BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

One of My Fondest Memories To help celebrate their 50 years in ministry, I was asked to share a memory of my time with Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. A memory. How can I possibly share just one example after nearly a lifetime of amazing memories? I was 23 when I came to work for the ministry in 1976. I was a student at Oral Roberts University, and engaged to Terri Copeland at the time. Brother Copeland was aware of my graphic arts background and invited me to start the in-house art department for his ministry. It was only going to be a summer job. But this has been the longest summer job I have ever had. It is now going on 42 years! I often think what an honor it has been, and is, to serve Kenneth and Gloria. Of all the families in the world, and all the ministries to be a part of, God placed me in this one. How grateful I am to them for completely altering my life. Of the many, many wonderful memories I have, one comes to mind that truly exemplifies the heart of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. Those who are Partners will especially appreciate this. I was publications director for many years. During that time, a company had written a draft of an “appeal letter” to help us raise money. I read the letter and thought, This just won’t fly. It is not like Kenneth to send out a letter like this. However, my boss told me to take it to Kenneth’s house for his opinion so, like an obedient servant, I did. Sitting across the kitchen table from Kenneth, I slid the letter over to him and explained my mission. He took the letter and read it—slowly and very carefully. Then, he placed the letter on the table and looked up at me with those piercing Copeland eyes—as if I were the spirit of compromise himself. He then pointed his finger at me, and with a stern voice spoke these words: “Don’t EVER seek ways to get the money in. Seek ways to get The WORD out, and the money will come in.” “Ye-ye-ye-yes, sir!” I left his house and returned to my boss’s office. As I sat across the desk from him with the letter, he asked: “So, what did Kenneth say?” I pointed my finger at him, and with a stern voice said: “Don’t EVER seek ways to get the money in. Seek ways to get The WORD out, and the money will come in.” That incident occurred in the early 1980s, but those words continue to echo in my spirit to this day. Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have taught me to always walk in integrity by never compromising The WORD of God or the principles of this ministry. I have learned to always give The WORD of God first place and final authority—especially where provision is concerned. They have taught me to never put pressure on others to meet my needs. Instead, we are to put pressure on The WORD of God and exercise our faith. They are like the Apostle Paul, who said in Philippians 4:17, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” They are two of the most generous individuals I have ever known. Thank you, Kenneth and Gloria, for setting high the ministry bar for all of us to follow. I dearly love you and appreciate all the life lessons you have taught me, and continue to teach all of us in the Body of Christ. V Pastor George * * article from p. 9 continues below * * But Isaac didn’t do that. Instead, he listened to the voice of God. And when he heard that voice, he obeyed it. He stayed right there in that famine-stricken land and planted crops. That sounds like such a simple thing when you read it in the Bible. When you’re facing that kind of trouble in your own life, however, when the storms of circumstance are beating vehemently against your door, it isn’t always easy to listen for God’s voice. The easy thing is to start thinking, What am I going to do? How am I going to fix this situation? That’s where we often miss it. We start running in fleshly directions, trying to figure things out for ourselves. But the human mind is not capable of figuring out how to overcome the obstacles the devil throws our way. If we want to be victorious, we have to go to God and get instructions. We must turn away from all the screaming voices blaring worldly solutions, and tune in, instead, to the still, small voice of God Himself. Isaac knew that voice. And you know that voice too. But to hear it, you must take the time to listen, to clear out the things of this world and get in the presence of God. If you’ll do that, He will show you things to come. He’ll reveal to you what steps to take. Does that mean all your problems will be over? Let’s take another look at Isaac and see. Dig Into Your Covenant "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we" (verses 12-16). Isaac triumphed over one obstacle just to run smack into another. He prospered so greatly despite the famine, that the Philistines got jealous and plugged up his wells. A well was a very significant thing to these people. It contained the very substance they needed to feed their cattle and water their fields. Wells were literally a matter of life and death. So you can imagine what a blow it was to Isaac when he got up that morning, put the dipper in his well and all he got was sand. 10 : BVOV

• Cover