Rhema Bible Church

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To the graduating class of 2017

Pastor Hagin often says, “Ministry is spelled W-O-R-K!”

And he’s right. Our upside down kingdom requires work—most unseen and unknown to others—from its citizens.

Public teaching and preaching is the fun part of ministry. However, there’s a lot that happens from week to week. Walking alongside others through the mountains and valleys of life is an endless, and often thankless, task. My dad is a pastor and it’s often hard for him to describe his work to others.

Graduation is less than two weeks away, which is why my thoughts are drifting more and more towards this idea of life and ministry.

Many think of the two areas as separate—this is my life and this is my ministry—but there really cannot be a line of demarcation.

My friends who are leaving Rhema for the great wide world are faced with this reality. I understand their conundrum because I’m staring down the barrel of the same gun—I just have a little more time to think about it since I don’t graduate until next May.

Thankfully, our instructors have been pointing us in this direction all along. Our launch date into the great race of life, the passing of the baton, is never far from their minds.

These are men and women are Rhema alumni. They’ve been on the mission field, served/are serving in the local church, and brought their families along for the ride. I am thankful for their willingness to teach us not only biblical truths but also practical life applications of the truth.

I have no doubt that my friends are leaving Rhema prepared.

Their hard work started the moment they moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, flipping their entire lives upside down to follow God. Most of my friends have worked odd hours at two to three jobs for the opportunity to study God’s Word in order to become fully equipped ministers of the gospel.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2017!

Go into the world and teach people about faith and what it means to follow Jesus. Know that those went before you and those who are coming behind you are cheering you on!

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Student Lock-in this Friday!

This weekend is the Student Lock-In! If you are a current Rhema student, come to the NRC this Friday, February 10, for a fun night of:

GAMES, MOVIES, AND TONS OF FUN!

You will be on either Team Dusty or Team Christy to battle it out over:

  • Dodgeball
  • Foursquare
  • Sardines
  • Tic Tac Toe (relay style)
  • Giant piñata

 

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Team Dusty

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Team Christy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could keep going, but trust me! It’s going to be fun! Did I mention there will also be table top games such as UNO? (Are you ready for Friday to be here yet?)

Dusty is making homemade chili for dinner, and there will be biscuits and gravy for breakfast.

The student life crew is asking for students to bring snacks and drinks for the rest of the night.

Also, you will need to bring socks if you want to skate (Oh yeah! Did I mention we’ll be skating?), and a pillow/blanket for the movie area.

We hope to see you this Friday! It will be a great way to make new friends, have some fun, and kick off the weekend.

P.S. For the older Rhema students, there will be coffee. If you can make it all night, that’s okay.  Join us for as long as possible! 

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Faith is a lifestyle

kenneth-e-haginKenneth E. Hagin’s testimony is the reason Rhema Bible Training College exists. It’s hard to fathom sometimes the deep, unwavering commitment Bro. Hagin had to the Father. Of course, we all know that to those whom much has been given much is required.

My favorite Bro. Hagin stories are the ones where he was just living life—paying bills, running errands, etc. I was recently reading The Midas Touch for a class and came across this statement “I was putting on my socks one day and the Lord spoke to me…”

I had to stop reading for a moment. Wait a minute. Bro. Hagin put on socks?!? Then I started laughing…of course Bro. Hagin put on socks! He was a man, right?

Rhema’s goal is to train ministers of the gospel, men and women who follow God in everyday moments and also in extraordinary ways. We are repeatedly told that the stories shared in classes are for us to see that God will move in our lives.

This is the main reason I was drawn to Rhema. I didn’t want to go to a college that only dealt with hypothetical situations.

rbtc-sealI wanted to go to a college that not only challenged me but also equipped me to walk out my beliefs.

I wanted to go to a college that encouraged me to start living out the truth on the job, in the grocery store, and running errands.

Bro. Hagin’s mandate from God was to “teach my people faith” and his legacy continues through the thousands of Rhema graduates around the world.

If Father God is calling you into ministry, you need to check out Rhema Bible Training College. Come and see what He is doing in the student body’s lives. A great way to do that is during our Spring College Weekend. For more information please visit, www.rhema.org/rcw

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RBTC at Power & Love Conference

Last weekend the student ambassadors had the opportunity to set up a booth during the Power & Love conference. 

Pastor Craig Hagin was invited to speak by his good friend and evangelist Todd White. Of course, RBTC had to be represented! A student event was moved to a different date, BUT it was worth the change of plans.

rbtc-power-and-loveThe response by the conference goers was phenomenal!

Most of the attendees were from different states–many had never heard of Rhema, so our ambassadors were able to introduce them to our college and ministry.

Todd White invited us back on Saturday night when he was sharing.

When the ambassadors arrived, our table was almost empty of materials! It was set up on Saturday morning and people were stopping by all day.

Being flexible gave our Admissions Office an unexpected open door for recruiting. Can you imagine if we’d said no to eat chili and watch a movie? (Note: There’s nothing wrong with fellowship, but it’s important to know when to disappoint the right people.)

Now we have a TON of perspective students out there with our material–and I guarantee they will do some recruiting for us just by telling others within their sphere of influence. 

I wanted to share the success from the conference because I want to ask for your help.

Is your church/ministry having a conference in 2017 RBTC should know about? Please let the Admissions Office know! We are always looking for opportunities to share Rhema with others! 

Contact the Recruiting Department by phone at 918-258-1588 ext 2379or by email at cwicks@rhema.org

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Thanksgiving Blessings

rbtc-sealThanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

It’s a great time to reflect on the blessings of being in Christ—He’s given us everything!—and to recall all the ways His hand is moving in our lives.

Did I mention that turkey and dressing is one of my most favorite meals?

There’s nothing like a good pan of dressing (or stuffing as it is known by my friends above the Mason-Dixon Line) to make the heart happy.

And while I am thrilled that my family is invading Broken Arrow to visit me, I was reminded that many of my fellow Rhema classmates will not be sitting around the dinner table with their natural family.

The good news, though, is that no one will be alone because the Rhema family is huge—and worldwide!

Many graduates add extra dinner plates to their tables.

Many current students bring a passel of people home with them for the week.

I’m reminded of the words of Jesus in Mark 10:29-30:

Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

I am so thankful for the friendships that are burgeoning this school year!

My more extroverted personality makes me a social butterfly, so leaving the place where my roots run deepest was a challenge for me.

Jesus’ promise, however, remains a source of constant comfort and encouragement.

I have sat around numerous tables with new friends, both students and alumni, since moving to Oklahoma. Every single person has told me the same thing:

If you ever need anything—and I mean anything—do not hesitate to call.

This one statement illustrates the Rhema family at its best. And it’s one of the many reasons I give thanks for Rhema Bible Training College.

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Rhema College Weekend

I knew it was time for a change and I prayed for six months with no clear direction as to what I needed to do.

My answer came in an email with this subject line:

It’s not too late to go to Rhema

And I remember thinking, “It’s not too late! Going to Rhema is something that I’ve wanted to do for 5 years…maybe the time is now.”

I told my dad and stepmom what the Father was laying on my heart and, of course, they both said, “Sounds great to me! You need to go check it out.”

My parents are both Rhema graduates, but they never once said a word to me about attending Rhema. It’s their desire for all of their children follow God and be led by Him.

My dad and I drove out for College Weekend and we prayed a big prayer:

Father, we’re believing I will have a place to live and/or a job by the end of this weekend.

I knew immediately Rhema was truly the next step for me.

From visiting classes to the session with Dean Tad to the current students I met at lunch—the entire weekend was awesome.

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We can’t wait to meet you!

And guess what? God answered my prayer!

I met the sweetest woman at church who offered me a place to live on the spot. It was a total God connection because she was a family friend who my parents hadn’t heard from in many years.

This was the first of many moments where God cleared the path for me to become a student.

If God will do it for me, I know He’ll do it for you!

I encourage you to make the trip out for College Weekend. If there’s a stirring in your heart to attend Rhema, you need to come.

Click here to sign up!

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High Expectations

There is a high level of expectation and excitement at the beginning of the school year. Students are pumped and you hear things like: “I’m following Jesus, baby! Nothing will slow me down!”

You can feel the energy in the air and it’s quite electric. Girls and guys look their best, act their best, and say their best.

Imagine a diamond ring in a display case. Everything about it sparkles and glimmers. 

I think this is awesome! Students should be excited. In fact, they should come to school expecting great things to happen.

Miraculous events take place all throughout the school year at Rhema and I truly believe it’s because there’s a multiplied level of expectancy.

It would be harder for me to believe that 300+ faith-filled, Spirit-filled Christians are hanging out in one place and God didn’t show up on a daily basis.

However, I am always a bit skeptical for the same reasons I get excited…

Being overly emotional leads many Christians astray. The need to be “spiritual” is dangerous.

rbtc-sealI often wonder how we can be any more spiritual than “I am a spirit, I have a soul, and I live in a body.”

So what’s with the need to be more “spiritual”?

I believe it boils down to a misplaced sense of what it means to be significant, yet trying to gain significance by impressing others leads many Christian leaders down a road of empty accolades.

True significance is only found in Christ. No man or woman can meet that need.

As the school year progresses (or you’re preparing to come to Rhema next year), here’s my encouragement to you: 

 Always be excited.

Always be real.

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Walk in the reality that you’re approved by God and called into ministry by God.

And know that you’re a vital part of the Rhema family, a part of Brother Hagin’s God-given commission to “Go teach my people faith.” 

 

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Rockets Over Rhema

I went to Rockets Over Rhema for the first time tonight. 

It was great!

Here are the highlights:

  • Enjoyed some fair food 
  • Got some freebies at the various booths
  • Checked out the car show
  • Hung out with several of my friends
  • Saw one of the coolest firework displays I have ever seen

The weather wasn’t bad, either. We had a few run ins with a storm, but the weather held until after the fireworks. 

Now for a few pictures. 


The blue car was Brother Hagin’s transportation to all the crusades before they started flying him everywhere. 

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Loving the Cantankerous

One of the lady’s at the nursing home was being feisty today. 

Who’s the boss lady?!? 

What’s a woman gotta do to eat around here? 

She came walking through the cafeteria and wanted to address the group. 

One of our more outgoing chapel goers tried to get her to quiet down and join us. Her loud reply was:

Listen here, lady, I own this place!

At this point, I stifled my urge to laugh and stepped into the situation. 

All I did was walk over to my new friend, stretch out my hand, and ask her to take a walk with me. 

We strolled to the nurses station where my friend was given a banana to snack on until dinner time.

 She walked happily back towards her room, greeting (very loudly) everyone she met. 

Obviously my boisterous new friend has a touch of dementia, but what I saw the most was her loneliness and desire to be understood. 

She smiled at me the whole time we were walking and she did not want to let go of my hand. 

Most of my friends at the nursing home never have visitors, yet they ask for prayer for their family members. 

Whenever I get an opportunity to pray with my friends, I make it a point to ask the Father to show them how much He loves them that week. I ask Him to whisper in their ear, “You’re never alone.”

I am glad my friend interrupted chapel today. 

It was a good reminder to me that my job is to help others–no matter how cantankerous they’re acting.  

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Confessions of an Easily Excitable Person

The idea of “So the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) is completely wrecking my thinking.  

As I read back through yesterday’s post, I realized that I need to apologize.

My goal was not to be a cynic but to draw some attention to the fact that Christians are called, compelled, motivated–and all the other synonyms–by the love of Christ to share the gospel. 

Let’s take this a step further: If Christians are to be like Jesus, that means John 1:14 is talking about us. When my friend Pastor Gwen preached on the subject (I blogged about that a few weeks ago) her words reminded me of the restlessness in my heart.

My faith needs action because it’s actually a bit ADD when it comes to just sitting still.

Once again, this is all I’m talking about these days (Lord, please let me still have a few friends who read my posts!)

Before I came to Rhema, I was already antsy when I read the Word and saw these truths. Then I came to Rhema.

Most days I feel like a volcano that is dangerously close to blowing up.

KA-BOOM!!!!!

How can you sit under Bible teaching 3 hours a day and not get fired up? Lord, please…I need some Ritalin–better yet I need to start serving!

So I have found several places to serve both within Rhema Bible Church and within another organization. 

The reason for my apology is because I am a bit of a zealot when excited. It’s just the extrovert in me, I guess, but this is me:

Ms. Excited-About-What’s-Happening-You-Should-Be-Too.

I will try to be less of a nut, okay?

Please know, though, that my heart is not to be a cynic. If you feel like I am being too critical, please let me know.