1312-convention herald.indd - Interchurch Holiness Convention

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I N T E R C H U R C H
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Editor's Thoughts
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preading scriptural holiness
throughout the land” was
John Wesley’s purpose for the
original Methodist church. The
message Wesley preached was
not always welcomed by the
church or the world, but it was
the needed message, the correct
message, and the blessed message
because it was the Bible message.
James Plank
In these new times, strange
forces abound to sidetrack us to
flashy new methods and a more
appealing, half-priced Gospel. Our message of holiness is
still not popular but it is still the Bible message. The InterChurch Holiness Convention is committed to proclaiming
that message until Jesus returns.
We are grateful for Flexon, French, Emery, Griffith,
Whitney, Straub, Cowan, Herron, Wilcox, Schmul, Adcock
and a host of others who have handed a well-lit torch to us.
Quite frankly, that is not the compelling reason we keep
preaching, teaching, traveling and printing. The reason
we don’t quit is because the message they preached and
we preach is the message of eternity—“Holiness Unto the
Lord.” This is no man-made doctrine or invented religion.
Holiness is not some side-line tradition or hobby horse. This
is the Gospel—the message of deliverance, the shouts of
victory, the life of an overcomer.
Say what you will, it is not popular because it demands
everything. The Calvary way has always demanded such—
all or nothing. That’s not popular. It requires crucifixion,
death to self, eradication of the old nature, and an end to
the worldly, the borderline and the sinful. It’s not popular.
It’s no fun to die. It’s not fun to give up yourself. It’s no fun
to run counter-culture. On the other side of death, is resurrection. Once you have experienced the joy and peace and
satisfaction of the resurrected sanctified life, you will never
be satisfied with anything else.
The Russian cosmonauts went to outer space, came back
and declared they didn’t see God, to which one preacher
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Convention Herald
replied, “Your little space ship just didn’t go far enough!”
Some are leaving behind the message of holiness saying
there is nothing to it. The Bible doesn’t teach it and they
tried it and it didn’t work, to which I simply reply, your
space ship didn’t go far enough.
Respectfully I say, the Bible doesn’t promise something it
won’t provide. God doesn’t put carrots at the end of sticks.
If you seek, you will find. Trust and obey. Put God to the
test. Be honest. Try obedience in every area of life including areas of dress, entertainment, music and attitudes—all
of the big things and all of the little things you said didn’t
matter anymore. You might be surprised how quickly victory will come.
You will have to die, however, at the other end of your
death is heart purity and glorious life.
“But around the cross there’s glory, and His strong arm
bears my load, and His loving smile is sunshine, and He
brings me naught but good. Oh let me walk with Jesus, He has
been a friend to me, for He fills my heart with gladness, and
He saves and keeps me free.” ◉
Convention Herald, a Christian family
magazine, is the official publication of the
InterChurch Holiness Convention.
_________________________________
2013
Volume 66—Number 5 & 6
_________________________________
InterChurch Holiness Convention
Executive Offices:
PO Box 876
Bedford, IN 47421
E-mail: ihconvention@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 812-275-2119
Fax: 812-277-9821
_________________________________
General Secretary: Leonard Sankey
Editor: James D. Plank
Printing: Country Pines Printing, Shoals, IN
Graphic Design/Layout: Jon Plank
Published bi-monthly by the InterChurch
Holiness Convention and mailed from
Shoals, IN 47581.
$5 per year—USA and Canada.
$6 per year—all other countries.
_________________________________
Subscriptions, Billing, Advertising and
Address Changes:
Convention Herald
PO Box 876
Bedford, IN 47421
E-mail: ihconvention@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 812-275-2119
Fax: 812-277-9821
Announcements and articles:
James Plank
P.O. Box 99
New Berlin, PA 17855
E-mail: jimplank@me.com
Unsolicited articles will not be returned.
_________________________________
IHC and the Convention Herald do not
necessarily endorse every product or
service advertised in this periodical.
reflections
from the General Secretary
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
by CURTIS GOING
“O God our help in ages past;
Our hope for years to come…”
W
hat Does the
Leonard Sankey
New Year Hold?
I don’t know, and neither do you; neither does anyone else. The future is
known only to God. He holds tomorrow in His hand,
thus if we hold unto His hand, He will guide us unerringly where He wants us to go.
So how are we to walk in 2014?
1. Not alone, but with God.
2. Not in our own wisdom, but in His.
3. Not unthinking, but soberly, thoughtfully.
4. Not cowardly, but “strong in the Lord and in the
power of His might.”
5. Not discouraged, but full of Christian hope.
6. Not making our own way, walking in the light of
His Word.
7. Not egotistically, but humbly.
8. Not too fast, nor too slow, but keeping step with
the Lord.
9. Not insensitively, but listening to the guidance of
the Spirit.
10.Not carnally, but spiritually.
Isaac Watts’ great hymn resonates at the beginning of this year:
O God our Help in ages past, Our Hope for years to come
Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.
Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame
From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same. ◉
W
ho would think to look in the
book of Genesis for a mention of
the Christmas story? As Christian families gather this Christmas to read the
story of Christ’s birth, most of them will
turn to Matthew or Luke’s account, but
few would think of opening their Bible
to the book of Genesis. Yet, there it is,
in a moment of defeat and brokenness
for Adam and Eve and in the middle of
God pronouncing a curse against the
serpent in the Garden—the first veiled
reference to Christmas. “And I will put
enmity between thee and the woman, and
between thy seed and her seed; it shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his
heel.” (Genesis 3:15) The casual Bible
reader might easily pass over these words
without grasping the full extent of their
meaning, but they communicate the
eternal truth that Christ would come
through the seed of the woman to crush
Satan’s head. As vague as these words
may seem, they represent great hope
for fallen man. They speak of the triumphant Christ. Looking through the
lens of time, the future events foreshadowed in Genesis 3 appeared blurred and
obscure, but through the centuries that
followed, the lens was carefully adjusted
as God revealed Himself to man and the
picture came more clearly into focus.
Throughout the Pentateuch God introduced the concept of a sacrifice for sin,
and He presented the intricate details of
the sacrificial (continued on page 10)
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3
It has been an outstanding year for the IHC, complete with
world travels and conventions in several states of the Union.
IHC is more than a convention in Dayton—much more! Area conventions
are conducted in many locations with a list of potential and future conventions growing each year. The opportunity to promote the old fashioned
Bible message of heart purity is a tremendous responsibility and honor and
includes day-to-day activities that involve many people.
General Secretary Leonard Sankey travels frequently on behalf of IHC.
As of November he had attended 360 services in 29 different churches in
12 states and 3 countries (USA, Mexico and Turks & Caicos Islands) In
the convention work, he has been assisted in 2013 by James Plank, Darrell
Stetler, Paul Gray and Paul Pierpoint in the conducting of various Area Conventions. Marc Sankey and Marc Dodrill each contributed a convention this
year as well.
In each location, IHC is met with a warm welcome—the best of fellowship and friendships. The Convention attempts to encourage holiness
works large and small wherever possible. Those who travel for IHC are
grateful for every offering and every accommodation and every meal. So
many people do so much to keep the convention movement operating.
Behind the scenes, Marci Webb in Indiana, and Jodi Heidler in Pennsylvania, keep the office work happening. Jon Plank is instrumental in all of
our graphics—keeping the announcements churning out for each location.
Above all, IHC is blessed with a host of Convention Coordinators and Host
Pastors who organize, promote and help plan each convention. They are
key in providing the prayer support needed if anything effective is going to
happen.
The holiness people are blessed with prayer warriors who, on their knees,
are lifting each service in each location to God. Many times preachers will
enter a convention wondering if God will meet with His people again—and
He never fails. The hush of His quiet presence, or the exuberant shouts of
victory and praise are a result of some saint who has carried the service in
prayer. Altar services have been frequent in the work this year with many
victories. These times of God’s moving are the result of faithful pray-ers who
are carrying the services.
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Convention Herald
2013 was active, with people working hard on behalf of the holiness cause.
The year began with Assistant Secretary James Plank conducting the
National Holiness Camp in Papua New Guinea. Perhaps the most successful
mission field in the last 100 years, the holiness people of Papua New Guinea
are resolutely determined to stand by “the old paths wherein is the good
way.” God is honoring their efforts with outstanding moves of the Holy
Spirit and rapidly spreading revival throughout the nation and beyond. They
continue to send delegations to the Annual Convention in Dayton and stand
with their US brothers and sisters in every way possible.
In the United States, four conventions were held in the Winter: Kansas
State Winter, South Carolina State, Indianapolis Area and Central Ohio.
Keith Ledford, Stephen Cassady, Youan Tainapel, John Kennedy and others
assisted IHC with the preaching ministry.
In February, Leonard Sankey once again conducted the services at Sea
Breeze Camp Meeting in Hobe Sound, Florida. While the holiness churches
support hundreds of camp meetings throughout the year, the Hobe Sound
camp has been an integral part of the movement since the days of H. Robb
French and Harold Schmul. Also in February, James Plank represented IHC
at the St. Louis Holiness Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, sponsored by
the John Wesley Foundation.
The spring began with the annual InterChurch Holiness Outreach and
Bus Convention in Camby, Indiana. This convention is not tied to IHC, but
certainly is a blessing to our people in the promotion of outreach and evangelism—one of the heartbeats of the holiness movement since the days of
Wesley.
In March, a group of 47 adventurous pilgrims landed in Jerusalem! The
Inspirational Holy Land Tour took place under the guidance of Evangelist
Rollin Mitchell, James Plank and Paul and Nancy Gray. The instruction of
a tremendous guide and the fellowship of believers in the Holy Land was
something that each traveler will carry with them through the remainder
of their lives. Special services were held in the Upper Room, the Garden
of Gethsemane, and in other locations. The presence of the Lord was real,
resulting in shouts of praise and people seeking God around altars of prayer.
(See pictorial review on page 12)
The spring conventions were conducted with the blessing of the Lord:
West Michigan, Alaska State, Oklahoma City, Washington State, West
Pennsylvania, Rocky Mountain, Missouri State Spring and Kentucky State.
The convention in Kentucky was new for 2013! God met with those attending in a powerful way. In addition to the IHC personnel, Chris Cravens,
Andrew Stroud, Solomon Shaffer, Dale Hayford, Duane Elmore and John
Case ministered in these conventions.
The Annual Convention in Dayton, Ohio was one of the best—attendance was up and offerings were received with ease. By far, the most
important part, was the salvation of souls and believers sanctified wholly.
Many left the convention this year refreshed and encouraged. The goal of
Dayton is met if God chooses to meet with His people. With all hindrances
and faults and even failures—God has blessed over and over again. May
God’s people ever contend for the Glory! Without it, there is no power and
no ability to function.
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5
The committee to plan the next Annual Convention met in the Oswald
Chambers Room on the campus of God’s Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio,
on May 16th. Leonard Sankey, James Plank, Darrell Stetler, Paul Gray and
John Manley were present to choose the theme for Dayton 2014: “The Preeminent Christ.” The theme was chosen as we remembered one of Harold
Schmul’s favorite quotes from Sangster: “Lord, we don’t mind who is second
as long as Thou art first.”
Summertime found three conventions: Crystal Coast (NC), Delta (CO)
and Mid Tennessee. Harry Plank, Marcus Dodrill, Nathan Shockly and others assisted in preaching these conventions.
The fall is always busy for IHC with 13 conventions conducted this year:
Central Pennsylvania, North Carolina State, Shelbyville (IN), South East
Michigan, Illinois, South Central Indiana, South East Ohio, Cincinnati, New
York, Missouri State Fall, Virginia State, Chattanooga (TN) and Alabama
State. Of these conventions, three of them were new! The list of speakers for
these events included: Chester Handfield, Jeremy Fuller, Curtis Going, Tom
Reed, Jack Hart, Barry Whitaker, Daniel Stetler, Adam Buckler, John White,
Jack Hooker, Marcus Dodrill, Keith Bunch, Marc Sankey, Tim Cole, Matthew Ellison, Aaron McCarty, John Case and Rodney Loper.
We said farewell to some “greats” among us, including: William Gale,
W.O. Kneal, R.G. Humble, Shirley Gray, Marilyn Baker, Ron Hartkopf,
Amos Hann and H.C. Emmert. This list is in no way complete, but it is fitting to remember these and all who have held up the blood-stained banner
of the cross!
The work of holiness is not dead! God will always raise up a people to
shout out the message of heart-purity. Let us purpose to be those who will
“stand in the gap and make up the hedge” as Jesus tarries. ◉
Sons of men, behold from far,
Nations all, far off and near,
Hail the long-expected star!
Haste to see your God appear!
Jacob’s star that gilds the night,
Haste, for Him your hearts prepare,
Guides bewildered nature right.
Meet Him manifested there.
—Charles Wesley
Manager: Keith McLeod
Mike Morgan
Bob Morgan
Come visit us where I-80 intersects the Mississippi River!
110 W 2nd Street • Milan, Illinois 61264 • 309.787.3335
6
Convention Herald
Meet us at these
locations in the
coming year!
Visit www.ihconvention.com for more information.
Sunday School: 10 AM, Sunday Services: 11 AM & 6 PM
Wednesday Service: 7 PM
1647 North Ellsworth Ave, Salem, Ohio 44460 | 330-337-6792
Rev. Henry Miller, Pastor | www.salembmc.org
Convention Herald
7
Interchurch Holiness Convention
Tuesday
April 22
RON STEVENS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
BRYAN LINE
FROM THE HEART
MARK HESKETT
FROM THE HEART
JOHN MANLEY
TUESDAY EVENING SPEAKER
STEVE SMITH
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY
1:30 PM
Music Around the Piano
Family Groups
Convention Choir
Paul Gray, Director
RICHARD GREMILLION
REVIVAL RALLY SPEAKER
CARL EISENHART
WEDNESDAY EVENING SPEAKER
STANLEY GRABILL
THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY
NATHAN PURDY
DERON FOURMAN
HOLINESS MEETING SPEAKER THURSDAY CLOSING CHALLENGE
2:30 PM
Chapel of the Children
Gene and Angie Davis
2:45 PM
ROLLIN MITCHELL
TIME OF DISCOVERY I
SOLOMON SHAFFER
TIME OF DISCOVERY II
GENE & ANGIE DAVIS
CHAPEL OF THE CHILDREN
ROBERT THOMPSON
HEALING SERVICE
MARC SANKEY
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
Keynote Address
Ron Stevens
6:00 PM
JANET SANKEY
WOMEN OF WORTH
MATT MALOYED
YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
DAVID BLOWERS
BUILDING FOR KEEPS DIRECTOR
TIM CRATER
MASS CHOIR DIRECTOR
PAUL GRAY
MUSIC DIRECTOR
From the Heart
Bryan Line, Mark Heskett
God’s Bible School Choir and Orchestra
7:15 PM
Evening Worship
Union Bible College Choir and Orchestra
John Manley, Speaker
LEONARD SANKEY
GENERAL SECRETARY
JAMES PLANK
ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY
DARRELL STETLER
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
MICHAEL AVERY
CONVENTION CHAIRMAN
n
Wednesday
April 23
The Preeminent Christ
9:00 AM
“Lord, we don’t mind who is second
as long as Thou art first.”
—WILLIA M SA NGSTER
Morning Bible Study
Steve Smith
10:15 AM
Chapel of the Children
Gene and Angie Davis
Revival Rally
Richard Gremillion
10:30 AM
Women of Worth
Janet Sankey, Director
12:00 Noon
Fasting & Prayer, Healing Service
Robert Thompson, Director
Thursday
April 24
9:00 AM
Morning Bible Study
Stanley Grabill
CONTACT IHC
10:15 AM
PO BOX 876,
BEDFORD, IN 47421
Chapel of the Children
Gene and Angie Davis
2:00 PM
Holiness Meeting
Nathan Purdy
Chapel of the Children
Gene and Angie Davis
Time of Discovery II
Solomon Shaffer
Time of Discovery I
Rollin Mitchell
International Service
Marc Sankey, Director
6:00 PM
The Next Generation
Matt Maloyed, Director
Penn View Bible Institute Orchestra
Allegheny Wesleyan College Choir
7:15 PM
Evening Worship
Penn View Bible Institute Choir
and Orchestra
Carl Eisenhart, Speaker
2:00 PM
Children’s Mass Choir Presentation
2:15 PM
Building for Keeps
David Blowers, Director
Chapel of the Children
Gene and Angie Davis
6:00 PM
Closing Challenge
Hobe Sound Bible College Choir
Deron Fourman, Speaker
Convention Mass Choir and Orchestra
Tim Crater, Conductor
812.275.2119
OR 570.765.0578
IHCONVENTION@ME.COM
WWW.IHCONVENTION.COM
(from page 2) system to point towards the day when the ulti-
cross. In due course, Satan’s strategy brought death, and when
mate sacrifice would be made on Calvary’s hill.
Jesus’ limp body was lowered from the cross and placed in a
In the years that followed, God disclosed more details through
However, Satan’s success was short-lived, because God’s
ceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah
plan included an empty tomb and a risen Savior! The wound
7:14) God Himself was coming to fix the problem of sin that
that Satan inflicted on Jesus’ heel only held Him for three days,
started when the serpent ensnared Adam and Eve in the Garden.
until He rose triumphantly, signaling the enemy’s defeat. The
Isaiah declared, “Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight
work that the Seed of the Woman accomplished ultimately
in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted,
destroyed Satan’s power over mankind. He reigns in righteous-
and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked
ness and “Of the increase of his government and peace there
shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of
shall be no end…” (Isaiah 9:7a)
the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for
the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)
sin’s curse. Culture is marred by its depravity. The lives of sinners are
marked by its stranglehold. Even believers feel its effects through the
er, but then there were four hundred years of silence. There is
trials and temptations of daily living. However, rest assured that the
no record of God’s connection with His chosen people through
day is coming when all of this will be put to an end. John foresaw a
these years—just silence.
time when “the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire
Baby, and the Hope of the Ages was wrapped in swaddling clothes
and laid in a manger in the little village of Bethlehem. The seed
of the woman was on the earth. God had become a man.
and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
In the meantime, the child of God can have a personal taste
of Christ’s triumph over Satan through the cleansing power of
From the Pentateuch to the Gospels, what was at first dis-
Jesus’ shed blood and daily strength granted by the Holy Spirit.
tant and vague had become clear. Christ had come to redeem
Satan dealt a heavy blow to Jesus’ heel, but Jesus and all those
fallen humanity from the awful curse of sin, and in the process
who are faithful to His cause will triumph in the end.
Satan bruised His heel. Satan’s plot included jeering religious
Perhaps George Frederick Handel best expressed the reality
leaders, arrogant government officials, hardened Roman sol-
of Christ’s triumph when he wrote, “And He shall reign forever
diers, a crown of thorns, a cat-of-nine-tails, mocking crowds,
and ever, King of kings! and Lord of lords! Hallelujah! Hallelu-
loneliness, heavy wrought-iron nails, and a rugged Roman
jah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” ◉
September 15–24, 2014
TOUR ISRAEL WITH A PROFESSIONAL JEWISH GUIDE
ENJOY THE MINISTRY OF JAMES PLANK AND ROLLIN MITCHELL
BE INSPIRED BY SPECIAL SERVICES AND MUSIC AT ISRAEL’S HOLY SITES
Departure from
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+ Airline Fuel Surcharge*
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Space is limited!
* An airline fuel surcharge will be added to the tour cost. It is currently $730 per person and is subject to change until ticketing.
Prices are per-person based on double occupancy and include gratuities. Add $825 for single occupancy.
Land-only (for passengers wishing to secure their own airfare to/from Israel)—$2265 per person based on double occupancy.
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10
Yet, this Christmas season, the world still reels from the effects of
The blurry picture of hope in Genesis 3:15 was getting clear-
Then suddenly, the silence was shattered by the cry of a tiny
Newark
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cold, borrowed tomb, Satan had bruised Jesus’ heel.
the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah prophesied, “Behold, a virgin shall con-
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Janet Sankey
Director
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Convention Herald
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NON PROFIT ORG.
POSTAGE PAID
SHOALS, IN
PERMIT NO 18
INTERCHURCH HOLINESS CONVENTION
PO BOX 876
BEDFORD IN 47421-4913
I
walked today where Jesus walked…” The lyrics
to this beautiful song took on special meaning for the group of 49 who visited Israel with
IHC this past March. What a thrill to experience the sights and culture of this country firsthand, and ponder the biblical accounts that
took place here. The tour was led by renowned
Jewish guide, Shlomo Eyal, and hosted by
James Plank and Rollin Mitchell. Paul and
Nancy Gray provided special music. God’s presence was felt as our people worshiped together
in the land we call “holy.”
IHC is grateful to all who joined the tour,
as well as the churches who sent their pastors. The saying is absolutely true—once you
visit Israel, “you’ll never be the same!” ◉
2013 IHC IN ISRAEL GROUP
Diane Baber | Lucinda Benally | Brian, Sharon, Caleb, Eric & Nathaniel Black
Steven, Luann, Bethany, Kara & Matt Boardman | Lyvonne Brown
Chad & Melissa Clark | Brian & Julia Dowd | Adrian & Rebecca Duttry
Jeremy Fuller | David & Carolyn Gookins | Paul & Nancy Gray (Music)
Harold Knight | Charles & Susan Leitzel | Carl & Janet Matlock | Gloria McGinnis
Rollin & Debora Mitchell (Host) | Christy Moomaw | James Plank (Host)
Jon & Alicia Plank (Coordinator) | Harry Plank | George Prior | Ruth Shaw | Bev Tallent
Debra Thompson | Jerry Thompson | BJ & Jean Walker
Shirley Wesaw | Herb & Valerie West | John & Leanne Zeigler