Seriously, What does an Apostolic look like

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> From: caryle clear <cpcj@sprynet.com>
>  I don't know how many times I have run into 
people who "look" Apostolic, but they have the most
severe expressions (often downright scowls) on 
their faces.  

me: I think we have all experienced this type of
"rejection" from those who claim to be of like faith.
I recently found myself in a unique situation to  
witness to a woman who works at the dry-cleaners
where I take my clothing. We don't have a local
dry-clean establishment where I live, so I drop my
clothes off in Parkersburg (35 miles away)
on my way to, or from, conducting business in that
city.  We stopped to pick up several items of clothing 
(three of my hubby's suits) on our way to ECC. 
The woman (very "worldly" looking) behind the counter
asked me if my husband was a preacher. She then 
told me that she had once been a member of one of the 
local UPC churches. I told her that my husband's uncle
and brother were both ministers, but that he was not. I
stated that my sister-in-law attended the church she
mentioned and that I had received the Holy Ghost
there.  I asked her if she went to church anywhere now.
She emphatically stated "NO!!". I made the remark 
that "once you know the Truth, it is hard to go 
somewhere else". She agreed. We talked about people
we knew in common in the area churches, etc. but she 
was careful not to give me any "openings". I knew
my husband must be wondering what was taking so
long, as almost 20 minutes passed before I came
outside.  This woman was on my mind all the way
to ECC.  The next week after we got back, I had
a day off (bank holiday) and had promised to take
my daughter to Pburg for a "girl's day out". I didn't
have anything that needed dry-cleaning, but wouldn't
you know it, in the back of my closet on the floor
was a pleated skirt that I hadn't worn in over a year.
It had been lost and just "mysteriously" reappeared 
under my shoe rack, all wrinkled up and covered with cobwebs, and dust. I
thought to myself, "this is the
Lord, I need to go talk with this woman again". 
>From our previous conversation I had gotten the
impression that she left the church because of problems
she had in that particular church assembly. I went to 
tell her about some friends of ours who pastor an 
Apostolic church in her area and give her their number. 
Turns out she knew these people very well and they had contacted her and
her husband shortly after taking
over the church. She then proceeded to tell me that her husband had once
been a UPC minister. Turns out that
he had even preached a Rally at my church many years
ago and helped pray my stepfather-in-law through to the
Holy Ghost. I knew then that there was NOTHING further 
that I could tell her about what we believe, because she probably already
knows it better than I. 
I believe God put me in contact with Sharon, NOT 
to preach to her, as she already KNOWS the Truth. 
NOT to condemn or judge her as a backslider, but to
show her love, compassion and friendship. She made
the comment how some of "us" treat those who are 
no longer "in church". I told her that as far as I was 
concerned, if she has been baptized in Jesus Name,
she is still my Sister. She seemed really surprised
to hear me say that. She and I have shared the
same beautiful baptismal experience, she has just lost
her way. We may have different revelations at the 
present time as to how we must live our lives, but 
she is STILL my Sister. I want her to be saved. 

Maybe this encounter was more for my benefit
than hers. It may have been to help ME see some 
things a little more clearly, I don't know. 

Some of you on this list may not agree with what
I said above,  but it is time we get off our holier-than-
thou high horses and start showing the world the 
REAL  true love of Jesus Christ. If you have a 
critical or condemning spirit, ask God to help
you GET OVER IT!!!  That's what I am doing. 
With the help of the Lord, I am striving each day to be 
everything that I SAY that I am. 


Sis Donna (sorry so lengthy) Perine
fmbank@ruralnet.org