One Changed Life

When I wasn’t there, she had come by the church to leave the money. When it was handed to me, I placed it in a bank bag to go into the top drawer of the filing cabinet. It would be deposited on Monday. Later in the day I spoke with her.

“Sharon, thank you for dropping off the money at the church.”

“Oh, you’re welcome,” she responded. “Thank you for helping me out.”

“Sharon, over the years we’ve lent lots of money to people, and we’ve learned to take the attitude that it is likely it will never be repaid. Just a fact.” She looked intently at me as I continued. “But you’re different and we’re very proud of you. You’re making such progress with your life.”

Bright tears welled up, though none were shed. She smiled.

_____________

Although this is an exact account of a young lady who has come through our drug and alcohol program, who has received the Holy Ghost, and who has completely turned around her life, the name has been changed. Please pray for her, for she has a long ways to go; among other things, she is fighting against a cigarette addiction. She is a single mom with four small children who every day struggles financially. We are extremely proud of her and the progress she is making.

A Godly Response to a Suicide

One of our students committed suicide. One of our Christian Intervention students. A student who had graduated from our classes.

On Tuesday, a couple of weeks ago, he came by the office to pick up his completion certificate as, although he had finished all his lessons, he had not attended the ceremony we have once a month in which we acknowledge those who have accomplished such a thing. “How are you doing?” Michael asked him after I had taken the certificate from the files and it had been given to him.

“Terrible. I can’t find a job. I’m doing terrible.”

He was an exceptionally attractive man, tall, polite, and pleasant. A former employer of his had told us that once–in better economic times– when he was hired on for a job, he sent a floral arrangement to the hiring office, thanking them for the opportunity of a job.

He was a nice man, yet now he stood in our office area saying, “I’m doing badly.”

Mike paused, and as the man turned toward the exit door, said, “You need to come to church, Sunday.”

“I’ve tried church and it did not help me. I’ve stopped drinking and smoking and things have become worse.” He pushed through the door…and that was the last time I saw him.

Mike followed him to his car, trying to speak encouragement to him. But the man persisted in his feeling of hopelessness. “No good, Mike. This is probably costing me a divorce. I’ll likely go back to my old ways…probably wind up in jail once more…you may not see me again.”

On Wednesday the man told his wife he was planning suicide. She removed all guns from the house. On Wednesday evening he attended a sports function with his two children. On Thursday morning, he called his wife and warned her he planned to hang himself. She called her brother who rushed to the home…too late…finding that the man had accomplished the dreadful deed.

Mike was devastated, as indeed were all of us…and of course the ghastly question was: Did we do our best? Did we do all we could have for this dear man?

A couple of days ago, Mike had a long conversation with the deceased man’s wife. I’ve been reading extensively through his Christian Intervention workbook, and from that I’ve learned how lonely he was. How isolated and alienated he felt. I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize that, she told Mike.

Because of this shattering incident, and because of exceptional growth and interest in salvation at Christ Alive, Mike, my husband, and Andrew decided on a very different Wednesday session for last night. Our 7:00 o’clock Bible study was moved to 6:00, and instead of CIP lesson 15, Andrew taught from the Bible, utilizing Search For Truth slides, on repentance, baptism in Jesus Name, and the receiving of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

Mike opened the session. He reminded those gathered of the recent tragic death of that person who was a friend and fellow-student to many of those there. I’ve thought much about this…wondered if I did enough for him…wonder if I do enough for you in these CIP sessions…and have decided to take this extraordinary step in class tonight. My brother will be teaching you exactly how to be saved–according to the Bible.

“Any who are not comfortable with this are welcome to leave now.”

It was stone-quiet. No one moved.

Easter at Christ Alive!

By Saturday night before Easter we had prepared everything, including setting up the chairs so that now on Sunday morning 99 chairs were lined up in our little auditorium, with a few spares in the nursery. Our goal was 100, but some of us thought we might have more.

At 9:00 after a short meeting with the staff, we knelt and prayed.

Ninety-one (91) was our final count! Although it was a bit under our goal of one hundred we were happy. What truly made us happy was that we could strongly feel the presence of God, and at the conclusion of the preaching by Andrew, the altar area was filled…and then once again, a new one was born into the kingdom. Nicole (no picture. Hope to get one soon) received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. That made three of our CIP students who during a two- week period had received the Holy Ghost! We were ecstatic.

Since Jesus Came Into My Heart

Quite a time it has been here at the Buxton conclave in Lake Havasu during these days leading up to and beyond Easter. For one thing; we’ve had visitors. Beloved visitors. Two of our children and their families.

This is Andrew and his crew being funny.

This is Rebecca and Nathaniel being serious.

Both families have spent around a week here helping us prepare for our Easter services. For Andrew to stay in, Mike brought his 40-feet long motor home and parked it here at DJs right across the driveway from ours. Rebecca slept on the couch in our rig; Nathaniel pitched a tent in our small yard. It has been a blast…one week-long party. We’ve eaten together, eaten alone, eaten in restaurants, cooked food on the grill outside, brought bags full of little hamburgers, eaten at the church…eaten at the park…you get the idea. Mike took one of his boats out one day and the boys “fished,” coming home with the expected fish story…and no fish to cook.

The main thing we have done is prepare for Easter Sunday. We made fliers, made phone calls, made personal visits, erected signs, made plans, ordered food, devised games, arranged teachers, prepared music, set an attendance goal of 100, prayed, planned, talked, mused, ordered extra chairs, procured masses of flowers and greenery, cleaned the church, polished furniture, made coffee, ate donuts, cried over burdens for the lost, …and laughed a lot.

It was a dynamite week. On Tuesday at the conclusion of our Christian Intervention Program, Mike spoke to several of us who were on the church premises, but who had not attended the class. “I want us to pray with Alex.” Michael has known Alex for a very long time. They are both musicians, and in years past have played and sung together in venues that are quite different from a godly atmosphere. When Alex was assigned to our class, he was shocked to find Michael was the teacher. Now on Tuesday night, he stood…needy…desperate…ready to turn to God. It took awhile. The ministers talked frankly to him about addictions and the need for repentance and about receiving the Holy Ghost. Finally, with great humility, Alex lifted his hands and began to pray…About an hour later, “lost in the Spirit,” this wonderful young man was filled with the Spirit of God and began speaking in tongues.

(Sorry about the quality of the picture. Taken with someone’s phone…the best we have of the moment.)

It was a remarkable night. Jennifer who had received the Holy Ghost mere days before was right there praying with Alex. It was beautiful…and I wept as I watched this precious young woman, this newly born Christian, praying fervently with Alex as he made his way into the kingdom of God.

…the sound system was already on for we had long before began to sing…Alex opened his eyes…and after awhile found his way to the guitar that belonged to Eric. Then he was on the platform, (barefoot, having removed his shoes at some point), and he and Michael were again a team…Michael teaching Alex that beautiful old hymn of the church, “Since Jesus Came Into My Heart.”

Our little auditorium reverberated with the sound of worship and praise. Alex had experienced resurrection power…and it wasn’t even Easter yet!

…to be continued tomorrow.

…best place ever

Two little girls. Their mom in our Christian Intervention Program last night. Giggling, they handed me this little sign they had made in the room where they waited for their mom. Together we taped it to the front door of our church.

“I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1

Darby Bible Translation
{A Song of degrees. Of David.} I rejoiced when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of Jehovah.

Young’s Literal Translation
A Song of the Ascents, by David. I have rejoiced in those saying to me, ‘To the house of Jehovah we go.’

תהילים 122:1 Hebrew OT: Westminster Leningrad Codex
שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲלֹ֗ות לְדָ֫וִ֥ד מַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֑י בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה

Brother Hyde Has Gone To Heaven

Hugo, OK – December 28, 2009. Hyde Frederick Kimmons Hyde, also known as “Brother Hyde”, 87, has gone to a new life with his Lord Jesus on Dec. 25, 2009 in Edmond, OK. He was born August 16, 1922 in Tulsa, OK to Jasper and Vessie (Bowdoin) Hyde. After his dad passed away he entered John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR for a short time. He served his country joining the U.S. Army from Feb. 14, 1943 to Feb. 13, 1946. He was a Line Corporal in the military police at Camp Wallace, TX. During WWll, he guarded German Prisoners of War.

Reverend Fred married his Sweetheart, Betty Jo Billingsley on August 8, 1951. He was an ordained minister with the United Pentecostal Church International living in the New Orleans, LA area for over 60 years. He retired from The Spirit of Freedom Ministries in 2006 and moved to Edmond, OK in Dec. of 2007. His life was changed when he received the infilling of the “Holy Ghost” and was baptized in Jesus Name on Sept. 19, 1958 just a half block off of Canal Street @ 122 North Dorgenois St. in New Orleans, LA. There he taught the Junior Boys Sunday School Class. In 1960, he and his wife moved to Slidell, LA where he started a church and pastored until 1970. From 1970-1978, he served as a missionary in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong and other areas of Asia where he was known as the “Singing Missionary”. He also served as a Missionary Evangelist all over Asia, Australia and the South Pacific. He returned to the United States and on August 28, 1978, at the age of 56 he founded the Spirit of Freedom Ministries with a tape of his testimony, his guitar and the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jack, William Earl “One Punch Billy Hyde”, Jimmy, Lewis “Tuffy”, Truman, and Harry Hyde. Sisters Kitty Bell Yates, Viola Flemming, and Mildred Harper. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jo Hyde; son, Michael Lynn Hyde; daughter-in-law, Tina Marie Hyde; sister, Miona Sullivan; brother, Skipper Goins. Viewing will be on Wednesday, Dec 30th from 2-4pm at Southern Oaks United Pentecostal Church 6501 S. Walker Ave.; OKC, Ok 405/634-2991. Services for Reverend Fred will be at 4:00 pm, Wednesday, Dec. 30th at Southern Oaks United Pentecostal Church. Burial will be 10:00 am, Thursday, December 31, 2009 at Mt. Olivet cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma.

Source: Apostolic News

Arrangements for Brother Hyde:
Visitation:  Wednesday December 30, 2009     2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Memorial Service:   Wednesday December 30, 2009     4:00 PM
Southern Oaks United Pentecostal Church
6501 S. Walker Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73139
Interment:  Thursday December 31, 2009    10:00 AM
Mt. Olive Cemetery
Hugo, OKBroth

Arrangements for Sister Freeman:
Viewing/Visitation: Monday January 4, 2010   5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Memorial Service: Tuesday January 5, 2010  4:00 PM
Emmanuel Pentecostal Church
1200 Poplar Drive
Mesquite, TX 75149
Interment: Wesnesday January 6, 2010
Roseneath Funeral Home
211 Murrell Street
Minden, LA 71055
318-377-3412
=========================================================================