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EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CHURCH(GCEPC)®, LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL The Evangelical Protestant PROTESTANT CHURCH(LEPC)® BREAKING The Magazine of the Lutheran NEWS! HE IS RISEN! Evangelical Protestant Church HE IS RISEN IN- SPRING 2015 FIRST ISSUE 1917 DEED! Mark 15:42-46 It was Friday evening, before the day of worship, (43) when Joseph arrived. He was from the FILM AT city of Arimathea and was an important member of the Jewish council. He, too, was waiting for the kingdom of ELEVEN, ED! God. Joseph boldly went to Pilate's quarters to ask for the body of Jesus. (44) Pilate wondered if Jesus had al- ready died. So he summoned the officer to ask him if Jesus was, in fact, dead. (45) When the officer had as- INSIDE THIS sured him that Jesus was dead, Pilate let Joseph have the corpse. (46) Joseph had purchased some linen cloth. ISSUE He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in the cloth. Then he laid the body in a tomb, which had been cut out of rock, and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Who We Are 2 Bishop’s Desk 3 What is Consent? 5 A Faith to Live With 10 Empathy More Than 14 Words When Did Christian- 17 ity Become Evil In This Country? Reaching out. Reach- 18 ing deeper. Going Beyond Where We The Cost of Sharing 20 Christ Don’t Become Too 24 Sophisticated 7 Satanic Strategies 26 to Distract From Christianity Christianity Is Losing 28 in America A New Command- 31 ment A Psalm for Good 35 Friday Welcome 36 “Be Prepared” 37 The Back Page 38 Springtime in the desert, Arizona PAGE 2 We Believe SPRING 2015 1. The Holy Scriptures, in the for our sins; He arose bodily walk in newness of life original tongues, is the inspired from the dead, ascended into (Matthew 28:19-20) and inerrant word of God. heaven and is seated at the right 8. We believe in the ministry of the (Matthew 4:4, 2 Timothy hand of the Majesty on High.(1 Holy Spirit to glorify Christ, to 3:16,17) John2:2) convict of sin, to enable the believer 2. There is one God, eternal and 5. Humankind was created in to live a godly life, and to empower self-existent, Creator and Ruler the image of God, but fell into the Church to carry the gospel into of the universe, and manifested sin causing separation from God. all the world. through the Father, Son and Holy (Gen. 3:1-24) (Matthew 12:31, Acts 1:8.) Spirit. (John 1:18, Matthew 3:16- 6. Salvation has been provided 9. In the personal and visible re- 17) We are Trinitarian. through Jesus Christ for all; and turn of Jesus Christ for His Evangelical Protestant 3. Jesus Christ is truly divine those who repent and believe on Church. (Matthew 24:30, Rev 1:7) Church (GCEPC)® Inc., and truly human having been Him are born again of the Holy 10. In the bodily resurrection of conceived of the Holy Spirit and Spirit, receive the gift of eternal the just and the unjust, the everlast- born of the life and become the children of ing blessedness of the saved and Lutheran Evangelical Virgin Mary. (Matt.1: 18) God. (John 1:10) everlasting separation from God of Protestant Church (LEPC)®, 4. Jesus Christ died on the cross 7. Water baptism identifies us all those who reject Jesus Christ. and shed His blood as a Sacrifice with the death and burial of (John 1:10-13, Rev 20:11-15) Christ and that we should arise to GCEPC "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, The Apostle’s Creed it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2: 8 I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. The Most Rev. Nancy Drew Presiding Bishop/President I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, The Rt. Rev. Jessica Johnston who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Executive Bishop/Vice President Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and Board of Advisors - Council of Bishops was buried; he descended into hell. Bishop The Rt. Rev. Dr. David Church On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he Bishop The Rt. Rev. Dr. William Dorn is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come Bishop The Rt. Rev. Dr. Harvey Menden again to judge the living and the dead. Bishop The Rt. Rev. Linda Dabney Bishop The Rev. Dr. Israel Ikpeka I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the Bishop The Rev. Dr. Fred Macharia communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the Bishop The Rt. Rev. Ralf Muller resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Bishop (Interim) Rev. Dr. Michael Norton AMEN. Bishop The Rt. Rev. Dennis Overlien Bishop The Rt. Rev. Dr. Francesco Reale Bishop The Rev. Elijah Ruboneka The Evangelical Protestant Journal “Kirchenbote” (Church Messenger) was established in 1885, Gustav Schmidt became editor. In 1917, the German Evangelical churches in the Pittsburgh area began publication of a monthly entitled The Evangelical Protestant. (Archives Smithfield UCC) Members may reproduce and distribute this issue. Members may upload this issue to their website. The Evangelical Protestant is the magazine of the Evangelical Protestant Church, Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church, General Conference of Evangelical Protestant Churches, GCEPC, Inc. The full color Evangelical Protestant is published quarterly. Editor Rev. Steve Bacon THE EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT SPRING 2015 PAGE 3 Bishop’s Desk God gave man a in a two way con- mind of his own, versation. He has free will, and called me his that is part of sheep just as My greatest God's glory re- he has called desire for all of vealed through all of us who our ministers is man that man is believe him that they would Greeting Everyone, able to think for and receive have a close walk himself, decide him as our God's peace and grace to you! with Our Lord, We are looking forward to for himself and sacrifice his learning His Easter. We are in the midst of carry on in daily sheep. As ways, hearing God Lent. Spring is coming. It life. However, his sheep I God still has and all who His voice, desires his won't be much longer be- fore all of the cold days control because believe and knowing Him. people the pass away and warm days everything that receive him called out arrive. In spite of all that exist is held to- can hear his voice. ones, the goes on in the world sea- gether by Christ. Much of the church, to sons continue to come and Even though church for some recover go and the day rises and man has free will reason at some the lost evening comes at night fall. if Jesus decided point decided that of his free will to God was not talk- art of God ordained it that way. In fact in his word God let go of us we ing any more hearing says he was pleased with would cease to which makes abso- God this occurring. When God be. When we lutely no sense sets things in motion they stay come to under- since so much of that way unless he intervenes so stand this concept, we come to his word is about him speaking from the time when he separated understand the greatness of to us. Some say that we have dark and light and hung the sun God, the power of God and of his written word and that is all and the moon and stars they have our part in revealing his glory. but that is not what his word stayed as he placed them and We are reliant on his mercy and teaches. His word teaches that they have done the job that he grace. he desires a relationship with assigned to them. In doing what us and to be able to relate we they have been assigned to do Part of our growing in God is must be able to communicate. they proclaim God's glory. They our coming into the knowledge Communication is what makes fulfill their purpose. Unlike man, of who God is and learning to a relationship dynamic and who is the very top of God's enjoy a real relationship with keeps it alive. Relationships creation they do not have a mind Him. One of my greatest joys is that do not have communica- of their own. to be able to walk daily with tion may not last long, stagnant Christ in such a way that I am and certainly no depth can be able to communicate with him (Continued on page 4) SPRING 2015 PAGE 4 Bishop’s Desk God would receive glory. have the mind of Christ as his That's what he wants for us word says, receive direction, too. God desires his peo- become stronger in your faith ple the called out ones, and so many benefits and as his My greatest the church, to recover the word says, we are not to forget desire for all of lost art of hearing God. his benefits. I have been keep- our ministers is ing journals for more than 25 In this holy season I pray that they would years, writing things that the (Continued from page 3) that you will come into a have a close walk created.