Sign In Sign-Up

III. The History of the Vessel

Back to the Table of Contents ......... Back to "Living in the River"
The Lord has, indeed, built the city, and he is certainly building His church. He works in me and through me. He has made me the vessel which travels His river, carrying His Word to the masses. Thus, the second half of this project is necessarily autobiographical. Charles Spurgeon's comments on Arnot's Life of Dr. James Hamilton were very interesting. He said, "The value of a biography depends far less upon its subject than upon its author. Milton mutilated by Ivimey, and Carey smothered by his nephew Eustace, are mournful instances of literary murder. James Hamilton has the singular good fortune to be embalmed by William Arnot, his own familiar friend and acquaintance, a spirit cast in the same fair mold, a genius wealthy in grace and wisdom. Apples of gold in baskets of silver are precious things in an appropriate setting, a golden apple being neither dishonored by contact with a basket too homely, nor shamed by comparison with costlier metal than its own. The memorial of a good man's life should not be marred by poor writing. Neither should it be overshadowed by excessive authorship." My task is to neither mar by poor writing, nor to overshadow with excessive words and color. Garrett Putnam Serviss spoke of "the interest in human minds when the pendulum that ticks centuries moves back to the starting point." As I travel back through the pathways of my memory to the small bituminous coal camp know as Cook's Mines in Harrison County, West Virginia, I find that my birth and early childhood were of passionate interest to my family alone. There was no fanfare, no brass band or special day of celebration. Very simply, a baby had been born. Yet in the eternal plan of the Everlasting God, a process was begun that would be vital to certain aspects of eternal purpose and activity that the lives of many men and women would ultimately bring glory and honor to Him.
My mother tells of an incident during my infancy when she heard a noise in the bedroom, and hurrying to see that her baby was alright, was both surprised and frightened to see the shadow of an angel kneeling above the crib with hands folded looking down on me. Growing up in a coal miner's home that did not invite Christ in until my thirteenth year stirs memories of fear and anger, as our home was on the verge of divorce and destruction many times. I only disturb these painful memories at this time to give honor and glory to God. In the fall of 1952 both my mother and father received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and all was changed. Fighting was replaced with faith. Liquor bottles were replaced with the Bible. New paths were trodden and new family entered as we became part of an active, Bible-preaching church in Clarksburg, West Virginia.
My first memories were of my Sunday School teachers and classes. A noble curiosity began to stir within me. I began to desire to be in church and Bible study. My first Bible became my best friend. I will never forget it: a small black zippered King James with very small print. Our Tuesday evening Bible Study included a scripture hunt. Our pastor would call out a reference, and the first person to find it would stand and read it, earning points toward a quarterly gift. I began to so dominate this activity that the pastor disqualified me as a contestant. Instead, he asked me to begin preparing and leading the scripture search. It was during this time, between my thirteenth and fourteenth years, that I began to sense God calling me to give myself to Him for His work and service. I recall writing an autobiographical paper for ninth grade English class in 1955, in which I stated that after
graduation I would be attending Eastern Bible Institute in Green Lane, Pennsylvania, to prepare for the ministry.
A number of interesting things happened during my high school years. Looking back, I can see that they were directly ordered by the Lord. The first that comes to mind happened in Miss Randall's Typing I class. Midway through the semester, she embarrassed me by asking me to move from my seat in the rear of the class to one directly in front of her desk. She gave her reason in front of the entire class: "I understand you are going to become a minister." I gave a slight nod of my head. She then said, "You will never make it! You speak so softly and are so introverted that no one will ever hear you. That is the reason I have asked you to move to the front of the class." Oh, Miss Randall, I wish you were still alive today. I would love to invite you to one of my preaching or teaching sessions so you could observe the changes that take place when one yields to God and His calling for that life! The next year I enrolled in Typing II. My teacher was, you guessed it, Miss Randall. I was the only boy in the class. She made it very clear that she didn't want me there. But for some reason I stuck it out. This time her question was, "Why would you want advanced typing? This is a girls' class." Little did I realize at the time that God would ask me to put all of my teaching and preaching notes in print at a later time in my life. To date I have published over 40 study books or booklets and mountains of study notes that have been made available to the Body of Christ. Truly, His ways are beyond our comprehension.
The second incident occurred during my junior year. I had always been interested in woodworking. In fact I had taken wood shop classes since the seventh grade. Mr. Griffin, the high school instructor, approached me with a seemingly logical question. "If you are going to enter the ministry, why are you taking wood shop classes? I don't think they will help you in your future vocation." The only response I could offer him at the time was, "I like working with wood. I enjoy tools. Other than that, I can't really give you an answer." Mr. Griffin also taught mechanical drawing classes. I enrolled in both M.D. I and M.D. II. Just as he thought it odd when I took wood shop, he again was puzzled at my enrollment in mechanical drawing. He again asked me why I had chosen those classes when they had no reference whatsoever to the ministry. It has taken me years to understand that God often incorporates into our lives things that, at the moment, make no apparent sense at all; however, at the right time they will fit perfectly into His plan and His program.
Eight years after graduating from high school and while busy in my first pastorate, God directed me to design and to build a 5,000 square foot educational building. We did not have the money for an architect or a contractor. I took a blank sheet of paper and began to recall lessons and skills I had learned in mechanical drawing classes, and, within two weeks, I had the plans for our building in hand. I called the men of the congregation together and shared the vision of the Lord, and together we began to build what God and I had designed. (see figure 3.1 and 3.2 in appendix I) In October of 1968 an article and picture appeared in the Pentecostal Evangel announcing the completion of the Weston Assembly of God Educational Building. (see article 3.1 in appendix II) It featured twelve classrooms, offices, a seventy-five seat youth chapel and new restrooms. In only nine months we completed an estimated $150,000.00 project for only $22,500. As I stood at the dedication of the facility I could almost hear Mr. Griffin's asking, "Why are you taking wood shop and mechanical drawing classes?"
I had a similar experience when I had signed up for high school bookkeeping classes. Mrs. Love, our teacher, asked why I was taking an all girls' class, Bookkeeping II. I endured the snickers and giggles of the female students and completed the course. What an asset this knowledge has been in my work in three small congregations. Oh, how perfectly our steps are ordered of the Lord.
Obedience to God is often accomplished at great cost. Many times the cost is exacted in ways not previously known or, at best, difficult to understand. I was an excited seventeen- year-old young man who had just graduated from high school and was excited about entering the next phase of my life. My first traumatic encounter in the pursuit of my calling occurred, oddly enough, at my home church. It was a beautiful, sunny Sunday morning in June. As I entered the small white frame structure on Washington Avenue, I was pulled aside by my pastor (whose last name was also DePolo ... no relationship!). He told me that he had been informed of my intentions to attend bible college in September. I remember nodding my head in the affirmative. Suddenly, this kind man that I had looked up to for years spoke in a strong cutting voice and said, "God has not called you to the ministry. You don't need to go to bible college, but rather should go out and get a job and help to support your family. You are a lazy young man and don't want to work!" Shocked, stunned, and now very uncertain about my future, I spent the next several weeks in a cloud of confusion. God's ways are past finding out! His call is without repentance. I went to bed and, at some time during the night, was awakened by an awareness of a Presence in my room. I remember it as though it just happened. I had been sleeping on my stomach and so rolled over to "see" what or who had come into my room. In a half-twisted position leaning on my left elbow, I suddenly saw the Lord at the foot of my bed. He was so beautiful, with His chestnut colored hair, His strong featured face and His piercing eyes. Looking at me without speaking a word, He reached out His right hand and pointed forward. In a moment of time, I knew what He meant. I knew that He had called me. I knew that my future was already planned and that my life was not my own. No one could or would divert me from obeying the call of my Master! I awoke the next morning and went directly to my mother in the kitchen. She looked at me and knew something had happened. I said, "Mom, God has called me. I must obey. I love my pastor, but I love my God more."
In August of 1958 I enrolled in Eastern Bible Institute in Green Lane, Pennsylvania, and graduated in May of 1961. God honored and blessed me during those formative years. I graduated as President of the Senior Class and as President of the Student Body. Great men like Milton T. Wells and Walter H. Beuttler entered my life and made their contributions. Fellow students like Bob Mumford and Don Wilkerson (brother of David) imprinted my heart and my faith. How glad I am that the Lord intervened and would not allow "man" to redirect or divert His plan for my life.
During these three years of study, preparation and spiritual enlargement, one aspect in particular stands out in my mind. A fellow classmate and personal friend, Ed Spinola, and I entered together into a covenant to spend two hours at the beginning of each day with the Lord. We would arise at 4:00 a.m. and meet in a small summer cabin located on the campus which also served as a campground. We would spend the hour between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. in prayer. For the next hour we read the Scriptures. At 6 a.m. sharp we would quietly enter the dormitory as the rising bell sounded and fall into step with the rest of the men who were just beginning their day. No one knew that we already had spent two glorious hours in the presence of the Lord. I discovered that periodically during the day the presence of the Lord would seem to "just come" to me. I would sit through the most boring class and discover a song being sung in my spirit. In the words of Bishop Maurice F. Cashel in his introductory remarks for the book on the life of John Alcock, "to walk closely with God, and to manifest that walk in every incident of daily life, places the person in a position which human praise or blame are alike unable to touch." My desire was to so walk with Him that only He should be seen, and nothing of myself.
One day after graduation I began a camp meeting in southern West Virginia and the long road to fulfilling His Divine intention for me had begun. In the words of Elijah P. Brown in his work on the life and ministry of Billy Sunday, I desired that my "preaching have in it the spirit of Christ, and the power of Christ, and that it accomplishes what Christ commissioned" it to do. I spent those first weeks in ministry as part of the Clevenger Evangelistic Team (see articles 3.2, 3.3, in appendix II), which included Larry Clevenger, James Kent and myself. Larry and I did the preaching while Jim played the trumpet, organ and piano. I received my first taste of television and radio preaching as well as tent revivals in our first 25 day crusade in Chesapeake, West Virginia. These meetings were followed by a second crusade in New Cumberland, Ohio with host pastor Curtis Haislip. The crusade began in the junior high school auditorium and then moved to the local church and finally into a large tent due to the crowds that came. I was not yet twenty-one years old; however, the Lord already had begun to teach me lessons about my "earlier" life. When I was about twelve, my father tried to talk me into taking up a musical instrument. He said, "I will get you any instrument that you want. What do you want?" My answer was "a basketball!" So he bought me a basketball. During the first part of the New Cumberland Crusade I found myself preaching from beneath the basketball rim in the auditorium. As I looked up at the "hoop", I heard the Lord say, "you should have chosen a musical instrument." I shared my personal spanking with some of the young people in attendance.
That was our final crusade as a team. From there, Larry went to Pennsylvania for a crusade and I went to Warren, Ohio. Other than one brief moment at a wedding, our paths have never crossed again. I do not know where he is today. It has often been a lonely road. As the old hymn says, "I traveled down a lonely road and no one seemed to care. The load upon my weary back had bowed me to despair. I often complained to Jesus, how folk were treating me, and then I heard Him say, so tenderly ...Just take up your cross and follow me." For the next five and one-half years, I traveled extensively across America in revival crusades. (see articles 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7 in appendix II) My heart and my life were consumed with doing the work of an evangelist. I soon found that "what is occasional with another is or may be continual with me. Morning, noon, and night my Bible must be in my hands." The task was difficult and, in fact, without God's faithfulness in opening doors, would have been nearly impossible. It was during those days that He taught me to trust Him completely. On one occasion I recall being more than twelve hundred miles from home and having only twelve dollars in my pocket. I called the pastor to advise him that I had arrived in town to begin our planned revival crusade. He told me that he had been trying to reach me for several days to notify me that the meeting had been canceled. Even though gasoline was only 29.9 cents per gallon, I did not have enough money to get back home. Oddly enough, I did what Peter did; I went fishing on a party boat out of Miami, Florida. The ticket for the trip was a gift. During the day of fishing, I reluctantly joined a "pool" for the biggest catch of the day. As we were advised to reel all rods in to end the trip, suddenly something grabbed my hook and, after several minutes, I landed the largest fish and won the $52 pool, which was enough money to carry me until the next revival meeting that began in five days. How faithful God so often proves Himself to be. Enough money in the mouth of a fish to get me through the crisis!
During this time of growth in my calling, I realized that God had used a number of great men and women to enable me to learn to follow Him. I recall my first Vacation Bible School, which was my true introduction to the things of God. I was only eleven years old and was excited when Bessie Doddrill, our neighbor, invited my cousin, my sister and me to a VBS at her church. I learned the sixty-six books of the Bible and could repeat them in order during those two weeks. The director was "Aunt Dorothy". She told such exciting stories. I couldn't wait to hear the serial story of Benny and the Barrel. I never forgot Aunt Dorothy. During my final year of Bible College I was in New Jersey ministering as part of an outstation group. I preached on Sunday morning and then spent the afternoon with the pastor and his family. During lunch, as we sat around the table enjoying "non-Bible School food", the outstation group began to share their personal testimonies. The pastor's wife began to quiz me about my background, conversion, family, etc. When she learned that I was from Clarksburg, West Virginia, her countenance brightened. She asked me about my early years. I informed her of the Vacation Bible School and especially of Aunt Dorothy. She began to weep ever so softly and informed me that she was Aunt Dorothy. I thanked and thanked and thanked her for making the initial deposit into my life. It made such an impact upon me that, even now, I sit weeping tears of gratitude as I type these words into my computer!
God enabled me to learn so much from so many. And I absorbed every morsel of information, so hungry was I for the Word. I could learn, in a few moments, a treasured truth or powerful principle that it took men and women of God years to learn. I guess this is one of the reasons why God has placed within me an anointing and a desire to share with young men and women called to ministry. From Martin Luther Davidson, who was the pastor of a great church in Miami, Florida, I learned to transform the weakest service in a revival crusade into the strongest. From Waymon L. Rogers in Louisville, Kentucky, I learned what true faith really is. Standing in the Louisville airport in 1963, this great man of God asked me to pray for him. In his words, "I need God to send me a millionaire, so I can do what God is asking me to do." We prayed. God sent him Colonel Sanders of the Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. (I have often wondered why I didn't ask the Lord to send both of us a millionaire!) So much from so many. From Dr. Eva Boyd Evans, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Fairfax, Virginia, I have learned that it is never too late to accomplish what God has ordained. Her efforts have enabled the birthing of Mon Valley Bible Institute, which is discussed in detail in Chapter VI.
After almost six years as an evangelist, God decided to change the format of my ministry and it became time to put into practice what he had been teaching me through other pastors. This necessitated canceling two solid years of scheduled meetings. Nonetheless, in August 1966, I began my first pastorate in Weston, West Virginia, a small rural community of about 3,500 people. There the Lord began laying a foundation in me that would enable Him to build anything He desired upon it. The church attendance board read 64 on my first Sunday. "Preaching is the communication of truth by one man to men ... [it] is the bringing of truth through personality" During this time in Weston, I became dedicated to developing
my skills in preaching. Many came to Christ, and my heart sings as I realize that most of them are still serving the Lord today, twenty-eight years later.
Three and one-half years after my arrival in Weston, as I began packing to move to my new pastorate, I reflected on how the Lord had blessed me. The church now had in excess of 250 in attendance. Two building programs had been completed. A strong weekly radio program was emanating from high atop east Weston hill covering the entire area with the good news of the glorious Gospel.
The second pastorate in St. Albans, West Virginia brought a real challenge. The church had recently been split by two former pastors. My district superintendent advised me not to go. However, how can one say no when God calls? I left a healthy congregation in a new facility and assumed the role of pastor in a church that was divided, confused, disoriented and discouraged. Their attendance had fallen to about 60. It took six months for them to fall into step behind my leadership. I was privileged to remain there for only two and one-half years. During that time, the body was made whole. Attendance was up to approximately 275 as I said goodbye.
In contrast to the professional successes I had thus far enjoyed, I was about to experience a devastating failure in my personal life. While God made the church whole, my marriage of almost eleven years fell apart. My wife, deciding that she neither loved God, nor me, nor the ministry, packed and left, taking with her our two children. For more than three agonizing weeks I had no word of my two young sons. She had fled to southern California. In the divorce decree, I was granted custody of my sons. In spite of this trying time, I remained in my pulpit for another nine months. However, the stress and pressure had taken
their toll. In late October I resigned the pastorate and moved to Morgantown, West Virginia, where I took a job at a tire store.
My entire life was different now. I had changed jobs, addresses and marital status, all in a very short period of time. Life had become a puzzle to me, and it seemed I was missing a piece of it. To my surprise, that missing piece turned out to be a familiar one, a woman who had attended my former pastorate. Later that year, Rebecca Jane Day became my wife and a mother to my sons. We recently celebrated our first twenty-five years of marriage.
Outwardly I was very happy with my new family life, but inside I did not feel complete. Deep within me was a cry that no one but my wife could hear. I felt as though God had forsaken me. It was as if all ministry had ended. I felt that I would never preach the Gospel again. I tried to attend local churches on Sundays with my family, but it just didn't work. I didn't fit. The last seat in the auditorium, where I always sat, left me weary and hurting. I had often asked God to tell me what I had done to deserve this! Most of my "friends" from the good years now avoided me. It was as though I carried a plague that kept them away. During these months, had it not been for my wife and sons, death would have been welcomed. I so wanted to die that to this day I can detect the scent death. I can walk into a room and sense its presence.
I sat down and said I will make mention of Him no more. But I became weary with an awareness of a burning fire encased in my bones, and I could contain it no longer. I found myself in an electronics store purchasing a reel-to-reel tape recorder. I contacted a radio station manager in southern West Virginia and began a daily broadcast on his station. The programs were prepared in our bedroom one evening a week. The next thing I knew, I was invited to do a 30 minute weekly television program on a cable station in Morgantown, West Virginia. God's Ministry was still alive! He had not discarded me! I could feel it pulsate through my body. The Word was coming alive in me again!
In the summer of 1975, Anthony Mallino called me from Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. He explained that they had a congregation of only 10 people and were without a pastor. They wanted me to come and preach for them. Their former pastor had died suddenly more than two years earlier. During this interim period most of the membership had been absorbed into other congregations. The remaining members wanted to close the church, but God would not permit Anthony Mallino to do so. He even had attempted to give the property away to a local evangelist, but his offer had been refused. Rod Racosi, a young man that I had led to Christ in Morgantown, my wife and I came to preach at Covenant Christian Church on a Wednesday evening. Since there were so few in attendance, we met in the downstairs area. After spending some time in fellowship, I shared a short word from the Scriptures. We prayed, said our goodbyes and left. Once we were in the car and headed back to West Virginia, my wife
said, "Don't ever bring me back to that dirty place again!", to which I replied, "You need not worry about that!"
Approximately three weeks later I received another call from Mr. Mallino. He informed me that the congregation, if you can call ten people a congregation, wanted me to become their pastor. I quickly informed him that I would not be able to accept the church. We lived almost 75 miles away and, through the Lord's allowance, I now owned the tire store. However, I was willing to come and preach for them on Sundays until cold weather set in. That was in August of 1975. I am writing this in April of 1998 and I am still here! Truly the ways of the Lord are beyond our comprehension.
I formally accepted the invitation to become their pastor in September 1975. For more than two and one-half years we commuted from Morgantown to Belle Vernon. The church was growing, the business was growing, and I had to decided to which I would make a full-time commitment The call of God supercedes anything or anyone. In April of 1978 we moved to Belle Vernon, and I began to commute back to the tire store once or twice a week. As no one handles our finances like we would ourselves, my accountant advised me to either come back and operate the business or to sell it because I was being robbed repeatedly by my employees. By summer's end, the business was sold and, after six long, hard and difficult years, I was again in full time ministry.

Back to the Table of Contents ......... Back to "Living in the River"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV. The History of the Church

Back to the Table of Contents ......... Back to "Living in the River"
One truth has been foundational in my work along the Monongahela River. The Church is not a building -- it is a body! We do not go to church, we are the Church. As stated earlier, my roots are in north central West Virginia. Back home, the old-timers called the church building the "meeting house" or the "church house". They had it right! The building, be it a stained glass cathedral or a simple store-front, is only the place where the Church meets. It is the local gathering place for His Body, the Church.
This local facility is our spiritual home. "In every village and town the sky line is marked by the slender spire or the square tower of the church." In both Europe and America the Church has been the greatest force in shaping the world in which we live. Universities, schools and colleges, hospitals and asylums, better prisons and kinder laws, the end of slavery and dueling, and the attempts to end war and bring in the brotherhood of man ... all of these have been, in large measure, the work of the Church.
"The Church is something like a tree whose limbs branch off: some small, some large; some straight, some twisted; and whose leaves in the fall may be still mostly green, with patches here and there of gold and flame." Even so, the Church has many branches and leaves, differing in the design or style of the building, in the dress of the clergy, in the order of service, or in the particular beliefs and traditions of each. Some spires are tipped with crosses and some with weather vanes. Some churches give the altar a central position in front, and some have a pulpit. In some, the minister wears robes of many colors; in others, he wears only a plain suit. The Quakers have no altars and no pulpit and no minister. Yet all strive to serve one Master.
This portion of my work will deal exclusively with "the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28), "the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15).

THE CALL
As I stated earlier, in the late summer of 1975 I received a phone call from the gentleman who was "holding down the fort" at the corner of First & Main Streets in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. He invited me to come and speak to their congregation the following Wednesday evening. My wife and I, along with a young man that we had recently led to the Lord in Morgantown, West Virginia, drove the seventy-six miles, (actually it was more like ninety-five as we got lost), to share Christ with them. When we (finally )arrived at the facility we were met by the congregation ... all ten of them. Since they were such a small group we decided to conduct the meeting in the church basement rather than in the sanctuary. After about ninety minutes, we said goodbye and departed for home (with me promising my wife never to bring her back to that dirty building again!). (see figure 4.1 in appendix I)
About three weeks passed and the brother called me again. This time he informed me that the "congregation" had asked for me to become their pastor. Trying to find a "kind Christian way" to say no, I finally agreed to return for the Sunday morning service. We committed ourselves to continue making the long drive during the nice weather, but informed them that I could not assume the responsibilities of the pastorate. However, the Lord began
dealing with me in a very firm and positive manner As a result, I became the new pastor of Covenant Christian Church in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. (see article 4.1 in appendix II)
Throughout my earlier fourteen years of ministry I kept a notebook that recorded every service, sermon, and date. When my wife asked me about entering a page for Belle Vernon, I informed her that it would not be necessary because we would not be here that long. (I should have bought a new notebook!) We have been here twenty-three years to date. Truly His ways are past finding out! (see article 4.2 in appendix II)

NEW BEGINNINGS
The early days of ministry at Covenant were very difficult and tiring. This was due to the fact that I was operating a business in Morgantown. My tire store was open six days a week, and I had to drive seventy-six miles (one way) to get to the church. Often times on Wednesday evenings I only had time to rush home from the store, take a quick shower, dress, pick up a sandwich at the front door and depart for Belle Vernon. We continued to commute for two and one-half years. (see figure 4.2 in appendix I)
However, gradually the congregation of ten became fifteen and then twenty and finally twenty-five. Some excitement began to grow in both the weary pastor and the enthused congregation. We began Sunday School classes, some measure of visitation, and prayer gatherings for revival. It was at this time that we began to plan for a special three-day outdoor crusade along the banks of the Mon River. We worked and planned for thirteen months and finally held the Crusade for Christ. Several new families began to attend the Church, and growth continued. (see figure 4.3 in appendix I)
We even began to support two missionaries on a monthly basis. One was in South America and the other was in West Africa. It was within three weeks of taking on support of the first missionary that the attendance doubled. The Lord asked me if I saw anything in that fact. I didn't. We took on the second missionary, and again within three weeks the attendance double. I said, "Lord, I think I am beginning to see a principle here!"
It was during a missions emphasis and prayer time that the next step in our history was taken. While our Sunday School superintendent was praying for Richard Dunn, our missionary to West Africa, the Lord spoke to me in a voice that was so clear and audible that I turned around to see who was on the platform speaking to me. The voice said, "My servant hath need of thee!" Immediately a sense of Divine Presence came into the building. Some who came in a few minutes later sensed this presence and asked, "What is happening?"
I waited for several weeks before telling my wife that I had to go to Africa. She looked at me with a stunned expression on her face and replied that it was not possible. I had a business to run, a church to pastor, and a family to care for. I said, "I know, but I still have to go to Africa." As I related the incident of several weeks earlier, she became quiet and also acknowledged God's presence and will. We both agreed that there was not the money for such a trip. I finally said, "Honey, I believe that God will provide." I have followed a motto for years: When God guides, God provides. When God directs, God protects. When God leads, God feeds! I told her that if the money did not come in that I would go to the airport and my ticket would be waiting for me. I knew that I did not plan this trip ... God did!
The following Sunday morning I shared the commission with the congregation. Within ninety seconds over $1,500 was in the collection plate. It was as though the Lord was saying, "Now, why can't you go?" And so in January of 1977 I departed Pittsburgh International Airport for Ouagoudougou, Upper Volta, West Africa. (see figure 4.4 in appendix I) Knowing that God's word to me was, "My servant hath need of thee!", I had sent a telegram to Missionary Richard Dunn three weeks prior to my departure informing him of my arrival date and time. My only fear was that he had not received my telegram. Job said: "The thing I greatly feared is come upon me!" The fact was that my friend was out of the country and his wife, who had just received the telegram the night before my arrival, asked another missionary if he would come to the airport and meet me.
With fear and trembling I stood at customs and attempted to answer questions that were being asked in a language I did not know. I continued to look around at the military soldiers with automatic weapons, searching for a friendly face, but I saw none. I suddenly saw this very large man in a weird hat who began talking in English. I asked him if he was looking for Richard Dunn's friend. He was! This was my initial meeting with Missionary Jim Bryant. Three days later, Richard arrived back in the country and came to the mission compound to get me. When he got out of his car, I shook his hand and embraced him. I then asked him how he was doing. He replied, "Great!" Stunned, I said, "But you can't be!" However, I did not reveal the words that the Lord had spoken to my heart. We went to his mission in Koudougou, about 45 kilometers away. About a week later Jim Bryant called. He informed me that he was getting ready to make a journey out into the desert to attempt to find a tribe that had not yet been reached with the Gospel. He asked me if I would like to go along. "Yes!", I replied excitedly. He said the trip would probably take about five or six days and we would have to really "rough it". I explained that I grew up in the West Virginia hills and had been a hunter, fisherman and camper most of my life.
The next five days changed my life! I watched God put "lost souls" into my spirit in a way that would never allow me to be the same again. We found the Fulani tribe. We were invited to the village of Nasumbu ,and, for the first time in their history, they got to hear the Gospel and the name of Jesus Christ. (see article 4.3 in appendix II)
Within two years our small church was able to build the first ever evangelistic center among the Fulani tribe. Today there is a Bible School there, and many are being trained to go back to their own people with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We began to support the first Fulani pastor on a monthly basis. Tragically, within two years, he was murdered by a member of his own family because he had forsaken the Moslem religion and embraced the God of the Christian missionaries. Truly "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church", because today a great revival has been experienced by his people with hundreds being brought to Christ.
The month long missions trip ended, and I returned home. The exciting part of this story occurred almost two years later. Missionary Jim Bryant was back in the States for a few months. He came to my home in Morgantown and spent a few days with me. As he got into his car and began to back out of my driveway, he suddenly put the vehicle in drive and pulled back to where I was standing. He got out of his car and came over to me and said these words: "Frank, when you showed up on my doorstep in Ouagoudougou, you don't know how much I needed you!" Those were the exact words of the Lord when He called me to go to Africa, imploring "My servant hath need of thee!" His ways are beyond our comprehension!
Through the years I have made an additional six trips to Upper Volta, now called Burkina Faso. Many exciting things happened during this ministry. God was bringing miracles and messages to these people through me. One such miracle occurred during a Bible class in Bobo. I had to communicate through two interpreters, which meant going through three languages. Truly, God was going to have to get the Word to them, because I felt so inadequate. The National Church of the Assemblies of God had asked me to teach the entire student body for a week. We began at 7:00 a.m. and continued until noon. Classes resumed at 1:30 and ended at 5:00 p.m. Then we conducted a revival crusade nightly at 7:00 p.m. When we broke for lunch on Thursday my English interpreter asked me if I would pray for a student's child who was very ill. I was told that he had polio and needed to go to the hospital. They held him down to the floor so I could see that his legs were like rubber. He could not stand. I took him into my arms and we prayed. They took him to the hospital. At about 8:00 p.m. that night the hospital sent someone to find his father. He was asked to take his son home because the boy was running up and down the halls, disturbing the other patients! God had completely healed him of polio!
The second monumental event happened during a week of classes at the Koudougou Bible College. The director of the school was serving as my interpreter. We had about 300 students in the teaching sessions. I had been directed by the Holy Spirit to begin sharing about the five-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11. Because this was an Assemblies of God school, I did not know if they would be receptive, but I had to obey God. As I began to share, the director/interpreter turned to me and asked me to wait for a minute or two. He then began to speak in More', the native tongue of the Mossi tribe, to the students. Three of them got up and ran out of the chapel. I found myself saying, "Oh, God ... they are not open to this teaching!" Within a couple of minutes the students returned carrying a large slate blackboard. Director Pawentore turned to me and said, "Forgive me for interrupting you, but we have never had this teaching before and I want to get notes on the board so the students can copy them later." - In a sigh of relief, I said, "Thank You Lord!" As we continued to teach, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "The man who is interpreting for you is going to become my next leader of the entire National Church." At that time the National Church was about 150,000 strong with over 300 local congregations.
When we broke for lunch I turned to Brother Pawentore and asked him if he were willing to accept another ministry if the Lord so chose. He asked, "What is it?" I replied: "That doesn't matter. Are you willing?" He finally said yes. I then told him what the Spirit had said. His response was to laugh. He said that he had been a strict disciplinarian, and most of the pastors who select the General Superintendent did not really care for him for that reason. He continued by telling me that I did not know the African mindset. I replied that I might not know the African mind, but I know the Spirit of God. I repeated what He had said. I left for the States within days. Two weeks after my departure the General Council was convened. Pastor Jean Pawentore Ouedraogo was elected the General Superintendent on the first ballot! We can always trust when God speaks!
Another memorable incident concerns the President of the country. As I was praying at the close of my final service at Covenant before departing for West Africa, I found myself saying, "Lord, give me the words to say when I share with the new leader of this nation." Those words scared me because the new leader was a man named Thomas Sankara, a.k.a. "The Young Wolf". He had overthrown the former government and assumed the role of President. Many died during the military coup. As I arrived in his country and began to preach and teach, my heart began to yearn to reach this man. I talked to two missionaries and they both refused to help me reach him. I was simply told, "This man kills people!"
With only a few days left before my departure for home, Pastor Pawentore (the future General Superintendent) came by to greet me. He said God had used me again to bless his people and that I could go home knowing the Lord had moved. He sensed a lack of joy in my spirit and asked if I was having a problem. I replied that the Lord had given me a word for the new leader of the government but that no one would get me to him. He said, "Let me see what I can do." Within hours I received a phone call requesting I visit the residence of Mr. Thomas Sankara at 7:30 that evening, bringing along my two interpreters. I began to rejoice. The missionaries, however, were not as excited. In fact, they refused to talk to me, but I didn't care. The Lord would have His way!
We arrived at Sankara's compound, which was flanked by a military tank, a machine gun, and several armed soldiers. I DIDN'T CARE! We were escorted to a veranda and asked to wait for Mr. Sankara. In about ten minutes this very young, distinguished man came out. He was wearing a camouflaged uniform and a side arm. We stood as he approached. He asked me to sit next to him. The two missionaries were seated about twenty feet away on the other side of the veranda. He spoke in French to the missionary who in turn translated to me. I spoke in English to the missionary who in turn spoke in French to him. This continued for about twenty minutes. Finally, Mr. Sankara turned to me and in perfect English asked why I had asked to see him. I thought the two missionaries would die! I replied that before I left home my God had informed me that He had a word for him. (I might also add that up to this point I did not know what the word was!!) He nodded his approval and asked me to tell him what my God had said. As I opened my mouth the words began to pour forth like a river. I found myself saying: "My God has sent me to your country several times in the past few years. He has given me a love for your people. Most white people love Africa but not the African. I have a love for your people. The love that I have has been given to me by God, because He also loves your people. His specific word to you is that if you will honor Him, acknowledge Him, and give Him the opportunity to help you lead and govern your people, He will bless you with rain and grain. However, if you do not give Him honor and a place in your administration, He will lift His hand from you and you will be on your own." I asked if I could have prayer with him. He nodded in the affirmative. We prayed. I thanked him for giving me an audience and rose to leave. He followed us to the vehicle and spoke in French to the missionary, in essence telling him that for some reason he felt a strong affinity toward me. He then gave him his personal phone number and said that if I wanted to speak further with him I could call at any time.
When I returned home, I was invited to the local Christian TV station to share my experience. I remarked to the host of the program that I felt if Sankara did not turn to the Lord he would not live very long. He turned to Col. Moammar Khadafi and the Moslem world. Two years later, I dreamed that Sankara called for me and wanted me in Burkina Faso immediately. The dream was so real that I called the missionary and related the incident to him. He suggested we wait a few days and see what might happen. On Thursday of that week, Sankara's administration was overthrown, and he was killed in his office. During my last trip I went to visit his grave. However, the final chapter of the story was told to me later. His wife is now saved and Spirit-filled. His brother, who looks just like him, has accepted Christ and came forward in one of my meetings for special prayer. He felt called to the ministry. Thomas Sankara spoke to his wife just minutes before his tragic death and said, "If I don't see you again, I will see you in Heaven!" Did he make things right with God at the
end? I can only hope and pray that He did. However, I rest in the fact that God reached out to Him and personally spoke to Him.

GOD FILLS THE BUILDING
As I continued to commute from Morgantown, West Virginia, it became very obvious that I would have to either move to Belle Vernon or step down and allow someone else to assume the responsibilities of pastoring the growing work. Within eighteen months, the membership grew from the original 10 to approximately 200. Suddenly the board and I became aware that our small facility would not be able to accommodate what the Lord was doing. After much prayer, we began to search for property so that a new complex could be built. We finally entered into a contract for the purchase of 7.56 acres of land and a beautiful farm style home on Findlay Road in Rostraver Township. It was near the crossroads of Interstate 70 and Route 51.
On April 1, 1978, I moved my family into the house at the proposed building site. We began to make arrangements to move forward with our building project. As the pastor I prayed that we would depend upon His love and power to make us sensitive to the true needs of the people. Understanding that Christ came to earth and showed His love by saving mankind and leading us into a growing and vital relationship with God the Father, I became aware that, in this area of southwestern Pennsylvania, there were multitudes of people who were troubled, tested and tempted. They were torn apart by the problems and complexities of a collapsing world. The challenge was before us. Realizing the times in which we live, we were gripped with a sense of urgency. We had to be ready, with Spirit-filled personnel and appropriate facilities, to be instruments in accomplishing the will of God. There was a need to invest in families and build for their future. God was leading. We were ready. All the necessary steps to begin had been taken. We hired the architectural, engineering and construction firm of Neihaus Church Builders to join us in fulfilling the next phase of God's work in the Valley. (see figure 4.5 in appendix I)
New plans were designed for Phase One. A bonding company was hired to enable us to finance the project through a church bond program. We met at the property on a Sunday afternoon and had our groundbreaking ceremony. (see figures 4.6 and 4.7 in appendix I) Everything was moving forward. Then, for no apparent reason, everything began to fall apart!

STOPPED BY THE LORD
First, Rich Neihaus, President of Neihaus Church Builders, was suddenly called home by the Lord. He was a young man in his early forties. Internal strife began to raise its ugly head in the body and soon thereafter one of my elders and approximately forty people left the church. Almost simultaneously, the area was struck by a severe economic blow as the steel mills began to close down. Most of our young men lost their jobs. Suddenly homes all over
the valley had "For Sale" signs in their yards. It became every evident that the building project was canceled.
The church's financial situation began to feel the effects of the local depression that had overwhelmed our area. Our income was down by over forty percent. It would be years before it fully recovered. After taking several weeks to "stand still" before the Lord, I felt that we needed to gather our congregation together and lay out our current situation. At that
meeting, the congregation decided that we should remain at First & Main Street and allow the Lord to lead us as He chose, our future being in His hands.
I was still living on the Rostraver property; however, in 1982 a decision was made to place it on the market and get out from under the indebtedness. It sold very quickly. My family and I moved into a lovely home in Charleroi. It was only minutes away from the church facility in Belle Vernon.
After the property was sold, we felt directed of the Lord to remodel our existing building and remain there. (see figures 4.8 and 4.9 in appendix I) The funds from the building program account were used, and our "old" building suddenly had a new look on both the interior and the exterior. It was redesigned, placing the pulpit area in the northeast corner with a circular seating arrangement. The new design allowed for more seating, although the ministry area was, of necessity, made smaller. Two hundred new orange cushioned chairs replaced the ninety year old pews. A new piano and organ were purchased. New carpeting was installed. Our dedication day was graced by many visitors, a filled sanctuary, and the presence of the Lord. (see article 4.4 in appendix II) I became aware that even though our future direction had changed, the Lord had not! He was still there. It was still His church. Deep inside, I knew that He had something special planned for our faithful congregation.

ATTEMPTS TO LEAVE BELLE VERNON
I must confess that the formentioned ordeal took its toll on the DePolo's. I did not have one thought of leaving during the days of turmoil and strife. However, after it was all over and things again began to move forward in a positive way, I constantly battled the desire to find another church. I felt that quite possibly my influence and authority as the leader had been eroded. I really did not know if I could continue to work in the area. In fact, I did not know if I WANTED TO! I let it be known that I was interested in relocating. A number of "good" prospects opened up.
The first was in Liberty, Missouri. Liberty is a small town just a few miles away from Kansas City. I flew out to meet the congregation and board. It was a lovely church, a similar sized congregation, and an area that showed great potential for growth. However, deep in my spirit, I knew the Lord was telling me to remain where I was. After a weekend of ministry I got on a plane and returned to Belle Vernon.
Determined to relocate, I was next invited to minister to a large congregation in Youngstown, Ohio that was seeking a pastor. My wife, Becky, and I drove to Youngstown on a Sunday morning. It was a beautiful new facility that would seat approximately 1,200 people. The platform was larger than Covenant Christian Church's sanctuary. Again, after ministering to the people, I returned home only to have the Lord tell me that I was not released from Belle Vernon. I informed the Youngstown Board of Elders that I was not interested in becoming their pastor.
I often wonder how many times the Lord has to speak to us before we really listen to what He says. A third opportunity arose, and again, I attempted to accept it. This time, it was the church I would have most loved to pastor in all the world. During the years of 1961 through 1966 I traveled as an evangelist. My favorite church for revival meetings was the Rock Church in New York City. This lovely church located on Lexington Avenue & 62nd Street was pastored by John Vick, a great man of God. In my earlier years, I was often asked who was the greatest preacher I ever heard, and I would always reply, John Vick of New York City. Through the years I had preached over 300 times at Rock Church. When Pastor Vick called and ask me to come for a week, I made necessary preparations to be away from my pulpit. During that week we met in his office and he informed me that he was getting ready to retire and wanted to know if I would consider coming and taking over the ministry. My heart and spirit soared! This was one church that I didn't feel I would even have to pray about taking. Surely the Lord would grant me this one heart's desire! I flew to New York for the meeting with the official board. Upon my return home, the Lord again spoke and informed me that His plan for me was still in Belle Vernon. I called and declined the congregation in New York ... with great sorrow of heart, I might add.
Perplexed and saddened that God would close every door of opportunity for ministry in other places that promised great harvest, I sat in my study and, looking up to Heaven, asked the Lord to tell me why. Alone in my secret place, I suddenly felt as though a television set was turned on in my spirit. One by one I saw the faces of the pastors in the various full gospel churches in my area. As they filed by, the Lord spoke and said, "each of these men are in their first pastorate. They need you. They need what I have deposited in you. For this reason I am keeping you where you are! Don't ask Me to allow you to relocate. Ask Me to bring fullness and harvest to you here. Trust Me!"
With this new revelation of God's plans and purpose, I determined to do as He said. I have never attempted to move to another place of ministry since. God has proven faithful. His Word has become alive in me like never before. In May of 1980, He spoke that He was bringing me to a new level of revelation and understanding in the Word. He has! Since that time, the Lord has allowed me to put much of His truth in print. My books and booklets have been shared with pastors and other teachers of the Word all over the world. Some of the teachings have been put into African Bible Schools. I have received letters and correspondence from many places thanking me for the teachings. I only reply, "Thank the Lord". It is His Word.
With the knowledge that God wanted me to stay where I was, I determined to begin to make necessary plans and provisions to get ready for what He had promised was coming. We purchased the property at 32 Main Street. Just two doors from the church facility, is a three-story building that held a lot of potential; however, it was in great need of work and repair. First we worked on the lower level and built a large fellowship hall with a kitchen. This work was begun in June of 1986. The work was done exclusively by a few men from the church and me. Today it is the home of "The Coffeebreak Bible Class" that meets every Friday at 9:45 a.m. This class was started in 1978 and continues today. Presently, it is the single greatest teaching ministry in the church, in regard to longevity, attendance and impact on our church's growth. From its inception when less than a dozen people attended, the class has grown to its present population of approximately 50. Many travel great distances to attend. Some come from as far away as Toronto, Ohio. A number of pastors attend, as well as many members of other congregations.
The second project at 32 Main Street was the construction of the pastor's living quarters on the top floor. The Lord enabled me to design a beautiful apartment complex that has a large kitchen, family room, living room, dining room, three bedrooms and two baths. It is almost 3,000 square feet of living space. In order to finish the apartment in time for our daughter's transfer to a new school district, we negotiated a $30,000.00 loan from a local financial institution. The loan was set up for fifteen years. It was paid off in four years and
four months! We have now been living in the apartment for ten years and enjoy being so close to our work.
We began work on the middle floor of the 32 Main Street property in 1992. It houses the pastor's study, secretary's office, tape room and the two large classrooms used for the Mon Valley Bible Institute.

MINISTRIES
The various functions and ministries that the Lord has directed us in during the past twenty-three years have been many and varied. Some were for only a season while others continue to date. Following are brief descriptions of some of the short-term ministries in which we have participated. The End-Time Singers was a group of twelve to fifteen young people who formed a musical ministry group in 1977. They shared the Lord in outreach and evangelism through music. They accompanied me in a prison ministry at the Greensburg Correctional Facility and in open-air evangelism ministry. The group disbanded after the initial disruption and departure of a number of our congregation mentioned earlier in this chapter. One couple from the group are missionaries to Brazil today. Another couple has been in ministry with "THE BIBLE SPEAKS" in Baltimore, Maryland, for more than fifteen years. Others have migrated to area local churches. Only one of the original group is still active at Covenant.
The Covenant Mime Ministry was another group of our young men and women who helped me share the gospel through mime, (see figures 4.10 and 4.11 in appendix I). They were very effective in drawing crowds and holding their attention for the ministry of the Word. We conducted outdoor evangelism, and their efforts enabled us to share Christ more effectively. The mime ministry group functioned in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Several
of the group are still active in church. One of the young men currently pastors an Assemblies of God church in the state of Indiana.
O.A.S.I.S. Ministry which stands for "older adult saints in service", ministered in the homes of shut-ins, sharing the gospel with them. There would be a brief service of about thirty minutes that began with prayer, followed by some praise and worship choruses, then a few short testimonies of God's goodness followed by seven to ten minutes of the Word. It was always a blessing to those who were unable to attend corporate celebration gatherings or "services". In-Service Days were all day teaching sessions which I conducted quarterly for about four years, from 1988 to 1992. The day would begin at 9:00 a.m. with a song, a scripture reading and prayer. At approximately 9:15 I would begin teaching on a pre-announced theme (e.g. "Three Levels of the Christian Life," " Ezekiel's Message To Ministry" or "The Anointing"; etc.) and share until noon. We would break for a light lunch, and resume the class at 1:00 p.m., and continue until 3:00 p.m. These were days of intensive ministry in the Word. The group would usually number 25 to 30 students. A number of pastors attended these special days of instruction. Tuesdays were normally the day set aside for the In-Service ministry. All sessions were both audio and video taped.
Radio Broadcast was an area to which the Lord directed me back soon after I began ministry in the Mon Valley. The weekly broadcast known as "The King Is Coming" covered the area with thirty minutes of gospel music and message every Sunday morning. We were heard on WASP in California, Pennsylvania. I would usually go to the station and produce my own program. I learned to operate the board and was able to prepare the weekly tape without the help of station personnel. "The King Is Coming" was on the air for more than ten years. In all of that time we never asked for money once! God was faithful. When I felt that it was time to take the program off the air, every minute of air time was paid for!
Television Ministry was a new venture to which the Lord directed us for a year. God put together a TV ministry team, and we traveled to Morgantown, West Virginia, once a month and taped a weekly, thirty-minute program called "THE AMAZING GRACE HOUR".(see article 4.5 in appendix II) We went in a motor home and so were able to take along enough clothes to do four different programs at an all-day taping session. The Lord brought together a wonderful team. Lucy Mae Stewart was our pianist and soloist. She is now with the Lord. In her earlier years of ministry, she was the pianist for Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse, at his weekly Bible Study in New York City. Lucy was a graduate of the Julliard School of Music. Robert "Bobby" Curcio was my floor director. Patricia Gamble and my wife Becky were the set designers. The program enjoyed great success for the year that we were on the air.
Teen Talk Time became important in the spring of 1978, when the Lord began to lay the youth of the area on my heart. I met for a special rap session with them twice a month for almost a year. Some of those young people are now adults in our church. God impressed upon my heart the great need to provide a listening ear for some of our hurting young teens. I recall one of them telling me, "I wish I could talk to my mom and dad the way I can talk to you." Though we no longer have the special rap sessions, I thank the Lord that He has provided a number of caring adults in our church who take (really make) the time to minister to them on a personal basis. I do not accept the philosophy that we have lost the young people, who are commonly called the "X generation". I believe they are a special generation
who, when they reach for the Lord, will be the generation to usher in the return of our great God and Savior, even Jesus Christ the Lord.
Signing For The Deaf became necessary in our gatherings during 1977 and 1978, when we had two deaf children coming to church. The Lord opened the door for us to provide the ministry of signing so they could also receive the gospel. Each Sunday morning Tammy Cornell would take her place in front of the first pew on the left side of the sanctuary and sign the entire service to them.(see figure 4.12 in appendix I) They have since moved away, and we have lost contact with them; however, we have the joy of knowing that the Lord also gave them opportunity to "see" the gospel as it was preached. Tammy has since moved to Nashville and is part of The Victory Express, a family southern gospel music group. I also had the joy of leading her father, Ron, to the Lord. He and his family have been in full time ministry for several years.
Spiritual Leadership Training took place for sixty weeks during 1989 and 1990. I conducted a weekly spiritual leadership training course on Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m. This course was attended by about thirty-five people. For the next five years, the entire ministry, including teachers, elders, and workers, was drawn from this pool of individuals. Much of the direction for teaching this subject was drawn from Frank Demazio's book on Spiritual Leadership. Three of my current elders and most of my teaching staff were in this study. The class was recorded and can be retaught via cassette tape in our cassette learning center. It is a requirement for anyone moving up into major ministry at Covenant.
Soul Winning And Evangelism Seminar was held each May from 1980 to 1986, during which I conducted a special three-day soul winning and evangelism seminar. It was required for all teachers, officers, and leaders in the church, but it was also open to any others who wanted to attend. The sessions were held on the second Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the month. Some of the subjects taught were: "Soul Winning"; "How To Teach A Class"; "Personal Evangelism"; and "The Ministry Of Visitation". All of the classes were taped. I quickly realized the benefit of providing a special time of instruction for our leaders and workers. It gave them a sense of value as well as renewing their dedication to the task to which they had been called. Many of those who attended the seminars are teachers in some of our classes today. I attempted to adhere to the 80/20 principle. By giving 80% of my time to the 20% of my congregation who were leaders and teachers, they in turned reached the other 80% of the congregation with love and care. The result was a more balanced and caring church.
Ministry To The Projects was an outreach program we started in the early 1980's. The Lord directed us to Washington, Pennsylvania, approximately 25 miles from Belle Vernon, to minister in the low-income housing projects. We rented a building and conducted Saturday evening evangelistic services. A number of people accepted Christ during these times. It also gave some in our congregation an opportunity to reach into the black community and share the love of Jesus Christ. It was a very rewarding and beneficial time of ministry. This is one area of ministry that I am asking the Lord to resurrect today.
As I said at the beginning of this section, some of the things the Lord directed us to were seasonal, while others were permanent. Among the permanent functions were:
Coffeebreak Bible Class was organized to accommodate those who worked various hours. In an earlier part of this project I discussed the typical life of men and women in this steel mill valley area. Those men who worked in "the mill", as it was termed, worked on a swing-shift schedule, a principle was foreign to me when I moved into the area in 1978. It meant that one week was worked on the day shift (7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.), the next week was worked on the afternoon shift (3 p.m. - 11 p.m.), and the next week was worked on the midnight shift (11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.). This continuously rotated each and every week. Many of the mill workers complained that they were not able to attend the mid-week Bible Study on Wednesday evening. To enable them to get into a study time, I organized the Friday morning Coffeebreak Bible Class. This class began meeting in 1978 and continues today. We meet in the fellowship hall at 9:45 a.m. for a cup of coffee and a donut. The teaching begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. and concludes promptly at 11:00 a.m. Some leave directly from this class for work. The class today has about 50 members. All of the studies in the past ten years have been put into books or booklets and are available for purchase through our book room. All classes are both video and audio taped. Some of the more recent studies are: Spiritual Leadership; The Eyes Of His Glory; Rivers Of Living Water; The Gospel Of The Glory; The Arm Of The Lord; Discipleship Training; and The Significance Of Christ. Each subject takes approximately six months to cover. This class is taught on a Bible College level, with men and women growing in the Word as the Word grows in them. Of all the ministry at Covenant,
this Friday morning Bible Class is my favorite. I would rather miss a Sunday morning service than the Friday morning class.
Cassette Tape Ministry is one of our most extensive and beneficial programs.(see figure 4.13 in appendix I) We began taping the teaching and preaching sessions in 1978. To date there are over 2,500 tapes in the tape library. I have received letters of thanks for the Word shared via cassette tape. My teaching tapes have been to places that I have not yet been privileged to visit. We make the tapes available to our congregation, but there is never any prolonged promotion or commercialization of this ministry. The tapes are available for $3. We just recently moved into our new tape room, and already we have outgrown it. It is truly wonderful to be living in such a day of technology as we do. Paul would have rejoiced in this day! We are currently using our third tape duplicator, having worn out the first two. Our director of art and graphics, Alan Assad, is currently working on bringing a new packaging concept to the tape ministry. It seems that the new face for this ministry will be In Victory...learning to be an overcomer through the living Word. The tapes will be packaged in two or three tape albums stressing various areas of victory, e.g. "Victory Through Praise"; "Victory Through Soul Winning"; "Victory Through the Gifts"; "Victory Over Principalities & Powers"; "Victory Through Worship", etc. I feel that the Lord will continue to allow us to spread the gospel via cassette tape in the days to come.
Video Tape Ministry is similar to the cassette tape program. Currently all of the Friday morning Coffeebreak Bible Classes are video taped. We are waiting on the Lord for the equipment to enable us to edit the tapes and prepare them for distribution. This will be a continuing ministry, but it is still in seed form.
Study Books And Booklets are vital to what the Lord is currently doing. In 1978 I began to put my Sunday sermon notes in print and they were distributed (freely) as the congregation left the sanctuary. Initially, everything was done by typewriter. I purchased a Kroy lettering machine so the main headings could be set in larger type. As I sought the Lord concerning the printing of my teaching/preaching notes, I felt directed to begin to place all studies in book and booklet form. We purchased our first computer in 1985. The advance in technology enabled me to print and spiral- bind teaching aids and the study guides that could be used with the cassette tapes to provide in-depth discipleship learning tools for those desiring to go deeper than the average Sunday morning churchgoer. To date, there are over 40 books or booklets in print. Since we print everything at the church, many of the earlier works are currently out of print. It is a desire of my heart to develop a modern printing and binding facility to enable us to spread this gospel of the kingdom into all the world. A number of the studies have been translated into foreign languages. A number of my early booklets were left with missionaries in West Africa who planned to get them translated into various African dialects. One particular teaching that was very effective in Burkina Faso was entitled: "Elijah: The Formation of a Ministry". I returned several years later and was asked by one of the Bible School directors to repeat that study. The notes were left with them for translation. Current methods of producing a study book are very different from those used in the early days of the print ministry. Now we just put the information into the computer, print it out, take the pages to the sorter, and then punch and bind them. In the beginning, I had to type every page. Many times they had to be retyped due to errors. Then the pages were run through a dry-copier and hand sorted by making circular trips around tables. Finally they were punched and bound. I got so tired of hand sorting pages that I enlisted volunteers from our congregation. They were known as "the pastor's thumbs". I will never forget those miles and miles of trips around tables. For example, we would always print one hundred copies of any particular book or booklet. Most books were from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five pages. It doesn't take a math genius to realize how many trips my helpers made around those tables. However, this enabled me to get the printed word into the hands of those hungry for it! The most current printed book is entitled: "Spiritual Leadership: extracting leadership principles from some of God's greatest men and women" The printed page far outlasts cassette tapes. I have a few tapes that are twenty-five years old. The are very fragile. In fact, I won't even play them now for they will break. However, I have some books in my library that are over one hundred years old. They are still very much in use. I am believing the Lord to continue to bring needed personnel to our ministry staff. One of my desires is to see many of the teachings that are on tape transcribed into printed form. In God's time this, too, will take place.

Covenant Christian Church Today
We are currently in renewal! For several months the Lord has been moving in a very powerful and expressive manner. As we began to seek the Lord for these days leading up to and then into the next century, He spoke in very positive and explicit words. The Word of the Lord to us was that He was bringing us up into another level or realm of relationship with Him. His anointing was going to be manifested in signs, wonders and miracles. We did not want a "visitation"; we prayed for and desired a "habitation".
Some of the more unusual evidence of the current move of God are visible signs of His anointing with the manifestation of "oil" on my clothing as I minister the word. One recent Wednesday evening, an invisible column of heat was manifested in the sanctuary. It was approximately sixteen inches by sixteen inches and vertically reached from the floor to well over everyone's head. I stopped in the middle of my sermon and called various individuals from the congregation to come and stand in the "heat column". I wanted to be certain that my mind was not playing tricks on me. It wasn't! Everyone in the sanctuary came and walked through it. You could tell the moment you entered it and the moment you walked out of it. It lasted for about twenty minutes. Our intercessory prayer group met the following evening at 7:00 p.m., and the building became so hot that they had to go outside. This was in January! I again sensed and felt this on Saturday. That was the last time it has been manifested to this date.
The renewal has brought a new sense of the anointing to the entire congregation. About three months ago, the Holy Spirit began to manifest His presence in my hands. The Lord spoke that He wanted to fill the house with His glory, and that from the glory would flows miracles and healings. As we begin our celebration gatherings with praise and worship, the glory of God enters the building. As the presence of the Lord continues to be manifested, my hands begin to throb and pulsate with His power. It is at this point that I begin to minister to the needs of those who have gathered. Because the power of God is so strong, and our altar and ministry area is so small, I have those who come forth for ministry to be seated in one of three "prayer chairs". Some of the testimonies given in the past sixty days are:
Richard Demko was diagnosed with Leukemia six months ago. Was in radiation therapy when his doctor stopped the treatments ... reason ... no leukemia found anywhere in his body!
Tammy Baker is a young woman who, after a recent MRI, was told she had a brain tumor. I called her to the pulpit area for prayer. The Holy Spirit showed me a small grape-size object, and I told her to begin to rub her thumb and forefinger together as though she were gathering something off of her hands. She did! The very next week another MRI was taken at the Monongahela Valley Hospital. Result: no evidence of a brain tumor!
There are many more testimonies of answers to prayer. But time and space do not permit me to share all of them. We are currently compiling a "Signs and Wonders" journal that will include all the testimonies of God's mighty power.
God ministered a truth to my spirit in a powerful way. It was simply this: "His Word in my mouth has just as much authority in it as it does when it is in His mouth!" He is telling us to speak His Word. Proclaim His Word! Declare His Word! We are doing it, and it works! The Word works! Attendance is growing. Finances are growing. Faith and expectation are growing! He has said that there is no limit to His power or presence. The only limitations that God knows are the ones we place on Him. I am beginning to sense that we must make more room to accommodate the move of God. I have seen a new sanctuary in my spirit. It is so real that I have borrowed a drafting table and instruments and am beginning to draw what I have seen! First the dream, then the fulfillment! In one of my recent teaching sessions I told the people that a manifestation or an expression of something, be it a new building or a new concept, is no more real when it is completed than it is when God's mind reveals it to your spirit. Our history is not nearly as exciting as our future!

Back to the Table of Contents ......... Back to "Living in the River"