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Theophile Church of Bradenton

welcomes Pastor William Metellus

By  Ansy Joseph

It looked like a regular Sunday outside the 4915, 15th Street in Sarasota-Bradenton (Florida) this Sunday August 1st 2010. However, inside the sanctuary which accomodates the local Theophile church, we felt it was about something other than a simple Sunday worship service. The coming and going, the hugs and handshakes, the decorative banners wishing a warm welcome to Pastor William Metellus … Voilà! It’s not a mystery any longer. The congregation was preparing themselves to welcome their new Pastor.
Indeed, there was a worship service, but led by brother Bertho St. Louis in a different format prepared for the occasion. This church, whose leadership was vacant since the departure of its former pastor Julio Volcy, showed a full house this Sunday morning. It has been a little over two months and people wanted to show their commitment to this first extension of the organization Theophile United States; already 12 years old.

Rev. William & Sr Wilza Metellus

“Let’s get ourselves closer around the Master (God), in unity to defeat the apostasy.” This is the main message delivered by the Rev. Antonio Beaugé in his address to the congregation. The importance of this union, he noted, is crucial for advancing the work of God who  himself urged his disciples in this passage from the Gospel of John 13v34-35, which states: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Then came the key moment of this special morning, when the presentation of the Reverend William Metellus, accompanied by his wife Wilza and his two sons Joe and Anthony.  Rev. Dr. Roland Joseph, president of the Theophile Organization, extended a thank you to the members who, after God, have made this day possible, because of their conviction, determination and perseverance in God’s work. These include Br.Eddy Choute and his family, Sr. Maude, Br. Bathenel and Sr Lina Bellune. He also thanked the Rev. René Jacques, who handled the transition by agreeing to make the trip from Atlanta to Bradenton each week, bringing the message coming from the word of God. Special thanks to the many visitors (new and old) including the Rev. Wilbert who was accompanied by several others along with the group Harmony of the Church Of God of Miami.  Brother Benoît also from Miami, in his words, says that he came to explore “the site”and promises to return shortly to Bradenton to help advance the work of God.
Words of thanks to the move of the Rev. Metellus and his family, reflects the kind of sacrifice making the trip from California to Bradenton in a short time period. “Heaven has chosen him for this task,” said Rev. Roland Joseph, mentioning the words of Wilza Metellus who had confessed that her body is tired but she was like “a rock in the hands of God”; So she is willing to do His will by following His instructions.

Based on the biblical text found in 2 Timothy 2, Rev. Dr. Roland Joseph dweled on verses 15 and 16 to issue a fair warning to Pastor Metellus: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness”

The excitement was at its peak when the prayer of installation made by the Rev. Félix Jean Guillaume who lifted up the destiny of the Theophile Church in Bradenton in the hands of God through the presence of Pastor Metellus.  At the end of the prayer and all of the loving hugs, the pulpit and the microphone were officially handed over to the Rev. William Metellus. During a loud applause he became ipso facto the head pastor of the Theophile Church of Bradenton.

Fr Bathenel & Sr Lina Bellune

More than conquerors.

The first words of Pasteur Metellus were to invite the church to stand up and sing with him number 210 of Chants d’Espérance titled “More Than Conquerors“

Plus que vainqueurs! Telle est notre devise

Plus que vainqueurs, bien que persécutés;

Car la victoire à la foi fut acquise

Par le Sauveur qui nous a rachetés

Rev. Metellus thanked all those in this walk who always supported him unfailingly, the longtime friends who came from far to give him their support and those who, with God’s help on the field in Bradenton, bravely stood firm and who have made this day a reality, including visitors and former members of the church. He said with determination, that he did not choose to be in Bradenton, “It’s God’s decision. I consider this course as the final opportunity offered to me by God to reach the sky and I’ll stay until I am called to eternity. ” Pastor Metellus said that the sanctuary of the church in Bradenton has already been physically in better conditions. He also said the task is difficult, but very shortly and with God’s help, the face of this environment will not be the same. Before concluding, he opened up his arms in love, reaching out and asking all the former members of the church “back home” to return and complete the work of God.

L’église Théophile de Bradenton accueille

Pasteur William Metellus

Par Ansy Joseph

Cela avait l’air d’un Dimanche ordinaire à l’extérieur du 4915, 15th Street à Sarasota-Bradenton (Forida) ce Dimanche 1er Août 2010. Cependant, sitôt à l’intérieur du sanctuaire qui abrite le local de l’église Théophile, on sentait qu’il se préparait quelque chose d’autre qu’un simple service d’adoration dominicale. Les allées et venues, les accolades et poignées de main, les banderoles et bannières décoratives qui souhaitaient la bienvenue à Pasteur William Metellus… et voilà! Le mystère n’en était plus un. Cette assemblée se préparait à accueillir son nouveau Pasteur.

En effet, il y avait bien un service d’adoration, mais dirigé par frère Bertho St-Louis dans un format différent préparé pour la circonstance.  Cette église dont la direction était vacante depuis le départ de son ancien Pasteur Julio Volcy, il y a un peu plus de deux mois, affichait salle comble ce Dimanche matin, comme si les gens voulaient témoigner de leur attachement à cette première extension de l’organisation Théophile aux États-Unis, vieille déjà de 12 ans.

Rev.Wilbert & Fr Benoît /Church Of God-Miami

“Resserrons-nous autour du Maître (Dieu), dans l’unité, afin de vaincre l’apostasie.” Tel est l’essentiel du message délivré par le révérend Antonio Beaugé dans son adresse à l’assistance.  L’importance de cette communion, a-t-il fait remarquer, est cruciale pour l’avancement de l’oeuvre de Dieu qui a lui-même exhorté ses disciples dans ce passage tiré de l’Évangile de Jean 13v34-35 et qui stipule: “Je vous donne un commandement nouveau: Aimez-vous les uns les autres; comme je vous ai aimés, vous aussi, aimez-vous les uns les autres. À ceci tous connaîtront que vous êtes mes disciples, si vous avez de l’amour les uns pour les autres.”

Vient le moment clé de cette matinée spéciale, celui de la présentation à l’assemblée du Révérend William Metellus, accompagné de sa femme Wilza et de ses deux fils Joe et Antony. Un après l’autre, le Rév. Dr. Roland Joseph, président de l’Organisation Théophile, a tenu d’abord à remercier les membres qui, après Dieu, ont rendu possible cette journée, de par leur conviction, leur détermination et leur persévérance dans le travail de Dieu. Il s’agit entre autres de frère Eddy Choute ainsi que sa famille, de soeur Maude, de frère Bathenel et Soeur Lina Bellune, du Révérend René Jacques qui a assuré la transition en acceptant d’effectuer le voyage de Atlanta à Bradenton à chaque fin de semaine, pour venir apporter le message de la parole de Dieu. Des remerciements aux nombreux visiteurs (nouveaux et anciens) parmi lesquels figuraient le Révérend Wilbert qui était accompagné de quelques autres personnes du groupe Harmony de Miami dont le frère Benoît qui, selon ses propres mots, est venu ‘’explorer le terrain’’ et qui promet de revenir sous peu à Bradenton pour contribuer à faire avancer cette oeuvre de Dieu.

Les mots de remerciement à l’endroit du Révérend Metellus et de sa famille, témoignent du genre de sacrifice consenti pour faire le déplacement de la Californie à Bradenton dans un espace de temps aussi court. “Le ciel les a choisis pour ce travail”, a affirmé le Révérend Roland Joseph, sans oublier de mentionner les propos de Wilza Metellus qui lui avait avoué que son corps est fatigué mais qu’elle était comme une Pierre entre les mains de Dieu; donc elle est disposée à faire Sa volonté en suivant Ses directives.

Basé sur le texte biblique trouvé dans 2 Timothée 2, Rév. Dr. Roland Joseph s’est attardé sur les versets 15 et 16 pour lancer un avertissement noble à Pasteur Metellus: ”Efforce-toi de te présenter devant Dieu comme un homme éprouvé, un ouvrier qui n’a point à rougir, qui dispense droitement la parole de la vérité.  Évite les discours vains et profanes; car ceux qui les tiennent avanceront toujours plus dans l’impiété”.

L’émotion était palpable lors de la prière d’installation prononcée par le Révérend Félix Jean-Guillaume qui a remis les destinées de l’église Théophile de Bradenton entre les mains de Dieu via la présence de Pasteur Metellus. À l’issu de cette prière et des felicitations d’usage, la chaire et le microphone ont été remis officiellement au Révérend William Metellus sous les applaudissements nourris de l’assistance et est devenu ipso facto le Pasteur titulaire de l’église Théophile de Bradenton.

Plus que vainqueurs.

Les premiers mots de Pasteur Metellus furent pour inviter l’église à se mettre debout et chanter avec lui le numéro 210 des Chants d’Espérance titré “Plus que Vainqueurs”

Plus que vainqueurs! Telle est notre devise

Plus que vainqueurs, bien que persécutés;

Car la victoire à la foi fut acquise

Par le Sauveur qui nous a rachetés.

Pasteur Metellus a remercié tous ceux qui, dans cette marche, lui ont toujours soutenu de façon indéfectible, des amis de longue date qui sont venus de loin pour lui assurer leur support; ceux qui, avec l’aide de Dieu sur le terrain à Bradenton, ont résisté courageusement et qui ont fait de cette journée une réalité; les visiteurs ainsi que les anciens membres de léglise.  Il a dit avec détermination qu’il n’a pas choisi d’être à Bradenton; “C’est la décision de Dieu. Je considère ce parcours comme étant la dernière occasion qui m’est offerte par Dieu pour atteindre le ciel et j’y resterai jusqu’à ce que je sois appelé pour l’éternité”. Pasteur Metellus a mentionné que le sanctuaire de l’église Théophile de Bradenton a déjà été physiquement dans de meilleures conditions. Il dit que la tâche sera ardue, mais a assuré que sous peu et avec l’aide de Dieu, la physionomie de cette enceinte ne sera plus pareille.  Avant de terminer, il a, dans un geste d’amour, tendu la main et demander à tous les anciens membres de l’église de “revenir chez eux” afin de se remettre au travail et parachever l’oeuvre de Dieu.

By Ansy Joseph

In a sanctuary filled to overflowing has ended Sunday, July 25, 2010, the celebrations surrounding the anniversary of the church Theophile of Nashville in Tennessee, where dozens of people were moving around to worship the Lord in a festive atmosphere.

Ever since Monday, July 19, workers at the church were able to attend a series of seminars presented by the Rev. Dr. Roland Joseph on the Foundation of a Biblical Church and who were somehow the message of the week, based on the theme of the passage from 2 Timothy 2v2, which states: “bay li jan li ye nan sous la.”

The many comments received after the Sunday service, all converge in the hope of seeing this church grow even further and transform the Christian community in Nashville. Hope based more on effort and hard work of the Rev. Mario Clerjeune, who chaired the assembly for the past two years. In difficult times, he said, I always use my favorite verse from the book of Isaiah 41v10 that says “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

In addition, the evening of Saturday was very special. we have seen eight people from the church, mostly young, do plunge into the waters of baptism. A ceremony to mark emotions during which the candidates had to act of faith in the Lord and before a compact assembly, come to celebrate a church in expension. The newly baptized were all presented once again to the great congregation during the service Sunday morning, they received applause, congratulations and certificates attesting to their membership now and definitely to the great family of God.

Rev. Mario Clerjeune

After several years of hesitation, the church Theophile of Nashville is gaining momentum on new foundations. On January 20, 2008, The Rev. Dr. Roland Joseph said that the presence of Pastor Mario Clerjeune in Atlanta who then pursued studies in theology, was a blessing for Theophile. Two years later, history seems to prove him right. However, the Hand of God is not absent. Pray that the hand remains there.

L’Église Théophile de Nashville prend de l’élan

Par Ansy Joseph

C’est dans un sanctuaire rempli à craquer qu’a pris fin le Dimanche 25 Juillet 2010, les célébrations entourant l‘anniversaire de l’église Théophile de Nashville à Tennessee, où des dizaines de personnes ont fait le déplacement d’un peu partout pour venir adorer le Seigneur dans un atmosphère de fête.

Déjà, depuis le Lundi 19 Juillet, les ouvriers de l’église ont pu assister à une série de séminaires présentés par le Rév. Dr Roland Joseph sur les Fondements d’une Église Biblique et qui constituaient en quelque sorte le message de la semaine, basé sur le thème tiré du passage de 2 Timothée 2v2, et qui stipule : “bay li jan li ye nan sous la.”

Les nombreux commentaires recueillis à l’issu du service du Dimanche, convergent tous vers l’espoir de voir cette église grandir encore davantage et transformer la communauté chrétienne de Nashville. Un espoir fondé d’autant plus sur les efforts et le travail acharné du Rév Mario Clerjeune, qui preside cette assemblée depuis déjà deux ans. Dans les moments difficiles, dit-il, je fais toujours appel à mon verset de prédilection issu du livre d’Ésaïe 41v10 qui dit:”Ne crains rien, car je suis avec toi; Ne promène pas des regards inquiets, car je suis ton Dieu; Je te fortifie, je viens à ton secours, Je te soutiens de ma droite triomphante.”

Par ailleurs, la soirée du Samedi revêtait un cachet assez special où l’on a vu huit personnes de l’église, en majorité des jeunes, se faire plonger dans les eaux du baptême. Une cérémonie empreinte d’émotions au cours de laquelle les candidats ont dû faire acte de foi au Seigneur et devant une assemblée compacte, venue célébrer une église en pleine remontée. Ces nouveaux baptisés ont tous été présentés une fois de plus à la grande assemblée lors du service du Dimanche matin, où ils ont reçu applaudissements, félicitations et certificats attestant dorénavant leur affiliation définitive à la grande famille divine.

Après quelques années d’hésitation, l’église Théophile de Nashville prend de l’élan sur de nouvelles bases. Le 20 Janvier 2008, Le Révérend Dr Roland Joseph disait que la présence de Pasteur Mario Clerjeune à Atlanta qui poursuivait alors des études en Théologie, était une bénédiction pour Théophile. Deux ans plus tard, l’histoire semble lui donner raison. Cependant, la Main de Dieu n’y est pas étrangère. Prions pour que cette main y demeure.

Rev. Dr. Jean B. Beaufils

Cultural Engagement

By Rev. Dr. J. Billy Beaufils, MA, ThD

Culture as context

By “culture” I am refering to the traditional ways of thinking, speaking, and acting that characterize a particular group of people. In our highly mobile Western world, we must think of culture not as a single entity but as a complex interplay of contrasting and even competing ways by which different groups construe their world.

This diversity of cultures is one reason the church in North America must now think of itself as a missionary church. We are surrounded by groups of people who do not share our way of viewing the world. To bring the gospel to our world we will need to engage in the missionary task of translation.  We must communicate the truth about Jesus in ways that are faithful to Scripture and effective in crossing cultural boundaries.

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, understands this challenge better than most. “When Paul spoke to Greeks, he confronted their culture’s idol of speculation and philosophy with the ‘foolishness’ of the cross, and then presented Christ’s salvation as true wisdom. When he spoke to Jews, he confronted their culture’s idol of power and accomplishment with the ‘weakness’ of the cross, and then presented the gospel as true power (1 Cor. 1:22-25).”[2] In affirming one gospel, Keller nonetheless argues that different “forms” of the gospel are appropriate to people of differing cultural backgrounds.

So, in the context of his own ministry in New York City, Keller recognizes that people with religious backgrounds understand the concept of sin as an offense against the law of God.  These people can therefore be reached with the more traditional evangelical summary of the gospel which presents the cross as divine provision for human sin and guilt.
But Keller notes, “…Manhattan is also filled with postmodern listeners who consider all moral statements to be culturally relative and socially constructed. If you try to convict them of guilt for sexual lust, they will simply say, ‘You have your standards, and I have mine.’ If you respond with a diatribe on the dangers of relativism, your listeners will simply feel scolded and distanced.”[3] For this audience Keller finds it more effective to speak of sin not as guilt but as idolatry.

My point is not to argue the rightness or wrongness of Pastor Keller’s specific approach to preaching, although I agree with much of his article. The point is rather to emphasize the missional challenge we face. Careful interpretation of Scripture must now be combined with careful interpretation of culture(s) if we are to witness faithfully to our generation.

Culture as a way of seeing

Paul talks about seeing in the mirror “dimly” or “obscurely.” This is due both to our finiteness and our fallenness, and both play out in the influence of culture upon us and upon those to whom we bring the gospel.  Culture allows us to see certain things while it makes other realities opaque.
Here’s another way of saying this: None of us perceive reality (including the Bible) in a purely objective way. We are all imbedded in our culture. We observe from a limited perspective.  No one enjoys a God’s-eye view of the world except God himself.

When I was a beginning student in theology, most evangelicals to me were objectivists. We saw ourselves as people who could simply observe the world and the Bible without being impacted by our cultural surroundings. Perspective (bias) was not a problem, at least not for us! Abstract scientific induction was our model for the study of the Bible and the articulation of theology: begin with the pure data and by careful, logical process craft your sermon or build your theology.
But now postmodernism has powerfully critiqued that type of naïve modernism. There is a growing convergence among evangelical scholars that objectivism is not workable. No less a conservative than D.A. Carson now says that “… human beings may know objective truth in the sense that they may know what actually conforms to reality, but they cannot know it objectively, that is, they cannot escape their finitude and (this side of the consummation) their fallenness….”[4] Similarly, John Franke (one of my professor of theology at BTS) writes, “We simply cannot escape from our particular setting and gain access to an objective, transcultural vantage point.”[5] The result, says Carson, is that we are all perspectivalists.

This has both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, culture may function in a positive way to help us see particular dimensions of our humanity or of the world that may otherwise escape us. Our conviction statement reads:  “It is also true that God can work in a culture to surface issues of justice, equity, or mercy that the church has neglected.” Clearly the civil rights movement of the second half of the 20th century surfaced a glaring inconsistency in the theology and practice of many white Christians in North America.
On the other hand, culture can impact the church negatively as well. In this case it blinds us to truths that may be obvious to those of a different cultural background. For example, the narcissistic individualism[6] of the West has left American Christians with an anemic understanding of the church.  As a result many of us would summarize the gospel with no reference to the centrality of the church in God’s purposes, and many of us live as if salvation were merely a private affair between Jesus and me.

Cross-cultural learning

Any particular culture both illuminates and obscures aspects of reality. To quote Carson again, “…every expression of human culture simultaneously discloses that we were made in God’s image and shows itself to be mis-shaped and corroded by human rebellion against God.”[7]

How then are we to live out Christian faith without being co-opted unknowingly by the most dangerous elements of our surroundings?  The primary answer is that we must be willing to bring our most fundamental assumptions back to Scripture in the recognition that a fresh hearing of the Word may yet disclose points of correction or expansion in our living of the gospel.

However, our convictions statement speaks of the need for “continual learning from Christians in other cultural settings.” The way we understand and live out the gospel needs to be compared with the ways brothers and sisters in other places hear the same message. In the process we will find elements of similarity and difference; the commonalities will confirm our faith and the plurality of views will humble and perhaps instruct us.
The growing weakness of the church in the West and the explosion of the church in the two-thirds world should make us teachable. Wheaton College professor Kevin Vanhoozer says, “Those who cannot see their own cultural conditioning are doomed to repeat it. It is just here that Western systematic theologians have much to learn…. It is ultimately for the sake of better biblical interpretation that Western theologians need to attend to how the Bible is being read and practiced in the non-Western world.”

By Ansy Joseph

I always thought musical instruments, a large choir, microphones, loudspeakers, a well decorated stage, a projector and an enormous audience was absolutely necessary in a sanctuary to praise God with dignity. Well, NO! I realized I was completely wrong, because during the worship service last Sunday, May 30, 2010 which I had the chance to attend, Theophile church of Bradenton vibrated to the sound of clapping hands, memorable voices, heartfelt prayers and hymns of hope.

The biblical passage found in Ezekiel 37V 1-14, chosen by the Rev. Dr. Roland Joseph, epitomized this picture we could compare with this valley full of desiccated bones that would revive and live again through the power of God. “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD. “(v5-6)

If we were to analyze these two verses word by word, one could infer that this new adventure of Theophile Church in Bradenton is certainly in the permissive will of God who wants to demonstrate His loyalty and power to us. This sudden burst of life of this congregation is obviously not a flash in the pan, but rather the beginning of what we might call “a new birth”.

Preparations are already underway for the celebration of the anniversary of  Theophile Church of Bradenton  on June 12 and 13. Delegations from other Theophile churches are expected this weekend of celebration that takes, of course, a different dimension this year.

“… I will put breath in you, you shall live.” That is the assurance that the Lord gives to His people. To all those who love God and have faith, let’s lean against these words and quickly get back on the task.  They will certainly have the last word.

ÉGLISE THÉOPHILE DE BRADENTON:

UNE NOUVELLE NAISSANCE

Par Ansy Joseph

J’ai toujours pensé que des instruments de musique, une grande chorale, des microphones, des haut-parleurs, une estrade bien décorée, un appareil de projection ainsi qu’une assistance imposante étaient absolument nécessaires dans un sanctuaire pour louer Dieu avec dignité.  Eh bien, NON!  Je me suis rendu compte que c’était une idée complètement érronée de ma part, car lors du service d’adoration du Dimanche 30 Mai 2010 dernier auquel j’ai eu la chance de participer, l’église Théophile de Bradenton a vibré au son des claquements de mains, de voix mémorables, de prières sincères et de cantiques d’espoir.

Le passage  biblique retrouvé dans Ézéchiel 37v 1-14, choisi par le Rev. Dr. Roland Joseph, illustrait bien ce tableau qu’on pourrait comparer à cette vallée remplie d’ossements désséchés et qui allaient renaître et revivre grâce à la puissance de Dieu. “Ainsi parle le Seigneur, l’Eternel, à ces os: Voici, je vais faire entrer en vous un esprit, et vous vivrez; je vous donnerai des nerfs, je ferai croître sur vous de la chair, je vous couvrirai de peau, je mettrai en vous un esprit, et vous vivrez.  Et vous saurez que je Suis l’Eternel” (v5-6)

S’il fallait analyser mot par mot ces deux versets, on pourrait déduire que cette nouvelle aventure de l’église Théophile de Bradenton est certainement dans la volonté permissive de Dieu qui veut encore nous prouver sa fidélité ainsi que sa puissance.  Ce soudain regain de vie de cette assemblée n’est évidemment pas un feu de paille, mais plutôt le commencement de ce que nous pouvons appeler “une nouvelle naissance”.

Déjà les préparatifs vont bon train pour la célébration de l’anniversaire de l’église Théophile de Bradenton les 12 et 13 Juin prochain. Des délégations venant des autres églises de Théophile sont attendues pour cette fin de semaine de fête qui prend, il va de soi, une toute autre dimension cette année.

“…je mettrai en vous un esprit, et vous vivrez.” Voilà donc la garantie que l’Éternel donne à son peuple. À tous ceux qui aiment Dieu et qui ont la foi, appuyons-nous sur ces paroles et remettons-nous très vite à la tâche.  Elles auront certainement le dernier mot.