Message Of Hope Ministries
hope through the written and spoken word
About The Author and Speaker
I became a Christian at age 15, and entered active Gospel ministry that same year. It has been my privilege to minister through pastorates, evangelistic meetings, revival campaigns, camp meetings, radio, television, and print.
I am also honored to hold a Bachelor, a Masters, and a Doctorate Degree - all in the field of Biblical Theology.
My wife, Rebecca (who is also an author), and I reside in Wilson, North Carolina. We are the extremely proud parents of two beautiful daughters and have been blessed with four marvelous grandchildren.
Who am I ?
Whenever someone inquires as to what church or denomination I belong, I always take a long breath before answering. Not because I am ashamed, but I am constantly reminded through the actions and reactions of we humans that, whether we like to admit it or not, we build walls of prejudice. The very mention of a name manufactures issues.
I may be somewhat radical, but I long for the day when we allow ourselves to move outside our walls of tradition and custom, and allow ourselves to become the "body of Christ." This is not to say that I embrace or will brace the compromise of ecumenical philosophy, but I do embrace the fact that Heaven will not be departmentalized into our engineered sects.
If we could only allow ourselves to indeed be owned by and operate through God's Holy Spirit, such a commitment to Christ would take place that we each would renounce petty ideologies and adopt all of the Bible as our Creed. Human creeds, that are usually re-written every few years, would cease to exist.
Such was the dream and vision of such men as:
Charles Spurgeon:
"I say of the Baptist name, let it perish, but let Christ's name last forever. I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living. I hope they will soon be one. I hope the Baptist name will soon perish; but let Christ's name endure forever"---SPURGEON MEMORIAL LIBRARY, Volume 1, page 168.
Martin Luther:
"I pray you to leave my name alone, and call not yourselves Lutherans, but Christians. Who is Luther? My doctrine is not mine. I have not been crucified for anyone. Saint Paul would not let any call themselves after Paul, nor of Peter, but of Christ. How then does it befit me, a miserable bag of dust and ashes, to give my name to the children of God? Cease, my dear friends, to cling to these party names and distinctions: away with all; and let us call ourselves only Christian after Him from Whom our doctrine comes"---THE LIFE OF LUTHER, by Stork, page 289.
And as if in anticipation of someone questioning whether the Church will ever be united, as God desires, Jesus said in positive assurance:
"I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd"
(John 10:14-16).Who am I when it comes to cataloging myself relative to denomination and organization? Perhaps the following will vividly illustrate.
A number of years ago, after speaking at a large gathering on the West Coast, I was approached by a leader and asked, "Dan, will you tell me what you are?" At first it caught me off guard and then I realized what he was asking. After whispering a quick prayer, I placed my arm across his shoulder and responded:
My brother, first of all I am a Christian, because the Bible teaches that I must be born-again to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Next, I am a Baptist Christian, because I believe the Bible teaches that after a person accepts Jesus as Personal Saviour, he or she should be baptized just as deep as possible and come up walking in newness of life and serving Christ as Lord.
Next, I am an Adventist Baptist Christian, because Adventists are looking forward to the soon return of Christ and my heart’s cry is, "even so come quickly my Lord."
Next, I am a Lutheran Adventist Baptist Christian, because Martin Luther was used of God to bring about a revival of "the just shall live by faith," and I so much want the faith of Jesus to be my faith.
Next, I am a Methodist Lutheran Adventist Baptist Christian, because John Wesley taught a vibrant message of holiness and separation from the world and things of this world.
Next, I am a Pentecostal Methodist Lutheran Adventist Baptist Christian, because I sincerely believe if the early Church needed the Baptism of God’s Holy Spirit in the beginning, we need the same Baptism of God’s Holy Spirit at the end-time.
Next, I am a Presbyterian Pentecostal Methodist Lutheran Adventist Baptist Christian, because I believe the Bible teaches that all things should done "decently and in order" and there can be virtue in leadership.
Next, I am a Seventh-day Presbyterian Pentecostal Methodist Lutheran Adventist Baptist Christian, because I have discovered from a study of God’s Word that the Seventh-day Sabbath was never abolished or negated by Christ or His early followers, rather it was changed later as an attempt to appease men. I discovered that the Bible actually teaches that the Seventh-day Sabbath is to be celebrated in time and will be a meaningful day for assembly on the new earth.
Next, I am a Catholic Seventh-day Presbyterian Pentecostal Methodist Lutheran Adventist Baptist Christian, because the word Catholic means "universal" and I'm just foolish enough to believe if it's good enough for me it's good enough for the whole world.
When I finished, the man looked at me with his lower jaw dropped and asked, "What are you again?" After I repeated who I am, he began to shout, "that’s what I want to be, that’s what I want to be!"
If I were ever to start a Church, I would make some sign-maker semi-wealthy because there would be a lot of letters. The sign might read something like:
Welcome To A Catholic Seventh-day Presbyterian Pentecostal Methodist Lutheran Adventist Baptist Christian Fellowship Of Believers
Website Mission Statement
Offering Hope through the written and spoken word.
"Christ in you, the Hope of glory . . ." - Colossians 1:27
Website Purpose
The purpose of this website is to lift the Name of Jesus and share Biblical, spiritual, practical principles that will assist our growth and further equip each of us to be more anointed vessels to share the Everlasting Gospel with others in a positive, loving manner.
