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NCN District Resource Center VOLUME 15/ ISSUE 1 January—February 2020 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA -NEVADA DIS TRICT 6051 SOUTH WATT AVE SACRAMENTO, CA 95829 916-379-9600 Office 916-379-9692 Fax www.agncn.org info@agncn.org Find us on Facebook Download our app-agncn 1
Superintendent Rev. Bret Allen Encouragement Today I received a letter from a minister that made me smile and caused my chest to swell with pride. I was proud because the content of the letter was celebratory over an encouraging letter the minister had received from another pastor. I was so pleased to know that a minister took time to write a letter to another minister complimenting, praising, and encouraging his co-laborer in Christ. Encouragement. What a wonderful concept. Encouragement. What a powerful tool. Encouragement. What a simple thing to give and to receive. Encouragement is something that is routinely needed in the lives of those who lead and minister in the local church. Re- gardless of location or demographic markers – the fact is ministers become disappointed and that leads to discouragement. In the life of Moses, we see four kinds of disappointment at work. All four are commonplace in our lives and the lives of those ministering around us. Disappointment with Circumstances – Exodus 14:5-9 The Red Sea – really? We just had 10 plagues – and now this? I left a great job to come here for this? I was perfectly happy sitting on the back side of the dessert watching my father in law’s sheep. A bush that knows my name interrupts my day – my life and now here I am. The incident we're going to look at today is a water problem. The Israelites had many water problems. The first problem they had was too much water at the Red Sea -- How are we going to get across? Disappointment with People – Exodus 14:10-14 The people are attacking and complaining. They've just received freedom. At the first sign of trouble, they're already doubting. They're already criticizing, and they're ready to give up. I think their motto was "When in doubt, grumble against Moses." Poor Moses! One minute he's the hero, the next minute he's a zero. One minute he's the star, the next minute he's the scapegoat. Yet he never gave up. Have you noticed how people forget things quickly? It's human nature. We forget so quickly things that have happened. Some of you are in a position right now and the key question that you're asked is, "What have you done for me lately? It doesn't matter that you led well last year, what are you doing now?" They've already forgotten your victories. Children forget parents, bosses forget employees, and spouses take each other for granted. It seems that the greatest services in life are often followed by forgetfulness. Husbands, do you encourage your wives? Wives, do you encourage your husbands? Who are you taking for granted? A spouse? An employee? A friend? A boss? A Sunday School teacher? A nursery worker? We can look at Moses' life and see the things he did to deal with disappointment as it related to people. 2
Disappointment with God – Exodus 14:15 This one we hate to admit. But it is a reality. Too often we find ourselves asking God “why” questions. We even at times go so far to accuse God of being unaware, disinterested, or simply not caring about our plight. Our disappointment with God comes when: • We expect God to fit into a box we make for him. He won’t. He’s God. • When we try and change rolls with God. He is not a vending machine – when you drop a prayer and make your se- lection for God to perform. That mindset is dangerous simply because it places your will as directive for God. God is not obligated to meet our expectations – he is working a plan for your life – for my life – we look through the glass darkly – we don’t know what will happen tomorrow – can’t remember what we had for dinner last night – forget our anniversary and spouse’s birthday – and then wonder why God is not taking copious notes when we direct him. • When we fail to ask God for his perspective, and we fill in the blanks on our own. • When we gauge God on our expectations and not his declarations. Let me remind you of a few things about God’s character: He never changes – easy to track – He never moves off center. If He is doing something or not doing something – He is the same – loving, kind, merciful, the protective God He has always been – the character of God never shifts – not even an inch. Disappointment with God is a real issue even among minis- ters. Remember the character of God never changes – He is exactly the same as when you praised him for the blessings you received last week. There are questions I have learned to ask in my times of disappointment with God. What is God wanting me to learn? What has God done in the past to prepare me for this moment? What should I be learning in this moment that God will expect me to remember in the future? When disappointed we must train yourself to: Say the right things Do the right things Learn the right lessons Pastor, the “Red Seas” in life are wrought with disappointment opportunities. Nevertheless, they are filled with opportuni- ties to learn and become stronger in our personal walk with God. Red Sea experiences also bring opportunity to: Learn about God character Learn about His faithfulness Learn about your overreactions Take note of where you were afraid and had no faith While disappointment is a real issue as we begin a new year, so is the fact that God is there, doing what He does best – be- ing consistent. Don’t miss an opportunity to write the letter, speak the encouragement, make the call – you may be the one God uses to speak life and hope to your fellow minister. 3
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Samuel Huddleston It is with great joy I say to each of you, Happy New Year. I love the beginning of a new year. My wife says I love the begin- ning of EVERY day. I honestly do. Each day gives me the opportunity to tell someone about the love, grace and forgiveness of my Lord. I pray daily for such encounters. I want to challenge you with something I have challenged people in churches all over America; to set your phone alarm to go off daily at 1:50 pm or am to remind you to pray for our country. We are 1 nation with 50 states and in need of prayer— a lot of it. What would happen if at that time, daily, millions of believers prayed? A friend in Ohio recently challenged his church to do that and then added another time, 6:13, which is the num- ber of his church address. He told them we can’t all be here for weekly prayer, but we can all pray at 6:13. Will you join me and hundreds of others across our district to pray for our nation at 1:50? Ephesians 6:12 tells us who to pray against and it’s not “flesh and blood.” May you awake each and every day with the joy of the Lord as your strength and may He give you serendipitous encounters with others. I have to go, it’s 1:50 and my alarm just went off. P.S. I have also set another alarm to go off everyday at 4:13. I pray for myself, Linda, our 3 married children, their spouses and our 13 grandchildren. Linda, myself and two of our grandbabies Left to Right: Presbyter Paul Krob and Linda and I enjoying a Sunday morning had the pleasure of spending time with his wife, Gail, with our new pastor of with Pastor Lance Feliciano’s family at Pastor Ryan Horvath, his wife, Cheryl, North Fork CC, Pastor Marcus Hilter- New Life Center in Rancho Cordova, CA. and their kids at Bethel A/G in Yreka, CA. brand and his wife, Dawn. Left to Right: Tyler, Alexia, Brian, myself, Linda and Pastor Lance’s wife, Jennifer. ITINERATING U.S. MISSIONARIES Shane and Marty Couch Jay and Dawn Van Sickle http://agncn.givingfuel.com/egive 4
Intercultural Ministries Rev. Dennis & Lynda Conrad Andrew Anane-Asane B-Day Celebration Stephen & Yolanda Raman Ministry Celebration Basil Hicks License Presentation HeeSung Park Panel Cross-Generation Ministry Seminar Interaction John Withers Inosi Batibasaga B-Day Celebration Pahulu Grandchildren at Memorial Soakai Apelé Installation Ministry in Fiji with former South Pacific Bible College students 5
Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Jay Herndon Join an Archeological Dig! Jeremiah 7:12 "But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. This past summer Teri and I spent two weeks excavating the ancient city of Shiloh. Teri and I have been on many tours of Israel. We’ve loved each one. But after a few tours we began to say to ourselves, “There’s only so much you can learn from a 30-minute visit to a site. Let’s pick one place and immerse ourselves in that site.” So we signed up for a dig (this was our second). Many of our ministers have expressed interest in our adventure. Some have inquired about doing a dig themselves, so I thought I should write about our experience. Shiloh is the first capital of the Israelite confederacy, from the time of Joshua through Samuel. The city is located midway between Jerusalem and Shechem. After its destruction by the Philistines (following the loss of the Ark) the city was never fully resettled, nor has it been extensively excavated, mean- ing that it is ideal for archeological discovery with no modern layers to dig through and lots still to discover. Members of our team discovered many important artifacts, such as the following: • Clay pomegranate tassels (the type of which were used in the tabernacle as decorations) • Bronze spear-heads from the early Iron Age (time of Joshua) • The corner of a four-horned altar • Indisputable evidence of a biblical sacrificial system (right-side bones, Lev. 7:33) • Thousands and thousands of pottery shards, stone vessels, and scarabs More important than the discovery of “arti-facts” is the discovery of “regular-facts,” I’m referring to “history-facts.” Space doesn’t permit me to write here about what we learned about the city itself— of the ancient inhabitants and their culture/religion. Most archeological digs are sponsored by a university of some sort, but this site was sponsored by Associates for Biblical Research. ABR is a unique sponsor, in that it is a consor- tium of Christian seminaries. When we arrived on-site, we were surprised to see professors from AGTS and Evangel on the team. As it turns out, AGTS had joined ABR just a few weeks prior! It was nice to be able to work and fellow- ship with fellow believers, and to learn about Biblical archeology from a Bibli- cal perspective! That’s rarer than you might think. Our group stayed in a hotel in Jerusalem, just a few blocks from the old city. Each day we’d board the bus at 5 AM and hear a devotional from one of the leaders during our ride to the site. We’d work until 2PM and head back to the hotel to clean up, take a nap, and enjoy din- ner. Twice a week we’d meet in the evening for a time of worship and an archeological lesson. Otherwise, evenings and weekends were free. The cost included housing, breakfast and dinner at the hotel, and lunch on site. If you are interested in looking into this possibility, here are some options: https://biblearchaeology.org/, https:// digshiloh.org, https://biblearchaeology.org/shiloh-excavations/50-the-shiloh-excavations/4340-the-shiloh-excavations- videos and watch some videos about Shiloh and read about their dates for 2020. 6
Legacy Honors For Rev. John Investing in Rev. Smith Lynn Clayton for Cassandra Hager Taniela Kaufusi for Joseph Uta Viliami Teu for Joseph Uta Matt Clayton for Cassandra Hager Tottie Taito for Joseph Uta Elina Vaka for Joseph Uta Michael Gondi for Cassandra Hager Gratiana Taylor for Cassandra Hager Tom Van Kempen II for Cassandra Hager Bethany Legacy Scholarship ELIGIBILITY An eligible applicant must be: •A high school senior, recent graduate, Application Includes: or current college student under •Student’s contact information the age of 30. •Student’s academic matriculation to date. •A regular and active participant in an •GPA for previous two semesters Assemblies of God congregation or •Student video and essay describing their involvement in A/G church or Chi Alpha located in the NCN dis- Chi-Alpha. Maximum of 300 words describing why they are enrolling trict. in their particular program, what their academic goal is, and how this •Student must be pursuing undergrad- will help them fulfill what they perceive to be God’s call on their life. uate education at a regionally ac- •Two References: one Assemblies of God minister and one educator. credited or ABHE accredited col- lege that is also legally affiliated with the Assemblies of God. •Student should be pursuing one of the following majors: - Pastoral Ministry -Music -Missions -Education / Teaching •Student should have at least a 3.0 GPA in their previous 2 semesters. •Special consideration will be given to students who are children of NCN credential holders. 7
Vital Information District Ministers & Churches Seeking Ministerial Recognition: Transferred In: New Pastors: Aleman, Jaime L - rein lic Francis, John E III - NY Ceres, CA: Valley Christian Center of Aleman, Ronald A - rein lic Francis, Melanie R - NY Ceres Anglin, Andrew P - lic Luck, Jasmin R - So MO Reverend Christopher Henry Azucena, Josue - lic General Council Affiliated Bailey, Heather A - lic New Credentials: Cornell, Kathryn A - lic Faiaipa'u, Darcy S - lic Citrus Heights, CA: Citrus Heights Assem- Cox, Krislyn M - adv ord Collins, Michael J - lic bly of God Crenshaw, Caleb N - adv ord Plasier, Tryphena J - lic Reverend Thomas Woods Jr Evans, Constance R - lic Qualls, Debra A - lic General Council Affiliated Fairbanks, Angela R - adv lic Raman, Yolanda R - lic Gunter, Jennifer L - adv ord Hager, Cassandra R - lic Elk Grove, CA: Grace Community Church Hagar, Larry W - adv lic Uta, Joseph V - lic A/G Hankins, Antonio A - adv ord Reverend William Tanger Hansen, Erik J - adv ord Change In Status: General Council Affiliated Jensen, Chaunda - adv ord Reinstated: Jines, Lisa D - adv ord Christensen, Cynthia L - lic Modesto, CA: One Church: Punjabi, Hindi Leatherman, Ashley M - adv ord Thomas, W Allen - ord and English Leatherman, David S - adv ord Reverend Frederick GM Leatherman, Samuel W - adv ord Transferred Out: Parent Affiliated Levy, Daniel J - adv ord Butrin, John D - CO Parent Church: One Church Levy, Joy E - adv ord Elrod, Gerald A - OR Lucero, Isaac A - cm Hill, Emily S - So TX North Fork, CA: Assembly of God Manning , John P - adv ord Marsal, Jorge F - No TX Reverend Marcus Hilterbrand Martin, Scott R - adv ord Mathews, William H - So CA District Council Affiliated McGaffee, P David - adv ord Parker, Kevin R - OR Corporate Name Change: McKenzie, Marlowe S - cm Qualls, Donny J - No TX McLeod, Laura J - adv ord Qualls, Debra A - No TX Change In Status: McLeod, Anthony B - adv ord Lathrop, CA: Light of the World Christian Miller, Ryan J G - adv ord Resigned: Center Neher, Charles R - adv ord Dismissed: District Affiliated to Parent Affiliated Orndorf, Casey C - adv lic Lapsed: Parent Church: Light of the World Chris- Philpott, Brandon R - adv ord Withdrew: tian Center Pritchard, Sean M - lic Ramos, Carlos A - rein lic Deceased Ministers or Spouses: Reynolds, Linda G - adv ord Bramblitt, Robert E: Dublin, CA Church Information Changes: Rogers, Tabreena M - adv ord 9/5/1930 - 10/22/2019; Ord/SR Hilmar, CA: Portuguese Assembly of Rogers, Steven S - adv ord God Rogers, Nehemiah J - adv ord Sheley, Daryl D: Sacramento, CA Mailing Address: Rosas, Amancio - adv ord 4/18/1951- 10/9/2019; Ord/SR PO Box 178 Smith, Daniel R - adv ord Turlock, CA 95381 Stein, Richard J - rec ord Tejam, Eliezer T: Watsonville, CA General Council Affiliated Topalu, Valentin P - adv ord 10/21/1957- 9/24/2019; Ord Turrubiate, Claire - lic Sacramento, CA: Project Church A/G Van Kempen, Trevor - adv ord Pahulu, Fauike T: Redwood City, CA Location & Mailing Address: Woods, Thomas L - adv ord 2/27/1938- 10/16/2019; Ord 1200 2nd Street Sacramento, CA 95814 New Churches: Closed Churches: General Council Affiliated 8
Please contact your presbyter for further information February 3 South San Joaquin – 6:00pm 6 Lassen-Plumas – 6:00pm Presbyter – Paul Krob Presbyter—Joel Armstrong Lifetree A/G Westwood Assembly of God 35849 Avenue 13 1/2 624 Ash St Madera, CA 93636 Westwood, CA 96137 4 Central San Joaquin – 9:00am 7 Mt. Shasta – 6:00pm Presbyter – Kyle Bethke Presbyter – Ken Frazier One Church - Ripon The Gathering (Mount Shasta) 1043 S Acacia Ave 534 Everitt Memorial Hwy Ripon, CA 95355 Mount Shasta CA 96067 4 North San Joaquin – 12:30pm 8 Redwood – 6:00pm Presbyter – David Bliss Presbyter – Willy Bowles Place of Refuge Lifehouse Eureka 486 Button Ave. 2734 Hubbard Ln Manteca, CA 95336 Eureka, CA 95501 4 Gold Country – 6:00pm 10 Lake Mendocino – 12:00pm Presbyter – Craig Andrus Presbyter – Mike Suski Valley Christian Center Restoration House 2475 Silver Rapids at Berkesey 395 N Barnes St. Valley Springs, CA 95252 Ukiah, CA 95482 5 Butte – 9:00am 10 North Bay – 6:00pm Presbyter – Al Moody Presbyter – Will Nelken Calvary Christian Center A/G Trinity Community Church 2620 Colusa Hwy 1675 Grand Ave. Yuba City, CA 95993 San Rafael, CA 94901 5 Valley Ridge – 12:00pm 11 Foothill – 6:00pm Presbyter – Jack Wright Presbyter – Brian Johnson River of Life Church Assembly of God First Assembly of God 3210 Oro Dam Blvd E 4200 Grass Valley Hwy Oroville, CA 95966 Auburn, CA 95602 5 Sacramento Valley – 6:00pm Presbyter – David Blythe High Point Assembly of God 625 Luther Rd Red Bluff, CA 96080 9
World Missionaries Itinerating Brown, Mark & Sarah Good, Mark & Dalene Matsunaga, Daniel & Kazune Philippines France Asia Pacific mark.brown@agmd.org 1938 Waverly St. Unit A 1942 Ajay Dr. Napa, CA 94558 Roseville, CA 95678 Evans, Steve & Glenda marknday@gmail.com dhmats@gmail.com Africa 692.596.9285 916.584.1929 c/o Mark Evans PO BOX 892 Kirsch, Bill & July Smith, Henry & Ivonne Bristow, OK 74010 Africa’s Hope LaƟn America Steve.Evans@agmd.org 4020 N. Williams Pl 1925 Lindsay Dr. 918.361.8320 Springfield, MO 65803 Roseville, CA 95678 Bill.Kirsch@agmd.org hsmith56@gmail.com 417.860.7861 916.579.2994 Women’s Ministries Rev. Debbie Heden UPCOMING SISTERHOODS Gold Country Section New Song Church January 25th @10am Contra Costa Section The Bay Church February 3rd @7pm Lake Mendocino Section Coast Christian Center Fort Bragg February 22nd @ 11am 10
Men’s Ministries Dr. Samuel M. Huddleston OTHER REGIONAL EVENTS Harvest Men’s Advance hosted by Harvest Church Elk Grove, CA // May 15-17 San Joaquin MAN UP Conference hosted by San Joaquin Men’s Ministry August 8 Men of Integrity Conference hosted by Sunnyslope Christian Center Hollister, CA // September 18-19 Silicon Valley MAN UP Conference hosted by Mission City Church Santa Clara, CA // October 10 From the NCN Men’s Ministries Team, Happy New Year to you and your families! May 2020 be your best year yet. Hope to see you at our events. -Dr Sam and the Men’s Ministries Team Rev. Cal Swenson 11
Church Ministries Rev. Char Blair KIDMIN LEAD IS COMING . . . Kid’s Ministry is explod- launch a ministry to kids. Thank you Pastor Sean for all the ex- ing within the NCN District with tra time you spend investing in creativity and resourceful train- others. ing. Our KIDMIN advisory team consists of veteran KIDMIN Make sure you save the date... leaders who bring a lot to the March 7. Each year we offer table. The team is: James Hall, two trainings. Our spring train- Sean Marshall, Eric and Tiffany ing is KIDMIN LEAD which is all Saathoff, Michele Turner, and about growing as a KIDMIN Brent Way. I am grateful for leader and KIDMIN CREATE is their time and investment into our fall training that offers our District. Pastor Sean is cur- hands on, practical, creative rently working with several of ideas on how to grow your our churches who are in differ- ministry. We keep the cost ent stages of ministry… He’s minimal so you can bring your consulting those who are need- entire team. Lunch and materi- ing to train volunteers, be more als are included in the price. creative in their approach, or If you’re leading a ministry If you have not yet met our specifically for girls or teen national Girl’s Ministries girls, you won’t want to miss Director Lori Trail-Warning, I this event. encourage you The weekend to not miss this is designed “You won’t want opportunity. for those to miss this She’s a breath who lead girls in ministry event.” of fresh air and has a heart to not just for see girls lead those who do Girl’s Ministry like Jesus in the church, in (formerly Missionettes). We their homes, and someday in are privileged to host this the marketplace. conference and to welcome the national leadership to Register at ngm.ag.org/leaders/conference-training Northern California and Ne- vada District. 12
#YTHCON19 Thank you to all of you who attended Youth Convention 2019. A big thank you to Pastor Abe Daniel and his team at Trinity Life Center of Sacramento for hosting over 1,400 students for two days. Dr. Samuel Huddleston and Pastor Damien Giacchino both brought timely words of encourage- ment to our students and Zoro dropped truth bombs throughout his entire inter- view. It was amazing to see how young people responded to each speaker in a different way. Thank you also to all of the youth pastors that trusted us and gave up their weekend to bring their students and leaders. Our youth pastors are growing in their connections with one another and their regional DYD’s. Watching the momentum of student ministries on the rise within our district is a sight to behold. Please continue to pray for this generation. STL QUARTERLY STRATEGY January Goal: Plan STL Strategies and group fundraisers Fundraiser Idea: Superbowl Party – Chop Firewood February— March— April Goal: Have each student make personal goals during these months Strategy: Have a “March Madness for Missions” STL emphasis. Fundraiser Idea: Valentine’s day chocolate sales, Valentine’s day banquet, March Madness for Missions. Ongoing STL giving disciplines: Collect weekly offerings for STL, Show Missions Videos, Pick a project, teach on the importance of tithes and offerings, add a $5 STL tax to each of your events. If you have any questions about STL, please reach out to the Church Ministries Office. 13
Rev. Eddie Rentz We Need Disrupters in 2020 In his book, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, Richard Rohr writes, "Change is not what we expect from religious people. They tend to love the past more than the present or the future." Yet disrupters are troubled by the status quo and find themselves unable to continue in their usual way. They push fearlessly through the apathetic crowd of comfort and ease in order to disrupt their world. All leaders at some point must choose to become a change agent, a dis- rupter, or they face obsolescence. The Word of God is filled with disrupters like Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and Paul. However, the greatest disrupter is Jesus Christ! His life, message, and actions unsettled the status quo. In the NCN District, I know many disruptive leaders like An- gelo and Analiza Austria at New Life Christian Center in Reno, Nevada. He spent a week living on the streets, built a com- munity playground for inner-city, at-risk children, and outreaches for the marginalized in Reno. They are disrupters of the status quo! John and Carey Gregg are disrupters at The Bay Church in Concord, California. Disruptive compassion has be- come their DNA through ministries like Adopt-A-School, Clean Start - Laundry and Shower, Serve Day, Compassion Bags, and Convoy of Hope Community Outreaches! These disrupters are starting a revolution of compassion! I work with a disrupter, Hal Donaldson, whose passion has sparked a revolution of compassion and kindness to the poor, hungry, marginalized, and those without Christ. His book, Disruptive Compassion--Becoming the Revolutionary You Were Born to Be, he explains with convincing clarity the call to disruptive compassion. Many other names and faces flood my mind of disrupters who have bravely confronted the status quo. Outreach, mis- sions, and transformational leadership are their priorities against complacency. Change is challenging, but not changing is catastrophic. As you look forward to 2020, what opportunities do you see to in- terrupt the status quo? Perhaps it is time for you to be a disrupter. The world needs all of us to combat complacency and contend for their future. Martin Luther said, "Like the early Christians, we must move into a sometimes hostile world armed with the revolutionary gospel of Jesus Christ. With this powerful gospel, we shall boldly challenge the status quo." Thank you for partnering with Convoy of Hope, a ministry committed to be a disruptive compassion ministry. Angelo and Analiza Austria John and Carey Gregg 14
If you have not submitted your 2020 credential renewal, you have until January 15th to renew with $50 in late fees ($25 to General Council & $25 to District Council). After the 15th your credential will lapse, and you will have to pay a $150 reinstatement fee. Your renewal will be placed on hold if you owe more than 2 months of District tithes. For ministers carrying over a balance into the new year, there will be a credential fee of $17.50 billed at a later date. General Council will also place your credential on hold if you are not com- pletely paid up for the year with their office. You can renew online here: https://ministerrenewal.ag.org/ The District will renew on your behalf if you are Senior Retired, a World Missionary, or Disabled and have not yet renewed. Connection Announcement 2020 will be the final year of the printed connection. The Connection is posted on our website at http://agncn.org/ newsletterconnection. If you would like to receive the email notification when the new bi-monthly Connection is available, please send your updated information to the DRC through https://agncn.regfox.com/minister-info or by calling 916.379.9600 ext. 1114 15
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