Western Apostolic Bible College - Our Treasure Yearbook (Stockton, CA)

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. it H Rev. Phillip A. Dugas Executive Vice President The past two decades have produced many crises which have led to many changes taking place in our life style and thinking in the world and America. Since September of 1953, we have seen outer-space exploration with man landing on the rnoong assassinations of national leaders: riots in the cities, riots on college campusesg the rise of the hippie generation, the widespread use of drugsg the Vietnam Warg three wars in the Middle Eastg crises in governmentg and now as I am writing this paper, the prospect of long range energy shortages and possible food shortages. During the past twenty years, there has been pronounced turn towards ungodliness by the people in America. Many church doors are closed, and religious organizations find themselves with declining church rolls and increased financial distress. The interest of many is turning towards Occultism and Witchcraft. ln this same period of time, the United Pentecostal Church has experienced a great revival around the world with hundreds of ministers being added to the ranks, hundreds of new churches being established, and thousands of souls experiencing salvation according to Acts 2:38. Doors of ministry have been opened to us that we never thought possible twenty years ago. As we ponder in our minds what the next twenty years will hold, it seems inconceivable that the true church will still be on the earth by the year 1993. However, the apparent will of God is for His church to occupy until He comes, There is to be no packing of the suitcases and idle time spent waiting for the Lord to comeg rather,He is coming after a church that is on fire for Him and zealous of good works, Therefore, until He comes we must continue to evangelize the world with the message of New Testament Salvation which is faith in Jesus Christ to save, followed by repentance, water baptism in Jesus' Name for the remission of sins, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance., This experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit opens the believer's heart to understand the great truth of who Jesus really is, God manifested in flesh. The burden of evangelizing the world carries with it the responsibility of teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you CMatthew 282193. Jesus is coming back after a church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. It will be a church that is cleansed from the filth of the world from which it has been saved. This responsibility of teaching has been given into the hands of the ministry.. The role of the Western Apostolic Bible College for the future is made clear to us. It will be the same as it has been from its inception-namely, contending for the faith once delivered unto the- saints. It will be that of developing Holy Ghost filled, God-called people in the ways of the Bible and the ministry of God's Word. The main textbook will be the Bible, and strong emphasis will be placed upon the need of a consecrated, Spirit-filled life. As Satan bombards this world with false doctrines and religious deceptions of every kind, the burden of keeping the church on the right course will continue to fall where it has always fallen, upon Bible-trained men of God.