The Second Commandment
In our first article, we considered together Jesus' reducing all the commandments in the Law to just two: Love God and Love your neighbor. We thought a bit about what it means to love God and how it always starts with Him. We love Him because He first loved us. In this second article, we're going to take a look at Jesus' commentary on loving our neighbor as ourselves and perhaps, look at a passage in Isaiah that might help.
In both the Matthew 22 and the Mark 12 passages, Jesus Himself, answers the question "Which is the foremost commandment?" In the Luke 10 passage, the lawyer (an expert in the Mosaic Law) asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Here we see Jesus answer a question with a question: "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" The lawyer gets it correct and responds by quoting Deut. 6 and Lev. 19, combining loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself. Jesus says: "Do this and you shall live." This, evidently, made the lawyer uncomfortable because he feels the need to ask an additional question in order to justify himself. He asks Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?”
This is the context for one of Jesus' most famous parables, i.e., the good Samaritan, Luke 11:30. When I reread these scriptures, the first thing I noticed was what originally caused the Samaritan to stop and help the man who had been beaten and robbed. It was simple: he felt compassion. Over and over, we see Jesus moved by compassion while He was here on earth. He wasn't trying to "find His gift" or establish "a ministry.” He just simply cared about humanity. This is what motivated Him to heal the sick, cast out demons and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to the poor. Would that we should follow His example and let God's mercy and grace flow through us.
The second thing that arrested my attention was His direct involvement. I don't mean to denigrate the efforts of others, but we live in a culture that often promotes what I like to term "hands-off ministry,” While I believe much can be accomplished in prayer, (my own life's turn- around was birthed in the prayers of many, including some of you who prayed for Ed Stube's family), we also need direct contact with those in need. Let me explain. Our American culture continues to teach us to draw away from our fellow humans, to stay locked away in our homes, isolated from the needs around us. I sometimes wonder if these attitudes haven't spilled over into some of the current ideas of evangelizing. I've heard notions extreme as flying over areas in helicopters, praying, so that the Lord will bring people to Himself. Now, I do agree we need to pray for the regions in which we live and to battle the enemy in these locations, but as Ed often said, "When all is said and done, often more is said than done." See, the Samaritan got his hands dirty. We know the oil and wine symbolize the Holy Spirit and other things, but I had never considered how dirty the Samaritan's hand’s got when he, himself, bandaged the man's wounds, rubbing in the oil and wine. Have you ever tried to get olive oil off of your hands? Maybe the wine cut it some, but oil gets everywhere, under your nails and in the pores of your skin. Anyway you look at it, helping people is messy business. The job won't ever get done through prayer alone. In fact, Jesus recommended praying that the Lord of the Harvest would send laborers into His harvest. Prayer is a very important ingredient, but we'll never be able to heal the sick, cast out the demons and preach the Gospel to the poor from our living rooms or Christian meeting places. The theory that non-believers are going to come to us, to our meeting places, might just be a myth. While we are in prayer, we need to listen to the voice of Jesus in order to learn His strategies. Then we need to employ them in ministering to those in need. I believe the Holy Spirit will give us a new language, replacing the jargon that seems to have lost its edge and relevance.
The third thing I noticed was the money angle. We all remember that the Samaritan left money for the man's continued care and also promised to return and pay the innkeeper for any additional costs. I have been so encouraged of late to hear of inner- city ministries that are putting their money into things that can bring real change. I've heard of several works where our brethren are not only feeding the poor but are teaching people to read, to work on computers or learn a construction trade. While there is nothing inherently wrong with spending money on buildings, we do need to make sure our money is going to help people, not just house them for a few hours a week.
Remember the end of the parable? Jesus asks the lawyer: "Which of the three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robber's hands?" He answers Jesus with these words: "The one who showed mercy to him." And Jesus tells him to go and do likewise. We have much to learn about showing mercy. Our tendencies are often just the opposite. At least I’ll speak for myself here. I had no idea how judgmental I had become until Jesus began to expose that “pharisaical” spirit that was so much a part of my life. I still have to pay close attention to the Holy Spirit so I can avoid those feelings of condemnation toward others. I'm learning to experience the grace of the Lord myself and am becoming more willing to extend that same grace to others. It's strange how these things happen. Remember Jesus' words: "Forgive as you have been forgiven."? The more I realize how much Jesus loves me and how great are His forgiveness, mercy and grace towards me, the easier it becomes to treat others in like manner. Not only that, but both Becky and I are learning how to show that mercy in practical ways. For the first time in our lives, we are learning how to introduce people to Jesus. This has involved both our time and our money, but as we learn to depend on the Holy Spirit, He teaches us new ways to approach people, new ways to proclaim the Gospel, and to make it Good News indeed!
Do me a favor. Get out your Bible, turn to Isaiah 58 and read verses 6 through 12. It is a very familiar scripture, dealing with the kind of fast the Lord prefers. The prophet saw something in God's heart all those long years ago. In addition to praying and asking God to do things, we can communicate with Him and get His instructions so we can partner with Him, accomplishing His works in the earth. Jesus' words keep echoing in my mind. Jesus so often said He only did what He saw His Father doing. What Jesus saw in prayer, He did in the physical world. I want to see what Jesus and the Father are up to, and participate, even co-labor with them.
As you read Isaiah 58, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will speak
to your heart, bringing to mind people to whom you can bring His goodness
and mercy. May we all continue to speak grace, grace to those who need
Jesus, grace to those who don't yet know Him, and grace for all of
us, including our brothers and sisters. If you have any questions or comments
my email address is Phoenixkh@aol.com.
Kim Hayfield
THE NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE BLESSING
Isa 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do
you not perceive it? I am
making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”.(NIV)
Indeed, the Lord is doing a new thing!
On June 23, 2001 people of many tongues, tribes, and nations were gathered at the Holy Way House in North Carolina for the House Blessing. There were Californians, Marylanders, Virginians, New Yorkers, Pennsylvanians and North Carolinians here. There were Asians, Hispanics, and North Americans gathered to sing God's praise and to hear His voice. There were Southern Baptists, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Charismatic, and Pentecostals worshiping God in the unity of the Spirit. God is doing a new thing! He is bringing about Unity in His Body through worship in the Spirit. He loved us and we loved Him and one another.
The Lord made himself manifest among us in many ways during that weekend. He set a wonderful table before us. He provided all of the food, our cup was truly running over. He spoke to us through scripture, prophecy, exhortation, and promise. He is so good. In the following days and weeks, it was hard to keep up with all that God did. He brought deliverance to one lovely couple and reconciled their marriage. He brought deliverance to another and anointed her with tongues. He strengthened all in the knowledge of Him. Through these mighty displays of His love, the Lord has begun to confirm in us what He has already spoken to many. The Lord wants to unify and purify His Bride, the Church.
There have been many efforts in the history of the Church to bring it into the unity and love that will bear witness and give testimony to His presence among us. This is a work that Jesus alone can accomplish. And He is doing it today! Many attempts at accomplishing unity have taken place in the outer framework of the institutional Church and have come to no avail or failed outright. Majority in committee or commission will never bring about unity in the Church. History has shown us that this only brings division. There is much division, bitterness, and strife among God's people. God wants to do a New Thing in His Church. He is bringing about a unity in the Spirit among His people everywhere. He is doing this through worship.
In the months that we have been here in North Carolina, and during our
time of ministry at Christ Church in Brentwood, NY. We found many people
in many churches, which were in the unity of the Spirit. We all agreed!
By and large, it is the hierarchy of the institution of the church, whether
denominational or interdenominational, that are in disagreement. God is
doing a New Thing among His people through His most precious Holy Spirit.
We have seen this 'New Thing' in North Carolina. What has become very clear
to us is that God is, at this time, gathering His people. He is calling
them
from the four corners of His church, and they are coming together!
We have also seen that this 'remnant' that He is gathering is very wounded, and, just like in the days of the ministry of Jesus and His first disciples, in great need of healing, and the Holy Spirit. There are so many that still need to hear the God news of Jesus Christ. "The Harvest is truly Plenteous, but the Laborers are few" (Luke 10:2). There are also many lost sheep of the Good Shepherd. Many who can no longer abide, the error, the control, manipulation and deceit that has become all too common in the Church of Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
The Lord has shown us that this is the time that He is bringing His people together, and that He will do it! Let us pray for the laborers who will enter into the work that He is doing. We have prayed that He will begin with us! Since the House blessing many things have taken place here in North Carolina. Although our area is remote, we find great benefit in that. There is not great busyness in our lives that we experienced while in New York. Several have noted the great peace that surrounds our area. We find it very conducive to hearing God's voice.
Through prayer we have concluded that we need to pick a time during
the month for meetings. Although we have prayer every morning and evening,
and continue to seek open doors of ministry in our community, we believe
that by establishing a specific time for people to gather this will allow
people opportunity to plan to attend. Until these dates are established,
please know that you are welcome to come for periods of worship, prayer,
and the study of God's word. Call to find out
available times. We plan to have groups for more extended periods of
time in the near future.
Mike, Linda, and Rachel Chapman
HOLY CONVOCATION 2001
For me, it was as though we lifted slowly, gently, off the ground in a beautiful balloon at Claggett this year, all 55 of us, always looking to Jesus, and listening for His voice. The vistas were ever changing as we soared in worship across diverse landscapes drinking in the marvel of His ways. Occasionally, we hit air- pockets which made the ride a bit bumpy, but the bottom line is that we were being changed from glory unto glory. Jesus was present! Sometimes He was stretching our inner-vision, and even stripping us of old mindsets. He was teaching us, healing us and setting us free to enter into The Most Holy Place, in order to accomplish His purposes to the Glory of the Father!
One of God’s purposes was to bring closure at Convocation since Fr. Stube’s death. True, the mantle of The Holy Way had been passed on earlier to Herry Stube, his Indonesian son, even before our beloved “mascot” departed this life. True, many had experienced this reality. True, closure occurred for some at the funeral which took place at Mt. Calvary Church, then later for others at St. Timothy’s Church, where a worship service was held to celebrate Fr .Ed’s life and ministry. But Holy Convocation provided a special opportunity to prayerfully and prophetically release Herry from all human expectations and pressures. Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the body was gathered to minister to him with vital words of wisdom, encouragement, exhortation and blessing, also to cover and include his wife Dolly Stube, and daughters, Cindy and Julian. After hearing news from others about the “fruit” of convocation this year, one Holy Way member, Helen Anderberg from Minnesota, aptly proposed that Herry’s official “ Installation” had taken place. Hallelujah!
Following are further observations.
Lolli Hart
Greetings and Blessings to All
What can I say about Holy Convocation? WOW!!!! AWESOME!!!! AND ALLELUIA!!!!
I was being filled over and over again with the Love of God, the Love
of Jesus - the Spirit of God, and getting to know new people who are truly
kindred spirits. I didn't know Fr. Stube, but through Becky and Kim came
to know about some of his journey. I think of you all often, and that always
puts a big smile on my face and happiness in my heart.
God brought me to you totally open. I couldn't understand how I felt so calm about leaving my responsibilities and not feeling guilty. I just came, no agenda, no expectations, JUST OPEN AND IN TOTAL ADORATION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, and very peaceful. I had no thoughts one way or the other about Holy Convocation. Being “prayed-in” really moved me. The intercessors reinforced what has been and will be happening in my life. This affirmation was a great beginning. When we came together that evening for the first time, I immediately sensed the Holy Spirit. As the musicians were playing in the Spirit, I had never been where there was this kind of freedom and I needed that. I realized that God had been preparing me for this very night for several months. A vision of the Blood of Jesus, and being in communion with the Light of Christ gave me strength and courage, even to break out of my “comfort-zone.” When I think of our Lord and Savior I believe He is making us bold for Him.
Many things that took place at Holy Convocation were affirmed to me in the scripture reading for Sunday, July 29th. Colossians 2:6-15 was all about what the week had meant to me. And to continue with Verse 18: "Under Christ's control the whole body is nourished and held together by its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God wants it to grow.” Holy Convocation was a perfect example for me of God's Divine plan, a microcosm of the wholeness of His plan. We all came together, the laity, the intercessors, the elders and the priests with a hope that He would speak to us and He did! I believe we all left Holy Convocation in awe of His Majesty with a new mission for our own lives, for our churches and for the world. The whole time was perfectly orchestrated, all Divinely tuned. In the end, we all have this sweet, sweet music in us along with the Light. We are to give this to others and we can adore Him in an ever-closer communion, never stagnant, but always growing,
“I pray that You bind us together Lord, that Your Most Holy Spirit breathe new life into our Nation and all the Earth and that all humanity turns to you to be saved.”
“Til 2002, Pat Hanley, NY
Thanks for the opportunity to share from our experience at Holy Convocation this year I feel Convocation this year picked-up where we left off last year. Lynda was taking inventory and pointed out that only five people were missing from last year and many who were there this year were 'veterans' to the Convocation process and experience. I'm convinced that the Lord met us at the entrance of His tabernacle and ushered us straightway to the Holy Place. There were many things to be accomplished by His Spirit this year and He was faithful to that end.
From my perspective and from the teaching that the Lord laid on my heart which I was able to share with the group, I believe the Lord's intention was to give us a chance to see the 'how to' of what He is up to.
Many of the incredible transitions that were wrought were done so with
an open door to the throne room. The question of the Holy Way's future
was soundly put to rest with the mantle of leadership place squarely on
the shoulders of Herry. And, from my perspective, that transition was
waterfall led to us in Herry's style of leadership and confirmed by
Mike's word of the Believer's Priesthood. .
Some personal notes. Our daughter, Kelly, accepted and has walked the Lord since she was five. (This summer she turned 14) I never pushed baptism on her because I wanted it to be hers. I am so pleased that she followed the Lord in baptism this summer. And that it was officiated by hers brothers in the Lord, Shawn, Chuck and Mike. It is also very exciting to report that, the next day, not only was she able to join us at the communion table as we partook together, but she also received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit later that afternoon. Her prophetic dance, so I am told by the discernment of others, sent some of the enemy's forces to take flight.
All of this makes my heart full of anticipation to see what the Lord is doing next. He has set out a fairly clear 'battle plan' and has been graciously revealing the details of how He intends to carry out that plan. I think, as I mentioned earlier, He is even delighting in showing us how He will accomplish the small details so that we will be able to see His hand in them as the larger items come to pass.
I look forward to next year's Convocation and hope, Lord willing, that one might take place in St. Louis some time in the near future. Please join us in prayer to this end.
Neal, for the entire Dahlen Family, MO
Autobiography Of Edwin B. Stube
The Holy Way by Edwin B. Stube
No one ever told me that Christianity had anything to do with real life and its problems. I was interested enough, in fact, to consider briefly going into the ministry, but decided that my mental illness made this impossible. The world was a fearful place. People caused panic, situations became terror. It was particularly terrifying to use the telephone. For some time I was so traumatized every morning at the prospect of facing a new day that I could not keep breakfast down. No one had ever told me that Jesus Christ could do something about that. After all, wasn't He just a fine set of theological propositions to discuss on Sunday evenings, and an occasional moving experience in the beauty of a liturgical service?
I met Barbara Hurrell at Oberlin Conservatory of Music where I transferred from Williams College. I fell in love. We married July 29, 1944 shortly after Barbara graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree. We went to live in my family’s summer home and in turn were blessed with Richard, Peter, Christopher, Rebekah, and David. I tried to find work as a performing musician, mostly as a Church organist in various New England churches. We moved to a lobster town near Cape Cod and I had my first pipe organ and studio built in our home in Rockport, a seaside community in Massachusetts. I directed a community chorus and Barbara and I made chamber music, giving occasional concerts at home. I completed a Master's Degree in Music at New England Conservatory.
I came to the conclusion that God was calling me to go to seminary and prepare for the priesthood, and in 1953 began taking courses at the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge. These were good years in spite of my illness. We enjoyed the community and each other and the little children. While studying for the priesthood I was still sick, not so severely as before, but certainly not in any condition to go into the ministry. I had a vague feeling, however, which passed for faith, that if God really wanted me He could somehow fix me up to do the job. In a way this illness functioned as my religion in those days, as it was the central point around which my life was organized. It determined my outlook on situations and my attitude toward people, and prevented me from doing anything effectively. Friends told me that I needed professional help. So I let psychiatrists pick my brains endlessly and expensively, and must admit that occasionally they helped a little. Finally one was honest enough to say, "You might as well accept the fact you will never be well, and adjust to your illness the best you can."
But God led me to Agnes Sanford, who believed in Jesus Christ and His ability and willingness to answer prayer. "Jesus can set you free," she told me. "He can go back through the paths of your life and heal all the old hurts." Then she prayed for me, and within half an hour after I had come to her, with no charge and no pain, Jesus Christ had done for me what the psychiatrists had not been able to do. I was delivered. For the first time in many years I could talk without stammering. The fear was gone and the resentment and torment. I was free. About two weeks later He also healed me of a hearing deficiency I had since birth. Barbara also prayed with Mrs. Sanford for the healing of her memories. A way was opened for ever-greater depths in our relationship as we both began to know and follow the Lord in a much more personal way.
During my last year in Seminary, after the experience through Mrs Sanford, I began studying the New Testament avidly. No longer did I pull it apart and attempt to explain it away, as we were being taught, but I studied in order to learn to live in obedience to God. I studied the healing miracles of the New Testament, and learned from the Gospels how Jesus dealt with the broken bodies, minds, and spirits of those who came to Him for help.
I began my ministry as the Curate at St. James in Bozeman, Montana. Andrew was born. We bought a Volkswagen microbus and drove around in the beauty of Montana with our family. I found it made up for the many years of separation from my family while I was in school. But something was still missing. I had to admit that most of the sick who attended my weekly prayer service went away about in the same physical condition they came. We were beginning to believe the new Testament but we were not yet experiencing the New Testament results. Little by little the Lord was making it clear that if we want New Testament results we have to learn and practice the whole of it, not just part. "Only believe" is great for a start, but after that there must be receiving, obeying, becoming.
At the urging of a parishioner, I visited an Assembly of God Church in Missoula, Montana. A sermon was given about Elijah's mantle falling on Elisha. I didn't care whether I got a single or a double portion but I knew I needed the power of God's Spirit, so I hurried as fast as I could and was the first in line to be prayed for. They laid hands on me and I began to praise the Lord in a new language and the joy of the Lord flooded my soul.
A few months later, at a church service in Philadelphia, the Pastor James Brown of the Philadelphia Gospel Temple prophesied a clear missionary calling. In this prophecy the Lord said I was called to be an apostle to carry His Gospel to the ends of the earth, that He would confirm it with signs and wonders, and that many would be brought into His Kingdom: But the Lord added there would be three conditions:. First, I had to get rid of all my money and possessions. Second, I had to be willing to go where He wanted. And third, I had to be prepared to accept separation from family and loved ones. Several months later this prophecy was confirmed word for word by someone in Seattle who had not known me before and who knew nothing about the previous prophecy.
In 1961, we moved to a big circuit-riding mission field on the prairies of eastern Montana where I became the vicar at St. Luke's in Sidney and then Saint Matthew's in Glendive. Juliana was born by emergency cesarean section under rather trying circumstance. This made it clear that we should not attempt to have any more children (until eight years later, when God gave us Herry through adoption.) Barbara was still not in favor of the baptism in the Spirit. I learned later that her resistance was caused by misconceptions. She thought , for instance, that one had to become unconscious before this great blessing could be received. Two months before the Spirit was poured out on the whole church in Glendive, she asked to be prayed for. She began to pray in a new language. Then she began to laugh. She laughed for sheer joy from 9 o'clock that night until 7 the next morning.
Formerly we had been "one flesh," but now we became one in spirit so that it became impossible to say which ministry was hers and which was mine. If I went away for an extended period of time, as I often did, the work of the prayer groups and personal ministry went on just as well as--and sometimes, I grudgingly had to admit--better than when I was there.
For several months I had been in contact with a group in Van Nuys, California who had experienced the baptism of the Spirit in an Episcopal Church pastored by Dennis Bennett. In March, 1961 I asked one of the leaders of the group to come and talk to our people about what was happening in that church. At the service we prayed and the Lord heard. Some of the ladies of the church who were sitting in the back row looked strange, so I rushed back to try and calm their fears. "Don't worry," I reassured them. "This is just what the prophet Joel said would happen in the last days when the Spirit was poured out on all flesh.” The ladies said, "We want to be prayed for."
I explained to them I hadn't had much experience with this sort of thing. "Wait a minute," I told them, "and I'll get our guest to come and pray for you." "We can't wait!" they exclaimed. And they didn't. In a few minutes they were praising the Lord in new tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. Even though I had wanted this and prayed for it for a long time, when it came I was frightened. But I was the only one who seemed to be shocked. The next morning as I thought over the events of the night before I cried out, "Lord, what are you doing to my church?""I'm messing it up.""You're WHAT?""It's not going to be yours anymore, but Mine.""I can't argue with that."At the end of the week the majority of the active members of the church had experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit and were speaking in tongues, not noisily nor emotionally like Pentecostals, but quietly like Episcopalians.
I cannot remember any one who sought healing or other help during these first two years who did not receive it. One young couple came asking for prayer for their eight-year-old boy who was a deaf mute. We ministered to the couple but did not feel moved to pray for the child. The following week they attended the prayer group again. The Lord Jesus spoke through a member of the prayer group telling them of something that still needed to be straightened out in their own life. The next week they came again with the child. After he was prayed for with a simple , one sentence prayer, we felt good in out hearts and began to sing a hymn. On the second verse of the hymn this child joined in the singing, and we knew he was healed.
That May, I attended the World Pentecostal Conference in Israel where I met the Ongs, who spoke to me about coming to their country to minister. I thought little of it. But that summer I ran into the Ongs again at a Full Gospel Businessmen meeting in Miami. The Ongs repeated their offer to have me come to Indonesia to minister, and the Spirit instantly hit me with the equivalent of a thousand volts of electricity so that I nearly fell to the floor. I knew this was His plan. When Barbara and I returned home I looked on the map. I had no idea where Indonesia was. I discovered it was a Southeast Asian country on the equator consisting of 13,000 islands. The various Polynesian tribes speak over 300 different languages. In the early sixties there were over 110 million souls in Indonesia.
That fall I made my first trip to Indonesia with a team of missionaries at the invitation of the Ongs. At the time I wondered if perhaps the main qualifications for the Lord's work is ignorance of the job, for when we know too much we try to do it in our own way and don't really let him teach us. I fell in love with Indonesia and its people. When I finally headed home laden with gifts, a large part of my heart was left behind.
Some of the Indonesian Christian leaders spoke to me about the need for a new kind of training center for evangelism. They said that their students who were sent to Bible or theological schools in Western nations, returned with head knowledge, but often with less enthusiasm and with their spiritual condition at low ebb. They asked if I would examine schools in America in an attempt to discover the kind of training that would best prepare students for an enthusiastic, spiritual ministry. This request quickened my own thinking about methods of training for the ministry. On our return to the States I collected over 200 catalogs and examined them carefully. I also visited a number of the schools.
In July, 1964, I was listening to a sermon but not hearing it, for the Lord was saying to me, "It is now time to sell everything you own and get ready to move."We got rid of what we could and left the rest for the ladies of the church to dispose of. In December the Lord said,"You are all to go to Indonesia except your son Peter." Richard also remained behind as he was attending college. We wanted to have as little organization as possible, humanly speaking, as we felt we were being sent by the Lord and we wanted to be responsible to Him. But we also realized that in the Body of Christ we do not stand alone. In a practical way, we were going to need people back home to handle finances and correspondence, Even more, we needed to be subject to other Christians so that we would not just go off on a tangent. Most of all we needed the prayers of as many people as possible.
For these purposes we formed a small, non-profit group, duly incorporated, to which we gave the name "The Holy Way, Incorporated." The organization was actually just a prayer group, but they sent out a newsletter from time to time to let our friends know how the mission was doing and what to pray for. The group helped handle other matters that needed to be cared for in the United States. The name “Holy Way” was based on Isaiah 35:8. This is God's road for the ransomed of the Lord to walk on their journey home, by which they can come to Zion with singing and with everlasting joy. In the Christian life, two major elements have to be kept in balance. We need the power, the gift, and ministries of the Holy Spirit so that the Gospel may be presented effectively to the ends of the earth. But the Christian worker also needs to be continuously in personal holiness before the Lord. Holiness without the power is boring, but power without holiness in dangerous. We need both.
On January 31, 1965 Barbara and I and our five younger children arrived in Jakarta as enemy aliens, not knowing how long we would be able to stay, but believing that the Lord had called us and would keep us in Indonesia until he completed what He wanted to do with us.
Even before we left Hong Kong for Jakarta, Indonesia, Barbara became ill. She lost her voice and began stumbling when she walked. One day she fell into a cupboard while making a bed. I took her to a specialist who made a definite diagnosis of Barbara's ailment as multiple sclerosis. God taught us some real secrets of victory through her illness over the next 24 years, one of which was that whenever Satan attacks Christians, he simply gives the Lord an opportunity to show His glory.
 |
A glorious and precious moment depicting our beloved Herry Stube being
prayed for and installed as the new leader of The Holy Way to succeed his
father, the late Edwin B. Stube.
“Holy Convocation 2001.” |
Letters from Indonesia
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise the Lord! We have received a love offering of $1500 from God’s family of The Holy Way USA. Let us say “thank you” from the bottom of our hearts to The Holy Way. Our prayer is that God continues to give you blessings and strength, physically and spiritually.
We just received another 13 families as refugees in the camp that we have been ministering to, and the total now is 188 families. Among those refugees are The Holy Way families that lived on Ambon Island, Ternate Island, Halmahera Island and the city of Poso (central Sulawesi). All these people are very active with The Holy Way fellowship in Manado. Their houses and most of the training centers were burned down and destroyed during the great violence between Christians and Moslems. Some of these people lost their loved ones. Today they have become refugees in a place where The Holy Way Manado has the opportunity to minister to their spiritual lives.
We have been using some of the money from The Holy Way USA .for buying vegetables and food for the refugees and their other needs. Once or twice a week we have prayer meetings with them. We feed them before the meeting gets started. Most of the money will be used for buying of food. We have been praying that the funds will continue flowing in so that we will able to feed these people as long as they still need help.
Our ministry goals for the refugees are:
- Continue to provide the food for spiritual need and also physical
food so that they will be able to continue to live.
- To provide funds for their children to go to school. There are about
100 children that need schooling.
- Purchase land of 20 acres to provide them with work to plant,
farm and produce something that can support their families
in the future. The land itself will belong to the training center. We will
allow them to use it as long as they can’t find permanent jobs.
This is the report of our ministry in the camp of refugees in North Sulawesi, Manado.
The elders of The Holy Way Manado,
Philipus Sukamto and Horman Pontoh.
Please pray for the situation in Indonesia, which is still critical. Let’s ask abundant blessing upon Megawati, the new lady President. Also, prayer is sorely needed for our dear brothers and sisters of The Holy Way who labor tirelessly to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus. They need encouragement from America, and the refreshing that it will bring. Finally, we need to uphold Australians, Jeff and Annette Hammond, who with their daughter Ruth, are pioneer workers in Indonesia, not flinching in the midst of horrendous scenes, to reach out to the persecuted Christians.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
THE KINGDOM......The title of the latest new book by the late Edwin B. Stube is now available. It is an exciting message to the church during these days of preparation of the Bride of Christ. There is no set charge but we will gladly receive free-will offerings when receiving your orders.
WE WELCOME COMMENTS AND/OR BRIEF ARTICLES. Articles will be subject to editing for publication. Thanks, Susan Priest & Lolli Hart e-mail: lolli_hart@juno.com
HOLY WAY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Weekends of Corporate prayer and worship are scheduled at Bealeton, Virginia.
August 31-Sept 3 Indonesian Christian Church, Philadelphia Retreat
September 14-16 Convocation Weekend
September 24-28 Convocation with The Bridge of Peace, Long Island
October 5-7 Convocation Weekend
October 19-21 Convocation Weekend
All are invited to attend any given weekend. Just call in advance to reserve sleeping space.
All contributions for The Holy Way are to
be sent to the Bealeton, Virginia address. However, kindly designate on
the check memo if your gift is intended for Virginia or North Carolina.
Other wise all donations go into the general fund.
| Virginia:
The Holy Way
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North Carolina:
The Rev. Michael Chapman
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WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THE LORD IS GIVING US REVELATION FOR THESE DAYS IN WHICH WE LIVE. It is a great burden on our hearts that this be communicated as widely as possible to the Body of Christ. At the June meeting of the Holy Way fellowships of Baltimore and Virginia, we felt that it would be much more in the pattern of the Holy Way if we not charge any set prices for our books and pamphlets, but that we distribute them freely, relying entirely on contributions as the Spirit leads. |
