single pages. - International Pentecostal Holiness Church

Staying Focused in
Transition
As the church navigates leadership changes,
we remain dedicated to the mission God has
placed before us.
By Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham
S
hock. Grief. Hope. Admiration. Respect. Those are just some of the
feelings the IPHC family has experienced since Bishop Ronald
Carpenter, Sr., announced his decision to step aside as the general
superintendent due to health reasons.
Always an excellent teacher and leader, Bishop Carpenter has
entered his best season of leading and teaching all of us how to live
with purpose and joy. He has taught us that ministry is not about
positions and titles. It’s about a grace-filled relationship with Jesus Christ that is
truly relevant, dynamic, and demonstrative.
We have learned that the work of the church is dependent on the work of Jesus
Christ. When something happens to any of us, our Lord is not caught by surprise.
He controls the assignments and timing of our lives. We can trust His guiding hand
as we depend upon His Word and the presence of His Spirit.
The IPHC Council of Bishops has navigated this transition with
prayer, patience, trust in God, and trust in the wisdom of our manual.
The IPHC Manual, the product of the 2009 General Conference,
provides clear procedural steps for such a time as this.
Our mission statement guides us: The mission of the International
Pentecostal Holiness Church is to multiply believers and churches, discipling
them in worship, fellowship, and evangelism as we obey the Great
Commission in cooperation with the whole body of Christ.
We continue to focus on Vision 2020. We want to see clearly
what the Holy Spirit will have us do and be to advance the kingdom
of Christ. Our prayer echoes Paul’s, “that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being
enlightened” (Eph. 1:17, 18 NKJV, emphasis added).
We also focus on the eight years between now and the year 2020. A point
in time gives us a framework for measurable goals, accountability in effort, and
celebration of what the Lord is doing.
As a global body, we are committed to our emphasis on church planting. I
believe we are poised to make a quantum leap forward on every continent. We have
renewed our discipleship focus as followers of Jesus Christ, which will likely put us
at odds with the prevailing winds of the world. But followers of Jesus have always
been called to march to the tempo of the kingdom of God and not the drumbeat of
this age.
We have heard Paul’s message in Acts 17:28 that our biblical mandate is
to “Live, Move, and Be” in God. That call is stated in the six affirmations and
commitments of the IPHC Covenant Renewal Document, which provides a
framework for how we approach our future:
1. We affirm that we are not and will
not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus
Christ and will proclaim His lordship
over all spheres of life (Rom. 1:16),
regardless of the political, economic,
or cultural influences, pressures, or
mandates of our times.
2. We affirm that true salvation is through
the blood of Jesus Christ and will
boldly declare His name to the nations
as the only begotten Son of God, who
is “the way, the truth, and the life”
(Rom. 3:25; Eph. 1:7; John 3:16; 14:6;
1 John 1:7; 2:22-24).
3. We commit ourselves to the Great
Commission and actively seek to make
disciples of Jesus Christ among every
people group and culture (Matt. 28:19;
Acts 1:8).
4. We commit ourselves to care for the
world’s poor, to seek justice, and to
defend the cause of the powerless and
helpless in accordance with God’s Word
(Deut. 15:7, 11; 24:14; Prov. 14:21, 31;
19:17; 21:13; Ps. 82:3; 89:14; 146:9;
Isa. 1:17; Mic. 6:8).
5. We commit ourselves
to live in the fullness of the
presence and power of the
Holy Spirit, continuing
to recognize all the gifts,
ministries, and fruit of the
Spirit working through
any man or woman, young
or old, for the edifying of
the body of Christ and the
glory of God ( Joel 2:28, 29;
Acts 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:4-7;
Eph. 3:19; 4:11-13; 5:18).
6. We commit ourselves to holiness of life
whereby we honor God and love one
another. We respect cultural differences
reflecting God’s glory and celebrate
liberty in nonessential matters of
culture and historical circumstances
(Rom. 12:1; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 1:4; 2:21;
5:27; Col. 3:12).
As we move forward, thank you
for your continued prayers for Bishop
Carpenter; and thank you for your prayers
for Susan and me as we serve Christ and
you.
iphc.org/experience | August 2012 5