Bishop Wagner’s Homegoing will be streamed live from Calvary International Ministries Website this week
Watch Bishop Wagner’s Homegoing Service as it is streamed live from the Calvary Ministries International Website HERE.
CNN iReport summarising the life of Bishop Norman L Wagner an “International Religious Leader”
Bishop Norman L. Wagner – Biographic Snapshot
World-Wide Leader and Personality – Pastor / Educator / Statesman / Servant
1976 Bishop Norman L. Wagner established a private school, Calvary Christian Academy, to meet the needs of families who lacked access to quality and cutting-edge education. In spite of Youngstown’s struggling economy, the school excelled and graduated many individuals who are now making their mark on the world; Executives, Professionals, Sports & Entertainment Figures, and Leaders including Youngstown’s current Mayor, the Honorable Jay Williams.
Against incredible odds, in 1984, Bishop Wagner spearheaded a building project to house senior citizens in the Youngstown community; Calvary Towers were erected and today still stand as a monument to Bishop Wagner’s commitment to better living standards for the senior citizens of his hometown.
Recognized for his positive influence and the significant contributions to the communities he serviced, Bishop Wagner has enjoyed visits to The White House by personal invitations from Presidents Ronald Reagan, and William Jefferson Clinton.
Musically, as a gifted singer, song-writer, and arranger, Bishop Norman L. Wagner along with his choir, received Stellar Nominations for songs, “Best For Last,” and “Excellent.” Additionally, he played a very significant role in the launch of now Multi-Grammy Award Winning Artist, Vicki Winans. His wise counsel and his integrity have earned him great respect and love among many internationally celebrated artists within the Entertainment Industry – as is demonstrated by the list of Artists scheduled to appear during his Home-Going services.
On National and Global fronts
In 1978, Bishop Wagner created and served as Executive Producer of “The Power of Pentecost,” a television program which went National in 1978 and International by 1985.
Bishop Wagner was presiding Prelate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (PAW) for two consecutive terms (1998-2004) with over two thousand churches under his auspices.
Bishop Wagner also founded and presided over the European Council of Nations (ECN) for over twenty years; a Christian organization of church leaders in Europe of varying ethnicities and languages. The ECN grew to over 40 churches under his leadership.
In 1986, Bishop Wagner established an international leadership conference, Pentecost In Perspective (PIP). The conference was designed to develop and equip leaders, as well as those in pursuit of leadership roles. This annual conference has been heavily attended by thousands of Christian and Business Leaders from around the globe for over two decades.
Bishop Wagner’s family and Calvary Ministries International wish to thank everyone for their efforts to honor the labor, the love, and the memory of this great man.
source: CNN
Bishop Norman L. Wagner led world’s
Pentecostals
By Grant Segall
February 05, 2010, 4:05PM
Youngstown — Bishop Norman L. Wagner led the world’s Pentecostals and helped Case Western Reserve University grieve for his slain nephew.
Wagner died Jan. 30 at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Youngstown, a couple of weeks after heart surgery. He was 68.
“Bishop Wagner was an icon within Christiandom,” said Bishop J. Delano Ellis II of Cleveland’s Pentecostal Church of Christ. “The Pentecostal movement has lost one of its generals.”
“You could not encounter Bishop Wagner without coming away as a better person,” said Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, raised at Wagner’s church and educated at Wagner’s charter school, Legacy Academy for Leaders and Arts. Williams’ chief of staff is one of the bishop’s assistant pastors.
Wagner moved to Canfield in mid-life but kept helping to lead his native Youngstown. He pastored Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church, where his mother was a charter member, since 1971, eventually turning it into Calvary Ministries International. He raised Calvary Towers for senior citizens.
Wagner led nationally. He was a White House guest twice and was named one of the country’s 100 outstanding black clergymen. A singer, composer and arranger, he was nominated twice with his choir for the Stellar Gospel Music Awards. He sometimes sang with Grammy winners Marvin and Vickie Winans.Wagner led worldwide. From Mount Calvary, he headed the diocese of Texas, founded the diocese of Europe and expanded the latter to more than 40 churches. He was presiding prelate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World for two terms, 1998 to 2004, overseeing more than 2,000 churches with more than 1.5 million members.
He created “The Power of Pentecost” program, aired on the Praise the Lord and Armed Forces networks. He founded Pentecost in Perspective International, an annual leadership conference.
At home, he raised many relatives, including Norman Wallace, a nephew by marriage. While in graduate school, Wallace was slain in 2003 by a rampaging gunman in Case Western’s Peter B. Lewis Building. Wagner spoke at memorial events in Cleveland and Youngstown, urging survivors to turn grief into goodness.
“Tragedy doesn’t define you,” he said. “Tragedy creates a defining moment.”
He persuaded Case Western leaders to send dental volunteers to seal the teeth of Legacy students, as they do for many Cleveland students. He tried vainly to forge lasting bonds between the university and Youngstown.
Wagner held bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana Bible University and a doctoral degree from Grace Theological Seminary, Dayton.His publicist, Debor’ah Benton said Wagner was warm and quick to laugh. Despite his many duties, “You had his full attention.”
Memorial events will be held Monday through Wednesday, when a funeral eulogy will be delivered by Bishop Horace Smith, Wagner’s successor presiding prelate. For details, call Calvary Mininstries International at 330-747-4445 or see calvary4u.org/#sch.
Norman Leonard Wagner
1942-2010
Survivors: wife, the former Rita Helen Wallace; daughters Christian Joy Wagner of Canfield and Camille Antoinette Barnes of Austintown Township; granddaughter British Milan Wagner of Canfield; two brothers and a sister.
Funeral: 11 a.m., Wednesday, Covelli Centre, 229 East Front St., Youngstown
Contributions: Calvary Ministries International, 1812 Oak Hill Ave, Youngstown, Ohio 44507
Arrangements: L.E. Black, Phillips and Holden, Youngstown
source: Cleavland.com
Thanks to The Pope of Pentecost for sharing very extensive details of Bishop Wagner’s homegoing service, taking place this week, on his blog.
A reminder of how God used the Apostolic Father Bishop Norman L Wagner to bring the gospel to the world.
Every church event I have ever been to, every trip, every funeral, every after service free snack involves hard dough bread (hardo bread).
It is far from being the bread of life. But, hardo bread (or hard dough bread) is certainly the bread of black majority churches.
And, now it seems someone has set up a Fan Page on Facebook for the bread we love at church, yes a hard dough bread Facebook Fan Page! Here’s the link http://bit.ly/cR9M7d.
Bishop Norman L Wagner of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World has gone home to be with the Lord
I am getting reports that Bishop Norman L Wagner, Youngstown Ohio has passed away. Dr Wagner was former Presiding Prelate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. He was a mighty man of God gifted in the word, music ministry and the demonstration of the power of God through healing.
Let us pray for the Wagner family and the church at Youngstown at this time.
When you’ve gone driving along the motorway you’ve probably seen birds sitting on electric cables that connect pylons. These cables are so powerful that if a human stands by one they risk death by electric shock. Yet, a bird seems able to sit on the cable all day long and doesn’t feel even the slightest jolt.
There are some Christians like that!
They can sit in the midst of a powerful holy ghost anointed service, with the Holy Spirit of God moving all around them and not feel anything.
Lord, help me never to be a “bird like” Christian!
This is a classic which I’ve just had a re-read of. It’s one of the first tracts I ever saw on the Oneness of God, it is powerful but simple, and still effective at communicating the truth of the Oneness of God. What makes this tract so powerful is the quantity of scriptural evidence provided. This is not opinion, it is just the word and it sends the reader to look into their own bible for themselves. Whether you agree with the conclusion or not you’d have to say that anything that makes you search out the scriptures for yourself is a good thing.
Here they are in full (source: UPCI.org), or a PDF download version if you like.
1. Is the word trinity in the Bible? No.
2. Does the Bible say that there are three persons in the Godhead? No.
3. Does the Bible speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Yes.
4. Do these titles as used in Matthew 28:19 mean that there are three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead? No, they refer to three offices, roles, or relationship to humanity.
5. Does the Bible use the word three in reference to God? Only one verse in the entire Bible does so-I John 5:7. It speaks of the Father, the Word (instead of Son), and the Holy Ghost, and it concludes by saying, “These three are one.”
6. Does the Bible use the word one in reference to God? Yes, many times. For example, see Zechariah 14:9; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 23:9; Mark 12:29, 32; John 8:41; 10:30; Romans 3:30; I Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; I Timothy 2:5; James 2:19.
7. Can the mystery of the Godhead be understood? Yes. Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16.
8. Has the Christian only one Heavenly Father? Yes. Matthew 23:9.
9. Then why did Jesus say to Philip, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9)? Because Jesus is the express image of God’s person. Hebrews 1:3. The Greek word for personin this verse literally means “substance.”
10. Does the Bible say that there are two persons in the Godhead? No.
11. Does the Bible say that all the Godhead is revealed in one person? Yes, in Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:19; 2:9; Hebrews 1:3.
12. Is the mystery of the Deity hidden from some people? Yes. Luke 10:21-22.
13. Who is the Father? The Father is the one God, particularly as revealed in parental relationship to humanity. Deuteronomy 32:6; Malachi 2:10.
14. Where was God the Father while Jesus was on earth? The Father was in Christ. John 14:10; II Corinthians 5:19. He was also in heaven, for God is omnipresent.
15. Did the prophet Isaiah say that Jesus would be the Father? Yes. Isaiah 9:6; 63:16.
16. When God said, “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26), was He speaking to another person in the Godhead? No. Isaiah 44:24; Malachi 2:10.
17. How many of God’s qualities were in Christ? All. Colossians 2:9.
18. How may we see the God who sent Jesus into the world? By seeing Jesus. John 12:44-45; 14:9.
19. Does the Bible say that Jesus is the Almighty? Yes. Revelation 1:8
20. Whom do some designate as the first person in the trinity? God the Father.
21. Whom do some designate as the last person in the trinity? The Holy Ghost. But Jesus said that He was the first and last. Revelation 1:17-18
22. How many persons did John see sitting on the throne in heaven? One. Revelation 4:2.
23. If Jesus is the first and the last, why did God say in Isaiah 44:6 that He was the first and the last? Because Jesus is the God of the Old Testament incarnate.
24. Did Jesus tell Satan that God alone should be worshipped? Yes. Matthew 4:10
25. Does the devil believe in more than one God? No. James 2:19.
26. Does the Bible say that God, who is the Word, was made flesh? Yes John 1:1, 14.
27. For what purpose was God manifested in the flesh? To save sinners. Hebrews 2:9, 14.
28. Was Jesus God manifested in the flesh? Yes. I Timothy 3:16.
29. Could Jesus have been on earth and in heaven at the same time? Yes. John 3:13.
30. Does the Bible say that there is but one Lord? Yes. Isaiah 45:18; Ephesians 4:5.
31. Does the Bible say that Christ is the Lord? Yes. Luke 2:11.
32. Does the Bible say that the Lord is God? Yes. I kings 18:39; Zechariah 14:5; Acts 2:39; Revelation 19:1.
33. How could the church belong to Jesus (Matthew 16:18) and yet be the church of God (I Corinthians 10:32)? Because Jesus is God in the flesh.
34. Will God give His glory to another? No. Isaiah 42:8.
35. Was there a God formed before Jehovah, or will there be one formed after? No. Isaiah 43:10.
36. What is one thing that God does not know? Another God. Isaiah 44:8.
37. What is one thing that God Cannot do? Lie. Titus 1:2.
38. How many Gods should we know? Only one. Hosea 13:4.
39. How many names has the Lord? One. Zechariah 14:9.
40. Is it good to think upon the name of the Lord? Yes. Malachi 3:16.
41. Does the Bible say that God alone treads upon the waves of the sea? Yes. Job 9:8
42. Why, then, was Jesus able to walk upon the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:25)? Because He is God the Creator. Colossians 1:16.
43. Is God the only one who can forgive sin? Yes. Isiah 43:25; Mark 2:7.
44. Why, then, could Jesus forgive sin in Mark 2:5-11? Because He is God the Savior.
45. Is Jesus the true God? Yes. I John 5:20.
46. If God and the Holy Ghost are two separate persons, which was the Father of Christ? Matthew 1:20 says that the Holy Ghost was the Father, while Romans 15:6, II Corinthians 11:31, and Ephesians 1:3 say that God was the Father. There is no contradiction when we realize that God the Father and the Holy Ghost are one and the same Spirit. Matthew 10:20; Ephesians 4:4; I Corinthians 3:16.
47. When Paul asked the Lord who He was, what was the answer? ”I am Jesus.” Acts 9:5.
48. When Stephen was dying, did he call God Jesus? Yes. Acts 7:59.
49. Did Thomas ever call Jesus God? Yes. John 20:28.
50. How could Jesus be the Savior, when God the Father said in Isaiah 43:11, “Beside me there is no Savior?” Because “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” II Corinthians 5:19.
51. Does the Bible say that Jesus was God with us? Yes. Matthew 1:23.
52. Did Jesus ever say, “I and my Father are one?” Yes. John 10:30.
53. Can it be proved scripturally that Jesus and the Father are one in the same sense that husband and wife are one? No. The Godhead was never compared to the relationship of a husband and wife. Jesus identified Himself with the Father in a way that husband and wife cannot be identified with each other. John 14:9-11.
54. Does the Bible say that there is only one wise God? Yes. Jude 25.
55. Does the Bible call the Holy Ghost a second or third person in the Godhead? No. The Holy Ghost is the one Spirit of God, the one God Himself at work in our lives. John 4:24; I Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; 12:13.
56. Can Trinitarians show that three divine persons were present when Jesus was baptized by John? Absolutely not. The one, omnipresent God used three simultaneous manifestations. Only one divine person was present–Jesus Christ the Lord.
57. Then what were the other two of whom Trinitarians speak? One was a voice from heaven; the other was the Spirit of God in the form of a dove. Matthew 3:16-17.
58. What did the voice say at Jesus’ baptism? ”Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11. As the Son of God, Jesus was the one God incarnate.
59. Does the Bible say that God shed His blood and that God laid down His life for us? Yes. Acts 20:28; I John 3:16. God was able to do this because He had taken upon Himself a human body.
60. The Bible says that God is coming back with all his saints (Zechariah 14:5) and also that Jesus is coming back with all his saints (I Thessalonians 3:13). Are two coming back? No. Only one is coming back–our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13.
*Taken from the Word Aflame Tract “60 Questions on the Godhead with Bible answers” #6125″
19 reasons Jesus understands your pain and 1 reason you ought to consider serving Him.
- He was the victim of malicious rumours from within the womb, considered a “bastard child”.
- He saw the suffering His mother endured at the hands of gossipers.
- He was not born in a hospital, or a house, but in a farm stable in an animals feeding trough.
- The day He was born Herod, inspired by Satan tried to murder Him.
- He grew with the pressure of knowing He had a special calling on His life that meant He had to be different to the other children and young men in Nazareth.
- He was raised in the ghetto of Nazareth, he know’s what it is to live in a rough neighbourhood.
- He only ever taught and did good and yet people said He was possessed with a devil.
- His closest disciple sold Him out for money, betraying Him with a kiss on the cheek (the kiss of death).
- His closest friends whose feet He washed the muck off ran away at the first sign of trouble.
- He was subjected to an illegal trail by night before supposedly men of God.
- False witnesses blatantly lied against Him contradicting each other with their lies, yet He remained silent.
- He was held in prison and moved from court to court yet He had done nothing worthy of being charged.
- He had the power to call 10,000 angels from Heaven to destroy the Roman Empire and yet He held His peace when standing before Pontius Pilate (today Pilate the judge is dead, yet Jesus sits on the Judgement Throne of Heaven forever).
- He was not a criminal and yet he humbled Himself to carry a cross–the emblem of a crook–for you and for me.
- He did not back out of going to the Cross despite being the Father of Time, He kept walking for you and I.
- Only one of His closest friends came to His crucifixion: Peter, James, Andrew etc. where not there for Him.
- In the midst of the anguish of being crucified He was able to witness to the thieves He was stuck between.
- In the midst of His pain and rejection He was able to pray and connect with God, interceding on our behalf.
- He came to earth, taking on humanity, to save us and we crucified Him.
- Despite all He has endured He is still offering eternal life to anyone who wants it.
There’s a video (here’s the link) on both ApostolicLive.com and YouTube of a baby/toddler named Kanon Tipton. He is probably the world’s youngest preacher. Now, I can’t understand a word he is saying. And it’s clear from the clip that like any child he is imitating what he has seen. BUT, isn’t it awesome that rather than pretending to shoot, curse or dance like Michael Jackson this child is preaching – I love that.
Train up the child in the way they should go and when they are old they shall not depart. I also have my own young preacher at home as my daughter who is also a toddler will lay hands and pray for you, shout Jesus, tell the preacher to “stay there” or “take your time”, and she can play a mean piece of tambourine. And, just last night she was reciting the first five books of the bible – aged only 2 years old.
Watch out Kanon Tipton! (and keep up the preaching!)
