />

HARDISON: Buildings are tools. They are not a ministry goal.<br />

God has called us to build people. If people are our focus,<br />

then buildings are simply necessary tools to assist us as we do<br />

everything possible to change lives through the power of the risen<br />

Christ.<br />

How difficult was it to move your church out of old traditions?<br />

HARDISON: First, I had to change. As I learned and changed, I<br />

shared with the church what God was doing in me—and what this<br />

would mean in relation to the direction of the church. My new<br />

ministry perspective in the early days was to turn the church from<br />

being a self-centered “Christian club” where Christians come to<br />

“get a blessing,” to reaching out to the community demonstrating<br />

the love of Jesus. There was strong opposition, but we were<br />

growing so fast the negative impact was lessened.<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 19


What was the most difficult thing to<br />

change?<br />

HARDISON: The hardest thing to change<br />

was going from an environment that says<br />

“church is all about me” to an environment<br />

that says “our church is a hospital for broken<br />

people, not a club for Christians.” We also<br />

had to shift the worship style by going from<br />

me-oriented performance music to Godoriented<br />

worship music. We had to change<br />

our view on money, getting people to see<br />

that God will fund what God has willed.<br />

And we had to shift from a deacon-led<br />

church to a staff-led church.<br />

You are committed to reaching your<br />

community, and The Bridge has reached at<br />

least 3,000 converts since you began your<br />

work there. What are the most effective ways<br />

you have touched your area with the gospel?<br />

HARDISON: We are thoroughly convinced<br />

that if we first demonstrate the love of Jesus,<br />

we will then receive an open invitation to<br />

talk about Jesus. We have gone to the mayor,<br />

city and county officials, law enforcement<br />

agencies, emergency agencies, the military<br />

base, the Red Cross, the soup kitchen,<br />

prisons and government housing projects<br />

and offered our volunteer services. At first,<br />

many were skeptical and would not open<br />

the door. But we didn’t give up. Now the<br />

word has spread throughout our community<br />

that The Bridge is sincere when we say, “We<br />

New wine in a new wineskin: Worship at The Bridge<br />

is innovative.<br />

want to help you. We want to bless you. We<br />

value you!”<br />

Our outreach pastor, Jimmy Bryant,<br />

develops teams to do an average of eight<br />

major outreach events per month. We also<br />

preach that each individual believer is an<br />

outreach team, and we put tools in their<br />

hands. Many in our church family are<br />

constantly doing random acts of kindness<br />

and then leaving one of our “Just Because”<br />

cards that says: “You have just experienced<br />

a random act of kindness” along with the<br />

church’s website. On the other side of the<br />

card is an invitation to connect with God<br />

at one of our four weekend services, and a<br />

map is provided.<br />

Many people have come to Christ. Some<br />

have never been in church, or they had been<br />

wounded in church. But when they were<br />

blessed by our outreach, they said, “I’ll give<br />

church (or God) one more try.”<br />

What advice would you give a<br />

congregation that is stuck in a time warp and<br />

wants to be revitalized?<br />

HARDISON: The me-centered attitude in<br />

most churches is deeply entrenched. This<br />

kind of thinking has to be broken by the<br />

teaching of the Word, prayer and much<br />

fasting. After you address this through<br />

preaching, I would (1) upgrade the children’s<br />

and youth environments; (2) upgrade the<br />

restrooms; (3) PRAY; (4) recruit and train<br />

your hospitality team (greeters, ushers, info<br />

desk, etc.); (5) PRAY; (6) recruit and train<br />

your follow-up team; (7) PRAY;<br />

(8) host a “dinner or lunch with<br />

the pastor” or similar event where<br />

new attendees can hear the<br />

pastor’s heart; (9) PRAY; (10)<br />

disciple new believers and let<br />

them serve.<br />

Many American churches<br />

that adopt a progressive strategy<br />

are often accused of watering<br />

down the message or backing<br />

away from the power of the Holy<br />

Spirit. How have you maintained<br />

a commitment to seeing people<br />

experience the Spirit’s power?<br />

HARDISON: We are well aware<br />

of this criticism. If a pastor and<br />

the church he serves is willing<br />

to get creative with worship<br />

Ferrell and Millie Hardison began leading<br />

the Princeton church in 1990.<br />

environment, the arts, or engaging the<br />

unchurched, they need to brace for an attack<br />

from traditional churches and leaders who<br />

do not understand what they’re doing.<br />

We do have a very high sensitivity to<br />

the unchurched, and our service includes<br />

elements that connect with them. But we<br />

have found that when the seeker is shown<br />

genuine love where the people they meet are<br />

real, manifestations of the Holy Spirit and<br />

open worship are not offensive.<br />

From the pulpit I am very open about<br />

my personal struggles, my family’s struggles.<br />

I often admit that I am a hypocrite! People<br />

are not used to hearing this in church, or<br />

they are surprised to hear it because this is<br />

not what their friends said church would be<br />

like.<br />

We say to the seeker, “You may not<br />

believe yet, but that’s okay. You still belong<br />

here and you are loved. We’ve all been where<br />

you are. We’ve all had questions and still do<br />

sometimes. We’re not against you. We’re for<br />

you! You can question anything you want to,<br />

and we will not get angry and defensive.”<br />

When a church builds a strong<br />

foundation of accepting love, that<br />

foundation allows you to preach the gospel<br />

in an uncompromising way, and it allows<br />

the Holy Spirit to do whatever He wants<br />

to. Even when people don’t understand the<br />

work of the Spirit, if they feel genuinely<br />

loved, they are open to learning and maybe<br />

even experiencing this marvelous unknown!<br />

You can learn more about<br />

The Bridge at the church’s<br />

website, bridgechurch.cc, or call<br />

919-735-5411.<br />

20 February 2012 | iphc.org/experience


ook<br />

Evangelism USA<br />

Encourages IPHC<br />

<strong>Church</strong>es to<br />

“Go Missional”<br />

God’s Mission: The<br />

Mandate of the <strong>Church</strong><br />

Evangelism USA of the <strong>International</strong><br />

<strong>Pentecostal</strong> <strong>Holiness</strong> <strong>Church</strong><br />

LifeSprings Resources<br />

$12.00<br />

The Evangelism USA (EVUSA) Division of<br />

the IPHC recently published God’s Mission: The<br />

Mandate of the <strong>Church</strong>, a valuable resource<br />

for any church leader who is serious about<br />

adopting a missional mode of operation for his<br />

or her congregation.<br />

“As viewed by Evangelism USA, a true<br />

missional church is one that consistently<br />

reaches the local community, engages<br />

their areas of influence with the Gospel,<br />

participates in a national outreach, and<br />

is actively engaged in world missionary<br />

endeavors,” said Bishop Chris Thompson,<br />

EVUSA executive director.<br />

For those who may be unfamiliar with the<br />

term missional, this book defines the missional<br />

concept, outlines the biblical origin of the<br />

missional mandate, and provides models of<br />

the missional movement from a sampling of<br />

IPHC churches across the nation.<br />

The authors emphasize that this is not<br />

merely a social justice platform, nor is it<br />

an affront to long-established approaches<br />

to ministry; rather, it is a call to the <strong>Church</strong><br />

to operate as God intended from the very<br />

beginning.<br />

“The missional message and mandate<br />

requires us to focus on the unbeliever and<br />

his lost condition. How can we reach him,<br />

serve him, and share with him the good news<br />

of salvation through Christ?” said Rev. Garry<br />

Bryant, Acts2Day national field director and EVUSA<br />

assistant director.<br />

To this end, God’s Mission incorporates a plethora<br />

of information: chapters authored by EVUSA team<br />

members, which provide a foundation for the book;<br />

a section featuring specific churches and how they<br />

have incorporated this practice into their everyday<br />

operation; and an extensive list of recommended<br />

resources compiled by the team.<br />

“This is an important book for the global IPHC<br />

family. The congregations that are described, and<br />

the insights gleaned through the efforts of Bishop<br />

Thompson and others, provide a platform for the<br />

IPHC as we continue a transition of the nature of the<br />

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Ministries executive director.<br />

Order your copy today from LifeSprings Resources<br />

by calling (800) 541-1376.<br />

–Jamie Powell<br />

22 February 2012 | iphc.org/experience


Retired<br />

Minister’s<br />

Sunday<br />

“To learn more<br />

about the IPHC’s<br />

‘Live, Move, Be’<br />

campaign, log on to<br />

www.iphc.org/lmb<br />

and watch the new<br />

promotional video.”<br />

March 18, 2012<br />

IPHC members shared their prayers<br />

on the Global Day of Prayer.<br />

That we remember we were made<br />

to be courageous. That we finally put<br />

the line back in the sand and say, “No<br />

more.” We have been complacently<br />

idle for too long.<br />

Jason McGalliard<br />

Reidsville, Georgia<br />

We are in the need of our own church<br />

property, [and we are] praying for the<br />

resources. Seek prayer on this matter.<br />

Rev. Mohan Adhikari<br />

National Leader, IPHC Nepal<br />

To have a strong foundation and<br />

God-fearing leaders [and] followers<br />

should be willing to serve and have a<br />

transparent mindset.<br />

Sabina Nwk<br />

Lagos, Nigeria<br />

Readers respond to our November<br />

2011 story featuring SCU professor<br />

Adrian Hinkle.<br />

I’m so very proud to call Adrian my<br />

friend. She is all the things the article<br />

said and more.<br />

Shelley Groves<br />

Mustang, Oklahoma<br />

I am delighted to be a colleague of<br />

Adrian’s at SCU. Her personality and<br />

enthusiasm is contagious and impacts<br />

everyone around here.<br />

Mark Culham<br />

Oklahoma<br />

Many readers offered prayers and<br />

encouragement after Men’s Ministries<br />

Director Bill Terry announced his<br />

lymphoma diagnosis.<br />

This is but another opportunity for<br />

God to prove His everlasting, unending<br />

faithfulness.<br />

Dirk and Nikki Guillion<br />

Well Of Worship is praying for our precious<br />

Bill.<br />

Cary and Judy Dyer<br />

Standing with you in prayer and support.
<br />

Here’s to a healthy and happy new year<br />

walking with God.<br />

Tom Rupp<br />

We asked IPHC members on Facebook if<br />

they were superstitious on Friday the 13th.<br />

No. Superstition is in direct opposition of<br />

faith. It’s a form of fear in my opinion.<br />

Michelle Adams<br />

South Carolina<br />

I just celebrated my daughter’s birthday,<br />

who was born on Friday the 13th. Labor<br />

had to be induced and the doctor was<br />

hesitant, but I let the doctor know that my<br />

God was Jehovah of the 13th just like every<br />

other day. One of the greatest days of my<br />

life!<br />

Robbie Jones<br />

Chesapeake, Virginia<br />

Just another day that the Lord has made.<br />

Nancy Summers<br />

iphc.org/experience | February 2012 23<br />

A time to honor those<br />

who’ve given their<br />

lives to ministry.<br />

iphc.org/discipleship


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