It Feels So Right
Although this issue has no central theme, it is evident that the articles reflect the varied concerns, desires and opinions of our constituency. I would like to take the freedom to join them with some observations of my own.
Dr. Richard I. Gregory, IFCA International Executive Director & Voice Editor

Seeker Friendly Services A Matter of Faith
...In some places seeker services have drawn large crowds of non-churched people. However, a few churches using these methods acknowledge the difficulty of moving seekers beyond the seeker levels.
Rev. Steven W. Butts

The Broken Cow
"From the grandchildren." It was addressed to me and it was in Nancy's, my daughter-in-law's handwriting! My fingers couldn't get the package opened fast enough!
Mrs. Joy Chipchase

Crucified with Christ
...we need to consider what it means to be crucified with Christ. From the seven statements our Lord made from the cross, we can find some of the meaning of being crucified with Him.
Rev. Ralph H. Manchee

Words are Not Enough
God commanded the Prophet Isaiah to get their attention by crying loudly without restraint, and by raising his voice like a trumpet to tell them that they were transgressing and sinning.
Dr. Robert Provost D.D.

Thoughts from Kathy
...if you really want to "support" their ministry, you might want to consider "giving your missionary a raise" since they probably have faced cost-of-living increases in the years they've been gone.
Mrs. Kathy Dane

My Faithful Companion
The conscience is the moral database of the soul that recognizes the distinction between right and wrong and then speaks forth with an inner voice its unsolicited opinion.
Rev. David J. Brown

Laymen with a Mission
The men at Mesa Hills Bible Church in Colorado Springs have a group called "Men for Missions." (Not to be confused with some large organizations that use the same name.) Encouraged by Senior Pastor, Richard Keltner, and Missions Pastor, Ray Whitlock, these men have a willingness to do manual labor for the Lord.
Mr. Allen McDermott

The World's Storytellers Tell Another Story
...our children (tomorrow's future) are left with a lack of knowledge concerning God and His Word, the Bible. This leaves them and the lands with the only option to listen to the mighty "storytellers" known world wide...that storyteller is Hollywood, television and other media.
Mr. Daniel McIntosh

The Discipline of Decision
I really made a haul at our local library's used book sale. Not only did I get a whole bagful for $2.00, but one of those books was that little gem of V. Raymond Edman's, The Disciplines of Life: and autographed at that! Talk about being in the right place at the right time!
Rev. Raymond Shive

The Precious Blood
Efforts have been repeatedly made within the Christian community to eliminate the emphasis upon "the blood of Christ." As modernism crept into the organized Church, songs extolling "the blood," were removed from hymn books. The preaching of "the shed blood of Christ" was labeled "a slaughter-house religion."
Rev. Robert Isbell

What Do I Do & How's It Going?
At the time of this writing, I have been on the job as IFCA Executive Director Designate for less than three months. Many have asked me to explain what I do and how it's going.
Rev. Les Lofquist, IFCA International Executive Director Designate

Reflections on Childlikeness
"To be a Child again," a sentiment reflected in a Country song, strikes an occasional chord in the heart of everyone who has assumed the responsibilities of adulthood. We all envy the simplicity of a child, such as the freedom to go outside and play!
Rev. Tim Keeley

Discipline Across Congregations
Raymond had always been an active member of our church. If the church building was open, he was there. He taught Sunday school and had been a youth sponsor. He tithed faithfully, and he took notes during the sermon-even if it was dull. Yet, he had a hidden side.
Steven A. Long

Chaplains' Diary
God at Work at Offutt AFB & Kuwait
Chaplain Peters described in the July/August '99 issue of VOICE the ministry he has with the Flying Wing, Security Police, and personnel of Headquarters Strategic Command. He now shares the ministry he and his wife Kimberly have with individuals and couples at Offutt AFB, Nebraska and during his deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.
Chaplain, Captain Jason Peters, USAF

Our Youth
What This Youth Group Really Needs Is...
He was one of the main guys in our youth group, and I noticed as the rest of the teen Sunday school class dismissed and headed off to the morning service that he had waited back for my attention. As he approached me to ask if we could talk, I noticed his eyes beginning to fill with tears.
Rev. Van Marsceau

I Will Build My Church
It is clear from the teaching of scripture that Jesus has privileged us to be laborers together with Him in building His church.
Dr. Richard I. Gregory, IFCA International Executive Director & Voice Editor

What Does It Cost to Plant a Church?
Upon graduation from seminary, I joined United Missionary Fellowship (now Biblical Ministries Worldwide) and we moved to Utah. On that most unusual mission field, we joined twenty-five other UMF missionaries who shared the same burden: to plant Bible Churches in Mormonland.
Rev. Les Lofquist, Executive Director Designate

Planting Churches Among Native Americans
A group of men from First American Indian Church formed American Indian Bible Institute in 1966 so that they could learn the Word of God in order to reach their own people for Christ. It has been my privilege to be a part of that team since the beginning.
Rev. Duane Anderson

The Rural Church Challenge
Picture a rural resort community, an empty church building on a country road, and an energetic church planter. The church planter rented the building and began the process of planting a church. He put his energies into the church several years, but then moved on to another work. I was asked to oversee the work until a new missionary pastor could be found.
Rev. John Edgell

Training Nationals to Plant Churches in their Own Country
As a missionary who is involved in evangelism and church planting, one of my goals is to plant and establish twenty churches in twenty years. To accomplish this, it is necessary to prioritize the discipling and training of nationals in the effort to reach such a goal.
Mr. Andy Girwarnauth

Is Multicultural Local Church Ministry Possible?
Churches in growing ethnic communities have been forced to evaluate the manner in which they reach the ethnics of their community. This evaluation begs the question, "Is it possible to have a multicultural local church ministry?" The answer is a resounding YES. The issue is not can it happen but what form will it take.
Rev. Arturo Lucero

Here I Am Send Me Is. 6:8
I was very fortunate to be born in a Christian home. Even my grandparents were born-again Christians. My father was a pastor's assistant in Central Baptist Church in Kiev. In 1984, when I was 15 years old, I repented and decided to dedicate my life to God. The first real trial for me was a two-year mandatory service in the Soviet Army.
Pastor Yaroslav Machinsky

Church Planting in the Black Community
I can remember clearly the afternoon of April 29th, 1992. It was a cloudy day, not because a storm stood on the horizon, but because the soot of countless fires filled the air. It was a tragic day. The media labeled the anarchy and anger expressed by the black community as the Los Angeles Riots.
Rev. Robert Scott

Are We Planting or Rescuing Churches?
The answer to the question, "Are we planting or rescuing churches?" is "YES - BOTH!" It is not an either/or matter. It MUST be BOTH and more! If we fail to plant new churches, we will miss the greatest opportunity of our life, and of IFCA International!
Dr. Roy E. Sprague

The Makeup of a Valued Youth Ministry
Why is it that some churches have youth ministries that both parents and teens value? Why is it that there are churches where parents and teens alike could just as easily do without the youth ministry and all that it brings?
Pastor Troy Thornton

Wisconsin Regional Church Extension in the Ukraine
Part of the Wisconsin Church Extension philosophy of ministry is to equip people with knowledge, skills, and passion for ministry. While WCE is located in Wisconsin, there is no boundary restriction on where to equip people. With the blessing of the WCE Board and Regional Executive Committee, by mid-June I was preparing for 2 trips to Ukraine - one in September and one in November.
Dr. Paul Thyren

The Importance of Planting IFCA International Churches
"To be a Child again," a sentiment reflected in a Country song, strikes an occasional chord in the heart of everyone who has assumed the responsibilities of adulthood. We all envy the simplicity of a child, such as the freedom to go outside and play!
Rev. Tim Keeley

Church Planting in France
France! The land of Calvin and the Protestant reformation! Is church planting necessary where in every town there are Catholic churches and an occasional Reformed church? Yes, because there are 35,000 towns and cities without a gospel witness.
Dr. Ivan Peterson

Chaplains' Diary
God's Guidance in Chaplaincy Ministry
by Chaplains Doug Peterson and Joseph Kraintz
Two of our Army Chaplains share how God guides in His own ways, bringing men into the Chaplaincy and guiding where they will be assigned to serve Him.