ABOUT US
Faith & Action was founded in 1996 to meet a need in biblical, cross-cultural, practical studies for training ministers. We approach every topic by finding the big principles, then explaining, illustrating, and applying those principles to meet the needs of Christians who desire to live out Christ's pattern for life in today's world. Join us as we explore the precious, biblical, foundational principles to guide our lives. Whether you are a pastor who is preaching through books of the Bible, someone who leads a small group, or a student of the Bible who wants to dig into the rich studies these pastors and educators have to offer, Faith & Action resources can bless you.
OUR MISSIONS STATEMENT
Faith & Action Team provides a Bible-based, ministry curriculum,
developed with academic excellence from a pastor's perspective,
to empower Spirit-filled leaders to win the lost, disciple believers,
and prepare God's people to serve worldwide.
About The Founders
Dr. Quentin and Elizabeth McGhee
Quentin and Elizabeth are founders of the Faith & Action Series. Quentin writes, edits, and recruits writers. Elizabeth desktops—transforming plain words on a page into attractive books. Together, they have served as Assemblies of God World missionaries for more than 40 years.
Dr. Quentin McGhee is the founder, senior author and editor of the Faith & Action Series, a curriculum that will include 40 books at completion. He earned a B.A. from Southwestern College in Oklahoma City, and a B.S. from Oral Roberts University (ORU). Later he completed an M.Div. at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, where he taught beginning Greek, and was selected by the faculty for Who's Who Among Students. He earned a D. Min. from ORU in 1987 and in 2015 was inducted into the ORU Hall of Fame in the College of Science and Engineering. Dr. McGhee and his wife, Elizabeth, pioneered a church in Oklahoma. They served as missionaries in Kenya for 15 years, where they helped start many churches, developed an extension Bible school for full-time ministers, and assisted in curriculum development. Dr. McGhee serves as developer and director of the Faith & Action Series, which has been chosen as the curriculum for 900 Resident and Extension Bible Schools in Latin America; is helping train 3 million house pastors in Northern Asia; and is also being used by students in Africa, Bangladesh, India, Europe, etc.
Elizabeth graduated from Oral Roberts University with a B.A in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in Learning Disabilities. She taught special education classes for 3 years in the US public school system. As a missionary to Kenya for 15 years, she helped her husband produce part of a series for training pastors, and served several years as assistant to the Kenya National Women's Ministries Director, preaching and teaching in many parts of Kenya. She worked 10 years at ICI/Global University in the Graphics Department. Currently, Elizabeth is in charge of desktop publishing and customer service for the Faith & Action Series. Also, she has given editorial suggestions on every Faith & Action book in English and Spanish, and helps facilitate translations and printing the Faith & Action Series in various languages.
Quentin and Elizabeth are the proud parents of three daughters: Cheryti, Faith, and Hope, all serving the Lord.
About The Staff
Dr. Judy Bartel Graner
Judy is a Faith & Action team member. She is in charge of our Spanish translation team and helps represent the series to the Spanish world as well as teaching seminars on how to use the Faith & Action curriculum. She has authored the Faith & Action book Cross Cultural Communications. Her ministry also includes leadership training for Latin American ministers and educators, writing and editing Bible School and graduate level educational materials as well as aiding national missionaries to go to unreached peoples groups. She has a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Intercultural Studies.
About The Authors
[Some of the authors are also contributors to other books in the series, but will be listed under the Authors section only.]
Dr. George O. Wood
Dr. Wood provided tapes and manuscripts of his preaching and teaching through Acts, Life & Teachings of Christ, Corinthians, and Revelation & Daniel. His insights and illustrations were vital to the development of these courses.
Dr. Wood served as General Secretary of the Assemblies of God beginning 1993, and was then elected as General Superintendent from 2007 to 2017. He is the son of missionary parents to China and Tibet. He completed his undergraduate degree from Evangel College (now Evangel University). Later, he earned a doctorate in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a juris doctorate from Western State University College of Law. He was assistant district superintendent of Southern California for 4 years, and pastored Newport-Mesa Christian Center in Costa Mesa for 17 years before. Dr. Wood has authored numerous books and articles. For a collection of his more than 400 expository sermons, visit his website at:
http://georgeowood.com/?TargetPage=D1DB485C-151D-4C23-BD06-8DC0AF9862FF
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Dr. Wayde and Rosalyn Goodall
Wayde and Rosalyn provided a manuscript for the
Faith & Action course
Marriage & Family. Dr. Wayde Goodall is Dean of the College of Ministry at Northwest University, Kirkland, Washington. Wayde and Rosalyn were missionaries with the Assemblies of God and worked in areas of critical need in various parts of the world, with an emphasis on
Marriage & Family.
In the past, Dr. Goodall was the head of the Ministerial Enrichment Department of the Assemblies of God in Springfield, Missouri, for 5 years. He was appointed in 1994 to create this department and to be a "minister to the ministers" of the Assemblies of God, overseeing programs for marriage, family, and parenting to over 32,000 ministers within the denomination. While serving as the Executive Editor of Enrichment Journal, which he created, it received first place for clergy magazines in 1997 and 2000 from the Evangelical Press Association.
Wayde and Rosalyn are the founding pastors of Vienna Christian Center, in Vienna, Austria. In the United States they have served as senior pastors of congregations of several thousand attendees and received the Church Health Award from the Purpose Driven Church. Wayde was appointed to represent the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches of America on the Pulpit and Pew "think tank" at Duke University. He is a certified Congregational and Team Coach and works with church leaders in areas of spiritual and life balance.
Because of Wayde's extensive writing and pastoral experience he frequently teaches at colleges and seminaries. He is an adjunct professor at Asia Pacific Theological Seminary and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. He has also been a guest teacher at the Billy Graham Cove in North Carolina and served as Executive Director of Benevolence for Bethesda Ministries/Mission of Mercy. He and his wife, Rosalyn, are frequent speakers at churches, seminars, pastors and missionary retreats
Wayde holds Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Northwest Graduate School of Ministry. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and one in psychology from Southern California College (Vanguard University).
Dr. Goodall has written and co-authored 13 books—including
Why Great Men Fall, Conflict Management for Church Leaders, Marriage & Family, By My Spirit, The Fruit of the Spirit, The Choice, The Blessing, The Battle, and Back to the Word—many of which are translated into several languages.
Rosalyn is a technical editor, writer, and educator and has served as a faculty member at Southwest Missouri State University for 5 years. Her ministry has included women's conferences, retreats, and educators training. Wayde and Rosalyn have viewed their ministry as a team effort for God's kingdom. They have two grown children, Jeremy and Kristin.
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Dr. Glen D. Cole
Glen provided tapes and manuscripts of his preaching and teaching through Revelation for the
Faith & Action course
Revelation & Daniel. Glen was Superintendent of the Northern California and Nevada District Council of the Assemblies of God.
He served 450 churches and 1,500 pastors. Prior to being elected district superintendent, Dr. Cole was widely recognized as an outstanding leader. He graduated from Central Bible College and served in the pastoral ministry for nearly 40 years. During his 17 years as Senior Pastor of Capital Christian Center in Sacramento, California, the church grew to over 4,000 members. He raised up a Christian School that has grown to 1,600 students and a Bible Institute that is training 150 students. In recognition of his distinguished ministry, Pastor Cole was awarded an honorary D.D. from Pacific Bible College in Sacramento. Dr. Cole served in a variety of Assemblies of God positions, including the Executive Presbytery for 10 years, the Foreign Missions Board, the Chairman of the Board for Central Bible College, and the Theological Seminary Advisory Board. He also served as vice chairman of Billy Graham Crusades in Sacramento. He was a popular speaker at conferences, district councils, camp meetings, and churches of several denominations. Groups and individuals throughout the world have enjoyed his preaching and international tape ministry. His contributions and articles have appeared in
The Spirit Filled Life Study Bible, The Pentecostal Evangel, Advance, Enrichment Journal, The Pentecostal Pastor, and numerous other books and periodicals. He and his wife, Mary Ann, were in ministry together for over 50 years. Their two sons, Randy and Rick, are ordained ministers with the Assemblies of God.
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Dr. Van Johnson
Van contributed extensive notes for the
Faith & Action course
Romans & Galatians, and read through the manuscript, offering many helpful insights and suggestions. He is the Dean of Master’s Pentecostal Seminary in Toronto.
Dr. Johnson is the director of the MTS in Pentecostal Studies—a joint degree program of Tyndale Seminary and Master’s Seminary. Van serves as adjunct faculty in New Testament at Tyndale and at Canadian Pentecostal Seminary. He is an ordained minister with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, and serves on the pastoral staff at Agincourt Pentecostal Church. This pastoral role is part of the church-based model of Master’s Seminary. Van previously taught at Eastern Pentecostal Bible College and Western Pentecostal Bible College. He has conducted chapels for the Montreal Expos, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Toronto Raptors, and the Toronto Argonauts. He wrote the commentary on Romans in the Full Life Bible Commentary, which was published by Zondervan Publishing House. The combination of his pastoral and teaching experience with his own brand of humor contributes to his unique preaching style. His degrees include a B.A. in Sociology, McGill University (Montreal); M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Chicago); Th.D in New Testament, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. His specialties are Pentecostal History, Luke, Romans, Jewish Apocalyptic, and Pastoral Theology.
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Dr. Steve D. Eutsler
Dr. Steve contributed significant research and notes for the
Faith & Action course
Romans & Galatians. He has a rich ministerial background as a teacher, pastor, preacher, and writer. He serves as a mentor for students of Global University in the areas of Bible and Practical Theology.
Also, he has served as adjunct professor at Central Bible College and Evangel University for 12 years, teaching courses on Bible, practical ministry, and preaching. Steve has pastored 18 years. He is the author of four books,
Light for the Darkened Heart, Clothing the Mind, Planning Pentecostal Preaching, and The Prison Epistles. Steve is known for being an outstanding expository preacher. He has contributed sermons to Preaching On-Line and illustrations to PreachingToday.com. His sermon outlines often appear in Enrichment Journal and Pulpit Helps. Also, he serves as a Dale Carnegie trainer. He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri, where he and his wife, Jackie reside. They have two grown children, Tabitha and Jeremy.
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Dr. James Hernando
Dr. Hernando co-authored the
Faith & Action course
First and Second Corinthians. He has earned the following degrees: B.S. in Education (State University of New York), B.A. in Bible (Northeast Bible College), M.S. in Education (State University of New York), M.Div. (Assemblies of God Theological Seminary), M. Phil. and Ph. D. (Drew University, 1990).
Jim’s ministry experience includes teaching elementary school (4 years), teaching at Trinity Bible College and serving as Chairman of the Dept. of Biblical Studies (1980-1986); and serving as Professor of New Testament at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary from 1990 to the present. Internationally, Jim has taught Hermeneutics and New Testament Theology in Ukraine; and preached a number of times in Ukraine, as well as San Jose, Costa Rica.
His most recent publications are: 2 Corinthians in
Full Life Bible Commentary to the New Testament. Edited by F. L. Arrington and Roger Stronstad. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1999; Dictionary of Hermeneutics: A Concise Guide to Terms, Names, Methods and Expressions, Springfield, Missouri: Gospel Publishing House, 2005; Studies in the Letters of Paul, B.A. level, Springfield Missouri: Global University, 2006; and First and Second Corinthians in the Faith & Action Series (co-author), 2011.
Jim has been awarded many honors, such as: Who’s Who in American High Schools; Who’s Who in American Colleges and University; FTE Hispanic Doctoral Scholarship; Outstanding Alumnus of Valley Forge Christian College; Member of the Advisory Board for the Foundation of Pentecostal Scholarship; Assemblies of God Distinguished Educator’s Award for 25 years of service.
Jim and his wife, Moira, attend King’s Chapel in Springfield, Missouri, and have three sons: Matthew, Eric, and Daniel.
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Dr. Carl Gibbs
Dr. Gibbs co-authored the
Faith & Action course on
Hermeneutics. His biblical and theological training, cross-cultural insights, and practical suggestions are exceptional. Dr. Gibbs earned a B.A. degree from Northwest College and an M.Div. and D.Min. from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.
He has served under Assemblies of God World Missions for over 30 years. From 1977-1989 he directed curriculum development for the Brazilian Extension School of Theology (BEST), which now has more than 16,000 degree-level students in six countries. From 1991-1998 Dr. Gibbs served ICI University as Dean of the School of Bible and Theology. He is also known as founder of the Barnabas Series, supplemental notebooks for instructors. Dr. Gibbs has served as a member of DETC and as President of ACCESS. He has taught and lectured throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia. College courses he has written include:Historical Books, Major Prophets, Prison Epistles, Exegesis of Colossians, Hebrews, Soteriology, and Hermeneutics. From 2001-2006, Dr. Gibbs was Dean of Graduate Studies for Global University in Springfield, Missouri. He presently serves as the Director of Educational Resources at Africa's Hope.
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Dr. Richard Cary
Dick co-authored the
Faith & Action course on
Hebrews. He has been in full-time ministry since 1974. He graduated from Northwest College of the Assemblies of God with a B.A. in Biblical Literature, studied for a term at Assemblies of God Theological
Seminary, completed a Master of Ministry at Evangelical Theological Seminary, and earned a Doctor of Ministry at Biblical Life College and Seminary. Richard spent 7 years teaching at Italian Bible Institute, serving as national director of International Correspondence Institute, and helping plant two churches in Italy. He has taught three terms with the Caribbean School of Theology in Guyana. He has written several books and articles. His most recent book is
Saving Little Fish, a novel for children 8 to 12 years old (2010). Dick and his wife, Linda, have been married since 1971 and have two children, Christopher and Lindsay. They are pastoring their third church in the state of Washington.
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Dr. Gaylan D. Claunch
Dr. Claunch co-authored the
Faith & Action course on Homiletics,
Preach the Word. He earned a B.S. degree from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, an M.Div. from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from Oral Roberts University.
He is known as a biblical preacher. As a professor of Biblical Preaching at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, he has trained hundreds of young ministers in the principles of homiletics. He has also served as an adjunct, visiting professor of a Bible school in Brazil. He served as Presbyter of the South Dallas Section of the Assemblies of God and is a member of the Executive Presbytery of the North Texas District.
Dr. Claunch has served in full-time ministry since 1968 and has been a senior pastor for 30+ of these years. He pastored Crossroads of Life Assembly of God in Duncanville, Texas for 17 years, where he led the congregation to be one of the top one hundred churches in America in world ministries giving.
Currently, Dr. Claunch serves as Assistant District Superintendent and Director of Missions for the North Texas District of the Assemblies of God.
Gaylan and his wife, Nancy, have been married since 1973. They have two children, both in ministry—a daughter, Lesli, married to Rev. Dyran Deer, and a son, Loren.
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Dr. Richard Exley
Richard is the author of the
Faith & Action course,
Pastoral Ministry. He has a rich variety of ministry that spans over 40 years. He completed the course of study prescribed by the South Texas District Council of the Assemblies of God, and studied at
Gulf Coast Bible College in Houston, Texas before entering his first pastorate in Craig, Colorado. During those early years as pastor, the congregation flourished and built a new facility. At his second church, Richard served for 12 years as senior pastor of Christian Chapel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The church grew from a struggling congregation of less than 100 members to a thriving fellowship of about 1,000. They built a new church, which became one of the top 50 Assemblies of God churches in missions giving. During his pastorate Christian Chapel established The Lay Ministers Training Institute for equipping the laity, the Straight From the Heart Counseling Center, and the Crisis Pregnancy Outreach ministry. Pastor Exley also founded and hosted a live, nationwide call-in radio program called "Straight From the Heart," as well as a daily teaching broadcast called "God's Word for You."
Since 1992, Richard has served as a "pastor at large," devoting his time to writing and speaking. He often ministers at retreats and conferences for ministers and missionaries, both in the US and abroad. With Brenda, his wife since 1966, he has developed three marriage seminars: "Forever In Love," "Predictable Crises in Marriage," and "Blended Families—Making the Most of Remarriage."
His writing ministry includes articles in numerous magazines such as
Leadership Journal, Charisma, Ministries Today, The Pentecostal Evangel, Advance, Enrichment Journal, and New Man. He has authored 27 books. Among his best- known books are Witness the Passion, Strength for the Storm, Deliver Me, The Making of a Man, Perils of Power, When You Lose Someone You Love, and The Rhythm of Life.
In 2003, he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity honoris causae by the Joint Academic Commission of the Methodist Episcopal Church USA and the National Clergy Council Board of Scholars. The degree was awarded after a review of his outstanding ministry of pastoring, speaking, and writing.
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Rev. Don Exley
Don is co-author with his brother, Richard, of the
Faith & Action course
Pastoral Ministry. Don and his wife, Melba, ministered in South America beginning in 1976, living in Argentina, Mexico, and Chile. From 1989 until retirement, Don served as Area Director for the Southern Cone of South America.
He oversaw the ministries of Assemblies of God missionaries in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Don graduated from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in 1971 with a B.A in Biblical Studies. He earned a Master's Degree in Cross-Cultural Communications from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
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Kathy Jingling
Kathy is a writer for and the General Editor of the
Faith & Action course
Children's Ministry, which had 22 contributors. She taught 10 years in public school, and then served 5 years as an Assemblies of God missionary in Costa Rica.
There, she was involved in Christian education development and staff training for Latin America ChildCare (LACC) throughout all the countries in Central America. Afterward, she was asked to work with Resource and Development Ministries, a satellite office of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This Assemblies of God World Missions office developed materials in English and Spanish, facilitated international ministry efforts, and maintained regional communication in LAC.
Kathy developed
Children's Bible Curriculum: Kindergarten-6th grade. These materials are now used by Global University and LACC. She is also the author of Optional Christian Education Materials, 5 years of lessons produced by Life Publishers. She continued to develop other materials, including four VBS courses, youth/Chi Alpha university manuals, men's and women's programs, pastoral resource books, and teaching materials for seminars throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Dr. John Wesley Adams
Dr. Adams is co-author of the
Faith & Action courses
Survey of the Old Testament and
Survey of the New Testament. He is Professor of Biblical Studies at All Nations Training Center in Kansas City. He has four earned degrees in biblical and theological studies: B.A., Southern Nazarene University (Bethany, Oklahoma);
M.A., Southern Nazarene University (Bethany, Oklahoma); M.Div., Nazarene Theological Seminary (Kansas City, Missouri); Ph.D., Baylor University (Waco, Texas).
He served as a professor in New Testament at Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas for 6 years. He has 10 years pastoral ministry, including planting a new church that is thriving. He spent 2 years (1997-99) in ministry in England.
Wesley has authored numerous journal articles, is a contributing author to the
Beacon Dictionary of Theology, is co-author and associate editor of the internationally translated Full Life Study Bible, and was chairman of the revision committee for the Full Life Study Bible 10th anniversary edition published under the new title Life in the Spirit Study Bible (March 2003). He has also written commentaries on Ephesians and Hebrews for the Full Life Bible Commentary.
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Dr. Roger D. Cotton
Dr. Cotton is co-author of the
Faith & Action course
Survey of the Old Testament. He is a full-time professor at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), where he has served since 1987. He has earned four degrees in biblical and theological studies: B.A., Central Bible College
(Springfield, Missouri); M.Div., AGTS (Springfield, Missouri); S.T.M. in Exegetical Theology, (Minors: Church History, Pastoral Counseling), Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Missouri); Th.D. in Exegetical Theology, Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Missouri).
Roger has a variety of national and international teaching experience apart from his years at AGTS: 5 years of teaching and/or coordinating at Central Bible College, St. Louis Extension; two short term classes at Full Gospel Chicago Bible College (Korean); a course at Asia Theological Centre for Evangelism and Missions in Singapore; a graduate course at Vanguard University in San Jose, Costa Rica; a graduate course at Evangel Theological Seminary in Kiev, Ukraine.
In addition to his teaching experience, Roger served 2 years as Minister of Christian Education at Republic Assembly of God and 4 years as a full-time Associate Pastor at West County Assembly of God in Chesterfield, Missouri.
He has contributed to several books and written articles for the following publications:
Pentecostal Evangel, Paraclete, A/G Educator, Advance, Enrichment Journal, Proceedings of the Central States SBL and ASOR, Journal of Pentecostal Theology. Roger wrote the Commentary on Leviticus and more than 120 word studies in The Complete Biblical Library Series.
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Dr. Willard Teague
Dr. Teague is co-author of the
Faith & Action course
Survey of the New Testament. He currently serves as Academic Dean of the School of Bible and Theology at Global University. He earned a B.A. from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, an M.A. and M.Div. from the Assemblies of God Theological
Seminary, and a D. Min. from Denver Seminary. He has a diploma in French Studies from Lemania College in Lausanne, Switzerland. As an Assemblies of God missionary he served from 1986 to 1998 as President of West Africa Advanced School of Theology in Lomé, Togo, founded the WAAST International Chapel, and began a program of distance education.
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Rev. Edgardo Rolando Muñoz
Edgardo is co-author of the
Faith & Action courses
First and Second Corinthians and
Romans & Galatians. He holds a Master's Degree in Theology. Since 1981 he has served as Pastor of Avance Cristiano Church in Temperley, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has taught at Río de la Plata Bible Institute,
Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires since 1981, and served there as Dean from 1985 to 1997. Since then, he has served as Assistant Director of that institution. From 1988 to 2003 he was a member of the Board of Directors of Christian Education Services. In 1996 he was named Secretary of Instituto de Superación Ministerial (ISUM), and continues in that position. Along with his duties as pastor, teacher, Assistant Director, and secretary, he presently serves as National President of the Christian Education Department of the Assemblies of God in Argentina (since 1998); National Director of the Bible Institutes in Argentina (since 1990); and Chief Editor of "Conozca" Magazine (since 1997).
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Rev. Floyd Woodworth
Floyd is co-author of the
Faith & Action course
First and Second Corinthians. He is the son of Assemblies of God pioneers in the United States. He completed studies at Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Missouri, and later graduated with a B.A. from Bethany Peniel College in Oklahoma.
He started his missionary work with a “hitch-hiked” trip to Mexico City, where he enrolled for classes at the university to learn the language of Cervantes. Soon, at the request of the Assemblies of God, Floyd went to Cuba to help teach pastors. He remained there for 10 years as professor and Director of the Bible School.
In 1964, Floyd and his wife, Mildred, and their three children moved to Colombia to train teachers and pastors. Floyd strengthened his writing skills by earning an M.A. in Latin American Literature from the University of Southern California. He then began training Latin-American evangelical writers.
Floyd started
CONOZCA, a magazine that reached evangelical ministers across Latin America and in some European countries. He authored several books, including
La escalera de la predicación, Hacia el arte de escribir, Hacia la meta, y Verdades fundamentales. With his colleagues at Servicio de Educación Cristiana (Christian Education Services), he led workshops on editing, helped edit several textbooks for Latin American Seminaries, and taught classes in Bible, Theology, and Ministry for Instituto de Superación Ministerial (ISUM), as well as M.A. studies for Facultad de Teología.
In his 58 years of missionary ministry, Floyd taught in every Latin American country, as well as in Haiti, Jamaica, Canada, Belgium, Spain, and the Canary Islands. In more recent years, he has served as an editor for books on the history of the Assemblies of God in Latin America. His contribution to God’s kingdom has impacted thousands of Latin American pastors, evangelists, writers, and missionaries.
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Martha A. Lane
Marti is co-author of the
Faith & Action course on teaching literacy—
Read the Light. She has been involved in community-based ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and literacy programs since 1966.
Marti was certified as a tutor, trainer, and instructor of writers through Laubach Literacy Action (now ProLiteracy America). Current certifications include Supervising Trainer for both Basic Literacy and ESOL, also through ProLiteracy America. She was the first Vice Chair of ProLiteracy America's Governance Council and served on ProLiteracy's first Strategic Planning Task Force. She is a member of the Core Knowledge Group for the National Institute for Literacy ESL Collection and consultant/designer for a variety of computer-assisted and internet-based ESL projects. Marti is best known for innovative curriculum development, championing of literacy students, training in computer-assisted training in learning, and organizing church-related and library-related literacy efforts. She co-authored the Laubach Way to English series and authored other books including: Handbook for Volunteer Reading Aids, Emergency English for Refugees, Passport to the World of English, Process for English and Civics Education, Jumping into English, and Living in Pinellas County. Marti graduated from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, where she majored in French Literature. She holds Master's degrees from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (Magazine Journalism) and Nova University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Computer-Based Training and Learning).
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Rev. Robert N. Biederman
Bob is co-author of the
Faith & Action course on teaching literacy—
Read the Light. He has served as a missionary with Literacy & Evangelism International (LEI) since 1992. Bob is the Director of North America for LEI.
Each year he spends time overseas helping create Bible-content adult literacy primers and training people in their use. He has participated in the development of 20 primers worldwide. Since 1998 he has directed Literacy Institutes in Brazil, India, Nepal, Tanzania, and the United States. He has also led many workshops to prepare volunteer teachers to use literacy primers. For the past 6 years he has directed the International Literacy Training Institute in Tulsa, Oklahoma to train pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers in literacy evangelism skills. Prior to joining LEI, Bob pastored the Olivet Covenant Church in Philadelphia for 10 years. He earned a B.A. degree from Houghton College, an M.Div. degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has taken graduate courses at Wheaton Graduate School and at the University of North Dakota (Summer Institute of Linguistics).
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About The Contributors
Dr. Stanley M. Horton
Dr. Horton consulted regularly for
Faith & Action and approved books in this series for biblical and theological accuracy. His degrees include a B.S. from the University of California, an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, an S.T.M. from Harvard University, and a Th.D. from Central Baptist Theological Seminary.
He was Distinguished Professor of Bible and Theology Emeritus at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. Dr. Horton wrote 400 articles and book reviews, and authored 46 books on topics such as Genesis, Amos, Matthew, John, Acts, First and Second Corinthians, Revelation, and the Holy Spirit.
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Dr. Robert E. Cooley
Dr. Cooley has provided hundreds of biblical and archaeological photos for
Faith & Action courses, and often reviews these books to confirm historical and cultural accuracy. His degrees include a B.A. in Biblical Studies and Archaeology from Wheaton College, an M.A. in Religious Education from
Wheaton College Graduate School, and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Studies and Near Eastern Archaeology from New York University. Dr. Cooley served as President and Professor of Biblical Studies and Archaeology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary from 1981-97. He currently serves in many outstanding positions, including Distinguished Professor of Biblical Archaeology, Jerusalem University; Counsel to the President for Strategic Leadership, Eastern Nazarene College; Distinguished Visiting Scholar, and Counsel to the President, Bethel College and Seminary; Chancellor and Professor of Biblical Studies and Archaeology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has written articles in publications such as
The Bulletin of the Near East Archaeological Society, The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land, Theological Education, and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East.
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Roger Stronstad
Roger reviewed the notes on 1 & 2 Peter in this course. He is an ordained minister with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, has a M.C.S. from Regent College, an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Christian Bible College, and a second honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary in
Cleveland, Tennessee. He is currently Scholar-in-Residence at Summit Pacific College, Abbotsford, British Columbia. Beyond his supporting constituency he is well-knownfor his participation in the Society for Pentecostal Studies, and for his books, such as his Commentary on First Peter (1993); The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke (1984); Spirit, Scripture and Theology (1995); and The Prophethood of All Believers (1999)—each of which has been published in updated editions. Roger served as co-editor (with French L. Arrington) of The Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary (1999). Presently, he is writing a biblical theology on the Old and New Testaments.
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Darlene Sullivan Robison
Darlene spent many hours assisting with research and editing on the
Faith & Action course
Marriage & Family. She holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Central Bible College, and an M.A. in Christian Education and an M.Div. (emphasis in Cross-cultural Communications) from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
As an ordained minister and U.S. Missionary of the Assemblies of God, she serves in church planting and leadership training in major urban centers among culturally diverse communities. Currently, she serves on the National Church Planting Team that focuses on urban issues and developing church planters. Darlene has designed and implemented programs and curriculum for various groups—to reach communities for Christ. She says that the greatest highlights of her life include being daughter to Roy and Evelyn, wife to Timothy, and mother to Leslie and Daniel.
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Dr. Anthony D. Palma
Dr. Palma reviewed the
Faith & Action course
The Life & Teachings of Christ for biblical and theological accuracy. His rich ministerial background includes pastoring a home missions church and serving as a home missionary to Native Americans.
He also served as a chaplain in the U.S. Naval Reserve where he earned the rank of commander. Dr. Palma has been an Assemblies of God (AG) educator since 1960. He served 12 years as an academic administrator in AG schools, and was professor of New Testament, Greek, and theology. His formal education consists of a B.A. from Central Bible College, an M.A. in Education from New York University, an M.Div. from New York Theological Seminary, and an S.T.M and Th.D. from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He has written numerous articles, authored several books, and taught in many countries around the world. In 1993, he was granted the Outstanding Educator Award by the Assemblies of God.
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Dr. Cary Tidwell
Dr. Cary reviewed the
Faith & Action course
Marriage & Family. He and his wife, Faye, served overseas as missionaries for 20 years. They began in West Africa, where they ministered in five countries. Then, for the next 13 years, Cary and Faye served in 12 European countries, directing the Eurasia Teen Challenge training ministry.
Through their work of teaching, training, children's ministry, and seminars, Cary and Faye were able to proclaim the healing message of Jesus Christ to many lost, hurting, and lonely people. During their last term of missionary service in Europe, Cary was family life coordinator for the Assemblies of God World Missions outreach in Europe to American servicemen and their families on bases throughout the continent. In this position, he and Faye conducted marriage, family, and singles retreats, and taught as guest teachers in Assemblies of God Bible schools in Europe.
Cary began ministry with the U.S. staff of Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) as secretary and then director of Personnel and Family Life. In that position, he supervised the missionary application process and coordinated pastoral care of the missionary family. He then served many years as the Executive Administrator of AGWM. In 2010 and 2011, he served as Special Assistant to the Executive Director of AGWM for a brief time.
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Dr. George W. Westlake, Jr.
Dr. Westlake contributed to the
Faith & Action course
Pastoral Ministry. He is pastor emeritus of the Sheffield Family Life Center in Kansas City, Missouri after serving as pastor there for 34 years. This church is an Assemblies of God, multiracial, multicultural congregation in the inner city.
It has an attendance on Sunday mornings of about 5,000, and has mothered several other churches.
Pastor Westlake has ministered on radio and television for over 35 years. Currently, he and his wife host a one-hour, call-in television program, "Living Answers for Today." The Westlakes have been married for over 50 years and have four children—all in ministry. He is a camp meeting and convention speaker, and has ministered in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Asia Pacific, and the Far East.
Pastor Westlake holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, and an M. Div. equivalency and D. Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is an adjunct faculty member at several schools, including the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Dr. Westlake is the author of two books,
Daniel/Revelation (published by Global University) and Most Often Asked Questions on Sunday Night Alive.
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Rev. Jim Mazurek
Jim reviewed and provided resources for the
Faith & Action course on Hermeneutics—
General Principles for Interpreting Scripture. He grew up as a missionary kid in Chile, from age 7 to 18.
He completed a B.A. in Bible at Central Bible College (CBC), where the faculty chose him for Who's Who Among College Students. After CBC, Jim married Ester Richard, and pastored 6 years in Nebraska and Colorado. Jim and Ester returned as missionaries to Chile, where they have served for over 25 years. Jim has earned the Licenciatura en Teologia from ISUM, and the M.A. en Teologia Practica from Latin American Theological Seminary, 2007. He has taught in ISUM for many years, served as SEC Coordinator in 2007, and in 2008 authored the book
Restauracionismo Apostálico, published by VIDA. Jim continues to serve as an Assemblies of God missionary in Chile, and is pursuing a doctorate.
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Dr. James O. Davis
Dr. Davis reviewed the
Faith & Action course on Homiletics,
Preach the Word. He earned his B.A. in Bible from Central Bible College and two masters' degrees at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
His D.Min. in Preaching was awarded by Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
For 12 years, Davis served as the National Evangelists Representative for the American Assemblies of God. He has served on the General Presbytery for the Assemblies of God, the Two-Thirds World Missions Board, the Committee on Missions, and as an adjunct professor at several Bible colleges and seminaries. He is founder of Cutting Edge International and co-founder of Billion Soul Network, a global evangelism and church planting thrust. Internationally, he is known for providing biblical solutions to today's hard problems.
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Rev. Larry Hatfield
Larry provided excellent illustrations for the Faith & Action course Romans & Galatians. Larry retired as senior pastor of Grand Assembly of God in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He and his wife, Helen, began pastoral ministry in 1963. They have lived by the principle, “Love God and love people.” The Hatfields have served various Assemblies of God churches in Oklahoma, and also traveled throughout the Southwest as evangelists for 8 years. They ministered at youth camps in North Carolina and Oklahoma. Larry served as a hospital chaplain for 8 years at City Hospital in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He studied at Oklahoma City Southwestern College, at East Central University, and Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas. His articles have frequently been published in the
Pentecostal Evangel. Larry supplied several illustrations for this course on
Romans & Galatians. He broadcasts a ‘Drive to Work’ morning devotional radio program called “Coffee with the Pastor.”
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Dr. Marvin Glenn Gilbert
Dr. Gilbert provided insights into family life for the
Faith & Action course
Marriage & Family. He is Dean of Post Graduate Studies at Cape Theological Seminary in South Africa.
He and his wife, Rosie, have been married over 40 years, and have two children, Stephen and Lisa.
Marvin's formal education includes a B.A. in Bible from Central Bible College, an M.S. in Psychology from Central Missouri State, and an Ed.D. in Counselor Education (minor in Family Relations) from Texas Tech.
Marvin and Rosie have served as Assemblies of God missionaries for over 25 years, taught Bible School classes, conducted many workshops or seminars on family matters and counseling, authored numerous articles for Pentecostal and psychological publications, and edited several books in the
Discovery Series. He has co-authored three books: The Holy Spirit and Counseling: Volumes I and II, Theology and Theory and Application; and Successful Family Living: An African View with Don Odunze, which has been a valuable resource for the Marriage & Family course.
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Rev. Terrence B. Johnson
Terry provided insights and reviewed the
Faith & Action book on Homiletics—
Preach the Word. He has a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Central Bible College. He is a third-generation Assemblies of God missionary to Brazil and began serving in 1988.
Since 1995, Terry has served as president of a network of educational ministries that include: Brazil Extension School of Theology (BEST), Brazil Advanced School of Theology (BAST), Pentecostal Bible Institute, and Children Of Brazil Outreach (COBO). Currently, BEST has 17,000 students throughout Brazil and in Portuguese-language churches in the U.S., Japan, and Canada. Since its founding in 1979, BEST has graduated 13,000 students. BAST now has 800 extension students. COBO has built 12 Christian schools and daycare centers, and has a total enrollment of 4,000.
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Rev Terry G. Peretti
Terry provided insights and review of the
Faith & Action course on
Hebrews. He and his wife, Marsha, have been Assemblies of God missionaries in Italy since 1976. Their first responsibilities there were to help establish the Teen Challenge ministry, where they
ministered in Northern Italy for 12 years, while pioneering the Assemblies of God church in the city of Acqui Terme. Today, that church is a vibrant testimony to the city, with a healthy congregation and a new facility. From Acqui the Perettis moved to Rome in 1992, where they pastored an English-speaking church for 5 years. Since 1997, they have evangelized throughout Italy and the Balkans. Terry teaches regularly at the Italian Bible Institute, and both he and Marsha are regular visiting faculty at the Evangelical Theological School of Tirana, Albania. Terry also directs the Correspondence Bible School of Italy with over 2,000 active students. Terry received his B.A. in Bible and Theology from Northwest University in 1970, and his M.A. in Biblical Literature from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in 1993. He has co-authored a college course on Hebrews with Global University.
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Dr. Wayne McCown
Dr. McCown has shaped and reviewed the
Faith & Action course on
Hebrews. He has a rich background of academic preparation: B.A. summa cum laude (Religion and Greek) Seattle Pacific University (1963); a B.D. (M.Div.) Asbury Theological Seminary
(1966); M.A. (Classical Studies) University of Washington (1967); Th.M. (Biblical Studies) Union Theological Seminary (1968); Ph.D. (New Testament) Union Theological Seminary (1970), [with a doctoral thesis on Hebrews]; post-doctoral studies (Higher Educational Administration) University of Oregon (1983-85).
Currently Dr. McCown serves at Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College (RWC) as Vice President, (Founding) Dean and Professor of Bible and Ministry, since 1998. Prior to this he served at RWC as Professor of Biblical Studies (1988-1998); Senior Vice President and Provost (1991-1997); Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean (1988-1990). He was Superintendent, Southern California-Arizona Conference, Free Methodist Church, 1985-1988; Dean, Western Evangelical Seminary, 1978-1985; Professor of Biblical Studies and Division Chair, Western Evangelical Seminary, 1973-85; Assistant Professor of Religion and Classical Languages, Seattle Pacific University, 1970-1973. His many literary accomplishments include serving on the Christian Holiness Partnership Editorial Committee for the
Reflecting God Study Bible (Zondervan, 2000).
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Dr. William Menzies
Dr. Menzies confirmed the biblical and theological accuracy of the Acts course. His degrees include a B.A. from Central Bible College (CBC), a B.A. and an M.A. from Wheaton College, and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.
He did additional graduate work at New York Theological Seminary, Golden Gate Theological Seminary, and Pacific School of Religion. He pastored for 7 years. His teaching and administrative experience included: 12 years at CBC; Chairman of the Biblical Studies Department at Evangel University from its beginning in 1970 to 1980; teaching at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary from 1974-1983; Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Biblical and Historical Theology at California Theological Seminary, 1985-1987; President and Professor of Bible, Theology, and History at Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS) from 1989-1996. In addition he taught and lectured numerous times in the USA, Asia Pacific, Southern Asia, and Eurasia. Dr. Menzies served as the co-founder and first president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies (SPS), the first editor of SPS's journal,
Pneuma, and consulting editor of Christianity Today. He served as co-chairman of the Editorial Committee for The Full Life Study Bible. Among the many books he wrote are Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective, Gospel Publishing House, 1993, and Spirit and Power, (co-authored with Dr. Robert P. Menzies), Zondervan, 2000.
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Dr. A. H. (Bert) Dyson
Dr. Dyson provided many resources for the
Faith & Action course on teaching literacy,
Read the Light. He is an emeritus missionary of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, served as missionary teacher and administrator for 35
years in West Africa. Dr. Dyson received his B.A. from Sam Houston State University and an M.A. from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. He earned his D.Ed. from the University of Georgia. His research was in the field of Applied Linguistics. He founded the Department of Adult Education for the Nigerian Baptist Convention and served as its director for 18 years. Since becoming an emeritus missionary, he returns overseas to lead training conferences for literacy leaders. Annually he trains overseas literacy workers at Literacy & Evangelism International in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of Literacy Workshops, A Leader's Guide, which has been translated into Portuguese, French, and Spanish. He also edits a newsletter used by literacy workers in 54 countries to keep abreast of current literacy trends and technology.
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Dr. Robert F. Rice
Dr. Rice provided the impetus to develop and much information to be included in the
Faith & Action course on teaching literacy—
Read the Light. He founded Literacy & Evangelism International in 1967 and was Director until 1994.
After receiving B.D. and Th.M. degrees from Princeton Seminary (thesis: Literacy as a Means of Evangelism in Foreign Missions), Dr. Rice served with the Korea Presbyterian Mission 1950-1965. Work in Korea included reaching over 700 beggar boys and street children for Christ and distributing more than 80 million Gospel tracts, booklets, and periodicals. He completed Ph.D. residency requirements in Religion at Temple University and received an honorary D.D. degree from Sterling College. He directed construction of Bible-content adult literacy primers in over 130 languages. He worked with over 140 different missions, national churches, and Christian organizations. He traveled around the world over 40 times to develop primers and conduct training workshops.
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Rev. Carey Jo Johnston
Carey provided information about primers for the
Faith & Action course on teaching literacy—
Read the Light. She has worked with Literacy & Evangelism International since 1989.
Carey Jo has assisted in the development of over 50 primers in various languages and countries. Currently she teaches at LEI's International Training Institutes, coordinates the Primer Construction requests, and coordinates ministry opportunities in Canada. She also has a team ministry at Knox Bobcaygeon Presbyterian Church with her husband, Paul.
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Professor Gerdine Stanton
Gerry was involved in research for the
Faith & Action course on teaching literacy—
Read the Light. She is a former college professor and overseas missionary. Gerry earned a B.A. degree from Hope College and M.A. degrees in Missiology and Theology
from Fuller Theological Seminary. Mrs. Stanton and her husband, Robert, served as missionaries in Lahore, Pakistan for 17½ years. She was active in Sunday school and small group leadership and served on the Board of Kinnaird College for Women. She later taught Christian education and missions at Oral Roberts University for 13 years. The School of Theology awarded her a Service Award. More recently she wrote and taught correspondence courses for the ORU School of Life-Long Education and served for 2 years as Director of Public Relations for Literacy & Evangelism International.
Thanks also to Jean Hord, Andre Noureux, and Patty Hickman for providing important background information, statistics, and testimonies for the course.
Special thanks to Rev. John Taylor (former Director of Literacy & Evangelism), Georg Ort, and Bob Biederman for their work in editing and reviewing the curriculum at each phase of development.
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Rev. Donald C. Stamps
Don wrote all of the articles and all of the study notes in the original
Full Life Study Bible. He earned his B.A. and M.A. from Southern Nazarene University (Bethany, Oklahoma), and his M.Div. from Nazarene Theological Seminary (Kansas City, Missouri).
Don and his wife, Linda, pastored a church in Kansas for 2 years before they went to Brazil as missionaries. During his years as an Assemblies of God missionary in Brazil, Don wrote the notes and articles in the Full Life Study Bible to provide a resource for pastors that would give them direction in their thinking and preaching. He served as a missionary for 13 years until his death in 1991. Don is survived by his wife of 25 years, Linda, and three children, all of whom are serving the Lord.
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Sandy Askew
Sandy provided years of knowledge and editorial expertise for the
Faith & Action course
Children's Ministry. She served for 25 years in the National Assemblies of God Sunday School Department; 18 years as Early Childhood Consultant (1974-1991), and
22 years as Coordinator of Boys and Girls Missionary Crusade [now Challenge] (1977-1999). Since retiring, Sandy and her husband, Charles, served 2 years as Missionary Associates in Brussels with International Media Ministries.
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Ed and Sonja Corbin
Ed helped outline the course and provided resources for storytelling and curriculum development in the
Faith & Action course
Children's Ministry. Ed and Sonja have been full time in the field of children's ministers since 1973. They have served as children's
evangelists, children's pastors, and spent 8 years in Christian television. Their program "Toddler's Friends" was aired in more than 400 cities across America and is still seen on TBN stations in South Africa. Since 1989 they have traveled across Africa, conducting large-scale children's evangelistic meetings and training thousands of workers to minister to the needs of children. Ed and Sonja are the founders of the Jackson's Ridge Children's Ministries Training Centre located in South Africa. Jackson's Ridge hosts a wide variety of special interest children's ministries training courses and also offers an outstanding children's camping program based on "challenge initiatives." Children who are victims of abuse and neglect are ministered to in Royal Family Kids' Camps, hosted throughout the country. Jackson's Ridge is also home to the JR Baby Shelter, a transitional care home for abandoned and HIV babies. Jackson's Ridge is the leader in children's ministry resources such as books, props, clowning supplies, balloons, gospel illusions, puppets, and ventriloquism supplies. Ed is the author of the Children's Ministries Practicum course as well as many other "how to" booklets pertaining to children's ministries. He also developed Safari Club, a curriculum for Africa. Ed and Sonja are all about "changing children's lives."
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Rev. Phil and Robin Malcolm
Phil provided information about children's crusades and ways to teach children, while Robin gave editorial assistance to the
Faith & Action course
Children's Ministry. The Malcolms served as Assemblies of God missionaries to the children of West Africa for
14 years. During their first term, the Malcolms worked in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, building Sunday schools, training children's church leaders, and promoting AIDS awareness to children. In 2006 the Malcolms relocated to Lomé, Togo, where they helped national churches reach their children with the gospel. Then, their ministry expanded, and they have traveled to every region of the world, training children's ministers and helping missionaries and national churches plant and grow children's ministries. The Malcolms have two children, Jacob and Grace.
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Rev. Mike and Kari Ness
Mike provided several testimonies, object lesson ideas, and information from a pastoral and practical view for the
Faith & Action course
Children's Ministry. He also reviewed every lesson in depth. Mike and Kari were Assemblies of God missionaries to
Tanzania, and are now in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They were involved in children's evangelism, AIDS education, and religious education in public schools. The Nesses trained children's ministers through local, regional, and national seminars. They worked with the Tanzania Assemblies of God national children's department to develop and/or translate materials for children. They completed the translation project of Safari Club—a one-year curriculum for children's church. They also completed a series of object lessons to supplement a locally developed curriculum for children, especially in the religious education hour of public schools. They are currently developing a children's ministry program for Congo. Mike has an M. Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary.
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Sandra Mundis
Sandra provided information on how to evangelize children through
The Puzzle for the
Faith & Action course
Children's Ministry. Sandra is the wife of Greg, Director of Assemblies of God World Missions, and mother of two grown children.
She is a longtime missionary, having lived 18 years in Austria. A teacher by profession, Sandra has been active in children's ministry for many years. She was coordinator for [Save] Europe's Children, a ministry that reaches out to children of Europe through evangelism, Christian education, and compassion ministries.
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Rev. Robb Hawks
Robb Hawks provided information about curriculum development and object lessons for the
Faith & Action course
Children's Ministry. Robb is an Assembly of God missionary with the Oral Learns Initiative in Orlando, Florida.
He has served over 25 years in children's ministry, in such ways as children's evangelist, children's pastor, National Royal Ranger Production Coordinator, and missionary in Europe. Robb wrote and produced 26 television programs for children through International Media Ministry. He has written five books on children's ministry.
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Carolyn and Eugene Hunt
Carolyn provided several testimonies and information about Missionettes for the
Faith & Action course
Children's Ministry. She and Eugene served as Assemblies of God missionaries for over 30 years—first in the Dominican Republic and then in Costa Rica.
They have two grown children. Carolyn has two undergraduate degrees: a Spanish B.S. in Theology through ISUM and a B.A. from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Christian Education. She worked extensively throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting Missionettes and training leaders, as well as developing, coordinating, and adapting curricular materials for girls on this continent.
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Rev. Jay Risner
Jay helped outline the course and provided information about how to communicate with children [chapter 7], storytelling, ventriloquism, and puppetry. Jay has been involved in children's ministries for over 35 years.
He has been a professional ventriloquist since 1976 using JoJo. In 1980 Jay and his wife, Debbie, went into full-time ministry for children using all that they had learned and produced. Jay was a children's pastor for 10 years before becoming a missionary to Africa. In 1990, while in Kenya, he began the performance and production of a children's TV show, "Rainbow Surprise," that is reaching over 13 million people each week. He still oversees that ministry. In 1998 Jay worked as the International Specialist for Children's Ministries in the Assemblies of God, traveling across the world—training, performing, and developing Children's Ministries in many nations. Jay and Debbie served as children's pastors at James River Assembly in Springfield, Missouri and at Timberline Church in Fort Collins, Colorado. Each church had multiple services for children each weekend. Jay also served as the District Children's Ministry Director for the Colorado District beginning in 2005. In 2007, Jay and Debbie returned to full-time missions service as international children's ministers.
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Mindy and Steve Benintendi
Mindy helped outline the course and provided editorial oversight for the
Faith & Action course
Children's Ministry. Mindy and Steve served as missionaries with the Assemblies of God for 20 years. They have lived in Malaysia and Singapore.
Then they developed the PowerMark comic series, the Seekers Series Comics, and KidsQuest outreaches. They are committed to reaching children with the gospel, creating tools to equip the church to do so, and training teachers to effectively minister to children.
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Steve and Tece Entsminger
Steve contributed ideas on reaching and discipling children, especially in their times of great need, for the
Faith & Action course
Children’s Ministry. Steve and Tece have served as Assemblies of God missionaries since 1990 in the Latin America/Caribbean
and Europe regions. They are the founders and directors of King’s Castle Ministry in Honduras, training young workers to reach and disciple children through creative ways such as puppets, clowns, and human videos. More than 100 local churches and 1500 people work in King’s Castle Ministry in Honduras.
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Candace Williams
Candace contributed ideas for games with a purpose for the
Faith & Action course
Children’s Ministry. She taught for 10 years before becoming a missionary with her husband, Mark, in 1983.
Her ministry has included teaching in Sunday schools and Missionettes, and training others to reach children. While in Belgium, Candace hosted annual teacher training seminars in an interdenominational setting. Then in Spain, she trained young people in local churches to conduct child evangelism meetings, and trained Sunday school teachers in seminars across the country. Candace was also a training consultant for [Save] Europe’s Children. Candace and Mark currently serve with Global Teen Challenge.
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Darrell and Sandy Blatchley
Darrell provided many testimonies and ideas for reaching children outside the church for the
Faith & Action course
Children’s Ministry. Darrell and Sandy served as missionaries in Thailand from 1985 for 10 years.
In 1995 they became missionaries to the children of Asia, beginning their current outreach in the Philippines. The Blatchleys created the “Family Circus Children’s ministry” that shares the gospel in a fun and creative manner that attracts children and their families. They are known as “Uncle Darrell” and “Aunt Sandy” to thousands of children. Christ’s love is a hidden reality for many of Asia’s children. Darrell and Sandy target some of the least evangelized—children from the streets and slums of Asia, many of whom eke out an existence from nearby garbage dumps. The Family Circus Ministry includes feeding programs, dental assistance, and other health services. Darrell has written six books on creative children’s ministry, which have been translated into several languages and used in more than 30 countries.
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Steve and Karen Jester
Steve provided information on reaching at-risk children in Africa. Steve and Karen have been in ministry for over 35 years—10 in pastoral ministry and then in Africa. Their African years include ministry in Sierra Leone and Senegal, with Africa’s Children,
reaching out to help at-risk children, and currently with Africa’s Hope. Steve has a B.A. from Southwestern AG University, an M.Div. from the AG Theological Seminary, and pursued a Ph.D through TEDS in intercultural studies with a dissertation focus on at-risk children in Africa.
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Larry and Penny Sauter
Larry provided information concerning helping children with disabilities. Larry and Penny were US home missionaries. They evangelized, discipled, counseled, encouraged, and empowered people with disabilities under the ministry of Special
Touch Ministry—an interdenominational ministry for people with disabilities. Special Touch is the recognized ministry to people with disabilities of the Assemblies of God. Prior to missionary appointment, the Sauters were houseparents for neglected children and youth. Larry also worked in residential treatment for severely disturbed children and youth, and served as a Christian Education Director in an Assemblies of God church. He earned a B.S. in Business Education from Illinois State University, an M.A. in Special Education from Western Michigan Universityand then his doctorate in special education at Illinois State University. For a time Larry taught at Valley Forge Christian College He presently serves on staff of a church.
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Christine and Jim Hosack
Christine provided information concerning Missionettes in the
Faith & Action course
Children’s Ministry. The Hosacks have served in Asia Pacific since 1984, often training children’s workers.
Christine coordinates Missionettes in Thailand, where she directs and edits the translation of the Missionettes curriculum into Thai. She also inspires and guides local churches to establish the ministry of Missionettes.
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Matthew and Eva Barlow
Eva provided an article on how to minister to deaf children for the
Faith & Action course
Children’s Ministry. The Barlows became fully appointed Assemblies of God missionaries in 1999, but they began working as missionary associates to Nicaragua in
1994. That year, they started a deaf ministry, and in 1998, they founded a school for the deaf that includes preschool through high school. Teaching deaf high school youth in Nicaragua is a pioneer effort made possible through the Barlow’s relationship with the government’s Special Education Department! God has opened many doors for their ministry to deaf children, youth, and adults in Nicaragua.
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Ron and Sheryl Sellers
Ron provided information about “why” churches should be involved in ministry to children plus ideas for reaching children in the church in the
Faith & Action course
Children’s Ministry. Ron and Sheryl have been Assemblies of God missionaries since 1994. They live in Madurai Tamil Nadu and minister to children and children’s workers in Southern Asia. They teach in several Bible colleges, such as Tamil Bible College, Trinity Ladies College, MABC, SABC, and Sri Lanka AG Bible College. Ron teaches children’s ministry, and Sheryl teaches Health and Hygiene. They have raised up many national children’s leaders and evangelists. They also do children’s camps, VBS, and children’s crusades. Sheryl is an LPN and Ron has a B.A. in pastoral ministries from Southeastern College.
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Doug and Kerry Marsh
Doug provided information about Royal Rangers for the
Faith & Action course
Children’s Ministry. The Marshes have served as Assembies of God missionaries since 1993, developing the Royal Rangers ministry in Latin America, the Caribbean, and
worldwide. Royal Rangers seeks to develop the total student for Christ—physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Currently, Doug is Director of Royal Rangers International (www.RoyalRangersInternational.com).
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Marcae Robertson
Marcae provided information about Junior Bible Quiz for the
Faith & Action course
Children’s Ministry. She began teaching Sunday school and children’s cell groups at the age of 14.
She taught Special Education for 5 years in public school and then served as an Assemblies of God missionary with her husband, Nick, for two terms in Eurasia. There, she taught children’s ministry courses in Bible School and conducted children’s ministry conferences to train children’s workers. Marcae has written numerous materials for Sunday school and VBS.
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Rev. Phil Taylor
Pastor Phil spent many hours assisting in research, collecting illustrations, compiling notes, and editing manuscripts for the
Faith & Action course
Acts of the Holy Spirit. Also, he led his congregation to pray and give generously toward the completion,
printing, translation, and distribution of Acts of the Holy Spirit and other Faith & Action books.
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Rev. Donald G. Couch
Pastor Don spent many hours assisting in research, collecting illustrations, compiling notes, and editing manuscripts for the
Faith & Action course
Acts of the Holy Spirit. Also, he led his congregation to pray and give generously toward the completion,
printing, translation, and distribution of Acts of the Holy Spirit.
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