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Wreaths Across America Day 2023

Don Biadog — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 21:00:44 +0000

USMC Marine Renders Honors and Salutes the Mother of the Fleet of the United States Navy, Verna M. Linzey, and Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr. on Wreaths Across America Day

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, the United States Navy ‘Mother of the Fleet,’ the late Verna M. Linzey, D.D., was honored and saluted by PFC Gabriel Pangle, USMC at Wreaths Across America ceremony, hosted by Miramar National Cemetery. He also rendered honors to Verna’s husband, the late Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr., CHC, USN (Ret.), who was a World War II hero as a survivor of the sinking of the USS Yorktown in the Battle of Midway.

The mission of Wreaths Across America is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and to teach the next generation the value of freedom. On National Wreaths Across America Day, active duty military personnel and volunteers gather in about 3,000 communities across America to place wreaths at the headstones of national heroes to commemorate them and keep the memory of them alive, lest their contributions to national security and efforts to protect American’s freedoms be forgotten.

What Verna Linzey did was build the largest Sunday School in the United States Navy at Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California. Adding to this seemingly impossible task was that she did it in two years from 1968 to 1970. For this incredible feat, Admiral Frederick C. Johnson, USN, awarded Verna Linzey the title “Mother of the Fleet of the United States Navy.” “Fleet” is a metaphor for the student body of 100 students, which included all the grade levels of dependent children and active duty personnel.

How this contributes to national security is by spiritually equipping active duty personnel for war. Also, when their children’s spiritual needs are being met, their active duty fathers and mothers can better focus on deployments and national security.

Organizations that support or partner with Wreaths Across American include American Gold Star Mothers, Civil Air Patrol, Young Marines, Gold Star Wives of America, United We Stand to Win, Daughters of the American Revolution, Military Women’s Memorial and Grove, Patriot Guard Riders, United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, and Military Bible Association.

Last Saturday about 4,000 military personnel and civilians, including Chaplain (MAJ) James F. Linzey, USA (Ret.), gathered at Miramar National Cemetery just outside MCAS Miramar, San Diego, to remember Verna Linzey and about 16,000 other heroes who have fought for America and contributed in vital ways to America’s national security.

PFC Gabriel Pangle, USMC, who was selected to place the wreaths and render honors to Verna Linzey and Stanford Linzey, is considered to be the most highly distinguished and honored Marine at MCAS Miramar in San Diego, California.

Source: Military Bible Association. Previously published at Christian Newswire.

More about the author: Commander Don Biadog, CHC, USN (Ret.) served with distinction as a former Command Chaplain of MCAS Miramar. His ministry earned him the 2018 Chaplain of the Year Award from Military Bible Association and the 2023 Veterans of Foreign Wars Chaplain of the Year Award. He was the emcee and host chaplain for the 2018 Verna Linzey Commemoration Banquet, which was an official United States Marine Corp event at MCAS Miramar, San Diego, California.

Michael Brown: Jezebel’s War With America

John Lathrop — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 21:22:39 +0000

Michael L. Brown, Jezebel’s War With America: The Plot to Destroy Our Country and What We Can Do to Turn the Tide (Lake Mary, FL: Frontline, 2019), 256 pages, ISBN 9781629996660.

Dr. Michael Brown is a well-known figure in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles. He travels the world preaching, is the host of the Line of Fire program, and has written numerous books. His books address a wide variety of topics. Some of these topics he has written quite extensively about, these include: revival, Jewish apologetics and evangelism, and the LGBT issue. In Jezebel’s War With America, Dr. Brown addresses some of the major forces that are contending for the soul of America.

The book is comprised of a preface and twelve chapters. The premise of the book is that the characteristics that marked the life of the biblical Jezebel are at work in our day in America. The Jezebel of the Old Testament was an ungodly and controlling woman. The woman that Jesus called Jezebel in Revelation 2:20 was also an ungodly figure, she led the Christians of the first century into sexual immorality and idolatry. This is the “spirit of Jezebel,” that stands opposed to the Word and will of God and it is active in our day. The activity of this spirit can be seen in a number of the major issues that are currently confronting our culture. These issues include: idolatry, sexual immorality, abortion, radical feminism, the war on gender distinctions, the rise of witchcraft, and the silencing of the prophetic voice (that is, biblical truth). A quick survey of these topics reveals that a number of the challenges we are facing as a nation are sexual in nature. Subjects that fall into this category include sexual immortality, abortion, and gender distinctions. Radical feminism might also be included in this list.

Michael Brown says, like in the early church, the spirit of Jezebel is leading Christians into sexual immorality and idolatry.

In the course of working his way through the topics mentioned above Brown presents the reader with facts and figures and as well as quotes from secular sources who are promoting the very things that he is trying to refute. I will give you a few examples below.

Michael Brown’s PneumaReview.com author page

In chapter 4, “Jezebel and the Sexual Seduction of America,” Brown cites figures about how widespread pornography is. Some of the statistics on this are staggering. One of the reasons for this is the availability of porn on the internet. It can be viewed discreetly, on a cell phone, or from the privacy of one’s home on a computer. Pornography is a contributing factor to extra marital affairs and problems in marriages. It thus creates problems for the viewer and others as well.

Chapter 6 is titled “Jezebel and Radical Feminism.” Brown admits that not all feminism or women’s movements are bad, some have been very helpful with regard to issues that concern women. The author’s issue is with radical feminism. Their agenda is very different. Brown quotes a number of radical feminists in this chapter. It is clear from some of their statements that these women have little regard for men or marriage. For example, Brown quotes Sheila Cronan as saying “Since marriage constitutes slavery for women, it is clear that the women’s movement must concentrate on attacking this institution. Freedom for women cannot be won without the abolition of marriage.” Brown says that radical feminists are extreme. It is clear that their goals, if achieved, would negatively impact marriages and family.

A Pentecostal Season: The Methodists in England and America, Part 2

Frank Billman — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 21:30:08 +0000

In this excerpt from his book, The Supernatural Thread in Methodism: Signs and Wonders Among Methodists Then and Now, Methodist historian and renewalist Frank Billman reveals how miracles and supernatural interventions were widespread in the ministries of John Wesley and the early Methodists.

Author’s Introduction to this Excerpt A Pentecostal Season, Part 1

George Whitefield

Whitefield first took to preaching in the open air in Hanham Mount, southeast of Bristol, in one of the worst neighborhoods of the day. Approximately 20,000 poor workers came to hear him, their tears cutting white streaks down their dirty faces and “strong men being moved to hysterical convulsions by God’s wondrous power.”[1]

By the time Whitefield came to America, his preaching was ordinarily accompanied by people toppling over: Dr. John White writes in his book When the Spirit Comes With Power, “Under Mr. Whitefield’s sermon, many of the immense crowd that filled every part of the burial ground, were overcome with fainting. Some sobbed deeply, others wept silently… When the sermon was ended people seemed chained to the ground.”[2]

At Nottingham, Delaware, on May 14, 1740, 12,000 people gathered. Thousands cried out under conviction, almost drowning Whitefield’s voice. Men and women dropped to the ground as though dead, then revived, then dropped again, as Whitefield continued preaching.[3]

His meetings were wild, though not all his listeners were fans. “I was honored with having stones, dirt, rotten eggs, and pieces of dead cats thrown at me,” writes Whitefield.[4]

In October 1741 Rev. Samuel Johnson, acting dean of Yale College, wrote an anxious letter to a friend in England regarding a revival sweeping New England led by George Whitefield. In the letter he stated: “But this new enthusiasm, in consequence of Whitefield’s preaching through the country and his disciple’, has got great footing in the College [Yale]…Many of the scholars have been possessed of it, and two of this year’s candidates were denied their degrees for their disorderly and restless endeavors to propagate it…Not only the minds of many people are at once struck with prodigious distresses upon their hearing the hideous outcries of our itinerant preachers, but even their bodies are frequently in a moment affected with the strangest convulsions and involuntary agitations and cramps, which also have sometimes happened to those who came as mere spectators. …”[5]

In the Cambuslang revival outside Glasgow, Scotland in 1742, a large communion celebration was held. It was here that people began falling out in the Spirit by the droves. Whitefield was there and commented: ‘Such a commotion surely was never heard of, especially at eleven at night. It far outdid all that I ever saw in America. For about an hour and a half there was such weeping, so many falling into deep distress, and expressing it in various ways…their cries and agonies were exceedingly affecting.”[6]

Whitefield, who was serving some of the tables, was “so filled with the love of God as to be in a kind of ecstasy.” At the next revival service, hundreds fell out in the Spirit, along with manifestations of laughter, prophecy, and groaning.[7]

A Pentecostal Season: The Methodists in England and America, Part 1

Frank Billman — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:58:15 +0000

In this excerpt from his book, The Supernatural Thread in Methodism: Signs and Wonders Among Methodists Then and Now, Methodist historian and renewalist Frank Billman reveals how miracles and supernatural interventions were widespread in the ministries of John Wesley and the early Methodists.

Author’s Introduction to this Excerpt

Miraculous healing, falling down under the power, tongues …

Is this Methodist?

For some, this is a more important question than “Is it Biblical?” or “Has it happened before in church history?”

Frank H. Billman, The Supernatural Thread in Methodism: Signs and Wonders Among Methodists Then and Now (Creation House, 2013).

Randy Clark reports that when several Southern Baptist seminary professors of evangelism were asked by phone, “What was the greatest revival in Baptist history?” The response was unanimously, “The Shantung Revival in China.” Healing, falling, electricity, laughing in the spirit, even the raising of the dead is recorded in The Shantung Revival, a book by Mary Crawford, one of the Southern Baptist missionaries who experienced this revival first-hand in the early 1930’s. In the book are accounts of almost everything that has been characteristic of the Toronto Revival and the Pensacola Outpouring. Unfortunately, most Southern Baptists are not aware of what happened during their greatest revival. Several years ago, the book was reprinted with almost all of the phenomena of the Holy Spirit edited out.[1]

Southern Baptists have “sanitized” their history at this point. They have removed historical accounts that are not consistent with their current theology and practices. Some Presbyterians did the same thing when it came to recording the history of the Cambuslang revival. And some Methodists have done the same “sanitizing” of our history in removing many accounts of the supernatural power and manifestations of the Holy Spirit moving among the Methodists.

So, what about the ministries of Wesley, Whitefield and Asbury? Is this stuff Methodist?

It was a Pentecostal season indeed …

—George Whitfield at Aldersgate

In his Journal, John Wesley writes on Monday, January 1, 1739, the New Year’s Day after his Aldersgate Street experience with the Moravians: “About three in the morning, as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us insomuch that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground.”[2] Twenty-four year old George Whitfield, who was present at this meeting wrote, “It was a Pentecostal season indeed … we were filled as with new wine … overwhelmed with the Divine Presence …”[3]

Wesley wrote on April 17, 1739, “We called upon God to confirm his word. Immediately one that stood by (to our no small surprise) cried out aloud, with the utmost vehemence, even as in the agonies of death. But we continued in prayer, till a new song was put in her mouth. … Soon after two other persons, … were seized with strong pain, and constrained to roar for the disquietness of their heart.”[4]

Global Renewal Christianity: Latin America

Oscar Merlo — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 16:04:00 +0000

Vinson Synan, Amos Yong, and Miguel Álvarez, eds., Global Renewal Christianity: Spirit-Empowered Movements—Past, Present, and Future, Volume 2: Latin America (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2016), 544 pages, ISBN 9781629987675.

Global Renewal Christianity: Latin America, provides a broad lens that not only captures the breath and the renewing influence of the Holy Spirit in the region, but also the historicity of Latino/a Pentecostalism being experienced for the last 100 years. The volume is skillfully edited and written with the goal of approaching the context and connecting the reader with specific regions such as; Cuba (99), San Pedro Sula, Honduras (44), the Andean Region (157-217) and the Southern Cone (239-295) in Latin America.

This remarkable volume also provides robust historical evidence of the Christian renewal movement in the region. The writers eloquently addressed Pentecostalism from their own context and traditions. The collection of essays utilizes various enquiry and academic styles to bring forth into the Guild of Pentecostal studies, what Bernardo Campos describes as; Pentecostalidad (Pentecostality) Latino-Americana (XXXii). For Campos, Pentecostalidad Latino-Americana is a new collective dynamic evangelical identity that is defined as the Spirit’s Empowerment upon a new generation of leaders. These new leaders from across the region are not only united through Pentecostalidad as new Latin American evangelical faces but are also a generation greatly concern with the pressing social issues of their countries. Hence, Pentecostalidad is redefining what it means to be part of a renewed Christian movement and is creating space for new actors that have begun to reshape the landscape of Latin American evangelicalism.

Latin America is experiencing a spiritual renewal.

For various authors the seeds of renewal movements and Pentecostalisms in Latin America are linked to: Azusa Street Revival (Intro, 7, 127,159, 240, 355) of 1906, and is inseparable to the constant change in the social political landscape (15, 50, 91) of the region. Hence, Pentecostalism became a preferential option that spiritually and socially liberated the poor in the region. Others insist “that the movement itself comes from various sparks of the Holy Spirit fire in Latin America” (299), and that it is also experienced by elite renewed evangelicals in countries like Colombia, Argentina, and Guatemala.

The volume also highlights the work of Pentecostal women like Elena Laidlaw in Chile. Numerous women in Latin America were key figures in the spreading of Pentecostalism at the beginning of 20^th century. However, many pioneer women were also persecuted, erased from history books, and silenced because of their gender (301). Yes!

Many pioneer women were persecuted, erased from history books, and silenced because of their gender.

The volume clearly argues that Latin America is experiencing a spiritual renewal. However, the region will continue to face countless social, political and economic crisis. What is then the role of Pentecostalisms and renewed Christian movements with the social concerns of today? The last part of the volume points to the enormous social challenges Pentecostal will face as the future of Latin American develops (331). The social concerns such as the inclusion of women, new leadership, racial reconciliation, the environment, devastation of forest, the distribution of land and injustices experienced by the marginalized are inescapable matters for the renewal Christian movements (334).

Pentecostal Theological Education: Latin America Theological Seminary

Allen Martin — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 19:31:20 +0000

What does Spirit-filled education look like around the world? The President of Facultad de Teología, Allen Martin, tells us how this seminary is training men and women across the Spanish-speaking world. Part of the Pentecostal Theological Education Around the World series from PneumaReview.com.

My name is Allen Martin and I have been a missionary with the Assemblies of God for the last 25 years. For over 20 of those years we worked with church planting and Bible School education among the Quichua Indians in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador. At present I am the President of the Facultad de Teología de las Asambleas de Dios en America Latina (in English: the Latin America Theological Seminary/LATS). I am also currently working on a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.

Facultad de Teología was born of the desire of Latin Americans who had graduated from the Instituto de Superación Ministerial/ISUM (Latin America Advanced School of Theology/LAAST) to continue their ministerial training. LATS was designed to offer advanced training to recognized church leaders by delivering on- site, intensive month-long modules, in easily accessible regional locations at a reasonable cost, thereby minimizing the time students would be away from families and ministry. The uniqueness of the program provides for mutual learning, mentoring, counseling, encouragement, friendship, growth and prayer as professors and students live, study and eat together.

We are a Pentecostal seminary (Assemblies of God) whose aim is to train and equip Spanish speaking Pastors and leaders in all of Latin America. Because many Latin countries have a high percentage of native Indian groups we also a higher percentage of Indian students who study with us in those regions.

Bible school education in the Assemblies of God in Spanish speaking Latin America is set up in such a way that the first three years of Bible Institute studies are taught under the direction of the national church in each country. Each of those 3 year bible institutes uses what is known as the Basic Plan as their model. The Basic Plan was developed by and is regularly revised and updated by an international team of educators, many of whom are career missionaries. In order to graduate with a four year BA degree the 4^th year of theological studies are then studied in a series of four, one month-long, live-in modules taught by a roving faculty called ISUM. We at the Facultad de Teología then offer the next level of theological training, it is the Master’s degree level. Similar to ISUM, our program involves 5, three week long live-in modules and the writing of a thesis, project or a published book at the end of their studies with us. Also similar to ISUM we hold our modules in bible school facilities in countries that are strategically located allowing for students to come from surrounding countries to study. We currently hold modules in 11 countries, including: Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, México, Dominican Republic and Cuba as well as having two centers here in the United States (Springfield, MO & La Puente, CA).

America shall be Saved: An interview with Reinhard Bonnke

Reinhard Bonnke — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 23:15:09 +0000

Reinhard Bonnke is an evangelist anointed by God to preach the good news around the world. His intense focus on proclaiming the love, power, and forgiveness found only in Jesus Christ has been blessed by the Lord in amazing ways. Pastor Bonnke has preached in front of more than 74 million.

PneumaReview.com: How did you know that the Lord called you to be an evangelist?

Reinhard Bonnke: God spoke to my heart and it came straight from heaven. That call was so strong, I have never been able to doubt it until today.

PR: Are there any evangelists who particularly inspired you?

Bonnke: The films of T.L. Osborn in Africa inspired me.

PR: Could you share a pivotal moment in your ministry?

Bonnke: The vision of a blood-washed Africa propelled me to go from Cape Town to Cairo and start Christ for all Nations.

PR: How important is your Pentecostal experience to the work that you do?

Bonnke: The Holy Spirit is the hand in the glove of the preached Gospel.

PR: In what ways does an evangelist support the local church?

Bonnke: Evangelism and the local church are inseparable. It’s like the Good Samaritan seeking an inn for the one he rescued.

Reinhard Bonnke preaching at the 2005 Crusade in Jos, Nigeria.

PR: In his book, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, Philip Jenkins reported that Christianity is growing rapidly in the global South. Why do you think that these parts of the world are experiencing such growth?

Bonnke: Many of these nations have been held by false religions and now realize that the truth of the Gospel is setting them free.

PR: You said, “Africa shall be saved,” and preached to millions that Jesus would rescue them from their sins and make them a new creation. Now you say, “America shall be saved,” and you are rallying men and women to pray for the salvation of Americans. What must happen for a new awakening to come?

Bonnke: The original Gospel must be preached to see original results. The Holy Spirit has a firm part in it and our faith is the power-switch.

Thank you for speaking with us, Pastor Bonnke, and for your passionate pursuit of what God has called you to do.

– The editors at PneumaReview.com

Catch the Vision and pray for these outreaches: Reinhard Bonnke Gospel Crusade
Comes to Florida, North Carolina, and New York in 2014

A.D. 2000: State of the Church in America

Raul Mock — Tue, 20 Jun 2000 15:01:02 +0000

As the rest of the world is experiencing unparalleled church and Christian growth, America has become an unchurched nation.