Podcasts about Elim

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: July 7, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: June 30, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Wie können Christen sich zu Israel positionieren · Matthias C. Wolff · Elim Kirche Hamburg · 2025-06-29 by Elim Kirche Hamburg

Predstavljamo vam Tino Hudobivnik, finalistko Elle Talentov v kategoriji frizer.Tina verjame, da rast in napredek prideta skupja z vztrajnostjo in s čakanjem na popoln trenutek.Celoten intervju si lahko preberete tukaj.⁠⁠Gostja: Tina Hudobivnikhttps://www.instagram.com/hudobivnik/Voditeljica: Petra Windschnurer⁠https://www.instagram.com/windschnurer/⁠Spremljate nas lahko še na drugih kanalih:⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠TIKTOK⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠ELLE.SI

Pastor Salvador Chávez

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: June 23, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Send us a text"The Storm-Calmer: Faith in the Midst of Fear"Have you ever felt like you were drowning while God stayed silent? In this deeply relatable and spiritually rich episode, we dive into Mark 4:35–41, a passage that powerfully showcases Jesus' unmatched authority as He calms the storm with a single command.It all begins with a simple invitation: “Let us go over to the other side.” On the surface, it sounds like just a change in location, but this invitation carries profound significance. To follow Jesus to “the other side” means to leave behind the crowd—those people, systems, and voices that keep us spiritually stagnant. That crowd may be your workplace expectations, societal pressure, social media noise, or toxic relationships that drown out the voice of God.As Jesus and His disciples sail away, an intense squall threatens to sink the boat. The disciples, seasoned fishermen and Jesus' closest followers, are overwhelmed with fear. Their cry — “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” — reveals the tension between our belief and our panic, our theology and our reality.This is the heart of the message: Jesus wasn't panicked; He was asleep — not because He didn't care, but because He is sovereign. He stands up, rebukes the wind and the waves, and everything becomes calm. Three words changed the storm: “Peace! Be still.”Jesus' question pierces through time: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” This wasn't just about surviving a physical storm—it was about learning to trust the One who commands nature itself. Even the disciples were stunned: “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” This was the moment they began to shift from knowing Jesus as Teacher to recognizing Him as Lord of all creation.This episode will challenge and encourage you to:Evaluate what “crowds” you need to leave behind.Recognize how fear clouds faith during life's tempests.See Jesus not as absent in your crisis, but fully in control.Embrace peace not because the storm is gone, but because He is in your boat.Whether you're going through financial hardship, family conflict, spiritual dryness, or emotional overwhelm, this message will speak directly to your storm. The same Christ who calmed the sea still speaks peace over your life today.Listen now and discover why the greatest transformation sometimes begins in the middle of your fiercest storm.Mark 4:35–41, Jesus calms the storm, storm in the Bible, faith during trials, overcoming fear, Christian podcast, squall meaning, leave the crowd, disciples fear, Jesus authority, peace be still, storms of life, Bible teaching, trusting God, sovereignty of Christ, how to have faith, spiritual growth podcast, calming the sea, biblical encouragement, crisis of faithSupport the showhttps://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/https://www.rbchristianradio.net/ buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooper

Spiritual unity, not uniformity, is the goal. It is cultivated through shared surrender, prayer, and expectation, as seen in the upper room in Acts 2. Spiritual unity is not about just being in the same room, it is essential for revival and invites God's presence and blessings.Support the show

Es gibt nur eine Wahrheit · Gabriel Häsler · Elim Kirche Hamburg · 2025-06-22 by Elim Kirche Hamburg

Send us a text"Your King Is Coming: End-Time Power, Prophecy & Spiritual Awakening"Are you truly ready for the return of Jesus Christ? The signs are becoming undeniable — especially in the Middle East, where biblical prophecy is unfolding right before our eyes. In this powerful and timely episode, we take you deep into both Scripture and current events, shining a light on the spiritual condition of the Church and the urgency of the hour.Centering on Ephesians 3:14–21, we unpack the astonishing truth that God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” This is not just poetic language — it's a divine reality. Yet, far too many believers are living as though they are powerless, confined by broken church systems, manipulative relationships, and the subtle suffocation of cultural compromise.We examine how modern Christianity — especially in the UK — has been diluted. Entertainment, consumerism, and superficial social justice causes have replaced the bold, Spirit-filled gospel that once turned nations upside down. Instead of equipping spiritual warriors, many churches have produced believers who are more dependent on people than on God. This episode speaks to those who feel spiritually stuck, silenced, or dried out — and reminds them of the Holy Spirit power living inside.In a time where prophetic signs — particularly in Israel, Gaza, and across the nations — are converging at a rapid pace, the question remains: Do you know Jesus Christ personally, or are you simply attending church? Religion cannot save you — only a deep, intimate relationship with the King of kings can.You'll be challenged to:Break free from spiritual manipulation and human dependency.Surround yourself with faith-filled, Bible-believing community.Ignite the fire within you and stand boldly for Christ.Reclaim your calling in a generation that desperately needs truth.This episode also includes a communion service, inviting listeners to remember Christ's sacrifice and reflect on the redemptive power of His blood. Whether you're battling fear, facing manipulation, or just feeling spiritually dry — this conversation will reignite your spirit and awaken you to the unstoppable power of God working in you.This is not just a message — it's a call to rise up. These are the last days, and your King is coming. Will you be ready?Listen now — and step into your true identity as a radical, Spirit-filled follower of Jesus.Second coming of Jesus, end times prophecy, spiritual awakening, Ephesians 3:14-21, Middle East prophecy, Christian podcast, UK church decline, spiritual warfare, Holy Spirit power, Bible prophecy 2025, controlling relationships, false church systems, communion, Jesus is coming, gospel truth, revival, Israel news, Gaza conflict, Bible-believing Christianity, freedom in ChristSupport the showhttps://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/https://www.rbchristianradio.net/ buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooper

Send us a textFollowing Jesus at a Distance: Who's Around Your Fire Bin?What sits between you and Jesus? For Peter, it was a fire bin surrounded by a hostile crowd. For many of us today, it might be social media, workplace culture, or friendships that gradually pull us away from authentic, unfiltered faith in Christ.In this soul-stirring episode, we unpack Luke 22:54–62, the moment Peter follows Jesus at a distance—a powerful yet tragic glimpse into how spiritual drift can begin in subtle, socially acceptable ways. Peter's denial of Jesus didn't begin with a loud rejection—it began with a quiet compromise.Peter warmed himself around the fire in the courtyard of the high priest while Jesus was being falsely accused. That fire bin represents more than just physical warmth. It stands as a symbol of comfort zones, environments where we feel temporarily safe even when they're spiritually dangerous. These are the modern spaces—our conversations, digital habits, cultural compromises—where we seek acceptance and belonging, sometimes at the cost of our closeness to Christ.Rev. Ben Cooper brings a direct and convicting word: “We don't have time to follow Jesus at a distance.” With the world in chaos and the return of Christ drawing near, believers must move from lukewarm faith to passionate, close pursuit of the Savior.Ask yourself:Who's sitting around your fire bin?Do your relationships, social media feeds, and daily conversations draw you closer to Jesus or further from Him?What small compromises have created spiritual distance?This message challenges every believer to take inventory of the crowds we keep, the comforts we seek, and the courage we've surrendered. Peter's fall wasn't because of weakness—it was because of proximity. He followed Jesus, but from a distance. And it cost him dearly—until that unforgettable moment when Jesus turned and looked straight at him.Even in our failure, compromise, or distance, Jesus sees us. His eyes still find us through the crowd, through the noise, through the sin. And like Peter, we're called to repent and return—not to the fire bin of compromise, but to the fire of revival.This episode is a wake-up call for the Church. Jesus isn't returning for spectators or distant admirers. He's coming for disciples who walk closely, love fiercely, and stand boldly in a world increasingly hostile to truth.Listen now to be stirred, challenged, and changed. The King is coming—will He find you near or far?Keywords (High-SEO Optimized):Luke 22:54–62, Peter denies Jesus, fire bin sermon, spiritual compromise, following Jesus at a distance, Christian podcast, end time urgency, spiritual influence, Jesus and Peter, repentance, Holy Spirit conviction, modern-day discipleship, Christian boldness, cultural Christianity, faith and courage, revival message, second coming, Bible teaching podcastSupport the showhttps://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/https://www.rbchristianradio.net/ buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooper

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Proč budovat důvěrný vztah s Kristem? Jak rozněcovat zápal pro Boží věci? Čím může být evangelizace (ne)srozumitelná? Odpovídá kazatel Církve bratrské Elim v Opavě a hlavní vedoucí konference History Makers v ČR Tomáš Kolman.

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: June 16, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Die Salbung des Heiligen Geistes · Ingolf Ellßel · Elim Kirche Hamburg · 2025-06-15-17Uhr by Elim Kirche Hamburg

Raising children to be devoted followers of Jesus is a father's most vital role. By being involved in God's work, and living out faith, dads can increase the likelihood of leaving an eternal legacy of their children loving the Lord. (Ephesians 6: 1-4)Support the show

We consider the use of idols in religion.

Die Gegenwart Gottes · Ingolf Ellßel · Elim Kirche Hamburg · 2025-06-15 by Elim Kirche Hamburg

Gefunden-Gesegnet-Gesandt · Johannes Justus · Elim Kirche Mundsburg · 2025-06-13 by Elim Kirche Hamburg

Elim Kirche, Hamburg, Kirche, Church, Sermon, Predigt, Germany

Wenn die Seele dürstet nach dem Heiligen Geist · Johannes Justus · Elim Kirche Mundsburg · 2025-06-12 by Elim Kirche Hamburg

»Es war, als hätte ein Blitz in meinen Kopf eingeschlagen. Ich wusste plötzlich, dass es das ist, was ich tun will«, erzählt die Dirigentin Elim Chan im »Elbphilharmonie Talk«. Selbstironisch und voller persönlicher Anekdoten spricht sie über ihren Werdegang, über nicht ganz unpraktische Vorurteile, Tai-Chi und besondere Herausforderungen am Dirigierpult. Sie erklärt, warum sie manchmal lieber ohne Stab dirigiert, und erzählt, wie Pultlegende Bernard Haitink sie mal aus der Reserve lockte. 1986 in Hongkong geboren, erhielt Elim Chan ihre musikalische Ausbildung vor allem in den USA. Nach einem ziemlichen Senkrechtstart in ihre Welt-Karriere steht sie heute am Pult von internationalen Top-Orchestern, voranging in Europa und Nordamerika. In der Elbphilharmonie war sie bereits mehrfach zu Gast, im April 2025 feierte sie ihr Debüt beim NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester. Hier könnt ihr Elim Chan im Konzert erleben. Am 21.8.2025 mit dem Concertgebouworkest Young und der Cellistin Julia Hagen.

Send us a textTrusting God When Everything Falls ApartWhat happens when everything you leaned on disappears? Who stands beside you when your world is shaken?In this powerful episode, Pastor Ben Cooper teaches from Proverbs 3:1–8, delivering a life-giving message about what it means to truly trust in the Lord. As the world gets louder and our lives grow more complex, this word is a timely reminder: your strength is not in people, platforms, or performance—but in God's presence.We explore the contrast between today's culture of distraction and the timeless wisdom of scripture. Are you spending more time on social media or in the Word? Pastor Ben cuts through the noise and challenges us to evaluate what's feeding our soul.He shares a practical spiritual rhythm anyone can follow:Psalm 23 at night for peace when the day endsPsalm 91 in the morning for strength before the battle beginsThe Lord's Prayer daily to align with God's willThis isn't about religion—it's about daily intimacy with Jesus Christ, especially when life feels uncertain.Drawing on David's darkest moment in 1 Samuel 30, we discover that spiritual resilience isn't built in comfort. It's forged in trials. David found strength in the Lord when everything else failed. So can you.Pastor Ben also poses hard but necessary questions:“Who would lock shields with you in the fire? Who stands with you when everyone else walks away?”This message invites us to reflect on the quality of our relationships and the depth of our faith. Are the people around you pushing you closer to Christ—or pulling you away from Him?The episode ends with a moving Holy Communion moment, inviting listeners into a personal act of surrender and renewal through the cross of Christ. The focus remains clear: Don't follow the crowd. Don't follow a man. Follow Jesus—the only One who will never fail.Christian podcast, trust in God, Proverbs 3:5-6, spiritual growth, Bible teaching, daily scripture habit, Holy Communion, Pastor Ben Cooper, Christian encouragement, walking by faith, spiritual discipline, Psalm 23, Psalm 91, faith in crisis, gospel-centered lifeChristian podcast, Pastor Ben Cooper, trust in God, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 91, Psalm 23, Holy Communion, walking by faith, overcoming fear, spiritual strength, Christian encouragement, RB Christian Radio, daily devotion, scripture study, faith over fearSupport the showhttps://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/https://www.rbchristianradio.net/ buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooper

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: June 9, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Gottes Gaben für dich (Teil 6) Hoffnung für die Welt · Matthias C. Wolff · Elim Kirche Hamburg · 2025-06-08 by Elim Kirche Hamburg

Recientemente nombrado dentro del equipo de ministros en Elim, José Ernesto Interiano

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: June 2, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Pastor Erick Lazo y Angie Villalta, coordinadora de Arcoíris de Amor

Pastores Carlos Acevedo y Jaime Guzmán de Juventud en San Salvador y Santa Ana

Join us for the Elim Leaders Summit opening session, which sets the scene of our 'Equip The Saints' theme. Watch Elim's General Superintendent, Mark Pugh, unpack how you can find your place in the five-fold ministries.Over three days, we will look into how apostolic vision, prophetic insight, evangelistic passion, pastoral care, and teaching wisdom, should function together so we can reveal the multifaceted nature of Jesus Himself.

Carmen de Castro y Virginia de Soriano

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: May 26, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Steve Kempton hosts Elim Global leaders to share what they have learned from planting 200+ churches and what God can do through people willing to go where He sends them.Steve is a former Elim missionary to Nepal and is Senior Pastor at Holy Trinity Church in Weston Super Mare. Steve is facilitating Elim's church planting programme and training church planters around the world.

Join this interactive session as Ben and Sam share about the heart posture, mindset and actions that can set up young people to lead well.Sam joined the Elim ministry at 23 leading a church in the Welshvalleys. He is now the Associate Pastor at City Church Cardiff.Ben is the Director of Ministries for Limitless, and is on the leadership team at Living Waters Church, Chorley.

Steve and Jeff break down the SEC Tournament ahead of LSU's first bit of postseason play, why the SEC Tourney matters to some but not others, and more!

mejor abraza...

Pastor Jimmy Flores con los detalles del trabajo de la Juventud Elim

Have you sensed God may be calling you to Christian ministry? Have you considered joining with Elim in our mission to reach our nation for Christ and build His Church? This seminar will give you an opportunity to hear more about what ministry in Elim looks like and how you could explore the possibilities. Hear the stories of two young people who have stepped out and responded to God's call to give their lives in serving Jesus today.Jenny is the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Ministry Foundation Certificate Course Leader at Regents Theological College, and also serves on the MIT Development Team.

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: May 19, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Can you? Should you? How to? How APEST can help you to plant a church.Alistair has been involved in church planting for over 30 years with Kensington Temple, Elim nationally and the Church Planting Academy.

We are 60+ years old. We have more wisdom than ever before. We've survived some awful moments. And we're still standing - ready for the next 30 years. How we embrace this next stage of life is crucial - what does it mean to serve God well? What does a vocation look like at this stage? What can begin? What should stop? Come and explore together.Neil enjoys wearing a number of different hats: pastor, teacher, writer, mentor, consultant, trainer. More importantly, husband, father, grandfather and friend. An Elim pastor since 1985, he can see life's changes beckoning.

In this session, we will consider how we raise women to lead and minister in our communities, workplaces, churches and the mission field. This session will give some context about the history and experience of women in ministry in Elim, and discuss how we recognise the call-in women's lives, cultivate gifting, and encourage women to fulfil their call.Pastor Michelle Nunn was appointed Principal of Regents Theological College in August 2024, having served as Senior Pastor of Nantwich Elim for many years. She has also served as a member of Elim's NLT since 2022.

Jared Walker, founder of Dollar For, shares how one TikTok video launched a national movement to eliminate medical debt through little-known hospital financial assistance policies. Joined by cohosts Julia Patrick and Sherry Quam Taylor, Jared recounts how a personal family tragedy sparked his commitment to helping others avoid the crushing financial fallout of medical emergencies.Dollar For educates the public about financial assistance programs that nonprofit hospitals are legally required to offer under the Affordable Care Act. Despite these policies existing for over a decade, most patients—and even medical professionals—remain unaware. “Most people leave the hospital without any knowledge of these programs,” Jared explains. “It's the best-kept secret in healthcare.”Jared's journey from grassroots crowdfunding in Portland coffee shops to leading a national nonprofit began with a single TikTok that received over 30 million views. That exposure helped grow Dollar For from a one-person operation to an 18-person team that's relieved $88 million in medical debt so far. “We created a Slack channel where every debt relief success story gets posted,” Jared says. “It's a little mini-party that keeps us grounded in our mission.”The discussion explains how Dollar For's first major initiative was building a national database of 8,000 hospital financial policies. This tool lets users instantly check eligibility based on their income and hospital—a game-changing resource in a fragmented system. It also positioned Dollar For as a watchdog, helping policy groups compare hospitals' generosity and push for improvements.Despite the impact, Jared remains humble and forward-looking: “I hope Dollar For doesn't exist in 10 years,” he says. “We're trying to push for a policy that requires hospitals to screen for eligibility before sending bills.”The socially impactful discussion also explores the challenges of funding innovation in the nonprofit sector. Jared candidly shares how finding donors who support both direct service and systemic policy change has been a balancing act—but the return on impact is clear. “We've turned every donated dollar into over $20 of medical debt relief,” he notes.Sherry adds, “This is one of those niches where you have the ability to attract investment-level donors who want root, sustainable change.”This conversation is more than a dive into leadership—it's a blueprint for innovation, equity, and the power of digital media to mobilize change in a deeply broken system. #MedicalDebtRelief #CharityCare #HospitalPolicyChange Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Today in History: The people of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Sin (see Exodus 16:1). “Then they set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt.”Day 30 of the omerThis week's portion is called ”Emor” (speak).TORAH PORTION: Leviticus 22:17–33GOSPEL PORTION: Luke 21:25–38 24Think about: What Scripture spoke to you most today and why? Did you learn something about God, or something you need to do in your life?Daily Bread for Kids is a daily Bible reading podcast where we read through the Torah and the Gospels in one year! Helping young Bible-readers to study God's Word, while also discovering its Jewish context!THE KIDS' JOURNAL is available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arielmedia.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠BUSY MOMS who want to follow the Daily Bread readings on podcast for adults, can go to ⁠⁠https://dailybreadmoms.com⁠⁠The Bible translation we are reading from is the Tree of Life Version (TLV) available from the Tree of Life Bible Society.INSTAGRAM: @dailybreadkids @arielmediabooks @dailybreadmomsTags: #DailyBreadMoms #DailyBreadJournal #BibleJournaling #Messianic #BiblePodcast #BiblicalFeasts #Journal #biblereadingplan #Messiah #JewishRoots #Yeshua #GodIsInControl #OneYearBible #MomLife #MotherCulture #FaithFilledMama #BiblicalWomanhood #Proverbs31woman

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: May 5, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

My Story   Talk 16   Ministry in Basingstoke (1968-78) Part 1 Welcome to Talk 16 in our series where I'm reflecting on God's goodness throughout my life. Today I'm going to begin by telling you how in January 1968 we came to move from Colchester to Basingstoke.   During 1967, as part of my SPF travels, I was preaching in Oxford when an old friend from the Elim church asked to see me. He was hoping that an Assemblies of God church might be planted there and wanted to find out if I would be interested in coming to take over its leadership. I told him that I would pray about it but that my initial reaction was that I did not feel any sense of leading in that direction.   Some weeks later, I had an unexpected phone call from my friend Michael Collins who, as I have already mentioned, was a fellow student with me at Oxford and part of the original SPF group there. He told me that he had heard from Oxford that I might be thinking of leaving Colchester and that, if that were the case, he wanted to sound out whether I might be interested in coming to Basingstoke.   He explained that they were looking for a pastor and would like to invite me to come and preach one Sunday. The church had not had a pastor for three years and numbers had dwindled to only 12 people. Although they were not able to pay me much, the potential was great, as they had a new building on a large piece of land and Basingstoke had a rapidly expanding population.   This was an exciting challenge, but numbers at Colchester were now around 80 and I was relatively well paid. Did I really want to take on another small church and take a substantial drop in income? And did we really want to leave behind the many friends we had made at Colchester? So I told him that I did not think it likely that the Lord would move me from Colchester but that if they wanted me to preach for one Sunday I would be happy to do so.   As far as moving there permanently was concerned, I determined in my heart that I would only consider it if I received a unanimous invitation from the members of the church. We would also need them to provide housing for us, as the salary they were likely to offer would be far too low for us to be able to get a mortgage.   These matters were discussed when I went to preach there, and the financial position was clarified. The church's income was £14 a week. £8 of this was taken up with mortgage repayments on the new church building and, if they needed to provide us with accommodation, the remaining £6 would be taken up with that. So anything they could offer me would be an act of faith on their part – and required not a little faith on my part too!   In the circumstances, I thought it highly unlikely that they would be able to meet the criteria I had set, but 100% of the members did vote to invite me, and after a couple of months I heard that they had been able to purchase a house for us. Taking this to be the will of the Lord, we informed the friends at Colchester of our decision, sold our bungalow, and moved to Basingstoke in January 1968. The move to Basingstoke went smoothly and the house the church provided, a typical three-bedroomed semi-detached, had the advantage of central heating, a luxury we had not been used to. With the profit we made on the sale of our bungalow in Colchester, we were able to have new fitted carpets throughout, and to buy furniture for the lounge as well. We also bought a small second-hand car, having left the minibus in Colchester.   We were welcomed warmly by the church members, and the building was packed for my Induction Service with people from other churches who had come to show their support. The speaker was Billy Richards, the AoG pastor at Slough, in his capacity as Chairman of the West London District Council. His cousin, Bill Mitchell, who was an elder in the church, was at the piano, and we were inspired by his God-given talent and grateful for his commitment to play at every meeting. Other key people were the deacons, Janet Collins (Church Secretary), John Nicholson (Treasurer), David Moncaster (Sunday School Superintendent), and Michael Collins.   Another person who was present at the Induction Service and to become an asset to the church was William Kay, who had written to me asking advice as to how he could serve the Lord after he had graduated from Oxford. As he had come to Christ while he was at university and had had no real experience of life in a local church, I told him that this should be his first priority and made a few suggestions as to where he might go, adding as a PS that I was moving to Basingstoke and that he might like to come and help with the work there. Which he did, and within a few months a young schoolteacher, Anthea Bell, was to join our church and eventually become William's wife and a great asset to the church.   At the beginning of our time there, Eileen's primary role, of course, was looking after Debbie and Sarah, who were still under school age, and then Jonathan who was born in October 1970. However, she was soon to find an outlet for her ministry when we started our church pre-school playgroup, but more of that later.   Niggling doubts So overall there was much to encourage us during our first few months at Basingstoke, but we were missing Colchester and both Eileen and I were having doubts as to whether we had done the right thing in moving. Part of the reason for this was that when I had given up my teaching job we'd had real confirmation about it through the gifts of the Spirit, but we'd had no such confirmation about moving to Basingstoke. Could we have really missed the will of God on such an important matter?   The answer came in a posthumously published article in Redemption Tidings written by Donald Gee. He was talking about how a church should choose a pastor (and, by implication, how a pastor should choose a church). He said that such matters should be determined by sound judgment and sanctified common sense, and not by the operation of spiritual gifts. And this came from the pen of a world-renowned Pentecostal leader and author of Concerning Spiritual Gifts.    This was just the reassurance I needed, and I later came to realise that God's will is not difficult. By definition, God wants his will, and if we really want it, he will ensure that we get it! We will prove his good and perfect and acceptable will if our lives are truly consecrated to his service (Romans 12:1-2).   Church growth And, of course, one major aspect of God's will is that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). In the years we were there, Basingstoke was the fastest growing town in England and there was a vast harvest field on our doorstep waiting to be reaped. We sought to do this in three main ways – personal evangelism, evangelistic missions, and children's and youth work.   Personal evangelism In those days the primary way of seeking to win others for Jesus was to invite people to church where they would hear the gospel. This was something we did every Sunday night in our Gospel Service, even if very often the only people there were already Christians. However, even if today it's easy to criticise this style of evangelism, it did have the advantage of regularly reminding Christians of what the gospel is and the urgency of proclaiming it.   But clearly the Gospel Service approach to evangelism would not be enough. Neither would a leaflet inviting people to our meetings, unless of course it contained a clear gospel message. Jesus did not command his disciples to go into all the world and invite people to gospel meetings. He commanded them, and he commands us, to go into all the world and preach. God's people needed to be trained how to do so.   While I was at Colchester I had completed a course on personal evangelism produced by Billy Richards and I had found this very helpful. So I decided that in our Wednesday night Bible Studies I would teach the people at Basingstoke the principles I had learned from this. We then embarked on a programme of door-to-door work, conducting a ‘religious opinion survey', and found that most people were willing to share their views with us and for us to share the gospel with them. Admittedly, not many came to church as a result, but at least they had heard the gospel.     Evangelistic Missions But our biggest attempt at reaching people with the gospel was in 1970 when we organised a fortnight's evangelistic and healing mission conducted by evangelist Melvin Banks. I invited Melvin for two reasons. First, he was clearly gifted as an evangelist, and I had come to understand that my own gift was predominantly that of a teacher. And secondly, because remarkable results were being reported of hundreds being saved and healed through Melvin's ministry, and I strongly believe that healing is one of the signs that God gives us to confirm the message of the gospel.       In preparation for his coming, we spent months training the people for this big event, which was to be held in the Basingstoke Town Hall, not in our church, and got them ready for an intensive follow-up programme of personal visitation to the homes of those who made a decision for Christ. We printed thousands of leaflets which were designed by Melvin and which majored strongly on some of the many miracles he had seen in his ministry.   Not surprisingly, on the very first night the Town Hall was packed. Melvin did not preach about healing. He preached salvation. And to my amazement, when he made the gospel appeal, 57 people raised their hand. And then he prayed for the sick.  And miracles happened. It was the same every night throughout the fortnight, and by the end over 600 people had signed decision cards.   I thought we were experiencing a real revival! But sadly, when our team of trained follow-up workers visited their homes, it became apparent that the vast majority had not really understood what they were doing. They had come to the meetings because they wanted to be healed and that was why they had raised their hands, even though, to be fair to the evangelist, the message he preached was not about healing, but salvation.   Out of the 600 who had raised their hands, only 12 people were added to our church. Of course, we thanked God for the 12, and we had the satisfaction of knowing that the others had at least heard the gospel, but the sense of disappointment among our people was palpable. And I came to the conclusion that at least part of the problem was the advertising.   People with a longstanding physical ailment will understandably try anything to relieve their suffering, and that's what they have in mind throughout the meeting, even while the evangelist is preaching. They are prepared to do anything he tells them to, so when he tells them to raise their hand, they do, but it's a mistake to assume that that means they are saved. And as I thought more about it I realised that Jesus and the apostles did not advertise their healings. Their healings were the advertising.   So, somewhat disillusioned by this style of evangelism, it was six years before I decided to invite another evangelist for a series of meetings. I eventually asked my old pastor, Alfred Webb – who was really an evangelist rather than a pastor – if he would come and do a week's teaching on personal evangelism followed by a week of meetings where he would preach the gospel. And this time I encouraged the people to pray for an outstanding miracle of healing that would take place before the evangelist came.   And those prayers were answered in a rather dramatic way the Sunday after Easter. It was the evening service, and I was preaching about Thomas. He was the disciple who had been absent when Jesus, three days after he was crucified, appeared to his disciples on Easter Sunday. When the other disciples told Thomas that Jesus was alive, he simply refused to believe it. It was impossible!   But a week later Jesus appeared to him too and showed him the wounds in his hands and feet. I remember saying something to the effect that the same Jesus whom Thomas had been able to see and touch was present with us right now even though we could not see him.   After the sermon, as we sang a closing song, a middle-aged woman walked – I should say hobbled – to the front of the church. This was a complete surprise to me as she had never been to our church before and I had not invited people to come forward for prayer, as we sometimes do. Neither had I mentioned healing.   So I went to her and asked: Can I help you? She responded by saying: If Jesus is present as you say he is can he heal me now? Immediately I knew that this was the miracle we had been praying for. He can and he does! I said. Be healed in the name of Jesus!   And she RAN back down the aisle, instantaneously and completely healed. I found out later that her name was Ruby. She and her husband, John, both became Christians and members of our church.   And when we produced the leaflets that would inform people about the visit of Alfred Webb, we told Ruby's story and used it to point out that we all have a greater need than the healing of our bodies. What really matters is the healing of our souls, the forgiveness of our sins, which is available to all who will come to Jesus.   While Alfred Webb was with us about 20 people made decisions for Christ and about 12 of them were added to the church – a far higher percentage than the 12 out of 600 people who had signed decisions cards in the Melvin Banks meetings.                

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: April 21st, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: April 7th, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

April 6th, 2025

Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21"We're freezing!" Cyrus announced as he and his brothers burst through the door. "The three of you are covered in slush!" said Mom."Did you see the snowman we made?" Elim asked. "Ranny wanted to eat the carrot nose, but we wouldn't let him. We had to come inside early because he's hungry again." Elim grinned at his two-year-old brother. "Snack?" Ransom squeaked.Mom handed the boys bowls of apple slices. "The bath is ready! I'll wash Ranny first."After snacks and baths, Mom hauled a bag to the living room. "What's in there?" Cyrus asked. "Open it and see." Mom winked. "Robes!" Elim yelled. The boys wiggled into their cozy robes, then handed Mom hers and Ransom's. "I love robe season," said Elim. "I was just reading about robes during Bible time!" Cyrus pulled his Bible off the couch and opened it to the bookmarked page. "It's from Isaiah 61, verse 10: 'I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.'" "What does righteousness mean again?" Elim asked. "It means being right with God and free from guilt in His eyes," Mom answered. "Remember what people had to do in the Old Testament to be righteous before God?" "Make sacrifices," Elim responded solemnly. "But it wasn't good enough! All the good things we do are like filthy rags compared to God's goodness." Cyrus picked up his soaked-through dirty sock with a wrinkled nose. "Then God sent Jesus to die for us! He sacrificed His own Son to save us. So, that verse in Isaiah I read was talking about God's promise to be fulfilled in Jesus," Cyrus mused. "Exactly." Mom nodded. "Since Jesus is perfect, He became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. When we put our trust in Him, He takes our sins away and covers us with His robe of righteousness. What do we become in Jesus?" "A new creation." Elim flapped his robe sleeves. "Ranny needs his robe, Mom!" Mom laughed as Ransom started running around the living room in circles. "The first one who catches him gets to put his robe on him!" –Savannah Coleman How About You?Has Jesus covered you in His robe of righteousness? The Bible says that all the things we do to try to make ourselves good in God's eyes are like filthy rags. The only way we can become righteous is through Jesus. When we trust in Him, God no longer sees our sins when He looks at us, but the perfect sacrifice of His Son. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (NIV) (2 Corinthians 5:21)Today's Key Thought:Jesus clothes us in robes of righteousness