(Editor’s Note: Here are two emails we received concerning how the Tsunami has affected some of our Apostolic believers and felt it was important enough to pass on.)

Early this morning, I got up before anyone else in the house stirred and set off on an adventure.  To a Christian Life College student whose idea of exercise is limited to a nightly ritual of speed-walking in endless circles around the parking lot, this is exciting!  Our senior class is on vacation in the mountains of South Lake Tahoe.    

“Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Revelation 3:8

Open Door Ministries was brought to my attention earlier this spring by an insightful friend who thought I might be interested in its mission: “Empowering, Equipping, and Encouraging Women for Excellence.” Born out of one young woman’s burden, carried on by other dedicated young ladies, and designed to minister to 18-to-30 year-old women called to kingdom ministry, Open Door holds a conference each year at Christian Life College in Stockton, California. I knew at once that I wanted to attend.

On October 29-30, 2004 the ninth annual Inferno 2004 youth conference at The Apostolic Church of Pontiac became the most successful Inferno conference yet. Young people gathered from Michigan and the surrounding states, as well as from Canada, New York, Louisiana, and California, to add their flame to the “unquenchable fire in today’s youth” and to be re-ignited by the preaching of Bro. Scott Graham.

The second annual Pentecostal Writers Institute (PWI) convened on October 13-16, 2004 at World Evangelism Center in St. Louis to hone the skills of Apostolic writers, editors, designers, and publishers.  Novice as well as seasoned craftsmen gathered from across the globe (there was at least one foreign missionary in attendance) to learn, share, network and laugh.  Apparent from the start was the thorough preparation and organizing by Word Aflame Publications’ staff for the three days of General Sessions, Extended Workshops and Mini Workshops (though they were anything but mini).

For the United Pentecostal Church International’s (UPCI) 80^th General Conference, the focus was not on the regular elections or the Mormon surroundings, but on Resolution No. 5, which resolved to allow UPCI ministers to create advertising and programming for television.

The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) officially voted unanimously to admit Urshan Graduate School of Theology (UGST), the oneness Apostolic world’s only seminary, as an associate member. This vote puts the school on track for receiving accreditation.

Bangladesh only seems to make it into the news when there’s some type of natural disaster; otherwise it’s a country that doesn’t exist in the consciousness of most people. Yet it should. With a population of 135 million people living in an area not quite the size of Wisconsin and 83 percent of the population claiming Islam as their religion of choice (only 3 percent claim Christianity), missionaries have an enormous challenge before them.

I walked into the room to hear, “Welcome, Brother Binion.” I hesitated.  “What business does (Dr. Decker) have calling me brother?” I thought.  Dr. Edward Decker, a professor from Oral Roberts University, would chair the session that I was to be speaking.  Everything on this day was what I would categorize as a first. This day of firsts began on March 13, 2004, the last day of the national conference of the Society of Pentecostal Studies (SPS) being held at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.

Wednesday, March 17 – Friday, March 19, Apostolic people gathered from across the nation to enjoy a fast-paced, intense celebration of Apostolic music during Music Fest 2004. The event, held annually in Indianapolis, Indiana, is sponsored by Calvary Tabernacle and Indiana Bible College and has become one of the best music conferences in the United Pentecostal Church. Lindel Anderson, music director at IBC, is the mastermind behind the Music Conference, with great assistance from staff at both the Bible College and the church, including LeAnna Grissom, Jennifer Roemer, Josh Anderson, Matt Calhoun, Jonathan Noble, and Marshall Jones.