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Thursday April 26, 3007

Last night we had the largest attendance we have had for a long time at the 5:45 PM Bible Study, the 6:30 meal, and the 7:00 PM healing service. The greatest percentage of those attending are from the neighborhood. They may be poor as far as money is concerned, but they hunger for the Word of God. We had a couple visiting the services from near Lancaster, Pensylvania, also a gentleman visiting from China. He is in Canton for several weeks on business.  We announced last night that beginning Friday May 4th we will start holding what we call a "Festival of Faith" night. It will begin at 7:00 PM. Also, I announced that Sunday May 6 we will begin 10:00 AM worship services at Headquarters. There were several present who indicated an interest in attending these services. This means that each week we will have four worship services at our Headquarters and four at our Branch. We have have 13 individuals willing to preach and teach at these services. Praise Jesus for them.

Friday April 2007

Another very busy day. The early hours I spent meditating on Acts chapter 7. In the Contemporary English Version verse one reads, "The high priest asked Stephen, Are they telling the truth abaout you?" And the last verse 60 ends with "Then he died." Stephen, the first Christian marytr. It is interesting to me Stephen did not seek to justify himself. He never responded to the question. He did present the love of God as revealed throuigh the centuries. He cited many examples of those led by God to do great things. I continued to write a Guideline for speakers at the Total Living Center. We now have 13 willing and able to preach and to teach. We are striving to schedule them at differrent services at Headquarters and at the Branch. We now hold four worship services a week at Headquarters and four at our Branch. So we need a lot of speakers and preachers to be worship leaders.Our FREE Medical Clinic Director may be leaving the last of June. Today she was given a Certificate from the United Way for her volunteer activities. Dr. Kellie Johnson is truly an outstanding person. God bless her for all she has done for the sick the last six years. Again today at the TLC the  poor had the gospel preached to them, and the sick received prayer and anointing with oil. Praise Jesus for a great day.

Thursday April 19, 2007

Today we gave away over 17,000 poundsof groceries. We served nearly four hundred families. The total number of individuals in these families totals over 1,200 individuals.  Last night after the healing service we gave groceries to the approximately 75 families that were present. Also, gave each familiy a frozen chicken. And Tuesday we had a large crowd at each of our three locations and gave away about 10,000 pounds of groceries, plus serving several hundred meals. So this has been one busy week for us as far as blessing families with groceries. We rejoice in this. We are now in the process of scheduling speakers for our many worship services. We have 13 individuals willing to preach and teach the Word. We all share in this sacred ministry. We need a lot of speakers in that we hold 8 worship services a week at our two locations in Canton. What a blessing to see folk meet to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth. Praise Jesus.

Friday April 13, 2007

One of the most important events of the year at the TLC is our annual Healing and Hope conference. This year it will be May 14-17th. We not only seek to teach concerning healing the sick and helping the poor, but we give you a chance to see such things in action. You actually experience a soup kitchen in action, grocery distribution, healing service, FREE Medical Clinic, Chiropractic Clinic, etc. I pray you will be present for it. Check our website for the details of the schedule of the Healing and Hope conference. It is my fervent desire to teach all I can concerning the two things Jesus stressed in His earthly minister. That is healing the sick and helping the poor. Make sure one or more from your church are in attendance. 

Wednesday April 11, 2007

I have felt a need to spend more time teaching concerning the Total Living Center. It has been nearly 16 years since our first service which was held May 8, 1991. There were many miracles associated with the start of the TLC and the Lord's annointing fell upon our venture. It was His calling to me to do it. It was His continued blessing that has brought us this far. Our website conveys the many ministries we have now, and the many ways we witness concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. I invited some of the leaders at the Center to join me as I taught. I plan to meet each Wednesday for the next several weeks and teach the Word and relate how the TLC seeks to exalt the Lord through serving others. These lectures will be available for any one who would like to hear the why, how, and when of the TLC. 

Saturday April 7, 2007

Easter is a very special day for me. It is not only the day I join millions in celebrating the resurrection of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. It is also special because my father received Christ as his Savior and Lord Easter Sunday 1949. It was my first Easter as a Pastor. I was a student Pastor serving three small churches. My parents and some of my brothers and sisters and family members attended the Mt. Hermon country church I served. There were 28 of my relatives present for that service. Afterwards my parents came with me to my wife, Mary, parent's home. Her father was a Presbyterian Pastor. My Dad was 59 years old and had never confessed Christ. Dad Bell presented the Gospel to him and he accepted the Lord in the living room prior to dinner. He became a devout Christian and very faithful church attender and worker. Every Easter I not only rejoice because of the Risen Lord. I also rejoice that my Dad turned to Jesus on Easter Day. It doesn't matter where you are, you can receive Christ into your heart. It doesn't matter what day it is. I am grateful for the passion for souls that still  posseses me and leads me to do all I can to present Jesus as Savior and Lord to any and all with whom I come in contact.  Praise Jesus.

Friday April 6, 2007

Our communion service this pass Wednesday night was a very moving experience for me. It has made this a very special Easter time. I am sure there were several at our healing service who had not received Holy Communion for many years. So many who come to the Center believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but they do not feel worthy of His many blessings. They do not feel they are good enough to even go to church. What a shame. We try to proclaim that God loves one and all. The poorest person may turn to Him and be saved through the risen Lord. Well, Wednesday night this  message got thru better than ever it seems. Today I asked one of the men, if he didn't feel that some who took Communion had not partaken of the Holy Communion for years. He is a great worker and helper in our many ministries, especially the soup kitchen and grocery distribution. His replay was, "I don't know how many had not received Communion for how long. I do know that it was the first time in my life that I have taken Communion. The Lord is becoming more real to me all the time." Praise Jesus. This gentleman celebrated his 57th birthday this past Tuesday. What a joy to know that he has turned to the Lord. What a blessing to him, his wife, me, and many others, to know that he received the Bread and the Cup. He has come to know that Christ died for him.

Thursday April 5, 2007

Things keep going at a fast pace at the Total Living Center. Last night we had a steak dinner prior to the 7:00 PM Healing Service. Giant Eagle, a super-market in our area, gives us a lot of meat. We save it until we have enough to serve a meal. We observed Holy Communion at the service. It was no doubt the first time in a long time that a number of those attending have received the Holy Communion. I tried to convey that you don't have to be perfect to partake of the Bread and the Cup. You must believe Jesus died for your sins and that He is coming again. During my sermon I pointed out that at the Last Supper Jesus gave the Bread and the Cup to a betrayer, a denier, and to ten others who were cowards as they all ran away when He was arrested. Dr. Kellie, Johnson, who directs our FREE Medical Clinic, informed me yesterday that she will be leaving us effective June 30, 2007. She has been directing the Clinic for over 6 years and has done a wonderful job. May the Lord bless her and her family in the days ahead.