3:56 How’s that connected to Valentine’s Day that is being celebrated today with digging on the chocolates on the cards, on the hearts you know, can you enlighten us further on the connection to that Lupercalia and Valentine’s Day today?
7:12 What can you share with our viewers regarding Cupid?
9:58 Why haven’t they become so popular today and why is it become so mainstream despite such dark history and the dark truths of its past?
13:18 Should those who believe in Christ and believe in the Bible, should we go along
and celebrate this pagan holiday? In short, should true Christians celebrate Valentine’s Day or not?
15:59 What’s the big deal?
17:32 Why can’t something that is pagan be Christianized? What would be wrong with that?
20:04 Is it wrong to love?
22:04 How can a person prove that they love God? How does any of our viewers prove that they are someone who loves God, and would be willing to do all that was necessary to prove to God that they love him?
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[Source: tiktok.com@madison.hx]
Brother Bob Pellien: It’s that time of year again, where you can’t escape the flood of ads popping up on your feed, chocolates, flowers, teddy bears and hearts wherever you look.
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INC International Edition
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Bob Pellien
San Francisco, California
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: But if you’re someone who holds strong beliefs in the teachings of the Holy Bible, you might find yourself conflicted about celebrating Valentine’s Day.
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Bob Pellien: Is it truly meaningful to dedicate a day to express love? Or is there a deeper, perhaps darker truth about this widely accepted and widely celebrated day? That often go unnoticed? Join us as we delve into the complexities of Valentine’s Day and explore how it conflicts with the Holy Bible. I’m Bob Pellien. We’ll discuss that and more right here in the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition.
Brother Bob Pellien: But first joining us today in our discussion is Brother Eric Waterman in Quezon City, Philippines,
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Eric Waterman
Quezon City, Philippines
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: Brother Donald Pinnock in Toronto, Canada,
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Donald Pinnock
Toronto, Canada
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: as well as Brother Dexter Manglicmot in Washington, DC.
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Dexter Manglicmot
Washington, DC
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: Brothers, thank you for joining us in this important discussion all about Valentine’s Day. Brothers before we delve into all of these details about Valentine’s Day, let’s share with our viewers this little bit of a concise history. And surprisingly, the violent origins of Valentine’s Day which, you know, it really may surprise many. Take a look.
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[Source: tiktok.com@history101]
Is Valentine’s Day really the cutesy holiday we all think it is? History says, ‘no.’ First references to Valentine’s Day can be found in the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia. However, the celebration isn’t the same as you may expect. The February 15th event began with the traditional sacrifice of an unfortunate goat and dog. The Luperci, a group of priests, would then take off a piece of skin from the two animals, touch it to their foreheads and struck every woman in the area with it. They thought it may help them have more babies. The fifth century came to a close Pope Gelasius I had enough with the Lupercalia celebrations and introduced St Valentine’s Day in its place just like that, February was no longer about sacrifice. It was about love. Around the same time the Normans started celebrating Galatin’s Day. Galatin basically meant lover of women given their similar pronunciations. It’s easy to see how people could have confused that with St. Valentine’s Day. And as time went on, the holiday evolved more and more to what we know it has today.
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Brother Bob Pellien: So brothers there’s some surprising things recorded
in that video.
Brother Donald Pinnock: Brother Bob, if I can jump in. There was some mention about the association between mid February and Romans in a pagan festival known as Lupercalia. Likely honoring either Lupa, the she-wolf of Rome who suckled Romulus and Remus or Faunus, their god of fertility.
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Donald Pinnock
Toronto, Canada
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Dexter Manglicmot: And it was also mentioned that the festivity began with animal sacrifice. Then after that a ritualistic slapping of young women with strips of the animal skin as well as their blood. And the belief behind doing that was it would cause fertility for the coming year.
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Dexter Manglicmot
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Eric Waterman: And I noticed that it was mentioned in the 5th century, in an effort to Christianize the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day.
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Eric Waterman
Quezon City, Philippines
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: All of these points are very interesting and well, surprising to most of us, right? Brother Donald, I want to go back however, to what you’ve pointed out what you specifically noticed in the in that video clip was concerning the Lupercalia because many of our viewers would maybe want to ask, how’s that connected to Valentine’s Day that is being celebrated today with digging on the chocolates on the cards, on the hearts you know, can you enlighten us further on the connection to that Lupercalia and Valentine’s Day today?
Brother Donald Pinnock: Yes, Brother Bob. But if we can take a look first at this video clip that goes into more detail.
[Video starts]
[Source: history.com]
For all its popularity, history doesn’t give us any guarantees as to the origins of Valentine’s Day. But we do know it contains vestiges of the early Christian church in ancient Rome. The association between mid-February and romance goes back to a pagan festival known as Lupercalia. Likely honoring either Lupa, the she-wolf of Rome who suckled Romulus and Remus or Faunus for their god of fertility. The festivities begin with an animal sacrifice. Then the ritualistic slapping of young women with strips of the animal skin and blood to bestow fertility for the coming year. In the 5th century, perhaps in an effort to Christianize the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day. As for the real Saint Valentine, there were reportedly several canonized by the church. Legend has it that one St. Valentine, a defiant Roman priest, lived during the 3rd century AD under Emperor Claudius II. Claudius was an ambitious ruler. His battles required vast armies of men to abandon their young families for long periods of time, resulting in a military that was half hearted and homesick. So determined was Claudius to stop love from sapping the will of his armies. He banned marriages altogether. Father Valentine fought the ban unjustly and defied the Emperor, continuing to marry young lovers in secret. The Emperor eventually caught on to the priest’s actions, arrested him and sentenced him to death. It is believed that young couples he had secretly wed would visit his cell, passing him flowers and notes through the bars as symbols of their gratitude. The story continues that the condemned Father Valentine fell in love with his jailer’s daughter. On February 14th the day he was executed. It is said he passed the young girl a note. It was signed, ‘From Your Valentine.’ A tradition was born. Cupid, the winged matchmaker, started out as the Roman god of love, inspired the image of cherubs for Christians, and is now a favorite of card makers and mass marketers.
[Video ends]
Brother Bob Pellien: Dear viewers, it has been said that, well you know, Valentine’s Day would not be complete without Cupid, right? Cupid. And the Cupid is the most recognized symbol of love. It’s also been said that Cupid, what everyone knows of Cupid right? He shoots arrows of love. And if it hits you, then you would fall helplessly, hopelessly madly in love with the next person that you meet. But, Brother Dexter, what can you share with our viewers regarding Cupid?
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Dexter Manglicmot: Well, Brother Bob and dear viewers, let me read the following from the website stated below.
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Dexter Manglicmot
Washington, DC
Minister of the Gospel
[Source: history.com]
The mention of Cupid typically conjures up images of a cherubic infant wielding a bow and arrow, but this wasn’t always the case. Long before the Romans adopted and renamed him–and way before his association with Valentine’s Day, Cupid was known to the Greeks as Eros, the handsome god of love. Armed with a bow and a quiver filled with both golden arrows to arouse desire and leaden arrows to ignite aversion, Eros struck at the hearts of gods and mortals and played with their emotions. In one story from ancient Greek mythology, which was later retold by Roman authors, Cupid (Eros) shot a golden arrow at Apollo, who fell madly in love with the nymph Daphne, but then launched a leaden arrow at Daphne so she would be repulsed by him.
Brother Eric Waterman: Also brother Dexter and dear viewers in the same reference on history.com, we can see the origin of the iconic Valentine’s Day figure Cupid. It says there:
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Eric Waterman
Quezon City, Philippines
Minister of the Gospel
In the poetry of the Archaic period, Eros was represented as a studly immortal who was irresistible to both men and gods. But by the Hellenistic period, he was increasingly portrayed as a playful, mischievous child. Because of his associations with love, 19th century Victorians–credited with popularizing Valentine’s Day and giving the holiday its romantic spin–began depicting this cherubic version of Cupid on Valentine’s Day cards and a trend that has persisted until this day.
Brother Dexter Manglicmot: So Brother Eric and dear friends, Cupid is not some innocent, cute angelic being, as what is being promoted and imagined by others to be. Even though first we have to understand this is a fictional character, something that was made up and for those who made it up he was recognized as being their god of love, but he was also portrayed as a very mischievous child.
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Bob Pellien: That’d be in the case Brothers. And now that we’ve talked about paganism and pagan connections to some of the things that are taking place and believed in regarding Valentine’s Day, some of these dark truths if you will, about Valentine’s Day, it only begs the question then why haven’t they become so popular today and why is it become so mainstream despite such dark history and the dark truths of its past? Take a look at this video.
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Bob Pellien
San Francisco, California
Minister of the Gospel
[Video starts]
[Source: history.com]
Our modern Valentine’s Day removed from its religious and pagan past has evolved into one of the most celebrated holidays on the calendar. On average, Americans shower their loved ones with 180 million roses, red ones naturally, and almost 36 million heart shaped boxes of candy. Not to mention all those cards, dinners and diamonds. All told, the holiday brings in almost $14 billion annually, giving retailers plenty to love as well. But if you’re worried that you can’t afford to treat your loved one properly next Valentine’s Day, take heart. The poet’s were right. Love is really all you need.
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Brother Donald Pinnock: Dear viewers, all of this goes to show that the history of what is recognized nowadays as Valentine’s Day is saturated in pagan practices, customs and false gods, but also has become a commercial event that so many are profiting from.
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Donald Pinnock
Toronto, Canada
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: It sure is Brother Donald, the chocolates and cards and all these things, no doubt about that. It’s very, very commercial, a lot of people making a lot of income off it.
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Bob Pellien: So some of our viewers, though Brothers, might be wanting to say this, that they, for example, believe in Christ. And they don’t want to be part of any pagan practices, the dark history of such pagan traditions. And maybe they would say, ‘Well, where does that leave me now? I’m really conflicted about celebrating Valentine’s Day then because I want to celebrate those that I love. I want to send them chocolates, I want to send them cards, I want to say Happy Valentine’s Day, I want to do this, I want to do that.’ So they’re very conflicted. And ask, what then should they do? Dear viewers, you’re posing that question as well. Stay with us. That’s where we’re going to pick up right after this short break.
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INC International Edition
Brother Bob Pellien: Welcome back, everyone. Today, we’re talking about the truth about Valentine’s Day. In the first part of our program, we were discussing and learned that, well, Valentine’s Day, which as we all know is being celebrated by so many people now around the world, actually has its roots firmly entrenched in pagan gods and traditions. Sad to say, many people are oblivious to that fact. However, you know, they continue to observe this annual custom and, you know, not to mention that great commercial revenue that it brings worldwide as we mentioned with the cards and candies and all such gifts and such that are passed around on Valentine’s Day. But should those who believe in Christ and believe in the Bible, should we go along and celebrate this pagan holiday? In short, should true Christians celebrate Valentine’s Day or not? Brother Donald?
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Bob Pellien
San Francisco, California
Minister of the Gospel
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Donald Pinnock: And the answer is in the adamant, ‘No.’
Brother Bob Pellien: That’s a pretty emphatic answer, and you didn’t hesitate at all there, Brother Donald. Why not? Why is such an emphatic no to Valentine’s Day?
Brother Donald Pinnock: Well, primarily because of the true God’s prohibition concerning the worshiping of false gods. And we can actually read that here in Exodus 20 and the verses are 3 to 5:
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Donald Pinnock
Toronto, Canada
Minister of the Gospel
You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.
[Exodus 20: 3-5 New King James Version]
Brother Donald Pinnock: So dear viewers, the true Gods strictly forbids the making or worship of graven images or other so-called gods. Those who do so will be punished by the one and only true God.
Brother Dexter Manglicmot: Sadly, those who observe and involve themselves in Valentine’s Day activities are essentially worshiping false gods, since the roots of this celebration include the likes of Pan who is Lupercus and Eros or Cupid, which is another name for Amor. Those are different names of false gods and the acts that they did. These are all abominable before our Lord God and any tradition that includes the worship or even the recognition of false gods should not be practiced by true Christians.
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Bob Pellien: I think most would agree to that, Brother Dexter. But you know, some might also be saying something along these lines, maybe they’re thinking, ‘look, you’re just taking this way too seriously. Valentine’s Day is just for fun.’ A time when people are really just enjoying themselves, like I’ve been saying a few times already. That’s the day they make heart shaped chocolates and send to people it’s, no secular, it’s no longer considered pagan, they would say, by a modern society would no longer make that connection. So what’s the big deal? Many would say.
Brother Eric Waterman: Well, Brother Bob, the big deal is that we’re Christians. We’re not following society or the majority opinion, or traditions of man, but rather what we follow is what the Bible teaches us. And this is what we can read here in the New American Bible, in Ephesians, chapter 4, the verses 17, 18 and verse 20:
I declare and solemnly attest in the Lord that you must live no longer as the pagans do– their minds empty, their understanding darkened
They are estranged from a life in God because of their ignorance and their resistance… That is not what you learned when you learned Christ!
[Ephesians 4: 17, 18, and 20 New American Bible 1971]
Brother Eric Waterman: So the Christians were warned not to live as pagan people do. In other words, don’t follow the traditions or pagan practices that we find in the world. And let’s be reminded, you can’t Christianize what is pagan, according to the teaching of the Bible. Why? Paganism is different.
Brother Bob Pellien: But wait, wait, Brother Eric. That’s, you make a very good point there. But I know that many of our viewers would simply want to say why not? If paganism is so wrong and paganism and the practices of paganism is… should not be done, why can’t something that is pagan be Christianized? What would be wrong with that?
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Donald Pinnock: As already mentioned earlier in our program that we are Bible-based, and that is why the answer will come from the Bible here in First Corinthians, the chapter is 10, and the verses are 6 to 7:
These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. For the scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulge themselves in pagan revelry.”
[I Corinthians 10: 6 to 7 New Living Translation]
Brother Donald Pinnock: God’s first nation, ancient Israel committed a great evil or meaning to say they sinned against God by following pagan traditions and worshiping idols. And this is also what happened to the first century Church Of Christ, because she was led away from the true faith or was apostatized because of the introduction of false teachings and idol worship, as well as adopting to many pagan traditions.
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Donald Pinnock: This is why the Administration of the Church Of Christ at this time period, which the Bible calls us, the ends of the earth clearly informs the members, and also those who are willing to accept the biblical truth that involving or participating in such traditions is unacceptable. In fact, an abomination before the true and the Almighty God. Now when it comes to love, well, we have nothing against love, because God is love. According to First John 4:16. However, what we are against is paganism. Because the Bible is against paganism.
Brother Bob Pellien: It’s nice Brother Donald that you stress there that we’re not against love, which is again, where perhaps others would jump in and argue saying things like, “That’s what we’re expressing.” Okay. God is love, like what you just said to you just read that Brother Donald. That’s what we’re doing with Valentine’s Day. We’re expressing our love for our boyfriend, our love for our girlfriend, our love for our fiance, our love for our wife or husband, whomsoever even someone we like we’re just taking the opportunity offered to us on Valentine’s Day to let them know how we feel about that person? Is it wrong to love?
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Bob Pellien
San Francisco, California
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Dexter Manglicmot: Well, Brother Bob, it’s definitely not wrong to love. But the thing that you pose, that argument that many people make, well, it’s very common. What they don’t understand, though, as they tried to celebrate this Valentine’s Day is who above everyone else should we love? Well, the Lord Jesus Christ teaches the following as recorded here in the book of Matthew, that chapter is 22, the verses are 36, to 39. This is what the Savior says:
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Dexter Manglicmot
Washington, DC
Minister of the Gospel
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
[Matthew 22:36 to 39 New King James Version]
Brother Dexter Manglicmot: So our Lord Jesus Christ Himself taught their friends, which is the first and greatest commandment, and that is to love the Lord God, with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.
Brother Eric Waterman: So dear friends and viewers, our Lord Jesus Christ also mentioned in that verse, the second greatest commandment, and that was to love our neighbor, or those around us as we love ourselves. And this is exactly what we strive to do inside the Church Of Christ, by presenting to you these truths that are written in the Holy Scriptures, not only to express our love to you, but more so that you will show your love to God properly, and not be misled, or misguided by any traditions or practices that go against his teachings.
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Bob Pellien: Well, then, according to the Bible, how can a person prove that they love God? How does any of our viewers prove that they are someone who loves God, and would be willing to do all that was necessary to prove to God that they love him?
Brother Eric Waterman: Excellent question, Brother Bob. But let’s not base it on our opinion. But let’s read what the Bible teaches, is the definition of the way God wants our love to be expressed to Him, I John 5:3:
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
[I John 5:3 New King James Version]
Brother Eric Waterman: So how are we able to prove to the one and only true God that we love Him and only Him? It is by following and keeping and obeying His commandments, not following traditions or practices that the majority of society might be following. Why? What is one of the commandments that God said should be recognized? Earlier, it said that we should not worship, observe or recognize or venerate other gods, even if they are false gods veiled behind nowadays, what seems to be a harmless tradition, celebration, or observance.
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Eric Waterman
Quezon City, Philippines
Minister of the Gospel
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TODAY’S TOPIC: The Truth About Valentine’s Day
Brother Eric Waterman: And so, if we’re conflicted about celebrating Valentine’s Day, because we want so badly, to also celebrate those that are around us, that we truly love, the first one that we need to proclaim our love to is our Almighty Lord God, the one and only true God. And if we really want to please our Almighty Lord God, let’s follow what’s followed in the Bible, the commandments of God. We cannot be celebrating holidays that are rooted in pagan practices. Dear friends and viewers, we can’t do both. You can follow God and go along with the world, or the festivals and traditions of men, like celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Brother Donald Pinnock: Dear viewers, this is only one of many biblical truths that the Church Of Christ wants to proclaim to you. That is why we extend an open invitation for you to attend a Bible study, a worship service, any church activity at a congregation of the Church Of Christ nearest to your home, because as idiomatic as it may sound, these biblical truths will set you free from any falsehood concerning acceptable worship and service to the true God and above all else, when it comes to being assured of salvation, and the attainment of eternal life.
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Donald Pinnock
Toronto, Canada
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you very much brothers for the important insight on Valentine’s day. I’m sure all our viewers have gained much from all that you have shared in this important conversation about Valentine’s Day.
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Bob Pellien
San Francisco, California
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: Dear friends, that does it for us today on this program, Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. We’d like to thank Brother Eric Waterman in Quezon City, Philippines, as well as Brother Donald Pinnock in Toronto, Canada, and in our Washington, D.C. studios, Brother Dexter Manglicmot. Brothers, thank you all, for providing us with Bible-based answers so that, as the Apostle Peter said to the members of the Church,”always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.” That’s First Peter 3:15. We hope you’ll join us again next time. I’m Brother Bob Pellien, and thanks for watching. Before we go, we’d like to again invite you to join us for a short, closing prayer.
Brother Dexter Manglicmot: Dear God, our merciful Father in heaven. We thank You from the bottom of our hearts. You have allowed us to be guided in another episode of this program. We give all the praise and honor back unto Your holy name. We thank You also for this message that we have received that we were able to share with our friends and our loved ones who are watching this program. May You please bless all of us. Let our friends and our loved ones understand. We share this message out of love for everyone because it is Your desire that everyone comes to the knowledge of the truth that will lead them to salvation. We ask You to please bless our friends and our loved ones who heard this message. Grant unto them the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, so that they may decide, they may continue listening to Your teachings. And if it is Your will, we may be together inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, giving honor and praise unto Your holy name. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, continue to bring all of our prayers unto our Father, please also give us the good qualities that we need–a submissive and humble heart so that we may be like You and fulfill the Father’s will in our life. Dear God as we return unto You now in this prayer, we are confident You have listened to our supplication. You have blessed the Church in its entirety, through the leadership of the Church Administration, and You will continue to bless and uphold our beloved Executive Minister. We pray all of these things through the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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