Apostolic Boy Killed in San Jose; Family Finds Comfort in Faith and Forgiveness

Tuesday, Isaac Young, a 6-year-old member of Light of the World Apostolic Cathedral Church in San Jose, California went to be with the Lord when his family’s minivan was struck by a speeding pickup truck driven by 36-year-old Gary Westover.

The Young family was leaving a weekly prayer service at the church pastored by Isaac’s mother Theodoris and his aunt, Theadra.  Theodoris remains hospitalized with a lacertaed liver.  Christopher Young, the father, has a broken arm, and 8-year-old Aaron sustained only minor bruising.

Gary Westover was arrested at the scene of the accident for driving drunk.  Sis. Marie Price, Isaac’s grandmother, said:  “I don’t hate him [Westover].  Today, I don’t like him.  But no, I don’t hate him.  I pray for his soul.”  This family is given to prayer and praise, and Isaac was a fervent worshipper and an accomplished drummer, placing second in the church’s drum-off competition.  In the service just before his death, Isaac testified, thanking God for his family and asking church members to pray for his father who recently became unemployed.

In their grief, the Youngs believe that they must accept God’s will.  Christopher Young says:  “My faith has not been skahen.  I’m in good spirits.  I’m staying prayerful.”

Please remember this family in prayer.  Condolences may be sent to Light of the World Apostolic Cathedral at 3777 Quimby Rd., San Jose, CA 95148.

Click here to read the full story.

Faith Helps Apostolic Family Cope With Diagnosis

Monica and Anthony David of Franklin County waited three agonizing months to find out results of their daughter Olivia’s medical tests. When the call finally came, the news wasn’t good. Doctors at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson told the Davids that Olivia had mitochondrial disease — an ailment that’s incurable and can cause blindness, deafness, stroke-like episodes and premature death

The diagnosis adds to the many health problems the 7-year-old has already dealt with in her short life. She was developmentally delayed, has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. She takes six medications and has a pacemaker. She tires easily and sometimes has trouble staying on her feet.  And over the course of her life, Olivia has slowly lost the ability to speak.

Now, she has one more obstacle to overcome.

“Basically, we were handed a death sentence,” Monica David said. “But we refuse to accept that. … God has the final say. We’re holding on to our faith and trust in God. … God’s not through with Olivia yet. He’s going to heal her.”

The Davids plan to travel to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston on Feb. 4 to seek treatment for their daughter. The family held a benefit fish fry and raised $1,000 to help with the medical expenses they’ll accrue in Houston, which Medicaid will not cover, Monica said.  The couple said they have no idea how much the treatment in Houston will cost, nor do they know how long they will be there.

Click HERE to read the newspaper article and find out more about the benefit fund.

Missionary’s Wife Killed in Tragic Auto Accident

73 year-old Dorothy Roca from Jonesboro, Georgia died after the Mitsubishi Mirage she was a passenger in was hit by a tractor trailer and went off the road. It happended around 1:45 PM Saturday afternoon. The driver of the vehicle, Roca’s husband, 69 year-old Armando Roca was injured and taken to the Johnson City Medical Center.

Samuel Alvarenga was driving the tractor trailer that ran into the Roca’s. Alvarenga is charged with following too closely. More charges are pending.

Brother and sister Roca were ALJC missionaries to Cuba. They dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Cuba. Brother Armando Roca was scheduled to have hip/pelvis reconstruction on Monday afternoon. Doctors say that he will never walk the same again. Please be in prayer for him during this difficult time.

Cuba for Christ blog

Newspaper article One
Newspaper article Two

Hurricane Ike relief efforts continue

The Texas District UPC Men’s Ministry, under the direction of Bro. Carl McLaughlin, has been doing their part to assist churches after hurricane Ike. There are many Apostolic churches that are in need of manpower to assist in clean-up and in the rebuilding efforts. 

 

This effort, “The Samaritan Project,” has already sent an 18 wheeler load of supplies to Conroe UPC, Pastor Kent Smith for distribution and another is scheduled to go to Orange, Pastor Gary Wheeler for distribution.  In addition to this, The Pentecostals of Alexandria sent an 18 wheeler load of supplies to Bridge City, Pastor John Harrell for distribution and a second 18 wheeler is scheduled to be sent to Baytown, Pastor K. Grant for distribution. 

 

 

The Samaritan Project has the backing of the Texas District Men’s Ministry and the Texas District to provide assistance.  The Samaritan Project is offering emergency relief to the victims of Hurricane Ike by providing necessities in four categories: (1) Non-perishable food (2) baby items (diapers, formula) (3) Toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc…)  4) offerings that would provide funds to purchase these items.

 

The offerings can be sent to the First UPC of Euless, 709 Midway Dr. Euless, TX. 76039 made payable to UPCI, Section 7. Through a unified effort, many pastors and churches in Section Seven of the Texas District have already contributed $6,000.00.

 

There are still many Apostolic churches without power in these areas. Continue to pray for these churches and those that have been severely damaged or destroyed by hurricane Ike.

Prayer Request: Ike

Please pray for all those that are going to be affected by this storm.  While it has remained a catagory 2 hurricane, the sheer size of Ike has caused many on the Gulf coast to evacuate or to hunker down.  The Storm surge is supposed to be as high as 20 feet, while the 100+ MPH winds could continue into Houston, affecting millions. Ike is supposed to make landfall sometime in the next 24 hours, so please continue to pray for those that are in his path.  There are many Apostolic churches that will be affected by this storm, so please keep all of them uplifted in prayer.

Simoneaux Medical Assistance Fund

Tremayne and Vicki Simoneaux, United Pentecostal Church International missionaries currently reside in Blantyre, Malawi. They travel extensively throughout Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. On a recent trip to Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe their 13 year old son, Timothy “Timo”, became quite ill. While in Zimbabwe he was carried to a Trauma Center. It was determined Timothy had an inner ear infection.

After battling the inner ear infection for several days, Vicki and Tremayne were awakened to Timothy convulsing. Of course, they immediately rushed Timo to a hospital in Blantyre where he was diagnosed with Meningitis. Timothy’s condition deteriorated rather rapidly. He was medically air evacuated to Johannesburg, South Africa. While Vicki was able to travel with Timothy, Tremayne had to travel via commercial carrier to Johannesburg. Timothy was in ICU in both Malawi and Johannesburg. He remained unconscious from the time his parents found him in their home convulsing until several days of being in Johannesburg. He was placed on life support by the fine medical team who transported him to South Africa.

According to the medical staff Timothy’s illness was a near fatal one. We thank God for His miraculous touch. The medical staff, the Foreign Missions Division, and parents of Timothy feel it necessary for Timothy to return to Houston, Texas for further testing and rehabilitation.

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Apostolic Minister is now Pastor of Three Methodist Churches

 

Reverend David Walters is a former UPCI District Superintendent and now pastor of a Home Missions Church in Harvey, North Dakota.  He has recently accepted the responsibility of pastor for three additional churches, but these are not Apostolic churches as you might expect; these are Methodist churches.

 

The three churches are small and were in need of a pastor. They have been using a Lutheran Lay Minister for the past several years, but he is leaving. The District Superintendent called Brother Walters and said that he was recommended for these churches. After praying about it, Brother Walters met with the man in charge of them and agreed to help out for one year.

 

At this point, they have given him an open door and complete liberty. What a tremendous opportunity to reach the members of these churches with the Acts 2:38 message!

 

Brother Walters preached in all three churches for the first time on June 1st, driving between churches in a few hours. The heart of his first message was the foundation of prayer. There seemed to be a good response to his preaching. One of the members of the first church even drove to all three of the services.

Keep praying for this great opportunity.

Prayer Request: Belize Flooding

Flash flooding carried away houses and ripped a child from his father’s grasp in Belize, raising the death toll from Central America’s twin tropical storms to at least seven — with rain still causing floods Tuesday in neighboring Mexico.

The remnants of Pacific Tropical Storm Alma swept over Belize hours before Tropical Storm Arthur roared in from the Caribbean on Saturday at the Mexico-Belize border.

The following request comes from Jerry Sawyer, Missionary to Belize:

 

Please pray for Belize due to the severe flooding. Due to Tropical storm Arthur we have complete villages under water here in Belize. People are clinging to roof tops waiting for rescue. Lives have been lost. The southern part of the country has been cut off from Belize City due to bridges and culverts washed away. We have not been able to contact all of the pastors. Please pray.

 

Jerry Sawyer

Missionary to Belize

 

http://www.wnop.com

 

Apostolic Church in Myanmar is in Urgent need

Editor’s note: This letter came from the United Pentecostal Missionary to Myanmar, Brother Robert Frizzell. 

My Dear Friends and Fellow Laborers of the Gospel,
May the riches of the Lord Jesus be in you and upon you in these days of revival.

I am communicating to you on behalf of our brothers and sister in Myanmar (Burma).
There was a devastating cyclone on May 3, which was the topic of the news wire for some weeks.

The Burmese government granted me a visa to enter into the nation when they kept others out.
This was a blessing to the Church in Burma and to me as well.

What I saw was too much to comprehend and absorb within a few days.
I took over 1500 pictures because there was so much devastation I could not decide what to photograph at the time. As Bro Buai said repeatedly, “This is too much, this is too much.”

Here are some pictures of the damage.

This cyclone damaged our church buildings in the Lower Myanmar District and in the city of Yangon (Rangoon) and destroyed some of the homes of our church people.
The headquarters compound suffered a lot of damage and they are in the process of reconstruction presently.

UPCI District Superintendent of Colorado Suffers Massive Heart Attack

Rev. Billy E. Hale, UPCI District Superintendent of Colorado, suffered a massive heart attack during the Wednesday evening service at his church in Denver, Landmark Tabernacle.

The attack occurred during his Wednesday evening sermon, and he was rushed to Swedish Medical Center during the alter service.  His heart rate dropped to 45, and medicine raised his pulse to 57 bpm.  His left ventrical is 50% blocked, and two stints have been put in his right ventrical, which was completely blocked.

Please remember Bro. Hale and his family in prayer.

Click here to read the full story.

UPCI General Superintendent underwent heart bypass surgery

 

We are asking that the readers of AR please keep Brother Haney and his family in your prayers.

 

During a routine examination last week, it was discovered that Brother Haney had some blockage in two of his arteries.  While not considered an urgent situation, his doctor recommended that one of his three options was to have surgery to alleviate any future concerns. 

 

On Monday, May 19th, Brother Haney underwent heart bypass surgery.  It was completely successful, and his doctors have been amazed at his speedy recovery.  It has been stated that he is in the top 2% of patients for recovery time and prognosis.  He was up and about – walking the halls within hours. 

 

The Haney family appreciates your prayers and support. 

 

Rev. Kenneth Haney serves as the General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church International.

 

In addition, Reverend Arless Glass, former Superintendent of Education for the UPCI, is undergoing open heart surgery today (05.22.08) in Houston, Texas at Methodist Hospital due to a 99.9% blockage in his main artery.

 

Please keep Brother Glass in your prayers.

 

 

UPC Pastor Believing God for a Miracle!

Rev. Michael Schmalz, who founded his church, Apostolic Truth, located in Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1982 recently celebrated his 25th pastoral anniversary.  But the joy is tempered by the pastor’s struggle with cancer. 

In August 2007, doctors found cancer in the pastor’s appendix.  The organ was removed, but “seed” tumors were discovered in his stomach.  A CT in March revealed two golfball-sized tumors attached to his stomach.

Bro. Schmalz is showing great faith in the midst of his illness and has continued to preach a message of faith to his church.  He is believing God for a miracle, but concludes:  “You just have to accept the Lord’s in control, and He knows what’s right and best!”

Please remember Bro. Schmalz, his wife Penny, and their chidren in prayer.

Click here to read the full story.  Click here to visit their website.