Missionary Training at the Lay Institute for Evangelism better known as L.I.F.E 04/26-29

PTH Ministries was very blessed to come to the Lay Institute for Evangelism better known as L.I.F.E in Lady Lake, Florida for an intense training on the topic of Law & Grace, Faith & Works, and Righteousness by Faith.

The Director, Associate Director and Assistant Administrator for L.I.F.E is Scott Moore, Phillip Sizemore & Eleida Feliciano.

I had the opportunity to meet this dynamic team at the Florida Youth Initiative in Apopka, Florida in June of 2009. We had almost immediate synergy as we discussed the work to be done in these last days and how to go about doing it. It was a blessing for me to discover that they had an Institute for training Lay leaders in God's Remnant Church.

We are told in inspriration: "A well-balanced work can be carried on best when a training school for Bible workers is in progress. While the public meetings are being held, connected with this training school or city mission should be experienced laborers of deep spiritual understanding, [BEGIN P.20] who can give the Bible workers daily instruction, and who can also unite wholeheartedly in the general public effort being put forth. And as men and women are converted to the truth, those standing at the head of the city mission should, with much prayer, show these new converts how to experience the power of the truth in their lives. This united effort on the part of all the workers would be as a nail driven in a sure place.--Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 111, 112.

We need far more of these types of City Missions/Training Schools in every city in America.

I had the privilege of meeting many precious souls from various walks of life as we came together for our topic of Law and Grace, Faith and Works, & Righteousness by Faith. Our chief text book for study next to the Bible was the book Faith and Works by Ellen G. White.  This is an excellent source for understanding topics like Law and Grace, Justification & Sanctification by Faith.

For this course we had about 13 students. They were very eager to study and you could see that they had a passion for the Truth as it is in Jesus. We started our first topic with the theme of the Bible which we saw from scripture was to get our clothes back on. In other words have our nakedness covered with the Righteousness of Christ. Everything we studied was in the Light of the Three Angel's Messages and understanding why this topic was so vital to us as God's people.

We are told what the 3rd Angel's Message is in verity: "Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel’s message, and I have answered, "It is the third angel’s message in verity."-- Review and Herald, April 1, 1890.

You see, the 3rd Angel's Message concludes with the statement in Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. Psalm 119:172 states that all of God's Commandments are Righteousness. Therefore, those who are experienceing the 3rd Angel's Message are experiencing Righteousness by Faith, Faith and Works, and they understand Law and Grace.

There were many times that the students were in deep thought as they considered several points throughout the class. They showed themselves good Bereans (Acts 17:11) as well, considering they made sure everything that was stated came from Thus Saith the Lord.

 

We also dealt with some of the strongest arguments on why people think that Law and Grace are seperate yea even enemies. We investigated the chief text used to say why we no longer need the law because we are under grace which is Romans 6:14. We saw that being "under the law" did not mean that we were free from having to keep it but that it meant we were guilty for breaking it Romans 3:19, and God's grace which is power to keep His Law Titus 2:11-13, granted us pardon and an opportunity to establish or obey God's Law. Romans 3:31

It was an assignment of the students to explain what Paul was saying in Romans 6:14 and what he was not saying and why according to the scriptures. It was imperative that we made sure we understood what we believe from the Bible and not our own opinions. The students told me this was there greatest struggle.

One of the reasons I pressed upon the class that we must explain our beliefs from the Bible rather than our favorite preachers and teachers or our own opinions is because of a very solemn statement from the pen of inspiration. It says:  

 "I have been shown that many who profess to have a knowledge of present truth know not what they believe. They do not understand the evidences of their faith. They have no just appreciation of the work for the present time. When the time of trial shall come, there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason. Until thus tested they knew not their great ignorance. And there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth." {5T 707.2}    

This was a very interesting class, these Missionaries wanted more and still more, there were times when class was over for the day and sometimes the students would stay back for another hour as we would dicsuss other topics such as the Sanctuary, specifics about the Three Angel's Messages, the Mark of the Beast and the close of Probation. These truly hungered and thirsted after Righteousness and I believe on many points they were filled. Praise God!!!

There was one couple who had been part of the church for over 40 years and said there were many things they learned in that week that they have never heard before. Their precious souls were revived and by God's grace and power Reformed.

Well the time came for testing the Missionaries. This was a very important time for the class. We are told:

Every teacher should see to it that his work tends to definite results. Before attempting to teach a subject, he should have a distinct plan in mind, and should know [BEGIN P.234] just what he desires to accomplish. He should not rest satisfied with the presentation of any subject until the student understands the principle involved, perceives its truth, and is able to state clearly what he has learned. {Ed 233.4}

This statement has helped me as a Teacher and Preacher of God's Word and Principles.

The students were earnest as they were taking there test. They had to define what is Law, what is grace, & how do they work together. They had to explain what is Righteousness by Faith, the difference between fatih and feeling and many other questions that required focus and concentration considering that every answer had to come from the Bible.

 
 
 

As I prepare to close this good report, there is one man that stood out in a very special way in the class. His name is Pastor Hardy. Now you might be thinking why would a Pastor be in a Lay Institute for Evangelism to learn about how to do the work. Well Pastor Hardy is not a Pastor in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, he was a Pastor and overseer of at least 12 churches in the US and other countries as well. He holds 2 Doctorate degrees in Religion and Theology and has been in Ministry in the Sunday church for over 30 years.
 
The humility and teachable spirit that this man possesed shows clearly that there are many in the fallen churches that constitutes Babylon that are hearing the voice of God saying come out of her My People!!!!
 
He shared with me how his wife was at great variance with the message and threatened to leave him and he still could not turn his back on the Truth. It was through Pastor Sizemore that Pastor Hardy was reached and as far as he's concerned there is no turning back. He told me that he will bring this message back to the many churches he was once the overseer of. Praise God for the Missionary Spirit that has taken possession of this precious soul.

We are told: "Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety, there are true followers of Christ in these churches. Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time to prepare a people for the Lord’s second coming." {GC pg.464} Through Pastor Hardy, I believe we are getting an advance picture of this great day.

It was a great joy to serve at the Lay Institute for Evangelism and meet these precious Brethren.

Scott Moore sent an e-mail testimony of  the work being done at L.I.F.E, I will leave you all with this and encourage to stay faithful in the calling God has placed upon your lives.

Truly, Maranatha

Dwayne,






We truly enjoyed your presence here at Lay Institute For Evangelism (LIFE) in Lady Lake, FL. Our students are still talking about the classes that you were able to teach while you were here this past April. I truly know that your time here was profitable for our students because you are one of the two teachers that they asked to teach them on their afternoon break times. Brian Locke also preached a sermon for a morning devotional that focused on the class that you taught.

Thank you again for helping us here at LIFE to reach a generation of young people that may very well be the ones who usher in the second coming of Jesus.

We are looking forward to your time here with us this coming Fall.

Allow me to recommend you and your ministry to others who want and are hungering for a spiritual blessing based solely on the written Word.

God Bless,