Just Checking in........... Part II
The next chapel service that I have to preach is one of the most important things forthcoming on my schedule. Science and Spirituality Week at Morehouse College is a major time on the campus. I have been asked to preach on Pentecostal night of the week long revival. That will be on April 1, 2009 at 7:00pm. I will be sharing the podium with several prominent ministers. It is quite an honor!
As an alumnus, it is always a big deal for me to be invited back to preach in my alma mater. Here is the link, http://www.morehouse.edu/events/2009/ssaw/index.html. This is the second year in a row that I have been invited to this forum and the seventh or eighth time I have been asked to speak at the college for one thing or another. More to come on this over the next few days!
I will be teaching in Cleveland, Ohio at the Joint College of Pentecostal Bishops. This is always a great time of ministry for me. I have the opportunity to teach leaders and influencers from all around the world. It is a sacred trust that I take very seriously. You should check out the website at: http://www.collegeofbishops.org/.
I will be ministering in Brussels, Belgium shortly. There are about fifteen churches there who have begun to look to me for oversight. It is the beginnings of the Belgian diocese of the Grace Fellowship of Churches International. You should log onto our website at: www.gfoci.net. We are a relational conclave of churches of like precious faith. Our churches in Belgium are incredible and the pastors there are great men and women of God. Look out Europe, here we come!
Resurrection Sunday is coming and it is always a wonderful time at our church! I have looked forward to it all year. I hope that you will join us in one of our three locations. Well, that is all of the news for now!
Grace & Peace!
Bishop
3 Comments: Read Them or Post Yours Here:
We are all looking forward to Morehouse service. Lsst year was so exciting, encouraging and all of the preparation really paid off, as ministry took place from the opening prayer through all songs and the word. We'll say it loud, we love Total Grace and we're proud! The Hanley's will see you there.
Grace to you Bishop Alvarado. I am so very proud to have been under your leadership and gain a wealth of knowledge; to be able to glean from the nuggets of truth that you and Dr. Toni has always poured out to the people. I am excited about how God is using you throughout the World. Your are living Acts 1:8
A true Ambassador for Christ. Always praying for you and your ministry.
I'll try to come see you at Morehouse. How do I find out when you will be teaching Leadership classes in the city?
Grace to you Bishop and Dr. Toni,
I wanted to know what our theological position is on In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)? I have been struggling with this issue ever since my cousin’s youngest child (son) – raised in the pentecostal church, now married with his own children – didn’t think he was doing anything wrong by donating his sperm as a favor to this friend (unmarried lady) who wanted to have children and has now ended up with fourteen kids.
Apparently, IVF is regarded as immoral according to the official teaching of Catholic church. The Catholic church believes (as do many religious traditions) that human life begins at conception.
They also believe in the integrity of conception. According to Catholic teaching, a truly responsible procreation must be the fruit of marriage whereby the husband and the wife collaborate with the power of the Creator;“the procreation of a new person must be the fruit and the sign of the mutual self-giving of the spouses, of their love and of their fidelity. (Donum Vitae, p. 34)
I have been trying to find answers in the Bible. Genesis 38 comes to mind. Judah told his second son, Onan to have intercourse with his dead brother Er’s wife and conceive a child with her. But Onan knew that the child would not be his. So when he had intercourse with his brother’s wife, he spilled the semen onto the ground. The Lord was angry about what Onan did and the Lord killed him. My problem is that this text relates to the Levirate custom, not specifically to assisted reproductive technology obviously not present at that time.
So I am asking, what is our theological position on IVF? What support do we find in Scripture for our theological position? If you recommend a book on the subject, I will read it!
Thank you.
Blessings!
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